Blog Heap of Links for the day 1 May 2011

President Barack Obama's father was forced to leave Harvard University before completing his Ph.D. in economics because the school was concerned about his personal life and finances, according to newly public immigration records.

Is the Christian Science Monitor a willing parrot or just a gullible dupe for the administration's "racism" propaganda ploy?

Romney made a Jimmy Carter-Barack Obama comparison about how just as Reagan had hung the "misery index" around Carter's neck, now Republicans would have to "hang" Obama with current economic hardship. But then he realized mid-sentence the trouble with making a metaphor about hanging a black man. The Boston Globe reports: "Romney almost immediately caught himself, with the English major declaring "metaphorically" speaking, but the mix of nervous laughter with applause indicated at least some in the audience realized its potency." ... Steve Beren for Washington Monthly writes that, "the whole argument was a mess." "Romney mentions Reagan, hoping Republicans will forget he didn't like Reagan in the '80s and wasn't even a Republican at the time. Romney mentions "higher taxation," which is absurd given how much Obama has cut taxes for everyone." Beren's verdict: "The guy isn't ready for primetime."

Did his persona rub off on you professionally, in any way? Every single one of my judgments has been guided and inspired by a divine hand (weeps). I believe in two entities, Krishna and Sathya Sai. I am not a devotee but a lover of Krishna. People may call me mad, and yes, this is madness. The madness of love. At the age of 11, I would run outside the house and weep for Krishna. As a professional, each time I would sit down to write a judgment at 5 'o'clock in the morning, I was only writing what my god dictated. Bhagwan held my hand as I put pen to paper. Everything that I have achieved in respect of the law, and people say I have achieved a lot, is owing to the guidance and inspiration of Sathya Sai Baba. There is no doubt on that score.

"The nice thing about this is we're doing this for a cause, for special needs, which, of course, is near and dear to my heart," Palin told POLITICO. "A nice social event combined with helping to raise awareness and funds for special needs. We're honored to be here." And is Palin looking forward to bumping into Donald Trump, another of the weekend's most-buzzed-about guests, at some point? "He's our buddy! We appreciate and respect Donald Trump," she said. Once inside, guests of all stripes angled to get a picture with Palin, including astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The hubbub was enough to cause one reporter to quip: "Look at all these reporters who typically rip her a new one mosey on up to her, desperate to get a photograph."