Top Items:
Jonah Goldberg / National Review:
Thoughts on a Dumb Conversation — So we are now in day four of the “Muslim” conversation started when Donald Trump didn't respond to a trollish question about Muslims at a town hall. A few thoughts. — 1. Donald Trump is probably right that he has no “moral obligation” to defend Barack Obama.
Discussion:
Associated Press, New Republic and Slantpoint
RELATED:
Des Moines Register:
Cruz: Excluding Muslims from presidency is unconstitutional — It would be unconstitutional to disqualify a Muslim from the presidency because of religion, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz said Sunday. — “You know, the Constitution specifies there shall be no religious test …
Discussion:
OnPolitics, Mediaite, BizPac Review, Trail Blazers Blog and Talking Points Memo
Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Carson doubles down on no Muslims in the White House
Carson doubles down on no Muslims in the White House
Discussion:
Washington Post, Talking Points Memo, Politico, Washington Monthly, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Jihad Watch, Hit & Run, FOX News Radio, BREITBART.COM, Hot Air, New Yorker, The Other McCain, The Gateway Pundit, Business Insider, Scared Monkeys, Pamela Geller, Right Wing Watch, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Liberaland, The Moderate Voice, The Huffington Post, Mediaite and Patterico's Pontifications
NBC News:
Ben Carson's Campaign Responds to Outrage Over Comments on Islam
Ben Carson's Campaign Responds to Outrage Over Comments on Islam
Discussion:
Slate, Mediaite, tpnn.com, Guardian, NPR, Front Page Magazine, Raw Story, Informed Comment, Washington Post, RT, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Atlantic and Scared Monkeys
Sarah Kaplan / Washington Post:
Despite backlash, Ben Carson is not backing down from his opposition to a Muslim president
Despite backlash, Ben Carson is not backing down from his opposition to a Muslim president
Discussion:
National Review, The Atlantic, RedState, Booman Tribune, NBC News and Daily Kos
Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo:
Jindal: I'd Vote For A Muslim Prez Who Honors US ‘Judeo-Christian Heritage’
Jindal: I'd Vote For A Muslim Prez Who Honors US ‘Judeo-Christian Heritage’
Discussion:
Mediaite
edwardklein.com:
OBAMA READY TO ENDORSE BIDEN—WITH CONDITIONS — The talk in Democratic Party circles is that Barack Obama has told Joe Biden that he is prepared to endorse him for president if, in return, Biden promises to let Obama have a final say in the choice of his vice presidential running mate.
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, BizPac Review, Israel Matzav, CNN, The Moderate Voice, Mock Paper Scissors, Moe Lane and John Hawkins' Right Wing News
RELATED:
Eric Bradner / CNN:
Poll: Clinton's lead over Sanders grows — If Joe Biden doesn't enter the race, Clinton's lead would grow to nearly 2-to-1 over Bernie Sanders — Washington (CNN)Hillary Clinton's lead in the Democratic presidential primary race has grown — and if Vice President Joe Biden decides to stay …
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
GOP braces for Pope Francis — The pope has become a political football. — Republicans want to use Pope Francis's visit to Congress this week — the first-ever by a pontiff — to highlight their opposition to abortion rights. — Democrats, meanwhile, hope the pope will lend new momentum …
Discussion:
Washington Post and FishbowlDC
RELATED:
Sara Jerde / Talking Points Memo:
Huckabee: Obama Is ‘The Most Anti-Christian’ President In US History
Huckabee: Obama Is ‘The Most Anti-Christian’ President In US History
Discussion:
The Iowa Statesman, Washington Monthly, Raw Story, Religion News Service and Balloon Juice
Melinda Henneberger / Bloomberg Business:
Pope Francis' Political Critics Are Missing Something Fundamental
Pope Francis' Political Critics Are Missing Something Fundamental
Discussion:
Politico, Religion News Service and ThinkProgress
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Pope Francis' U.S. Visit Could Benefit Both Left and Right
Pope Francis' U.S. Visit Could Benefit Both Left and Right
Discussion:
Slate
Daily Mail:
David Cameron's debauchery laid bare in Lord Ashcroft's book Call Me Dave — Today we lift the lid on the extraordinary feud between David Cameron (left) and a billionaire Tory donor that has triggered the most explosive political biography of the decade. In the dynamite book …
Discussion:
The Independent, Guardian, Spectator, Business Insider and Metro.co.uk
RELATED:
Bobby Doherty / New York Magazine:
Far from destroying our democracy, he's exposing all its phoniness and corruption in ways as serious as he is not. And changing it in the process. — As the summer of Donald Trump came to its end — and the prospect of a springtime for Trump no longer seemed like a gag …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, No More Mister Nice Blog, Booman Tribune and Prairie Weather
Jennifer Haberkorn / Politico:
Planned Parenthood called to testify — <p>The House Oversight Committee plans to call Planned Parenthood to a hearing on the undercover videos one day before the government is due to run out of money, according to Democrats on the committee.</p><p> Democratic members are demanding that David Daleiden …
Discussion:
Daily Kos
RELATED:
Jake Sherman / Politico:
‘Garbage men get used to the smell of bad garbage’
‘Garbage men get used to the smell of bad garbage’
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Signal and Fox News
Washington Post:
‘I lost part of my heart’: Beloved White House staffer Jake Brewer mourned — Sunday, on the otherwise barren asphalt surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, a noisy welcoming party for cyclists participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer sprung up in Lot 6, with an announcer offering …
Discussion:
Daily Kos, The Other McCain, Betsy's Page, Washington Free Beacon, The PJ Tatler, neo-neocon, TVNewser and Fox News
RELATED:
Joseph Goldstein / New York Times:
U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies' Abuse of Boys — KABUL, Afghanistan — In his last phone call home, Lance Cpl. Gregory Buckley Jr. told his father what was troubling him: From his bunk in southern Afghanistan, he could hear Afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.
Daily Mail:
Muslims are transforming Europe, says Art Garfunkel in warning over dangers of mass migration — While luvvies such as Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch queue up to condemn David Cameron for not allowing more migrants into Britain, one major entertainment figure has bravely voiced an alternative view.
Discussion:
Liberaland, Jihad Watch and John Hawkins' Right Wing News
Fredrick Kunkle / Washington Post:
Cancer-stricken children, parents ejected from park near White House — The U.S. Secret Service ordered hundreds of parents and their cancer-stricken children out of Lafayette Square on Saturday night, barricading the park for at least two hours and disrupting the group's plans for a candlelight vigil …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, RT, The PJ Tatler, The Daily Caller, Fox News and Twitchy
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Put a Fork in Him — Jeb Bush says a new TV ad attacking his brother, put together by an outside Democratic group, is “disgraceful.” This comes after Jeb himself put out a meme after last week's debate embracing his “he kept us” safe line from his exchange with celebrity businessman Donald Trump.
Discussion:
Washington Post
John McCormick / Bloomberg Business:
Scott Walker Mounts a Last Stand in Iowa — It's been a thrilling—and harrowing—roller coaster ride for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. — First, the Republican presidential candidate suddenly rose and broke from the pack with a well-received speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit in January …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Associated Press, Business Insider and National Review
Todd Nickerson / Salon:
I'm a pedophile, but not a monster — I'm attracted to children but unwilling to act on it. Before judging me harshly, would you be willing to listen? — I was born without my right hand. As a child, this deformity quickly set me apart from my peers.
Discussion:
The Other McCain