Mixed bag of “Middle Eastern turbulence” and campaign news today. Here’s a sampler tray:

* New York Times blog on protests stresses their opportunistic nature; grievances range over many issues, some unrelated to U.S.

* As Brother Benen reports, House passes temporary funding measure to avoid pre-election controversy, despite earlier conservative thundering about new cuts.

* Despite fiery anti-Obama speech, Paul Ryan displeases Values Voter Summit co-sponsor Bryan Fischer of American Family Association by failing to mention same-sex marriage. Fischer also repeats “win or die” threats to GOP.

* In her own VVS speech, Michele Bachmann suggests Obama has tried to outlaw “understanding who the enemy is” in apparent gesture of solidarity with anti-Muslim bigots.

* In interview, Mitt Romney condemns Innocence of Muslims, apparently exhibiting sympathy for America’s enemies. This is getting confusing.

And in non-political news:

* Home Depot closes big-box stores in China as spox says Chinese a “do-it-for me market, not a do-it-yourself market.” Clearly, HD doesn’t think customer always right.

Back in just a few.

Independent since 1969.

The Washington Monthly is nonprofit and reader-supported. Your tax-deductible gift pays for the reporting you just read.

Ed Kilgore, a contributing editor of the Washington Monthly, is a columnist for New York.