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Michael Bloomberg delivers stirring defense of mosque — Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has emerged as the unlikely but passionate defender of the planned Muslim community center near ground zero, today traveled to Governors Island off the tip of Lower Manhattan to deliver a stirring plea …
Discussion:
USA Today, Tom Watson, Will Wilkinson, Little Green Footballs and Think Progress
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If He Could, Bin Laden Would Bomb the Cordoba Initiative — This seems like such an obvious point, but it is apparently not obvious to the many people who oppose the Cordoba Initiative's planned mosque in lower Manhattan, so let me state it as clearly as possible: The Cordoba Initiative …
Discussion:
Whiskey Fire, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Top of the Ticket, Swampland, Newshoggers.com, Time, The League of Ordinary …, Wall Street Journal, Little Green Footballs, Washington Post, No More Mister Nice Blog, Cynthia Tucker, Tablet Magazine, Commentary, The Poor Man Institute, The Mahablog and The New Republic


Mayor Bloomberg Stands Up For Mosque — Mayor Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and 10 religious leaders of various faiths journeyed to Governors Island this afternoon to show their support for the proposed mosque and community center near the World Trade Center site.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Debate Link, Gawker, Salon, Weasel Zippers, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, New York Magazine and The Huffington Post

COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE, FOOT-SHOOTING BIGOTRY.... I don't often agree …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice

Defending Religious Tolerance: Remarks on the Mosque Near Ground Zero
Discussion:
Philly.com, Swampland and The Daily Politics

Mosque Near Ground Zero Clears Key Hurdle
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Metropolis, Hot Air, The Huffington Post, Mediaite, PrawfsBlawg, The Daily Politics, Above the Law, Focal Point, The Caucus, The Atlantic Online, INSTAPUTZ, Democracy in America, Althouse, Commentary, Guardian, The Moderate Voice, Taylor Marsh, Washington Monthly and Lawyers, Guns & Money


Bristol Palin to Levi Johnston: 'It's Over' — And just like that, they were off again. “It's over. I broke up with him,” Bristol Palin tells PEOPLE exclusively of her second try at an engagement to Levi Johnston, father of her 19-month-old son Tripp. — Palin, 19, says the relationship soured …


McCain Faces Tough Questions About GOP Push To Repeal 14th Amendment — The GOP push to change the Constitution to eliminate so-called birthright citizenship is already causing problems for some of its own members. Case in point: John McCain. — In the final moments of a morning press conference …
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There They Go Again: Two Senators Continue False and Misleading Attacks on Recovery Act — This morning two senators—John McCain and Tom Coburn—released their third report critiquing 100 Recovery Act projects. And just like the last two, this one was an inaccurate and misleading attack …
Discussion:
Politics Daily, Matthew Yglesias, Washington Monthly, The Hill and The New Republic


Harry Reid holds narrow edge in Nevada: Reuters-Ipsos poll — (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, one of America's most powerful politicians, holds a narrow edge among likely voters in his re-election bid in recession-lashed Nevada, a Reuters-Ipsos poll said on Tuesday.
Discussion:
The Reaction, Washington Wire, The Page, Talking Points Memo, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and TPMDC
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Reid abandons oil-spill, energy legislation — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has yanked consideration of legislation responding to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill for the summer without floor debate or votes this week. — “It's a sad day when you can't find a handful of Republicans …
Discussion:
The Politico, CNN, The Note, Wonk Room, The Page, MyDD, National Review and AmSpecBlog

Senate Democrats punt on spill bill
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online and RedState

Missouri Votes Against Health Law — Missouri voters on Tuesday easily approved a measure aimed at nullifying the new federal health care law, becoming the first state in the nation where ordinary people made known their dismay over the issue at the ballot box.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, The Politico, Los Angeles Times, Pajamas Media and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
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Snyder wins in Michigan, Moran in Kansas; Rep. Kilpatrick loses primary
Discussion:
The Page


