In this piece, Amil Imani clearly calls out for the Islamic world to clean its own house before going out and committing mayhem against perceived offenses.
http://amilimani.com/2012/09/criminalizing-the-defamation-of-islam/
If only somebody at last week's UN summit had the courage to give a speech like that. Instead, we cower in the face of hate, violence, and intimidation. If only the decent and peaceful Muslims in the world who have no desire to subjugate anyone could rise up and take charge. Unfortunately, (with very few exceptions) they can't.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Muslim Protest in Tokyo
Hat tip Vlad Tepes
On September 28, Muslims in Tokyo held a protest near the US Embassy over the video, "The Innocence of Muslims". Some counter-protesters came out to defend free speech.
On September 28, Muslims in Tokyo held a protest near the US Embassy over the video, "The Innocence of Muslims". Some counter-protesters came out to defend free speech.
More Unrest in Greece
Not all of the civil unrest in Greece has to do with the economy. In this video below by Iran's Press TV, Muslim immigrants came out in recent days to protest the video that mocked Islam as well as allegations of police abuse and racist attacks. Gates of Vienna re-posted this video.
Amid the Rubble
"Obama the Savior"
The economy is in the tank. The debt is in the trillions. Unemployment is over 8%. Our foreign policy has collapsed. The entire Middle East and Pakistan are in flames over us. Iran is closing in on that nuclear bomb. Four Americans including our ambassador are killed in Libya. The administration lied to us about Benghazi. We greased the skids for Mubarak in Egypt and welcomed in the Muslim Brotherhood as Egypt becomes the next Iran. Our soldiers in Afghanistan are being killed by our Afghan "fellow-soldiers". We have sent thousands of weapons to the Mexican drug cartels. We have a dead Border Patrol agent. The attorney general has been held in contempt of Congress. The country is divided. Solyndra.........
Well, at least if you believe the media.
White House Schedule: September 30, 2012
Today must be a day of debate prep and NFL.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete
http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete
White House Schedule - September 30, 2012
Joe Scarborough's Morning Joke
"Oh, sweet Jesus."
Looks like MSNBC has once again tarnished the peacock brand. This time, Joe Scarborough screwed up as he tries to ingratiate himself with the mad-hatters of the afternoon and evening schedule.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/09/29/msnbc-caught-in-another-big-video-gaffe/?test=latestnews
And of course, Mica Brzqyzkpski can do nothing more than feed off whatever Joe says with one-word exclamations as she always does.
Move over, Matthews. Joe's gonna take your job.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Latest Update on Eric Allen Bell
| Documentary filmmaker Eric Allen Bell, who has been wrongfully linked to the video, "The Innocence of Muslims", has received numerous death threats. As a result, he has been forced to go underground-in his own country. This is a disgusting turn of events. Eric is going to need some funding to maintain his security. If you would like to help, go to www.ericallenbell.com. | STATUS UPDATE: I have been moved to a safe house while the FBI investigates numerous death threats against me, 3 Pakistani newspapers wrongfully published that I was "the filmmaker" behind "The Innocence of Muslims". An Islamic terrorist organization has ordered my death, and a bounty has been placed on my head. This rumor, associating me with the film, was intentionally planted by those who wish to silence me, after I published several articles, naming names and making connections between certain mosques, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. I will not be silenced. I may be physically in hiding, but I will continue to write these articles, use radio, and any and all media to expose the truth about Political Islam and those who try to advance this brand of tyranny in America. |
Update on the Coptic Christians in Egypt
Hat tip to Vlad Tepes and Assyrian International News Agency
As most people now know, Nakoula B. Nakoula, one of the producers of the video, "The Innocence of Muslims" that is being blamed as the cause of all the rioting and killing in the Middle East-including 4 Americans in Libya-is a Coptic Christian from Egypt. Given the long-standing persecution of Copts in Egypt, it is important to keep tabs on how this is affecting their status in that country amid all the turmoil.
The Assyrian International News Agency has posted this report describing the forced displacement of Copts from Rafah, Egypt. It was cross-posted by Vlad Tepes, where I picked it up.
http://www.aina.org/news/20120928192826.htm
In case you are interested, the Obama administration has just increased aid to Egypt with another 450 million dollars.
*Just breaking: The Cairo embassy has just issued a terror threat warning to Americans living in Egypt-especially female missionaries (Gretawire).
