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Over the past several days, Jeremiah Wright has been talking a lot. He’s chatted with Bill Moyers on PBS, lectured reporters at the National Press Club, and addressed thousands of listeners at the NAACP.

On Tuesday, Barack Obama responded by denouncing his ex-pastor’s words. But the next day, Search revealed that the religious leader’s language continues to echo with the American public.

Over the past week, lookups for “rev. jeremiah wright” surged 782%. On Tuesday, queries like “trinity united church of chicago,” “wright obama,” and “rev. wright interview” spiked into our top 500 movers. Even “black liberation theology” jumped more than 600%. Rounding out the mix, curiosity about the pastor’s speeches, sermons, and recent appearances picked up.

The Illinois senator and his former religious leader have also been the subject of two of Buzz’s most popular politics articles over the past 24 hours. One report, from Yahoo! News, examines how Obama is “seeking to divorce himself” from Wright. Another, compiled by The Huffington Post, offers a “different” view of the reverend from a member of Trinity Church.

As far as Obama’s political future is concerned, the most important listeners right now might be the Democratic voters of Indiana and North Carolina. They go to the polls next Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether the Chicago pastor’s words will influence their decisions once they get there.

Amidst the frantic April searches into tax filings and rebate anticipation, people paused to search for tales of sports superstitions and scientific oddities.

Digging Up the Past
One of the month’s fastest rising searches involved a tattered Red Sox jersey. A plotting contractor Gino Castignoli planted the offending David Ortiz No. 34 in the new Yankee Stadium. Alas, his telltale heart and lips revealed the plot to the New York Post, and the Steinbrenners had four feet of concrete drilled to remove the jersey. An inspired eBay auction fetched more than $175,000 for charity, and dissolved the Yankees’ threat to prosecute Castignoli on criminal mischief charges.

Running back Hershel Walker went on the media circuit to promote his book and reveal that he suffered from “dissociative identity disorder,” once called multiple personality disorder. His revelations sparked huge news interest and searches on the condition.

Tiger Woods didn’t summon up past luck to win another Masters tournament. Instead, Trevor Immelman of South Africa snagged the $1.35 million purse.

Birth Miracles
Last month, a pregnant man became one of the biggest news stories in Search. While the tale of Thomas Beattie—biologically a woman who is taking male hormones to become a man—continued to attract searches in April, another birth story delivered big with the Indian girl born with two faces.

Other newsmakers among the fastest moving searches in April…

…The death of singer Sean Levert continued to ripple through Search as people sought out the cause. His passing came a few months after that of his brother, Gerald Levert. Gerald’s death was among the 10 most searched celebrity deaths in 2007.

…The Texas raid of a fundamentalist Mormon compound sparked interest in the religion as well as the concept of polygamy.

…More than a year after New York resident Sean Bell died in a fusillade of bullets hours before his wedding, a judge acquitted the undercover police who shot the unarmed groom. The case will not rest, as protests continue and the House Judiciary Committee chairman promises a federal follow-up.

….did they or didn’t they? Few celebrity weddings have been as anticipated as Jay Z and Beyonce. A private ceremony at the rapper’s apartment may have involved an exchange of rings. Meanwhile, tennis player Andy Roddick got engaged, but fianceé and model Brooklyn Decker got the Search glory.

Some have already withdrawn their name from consideration. Others are relative political unknowns. And two are too busy tussling over their party’s presidential slot to consider a No. 2 placement.

In the coming days, Republican presidential candidate John McCain will be picking his running mate. And as soon as Democrats choose, either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama will consider which running mate will fare best on their buttons, bumper stickers, and posters.

Among those who have been asked (not by McCain, but reporters), Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has already declined the honor by virtue of being too outspoken. Louisiana guv Bobby Jindal said he wouldn’t be asked and expressed contentment with his current gig, but appeared on Jay Leno … just cuz.

