scaramouche

...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

Big dick: Fauxbama says he plans to use a “big sticks and big carrots” approach to get the mullahs to drop their enrichment program.

Yeah, that should work.

posted by: scaramouche at 22:13 | link | comments |

The worst of both worlds: I found this intriguing quotation in the Wiki entry for the novel Brave New World:

Social critic Neil Postman contrasts the worlds of 1984 and Brave New World in the foreword of his 1986 book Amusing Ourselves to Death. He writes:

What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Orwell added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.

Welcome to Soviet Canada, a Brave New World where you can party like it’s 1984.

posted by: scaramouche at 21:56 | link | comments |

Party animals: Who’s the most popular Jew-killer in Lebanon? Why, Samir Kuntar, of course. The pudgy Sammy, who looks to have consumed a few too many shwarmas during his stay in a Zionist prison, was guest of honour at several celebrations, one of which was hosted by Al Jazeera (the media outlet favoured by Ceeb refugees looking for a bigger pay check). From the Jerusalem Post:

For the second time this year, Israel has decided to act against Al-Jazeera, after the influential TV station held a party for released Lebanese child-killer Samir Kuntar, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The party, held in Beirut, was organized by the Al-Jazeera bureau there to honor Kuntar on the occasion of his release from Israeli prison. He was hailed as a hero who carried out a brave military operation against the Jewish state.

The Government Press Office said it would impose sanctions on Al-Jazeera and demand an explanation from the station.

Al-Jazeera's bureau chief in Beirut, Ghassan bin Jeddo, has long been known for his close ties to Hizbullah.

Kuntar, for his part, thanked Jeddo and Al-Jazeera for supporting him and other prisoners in Israeli jails and for waging a campaign to bring about their release.

Daniel Seaman, director of the GPO, expressed outrage over the event.

On Tuesday, Seaman phoned Walid Omari, the Al-Jazeera bureau chief in Israel, and summoned him to an urgent meeting to inform him of the GPO's decision to suspend ties with the station.

Omari, who is currently abroad, is scheduled to report to the GPO on his return, a source at Al-Jazeera said, adding that the station had still not been informed of the new measures against it.

Seaman said he also planned to write to the Foreign Press Association in Israel to explain his decision.

"We will suspend all handling of Al-Jazeera requests," Seaman told the Post. "For now, we won't provide them with any of our services, which include issuing press credentials and assistance with bureaucracy and applications for visas."

Seaman said he would demand an explanation from Al-Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar, about the event.

"I want to know what they are going to do about this case," he said. "I want to know how they intend to handle this case. What they did was not professional."...

Maybe not, but it’s also not surprising.

posted by: scaramouche at 19:21 | link | comments (3) |

Elmasry's not the only Arab who hearts the Zimbabwean brute: The Syrians like Mugabe, too.

posted by: scaramouche at 19:03 | link | comments |

Sorry I missed it: Last month the Canadian Arab Federation held its Annual Policy Conference. One group of panelists reads like a Lefty/Islamist dream team:

Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech
This panel will explore some of the issues surrounding the manipulation of freedom of speech. Recent events such as the complaint against Maclean's magazine reference to the growing Muslim influence on Canadian policy will be examined to identify the underlying motives behind these actions.
Panelists
Khurrum Awan [Former President, Canadian Islamic Congress Youth Chapter]
Haroon Siddiqui [Editor Emeritus, Toronto Star]
Barbara Hall [Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Council]
Moderator: Jasmin Tuffaha [Writer, CBC News: The National]

Let’s see: one sock puppet; one Order of Canada winner/shill for the mullahs; one commissar; and one Ceeber.  The only thing missing is some mucky-muck from the Jewstablishment, but I guess, for obvious reasons, that wasn’t considered.

posted by: scaramouche at 18:53 | link | comments (2) |

Unexpected connections: In last week's New Yorker cover story, I learned that Jesse Jackson's daughter is the godmother of the Fauxbamas' elder daughter. In today's Toronto Star, I learned that actor Christian Bale--Batman in The Dark Knight and currently going through a spot of bother in London for allegedly hitting his mom and sister--is the stepson of feminista, Gloria Steinem.

Hard to believe. Next you'll tell me that Winona Ryder's godfather was LSD aficionado Timothy Leary, and that Nicollette Sheridan was Telly Savalas's stepdaughter.

posted by: scaramouche at 14:43 | link | comments |

When "no" means "no": For all the opprobrium heaped on Nigel Chamberlain because he went to Munich and returned home with a worthless piece of paper, at least he went because Hitler had duped him into believing they could work things out. But when would-be genocidaire Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes it clear that there's nothing to negotiate, and that Iran is going ahead with its nuke the Jews project no matter what, what excuse do today's appeasers have for continuing their discussions?

posted by: scaramouche at 14:15 | link | comments (1) |

Bambi sings Lenny: The Toronto Star poses the timely question, "Is Obama ready to take Berlin?"

"Hell, yes," cries Bambi, breaking into a Leonard Cohen tune:

They’ll “sentence” me to four years in the White House,

But I can’t wait for my term to begin.

I’ve travelled here to look all presidential.

First I’ll take Ramallah;

Then I’ll take Berlin.

 

I’m guided by a signal in the heavens.

I’ve fallen very hard for my own spin.

No way McCain can touch me with his weapons.

First I’ll take Ramallah;

Then I’ll take Berlin.

 

I really want to be the leader, baby.

I’ve got the presence, and the spirit, and the youth.

And in my quest to best all my opponents

I haven’t, I haven’t, I haven’t always told the truth.

 

I don’t like your Iraq warfare, Dubya,

I don’t like the kudos for your win.

I don’t like the way some people luv ya.

First I’ll take Ramallah;

Then I’ll take Berlin.

posted by: scaramouche at 13:15 | link | comments |

The dishonesty of ‘honest broker’: You know how certain ideas are supposed to mean something nice, but when you unpack how they actually function in the real world, they turn out to mean their exact opposite? Thus “human rights” is supposed to be about vouchsafing freedoms. Instead, it has come to be a way of tamping out our most salient freedom—free speech. “Honest broker” is another one of those phrases. Oh, it sounds all fair and balanced. But when you examine it, it turns out to be a sneaky euphemism for revoking support for Israel so the Arabs can prevail.

So when a clean-favoured, imperially slim salesman stood up at an AIPAC convention and told the Jews he supports Israel, what he really meant was “I’ll say anything to get your vote.” Jennifer Rubin of the contentions blog contends that once Bambi’s in office, all indications are that he’s likely to go along with the Arabs and broker Israel plum out of existence (her bolds):

Jordan’s King Abdullah reportedly told Barack Obama that “even-handed” policies by the U.S. would bring about a more peaceful Middle East. Now let’s see if Winnie-the-Pooh guru Richard Danzig and the rest of the Legion of 300 can spot that one. This would be a “code word.” This has been the constant refrain from Arab states: the U.S. should be an “honest broker” and give up its special relationship with Israel, followed by all manner of prodding and pushing to resolve the Palestinian conflict (to which which they attribute all that ills the Middle East). So my question: what did Obama say in return?

His press conference on the topic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict suggests he might not quibble with Abdullah. Obama’s remarks are a tour de force of moral relativism. Not a harsh word about the murdered Israeli soldiers. But plenty of “context” and not a hint that he would disagree with Abdullah’s admonition. His remarks include gems like this:

And that’s why terrorism is so counterproductive, as well as being immoral, because it makes, I believe, the Israelis want to dig in and simply think about their own security regardless of what’s going on beyond their borders. I think the same would be true of any people when these kinds of things happen and innocent people are injured. On the other hand, I think that the Palestinians have to feel some sense of progress in terms of their economic situation, you know, whether it’s on the West Bank or Gaza, if people continually feel pressed, where they can’t get to their job or they can’t make a living, they get frustrated.

And the suggested approach? Give the Palestinians more stuff and more freedom of movement:

And so, I think what the United States can do is — is to help to create more — a greater sense of security among the Israelis, a greater sense that economic progress and increased freedom of movement is something that can be accomplished in the Palestinian territories.

Is there any recognition in the wake of the recent atrocities that Israel lack the one key ingredient to peace negotiations — a responsible part with which to negotiate? No. Is there any evidence that giving the Palestinians more stuff and more “freedom of movement” (from precisely where to where, would he suggest?) improves matters? No…

Bambi’s such a people pleaser that I’m sure he’ll offer plenty of assurances to Olmert, too. When the time comes, though, you can bet he’ll revert to his default setting: clueless Lefty who’s fallen for the line that “poverty” and “the settlements” and “the Occupation” are the “root causes” of the problem.

posted by: scaramouche at 12:10 | link | comments |

Boy's Own Adventure, jihad version:You just never know you're going to turn up on the 'Net. Take this "heartwarming" story about an American jihadi and how he finally landed his Heavenly houris. It's a real seat-of-your-pants thriller, if holy war happens to be your bag.

posted by: scaramouche at 01:30 | link | comments |