As most people now know, Nakoula B. Nakoula, one of the producers of the video, "The Innocence of Muslims" that is being blamed as the cause of all the rioting and killing in the Middle East-including 4 Americans in Libya-is a Coptic Christian from Egypt. Given the long-standing persecution of Copts in Egypt, it is important to keep tabs on how this is affecting their status in that country amid all the turmoil.
The Assyrian International News Agency has posted this report describing the forced displacement of Copts from Rafah, Egypt. It was cross-posted by Vlad Tepes, where I picked it up.
http://www.aina.org/news/20120928192826.htm
In case you are interested, the Obama administration has just increased aid to Egypt with another 450 million dollars.
*Just breaking: The Cairo embassy has just issued a terror threat warning to Americans living in Egypt-especially female missionaries (Gretawire).
Fast and Furious: Now Spanish-Language Media is Paying Attention
Hat tip Daily Caller
It is about time our Spanish-language media in the US got involved in the ATF/DOJ scandal Fast and Furious. Univision has uncovered more damage due to Fast and Furious in Latin America than previously thought. Now perhaps, more Hispanics in this country will begin to re-think all this "hope and change" nonsense.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/29/fast-and-furious-back-in-headlines-as-univision-reportedly-finds-more-victims/
It is about time our Spanish-language media in the US got involved in the ATF/DOJ scandal Fast and Furious. Univision has uncovered more damage due to Fast and Furious in Latin America than previously thought. Now perhaps, more Hispanics in this country will begin to re-think all this "hope and change" nonsense.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/29/fast-and-furious-back-in-headlines-as-univision-reportedly-finds-more-victims/
White House Schedule-September 29, 2012
No public schedule today, folks. Translation? Debate prep and football.
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete
White House Schedule - September 29, 2012
"Defamation, er Incitement of Religions" is Knocking on Our Door
Hat tip Maggie's Notebook
Picture taken in New York City
Never mind that we have seen our ambassador to Libya and three other Americans brutally murdered. Never mind that our diplomatic missions in the Middle East (and Pakistan) have been attacked and our flag burned. In the eyes of the Islamic world, American leaders, and our own media, this is all America's fault. It is all because we-not they-are the intolerant ones because they continue to lay the blame on that stupid video. One of the unfortunate results of all this is the advancement of calls to criminalize any criticism of Islam. These voices, led by the 56-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the largest voting bloc in the UN, seem to have found a friendly ally in Hillary Clinton, the Department of State, and, indeed, the administration.
Last night, there was a large gathering of Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan to protest against Islamophobia and the now-infamous video, "The Innocence of Muslims". It was reported by some sources beforehand that they would also call for such expressions to be made illegal. I am still trying to determine if any such calls were made.
Maggie's Notebook has an important piece updating us on the effort to strip Americans of their freedom of speech in the wake of this atrocity committed against us. From it, you can link to the December 2011 report issued by Hillary and her pals. The key word here is now "incitement" rather than "defamation". More on that distinction later.
http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2012/09/hillary-clinton-invites-islamic-un-nations-to-discuss-intolerance-ours-not-theirs-clinton-position-on-benghazi-becomes-clearer/
My impression is that Mrs Clinton has been trying to hold her finger in the dike, so to speak, when it comes to maintaining freedom of speech. Her words definitely include protecting that freedom. Asst. Attorney General Thomas Perez, in his remarks, predictably, painted the US as a place where prejudice and discrimination are the biggest problem and patted the DOJ on the back for fighting it-even though many of the examples were from decades ago. He did not waste his time defending freedom of expression.
London
As for inserting the term, "incitement" in place of "defamation", this is not really much of a victory. In the US, the right of free speech stops when one incites a crime against another, for example, saying to a crowd, "Kill the (fill in the blank) and the crowd immediately proceeds to kill a fill in the blank.
But what about the case we are dealing with now? Someone says or publishes something that offends Muslims, and Muslims in another part of the world go out and commit mayhem. Incitement? Even if you say yes, think of the legal spaghetti we are inviting in this country. Put Christ in a jar of urine and nothing happens other than Christians complain because they are offended. Do the same with Muhammad and all Hell breaks loose. Discriminatory application of justice? What about those Friday prayers in the Middle East where some imam exhorts the crowd to "take action" against the infidels, and the audience rushes out and kills a couple of infidels. Incitement? All day long (under our law at least), but who ever gets prosecuted for that in the Middle East?
And, in case you are not aware, the Justice Department has, indeed, taken video-maker Nakoula B. Nakoula into custody. He is now being held without bail on a probation violation for "using the Internet without permission" (a term of his probation). He has been labeled by the judge as a danger to society. The only one in danger is Nakoula.
