OBAMA:  PASTOR COMMENTS WERE JUST “STUPID”...

And no big deal.  Not “outrageous” “bigoted” “racist” or “anti-American.”  Just stupid.  Revealing how he still doesn’t get it, Obama said “This is somebody that was preaching three sermons at least a week for 30 years and it got boiled down ... into a half-minute sound clip and just played it over and over and over again, partly because it spoke to some of the racial divisions we have in this country.”  Later:  “We cannot solve the problems of America if every time somebody somewhere does something stupid, that everybody gets up in arms and forgets about the war in Iraq and we forget about the economy."  (Washington Post)  Victor Davis Hanson types up the speech Obama should have given. (Townhall)

CALIFORNIA HOMESCHOOLING DECISION VACATED...

From the story: “This is a great first step,” said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA. “We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority,” he added. HSLDA 

FIRST POLAR BEARS, NOW SEALS ON LIST FOR POSSIBLE PROTECTION...

No word if there is actually any reason to think they’re endangered – or if the numbers are down.  But environmentalists want them on the list because ice might be melting.  One scientist admitted “sea ice ecosystems are changing right now in ways we don't fully understand.”  (Washington Post)  Hugh Hewitt explained “A variety of environmental groups orchestrated the tsunami of testimonials to the desperate condition of the polar bear because they understand—as much of the public and Congress does not—that a listing of the polar bear will have vast implications, and may in fact be a backdoor to implementation of the Kyoto protocol.”  (Townhall) 

MUSLIMS DEMANDING OFFENSIVE FILM BE STOPPED...

Story begins “The Netherlands is bracing for a new round of violence at home and against its embassies in the Middle East. The storm would be caused by "Fitna," a short film that is scheduled to be released this week. The film, which reportedly includes images of a Quran being burned, was produced by Geert Wilders, a member of the Dutch parliament and leader of the Freedom Party. Mr. Wilders has called for banning the Quran - which he has compared to Hitler's "Mein Kampf" - from the Netherlands.” WSJ 

IS IT OKAY TO GIVE CHILDREN A TASTE OF ALCOHOL?...

A good question, but the author clouds the issue:  It would be easy to preach abstinence to children until they’re 21, but is it naive and even irresponsible to think that teenagers won’t experiment? Might forbidding even a taste of wine with a meal actually encourage secrecy and recklessness? NY Times 

OLIVER STONE CASTING HIS MOVIE “W”...

About President Bush. Do we think it wil be favorable? Thought, how many other President's had movies made of them 'as soon as they left office'? This, in and of itself, is historical. Hollywood Reporter