As McCain and eventually Obama/Clinton ponder their choices, do they also need to consider if public familiarity seeds vice-presidential possibilities? A record of public service doesn’t hurt: Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and chair Carly Fiorina garnered searches after the Wall Street Journal surfaced her name on the McCain “short list,”  although her online profile didn’t see an enthusiastic surge. Then again, running for president doesn’t guarantee you a lasting impression either: In a Search review of the vice-presidential candidate pool, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani doesn’t even make the top 20.

A Huffington Post analysis argued recently that the best “veepstakes” winners trump polls, stay in the background, come from the right state, and prove competence… such as with a solid public record. Let’s look at which names have registered among the public this past month to be the next Dick Cheney (figuratively speaking):

April’s Most-Searched Veep Possibilities
1. Barack Obama (D) Illinois senator and presidential candidate
2. Hillary Clinton (D) New York senator and presidential candidate
3. Condoleezza Rice (R) Secretary of State
4. Antonin Scalia (R) Supreme Court Justice
5. Mitt Romney (R) Former Massachusetts governor and recent presidential candidate
6. Mike Huckabee (R) Former Arkansas governor and recent presidential candidate
7. John Edwards (D) Former North Carolina senator and recent presidential candidate
8. Sarah Palin (R) Alaska governor
9. Bill Richardson (D) New Mexico governor
10. Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina senator
11. Sam Nunn (D) Former Georgia senator
12. Charlie Crist (R) Florida governor
13. Jim Webb (D) Virginia senator
14. Evan Bayh (D) Indiana senator
15. Bobby Jindal (R) Louisiana governor
16. Ted Strickland (D) Ohio governor
17. Tim Kaine (D) Virginia governor
18. Joe Lieberman (D) Connecticut senator and former vice-presidential candidate
19. Tim Pawlenty (R) Minnesota governor
20. Mark Sanford (R) South Carolina governor

Mind you, the Search ranking above is about name recognition. In queries that paired names with the words “vice president,” Romney led the pack, followed by Rice, Richardson, Jindal, and former South Dakota senator Tom Daschle (D). Giuliani made this top 10, barely beating out former president Bill Clinton (D).

Yes, a nostalgic few have posed the scenario, “can bill clinton be vice president” and the more generic question, “can an ex president be vice president.” In either case, Hillary Clinton would probably have something to say about this.

Emotions ran high on Tuesday, as political brouhahas came to a head, a video game challenged business as usual, and an incomprehensible crime stunned a nation.

Righting Wright
Was Reverend Jeremiah Wright defending the black church? Repairing his reputation? Taking revenge against a former follower? Whatever his motivations, Buzz readers picked up on AP’s criticism of the pastor’s timing, Salon’s assessment of his narcissism, and one Huffington Post writer’s thank-you for bringing race talks into the 21st century. Wright provoked a 600% rise in online searches for his sermons, speeches, and weekend appearances, and prompted Barack Obama to deliver what the Dallas Morning News characterized as their “divorce papers.”

Gaming Systems
Put aside for a moment that Grand Theft Auto is, at its essence, just an R-rated game. Reviews from USA Today and Salon are rapturous, and record sales are predicted. Its release has lifted its troubled publisher’s stock price and may strengthen the company’s takeover defenses. Reviewers are raving about GTA’s newfound conscience and sense of consequences, both of which were notably absent in its formerly insouciant approach to body counts and … er … human relations. This could be a case of a game for adults that’s finally all growed up. 

Searching Souls
As family members, authorities, and fellow countrymen try to make sense of the ongoing, soul-sickening investigation into the Austrian incest case, the AP story reported on a family reunion of the victimized daughter and her children. Readers sought to comprehend the crime with an AP follow-up looking into possible psychiatric disorders that led to the crime, while a Time.com story examined how Austrians are trying to make sense of how such crimes could happen among them.

Other stories spiking in Buzz

• The father of former Saturday Night Live cast member Cheri Oteri was killed by his roommate Saturday night. The tragedy prompted a search upswell of more than 3,000%. Although she has yet to release a public statement, People quoted her brother as calling their father a “man of peace.”