Secretary Clinton may be trying to diplomatically tell the OIC that we are going to protect freedom of speech in the US while vigorously protecting the rights of religious minorities, but they are not going to be satisfied with that. They want any expression that criticizes Islam criminalized, and they using this latest controversy to advance that case even though it is we in the US who have been victimized. It is one thing to argue that Nakoula's video was offensive to Muslims (it was). It is another to prosecute him. Does anyone seriously think that had he made a film critical or satirical of Jews or Christians, he would be thrown back in jail for using the Internet in violation of his probation?
More importantly, in light of world events, are we eventually going to accede to demands that we shut down an honest discussion of the nature of Islamic terror, its own hatreds and sharia law as it would apply in the West? This need not be done in a spirit of hate or mockery, but who will draw the line and decide legally if it is hateful? Is it beyond the realm of imagination that those who speak out against the outrages occurring in the Islamic world, or question shariah law, or criticize an American Muslim leader for using hate speech himself would be subject to having our taxes audited every year or be charged with spitting on the sidewalk?
Ask Nakoula B. Nakoula.
Picture taken in New York City
Never mind that we have seen our ambassador to Libya and three other Americans brutally murdered. Never mind that our diplomatic missions in the Middle East (and Pakistan) have been attacked and our flag burned. In the eyes of the Islamic world, American leaders, and our own media, this is all America's fault. It is all because we-not they-are the intolerant ones because they continue to lay the blame on that stupid video. One of the unfortunate results of all this is the advancement of calls to criminalize any criticism of Islam. These voices, led by the 56-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the largest voting bloc in the UN, seem to have found a friendly ally in Hillary Clinton, the Department of State, and, indeed, the administration.
Last night, there was a large gathering of Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan to protest against Islamophobia and the now-infamous video, "The Innocence of Muslims". It was reported by some sources beforehand that they would also call for such expressions to be made illegal. I am still trying to determine if any such calls were made.
Maggie's Notebook has an important piece updating us on the effort to strip Americans of their freedom of speech in the wake of this atrocity committed against us. From it, you can link to the December 2011 report issued by Hillary and her pals. The key word here is now "incitement" rather than "defamation". More on that distinction later.
http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2012/09/hillary-clinton-invites-islamic-un-nations-to-discuss-intolerance-ours-not-theirs-clinton-position-on-benghazi-becomes-clearer/
My impression is that Mrs Clinton has been trying to hold her finger in the dike, so to speak, when it comes to maintaining freedom of speech. Her words definitely include protecting that freedom. Asst. Attorney General Thomas Perez, in his remarks, predictably, painted the US as a place where prejudice and discrimination are the biggest problem and patted the DOJ on the back for fighting it-even though many of the examples were from decades ago. He did not waste his time defending freedom of expression.
London
As for inserting the term, "incitement" in place of "defamation", this is not really much of a victory. In the US, the right of free speech stops when one incites a crime against another, for example, saying to a crowd, "Kill the (fill in the blank) and the crowd immediately proceeds to kill a fill in the blank.
But what about the case we are dealing with now? Someone says or publishes something that offends Muslims, and Muslims in another part of the world go out and commit mayhem. Incitement? Even if you say yes, think of the legal spaghetti we are inviting in this country. Put Christ in a jar of urine and nothing happens other than Christians complain because they are offended. Do the same with Muhammad and all Hell breaks loose. Discriminatory application of justice? What about those Friday prayers in the Middle East where some imam exhorts the crowd to "take action" against the infidels, and the audience rushes out and kills a couple of infidels. Incitement? All day long (under our law at least), but who ever gets prosecuted for that in the Middle East?
And, in case you are not aware, the Justice Department has, indeed, taken video-maker Nakoula B. Nakoula into custody. He is now being held without bail on a probation violation for "using the Internet without permission" (a term of his probation). He has been labeled by the judge as a danger to society. The only one in danger is Nakoula.
Secretary Clinton may be trying to diplomatically tell the OIC that we are going to protect freedom of speech in the US while vigorously protecting the rights of religious minorities, but they are not going to be satisfied with that. They want any expression that criticizes Islam criminalized, and they using this latest controversy to advance that case even though it is we in the US who have been victimized. It is one thing to argue that Nakoula's video was offensive to Muslims (it was). It is another to prosecute him. Does anyone seriously think that had he made a film critical or satirical of Jews or Christians, he would be thrown back in jail for using the Internet in violation of his probation?
