My new opinion piece is posted

“Redefine marriage, encourage polygamy,” On Line Opinion (Brisbane), February 25, 2011. Read more.

That was one good Coulter speech

That was one good Coulter speech.

Grover Norquist is a fake conservative

If Grover Norquist isn’t a fake conservative then the “c” word means nothing. From Scott Magill,the executive director of Veterans in Defense of Liberty in The Washington Times:

Mr. Norquist serves on the GOProud advisory board and also has advocated legalization of drugs, open borders and amnesty for illegals; supported closing the detainee facility at Guantanamo Bay; opposed aspects of the USA Patriot Act; and supports the construction of the Ground Zero Mosque.

We are all Islamophobes now

Damn.  I missed Rod Liddle’s excellent speech (hat tip Andrew Bolt):

My speech expressed a profound dislike of the ideology of Islam because it lends itself to a) homophobia, b) the subjugation of women, c) anti-semitism d) viciousness towards so-called apostates, e) authoritarianism and f) a somewhat medieval approach towards crime and punishment. And then there’s the barbarism of female circumcision, forced marriages and the notion that those who are not Muslims are not quite human, that their lives are worthless. These last three manifestations of Islamic thought are not universally present throughout the Islamic world, for sure. But the ideology facilitates them, offers them a weird sort of legitimacy.

Oh, well. I’m sure there’s more from where that came from, but not on the BBC, mind you.

Another witch-hunt (without witches)

From Melanie Phillips:

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote here about the witch-hunt in Denmark against Lars Hedegaard, President of the Danish Free Press Society and The International Free Press Society. Along with a Danish MP, Jesper Langballe, Hedegaard has been prosecuted for ‘racism’ after he drew attention to ‘honour’ violence among Muslim families.

Charles Krauthammer is all over the place

Or so says David Solway:

A lauded political analyst from whom much is anticipated, a man of presumed conservative principles, an eminence by consensus, he now occasionally prattles away in fluent liberalspeak, attacking a patriot like Geert Wilders and, in practical effect, inflating the “achievements” of a schismatic like Barack Obama.

Granted, Geert isn’t trying to make Charles wear a burka.

My new opinion piece is posted

“My Problem With Andrew Sullivan,” The Patriot Post (Chattanooga, Tennessee), January 25, 2011. Read more.   

Climate “scientists” are “never” wrong

Just jokes. From The New York Times (hat tip Tim Blair) :

 In interviews, several scientists recalled that in the decade ending in the mid-1990s, the polar vortex seemed to be strengthening, not weakening, producing mild winters in the eastern United States and western Europe.

At the time, some climate scientists wrote papers attributing that change to global warming. Newspapers, including this one, printed laments for winter lost. But soon after, the apparent trend went away, an experience that has made many researchers more cautious.

John M. Wallace, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington, wrote some of the earlier papers. This time around, he said, it will take a lot of evidence to convince him that a few harsh winters in London or Washington have anything to do with global warming.

“Just when you publish something and it looks like you’re seeing a connection,” Dr. Wallace said, “nature has a way of humbling us.”

Let the humbling continue.

Straightforward arguments welcomed

Straightforward argument:

Criminals break laws. That’s why they’re criminals. What don’t liberals get about that formula? Gun control doesn’t work.

Fun presentation to go with it.

They “forgot” Christmas – not Ramadan?

Militant European socialists hate Christianity but love lying for some reason:

A student calendar for the 2011-2012 school year, published by the European Union, has conspicuously omitted Christian holidays, while retaining Jewish and Muslim holidays, reports the Catholic News Agency.

Holiday mainstays such as Christmas and Easter don’t appear on the more than 3 million copies printed by the EU, for free-of-charge distribution to students across the region.

Despite the omission of Christian holidays, the European Union has made an effort to include “Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Chinese holidays and festivals,” reports Examiner.com’s Kevin Whiteman.

Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister Ben Knapen has slammed the decision, according to Radio Netherlands, demanding an explanation for what he refers to as “an absurd omission.”

More here.

Pastor Rick Warren is so Hollywood

Headline and subheadline:

Rick Warren hosts 'cult' celebrity docs

Features promoters of Eastern mysticism, universalism

Not that there’s anything wrong with that in Saddlebackland:

Vowing to lose 90 pounds, Warren said he placed himself under the care of Drs. Mehmet Oz, Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman last fall and worked with each to develop "The Daniel Plan."

