Newt: Obama Using “Racist Dialogue” To “Frighten Latinos Away” From GOP

David Neiwert has it at C&L: Newt Gingrich says defends the Arizona immigration law by saying that “Democrats are attacking an American state.” Poor, poor Arizona.

Gingrich: Well, look, I assume that somewhere after he [Obama] attacked Arizona, engaged in what I think was a racist dialogue to try to frighten Latinos away from the Republican Party, stood next to the president of Mexico and said borders don’t matter because we have strong bonds, had the president of Mexico get a standing ovation from Democrats for attacking an American state, and has his own State Department apologize to …

In the “Duh!” Department, BP Upgrades Oil Spill From “Very Modest”

BP has upgraded the oil spill from “very very modest” to “environmental catastrophe”.

On May 19:

…despite growing evidence of the lasting effects of this environmental catastrophe, BP chief Tony Hayward told the Associated Foreign Press, “everything we can see at the moment suggests that the overall environmental impact will be very, very modest.”

Now:

BP’s top official, who had previously said the environmental impact on Gulf of Mexico would be modest, upgraded his assessment Friday to an “environmental catastrophe.”…

House Votes To Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Politico reports:

The push to repeal the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy that prohibits open homosexuals from serving in the military cleared two major hurdles Thursday, with the House backing repeal by a 234-194 vote, while the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 in favor of that body’s version of the bill.…

Ohio Radio Station Contest Offers Trip To Phoenix To “Spend A Weekend Chasing Aliens”

WTVN, a conservative talk radio station in Columbus, Ohio, offered listeners a chance to spend a weekend in Phoenix, “chasing aliens.” They even throw in “a few pesos in spending cash.”

The contest is in response to Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (that’s his mug on the ID card), who boycotted Arizona by banning all city-funded travel after SB 1070 was signed by Governor Jan Brewer.…

Reid’s Opponent Refuses To Answer If Businesses Should Have Right To Discriminate

Sue Lowden, the former Nevada state senator who became infamous for proposing “chickens for checkups,” refused to say if she supports Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul’s view that private businesses should have the right to discriminate.
(h/t Kos)

JON RALSTON: Do you think that Rand Paul was right that the Civil Rights Act should not have extended to private businesses?

LOWDEN: This is what I say. I’m more interested in what we’re doing here in Nevada.

RALSTON: It’s a simple question.

LOWDEN: It’s a simple question, but it’s a gotcha’ question, frankly. I …

Texas Radio Host Calls For “Blowing Up” Potential New York Mosque

Michael Berry, a conservative radio talker on KTRH in Houston, advocated blowing up any mosque that might be built near Ground Zero.

In his response to a caller named “Tony” who supported the right to build the planned mosque in New York — an effort that has come under rhetorical attack by anti-Islam extremists — Berry said: “No, no, Tony, you can’t build a mosque at the site of 9/11. No, you can’t. No, you can’t. And I’ll tell you this — if you do build a mosque, I hope somebody blows it up. . .I hope the mosque isn’t …

On Thursday’s Radio Show…

• Alan examines President Obama’s statements on the BP oil spill, immigration reform, and much more in today’s White House press conference.

• Republican congressional candidate Les Phillip tells Alan why he thinks it’s fair to claim that the president is “ashamed” of America.

• Is Don’t Ask Don’t Tell about to end? Alan weighs in on today’s debate.…

American Idolatry

by Gabe Berman

Gabe is a freelance writer for the Miami Herald and author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

No, for the 20th time today, I didn’t watch the American Idol finale.  But the family of five sitting near me at a restaurant last night definitely did.  They rudely rushed their server to hurry up with their check because they didn’t want to miss the opening of Idol.

God forbid.

Please know I’m not here to judge the millions who religiously tune in every week.  The show is incredibly entertaining, provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance for unknown musicians and, as …

Is Oil Falling From The Skies In Florida?

by Thomas Wellborn

A compelling post from a Florida resident claims oil is mixed in with the falling rain in her area.  The claim seems highly unlikely. Therefore, I’ll entertain a few notions further down in the piece.

Making this quick, don’t feel well. About 4:15pm or so eastern, coming back from Tampa, Florida north on Veteran’s Expressway…about 7 miles perhaps from SR 54…it sprinkled some gray watery and solid black oil on my car. Thought it was bugs, but so fast did not make sense and windshield wipers just smeared it. Got out of car at store and …

New York Bus Ads Urge People To Leave Islam

Pamela Geller, an anti-Muslim conservative activist, has raised thousands of dollars to put ads on New York City buses with wording like, “Leaving Islam?” “Fatwa on your head?” “Is your family threatening you?”

“It’s not offensive to Muslims, it’s religious freedom,” [Geller] said. “It’s not targeted at practicing Muslims. It doesn’t say ‘leave,’ it says ‘leaving’ with a question mark.”

Geller said the ad buy cost about $8,000, contributed by the readers of her blog, Atlas Shrugs, and other websites. Similar ads have run on buses in Miami, and she said ad buys were planned for other cities.

Metropolitan Transportation …

GOP: Nothing Says “We Have No Ideas” Better Than Soliciting Ideas From General Public

By William K. Wolfrum

While many are predicting big House gains for Republicans in November, people seem to forget one thing – the Republican Party currently has no ideas. None.

So, to hide that, they’ve announced a “call for ideas” to the general public on their Web site. Because nothing says “We have no ideas” better than soliciting ideas from anyone.

Dana Milbank at the Washington Post has some of the ideas submitted so far.

They range from the scary:

“I oppose the Hispanicization of America…These are not patriotic people.”

To the obscure:

“A ‘teacher’ told my child in …