More importantly, in light of world events, are we eventually going to accede to demands that we shut down an honest discussion of the nature of Islamic terror, its own hatreds and sharia law as it would apply in the West? This need not be done in a spirit of hate or mockery, but who will draw the line and decide legally if it is hateful? Is it beyond the realm of imagination that those who speak out against the outrages occurring in the Islamic world, or question shariah law, or criticize an American Muslim leader for using hate speech himself would be subject to having our taxes audited every year or be charged with spitting on the sidewalk?
Ask Nakoula B. Nakoula.
Friday, September 28, 2012
White House Schedule-September 28, 2012
More "Clarifications" on Benghazi
Now that the director of National Intelligence, James Clapper's name has come out in connection with
the wrong reporting on the Benghazi attack, it is starting to make sense to me-in a perverse sort of way.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/28/no-threat-assessment-in-benghazi-prior-to-ambassador-arrival-source-says/
Clapper is the same guy who predicted that Muammar Ghadafi was going to prevail in Libya. He is the same guy who described the Muslim Brotherhood as secular reformers or some such rot. He is also the same guy who had to learn about the arrests of 12 terror suspects in the UK from Diane Sawyer while being interviewed.
The problem still remains: Within 24 hours, the administration knew that the attack in Libya was not spontaneous, rather a planned terror attack. It took them a full week to tell us that. During that week, UN Ambassador Susan Rice appeared on all the news shows and repeated the lie. Jay Carney spouted the lie 2 days after the attack. Add this to the inescapable conclusion in light of other reports that necessary security precautions were not put in place, and what we have is a major scandal. Now if we could get the mainstream media to notice.
Another New Tax-The UN Tax
Federal income tax, capital gains tax, state income tax, municipality tax, sales tax, gas tax; have I covered them all?
Not quite. Now the UN wants countries like the US to pay taxes to them.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/27/as-un-opens-its-general-assembly-session-it-is-already-thinking-up-new-global/?test=latestnews
No need repeating the reasons I have given before for the free world (what's left of it) to get out of this corrupt organization and take our financial support with it. Why do we need to contribute to the Third World when we already pour billions into it in the first place. This is UN style redistribution.
And what makes it even scarier is that we have a redistribution administration. Do you really think President Obama will turn the UN down? I am sure President Romney will.
It's your vote come November.
The Indoctrination at Northeastern University
Charles Jacobs and Americans for Peace and Tolerance have produced a 32-minute video that shows the indoctrination and anti-Semitism that has taken over classrooms at Boston's Northeastern University. This video is well worth watching. Some of the shots come from the school where I have taught part-time for 14 years, UC Irvine, which is also mentioned in the narration as a hotbed of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic activity. In addition, Norm Finkelstein, the oddball ex-professor mentioned in the video has also visited UCI at least three times. Twice I have seen him speak. That he should be trumpeted by a Northeastern professor is a joke.
http://www.shameonneu.com/
This is not the first time Northeastern University has been written about on this site.
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2012/04/holocaust-outrage-at-northeastern.html
I can attest to what the video is saying. While I have not visited Northeastern, I have seen the same nonsense at UC Irvine. It is not just at Northeastern, or UCI or UC Berkeley. This is going on all over North America.
More Bad News Out of Benghazi
Fox News is reporting that one of their intelligence sources in Libya has told them that there was never a threat assessment done on the consular compound in Benghazi before Ambassador Chris Stevens went there.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/28/no-threat-assessment-in-benghazi-prior-to-ambassador-arrival-source-says/
Let's concede off the bat that this is an anonymous source apparently in the intelligence community in Libya.
Based on that, we shouldn't convict anybody. However, this should be easy to clear up. A threat assessment is not someone in Washington thinking about the possible threats. It is a formal procedure conducted on the ground at the location in question. It involves formal reports. It can be assumed that if a threat assessment was conducted, State Department has a record of it in its files. It is now for the appropriate Congressional committee to subpoena those documents as well as the appropriate officials to testify under oath.
Just like the Oversight Committee subpoenaed 80,000 documents from DOJ in the Fast and Furious scandal.
This issue begs for an investigation. If the allegation is true, Hillary Clinton has no business being Secretary of State. But what else is new?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/28/no-threat-assessment-in-benghazi-prior-to-ambassador-arrival-source-says/
Let's concede off the bat that this is an anonymous source apparently in the intelligence community in Libya.
Based on that, we shouldn't convict anybody. However, this should be easy to clear up. A threat assessment is not someone in Washington thinking about the possible threats. It is a formal procedure conducted on the ground at the location in question. It involves formal reports. It can be assumed that if a threat assessment was conducted, State Department has a record of it in its files. It is now for the appropriate Congressional committee to subpoena those documents as well as the appropriate officials to testify under oath.
