The White House released a transcript of the first press availability, held by President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu this afternoon.

I was just reading Rachel Slajda’s write up of these five morons who converged on the local mosque in Carlton, NY honking their car horns, yelling obscenities, hitting one of the parishioners with one of the cars and eventually firing off a shotgun for good measure. The gunfire actually happened the first time they paid a visit (last Friday); swiping into the guy with the car happened when they came back a few days later (this Monday).

I couldn’t help but grin at DA Joseph Cardone’s rather understated lack of buying these guys’ explanation/rationale for how the firearm came into the picture.

It’s too soon to know whether hate crimes charges are appropriate, he told TPM.

The D.A., Joseph Cardone, said the teenagers admitting to being at the mosque and to firing the gun. Their explanation for the shot, he said, was that they were scared when they saw mosque members coming outside.

“I don’t know what sense that makes,” he said. “They’re the ones who drove to this location.”

Spokesperson for Ohio Tea Party Senate candidate Eric Deaton “absolutely” denies charges of unlawful sex with 15 year old.

It’s more than a little concerning when a retired three-star Army general comes forward to defend a lieutenant colonel being court-martialed for failing to follow orders because he doesn’t believe President Obama was born in the United States. The fact that the general is a Fox News contributor explains a lot, but the community of three-star generals and above is very small, very tight-knit, and very influential. I doubt this is representative of the group, but it’s a big step for any three-star to take and sends a signal that a lowly lieutenant colonel simply can’t.

Five teen boys arrested in upstate New York for driving by local mosque and honking, shouting obscenities, and firing a shotgun.

Former Rep. Tom Tancredo on Obama: “There is something about this [country] that he dislikes intensely, and he wants to transform.”

In a phone interview with TPM, Tancredo, third party candidate for governor of Colorado, also reiterates the urban myth about Michelle Obama disdaining Christmas: “I remember a little thing, like Ms. Obama saying she didn’t want any Christian artifacts in the White House during Christmas time. … And hosting Ramadan events there.”

And so it goes.

A closer look at public opinion surveys shows the mainstreaming of Islamophobia among self-identified Republicans.

Looks like Rev. Moon is taking back over the Washington Times. A company he controls is paying $1 for it and assuming its debt.

Constitution Party candidate Eric Deaton’s Senate run in Ohio is looking like a longshot tonight after he was indicted on a single count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The alleged relationship with an unnamed 15 year old girl occurred in 2006 and 2007 when Deaton served as an elder at the girl’s church.

Said Perry Township Police Chief Bob Bowman: “He would tutor some classes and allowed her to come to his residences to do some work and earn some money.”

And there may be more.

Chief Bowman told reporter Mark Bruce of WHIO TV: “There are additional hotel dates that don’t correspond with information from our victim. We also have information from early on that there may be other girls from the church.”

Deaton, who has the support of major Tea Party groups in Ohio, is not backing down. He plans to remain in the race and says he believes the charges are “politically motivated.” According to Deaton, the “powers that be don’t like” his decision to enter the Senate race.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is cutting short his State Department sponsored trip to the Middle East to return to the US and deal with the mosque controversy.