• Being groomed this week: mint sprigs, ostentatious hats, and thoroughbred horses. The Kentucky Derby debuts this Saturday, but NPR dares to ding some of its traditions. The Daily Herald reports one shall hold: The racetrack will remain honest-to-goodness dirt rather than synthetic materials.

And the hits keep on coming. Not for country crooner Mindy McCready, who last topped the charts in 1996, but rather for pitcher Roger Clemens, whose reputation continues to take a beating in the press.

Mr. Clemens, already in hot water for alleged steroid use, has been accused of additional off-the-field shenanigans. Earlier this week, the New York Daily News reported that Mr. Clemens had a decade-long affair with Ms. McCready. Ms. McCready, more known for her brushes with the law than her singing, was 15 when the supposed affair started. Clemens was 28, married, and had two kids.

Mr. Clemens has denied the rumors, saying the two are just friends. Alas, those dismissals have done little to stop the buzz. Searches on both parties have skyrocketed and several articles speculating on the possible impact of the allegations have rocketed to the top of the Buzz.

A piece from People.com explains that Ms. McCready has admitted to the relationship with Clemens. “I can’t refute anything in the story,” she says. Still, some doubt her sincerity. An article from the New York Post mentions her need for a comeback. Could this be the first step?

No matter what the motives, no matter what the truth, these unseemly accusations are likely to stay with Mr. Clemens for a long time. And the hits keep on coming…

Is this Mileygate? All day, articles, searches, and outrage related to “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus have bombarded the Buzz. What about? Not a wardrobe malfunction or a cheap paparazzi shot, but a studio portrait of the Disney mega-star by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.

To quickly recap the rumpus: The 15-year-old TV phenom posed for the A-list shutterbug for a feature in June’s Vanity Fair. Now, the images are out—and Miley doesn’t like what she sees. According to the actress, the pictures were supposed to be “artistic.” Instead, she just feels “embarassed” by them. In particular, the teen performer objects to one photo in which she’s shown looking over her shoulder, provocatively revealing a bare back.

So far, most of the articles to hit the Buzz have tracked Cyrus’ response to the image and Leibovitz’s apologetic reply. Already, though, some blogs have dug deeper. Huffington Post not only picked up an engaging item about Vanity Fair’s “history” of “embarrassing” stars, but it also turned to celebrity-on-celebrity coverage, publishing Jamie Lee Curtis’s take on the back brouhaha.

New York Magazine’s site took it one step further, compiling blog-on-blog coverage of the event. (Is this really an “event”?) Meanwhile, People.com resorted to polling the public: “Will the photos help or hurt Miley?” the site queried. In Search, demand for “miley cyrus photo scandal” skyrocketed. Don’t take it too hard, Miley. Behind every successful celebrity lurks at least one “photo scandal” search spike.

Feeling like the world is passing you by? Wondering what the heck happened on Monday? Take a look at our Buzz recap and you’ll have plenty to talk about at the water cooler.

Slow Down, Save Money
Yes, yes, we know. Gas prices are high. Many have been vocal about their displeasure, but we haven’t seen many solutions floating around. Well, here’s one: Slow down! An article from the San Francisco Chronicle explains that most cars get the best mileage between 45 and 55 miles per hour. For every mile per hour over 60 mph, fuel efficiency drops by about 1%. So in other words, if you speed, you’re throwing away money.

Go to Jail, Lose Weight
Going to the pen isn’t something folks should aspire to. But apparently there are some benefits. One prisoner, a guest of the great state of Arkansas, has lost over 100 pounds since being incarcerated. Sounds great, but there’s a hitch—he’s not happy about it. The 308-pound prisoner, charged with murder, is suing the county because he claims the prison food is inedible and he is being starved to death. An article from Yahoo! News packed on the clicks.