Oz, host of the Emmy-winning "Dr. Oz Show" and professor of surgery at Columbia University, says he is inspired by Emanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century cult founder who taught that all religions lead to God and denied orthodox Christian beliefs such at the atonement of Christ for sin, the trinity and the deity of the Holy Spirit.

One word: Weird.

Churchill: the greatest Jewish ally?

Conservatives can walk and chew gum at the same time. In entertainment news, Martin Knelman:

Millions of people credit Winston Churchill, Britain’s inspiring wartime prime minister during its darkest hours, with saving the world from Hitler.

But was Churchill also — as we’ve rarely heard — the greatest ally the Jewish people have ever had?

The answer is a passionate yes, according to Barry Avrich, whose compelling documentary — An Unlikely Obsession: Churchill and the Jews — will have its premiere at 10 p.m. Monday on the Vision channel.

The Left don’t how to deal with him (still). Anti-Semitic comrade Stalin, by way of contrast, was adored by Leftists, especially Hollywood. But their task is becoming harder:  

The starry commentators tell the story of how at a time of casual anti-Semitism at the highest social and political levels of post-Victorian British society, Churchill took inspiration from Old Testament tales, aspiring to become a latter-day Moses.

Denouncing pogroms in Russia even while British voters wondered what events so far away had to do with them, Churchill hobnobbed with influential Jewish leaders and articulated the view that the foundations of modern civilization and ethics came out of Jewish history — for which he felt the rest of the world should show its gratitude.

Hitler, by way of contrast, hobnobbed with Arab dictators and Palestinians (just like communist dictators, come to think of it). And, many now recognise that the conservative’s Conservative supported Israel more than Obama’s hero, FDR:

“Churchill’s support for a Jewish homeland may have wavered now and then over the years,” Avrich says. “But mostly he was giving the cause huge support when no other world leader was doing so. Not Franklin Roosevelt in the U.S. and certainly not William Lyon Mackenzie King in Canada.”

 The truth: He understood Moses.  

America's identity capitals

Do you live in an identity capital? American cities are like patchwork quilts – but some patterns stand out more than others. Let’s explore:

Provo (Utah), America’s conservative capital 

In 2005, The Bay Area Center for Voting Research, a nonpartisan think tank, found that Utah’s third largest city is America’s most conservative. Or in three words: Rightwing Republican Heaven. Votes aside, in more recent times, it became city-ranked 1^st for volunteerism and is one of America’s healthiest urban centers. But just to scare left-liberals, the conservative Mormon metro is projected to have the greatest population increase. Thanks also to America's Freedom Festival at Provo where they "celebrate, teach, honor, and strengthen the traditional American values of family, freedom, God, and country" patriotism is thriving.

Washington (District of Columbia), America’s AIDS capital

Think: tax, tax, tax. And: liberal, liberal, liberal. Furthermore, “Washington, DC, has the dubious distinction of being America's AIDS capital, with the highest HIV infection rate in the country,” reports Public Radio International.  “A recent study estimated that the infection rate in DC is three percent, the highest in the US. To put that figure in perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization consider a one percent infection rate as the threshold for a severe epidemic.” One certainty: If the AIDS epidemic worsens, more tax-hungry Democrats will be taxing.

Loma Linda (California), America’s longevity capital

Was that centenarian pushing weights? And does life begin at 90 here? Many of Loma Linda’s long- living  Seventh-day Adventist Christians follow a vegetarian diet or eat meat sparingly, attend church services, avoid drugs like the plague, make time for regular exercise, encourage abstinence before marriage, keep the Sabbath holy (from sundown Friday to sundown on Saturday), and like the Mormons, they love volunteering.  As well, it’s hard to ignore the inviting sunny climate associated with other longevity world capitals. I take my hat off to these Protestants - and their highly disciplined lifestyles.

Atlanta (Georgia), America’s gay capital

She’s known as Hotlanta in Georgia. According to The Advocate (a fabulous magazine), “Atlanta is undoubtedly our gayest city—with 29 gay bars.” Reportedly, “Atlanta guys are hunky, the ladies are gracious, the gay sports leagues are seriously well organized, and its housewives (and their gay BFFs, complete with handbags and heels) are now camp icons.” The downside: The crime in Atlanta is relatively high, particularly fabulous property crime. 

