Free Republic

EXCERPT Agence France-Presse reported that Al-Hayat, a large newspaper owned by Saudi prince Khalid bin Sultan, and Sabq, believed to be controlled by the Saudi interior ministry, both ran with the joke as real news. "Obama doesn't mind coming out as a Muslim if that will satisfy the Republicans," the Al-Hayat headline said. "Obama: 'I'm ready to announce that I am a Muslim,'" led Sabq.

Alaska is considering mounting a legal challenge to President Obama's plan to set aside 187,000 square miles in the state as a "critical habitat" for polar bears, a move that could add restrictions to future offshore drilling for oil and gas. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell questioned the decision, saying the designation was not supported by sound science or good economic analysis. "This additional layer of regulatory burden will not only slow job creation and economic growth here and for our nation, but will also slow oil and gas exploration efforts," he said in a written statement on Wednesday. "We are...

As THE WEEKLY STANDARD reported in August, pro-Israel group Z Street believes it was discriminated against after "Z Street was told by an IRS agent that it might not be granted 501(c)(3) status, which would allow the group to be tax exempt, because its position toward Israel differs from the Obama administration's official policies." Today, Z Street continues its legal battle to obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Obama joked he'd have AF-1 fly home via South America so he could see Hugo Chavez. Some joke.