Pastor Terry Jones has just called off his church's 9/11 Koran-burning event, supposedly after getting the Cordoba Initiative to relocate its Islamic community center away from Ground Zero. Cordoba's Imam Rauf, however, is denying any such deal.
Saturday marks the ninth anniversary of 9/11. And, for pastor Terry Jones down in Gainesville, Florida, it's also "International Burn a Koran Day." Tonight, Jon Stewart tore apart Jones' message, Republican lawmakers' hypocrisy, and—most importantly—Jones' mustache. Video inside.
Politico, the Beltway's go-to sociopath news outlet, has weighed all of Barack Obama's "options" for 9/11 this year and finds "few" good ones. There are apparently some grave political risks for Obama on 9/11 if he doesn't mourn properly.
Fast Company's Mark Borden tweets this terrifying photo of a rented, decommissioned missile that "Ground Zero" "Mosque" protesters are driving around the proposed Islamic community center site today, and perhaps indefinitely. Take that, "productive interfaith dialogue" prospects!
Senator Orrin Hatch, the conservative Utah Republican, has come out in support of the Park 51 Muslim community center, popularly known as the "Ground Zero Mosque." The best part? He's doing so in stronger terms than anyone besides Mayor Bloomberg:
Stephen addressed the recent stabbing of a Muslim NYC Taxi driver with a condemnation of the Post and its typically sensationalist headlines. He rightly points out that this violent jerk is ruining it for the rest of the Islamaphobes.
Like with many scandals before it, Taiwanese animation company NMA brings you a comprehensive take on all of the controversy surrounding the "Ground Zero Mosque" debate. Inside, the the appropriately cartoonish interpretation.
Oh, the New York Post thinks that guy who slashed a cabbie just for being a Muslim is a "Disgrace." That would only be ironic if the NYP had somehow helped foster a hysterical anti-Muslim environment in our city recently.
Tonight, The Daily Show switched gears for a bit and decided to discuss a different mosque controversy: a proposed one in the heart of Tennessee. The highlight? The profile of Laurie Cardoza-Moore, a ridiculously bigoted, anti-muslim member of the opposition.
"Ground Zero mosque" mania reaches exciting new heights. Last night a cabbie picked up a man at 24th and Second. The passenger asked "Are you Muslim?" The driver answered yes, and was promptly stabbed. He survived, thank god(s).
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor-King Michael Bloomberg passionately defended the downtown Islamic community center that turned into this year's "August Crazy." It was even better than the first speech he gave about the issue. Honest! Here are some highlights:
Tonight, Laura Ingraham had another DERP/foot-in-mouth moment when she basically said that a) Muslims should assimilate to the American way, b) "elites"—and Muslim radicals—resist this, and c) if they continue resisting, they should expect "stricter rules." Video inside.
While the "Ground Zero Mosque" site is two blocks away from Ground Zero, rap mogul Russell Simmons' apartment is across the street! This week he put various religious symbols in his windows to support religious freedom. Another pic with Simmons, below.
According to media hardman Michael Wolff, the anti-"Ground Zero Mosque" push from the News Corp-owned New York Post and Fox News is a reflection of the company's internal power struggles. And also, CEO Rupert Murdoch's "primitive, weird, reactionary" racism.
Tonight, Jon Stewart discussed Fox News and its reports about the funding sources of the "Ground Zero Mosque." Specifically, Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. But Fox never mentions his name... or that he's a part owner of its parent company.
While not quite comparable to "We've Got to Stop the Mosque At Ground Zero," this latest anti-mosque jam, "SALT IN THE WOUND," is still a profound piece of Real Americana. But what's that image that appears at :39?
It's unsurprising that Rep. Ron Paul, Congress' defiant libertarian, would be appalled at his fellow Republicans' demagoguery over an Islamic center in Lower Manhattan. Now that he's made his disgust apparent, though, how does it reflect on his candidate-son, Rand?
Both supporters and opponents of the "Ground Zero" "Mosque"—a proposed community center—held rallies in lower Manhattan today. Can you guess which side started chanting "no mosque here" at a black guy wandering through the crowd?
Blasting "Born in the USA" over loudspeakers, opponents of the Not At Ground Zero Park51 Community Center took to the streets of Lower Manhattan today to yell at people and wave stupid signs: "Obama, your middle-name is Hussain, we understand."
"If we let 'em build it, well can't you see, they'll turn 9/11 to a mockery," sings Trade Martin in this anti-Ground Zero Mosque song, cleverly titled, "We've Got To Stop The Mosque At Ground Zero." Yes, this is real.
