THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

You're Bob Dylan? NJ police want to see some ID
--- apnews.myway.com ---
Rock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a New Jersey shore community when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighborhood. Dylan was in Long Branch, about a two-hour drive south of New York City, on July 23 as part of a tour with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp that was to play at a baseball stadium in nearby Lakewood. A 24-year-old police officer apparently was unaware of who Dylan is and asked him for identification, Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley said Friday. "I don't think she was familiar with his entire body of work," Woolley said.

Cap & Trade – Rejection

A Surprising Rejection of Cap-and-Trade
--- newsrealblog.com ---
For some time now, Al Gore and other global warming alarmists such as Henry Waxman, President Barack Obama, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been clamoring for cap-and-trade legislation. Such a measure, they declare, will reduce global warming by cutting the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment. The plan is founded on a government-imposed, economy-wide “cap” on the amount of carbon dioxide that companies will be allowed to emit; those companies will then be permitted to buy or sell “emission credits” among themselves.

Entertainment

Soul-searching
--- www.worldmag.com ---
Cold Souls probes human existence—and makes it fun | Sam Thielman What is the soul, exactly? Is it a force that acts on "a small gland" in the center of the brain, to quote Rene Descartes? Is it a meaningless construct created by ignorant people who fear change, to paraphrase Richard Dawkins?

Health Care

The Purple People Beaters
--- heritage.org ---
That would be the purple-shirted members of the SEIU--the Service Employees International Union--who (literally) swung into action outside a town hall meeting in Missouri and became infamous on YouTube and national media. "Town Hall Protestor Roughed Up by SEIU Members" read one headline. The legal system will sort out what happened to David Gladney, the victim of the attack. But public opinion will sort out whether SEIU is sending thugs to town halls.

What Obama’s Town Hall Charade and Pam Anderson Have in Common
--- townhall.com ---
I was watching Obama’s town hall meeting in Portsmouth this past week, and I’ve got to give it to Barack and his boys . . . I haven’t seen choreography that tight since the finale of So You Think You Can Dance.

White House appears ready to drop 'public option'
--- news.yahoo.com ---
WASHINGTON – Bowing to Republican pressure and an uneasy public, President Barack Obama's administration signaled Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system. Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession probably would enrage Obama's liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers.

Health Care – Townhall

The Audacity of Dissent
--- frontpagemag.com ---
Democrats and the White House try to silence growing grassroots opposition to ObamaCare. Call them community organizers. All across the country, Americans alarmed by the Obama administration’s proposed overhaul of health care have been coming together to vent their concerns in town-hall meetings and protests. Some are worried about the possible effects of ObamaCare on health care services, the cost of insurance, and the recovery of the economy; others are troubled by the intrusion of government into their lives. Given his background, one might expect President Obama to take seriously this vigorous grassroots reaction to his policies. Instead, aided by Congressional Democrats, the White House has taken to painting this mass outpouring of civic discontent as a fringe phenomenon – driven by extremists, un-American in its aims, and requiring careful monitoring so that any “fishy” concerns and criticisms about the administration’s health care plans are reported to the proper (read: government) channels.

The Audacity of Dissent
--- frontpagemag.com ---
Democrats and the White House try to silence growing grassroots opposition to ObamaCare. Call them community organizers. All across the country, Americans alarmed by the Obama administration’s proposed overhaul of health care have been coming together to vent their concerns in town-hall meetings and protests. Some are worried about the possible effects of ObamaCare on health care services, the cost of insurance, and the recovery of the economy; others are troubled by the intrusion of government into their lives. Given his background, one might expect President Obama to take seriously this vigorous grassroots reaction to his policies. Instead, aided by Congressional Democrats, the White House has taken to painting this mass outpouring of civic discontent as a fringe phenomenon – driven by extremists, un-American in its aims, and requiring careful monitoring so that any “fishy” concerns and criticisms about the administration’s health care plans are reported to the proper (read: government) channels.

