memeorandum: W.H. C'spondents: Humor birthing room (Mark Silva/The Swamp)

9:45 AM ET, May 2, 2010

Top Items:

Police Find Car Bomb in Times Square — A crude car bomb of propane, gasoline and fireworks was discovered in a smoking Nissan Pathfinder in the heart of Times Square on Saturday evening, prompting the evacuation of thousands of tourists and theatergoers on a warm and busy night.

WCBS-TV:

Police Check Times Square Cameras After Car Bomb — NEW YORK (CBS) ― Police said an SUV found parked on 45th Street was loaded with explosives, smoking and moments from blowing up when an alert t-shirt vendor noticed something wasn't right and alerted a mounted police officer.

Discussion: Jihad Watch, Telegraph, The Jawa Report and Beltway Confidential

Richard Esposito / ABCNEWS:

NYC's Times Square Evacuated in Bomb Scare — SUV Was on Fire in Tourist Area; Bomb Squad Called In — The incident in New York City's Times Square that began with a suspicious vehicle appears to have developed into a real threat from a fire bomb, according to police.

Discussion: This Just In, ThreatsWatch, The Jawa Report and TalkLeft

Wall Street Journal:

Times Square Reopens After Bomb Scare — A failed car bomb smoked, popped and shut down Times Square, causing panic, evacuations and confusion Saturday on one of the tourist spot's busiest nights. — Most of the streets in the area were reopened Sunday morning, though a heavy police presence remained in the area.

Discussion: Reuters, Firedoglake and Questions and Observations

Michelle Nichols / Reuters:
NY police confirm car bomb caused Times Sq. evacuation

Discussion: Below The Beltway, Press Association, The Moderate Voice and This Just In

Mark Silva / The Swamp:

W.H. C'spondents: Humor birthing room — President Barack Obama's approval ratings may be down among the American public. At least, he said before a black-tie dinner crowd in Washington, he remains popular in “the country of my birth.” — That's the way the laugh-lines …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, The Politico and New York Times

Julian Walker / Virginian-Pilot:

Cuccinelli opts for more modest state seal — Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli apparently isn't fond of wardrobe malfunctions, even when Virginia's state seal is involved. — The seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus, or virtue, wearing a blue tunic draped over one shoulder, her left breast exposed.

Discussion: Think Progress, skippy the bush kangaroo, The Reaction, Below The Beltway and Pharyngula

Noel Sheppard / NewsBusters.org:

Bill Maher: 'Why Isn't Barack Obama Getting More S—t For This' Oil Spill? — HBO's Bill Maher on Friday asked an extraordinary question of his guest panel: “Why isn't Barack Obama getting more s—t' for the oil spill in the Gulf? — Almost as surprising, the studio audience applauded after the “Real Time” host said this.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Breitbart.tv, Hot Air, Washington Post, The Other McCain, The Daily Caller and New York Times

New York Times:
Editorial: Unanswered Questions on the Oil Spill

Discussion: Beltway Confidential, theblogprof, The Talking Dog, Weasel Zippers, Recent Updates for Gulf …, Mediaite, CNN, NewsBusters.org, Clusterstock, JammieWearingFool, LA Times Environment Blog, Doug Ross, Pundit & Pundette, Associated Press, The Confluence, Breaking News …, Taylor Marsh and The Huffington Post

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
On my desk: The Manchurian President

Discussion: No Sheeples Here, The Confluence, JustOneMinute, Balloon Juice and Freedom's Lighthouse

Seymour Friendly / Firedoglake:

Teachers With Foreign Accents Banned in Arizona Schools — It's just beyond comprehension: Arizona has moved to eliminate ethnic studies courses and to purge schools of teachers with accents. — From the first article: … It is particularly sickening that an education policy regime now based on white …

Discussion: Joanne Jacobs

Carlos Lozano / L.A. NOW:

LAPD estimate crowd at immigrant rights rally is about half of what was expected [Updated] — [Updated, 3 p.m.: Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck estimated that about 50,000 immigration rights activists participated in Saturday's May Day rally, about half of what police estimated earlier.

Discussion: Nice Deb

New York Times:

Greece Reaches Agreement on Bailout — ATHENS — Prime Minister George Papandreou said Sunday that Greece had reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and European Union on a long-delayed rescue package that is expected to be as much as €120 billion.

Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:

Rep. Gutierrez arrested outside of White House in immigration protest — Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) was arrested outside the White House on Saturday during a May Day protest for immigration reform. — Guiterrez had been speaking to a crowd of hundreds at Lafayette Square when he announced …

Discussion: CNN, The Page and Ben Smith's Blog

Byron York / Beltway Confidential:

Top 10 dumbest things said about the Arizona immigration law — The last few days have seen an extraordinary outburst of criticism of Arizona's new immigration law. In the nation's elite media outlets, its most respected commentators are portraying the law as an act of police-state repression.

Discussion: Power Line and Hot Air

Associated Press:

Obama takes direct aim at anti-government rhetoric — ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In a blunt caution to political friend and foe, President Barack Obama said Saturday that partisan rants and name-calling under the guise of legitimate discourse pose a serious danger to America's democracy, and may incite “extreme elements” to violence.

Discussion: theblogprof, Liberal Values, Atlas Shrugs, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Riehl World View