memeorandum: With Paterson, the Simple Facts Can Get Complicated (New York Times)

3:25 PM ET, August 28, 2010

Top Items:

Beck Tells Crowd to Concentrate on ‘Good Things in America.’ — Conservative commentator Glenn Beck exhorted a crowd of activists gathered on the National Mall Saturday morning to restore the traditional honor and values of the nation. — “For too long, this country has wandered in darkness …

Discussion: Instapundit, Firedoglake, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Colorlines, Atlas Shrugs and Brilliant at Breakfast

The Note:

Sarah Palin at Glenn Beck's Rally: ‘Dr. King Would Be So Proud’ — ABC News' Tahman Bradley reports: Christiane Amanpour and I caught up with Sarah Palin backstage at Glenn Beck's “Restoring Honor” rally. — Here's what she said during a brief stop to shake hands. — Someone: How excited are you about Joe Miller's win?

Discussion: CNN and Weasel Zippers

Kate Zernike / New York Times:

Where Dr. King Stood, Tea Party Claims His Mantle — WASHINGTON — It seems the ultimate thumb in the eye: that Glenn Beck would summon the Tea Party faithful to a rally on the anniversary of the March on Washington, and address them from the very place where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, CNN, The Politico, Gateway Pundit, Michelle Malkin, USA Today, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Caucus, Big Government, Bloomberg, Sister Toldjah, Conservatives4Palin.com, iOwnTheWorld.com and Wonkette

Bob Herbert / New York Times:

America Is Better Than This — America is better than Glenn Beck. For all of his celebrity, Mr. Beck is an ignorant, divisive, pathetic figure. On the anniversary of the great 1963 March on Washington he will stand in the shadows of giants — Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr …

Discussion: Townhall.com, Washington Post, Don Surber, Peter Daou, Daily Kos and RealClearPolitics Video Log

Janie Lorber / The Caucus:

Parallel Rallies by Beck and Sharpton — People posing with an Abraham Lincoln lookalike while arriving for the “Restoring Honor” event on the National Mall on Saturday in Washington — Two political foes - Glenn Beck and the Rev. Al Sharpton Jr. - are gathering hundreds of thousands …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Politico, Townhall.com, Washington Post, Gawker and Think Progress

David S. Broder / Washington Post:

There was nothing to fear on Aug. 28, 1963 — Idid not stick around to see Glenn Beck's extravaganza at the Lincoln Memorial, not out of protest but because I had work to do in Philadelphia. But I was more than satisfied by my memories of the earlier event at that site I'd covered …

Discussion: American Thinker and The Reality-Based Community

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

TWO VERY DIFFERENT DREAMS, STRIVING FOR VERY DIFFERENT MOUNTAINTOPS.... I have a meeting this morning that's going to delay my Saturday posting schedule a bit, but in the meantime, as throngs of anti-government zealots assemble at the Lincoln Memorial, I thought I'd take a moment to consider the word “we.”

Discussion: Prairie Weather, Right Wing News, THEROOT.COM and Brilliant at Breakfast

CNN:

Beck talks faith in rally coinciding with anniversary of King's speech — Washington (CNN) — Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck opened his controversial “Restoring Honor” rally Saturday by urging Americans to “turn back to God” and return the nation to the values on which it was founded.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Runnin' Scared and The Politico

New York Times:

In Washington, a Call for Religious Rebirth — Correction Appended — WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of people rallied at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Saturday at an event organized by the conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck, who called for a religious rebirth in America at the site …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Christian Science Monitor

ABCNEWS:

Glenn Beck's ‘Restoring Honor’ Rally Draws Tea Party Activists — Organizers Say Rally Not Political, Civil Rights Leaders Criticize Timing — Glenn Beck's ‘Restoring Honor’ Rally to Celebrate Martin Luther King — Veazey referred to Beck's comment from July 2009 that President Obama has …

Discussion: CNN, Firedoglake and TBogg

Mary C. Curtis / Politics Daily:

Glenn Beck ‘Restoring Honor’ Rally Draws Tens of Thousands to National Mall — On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, at the spot Martin Luther King Jr. spoke 47 years ago, conservative commentator Glenn Beck told a huge “Restoring Honor” rally Saturday that the United States has “wandered in the darkness” for too long.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Emi Kolawole / Washington Post:
Live Coverage: Al Sharpton's ‘Reclaim the Dream’ march

Discussion: Gateway Pundit, AMERICAN DIGEST, Gothamist, Story Lab and PostPartisan

Paul Bedard / US News:

EPA Surrenders to NRA on Gun Control Issue — EPA rejects attempt to regulate lead in bullets after NRA protests — In a swift and unexpected decision, the Environmental Protection Agency today rejected a petition from environmental groups to ban the use of lead in bullets and shotgun shells …

Discussion: The TrogloPundit, Right Wing News, RedState and Weekly Standard

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
EPA on lead-ammunition ban: Never mind

Discussion: US News and Political Byline

Paul Krugman:

Nobody Could Have Predicted — One point I haven't seen made about the troubles of the US economy is that the timing of recent growth tells you a lot about what was — and what wasn't — wrong with economic policy. — After all, we had more or less a consensus view about when the stimulus would kick in …

Discussion: TheMoneyIllusion

Alaska_Politics / Anchorage Daily News:

UPDATED: Joe Miller likens Murkowski post-election scenario to that of “the oldest profession” — From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. — He didn't use the actual word, but few who saw Joe Miller's online analogy failed to grasp exactly what he meant.

Discussion: Top of the Ticket, Ben Smith's Blog, Conservatives4Palin.com, Daily Kos, Hot Air, The Other McCain, Swing State Project and Washington Post

James L. / Swing State Project:
AK-Sen: Stay Classy, Joe Miller!

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Crooks and Liars, The Daily Caller, Salon, TPMDC, Riehl World View, The Atlantic Online, The Note, The Mudflats and msnbc.com

Naftali Bendavid / Washington Wire:

For Reid, No NRA Endorsement — The National Rifle Association announced Friday that it won't be endorsing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) for re-election this November. — The NRA has not endorsed Mr. Reid in the past, but his backers had been hoping for its official blessing this time around.

Discussion: Erick's blog