Savior?

Anti-Islam rhetoric has replaced anti-communism as the right wing's ideological underpinning.

Not all Republicans, however, have embraced the anti-Islam rhetoric that has colored the GOP primary. Last week, for example, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seen as a leading contender for president in either 2012 or 2016, offered a forceful and widely praised defense of a Muslim judge, Sohail Mohammed, whom he had appointed to a state judicial post.“The folks who criticize my appointment of Sohail Mohammed are ignorant,” Christie said. “They’re criticizing him because he’s a Muslim-American.” Of the anti-Shariah movement, Christie added: “This Shariah law business is crap. It’s just crazy. And I’m tired of dealing with the crazies.”

This is the Republican party's savior for 2012? How many right wingers are going to accept such a point of view? Well, it turns out even Governor Perry has Muslim friends.

as Salon has reported, Perry has also cultivated an intimate friendship with the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of a sect of Shia Muslims known as the Ismailis. The relationship has produced not only mutual praise but a pair of Islam-friendly programs in Texas, such as an initiative to train high school teachers in Muslim history and culture.

Whoa, there. Has the right wing heard of this?

Nix that idea

Raminder Pal Singh/European Pressphoto Agency - The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, is a popular stop for famous visitors. Sikh scriptures require that men tie a piece of cloth on their heads to enter.

On President Obama's visit to India, the Golden temple had been considered a possible stop.

But the United States has ruled out a Golden Temple visit, according to an American official involved in planning. Temple officials said that American advance teams had gone to Amritsar, the holy city that is the site of the temple, to discuss a possible visit. But the plan appears to have foundered on the thorny question of how Mr. Obama would cover his head, as Sikh tradition requires, while visiting the temple.

Wisconsin National Day of Prayer Is Ruled Unconstitutional

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional Thursday, saying the government cannot call for religious action.
Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison-based group of atheists and agnostics, filed a lawsuit against the federal government in 2008, arguing the day violated the separation of church and state.
President Barack Obama's administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the U.S.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb said her order didn't block any prayer day until after appeals in the case are exhausted. White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said that the ruling therefore didn't prevent Mr. Obama from issuing a Day of Prayer proclamation in May and that the president will do so.

—Associated Press