memeorandum: Hurting U.S. Efforts to Win Minds, Taliban Disrupt Pay (Richard A. Oppel Jr/New York Times)

6:40 AM ET, April 4, 2010

Top Items:

Mark Steyn / The Corner on National Review Online:

The Democrats' Fake Hate Crime — By: Mark Steyn — Jonah mentioned this the other day in his column, but the tireless Andrew Breitbart returns to the theme, to devastating effect. — On March 20th, something truly extraordinary happened. On the eve of the health care vote …

Discussion: Power Line and The Other McCain

CNN:

Disgruntled Democrats join the Tea Party — Grand Junction, Colorado (CNN) — They are not typical Tea Party activists: A woman who voted for President Obama and believes he's a “phenomenal speaker.” Another who said she was a “knee-jerk, bleeding heart liberal.” — These two women are not alone.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, The Gun Toting Liberal, Taylor Marsh, The Impolitic, Another Black Conservative, Flopping Aces and Crooks and Liars

Andrew Breitbart / Big Journalism:

Barack Obama's Helter-Skelter, Insane Clown Posse, Alinsky Plans to ‘Deconstruct’ America — After 14 months of committing 100% to health care reform, the day after the signing of the Health Care bill was to mark the Democratic Party's new primary concern: destroy the uprising, annihilate by all means necessary, the Tea Party movement.

Discussion: The Democratic Daily, American Power, Gateway Pundit, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Doug Ross, neo-neocon, protein wisdom and Big Government

Andy McCarthy / The Corner on National Review Online:

Amnesty International Comes Out of the Closet — Endorses “Defensive” Jihad — By: Andy McCarthy — Former Gitmo detainee Moazzam Begg is a committed jihadist and unabashed supporter of the Taliban. (See this Weekly Standard essay by Tom Joscelyn, which collects other Begg links.)

Discussion: Hot Air, Power Line and The Jawa Report

For The Record:
Amnesty International Boss Endorses “Jihad in self-defence”

Discussion: The Spittoon, Atlas Shrugs and YID With LID

Los Angeles Times:

WellPoint hikes CEO's pay package — The insurer, boosting Angela F. Braly's compensation package up to $13.1 million, draws further ire from policyholders in California. — WellPoint executives, including CEO Angela Braly, saw pay hikes in 2009. The company said compensation …

Discussion: The Huffington Post and Corrente

Richard A. Oppel Jr / New York Times:

Hurting U.S. Efforts to Win Minds, Taliban Disrupt Pay — MARJA, Afghanistan — Since their offensive here in February, the Marines have flooded Marja with hundreds of thousands of dollars a week. The tactic aims to win over wary locals by paying them compensation for property damage …

Discussion: The Page

Adam Liptak / New York Times:

At 89, Stevens Contemplates Law, and How to Leave It — WASHINGTON — “There are still pros and cons to be considered,” Justice John Paul Stevens said in his Supreme Court chambers on Friday afternoon, reflecting on his reluctance to leave a job he loves after almost 35 years.

Discussion: Associated Press, The Hill and Below The Beltway

Jim Hoft / Gateway Pundit:

BREAKING: Another GOP Office Attacked in Ohio- Window Smashed — Vandals threw a brick through GOP Party headquarters. — Another GOP office was attacked in Marion, Ohio last night. The vandals left a threatening note in purple ink saying, “Stop the Right Wing.” — The Marion Star reported:

Discussion: NewsBusters.org

Agence France Presse:

Islamists order Mogadishu radios to stop playing music — MOGADISHU — A hardline Somali Islamist group issued a 10-day ultimatum Saturday to Mogadishu-based radio stations to stop playing all kinds of music or face unspecified penalties, an Islamist leader said.

Discussion: Jihad Watch and Weasel Zippers

Toby Helm / Guardian:

Secret tape reveals Tory backing for ban on gays — • B&Bs ‘should have right to bar gays’ — • Exclusion would violate law - Labour — The Tories were embroiled in a furious row over lesbian and gay rightson Saturday after the shadow home secretary, Chris Grayling …

Discussion: AMERICAblog News and Truthdig

Chris Morran / The Consumerist:

KFC's Bacon Sandwich On Fried Chicken “Bread” Starts Killing People Nationwide April 12 — Last August, we wrote about the “Double Down,” a mysteriously tempting (and potentialy lethal) new food item being tested by KFC. For those coming late to the story, it's bacon and cheese sandwiched between two pieces of fried chicken.

Discussion: The Other McCain, Fausta's Blog, Hot Air, Balloon Juice, ProfessorBainbridge.com, The Reaction and Joe. My. God.

Walter Alarkon / The Hill:

More than 200,000 to lose jobless benefits Monday with Congress out — Starting Monday, more than 200,000 unemployed Americans won't see jobless benefits they're expecting because Congress failed to act. — The interruption in benefits will last two weeks at a minimum …

Discussion: MyDD, Crooks and Liars, Liberal Values and No More Mister Nice Blog