Wars on two fronts. A tanking economy, with its roller-coaster stock market, big corporate and Wall Street bailouts and near historic unemployment figures. Even Santa became a reluctant shopper. Unimaginable millions spent on political campaigns while some Americans are doing without.

Mayhem in a park in Phoenix, at a Hanukkah party in New York, at a Christmas party in California, on roads in Dallas and its suburbs.

Closer to home, children abused in the name of religion and by adoptive parents, job loss scares and job losses, a county jail that seems better fitted for ...

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