Then Paterson said he was going to meet with the Park51 organizers, in order to convince them to support his weird and bad plan. This wasn’t really true. (Although Paterson did meet with Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who really has nothing to do with anything.) Still, Paterson insisted that everyone was on board, and at this point he was citing Rudy Giuliani, which is a probable sign that he’s just losing it.

Also losing it, in a more serious sense, was Michael Enright, a film student, fixated on the Afghanistan war, who, in an apparent racist, drunken rage, viciously slashed a Muslim cab driver in Manhattan on Tuesday night. Was the crime related to a general uptick in anti-Muslim sentiment, across the nation, localized in New York? It’s impossible to tell. But Paterson thought this statement was appropriate:

“The potential for this kind of violence is one of the reasons why I have called publicly for a respectful and unifying conversation about the Park51 project. I continue to offer my assistance for an open dialogue that I believe will help to bring New Yorkers together.

The implication is that Muslims have it coming — that they can expect more slashings, as long as they refuse to meet with Paterson to plan a different way forward. (Paterson then attempted to educate Americans on different kinds of Muslims.)

I think David Paterson means well. But he’s sounding completely nuts.

It actually sounds like a pretty kick-ass party:

Rep. Joe Crowley is to introduce the “master of ceremonies” Gov. David Paterson, who briefly wavered about sticking to his agreement to participate, but apparently is back on board. Other speakers include: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Mayor Bloomberg, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Paterson is, according to this memo, to acknowledge the presence of former NYC Mayor David Dinkins and his father, ex-state Secretary of State Basil Paterson. And then Rangel speaks. Dionne Warwick will take the stage after the congressman, and then do a “Happy Birthday” duet with Chuck Jackson.

Attendees supposedly also include Representatives Jerry Nadler, Anthony Weiner, Yvette Clark, Jose Serrano, Greg Meeks, and Chaka Fattah.

You want to be at this party, right? Unfortunately, public tickets are sold out. But keep checking CharlieRangel.org to see if more are made available!

But, said Boston University School of Law professor Jay Wexler, if Paterson is proposing donating state land for a mosque or selling the land at a discount, the plan could be successfully challenged in court. “They’re really giving government aid to religion — the aid is the break betwen fair market value and whatever they’re selling it for. That’s almost like they’re giving a bunch of money to mosque,” said Wexler, author of a book on church-state legal battles.

In an interview with Salon, Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook acknowledged there are potential constitutional issues. “There are church and state issues here. Obviously there are very large concerns about how involved the state can be. We’re looking into that,” Hook said.

Hook emphasized that the governor was aiming to alleviate tensions by “offering to mediate a conversation between the planners and those who are against the project.” He said the governor’s office has not identified a plot that it has in mind and that in any case the governor was not proposing donating state land for free.

But Paterson’s comments raised the hackles of advocates of separation of church and state.

Barry Lynn, executive director of  Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told Salon there is case law barring use of government funds to house an entity that, like Cordoba House, is going to be used even in part for religious purposes.

“I think the governor should really back off this idea,” said Lynn. “When a private group wants to build a center that contains a mosque on their own private property they have a right to do that.”

Even a plan to sell state land at fair market value to the mosque organizers could be vulnerable to challenge.

“You start saying well the bidding is open and closed with this one group, that would raise problems,” said Lynn. “You cannot cut special deals with religious groups without raising constituional red flags.”

Wexler, the law professor, said that in the case of a sale, the state would probably argue “they’re taking an action that does not have a purpose to promote religion. The purpose is to avoid offense, or to diffuse this whole thing.”

Of course, we may never find out — no one has taken up Paterson on his idea yet.

Paterson is also being investigated over contact with a woman who had accused a top aide of domestic violence.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A senior state Democrat tells The Associated Press that black party leaders in Gov. David Paterson’s New York City neighborhood hope to craft a “message calling for the governor to resign.”

The Democrat briefed on the meeting planned for Thursday night spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Black leaders at the meeting in Harlem could play a large role in the fate of New York’s first black governor.

A black Democratic adviser who also spoke on condition of anonymity says the Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to say he’s rethinking his support for Paterson.

Paterson is being investigated over contact with a woman who had accused a top aide of domestic violence. He also faces ethics charges over free New York Yankees tickets.

Paterson says he is innocent and won’t quit. His office didn’t respond to requests for comment.