Become President, Gain Wrinkles
Nobody knows who will win the presidential election. It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a Stephanopoulos. Still, there is one thing we all know for sure—whoever gets the job is going to look like hell after four years in office. PopPhoto (as reported in the Huffington Post) did an age-progression experiment on each of the three candidates. No matter who the victor, the reward for four years of service seems to be gray hair and lots of wrinkles.

Also Buzzing on Monday…
• In the wake of Wesley Snipes’ jail sentence, the good people of Mental Floss have assembled a list of other celebrities who fought the tax man and lost. Willie Nelson, Boris Becker, and Spiro Agnew are on the list.

• Ever wonder what the “American Idol” contestants will be doing in five years? Of course you do. But even if you won’t admit it, you can check out this blog from PhillyBurbs for their best guesses.

Two seemingly never-ending events—the presidential race and the NFL Draft—dominated the Buzz this weekend. But those weren’t the only stories worth reading. Check out our recap for the complete scoop on the weekend that was. Who says Mondays stink?

Another One Bites the Dust
Eos Airlines, which offered business-class only service to the discriminating traveler, filed for bankruptcy over the weekend. Apparently the travelers were a bit too discriminating. A Salon.com article states that the airline will cease operations by Monday. The collapse didn’t draw huge numbers in the Buzz, but if you ask us, that’s the scary thing. Are airline bankruptcies becoming so common that nobody even notices?

A Plan to Ease Your Pain at the Pump?
Gas prices got you down? You’re not alone. The three remaining presidential candidates are talking up their plans on how to get skyrocketing oil prices under control. An article from the Dallas Daily News drew a full tank of clicks as voters read up on which candidate had the best ideas. Whether these ideas do the trick is something we’ll have to wait and see. Call us cynical, but it’s not like the government is known for working quickly…

Fatal Shark Attack Spurs Interest
A fatal shark attack off the coast of San Diego spurred tremendous interest in the fearsome creatures. Meanwhile, folks curious about why sharks attack pushed this piece from HowStuffWorks to the top of the Buzz. Why do sharks attack? It seems like a silly question, but the answer may surprise you. Definitely worth a read.

Also Buzzing this Weekend…
• For hardcore fans of the NFL, the annual draft is 48 hours of bliss. Alas, not everybody can devote two days to watching the “action,” so recaps are extremely popular in the Buzz. Several articles went deep, including this one from the Wall Street Journal.

• Miley Cyrus, the 15-year-old superstar, is poised to pose provocatively for the next issue of Vanity Fair. Not surprisingly, a piece from the Huffington Post drew a fair amount of interest.

Among the most popular stories in Buzz this week: An outspoken talk-show host files for divorce, Harry Potter claims to be on the hunt for a mysterious girl, and the U.S. government promises to begin delivering tax rebate checks early …

Hey, Guys: Star Jones Is Single
Three years ago, a gathering that included a dozen bridesmaids, a dozen groomsmen, six footmen, four ring bearers, four flower girls, and a glittering array of celebs witnessed the marriage of Star Jones and Al Reynolds. Now the couple that was joined in a very showy ceremony has filed for divorce in a very quiet one—at a Manhattan court.

The one-time “View” cohost went public with the news of her marital breakup this week. Buzz readers responded with sympathy … or something. A report from Yahoo! News leapt to the top of the week’s most voted-on stories. In Search, queries for “star jones” jumped 7,345%.

Hey, Australian Girl: Daniel Radcliffe Is Looking for You
Desperately seeking cute Aussie girl. Actor Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his portrayal of the boy-wizard Harry Potter, said this week that he’s hoping to reconnect with an unknown woman he saw at an Australian movie-awards party. “She stared at me all night and I was going to get her number and then I couldn’t find her,” the young thespian remarked.

This “missed connection” enthralled Buzz readers, sending numerous reports on the amorous pursuit soaring upwards. So far, more than one candidate has stepped forward to claim the “mystery girl” title. But just as we were thinking it might take a full-fledged sorcerer to get out of this one, Radcliffe said it was all just “a joke.” That wily wizard!