Reid: Protesters are 'evil-mongers'
--- briefingroom.thehill.com ---
Town hall protesters are "evil-mongers," says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Reid coined the term in a speech to an energy conference in Las Vegas this week and repeated it in an interview with Politics Daily. Such "evil-mongers" are using "lies, innuendo and rumor," to drown out rational debate, Reid said. "It was an original with me," Reid said of the term. "I maybe could have been less descriptive," he said, adding that "I doubt you'll hear it from me again."

Islam

Al-Shabab Militants Enforce Laws Alien to Somali Culture
--- www.voanews.com ---
In Somalia, militant Islamists have begun enforcing new laws in the areas they control that are challenging the views of many traditionally moderate Muslims in the country. The leader of al-Shabab militants in Somalia's Banadir region, which includes the capital Mogadishu, says all women living in towns and districts under al-Shabab control must now cover themselves completely or face severe punishment. Ali Mohamud Hussein says al-Shabab will not tolerate anyone who disobeys the order. Hussein says in the Koran, Allah orders all women to be covered from head-to-toe and that is why the law is being strictly enforced.

Gulf Arab money 'behind purchases of Israeli land'
--- www.breitbart.com ---
Vast tracts of Israeli agricultural land in north Israel's Galilee area have been bought up by Arabs with financial backing from the Gulf, Israeli public radio reported on Saturday. It said dozens of hectares (acres) have been bought and that a local farmers' association had tried in vain to warn the Israeli authorities about the sale. The radio station quoted Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon as saying the affair was not a matter for his department since "it concerns private land."

Islam – In America

Ex-Muslim Teen Fights To Survive
--- frontpagemag.com ---
Her plight is like Elian Gonzalez's -- except far worse. Visit Pajamas Media Yesterday afternoon, my living room was filled with lights, cameras, and two very friendly ABC crew men. We were taping an interview for Good Morning America which appeared today and which is preserved at their website. We talked about honor killings and the plight of Fathima Rifqa Bary, the Muslim teenager from Ohio who converted to Christianity and who ran away from home because she knows her father will kill her. Seventeen year-old Rifqa’s interview is heartbreaking. She knows that if a Muslim leaves Islam, converts to another religion, is an “apostate,” that they are supposed to be killed by any other Muslim; this includes members of her own family.

Islam – Outbreeding Europe

Out-Breeding to Victory in Europe
--- frontpagemag.com ---
How Islam could come to dominate the West without firing a shot. The Telegraph recently made headlines with a survey that suggested that a fifth of the European Union will be Muslim by 2050. This is if anything an understatement of the situation, since once you subtract Eastern European states and focus in on Western European countries such as England, France and Italy... or Sweden, Islam will comprise a sizable enough minority to be considered a state within a state. And even the most pessimistic statistics will grow gloomier if 75 million Turks inside the presently Islamist Turkey will become part of the European Union. Meanwhile always eager to get ahead, Russia estimates that Islam will become its predominant religion by 2050. The Russians, both under the USSR and in the Putin era, have done everything they can to try and raise the birth rate, but remains at half that of Uzbekistan, or even war torn Chechnya. With the Russian population set to fall by almost 50 million, to 100 million in 2050, the Muslim birth rate will have made up the surplus. Having tried all the usual financial family incentives and even made an effort at luring back its former Jewish emigrants, Russia is now counting on its state run network of mosques, which can only preach Jihad at America, England and any non-Russian infidels, to maintain control. It is an absurd strategy, but no more so than Europe's own.

Out-Breeding to Victory in Europe
--- frontpagemag.com ---
How Islam could come to dominate the West without firing a shot. The Telegraph recently made headlines with a survey that suggested that a fifth of the European Union will be Muslim by 2050. This is if anything an understatement of the situation, since once you subtract Eastern European states and focus in on Western European countries such as England, France and Italy... or Sweden, Islam will comprise a sizable enough minority to be considered a state within a state. And even the most pessimistic statistics will grow gloomier if 75 million Turks inside the presently Islamist Turkey will become part of the European Union. Meanwhile always eager to get ahead, Russia estimates that Islam will become its predominant religion by 2050. The Russians, both under the USSR and in the Putin era, have done everything they can to try and raise the birth rate, but remains at half that of Uzbekistan, or even war torn Chechnya. With the Russian population set to fall by almost 50 million, to 100 million in 2050, the Muslim birth rate will have made up the surplus. Having tried all the usual financial family incentives and even made an effort at luring back its former Jewish emigrants, Russia is now counting on its state run network of mosques, which can only preach Jihad at America, England and any non-Russian infidels, to maintain control. It is an absurd strategy, but no more so than Europe's own.

