The WTC Mosque question....

[Officer of Engineers]

Fine! They open their books. We open ours but since when does public opinion need books?

[gunnut]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday morning called for “transparency” in the funding behind a planned Islamic community center and mosque being built blocks from ground zero. But she also said there should be similar openness about the money behind conservative attacks aimed at thwarting the project.

The Wicked Witch of the West strikes again.

[Bluesman]

Probably never occurred to her that The People can actually have an opinion, and express it, that doesn't rely on a 'message machine', focus groups, polling, or some dirty-tricks-cabal-StarChamber.

This is what happens when one's perspective gets warped by living inside the Washington monster's belly. She simply cannot grasp that normal Americans 'get' this on a gut level, and nobody manipulated them at all.

She needs to be fired. But she won't be.. No matter how isolated she is, no matter how out-of-touch her bubble is from OUR world, she will be returned to spill more poison into the body politic. There is literally no chance of EVER unseating her before she chooses to, at long last, go.

[Blue]

Bad question where is "They have a right to build it" and it isn't anyone outside NY's business

Did you bother to read the first post or can you just not comprehend plain english!? Allow me to conveniently quote the very first, handy-dandy, right in your face, lines of the #1 post of this thread............

The WTC Mosque question....
Please read the following before voting in the poll!

I think there is already threads on this, but I mainly wanted to take a poll on this subject.
It has been established that it is perfectly within our constitutional rights to practice any religion you like in this country.

You also have an obvious right to build a house of worship within the boundaries of the law(building and zoning codes).

I have bolded the pertinent part of it for you, will you be needing translation?

[Blue]

I was inspired to post this thread by lots of reports I have been hearing that many American Muslims are opposed to the building of this mosque because they understand the insensitivity of it. There are over 100 mosques, IIRC, in NYC.

I was hoping to hear from those as well as hear some coherent arguments from those who support the building of the mosque.

There is obvious deliberation in the message that these select Muslims, who are spearheading this project, want to send. From the name Cordoba house, to the mysterious funding sources(possibly terrorist org linked?)

My next big question is why in the hell are WE paying to send this imam on his little "friendship (fundraising?)tour". Have WE ever paid for Billy Graham to go on tour? I would think there would be a question of church/state separation there.

There is something similar happening in the county of which I live. There are a few adult book/video stores in our area, and the local moral orels want to have them banned in the county. They have just about regulated and taxed them out of business, but still, the bible beaters just keep banging away and you can bet they probably will get thier way.

Point is, its all first ammendment. I don't have any religion or go to church, and I don't enjoy porn of go to those places, but I defend the right of our citizens to make that choice and pursue thier happiness, even though I don't support or share what may bring them happiness. As long as it is lawful, yes, but that is not the question.

[Dreadnought]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday morning called for “transparency” in the funding behind a planned Islamic community center and mosque being built blocks from ground zero. But she also said there should be similar openness about the money behind conservative attacks aimed at thwarting the project.

The California Democrat, in a statement provided to POLITICO, adopted the split position of the Interfaith Alliance, a nonpartisan group dedicated to religious tolerance and separation of church and state. Although it blasted the Anti-Defamation League for strongly opposing the Park51 project, the Interfaith Alliance also agreed with the ADL’s argument that the public should know where the money for the center is coming from.




“I support the statement made by the Interfaith Alliance, that ‘We agree with the ADL that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center,’” according to Pelosi’s statement, quoting the Alliance’s position. “’At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.’”

Pelosi’s view seems parallel with President Barack Obama, who said that the construction of a mosque is a constitutionally protected expression of religion, but said he would not comment on the “wisdom” of building one so close to where the World Trade Center towers fell during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Pelosi’s counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, opposes the Park51 plan.

It’s not the first time Pelosi has weighed in on the controversial Islamic center, which would include a recreation center as well as a place of worship.

On Tuesday, she said the mosque’s location is a zoning issue that New Yorkers should work out among themselves, but she also noted that she believes most people respect the “right of people in our country to express their religious beliefs on their property.” She reiterated that position in her statement Wednesday.

“The freedom of religion is a constitutional right,” Pelosi said. “Where a place of worship is located is a local decision.”