Just like the Oversight Committee subpoenaed 80,000 documents from DOJ in the Fast and Furious scandal.
This issue begs for an investigation. If the allegation is true, Hillary Clinton has no business being Secretary of State. But what else is new?
Jewish Center in Malmo Bombed
Once again, Sweden's third-largest city, Malmo, is back in the headlines due to its rampant anti-Semitism. Today in the early morning hours, the city's Jewish center was bombed. There were no injuries since it happened around 1 am. Two eighteen-year-olds are in custody. The below report is from the Swedish English language paper, The Local
http://www.thelocal.se/43494/20120928/
A major reason these things occur in Malmo is because their Israel-hating mayor, Ilmar Reepalu, is an anti-Semite. For years. he has ignored the harassment and assaults upon the dwindling Jewish community by the city's out-of-control Muslim immigrants, who make up 25% of the population and have made the Rosengard section of Malmo a no-go-zone. Now this.
Speaking of Malmo, this is what occurred there last weekend. Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes produced this video and post.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-culturally-enriched-pep-rally-in-malmo.html
Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden's largest daily, has an article confirming that Malmo has the highest rate of hate crimes. The highest increase is against Jews (22% since 2008). Just over one-quarter are believed committed by white power types, but the other three quarters is not mentioned. There is a vague reference to "tensions" between Jews and Muslims, but there is no mention of Muslim attacks against Jews. Muslims are also mentioned as victims of hate crimes. To be blunt, this is politically-correct and misleading reporting.
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/religiosa-hatbrott-vanligast-i-malmo_7539288.svd
Yet there is an accompanying article entitled: "Neo-Nazis no longer the biggest threat". It features an interview of Petra Kahn, a Jewish youth leader, who tells of being warned by a teacher in school not to tell anyone she was Jewish because there were several students in the class from the Middle East.
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/judiskt-forbund-nynazister-inte-langre-storsta-hotet_7537852.svd
Sweden was once known as a country that prided itself on its "tolerance". Today, this is what the country tolerates in the name of diversity.
http://www.thelocal.se/43494/20120928/
A major reason these things occur in Malmo is because their Israel-hating mayor, Ilmar Reepalu, is an anti-Semite. For years. he has ignored the harassment and assaults upon the dwindling Jewish community by the city's out-of-control Muslim immigrants, who make up 25% of the population and have made the Rosengard section of Malmo a no-go-zone. Now this.
Speaking of Malmo, this is what occurred there last weekend. Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes produced this video and post.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-culturally-enriched-pep-rally-in-malmo.html
Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden's largest daily, has an article confirming that Malmo has the highest rate of hate crimes. The highest increase is against Jews (22% since 2008). Just over one-quarter are believed committed by white power types, but the other three quarters is not mentioned. There is a vague reference to "tensions" between Jews and Muslims, but there is no mention of Muslim attacks against Jews. Muslims are also mentioned as victims of hate crimes. To be blunt, this is politically-correct and misleading reporting.
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/religiosa-hatbrott-vanligast-i-malmo_7539288.svd
Yet there is an accompanying article entitled: "Neo-Nazis no longer the biggest threat". It features an interview of Petra Kahn, a Jewish youth leader, who tells of being warned by a teacher in school not to tell anyone she was Jewish because there were several students in the class from the Middle East.
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/judiskt-forbund-nynazister-inte-langre-storsta-hotet_7537852.svd
Sweden was once known as a country that prided itself on its "tolerance". Today, this is what the country tolerates in the name of diversity.
Vote For Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I'm Mitt Romney, and I approve of these messages.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Nigerian Women Denied Entry Into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj
-Le Figaro
Nigerian women boarding a bus after arrival in Medina, Saudi Arabia
The below report from Le Figaro describes a diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. It seems that approximately 1,000 Nigerian women have been denied entry into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) because they were not accompanied by male guardians.
http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/09/27/01003-20120927ARTFIG00701-elles-voulaient-prier-a-la-mecque-djedda-les-a-refuse.php
Nigeria is protesting what it calls discriminatory treatment because only their country seems to be singled out. A Nigerian religious figure, Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud Gumi, who, according to the Le Figaro article, has been linked to terrorist groups, has "poured gasoline on the fire" by stating that certain Nigerians in Saudi Arabia have committed acts that offend the religion.
The National Organization of Women (NOW) has issued no comment as far as I know.
Back From North Dakota
Last night I returned from 4 days in Bismarck, North Dakota.
