memeorandum: Wash. Post ombudsman Howell again displayed misunderstanding … (Media Matters for America)

Security around pope beefed up — Italian media report security around Benedict XVI tightened following harsh responses to his remarks on Islam; pope expected to deliver weekly sermon from his summer home on Sunday, but it remains unclear whether he will address international uproar

Discussion: Outside The Beltway

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National Post:

Rioters' madness shames Muslim world — Reactions of some fanatics does not help open dialogue — Father Raymond J. de Souza, National Post — The eruption of rage in some quarters of the Islamic world against Pope Benedict XVI requires that several tough things be said.

Discussion: Works and Days, Dr. Sanity and Jihad Watch

Ian Fisher / New York Times:

Vatican Says Pope Benedict Regrets Offending Muslims — Palestinian firefighters in the West Bank city of Nablus responded to the bombing of an Orthodox church Saturday. It was just one case of violence in the area after remarks made by the pope last week.

Discussion: Hit and Run and Prometheus 6

Ron Coleman / Dean's World:

The Pope stands firm, sort of — From the AP: … History really just insists on presenting surprises, doesn't it? — The Vatican's ultimate problem is the one Stalin identified: "How many divisions does the Pope have?" The joke ended up being on Uncle Joe.

Discussion: Blogs for Bush, Jihad Watch and BBC

CNN.com:

Pope to address Muslim furor … (CNN) — In the wake of an enraged response to his comments about Muslims, Pope Benedict XVI planned to address the controversy when he gives his regular Sunday blessing, or Angelus, from his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome, sources told CNN.

Discussion: Hot Air and Informed Comment

Michelle Malkin:

The Religion of Peace Firebombs & Fatwas — Yahoo News: Anglican church in Gaza firebombed — New item via AINA: "According to the website Islam Memo, one Christian was killed in Baghdad after the Pope's speech two days ago. The speech created a wave of anger throughout the Islamic world, including Iraq.

Discussion: The Smirking Chimp, Big Lizards and JunkYardBlog

Robert / Jihad Watch:
Alykhan Velshi and Mahathir Mohamad on moderate Muslims (and the Pope)

Discussion: Rive Gauche, Vers la Droite and Mere Rhetoric

Ynetnews:
Arab op-ed: Pope's remarks may lead to war

Discussion: Gateway Pundit, The American Thinker, Security Watchtower, The American Street, Mere Rhetoric, Ace of Spades HQ, Jihad Watch, USS Neverdock, Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, Middle Earth Journal, Althouse, Wizbang and The Age

The Anchoress:
For Popes and Presidents, it feels like 1981 out there

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The Jawa Report, basil's blog and protein wisdom

David Warren / davidwarrenonline.com:
Apologize for what? — The BBC appears to have been quickest off …

Discussion: Jay Currie, Tim Blair, small dead animals and Mere Rhetoric

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Somali Islamist cleric: Let's kill us a Pope

Discussion: Daily Mail and Mere Rhetoric

Joe Scarborough / Washington Post:

Save Yourself, Blame Bush — I can't help but feel sorry for my old Republican friends in Congress who are fighting for their political lives. After all, it must be tough explaining to voters at their local Baptist church's Keep Congress Conservative Day that it was their party that took …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Taylor Marsh, The Peking Duck, DownWithTyranny!, The News Blog, The Agonist and The Heretik

Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:

Na Na Ney Ney Goodbye — Bob Ney became the first lawmaker to admit corruption in connection with Jack Abramoff yesterday, pleading guilty to conspiracy and false statements regarding gifts he received. Ney came up with a new excuse for his abrupt fall as he entered his plea:

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Matt Apuzzo / Associated Press:
Ney Deal Raises Pressure on Capitol Hill

Discussion: All Spin Zone and TPMmuckraker

Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker: Ney Admits to Lobbying Florida Senator

John M. Broder / New York Times:

What Would the Democrats Do? — Some Democrats in the center of the war debate: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, James Webb of Virginia, Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Senator John Kerry, Patricia Madrid of New Mexico and Senator Joseph Biden Jr. — FOR Democrats in Congress and those hoping to join them …

Discussion: MyDD and The Gun Toting Liberal

Agence France Presse:

UN should stick to defending Lebanon from Israel: Hezbollah — TYRE, Lebanon (AFP) - A top Hezbollah leader said the Shiite group would have no problems with UN peacekeepers as long as they limit their work to defending Lebanon against Israel and do not pursue other agendas.

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard and A Blog For All

TalkLeft:

John Yoo's Falsehoods — Back to the stage returns the utterly discredited John Yoo as he pens one of the most audaciously mendacious columns seen on the Op-Ed page of the New York Times this side of David Brooks. The man is truly shameless: … The Administration has gone to war?

Discussion: Rising Hegemon

New York Times:

Iraq Stumbling in Bid to Purge Its Rogue Police — Shiite militiamen and criminals entrenched throughout Iraq's police and internal security forces are blocking recent efforts by some Iraqi leaders and the American military to root them out, a step critical to winning the trust …

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias and PoliBlog

Media Matters for America:

Wash. Post ombudsman Howell again displayed misunderstanding of difference between fact and opinion … In her column dated September 17, Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell, discussing readers' recent complaints about Washington Post editorials and columns, again conflated objections to factual errors and differences of opinion.

Washington Post:

Major Problems At Polls Feared — Some Officials Say Voting Law Changes And New Technology Will Cause Trouble — An overhaul in how states and localities record votes and administer elections since the Florida recount battle six years ago has created conditions that could trigger a repeat …

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard

James Joyner / Outside The Beltway:

Carnival of the Vanities, RIP — Zeuswood has announced the end of the Carnival of the Vanities, the granddaddy of all blog carnivals. … All good things must end. — I hosted the 43rd Edition of the Carnival in a little over three years ago and it was a ton of work but brought welcome linkage and traffic.

Discussion: Dean's World and First Carnival

Billmon / Whiskey Bar:

The Late Show — Even a blind pig, they say, can occasionally find an acorn. And in like fashion, Peggy Noonan appears to have stumbled across an insight: … The Rovians have always acted as if constant, mind-numbing repetition was an absolute virtue — the key to drowning out any competing message.

Reuters:

Three bombs hit southern Thai town —Text+HAT YAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Three bombs exploded almost simultaneously at two department stores and a hotel in the southern Thai town of Hat Yai on Saturday, wounding several people, police and the army said. — "I've had a report there might …

Discussion: Dinocrat

Aussie Dave / Israellycool:

Spain to the Rescue — Lucky for us here in Israel, our safety is not in the hands of the French alone. We can also count on troops from Spain to keep the peace, utilizing their special skills in — Gun kissing... Shaving... Hair fixing... "Disturbed soil" checking... And, umm..