Earlier Wednesday, Pelosi told San Francisco’s KCBS radio that “there is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some.”

“I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded,” she said. “How is this being ginned up?”

Republicans have signaled that they will try to turn the mosque into a campaign issue, and nearly all of the leading national Republicans have weighed in against the mosque's construction.

On Tuesday, the speaker blasted those making “concerted effort to make this a political issue.” Yet on Wednesday, she seemed to do just that, taking a shot at opponents of a bill that bolstered health care for Sept. 11 responders. She urged those who are now expressing their concern for Sept. 11 attacks to reverse their opposition to the bill when Congress returns in September.

Read more: Pelosi wants 'transparency' on mosque - Jake Sherman and Andy Barr - POLITICO.com


I wonder if Grossie should also be investigated. He is leading the Israeli side.:-). Be afraid. Be very afraid.

*As well she should have "Dick" of a say in this matter as Speaker of the House. It should go to the Supreme Court if they have a disagreement in the State but keep in mind Congress nor the President can interpit the Constitution better then the Supreme Court can. Those individuals set the law of the land.

Nancy has absolutely no say in this matter, even as Speaker of the House. And its very questionable about her trying to influence the outcome. She's treading on very dangerous ground as far as the Constitution is concerned.

[dalem]

I'm trying to imagine what the reaction would be by the lefties and their aged hound dog press organs if a Republican Speaker of the House called for investigations of anyone who simply disagreed with, oh, the Iraq war.

More hanging of Bush in effigy, or less?

[Dreadnought]

Honestly which is worse,

a) Mr Obama thinking his say is the last word on this instead of it going to a Supreme Court ruling (Who can interpit the Constitution better then any one of you or Congress). Thats their job and what they get paid for not yours.

or

b) This moron above wasting taxpayers money to investigate who is disagreeing with it. Guess what...its called Freedom of Speech no matter who disagrees with it. So stop wasting taxpayers money trying to inforce your bullying tactics when it is not your say either that matters in the end.

This is shining example of how tax dollars are spent on things that are not their jobs but their preferences. Go figure.

[Bluesman]

Pelosi and Roosveltrepublican are both Democrats. Really, that's all that needs to be said. It makes understanding this issue easy and absolutely clear on the question of right and wrong.

[MIKEMUN]

Help us Obi wan Bush, you are our last hope(Stole it from hotair)

Mosque supporters beg George W. Bush to come to Obama's rescue
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
08/18/10 10:02 AM EDT
(File photo) Former President George W. Bush

There's a new argument emerging among supporters of the Ground Zero mosque. Distressed by President Obama's waffling on the issue, they're calling on former President George W. Bush to announce his support for the project, because in this case Bush understands better than Obama the connection between the war on terror and the larger question of America's relationship with Islam. It's an extraordinary change of position for commentators who long argued that Bush had done grievous harm to America's image in the Muslim world and that Obama represented a fresh start for the United States. Nevertheless, they are now seeing a different side of the former president.

"It's time for W. to weigh in," writes the New York Times' Maureen Dowd. Bush, Dowd explains, understands that "you can't have an effective war against the terrorists if it is a war on Islam." Dowd finds it "odd" that Obama seems less sure on that matter. But to set things back on the right course, she says, "W. needs to get his bullhorn back out" -- a reference to Bush's famous "the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!" speech at Ground Zero on September 14, 2001.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson is also looking for an assist from Bush. "I…would love to hear from former President Bush on this issue," Robinson wrote Tuesday in a Post chat session. "He held Ramadan iftar dinners in the White House as part of a much broader effort to show that our fight against the al-Qaeda murderers who attacked us on 9/11 was not a crusade against Islam. He was absolutely right on this point, and it would be helpful to hear his views."

