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- I had been operating under the assumption that our current "mosque controversy" was structurally similar to the "controversy" which erupted from the decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a federal court in New York City. But Dave Weigel has rediscovered an even better comparison: The Dubai Ports scandal of 2006. Then, as now, Democrats engaged in some All-American Muslim Bashing, but now it seems to be out of total cowardice whereas then it was for the lofty goal of getting revenge on George W. Bush.
- I think Roger Simon's sarcastic column for today's Politico, "Obama, the One Term President," is a near-perfect example of the corruption of the Beltway press corps, and it's inability to rise above cynicism that emerges from modern partisan politics. Alex Pareene articulates it well: "This column documents the struggle between Simon's Politico instincts and his apparent possession of a soul. And look, the misleading, stupid headline even won the morning."
- John Bolton, as usual, is urging Israel to bomb Iran. But now there's a deadline -- eight days! The reason? A shipment of nuclear fuel for a reactor is set to arrive, so bombing the fuel after it's been installed would release harmful radiation. In other words, Bolton is motivated by a desire to protect Iranian civilians from harm, and his preferred course of action is to have a proxy start a war with Iran. Monstrous.
- Remainders: Heading a think tank can be quite lucrative; Barney Frank and Ron Paul propose some austerity for the U.S. military; John McCain is a vindictive, bitter and hollow man; CNN just loves promoting the deeply serious concerns of the Obamas' "critics"; and a reasoned defense of the Spanish Inquisition.
--Mori Dinauer