I know. You are asking why.
For all you UC Santa Cruz Community Studies and History of Consciousness majors, Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota. This is the land Lewis and Clark traveled through and home of various tribes of the Sioux Nation. (Is that the proper way to put it?)
So what did I do in Bismarck since I was not there for work and had no friends or family there?
Well, after breakfast, I spent some time on my laptop keeping my loyal readers happy. I went to the hotel gym for an hour. I ate lunch. I explored the city, and one day, I traveled to the Mandan Indian Resort and Casino, which is located on the Flat Rock Indian tribe reservation about 50 miles away. On my last day, I checked out Bismarck State College and their gift shop looking to buy some gifts for the family and a BSC polo shirt. They have a beautiful green shirt with their logo and yellow trim. It was on sale but not in my size.
Bismarck State College. If you can make out the bottom line of the sign, it says, "Mystic Advising and Counseling Center". I thought I had a story here, but then I learned that the BSC mascot is a "mystic", and besides you probably can't read the sign anyway.
I also spent about an hour at the state capitol building and their Heritage museum.
Took that picture myself. Reminds me of Moscow.
Did I mention I visited a few bars and checked out the upper Midwest craft brews? One day, I met the head chef of a local restaurant and bar, who apparently is about the only Mexican in Bismarck. He attended college in Salt Lake City and married a North Dakota gal. We spoke in Spanish for about 20 minutes in the bar and boy was everybody impressed. Well, not that impressed.
"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah."
(Lawrence Welk was born in Strasburg, ND.)
On a serious note, North Dakota may not be a tourist trap, but it is working. Unemployment is about 3%, and a burgeoning oil industry is creating thousands of jobs. (Are you reading this, President Obama?)
So, do you really want to know why I went to North Dakota? The truth is that I had been in 48 states, and only North Dakota and Alaska remained. I am determined to hit all 50.
Alaska, you are next.
I know. You are asking why.
For all you UC Santa Cruz Community Studies and History of Consciousness majors, Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota. This is the land Lewis and Clark traveled through and home of various tribes of the Sioux Nation. (Is that the proper way to put it?)
So what did I do in Bismarck since I was not there for work and had no friends or family there?
Well, after breakfast, I spent some time on my laptop keeping my loyal readers happy. I went to the hotel gym for an hour. I ate lunch. I explored the city, and one day, I traveled to the Mandan Indian Resort and Casino, which is located on the Flat Rock Indian tribe reservation about 50 miles away. On my last day, I checked out Bismarck State College and their gift shop looking to buy some gifts for the family and a BSC polo shirt. They have a beautiful green shirt with their logo and yellow trim. It was on sale but not in my size.
I also spent about an hour at the state capitol building and their Heritage museum.
Took that picture myself. Reminds me of Moscow.
Did I mention I visited a few bars and checked out the upper Midwest craft brews? One day, I met the head chef of a local restaurant and bar, who apparently is about the only Mexican in Bismarck. He attended college in Salt Lake City and married a North Dakota gal. We spoke in Spanish for about 20 minutes in the bar and boy was everybody impressed. Well, not that impressed.
"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah."
(Lawrence Welk was born in Strasburg, ND.)
On a serious note, North Dakota may not be a tourist trap, but it is working. Unemployment is about 3%, and a burgeoning oil industry is creating thousands of jobs. (Are you reading this, President Obama?)
So, do you really want to know why I went to North Dakota? The truth is that I had been in 48 states, and only North Dakota and Alaska remained. I am determined to hit all 50.
Alaska, you are next.
Ed Schultz's Gaffe on "Stench"
Hat tip News Busters
A few years ago, I was in Afton, Wyoming at an Army reunion. After an evening of "reminiscing" with my old buddies, I came back to my hotel room and turned on the TV. On the Fox Channel, there was a show I had never seen called "Red Eye". According to the "live report" from a news helicopter, CNN's Anderson Cooper was at that very moment involved in a high speed car chase, in Canada, if I recall.
Anyway, the first thing I did when I woke up the next morning was check the Internet for an "update". Finding none, I wrote a post asking why there was no news about this. Was Anderson Cooper really involved in a car chase the previous evening, or was there a news blackout? Some wise guy reader pointed out to me that "Red Eye" was a political spoof show.
That brings us to MSNBC's Butter and Egg Man, Ed Schultz.