And Peter Beinart, a former editor of the New Republic, is also feeling some nostalgia for the former president. "Words I never thought I'd write: I pine for George W. Bush," Beinart wrote Tuesday in The Daily Beast. "Whatever his flaws, the man respected religion, all religion." Beinart longs for the days when Bush "used to say that the 'war on terror' was a struggle on behalf of Muslims, decent folks who wanted nothing more than to live free like you and me…"

For the moment, with Obama failing to live up to expectations, Bush-bashing is over. It's all a little amusing -- and perhaps a little maddening -- for some members of the Bush circle. When I asked Karl Rove to comment, he responded that it means "redemption is always available for liberals and time causes even the most stubborn of ideologues to revisit mistaken judgments." But won't these Bush critics shortly return to criticizing Bush? "This Bush swoon by selected members of the left commentariat is temporary," Rove answered. "Their swamp fevers will return momentarily."

Bush himself has declined to comment on the mosque affair.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: Mosque supporters beg George W. Bush to come to Obama's rescue | Washington Examiner

[Dreadnought]

My eyes must be decieving me, You mean they are actually painting "W" in a positive light for once?

Excellent! in how he declined to comment. Smart move "W" in not wanting to be the scapegoat of the Left. They blamed you for everything under the sun without hesitation and now they wish to hear from you?

Yes, you are indeed missed! Especially by those who dont appreciate waffeling nor appeasement.

You go "W"!

[bigross86]

Well that'll be the day. Who'da thunk it? The liberals want Bush back. That must be a real low blow to Barack "Everything I ever did wrong was actually Bush's mistake" Obama

[MIKEMUN]

Just to throw a bit more spice in the cauldron........

Growing number in America believe Obama a Muslim - poll
Barack Obama Mr Obama, a Christian, celebrated Ramadan with Muslim Americans and foreign dignitaries this month

A growing number of Americans incorrectly believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim, research suggests.

Some 18% said the president was a Muslim, up from 11% in March 2009, according to the Pew Research survey of 3,003 Americans.

Among Republicans, that number was 34%. Just a third of those quizzed correctly identified Mr Obama as Christian.

Polling was done before 13 August when Mr Obama defended Muslims' right to build an Islamic centre by Ground Zero.
Continue reading the main story
Related stories

* Obama attacked for mosque defence
* Nuanced row over NY mosque

Forty-three per cent of those questioned said they did not know what Mr Obama's religion was.
'Spreading falsehoods'

The White House attributed the mistaken beliefs about Mr Obama's religion to a "misinformation campaign" pursued by his political opponents.

"While the president has been diligent and personally committed to his own Christian faith, there's certainly folks who are intent on spreading falsehoods about the president and his values and beliefs," White House faith adviser Joshua DuBois told AFP news agency.

The poll found beliefs about the president's faith were closely linked to political judgments about him.

It found that people who believe Mr Obama is a Muslim "overwhelmingly disapprove" of his job performance, while a majority of those who identify him as a Christian approve.

News of the poll comes amid fears by some US Muslims that they will be targeted due to the fact that the holiday of Eid falls on 11 September this year, the anniversary of the terror attacks of 2001.

Some are concerned that the joyous festivals that mark the occasion will be misconstrued as celebrations of the attacks.

Meanwhile a national debate continues over a developer's plans to build a mosque and community centre two blocks away from Ground Zero in New York.

The plans have provoked vehement opposition from many conservatives, though Mr Obama, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the chairman of the US Democratic party and others have defended the developers' right to build there.

BBC News - Growing number in America believe Obama a Muslim - poll

[art]

Freedom of religion in the US should allow the Mosque to be build. If the Government interferes, Then what's next? the right to assembly, freedom of speech? These are the basics fundamentals of human rights in the greatest country in the history of the world. We must overlook our predigest of the Muslim religion and not blame them for what some terrorist are doing in the name of their religion. As I recall, Christianity did some horrible things in history but we are not stopping Christians from building churches are we?

[highsea]

I'm not interested in what Bush or any other republican politician has to say about the mosque. Hopefully they'll have the sense to keep their mouths shut from here out.

The dems have stepped in it, let them extract themselves. Let every question on the mosque from the media be directed to, and answered by dems. Repubs can sit back in silence while the dems backpedal from Obama's statement. The public will be listening.

If the repubs let themselves get sucked in by the media into this debate, it will be spun as an anti-first amendment position, like Rosie's trying to do.

Repubs need to stay on message and keep their focus on the economy. That's what will defeat dems in November.