memeorandum: Tensions Over Mosque Rise After Comments (Thomas Catan/Wall Street Journal)

1:15 AM ET, August 23, 2010

Top Items:

Tensions Over Mosque Rise After Comments — WASHINGTON—A leader of a planned Muslim community center near Manhattan's Ground Zero compared opposition to the project to the persecution of Jews, in comments that could add to the controversy over the center's proposed site.

Discussion: Comments from Left Field, Weasel Zippers, Don Surber and The Daily Caller

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

Proposed Muslim Center Draws Opposing Protests — Around noon on Sunday, Michael Rose, a medical student from Brooklyn, approached some of the hundreds of protesters who had gathered near ground zero to rally against a mosque and Islamic center planned for the neighborhood. — Multimedia

Discussion: TalkLeft

Tammy Bruce:

Patriots Demonstrate Against GZ Mosque; Little Daisy Whines — Women patriots demonstrating against the GZ Mosque today in New York — I do have a few choice words at the end of this post. Here's coverage of the protest today at Ground Zero and the pathetic complaints …

Discussion: Rumproast and Right Wing News

Erick Erickson / RedState:

By Faith: I Am Proud of Franklin Graham … Much has been made this week of Franklin Graham's comments both about the Ground Zero Mosque and Barack Obama's religion. It has been more than hilarious to watch all the news networks, newspapers, and pundits try to explain Graham's comments.

Discussion: Mediaite, Riehl World View, Sadly, No!, Firedoglake, The Atlantic Online and Informed Comment

Dean Schabner / ABCNEWS:

‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Opponents, Supporters Turn Out to Demonstrate — Daisy Khan, Organizer, Says Opposition Is ‘Like Metastasized Antisemitism’ — Opponents of a planned Islamic community center two blocks from Ground Zero in New York shouted “Enough is enough” at supporters of the project …

Discussion: Reuters, American Power, Weasel Zippers and Raw Story

Joshua Miller / ABCNEWS:
Moving Islamic Center ‘Not’ On the Table for Now, Backer Says

Discussion: NewsReal Blog and JammieWearingFool

New York Post:
‘Ground Zero’ imam on Mideast tour to make Islam ‘Americanized’

Discussion: Pajamas Media

Anne Barnard / New York Times:
Feisal Abdul Rauf's Balancing Act in Mosque Furor

Discussion: TPMCafe, The Daily Politics, Little Green Footballs and JustOneMinute

Robert Stacy McCain / The Other McCain:

VIDEO: Democrat Jane Harman Admits, ‘Ahmadinejad Was . . . My Boyfriend!’ — Profiting from the sale of dual-use technology to Iran? Rep. Jane Harman (D-Transylvania) might have gotten away with this monstrous scheme, had it not been for Young Mattie Fein:

Discussion: Doug Ross

Mike Lillis / The Hill:

Howard Dean: Obama aides need to spend ‘some time outside Washington’ — Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Sunday that President Obama's political advisers are out of touch with average Americans and need to “spend some time outside Washington.”

Discussion: Weekly Standard and Beltway Confidential

Scott Wilson / Washington Post:

Republicans question whether President Obama deserves a vacation — VINEYARD HAVEN, MASS. — For the second straight year, the first family has landed on this island of quaint seaside towns, second homes and working farms for a late-summer getaway. — But this year, more so than last …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Washington Monthly, The Caucus and Outside the Beltway

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Reagan's first term offers measuring stick for Obama

Discussion: Macsmind, Scared Monkeys and Taylor Marsh

Pamela Geller / Atlas Shrugs:

Max Blumenthal Lies Again About Geller — Max Blumenthal, notorious Jew hater, is lying, slandering and making up racist propaganda against me again. I have no idea what this rally is. I have no idea who these people are. I have no idea who organized this rally.

Discussion: American Power and Balloon Juice

Nasser Karimi / Associated Press:

Iran inaugurates nation's first unmanned bomber — TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday inaugurated the country's first domestically built unmanned bomber aircraft, calling it an “ambassador of death” to Iran's enemies. — The 4-meter-long drone aircraft can carry …

Discussion: Danger Room, Gawker and iOwnTheWorld.com

Mike Lillis / The Hill:
As U.S. moves out of Iraq, military leaders keep an eye on Iran

Discussion: Reuters and Washington Post

Martin Chulov / Guardian:

US soldier killed in Iraq attack — Attack comes amid growing concern that security will deteriorate further after spate of bombings and shootings — An American soldier was killed by a rocket strike near Basra today, in the first US fatality since the last combat troops left Iraq.

Discussion: Newshoggers.com, Raw Story and Philly.com

Karoli / Crooks and Liars:

GOP NY Governor Candidate Paladino Argues for Welfare Camps — There was a time in this country where the poor went to poorhouses, where they were treated like chattel and had no real opportunity to pull themselves out of poverty. Progress changed all that.

Discussion: Hullabaloo and Gawker

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Going Mad in Herds — At the Bunch of Grapes bookstore on Martha's Vineyard, the sojourning President Obama bought a few books, including “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. It was for his daughter, but it may have also conjured a sweet memory for the beleaguered president.