Israel – Lies & Distortion

The 14 Lies Blocking Peace in the Middle East
--- frontpagemag.com ---
Israel's enemies around the world have poisoned the debate with their smoke and mirrors. If a Martian were suddenly to land on earth and start listening to and reading the mainstream media, he would form the impression that the entire Middle East conflict were due to Israel building some settlements in land that much of the world thinks should become a Palestinian state. A near-consensus exists among the governments of the world and among media writers that peace has yet to break out in the Middle East because of three principle reasons. The first is that the Jews and the Arabs have been unable to agree about whether there should be a Palestinian state. The second is because Israel has obstinately refused to withdraw its troops from (so-called) “occupied Arab” lands. The third is because Israel behaves cruelly towards the Palestinians. The Martian could easily carry these beliefs back to its home planet, as long as it did not bother to learn the background and the history of the Middle East conflict. Those three reasons cannot survive an antibiotic of familiarity with Middle East history.

The 14 Lies Blocking Peace in the Middle East
--- frontpagemag.com ---
Israel's enemies around the world have poisoned the debate with their smoke and mirrors. If a Martian were suddenly to land on earth and start listening to and reading the mainstream media, he would form the impression that the entire Middle East conflict were due to Israel building some settlements in land that much of the world thinks should become a Palestinian state. A near-consensus exists among the governments of the world and among media writers that peace has yet to break out in the Middle East because of three principle reasons. The first is that the Jews and the Arabs have been unable to agree about whether there should be a Palestinian state. The second is because Israel has obstinately refused to withdraw its troops from (so-called) “occupied Arab” lands. The third is because Israel behaves cruelly towards the Palestinians. The Martian could easily carry these beliefs back to its home planet, as long as it did not bother to learn the background and the history of the Middle East conflict. Those three reasons cannot survive an antibiotic of familiarity with Middle East history.

Liberalism -The Left

Leftism – Obama & AmeriCorps
--- www.DiscoverTheNetwork.org ---
AmeriCorps is a government-funded public-service network that was formally launched when President Bill Clinton signed the 1993 National and Community Service Trust Act, thereby establishing the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS administers AmeriCorps and seeks "to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering." From its inception, AmeriCorps incorporated two existing national service programs: the VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program that President Lyndon Johnson established in 1964, and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), a volunteer network engaging in environmental and social-welfare projects.

Obama Administration

Biden Remarks Anger Russian Officials
--- www.voanews.com ---
Recent statements by Vice President Joe Biden have angered Russian officials. Vice President Biden recently told the Wall Street Journal that - in his words - the Russians "have a shrinking population base, have a withering economy, have a banking sector and structure that is not likely to be able to withstand the next 15 years." He then suggested that all these trends would force Russia to make concessions to the West on key national security issues.

World Affairs

Indian outrage at Bollywood actor's US questioning
--- www.breitbart.com ---
The Indian government said Sunday the United States must explain why Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan was questioned at a New York airport, after the actor suggested he was singled out as a Muslim. Khan, who was interviewed by officials at Newark Liberty International Airport, told an Indian television station by telephone that Khan "is a Muslim name and I think the name is common on their checklist". Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters that India would "take the issue (up) with the United States government strongly".

Border Wars

Official English Amendment to be Introduced to Puerto Rico Bill
--- us-english.org ---
Rep. Paul Broun took steps today to resolve lingering language issues related to Puerto Rican statehood, introducing an amendment that would make English the official language of the island. The amendment, offered during committee consideration of H.R. 2499, would require that English become Puerto Rico’s sole official language should the people choose to make it the 51st state.

