Muslim leaders to abandon plans for Ground Zero community center  —  Insiders say Muslim spiritual leaders behind the controversial initiative are considering giving up on the former World Trade Center location, in a gesture of appeasement.  —  After weeks of heated debate over plans …

Court Extends Stay on Allowing Gay Marriage  —  SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has extended a stay on same-sex marriages in California until it decides whether a ban on such unions is constitutional.  —  It is just the latest turn in a protracted legal battle over Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban.

Obama raises a quick $1 million — and some L.A. commuter ire  —  During his trip west, the president also pitches his efforts to create clean-energy jobs.  —  President Obama leaves Air Force One upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.  (Jewel Samad, AFP/Getty Images / August 16, 2010)

Ray Bradbury hates big government: ‘Our country is in need of a revolution’  —  Ray Bradbury is mad at President Obama, but it's not about the economy, the war or the plan to a construct a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.  —  “He should be announcing that we should go back to the moon …

Holy Frickin' Reagan: Best Advertorial You'll See  —  Seriously, watch it.  —  This comes from the Republican Study Committee, which is headed, if I have the information right, by Rep. Tom Price of Georgia.  —  So now you can't say the GOP isn't doing anything to advance the message.

James J. Kilpatrick, 89, dies; conservative columnist formerly on ‘60 Minutes’  —  James J. Kilpatrick, 89, a fiery advocate of racial segregation as a Richmond newspaper editor in the 1950s who became a sparring partner of liberals on the television show “60 Minutes” and a syndicated columnist …

Total destruction: GOP out to biggest generic ballot leads in history in both Gallup and Rasmussen  —  The most amazing thing about this?  When Democrats tell people that voters hate the GOP as much as they hate them, they're not blowing smoke.  That's basically true.

Obama, the one-term president  —  Q: Will Barack Obama be a one-term president?  —  A: Yes, he might last that long.  —  Honest to goodness, the man just does not get it.  He might be forced to pull a Palin and resign before his first term is over.  He could go off and write his memoirs and build his presidential library.

Obama Sees New Lows in Job Approval  —  Weekly average of 44% and three-day average of 42% are lowest yet  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Obama's job approval rating dipped to 44% for the week of Aug. 9-15, the lowest weekly average of his administration by one percentage point.

Judge: Missouri funeral protest ban unconstitutional  —  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge ruled Monday that Missouri laws restricting protests near funerals are unconstitutional.  —  Missouri legislators passed two laws in 2006 in response to protests at servicemembers' funerals …

U.S. Said to Plan Easing Rules for Travel to Cuba  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is planning to expand opportunities for Americans to travel to Cuba, the latest step aimed at encouraging more contact between people in both countries, while leaving intact the decades-old embargo …

GOP reveals midterm blueprint  —  The GOP blueprint for winning control of the House is rapidly coming into focus, with the National Republican Congressional Committee readying a $22 million TV ad blitz aimed at a handful of powerful, long-serving incumbents and several dozen of the most junior members of the Democratic majority.

Traditional and Liberal Conservatism  —  Let's start with John Stuart Mill, On Liberty.  You'd think it's obvious but no one else has suggested it.  Why On Liberty?  —  I don't know that it's obvious since it's a classic text of liberalism, not conservatism.  —  Explain that to me.

Israeli-Palestinian direct talks expected to be announced soon  —  An announcement that Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to go into direct peace talks is expected in the coming days, U.S. officials, Mideast watchers and European diplomats said Monday.  —  “We are close, we are optimistic,” a U.S. official said.