Beck: "[A] handful of people who hate America ... are losing their homes in a forest fire today"  —  On the October 22 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, host Glenn Beck stated, "I think there is a handful of people who hate America.  Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today."

Defending Islamofascism  —  IT'S A VALID TERM.  HERE'S WHY.  —  The attempt by David Horowitz and his allies to launch "Islamofascism Awareness Week" on American campuses has been met with a variety of responses.  One of these is a challenge to the validity of the term itself.

My choice for president  —  A short time ago, I wrote in jest about what I would do if I am elected president.  Of course, that was written all in good fun.  —  Like most of you, over the summer and into the fall, I've been watching, listening, studying and praying about who could lead this country as our next president.

Obama, the Gospel Singer and Gays  —  A Gospel concert tour organized by the Barack Obama campaign on behalf of the candidate is stirring controversy among some gay activists.  —  The three-day tour through early-voting South Carolina starts this Friday and finishes Sunday with a concert …

Thompson's Daughter's Death Informs Right-to-Die Stance  —  Thompson Says End-of-Life Decisions Should Not Become 'Political Football'  —  In a moving, pointed and rare response to a question about the Terri Schiavo controversy, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee Monday afternoon described details …

The Worst 'Notable Quotables' of the Past 20 Years  —  To commemorate the Media Research Center's 20th anniversary this month, we've just published a special expanded edition of our 'Notable Quotables' newsletter.  This issue contains more than100 of the most outrageous, sometimes humorous …

Worried Bin Laden Urges Iraq Insurgents to 'Unite'  —  Brian Ross and Rehab El-Buri Report:  —  Showing apparent signs of concern over events in Iraq, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden urged insurgents to "unite your lines into one" in an audiotape played on al Jazeera Monday.

Little taste of Russia: Little Green Footballs removes Ron Paul from their GOP Poll for "gaming" reasons then "games" C&L's Poll  —  You can't make this stuff up.  The righties were all in a huff over my Pete Stark post and yes-Charles Johnson, who attacked Jill Carroll after she was released …

Lessing Says Sept. 11 Attacks Not So Bad  —  MADRID, Spain (AP) - Nobel laureate Doris Lessing said the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States were "not that terrible" when compared to attacks by the IRA in Britain.  —  "September 11 was terrible, but if one goes back over the history of the IRA …

Mostest  —  I've sort of gotten tired of explaining that, no, the Founding Fathers actually weren't all born-agains and bible thumpers.  Not hardly.  (Probably better to say that the great majority ranged from believers in an entirely impersonal God — Deists — to believing Christians …

How much did the Democrats suck?  —  Last week was, as I noted below, a terrible week for Democrats in Washington and progressive politics more generally.  And the consensus is that, for all intents and purposes, the Democrats blew it.  —  I think that's basically true, but worth examining a bit more deeply.

Witch Creek Fire  —  We have been linked to by several other weblogs, and I welcome all new readers to this site.  I know most of you folks love my maps.  The base for them is this Google Map site that is full of interesting and useful information.  —  View Larger Map

Violence in Iraq drops sharply: Ministry  —  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Violence in Iraq has dropped by 70 percent since the end of June, when U.S. forces completed their build-up of 30,000 extra troops to stabilize the war-torn country, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Mistrial declared in Muslim charity case  —  DALLAS - A judge declared a mistrial Monday for four former leaders of a Muslim charity accused of funding terrorism, after chaos broke out in the court when three jurors disputed some verdicts that had been read.

White House helped craft 'gay'/transsexual rights bill  —  Family-values advocates oppose sex-based workplace privileges  —  Staff members for President Bush have helped congressional staffers work on "religious exemption" language for a new "anti-discrimination" proposal that actually …