Florida Junior Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who is expected by political pundits to be a main contender for the 2016 presidential race, said in a recent interview that his future in politics has already been planned by God.

Rubio said that he is not concerned that his support for immigration reform in the U.S. will hinder his chances of becoming the Republican nominee for the 2016 election.

"Whatever is going to happen on this issue, whatever is going to happen with me is what God's already planned for me," Rubio told David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network's "The Brody File." more >>

Despite threats from several Democrats in the Senate that forced him to withdraw an amendment that would allow gay couples to sponsor green cards for their foreign partners last month, Sen. Patrick Leahy decided to file it anyhow to the Gang of Eight immigration bill on Tuesday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman had withdrawn the amendment during the markup of the bill last month after a contentious debate during which Republicans said they wouldn't have it and Democrats threatened to oppose the measure if it threatened the overall passage of the bill.

"You've got me on immigration. You don't have me on marriage. If you want to keep me on immigration, let's stay on immigration," Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), one of the gang of eight, said  during the debate over the amendment . more >>

In a first since 2005, more Americans now see former president George W. Bush in a favorable light than those who don't. Democrats have had the most apparent change of heart toward him.

According to the results of a Gallup poll published on Tuesday, some 49 percent of Americans now have a favorable view of Bush compared with 46 percent who hold an unfavorable view of him.

When Bush left office in January 2009, just 40 percent of Americans had a positive view of him while 59 percent viewed him negatively. That favorability rating dropped to a 35 percent positive rating to 63 percent negative outlook by March 2009. His lowest favorability rating came in April 2008 during difficult economic times and a period of high gas prices. more >>

As the nation awaits a Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of an affirmative action program at The University of Texas at Austin, two new polls show low public support for affirmative action, even among liberals and Democrats.

Seventy-six percent of registered voters oppose allowing universities to consider an applicant's race in their admissions process, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll asked a broader question: "Is affirmative action still needed, or should it be ended?" Forty-five percent answered that it should be ended, an all-time high since the same pollster began asking the question in 1991. more >>

Craig Fletcher, the mayor of Vero Beach, Fla., has issued an apology for recent comments he made regarding Humanist Recognition Week, which he refused to approve because humanists do not worship Jesus Christ.

Fletcher said in a recent statement that after consulting with his wife and pastor, he has realized that his statements were "way out of line."

"I want to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone whom I may have offended by my remarks last Tuesday at the City Council meeting. It was a horrific statement and on reflection was way out of place for an elected official to take such a strident stance. I hope everyone will find it in their heart to forgive me," Fletcher told WPBF West Palm Beach. more >>

HGTV viewers are expressing outrage after the network suggested they use American flags as tablecloths for Fourth of July celebrations. Many viewers called it offensive, un-American and an insult to the American military.

"Using an American flag as a table cloth dishonors all Americans who love Old Glory – especially those who gave their lives defending it," one viewer wrote. "No one dies for a table cloth."

The HGTV website featured a segment titled, "Classic Fourth of July Table Setting Ideas." The photographs show bowls of fruit and a jar of lemonade sitting atop Old Glory. They called the flag an "unconventional table" linen. more >>