Aerial Photograph of Location of Incident Along Lebanese Border, 3 — Earlier today, an IDF force performing routine pre-coordinated maintenance in Israeli territory was attacked in a provocative act by the Lebanese Armed Forces. This map reflects the exact location of the incident …
Discussion:
New York Times, RubinReports, The Huffington Post, Israellycool, Elder of Ziyon, Israel Matzav, Pajamas Media, Yahoo! News and The Jawa Report
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Black Caucus head said media to blame for Rep. Waters fallout — The chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Tuesday blamed the media for overhyping the fallout over Rep. Maxine Waters's ethics trial. — Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said in a statement that people should not prejudge Waters …
Discussion:
The Politico, Hot Air, Weasel Zippers, Scared Monkeys, The Hill and Boston Globe
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Rep. Issa: Rangel should lose pension if he is found guilty of ethics violations
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers


Race And Gay Marriage In Perspective — Candy Holmes, left, of Washington, affixes a marriage equality pin to her partner of 14 years, Darlene Garner, on arriving at Superior Court to obtain their marriage licenses after the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage in Washington, on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
Discussion:
The League of Ordinary … and The Other McCain
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Behind the numbers of Prop. 8
Discussion:
Wonk Room, The Volokh Conspiracy and The Political Carnival

Hey, Small Spender — One of the things everyone knows right now is that Obama has presided over a huge increase in government spending. But like so many of the things everyone knows, it isn't true. — A few considerations to bear in mind: — 1. You don't want dollar amounts …
Discussion:
The New Republic


U.S. Finds Most Oil From Spill Poses Little Additional Risk — WASHINGTON — The government is expected to announce on Wednesday that three-quarters of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon leak has already evaporated, dispersed, been captured or otherwise eliminated — and that much of the rest …
Discussion:
New York Magazine and National Review

ABC whacks Shales over attack on Amanpour — ABC is hitting back at Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales for pushing “an utterly fabricated controversy” about “This Week” host Christiane Amanpour supposedly calling on viewers to honor slain Taliban fighters.
Discussion:
Mondoweiss and Romenesko


GOP puzzled as Steele courts ambassadors — “Everyone's effort has to be focused on electing Republicans right now and that means making sure we have the resources to turn out the vote,” said longtime party strategist Jim Dyke, who was a part of Steele's original circle of advisers at the outset of his RNC term.
Discussion:
Power Line


I Got My Correction Thanks to the The New York Times — Now Who's Next? — Buried at the bottom of a story published the other day, the New York Times printed a curious little correction: … Let's go over that again: — The Times is admitting that there is absolutely no evidence …
Discussion:
Mediaite and JOSHUAPUNDIT

Where's the oil? It's oozing out of the Louisiana ground — A slew of media reports last week asked, “Where is the oil?” angering many along the Gulf Coast, particularly those still seeing oil all over the place. BP, the oil giant that's been trying to stem the flow of oil from its busted …
Discussion:
Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog! and AMERICAblog News


The Republican Who Gives Me Hope — Because, regardless of whether you agree or disagree, he's being intellectually honest about the debt and entitlements, even if he is far too utopian in seeing a viable political majority for his vision. And because he seems unafraid to put real, adult fiscal conservatism to the people:
Discussion:
Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!


Elena Kagan Draws Opposition From Senators who Backed Sotomayor — There is no question that Elena Kagan will be easily confirmed by the Senate this week to join the Supreme Court. But in recent days, Kagan has lost a handful of key votes from both sides of the aisle that Sonia Sotomayor secured during …
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch


Another censure resolution for Lindsey Graham — Sen. Lindsey Graham was censured by yet another GOP state county party Monday night. — Washington (CNN) - Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who often finds himself out of step with the most conservative elements of his party …
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, Weasel Zippers and The Hill

An Immigrant's View of the ‘Immigration Problem’ — A major U.S. newspaper has asked immigrant readers to relate their immigration stories and experiences and, in particular, how they have been affected by illegal immigration—in 250 words or fewer. — As one of those immigrants—with a story to tell—I have responded.


Islamic police smash 80,000 beer bottles in Nigeria — KANO, Nigeria (AFP) - Islamic police smashed 80,000 bottles of beer in the Nigerian city of Kano on Tuesday to enforce a sharia law ban on consumption of alcohol that exists in much of the country's north.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch