Terry Jones Might Move to Tampa

Wayne Sapp, associate pastor for the Dove World Outreach Center, told the St. Petersburg Times, Pastor Terry Jones is looking to move the church to the Tampa Bay area.

"We have actually been looking for about a year," said Sapp. "One of the reasons that we are looking at the Tampa-St. Petersburg area is the diversity that is there. Here in Gainsville, this is a very liberal area, pretty much controlled by the university. WE feel like the Tampa-St. Pete area is much more metropolitan and people would be much more apt to come out and find out (about the church) for themselves."

An area that can elect social conservatives like Ronda Storms, Brian Blair and Bill Foster is probably more welcoming for a church that nearly did a Koran burning.

The Gainesville property for the DWOC is worth $2.9 million. Jones is asking for $1.1 million. Jones is broke and has got into tax trouble with the Alachua County Property Appraiser's office for using church property for for-profit Ebay online furniture store. Jones' Germany church was raided by the government's tax authorities. Jones eventually moved. The pattern seems to be Jones falls into debt and then moves his church.

Burn A Koran Day Commercial

This mock commercial for the Dove World Outreach Center's cancelled "Burn A Koran Day" is brilliant.

Terry Jones Isn't the Only Anti-Muslim Xenophobic

Rachel Maddow has a special comment on Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center. Maddow rightfully points out that conservatives such as Newt Gingrich get away with the same anti-Muslim xenophobia. Gingrich is a cynical pol who wants to sell books and toy (unsuccessfully) with the idea winning the presidency. Gingrich knows the fringe of the Republican Party will eat up his nonsense.

Gingrich argued the Cordoba House YMCA-style facility at Park 51 should not be opened because "there are no churches or synagogues in all of Saudi Arabia. In fact no Christian or Jew can even enter Mecca." Since when does America base its religious freedoms on what Saudi Ababia does. The stupidit of Gingrich's rants would be laughable if the media didn't give the disgraced House Speaker a 24/7 soapbox on cable news.

Daughter of Terry Jones: 'I Think He Has Gone Mad'

Emma Jones has described her father Terry Jones's church the Dove World Outreach Center as a "cult." Emma Jones told Reuters she attempted to persuade her father not to go on with his plans to burn 200 Qurans on September 11th.

"My father is not one to give up," said Emma Jones, 30. "As a daughter, I see the good-natured core inside him. But I think he needs help."

"I think has has gone mad," she added.

The younger Jones e-mailed her father. He did not respond.

Rush Limbaugh & Terry Jones Were Classmates

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Rush Limbaugh and Terry Jones were classmates at Cape Central High School in Missouri. Both graduated from the Class of 1969. A former classmate remembers being on a Babe Ruth league baseball team with Limbaugh and Jones.

Van Riehl noted, "I think this guy was on my Babe Ruth team, The Mets. Interestingly enough so was Rush Limbaugh."

I bet the next going class reunion is going to be very strange.

News Flash: Terry Jones is Broke

Yobie Benjamin of the San Francisco Chronicle has an interesting profile on the financial affairs of Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center. Jones is in tax trouble after being caught running the for-profit eBay enterprise TS and Company. The state of Florida wants the sales tax on the profits. Alison Ables Real Estate shows the church and property for sale at $2,900,000. The price has been reduced $1.1 million "for a quick sale."

REDUCED 1.1 MILLION FOR A QUICK SALE!!Church in Gainesville!! One of a kind !!Incredible opportunity as it is one of the last large acreage parcels in Gainesville. The main building has 11100 sq feet with baptismal area,6 private offices and secretary area on second floor, sound systems, and hosts up to 600 people. The second building has an additional 6000 sq feet with complete kitchen to facilitate a large gathering with multiple refrigerators,2 stoves 2 dishwashers freezers, and more.Approx. 1500 sq.feet of luxury quarters in the 1 bedroom parsonage suite and a 12 x 36 deck. 20 acres located right in the heart of the #1 ranked city in the US to live in in 2006 . Centrally located in Gainesville.

Alison Ables Real Estate posted this on the top of the web page.

We have no relationship with Dove World Outreach Center or Terry Jones.

I can't say I blame the real estate company for posting that disclaimer.

The Alachua County Property Appraiser's office is charging Jones for using church facilities to run his for-profit ventures. This includes selling anti-Islamic coffee mugs and T-shirts. According to 2006 tax filings, the program services of the church is 30.5 percent of expenses. Administrative costs cover the other 69.5 percent of costs. Jones told the Gainesville Sun part of the profits from TS and Company", funds the church pantry "Lisa Jones House." Jones declined to say how much. It is also unclear what are the program services that take up 30.5 percent of expenses.

During the Koran burning controversy Jones has asked people to send the church money. It looks like Jones knows when to end a hustle. The Miami Herald reports Jones may not go ahead with the Koran burning.

New developments: Pastor Terry Jones said this afternoon that he will cancel the Quran burning event "this has been a very very difficult, trying time" and if the New York Imam will move the mosque from the Ground Zero location 'we would consider that a sign from God."

Jones said he has been in contact with the Imam and will visit him there and "he has agreed to move the location. We felt that that would be a sign that God would want us to do that....The Imam has agreed to move the mosque. We have agreed to cancel the event."

Few facts: the Cordoba House facility is not a mosque and it is not on Ground Zero. If it opens it will be a YMCA-style facility on Park Avenue.

There is no reason to believe anything Jones say. So we will see. I will say this. Jones is a huckster who makes Glenn Beck look like a beacon of moral integrity.

Update: Emma Jones, the pastor's daughter describes the church as a "cult."

Shane Butcher said he worked for Jones' furniture company 72 hours a week without pay. Meals for provided from "Lisa Jones House." At least we now know what the food pantry was used for. This seems to be a pattern.

Jennifer and Daniel Engel, a German couple, travelled to Gainesville on special visas hoping to do missionary work but quickly found themselves working in the furniture business.

Mrs Engel said when her husband decided to return to Germany she was instructed by a senior pastor to divorce him.

Jones told congregation members they were doing church work for his for-profit business. What a guy.

Obama's Passive Case Against Koran Burning

I watched George Stephanopoulos ask President Barack Obama his feelings on Pastor Terry Jones, of the Dove World Outreach Center, plans to burn 200 Korans on September 11th. Obama speaks in a low and unconfident sounding voice. There is no forcefulness in his voice. The best he can do is wish Jones will "listen to his better angels." Jones said he is willing to die in order to burn the Koran. The angels have left the Space Ship Terry Jones long ago.

Obama sounds like he is afraid he will offend someone or get accused of being a Muslim if he comes out against Koran burning. The people that would be offended would never vote for Obama. The Dove World Outreach Center has been universally condemned by religious leaders, Gen. David Petraeus and even Sarah Palin.Hillary Clinton did a better job articulating the Obama administration's position on the Koran burning.

Terry Jones Interview

Terry Moran of ABC News asked Pastor Terry Jones if Jesus would burn the Koran.

"Absolutely," Jones said.

Jones later showed Moran where is was going to burn the copies of the Koran outside the facilities of Dove World Outreach Center. Moran asked if church members would be armed. Jones told him yes and that there have been threats congregation.

"So we could have a gun battle out here," Moran asked.

The realization of unhinged Jones and his followers are showed on Moran's face. Jone is all out crazy. He has an utter disregard for the safety of his congregation.

Martin Peretz Has A Dumb Idea To Deal With Dove World Outreach Center

Martin Peretz has the horrible idea that President Obama should have the Supreme Court order an injunction against the Dove World Outreach Center's plan to burn the Koran.

In fact, it is uncivilized. I believe that the Obama administration should go to the Supreme Court or maybe tactically to the most sensible and civilized appellate court and seek an injunction against this atrocity that 1. will encourage Muslim madmen to respond in kind and 2. will also encourage primitive Christians to extend and expand the auto da fé.

The Supreme Court will not even hear the case. As stupid as the plans Pastor Terry Jones and his followers are the Supreme Court is not going to rule against the church's freedom of religion and expression. There has to be a serious constitutional question for the Supreme Court to step in. The Koran burning will likely place U.S. soldiers in harm's way Providing security for U.S. military personal is the role for policymakers and the Department of Defense. The Supreme Court is to be used to rule on the law. Not to give the President free reign to silence people he disagrees with.

A legal way to stop the Koran burning is Gainesville fire ordinances. Deputy Chief Tim Hayes has already stated that the planned burning on September 11th is illegal.

Under Section 10-63, "Open burning and outdoor burning are prohibited in the City of Gainesville unless otherwise specifically permitted as provided by this article."

Peretz is the blogging equivalent of Kanye West. A post will appear online and insanity ensues.

Gen. Petraeus on Dove World Outreach Center

The Dove World Outreach Center plans to continue with their attempt to burn the Koran on September 11th. Gen. David Petraeus told the Associated Press, "Images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan - and around the world - to inflame public opinion and incite violence."

DWOC Pastor Terry Jones told AP was going to "stand up." What exactly is Jones standing up for is unclear.

"We are at this time not going to cancel it. We're still considering it and praying about it," Jones told The Associated Press. "We are also just also concerned and wondering, when do we stop? How much do we back down? ... Instead of us backing down, maybe it's to time to stand up."

Jones has never really made it clear what he is standing up for? Jones has admitted on Hardball that hehas never read the Koran. Jones has not clearly articulated what he expects to achieve from the Koran burning. What is known is Jones runs a church with a less than 50 congregation. Most people would not know who Jone is if he didn't use every media opportunity to promote book burning.

In Kabul, Afghanistan, protests against the DWOC has resulted "Death to America" chants. If Jones's plan was to piss off Afghans and endanger American troops then mission accomplished. I hope this little man enjoys his 15 minutes of fame.

Update: Charlie Crist tells the media he is against Koran burning.

"It's important to understand tolerance. This is a divisive issue on several levels. It obviously was stimulated by the mosque and its location in New York, and I think New York officials are the best to decide whether that's appropriate, but we're a country that was based on religious freedom. Sometimes freedom isn't easy but it's important to respect."

Clergy Speaks Out Against Dove World Outreach Center

Clergy of different faiths in Gainesville came together to speak out against the Dove World Outreach Center's plan to burn the Koran on September 11th. Below is video of the press conference of clergy leaders standing together against the Koran burning.







The Rev. John Rankin correctly warned that internet imagines of Koran burning will only endanger U.S. troops and fuel anti-American sentiment. Rankin wants President Obama to condemn the Dove World Outreach Center's plans to burn the Koran. After the poll that found 1 in 5 Americans believing Obama is a Muslim, it is unlikely the President will want to step into this issue this close to the general election.

The Dove World Outreach Center has twice been denied a permit to hold an open book burning bonfire.

Under Section 10-63, "Open burning and outdoor burning are prohibited in the City of Gainesville unless otherwise specifically permitted as provided by this article."

Mayor Craig Lowe isn't about to approve a Koran burning.

Pastor Terry Jones told Hardball host he would still go ahead with the Koran burning even if President George W. Bush asked him not to. Jones told Matthews that he is doing the Koran burning on the bizarre claim to stop Sharia law from being enforced in the United States. Jones obviously has no concept that doing away with the Constitution is an extremely difficult legislative and legal hurdle. I can't think of a single Senator who would vote for Sharia law.