Politico's Roger Simon has written a satire about Paul Ryan, which alleges that a "disgruntled" Ryan refers to Mitt Romney as "Stench". Ed took the bait.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2012/09/27/ed-schultz-and-nations-john-nichols-duped-politicos-stench-satire
I can't be too hard on Ed about this because I made the same goof with poor Anderson Cooper. Then again, I'm not working for MSNBC and appearing on national TV.
Breaking: Video Maker in Custody in Los Angeles
KABC Radio in Los Angeles has just reported that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the alleged producer of the video, "The Innocence of Muslims", has been taken into federal custody today and is about to undergo a hearing in Los Angeles Federal Court as to a possible parole violation. The hearing is reportedly closed to media and the public, and the indictment is sealed.
*Update: Nakoula has been ordered held in custody by federal judge for parole (or probation?) violation.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/09/27/man-behind-anti-islam-film-arrested-authorities-say/
I don't want to comment too much without getting any reports from the court hearing. It appears that the probation violation is connected with using the Internet without prior permission from his supervising probation officer. If true, it would be a legal course of action by the feds, but it sure is troubling. To me, it smacks of "spitting on the sidewalk" enforcement.
*Update: Nakoula has been ordered held in custody by federal judge for parole (or probation?) violation.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/09/27/man-behind-anti-islam-film-arrested-authorities-say/
I don't want to comment too much without getting any reports from the court hearing. It appears that the probation violation is connected with using the Internet without prior permission from his supervising probation officer. If true, it would be a legal course of action by the feds, but it sure is troubling. To me, it smacks of "spitting on the sidewalk" enforcement.
The Libya Attack: Who Knew What-When?
Who's on First?
Ineptness or deliberate falsehood?
According to this latest report, apparently, the administration did, in fact, have information (and enough common sense) to know that the attack on the Benghazi consulate was a planned terror attack.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/27/us-officials-knew-libya-attack-was-terrorism-within-24-hours-sources-confirm/
However, this now raises more questions. If the administration knew within 24 hours that it was a planned terror attack, why did they keep telling the public for a week that it was a spontaneous protest that got out of hand due to that infamous video? If there was a Top Secret strategic reason involved, that might be understandable, but to tell the American public a tale they knew was false requires some serious explanation. They could have always said for a week that it was still under investigation and withheld comment. Instead, it now appears that we were lied to. If not, it points to a seriously inept administration.
* No, I am not implying the replacement refs were dishonest. They weren't that bad.
According to this latest report, apparently, the administration did, in fact, have information (and enough common sense) to know that the attack on the Benghazi consulate was a planned terror attack.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/27/us-officials-knew-libya-attack-was-terrorism-within-24-hours-sources-confirm/
However, this now raises more questions. If the administration knew within 24 hours that it was a planned terror attack, why did they keep telling the public for a week that it was a spontaneous protest that got out of hand due to that infamous video? If there was a Top Secret strategic reason involved, that might be understandable, but to tell the American public a tale they knew was false requires some serious explanation. They could have always said for a week that it was still under investigation and withheld comment. Instead, it now appears that we were lied to. If not, it points to a seriously inept administration.
* No, I am not implying the replacement refs were dishonest. They weren't that bad.
Limit Free Speech? Here Come the Professors
Leave it to two dopey professors to lead the charge in America for taking away free speech. In this article by Robert Shibley, which appears in Daily Caller, two university professors, Eric Hosner and Anthea Butler suggest that free speech in America should have its limits.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/26/eric-posner-is-wrong-about-free-speech/
University of Pennsylvania Religious Studies Professor Anthea Butler has already been the subject of a previous post on this site when she stuck her foot in her mouth on this topic.
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=59324506101124457#editor/target=post;postID=8499199938148287517
Let me paint a scenario for those of you who tell me that the First Amendment clearly protects freedom of expression-including the type that is in the headlines these days. In Europe, certain types of speech are already illegal. One example is Holocaust denial. Another is incitement to religious or racial hatred. The problem is distinguishing between genocidal rhetoric, such as by someone like Hitler, and an honest and open discussion of problems that are staring us in the face every day. This is why you see figures like Geert Wilders and Elisabeth Sabaditsch -Wolff prosecuted in Holland and Austria respectively, the former was acquitted, but the latter convicted and fined.
Now we have the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) , which was already trying to push a defamation of Religions law through the UN. Hillary Clinton has already had two closed door meetings with the OIC in Istanbul and Washington to discuss the issue. The OIC demands can only increase now in the light of recent events.
In the past days, the Islamic Society of Kansas City sent President Obama a letter asking that he put an end to anti-Islamic expression in the US.
In his speech before the UN, President Obama stated that he cannot enforce laws against freedom of expression in the US. (He also said he would reduce unemployment, cut the deficit, and stop the rise in the seas if he was elected in 2008.) Let's just say I don't take Obama at his word.
If the President is re-elected, it is quite possible that he will get his chance to put a 5th ultra liberal on the Supreme Court, as well as another 4 years of liberal judges to the federal bench. It can happen. Who is to say that we may not see a law against so-called "hate speech" a la Europe?
"But," you say, "If all groups and religions are protected, doesn't that work equally for all?"
Sure, just like it does in the Middle East, where Christians are persecuted and Jews (who were driven out in 1948) are damned daily; just like it does today in Europe, where Jews are harassed daily and nobody dares enforce the law; just as it works in American academia, where Jewish students are harassed and intimidated on campus and administrators don't dare take action. We already see that Muslims get special consideration, while the rest us just have to grin and bear it.
It is called intimidation. And we are the ones being intimidated.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/26/eric-posner-is-wrong-about-free-speech/
University of Pennsylvania Religious Studies Professor Anthea Butler has already been the subject of a previous post on this site when she stuck her foot in her mouth on this topic.
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=59324506101124457#editor/target=post;postID=8499199938148287517
Let me paint a scenario for those of you who tell me that the First Amendment clearly protects freedom of expression-including the type that is in the headlines these days. In Europe, certain types of speech are already illegal. One example is Holocaust denial. Another is incitement to religious or racial hatred. The problem is distinguishing between genocidal rhetoric, such as by someone like Hitler, and an honest and open discussion of problems that are staring us in the face every day. This is why you see figures like Geert Wilders and Elisabeth Sabaditsch -Wolff prosecuted in Holland and Austria respectively, the former was acquitted, but the latter convicted and fined.
Now we have the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) , which was already trying to push a defamation of Religions law through the UN. Hillary Clinton has already had two closed door meetings with the OIC in Istanbul and Washington to discuss the issue. The OIC demands can only increase now in the light of recent events.
In the past days, the Islamic Society of Kansas City sent President Obama a letter asking that he put an end to anti-Islamic expression in the US.
In his speech before the UN, President Obama stated that he cannot enforce laws against freedom of expression in the US. (He also said he would reduce unemployment, cut the deficit, and stop the rise in the seas if he was elected in 2008.) Let's just say I don't take Obama at his word.
If the President is re-elected, it is quite possible that he will get his chance to put a 5th ultra liberal on the Supreme Court, as well as another 4 years of liberal judges to the federal bench. It can happen. Who is to say that we may not see a law against so-called "hate speech" a la Europe?
"But," you say, "If all groups and religions are protected, doesn't that work equally for all?"
Sure, just like it does in the Middle East, where Christians are persecuted and Jews (who were driven out in 1948) are damned daily; just like it does today in Europe, where Jews are harassed daily and nobody dares enforce the law; just as it works in American academia, where Jewish students are harassed and intimidated on campus and administrators don't dare take action. We already see that Muslims get special consideration, while the rest us just have to grin and bear it.
It is called intimidation. And we are the ones being intimidated.
White House Schedule- September 27, 2012
Air Force One gets another workout today as the President heads to Virginia Beach for-you guessed it- another campaign speech.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete
White House Schedule - September 27, 2012
| 9:30 AM |
The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press
|
| 10:00 AM |
The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews
South Lawn
Open Press
|
| 10:15 AM |
The President departs Joint Base Andrews
Press Information
|
| 11:05 AM |
The President arrives Virginia Beach, VA
Naval Air Station Oceana
Open Press
|
| 11:50 AM |
The President delivers remarks at a campaign event
Farm Bureau Live, VA, Virginia Beach
Open to pre-credentialed media
|
| 1:00 PM |
The President departs Virginia Beach, VA
Naval Air Station Oceana
Open Press
|
| 1:55 PM |
The President arrives Joint Base Andrews
Press Information
|
| 2:10 PM |
The President arrives the White House
South Lawn
Open Press
|
Meanwhile, the ever-arrogant Secretary of Health and Human Handouts, Kathleen Sibelius, hasn't learned from her latest brush with the Hatch Act as she continues to campaign for the President.
"Say Boys, which one of us will the the ethics expert today?"
"Sebelius also met with "ethics experts to ensure this never happens again," a White House spokesman said earlier this month."
"Say Boys, which one of us will the the ethics expert today?"
One question: Who is paying for Sibelius to travel to New Hampshire? And is any of her staff accompanying her?
I know, I know. That's two questions.
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