The initial headline:

WTF at WTC? Obama Has American Flag Removed From Ground Zero Site Moments Before Photo Shoot!

The supposedly corroborating Jake Tapper tweet:

One minute to air and they decided to take the flag down from the live shot!

The wingnut blogger’s kill shot:

This administration and, by extension, the Democrat Party are now so thoroughly divorced from the history, traditions and morals of America that we might as well admit the Marxist left has executed a successful coup d’état on this Republic.

Read more »

[Jezebel Commenter Resplendent Bitch]

“Al Qaeda released a statement on jihadist forums Friday confirming the death of its leader, Osama bin Laden, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Islamist websites.” [CNN]

Against our better judgment, we ended up watching the Redshirt Republican debate over dinner last night, and managed to keep our food down.

(Disclosure: “Keep our food down” is here used for obligatory comedic effect only. “Managed to stay awake” would be closer to the truth.)

We’ll spare you the recap, since we’re not wonky enough to really care. But for a very brief moment, Herman Cain said something mildly interesting: That as President, he would consult with Experts and make Decisions, since he’s a veteran Decision-Maker.

We know, we know: Herman Cain is The Decider, Part II.

Or: That’s what every businessman running for political office says.

Or: Didn’t President Obama consult with Experts and make a Decision just the other day? We seem to remember hearing about it Sunday night.

But to take Herman Cain almost seriously for what is likely the first and last time: What kind of Decisions does he have experience making?

You know the shorthand: Pizza! Meat or Veggie? Does Citizen Cain have an opinion on the controversial Pineapple Question? When you ask whether anyone else wants the last slice, what happens if somebody says Yes?

Read more »

Fox News terminated its contracts with Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum after the deadline for them to decide on presidential bids passed on May 1.  No action has been taken yet against Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee. According to Politico, “The contracts’ end marks another sign that Gingrich, who has repeatedly delayed his decision citing business obligations, is in the race — though he dropped out of tonight’s Fox debate.”

[Politico and CNN, headline by DodgerBlue]

David Koch is not impressed:

“He just made the decision, it was obvious where the guy is. He was one of the worst terrorists organizing attacks on the United States. I mean, no president in his right mind would not approve that decision to go eliminate him. So he’s getting a lot of recognition and his polls have jumped up, but his decision was the easiest of them all. The real hard work was done by the intelligence and the SEALs.”

And besides, David Koch knows who’s the real terrorist:

Obama is “a hardcore socialist,” Koch told us, “and he’s marvelous at pretending to be something other than that, but that is what I believe he truly is, a hardcore socialist. He’s scary to me.”

This report is presented as part of our continuing public-service series, The More You Know About Billionaires.

David Koch Gives President Obama Zero Credit for Bin Laden’s Death [New York]

Your 9/11 memories may vary.

Bush feels Obama ignoring ex-president’s role in Osama Bin Laden strike for ‘victory lap’: source [NY Daily News]