Hey, Everybody: The Checks Will Soon Be in the Mail
Earlier this week, the Treasury Department set hearts afluttering—and checkbooks a-flapping—when it announced that it will begin delivering tax rebate checks earlier than expected. According to reports, the stimulus starts Monday, April 28. A post from SavvySugar about the happy development immediately racked up a slew of Buzz votes, eventually topping the week’s Business news.

Also Spiking in Buzz This Week …

• Lovers of rice pilaf, be warned. Two of the nation’s largest wholesale chains, Sam’s Club and Costco, announced they will begin restricting bulk sales of rice due to “recent supply-and-demand trends.” The statements promptly lobbed queries on “rice shortage” into our top hourly searches.

• Orlando Brown, the young star of “That’s So Raven,” went to 7-Eleven on Tuesday and didn’t come back for more than 24 hours. Eventually he reappeared, explaining that he “needed to be alone.” Before he returned, though, his publicist and his fans became frantic. The promoter reported his absence to the police, and his viewers sent articles and searches on him reeling upwards in Buzz.

• The Texas polygamy case continues to unfold in the courts and on the Web. This week, a report on the Lone Star sect’s “public relations campaign” picked up traction with Buzz readers.

News came in from all sides on Friday, but amidst startling verdicts and shocking evacuations, some of the biggest Buzz honed in on a few million checks coming in the mail. Honest.

Big Spenders
You win the lottery, and all of a sudden long-lost relatives and spamming Nigerian princes clamor for your attention. Now government rebates have made all qualifying American taxpayers winners, and retailers their closest pals. USA Today rounded up store offers for spending those checks on gift cards with a cash or discount enticement. Travel marketers have also timed vacation specials to coincide with that check in the mail, offering cheeky promotions like “Economic Stimulus Package” and “Vacation on the Government Package.” But not everyone wants you to buy, buy, buy: Some advise looking at the rebate not as a mini-windfall, but as an excuse to evaluate one’s financial patterns. Oh, and that advice also comes with a pitch from financial planners.

Startling Acquittals
On November 25, 2006, Sean Bell visited a Queens club with friends the night before his wedding, and died there in a fusillade of bullets. Now 17 months later, Queens Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman released his verdict, acquitting the 3 undercover police officers in the unarmed groom’s shooting death. Outcry, although not upheaval, followed the announcement. Readers have tuned into the flood of stories that covered the reactions (including those of the detectives themselves, one of whom apologized to the Bell family), the players involved, possible prosecutorial blunders, and the nationwide pattern of police shootings. According to the New York Times, a rally is planned Saturday. The end of this trial may simply mean the beginning of another, as the U.S. attorney and NYPD investigators weigh their options.

Mass Evacuations
In Konan, a commuter town in southern Japan, a 14-year-old girl mixed common household ingredients into a suicide cocktail that killed her and prompted about 120 neighbors to flee the toxic gas cloud. She was one of four to do so Friday, once again highlighting Japan’s suicide rate (ranked the eighth highest in the world) and the deadly Internet cults that have made committing suicide far too easy.

Other stories spiking in Buzz

• Searchers have long probed Blackwater’s cloak of secrecy, especially when Congress investigated the North Carolina company’s mercenary activities following civilian shootings in Iraq. Although Blackwater has laid low for a while, its plan to move to the Wild West and open a training camp has revived media—and Buzz—attention.
• Arguably Italy’s most famous saint, Padre Pio (formerly known as Francesco Forgione) has been exhumed, undergone on a makeover, and now lies as an exhibit and tourist attraction. For those unable to trek to San Giovanni Rotondo, Time.com has put together a slideshow showing how a saint is revived.
• As the Beijing Olympics draws nearer, Chinese government officials changed their stance and agreed to meet with Dalai Lama representatives. The last time the two sides held talks was last summer.