Top Items:
New York Post:
Terror group's leader: ‘Have to build it’ — By S.A. MILLER in Washington and TOM TOPOUSIS in New York — A leader of the Hamas terror group yesterday jumped into the emotional debate on the plan to construct a mosque near Ground Zero — insisting Muslims “have to build” it there.
RELATED:
Mark Halperin / Time:
Why Republicans Must Avoid a ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Battle — From left: J. Scott Applewhite / AP; Mike Segar / Reuters — Dear Republican Party: — Your moment is now. — This weekend, President Obama defended the right of Muslims to build a community center and mosque two short blocks …
Ross Douthat / New York Times:
Islam in Two Americas — There's an America where it doesn't matter what language you speak, what god you worship, or how deep your New World roots run. An America where allegiance to the Constitution trumps ethnic differences, language barriers and religious divides.
Discussion:
Commentary, The New Republic, National Review, Balloon Juice, No More Mister Nice Blog, INSTAPUTZ and First Draft
Justin Elliott / Salon:
How the “ground zero mosque” fear mongering began — A group of progressive Muslim-Americans plans to build an Islamic community center two and a half blocks from ground zero in lower Manhattan. They have had a mosque in the same neighborhood for many years. There's another mosque two blocks away from the site.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog and The Mahablog
Faiz Shakir / Think Progress:
Former Bush Adviser Mark McKinnon Rips GOP's Stance On Mosque: 'We're Reinforcing Al Qaeda's Message' — On Morning Joe earlier today, a pair of leading Republicans — host Joe Scarborough and former Bush strategist Mark McKinnon — blasted the GOP for its xenophobic and unconstitutional stance …
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org, The Daily Beast and Suburban Guerrilla
Michael Gerson / Washington Post:
Obama's mosque duty
Obama's mosque duty
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, USA Today, Cato @ Liberty, Sweetness & Light, George's Bottom Line and The Nation
Guy Adams / The Independent:
President goes for a swim in the Gulf - or does he? — President Barack Obama wanted to convince America that the Gulf of Mexico remains open for business. But perhaps he didn't want the world to catch another glimpse of his hairless chest. — So when he and his daughter, Sasha …
Discussion:
Right Pundits, This ain't Hell …, Political Byline, Left Coast Rebel, No More Mister Nice Blog and Say Anything
RELATED:
ZIP / Weasel Zippers:
FAIL: Obama's Much Heralded Swim in the Gulf Wasn't Actually in the Gulf... Another master PR move by Chicago Jesus...
Discussion:
JOSHUAPUNDIT and RedState
Hillel Koren / Globes Online:
Harvard University fund sells all Israel holdings — No reason for the sale was mentioned in the report to the SEC. — In another blow to Israeli shares, the Harvard Management Company notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday that it had sold all its holdings …
Discussion:
Clusterstock, Felix Salmon, YID With LID, Israel Matzav, Political Byline, Weasel Zippers, Doug Ross, Solomonia, Soccer Dad and Riehl World View
RELATED:
Steve Bainbridge / ProfessorBainbridge.com:
Did Harvard Divest From Israel?
Did Harvard Divest From Israel?
Discussion:
Clusterstock, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog and Israel Matzav
Solomon / Solomonia:
Is Harvard Divesting from Israel? Not So Fast! (Monday Update)
Is Harvard Divesting from Israel? Not So Fast! (Monday Update)
Discussion:
Betsy's Page
Pamela Geller / Atlas Shrugs:
Harvard Whores for Jihad: Harvard University Fund Sells all Israel holdings
Harvard Whores for Jihad: Harvard University Fund Sells all Israel holdings
Discussion:
Clusterstock and Israpundit
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Feds clear DeLay after six years — The Justice Department has informed former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) that the government has ended a six-year investigation of his ties to the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to DeLay's lead counsel in the matter, Richard Cullen, chairman of McGuireWoods.
Discussion:
Washington Wire, JOSHUAPUNDIT, Hot Air, Pat Dollard, The Eye, TRAIL BLAZERS, Swampland and Say Anything
RELATED:
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Justice Dept. ends 6-year investigation of Tom DeLay …
Justice Dept. ends 6-year investigation of Tom DeLay …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and TPMMuckraker
Fred Kaplan / Foreign Policy:
The Transformer — Bob Gates never thought he'd be Barack Obama's defense secretary. Now, in an exclusive interview, the most revolutionary Pentagon leader since Robert McNamara tells FP why he said yes, when he'll get out of Washington, and what legacy he hopes to leave behind.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Josh Rogin's blog, The Hill, Outside the Beltway, Reuters, msnbc.com and TPMDC
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Gates to Leave Pentagon by End of 2011 — FILE: Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen testify at the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 17, 2010. (AP). — Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Monday he will retire by the end of 2011, Fox News confirmed.
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Attacking Social Security — Social Security turned 75 last week. It should have been a joyous occasion, a time to celebrate a program that has brought dignity and decency to the lives of older Americans. — But the program is under attack, with some Democrats as well as nearly all Republicans joining the assault.
James Pethokoukis / Weekly Standard:
Obama's Bad Bets — “Recovery Summer” goes bust — Declaring a “Recovery Summer” victory tour at the start of June must have looked like a pretty safe wager for the Obama administration. The economy seemed to have shifted firmly into gear during the spring.
Discussion:
protein wisdom, Hit & Run and Say Anything
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Dept. of propaganda — Rep. Darrell Issa is out with a report this morning claiming that the Obama administration has engaged in an unprecedented amount of illegal propaganda. — The charge is almost undoubtedly true: As the report drily catalogues, virtually every 20th century administration …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo and Say Anything
Mark Whitehouse / Wall Street Journal:
Boomers Threaten Economy — America's baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—face a problem that could weigh on the economy for years to come: The longer it takes for the economy to recover, the less money they'll have to spend in retirement. — Policy makers have long worried …
Discussion:
Clusterstock and Philly.com
Joshua Green / The Atlantic Online:
Steroids Still Stalking Linda McMahon — Linda McMahon, the Republican wrestling impresario, has crept to within striking distance of Richard Blumenthal in the Connecticut Senate race. But news that a 29-year-old former WWE wrestler died over the weekend of heart failure is bound to be a setback …