Berkeley (California), America’s leftie capital  

Family warning: Berkeley’s street performers, I’m told, perform some unspeakable acts. Also, according to The Bay Area Center for Voting Research, Berkeley is America’s third most “liberal” city, just behind Gary (Indiana) and Detroit (Michigan). But is this because some residents are too stoned to register? Here’s what we know: Berkeley has leftwing form. Smelly hippies and cultural upheaval did characterize the “scene” in the late 1960s, but the soybeans are still boiling. Today, Berkeley is home to the Himalayan Fair in May, the Berkeley Kite Festival in July, and the Solano Stroll in September.

Colorado Springs (Colorado), America’s religious capital

If America had a religious capital, it would be Colorado Springs. Men’s Health reports:  “We scoured the U.S. Census and the yellow pages (Yellow.com) for places of worship per capita. Then we tallied up religious organizations (U.S. Census) and the number of volunteers who support these groups (VolunteeringinAmerica.gov). Finally, we considered the amount of money donated to religious organizations (Bureau of Labor Statistics and spent on religious books (Mediamark Research).” While there’s never a perfect way to measure religious values, Colorado Springs is known as "the Evangelical Vatican” and "The Christian Mecca" for a reason.

Huntington (West Virginia), America’s fat capital

When the British television chef Jamie Oliver tried to evangelize about the benefits of healthy eating to the folks in Huntington, West Virginia, he was reduced to tears. Obviously this made for some sensational television and loud tabloid headlines, but his concerns appeared genuine. The emotional Oliver sobbed: “They don't understand me. They don't know why I'm here.” In 2008, the AP named Huntington "America's fattest city." And I wonder, can fat people enter the Kingdom of Heaven?  After all, the path is narrow, according to the Bible, and gluttony is a sin.

Boston (Massachusetts), America’s historical capital

The American Revolution. The Boston Massacre. The Boston Tea Party. And I thought Ann Coulter was controversial. The unofficial “Capital of New England” loves drama.  So when Puritan colonists from England founded Boston, they didn’t just shake the continent, they ended up shaking generations across the world for centuries to come. But there’s more: Real Bostonians have a “Boston accent” and their own elitist language, “Boston English.” Plus, it’s said that your typical Harvard professor is over two-hundred-and-forty-two years old. (Really.) Even the Boston Globe’s august columnist, Jeff Jacoby, is living in the year 1889.

CPAC fight: Ryan Sorba vs. Greg Gutfeld

A war of words…

On one side of the ring, we have Fox News talk show host Greg Gutfeld. He believes that the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) needs to accommodate gay marriage-friendly groups like GOProud. On the other side, we have Ryan Sorba, Chairman of the Young Conservatives of California. He advances the position that CPAC must emphasize time-honored traditional family values. Republican libertarians (a minority) tend to favor socially-liberal gay activists whereas socially conservative Republicans (a majority) are more influenced by religious views. Obviously, this leads to heated debates over political matters.

Ryan Sorba argues…

“…I condemned the Conservative Political Action Conference last year (re: David Keene and Lisa De Pasquale) for bringing a cardboard box pro-sodomy organization called GOProud to the event.” But: “Then I got booed offstage by a bunch of Ron Paul hippies for being too conservative…which was nice because that was on my ‘bucket list.’ In all seriousness though, with ‘conservatives’ like them who needs Perez Hilton?” He argues: “In my forthcoming book, The “Born Gay” Hoax I attempt [to] re-educate the sodomy zombies, like Greg Gutfeld! They don’t call his show RedEye for nothing you know.”

Greg Gutfeld argues…

“They're here, they're queer, and the Family Research Council refuses to get used to it. Nor would the Concerned Women for America, love them. [Laughter] As a result, both groups are refusing to attend the DC-based Conservative Political Action Conference this February, due to the fact the righty group GOProud has been invited, because they're evil sodomites...” Gutfeld also refers to their supporters as “like-minded gay-haters.” Apparently, leaving CPAC means you’re hating on homosexuals.  He also asks, “What should CPAC do about these conservative moralists who just can't believe that gays have a right to be there?”

Them fighting words…

The CPAC-related debate, however, now looks more heated. From the Ryan Sorba Twitter account:  “@greggutfeld never been into riding hobbits. Bible's condemns it. night. 10:19 PM Jan 7th via web… @greggutfeld how many people have become famous riding on your back? 9:27 PM Jan 7th via web… @greggutfeld I was born straight, as all are -called a penis. Stop hiding behind your Gregologue and debate Ryan Sorba live! bak bak bak 7:57 PM Jan 7th via web.”  There is clearly a satirical undercurrent in all of this – and some people are enjoying the boxing rounds, my guess.

More fighting words…

From GregGutfeld: “@RyanSorba we ALL know what you ride, champ. one day your prince will come. in the meantime, keep waxing…. 10:48 PM Jan 7th via web.@RyanSorba only one trying is you! Night. 9:33 PM Jan 7th via Twitter for BlackBerry® in reply to RyanSorba @RyanSorba I won't let u ride to fame on my back. 8:43 PM Jan 7th via Twitter for BlackBerry® in reply to RyanSorba.” Believe it or not Mr. Gutfeld is a forty-six year old Roman Catholic professional, and if that’s too much to process, consider this….he is very good at drawing unicorns.

Canada, the capital of political correctness?

Free speechlessness 

Sure. Their ski fields are great. “But” maintains James Allan in Quadrant Online, Australia, “Canada is also the capital of political correctness run rampant, to an extent few Australians would credit as plausible. You get the newspaper columnist Mark Steyn taken before various Canadian Human Rights tribunals not for the fact what he wrote was false but rather simply because people were offended.  And then there’s the stand-up Canadian comedian taken before these same officious bureaucrats for hurting the feelings of a lesbian member of his audience.” To foreigners that’s the joke.

Ramadan-sensitive police

Still unconvinced? Canada too is home to both thought police and Ramadan-sensitive police (although it isn’t always easy to tell them apart). Recently, for example, the feminized cops have been apologizing to Ottawa Muslims for arresting them during Ramadan, a Muslim fasting period. (Seriously.) From the Vancouver Sun: “There is no reason for police to explain or apologize to the Muslim community when they arrest a Muslim, Siddiqui said. The notion that Muslims need special treatment or that their religious sensibilities need to be addressed is both patronizing and condescending, and effectively sets Muslims apart from other Canadians.”

Bedwetting adults

“In Canada especially, where hurt feelings are now specifically compensated in human rights law, taking offence looks like a growth industry,” explains the National Post’s Joseph Brean. “Tom Flanagan, a former aide to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, learned this recently when police investigated him for counselling CBC viewers to commit murder, after he quipped in a CBC interview that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be assassinated.” He concludes: “But

when the urge to complain is enabled and encouraged, and every humourless butt-inski has a global audience, the danger is that Canada becomes a nation of prudes....” Sad, really.

Overprotected students 

Even the education system (if that’s the right term). In Canada Free Press, Dr. Tim Ball writes, “The concept of classifying results as negative is part of the practice of not allowing failure. Students are imbued with the idea that a negative result is a failure. For example, in universities they write research papers or carry out lab experiments. They only pursue positive results. For example, if they research a topic they will only consider evidence that supports their original hypothesis. Some will abandon a topic rather than consider the null hypothesis.” No wonder “climate science” is felt.

Q&A: On Churchill's relationship with Islam

Some important questions and no-nonsense answers:

Q: How did Churchill see Islam?

A: Churchill saw misogynistic Islam for what it was. In a word: totalitarian. Whereas Obama likes to feel facts, Churchill didn’t care for fantasy describing the so-called religion of peace in the frankest and therefore most politically-incorrect terms. Of Islam he said:  “How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.” Today, CNN would censor Churchill, without doubt.

Q: What shaped Churchill’s views?  

A:Experience. But also his compassion. Over the years, Churchill, who was well travelled, had witnessed firsthand the realities of life for the individual under Islam. “A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men,” he wrote.

Q: Why did Churchill warn us about Islamo-fundamentalism?

A: Churchill argued in The River War, First edition, Vol. II (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899), pp. 248-250, that Muslims could display splendid qualities: “Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.” To Churchill, however: “No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.” Women and children were and still are vulnerable, a reality, many feminists haven’t dealt with.

Q: Where did he see Islamism heading?

A: Churchill thought militant Islam like Nazism was a cancer. “It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.” Later too, he was well aware of Hitler’s close relationship to radical Islam, a truth our campaigning journalists are not ready (or willing) to acknowledge now. Mein Kampf is still popular in the Middle East.