Muslim leaders to abandon plans for Ground Zero community center  —  Insiders say Muslim spiritual leaders behind the controversial initiative are considering giving up on the former World Trade Center location, in a gesture of appeasement.  —  After weeks of heated debate over plans …

Court Extends Stay on Allowing Gay Marriage  —  SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has extended a stay on same-sex marriages in California until it decides whether a ban on such unions is constitutional.  —  It is just the latest turn in a protracted legal battle over Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban.

Christie: Both sides playing politics, don't paint all Muslims as ‘radical’  —  This is from Gov. Chris Christie at a press conference earlier today, weighing in with his first words on the ground zero-area mosque — and basically saying a pox on the houses of both political parties.

Holy Frickin' Reagan: Best Advertorial You'll See  —  Seriously, watch it.  —  This comes from the Republican Study Committee, which is headed, if I have the information right, by Rep. Tom Price of Georgia.  —  So now you can't say the GOP isn't doing anything to advance the message.

Ray Bradbury hates big government: ‘Our country is in need of a revolution’  —  Ray Bradbury is mad at President Obama, but it's not about the economy, the war or the plan to a construct a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.  —  “He should be announcing that we should go back to the moon …

Obama pleads to voters: 'Don't give in to fear'  —  MILWAUKEE - Flying thousands of miles to reap millions of dollars, President Barack Obama is dashing across the country to help his party retain power, essentially offering one familiar argument: Republicans don't solve problems.

Total destruction: GOP out to biggest generic ballot leads in history in both Gallup and Rasmussen  —  The most amazing thing about this?  When Democrats tell people that voters hate the GOP as much as they hate them, they're not blowing smoke.  That's basically true.

Obama Sees New Lows in Job Approval  —  Weekly average of 44% and three-day average of 42% are lowest yet  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Obama's job approval rating dipped to 44% for the week of Aug. 9-15, the lowest weekly average of his administration by one percentage point.

Traditional and Liberal Conservatism  —  Let's start with John Stuart Mill, On Liberty.  You'd think it's obvious but no one else has suggested it.  Why On Liberty?  —  I don't know that it's obvious since it's a classic text of liberalism, not conservatism.  —  Explain that to me.

GOP reveals midterm blueprint  —  The GOP blueprint for winning control of the House is rapidly coming into focus, with the National Republican Congressional Committee readying a $22 million TV ad blitz aimed at a handful of powerful, long-serving incumbents and several dozen of the most junior members of the Democratic majority.

Israeli-Palestinian direct talks expected to be announced soon  —  An announcement that Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to go into direct peace talks is expected in the coming days, U.S. officials, Mideast watchers and European diplomats said Monday.  —  “We are close, we are optimistic,” a U.S. official said.

U.S. Said to Plan Easing Rules for Travel to Cuba  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is planning to expand opportunities for Americans to travel to Cuba, the latest step aimed at encouraging more contact between people in both countries, while leaving intact the decades-old embargo …

U.S. Sounds Alarm at China's Military Buildup  —  WASHINGTON—The Pentagon voiced alarm over China's military buildup, saying it was expanding its advantage over Taiwan and investing heavily in ballistic and cruise missile capabilities that could one day pose a challenge to U.S. dominance in the western Pacific.

James Kilpatrick set stage for political TV talk  —  James Kilpatrick, the conservative columnist who died Sunday at the age of 89, left a wide mark on the world of letters, but his greatest impact on the political media may well have been in television.  —  Kilpatrick, known to all as Kilpo …

DeLay says he's ready to fight state ethics charges  —  AUSTIN - Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, today said he is happy to have a federal investigation of his relationship with dishonored lobbyist Jack Abramoff behind him and now is ready to fight Texas ethics charges.

‘Human-electric’ hybrid car goes 30 mph uphill  —  If four people are cranking, street-legal car can run on human power alone  —  Fred Flintstone could only dream of such a car.  The HumanCar Imagine PS, a four-seater vehicle that uses hand cranks, can take on hills at 30 miles per hour …