Health Care

Death Drugs Cause Uproar in Oregon
--- abcnews.go.com ---
The news from Barbara Wagner's doctor was bad, but the rejection letter from her insurance company was crushing. The 64-year-old Oregon woman, whose lung cancer had been in remission, learned the disease had returned and would likely kill her. Her last hope was a $4,000-a-month drug that her doctor prescribed for her, but the insurance company refused to pay. What the Oregon Health Plan did agree to cover, however, were drugs for a physician-assisted death. Those drugs would cost about $50.

Israel – Obama

U.S. Keeps Israel on the Hot Seat
--- frontpagemag.com ---
The Obama administration’s Israel policy is anything but fair and balanced. The State Department has complained to Michael Oren, the recently appointed Israeli ambassador to the U.S., for at least the second time in recent weeks. Last time it was because of Israel’s plans to build 20 apartments in sovereign Israeli territory in East Jerusalem. This time it’s over Israel’s eviction of two Palestinian families from homes in sovereign Israeli territory in East Jerusalem.

Obama – Command of Facts

Washington Post: Obama Has a "Ready Command of Facts"
--- nationalcenter.org ---
In "Polling Helps Obama Frame Message in Health-Care Debate" in Friday's Washington Post, reporter Michael D. Shear writes, "Obama is known for his soaring speeches and his ready command of facts..."

Obama – Health Care

Why Obama's Miscalculated Deceptions Will Backfire
--- Townhall.com ---
President Barack Obama, his staff and administration, are all in danger of making the worst political mistake of their lives. They seem unable or unwilling to recognize the damage it will cause. And this reality may be America's brightest reason for genuine hope and change.

Why Obama's Miscalculated Deceptions Will Backfire
--- Townhall.com ---
President Barack Obama, his staff and administration, are all in danger of making the worst political mistake of their lives. They seem unable or unwilling to recognize the damage it will cause. And this reality may be America's brightest reason for genuine hope and change.

Another Trillion? CBO understates the true cost of Obamacare.
--- frontpagemag.com ---
The CBO understates the true cost of Obamacare. The biggest player in the health-care debate right now isn’t Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or even President Obama. It’s the Congressional Budget Office, which is responsible for estimating the costs of proposed legislation. After the director of the CBO testified on July 16 that none of the health-reform bills in the House or Senate would reduce the rate of increase in federal spending on health care, congressional efforts fell into disarray. Many policymakers began searching for a way to get costs below the CBO’s frightening estimate of $1.1 trillion over ten years. Others attacked the CBO, calling its estimates irresponsible.

Palin says Obama's health care plan is 'evil'
--- apnews.myway.com ---
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called President Barack Obama's health plan "downright evil" Friday in her first online comments since leaving office, saying in a Facebook posting that he would create a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans.

Our Military – Veterans Betray

Veterans Betrayed
--- frontpagemag.com ---
How the Obama administration tried – and failed – to make veterans pay for their wartime medical care. Considering the sorry state of his vaunted health care proposal, President Obama’s promise this week that there will be a health care overhaul by the end of this year – bipartisan support be damned – may sound like so much bluster. But there is reason to believe that the president intends to make good on his plans for a government-run health care system. Indeed, Obama is so desperate to his nationalized health system that this spring he tried to save money by having wounded veterans pay their own medical bills.

Supreme Court Justices

Now that she's sworn in, Sotomayor a rookie again
--- Townhall.com ---
Sonia Sotomayor has gained admission to the Marble Palace. Now she has to figure out how the Supreme Court works. When do you speak up? How do you find your way around a building torn apart by renovation? If someone knocks at the door while the justices are meeting in their private conference room, who answers? (Note to the newest justice: You do.) After 17 years as a federal judge, Sotomayor knows her way around a courthouse. But her new workplace, filled with quirky customs and rituals, isn't any old court building and new justices, like new colleagues everywhere, want to fit in.

FRC Statement on Sonia Sotomayor's Confirmation
--- Family Research Council ---
Washington, D.C. -This afternoon the U.S. Senate confirmed President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement: