Charles, you say: "It's hard to be an Obama sycophant these days." Apparently not. EVERY SINGLE government employee, for fear of losing their jobs, must be one. If they weren't, then the obamanation wouldn't have been able to get away with any of his anti-American treason. But since America has studiously developed our nation into a sycophant culture these past few years (please the "boss" at all costs), then it isn't just their problem. It's all our problems. As Hitler practiced, the more outrageous the obamanation's statements and the bigger the lies, as long as they sound good, the easier they go down people's throats. Only when people act in their long term interests, often hard against their short term ones, will they survive. That, too, has been almost completely bred out of our culture. Who will be first among us to do so? We've glimpsed the alternative. Will we all just wait for it to fully materialize?

The Mosque is a BIG farce to tolerance that does not exist. Your right it makes no sense to build a memorial to the religion the attackers professed to belong. Ignoring the Greek Orthodox (Christian) Church that was destroyed by the Twin Towers remains unable to rebuild because the Port Authority just can't seem to give approval. That action alone speaks volumes about those supporting the Mosque while they wont even mention healing the hurt and pain of those touched first hand.

It is merely imbecilic to claim "they have the right...". It is either gross venality or a total absence of moral fiber to defend the construction in that particular place. As to the Dear Leader's support - it is remarkable he and his entourage aren't dizzier from the abrupt turns and incessant spinning.

He is a coward, a charlatan, and a huckster. How did we ever allow him and his ilk into public office?

Just out of curiousity- Has anyone seen any photos of Obama eating, drinking, or smoking (yes-he's a smoker)between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan? Any White House staffers (I know you are out there) reading this care to chime in?

To be fair to all and to see if the Muslims are as tolerant as they say they are---lets build a nude bar that serves alcoholic drinks and caters to homosexuals next to where the Muslims want to build their mosque.

Progessives have a "code" if you will, things they find to be OK, like; Abortion, Redistribution of wealth (except theirs), tolerance (except toward conservatives), reverse discrimination, religion (as long as it's limited to Muslims who want to build a Mosque near Ground Zero), taxes, unlimited government and, of course, Obama kool-aid.

80 million Muslims (7%) sympathetic to and willing to commit terrorism is a scary thought -- one that is carefully hidden from the "sheeple". Wake-up America or you will be learning Farsi IF you convert!

Todd - you are correct in your post, but unfortunately, we may never know the answer to this one...having recently returned from Afghanistan and personally knowing someone who was shot by an ANA Soldier-in-training for simply taking a drink of water during daylight hours in Ramadan last year, I was wondering the same thing...

Americans need to realize that the real goal of building this Islamic center in NYC is to begin to change the skyline of NYC one building at a time until it finally resembles those in Saudia Arabia, Jerusalem, Egypt etc. The message will be visual and the implications far reaching for the Islamic vision for the USA. The majority of Americans do not

realize Islam is truly our enemy because they think of it as a religion, and what religion could destroy a country like America. Islam is like some insidious diseases which progress within the body with no symptoms until the disease is incurable. The Islam force within America is sending its tentacles within our education, government, media, social systems, courts, and politics. Truly, it is a force to be reckoned with, sooner rather than later.

Dr. Krauthammer,

First, you are a treasured beacon of truth, reason and sanity in a world (and nation) that seems to harbor little regard for same.

That said, I must respectfully disagree with a basic premise of your piece (and that of the debate at large), namely, that “No one disputes the right to build”. I and others dispute it categorically, for the simple reason that the principle players (Feisal A. Rauf, et al.) have unmistakable ties to radical Islam, including implicit and in some instances, overt support of Islamofascist front groups and organizations that are known to abet or directly engage in murderous terrorist and anti-American activities.

After all, the First and other Amendments are not suicide pacts.

The laws of our nation explicitly permit and in fact, require our government (at all levels) to provide for the national/local defense, and protect our citizens from terrorist and/or criminal activities. I would argue that it is both perfectly appropriate and unavoidably necessary for our federal, state and local governments (were they on actually “our” side, in this case), to tell Iman Rauf where to stick his mosque, and as a natural extension, to deport this arrogant, intolerant hatemonger as a known supporter of terrorist, anti-American animals that patently advocate the subjugation and destruction of America as a nation, and the slaughter of its citizens (and other “infidels”) whenever and wherever possible.

We have so-called “hate crimes” laws and layer-upon-layer of frankly ridiculous anti-“intolerance” policies in this country. Beat someone up and take their wallet because you need to buy heroin, and maybe spend a little time in jail. Beat them up because you don’t like that fact that they prefer sexual relations with the same gender, and you’re looking at serious hard time. Yet, out of some misplaced sense of “fair play”, we might allow some of the most hateful and intolerant people on the planet to build a colossal base of operations aimed explicitly at furthering their bigoted teachings and vicious activities within spitting distance of the very symbol of their utter ruthlessness? It’s beyond idiotic.

Unfortunately, our Kowtower-in-Chief and that buffoon of a NYC Mayor clearly believe that WE (America) are largely, if not solely, responsible for the savagery, intolerance and relentless Anti-western and anti-American hatred that has always and will always characterize a sizable segment of Islam and its followers. The proposed ground zero mosque is not only a brazen affront to all Americans, but a direct and substantial threat to our safety. “Religion of peace”? I think not.