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Drug Enforcement Administration agents have raided an Oklahoma car dealership that the government suspects may be one of about 30 such businesses in the U.S. involved in funding the terrorist group Hezbollah. DEA agents say the car lot of Ace Auto Leasing in Tulsa is part of a huge network that is selling cars and drugs -- and then using the money to support terrorism against the U.S., myfoxphoenix.com reports. During Friday's raid, agents could be seen carryout out filing cabinets and other items. They also questioned employees and took inventory. "They're making big time money and it's going right...

Interesting take on the two-step campaign that will be waged for the NY-23 race this year.

Jim Kelly, a retired New York City police officer and Conservative Party activist who managed Republican John Spencer's unsuccessful 2006 U.S. Senate run against Hillary Clinton, e-mailed media Thursday saying he will run as a Conservative and that Scozzafava is too liberal, pointing to her support for abortion and same-sex marriage. "As soon as (state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long) gives me the green light, I'm going to jump into this thing," Kelly told the politickerny.com blog. "I'm going to bring newspaper reporters with me, and we're going to trash the Republicans on this for running a RINO (Republican in...

Republican leaders in New York have chosen state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as their nominee for the special election to replace Army Secretary-designate John McHugh (R-N.Y.). County chairmen for the 23rd district made the selection on Wednesday. The chairmen choose their nominee in lieu of a primary process for special elections in the Empire State. “I congratulate Dede Scozzafava for receiving the nomination to represent our party and make the case for tax relief, economic development and opportunity,” state party chairman Joseph Mondello said. “We desperately need her voice to oppose the Democrats’ plans to stifle our economy, tax business out...

Several state lawmakers said today they are considering a run for Rep. John McHugh’s seat after he was tapped Tuesday by President Obama as secretary to the Army. On the Democratic side, Sen. Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, appears to the party’s top potential candidate, and he said he will consider it. “We haven’t ruled anything out,” Aubertine said, adding he will have to talk to his family. Asked if he’s concerned that a move to Congress would leave the Democratic majority in the Senate vulnerable since he represents a heavily Republican district, he said, “I’m concerned about my...

State Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, R-Willsboro, said Tuesday that fellow Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava would have her support for a congressional bid if the Republican from Gouverneur decides to run for the seat to be vacated by U.S. Rep. John McHugh. “I don’t believe she’s made any kind of huge announcement, but I know that some of us here in the chamber think she would make a great pick,” Sayward said in a telephone interview. Essex County Republican Chairman Ron Jackson said Scozzafava would be an excellent candidate ...

The news of Rep. John McHugh's nomination as Secretary of the Army by President Barack Obama Tuesday afternoon has set off a succession scramble in upstate New York, giving Democrats an opportunity to pick-off yet another Republican seat in the Northeast. .....

Mar Maroun All that is known about Maron, the spiritual father and protector of the Maronites comes from Theodoret, the bishop of Cyr. In approximately 444, Theodoret undertook the project of writing a religious history about his religion. Theodoret never knew Maron personally, but only through the disciples of this holy man. He described Maron as "the one who has planted for God the garden which flourishes now in the region of Cyr." Little is known of the birth or youth of Maron because Theodoret was unconcerned about that aspect of his life. He felt that Maron was a...