THE CLAIM
An interesting if snarky series by WashPost

"In countries that have redefined marriage, where they've said, 'Okay, it's not just a man and a woman, it can be two men, two women,' the marriage rates in those countries have plummeted to where you have counties now in northern Europe where 80 percent of the firstborn children are born out of wedlock. . . . And currently in this country -- currently -- we're at 36 percent of our children born out of wedlock." -- Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.), Republican TV debate, Sept. 5

"You know, you look back over our history, and it doesn't take you long to realize that our people have shed more blood for other people's liberty than any other combination of nations in the history of the world.'' -- Fred D. Thompson, stump speech in Des Moines, Sept. 7

"Americans are getting fatter and dumber. . . . If things are going bad, just remember who put these people in power." -- Former senator Mike Gravel (Alaska), Democratic presidential candidate, Yahoo-Huffington Post-Slate