Kathleen Parker: Pam Geller Totally Abused Free Speech

By William Teach May 9, 2015 – 7:07 am

Over the course of time, you’ve had those that defended Pam Geller’s free speech, and those who are wringing their hands. Even some Republicans, such as Bill O’Reilly (who gets schooled here) went squishy. Of course, Replica Republican Kathleen Parker had to chime in

Pamela Geller’s abuse of free speech

The recent spectacle of Pamela Geller, the erstwhile journalist who organized a provocative contest in Texas of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, gives pause to even the most passionate defenders of the First Amendment.

No, just the squishy folks gave pause. And many liberals. And most Islamists. Think about that. What company are these people keeping when they have the same views on Free Speech as hardcore Islamists?

Not since Westboro Baptist Church’s “God Hates Fags” message and Florida pastor Terry Jones burning the Koran has the principle of free speech been so sullied and abused.

Huh. I’m missing the part in the Constitution and the Federalist Papers where Free Speech is supposed to be sanitized and Approved. If you notice the subhead in my blog, it reads “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all”. That’s actually from uber-lefty Noam Chomsky. We don’t have to approve of or like the expression, but, we have to allow it.

Waging a one-woman crusade against the Muslim world, Geller says she wanted to draw a line in the sand and demonstrate to terrorists that, when it comes to free speech, America bows to no one. Okay, we get your point. It’s an American point, actually.

First, she has been passionately against hardcore Islam, not Muslims overall. Parker is abusing her free speech on that. Second, “it’s an American point”? Perhaps she would prefer the Muslim point. In Egypt, 4 teens and their teacher face long jail terms for insulting Islam. It would be easy to find many other examples.

And Geller’s contribution to these protections and our unwavering dedication to its preservation is, exactly, what? A taunt. Shouldn’t one at least aspire to some originality? It’s been done. And each time, the result is the same. You haul out a picture of Muhammad; “they” haul out a fatwa. Cat puts out cheese; mouse gets eaten. What does one expect?

Nice. A bit of victim blaming.

This is certainly the way Geller thinks, as her comments confirm. She has declined to apologize for instigating this unnecessary clash — remember when we preferred to take the fight to the terrorists over there? She even claims to have saved lives by luring two terrorists to their deaths. Geller baited the field, in other words.

Remember how the Founders apologized for their free speech?

As an operating principle, mightn’t we try less incendiary means of problem-solving? I don’t know, maybe something less likely to lead to violence?

No. Period.

Sometimes the messenger really is the problem. And oftentimes, the medium is, too.

So, we’re now allowed to say that a women in a really short skirt sans bra, buzzed and flirty, is the problem, according to Parker (and the rest of the hang wringers). I wonder how they would respond if the woman who is sexually assaulted gets blamed? Oh, right, I forgot, they avoid this whenever it happens in Islamic countries.

Our Founding Fathers bequeathed not only the freedom of religion and expression from government tyranny but also the freedom to think as the enlightened progeny of some of history’s most creative, inventive and philosophical minds.

It is easy to imagine their disappointment at the character of today’s debate.

Yes, I could easily see them being disappointed in how so many wring their hands over certain Free Speech being denigrated. And being called “abuse”. Ms. Parker is more than welcome to her free speech, and doesn’t have to agree with Pam Geller’s. Ms. Parker, though, apparently wants to stop Pam Geller’s free speech.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Kathleen Parker: Pam Geller Totally Abused Free Speech »

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BBC Very Upset That Aussie PM’s Adviser Said True Things About UN Climate Change Push

By William Teach May 8, 2015 – 4:57 pm

Can you guess what’s missing from the BBC article? Any attempt to reach out to the target. Most news organizations are essentially blogs nowadays, taking material and running with it, without reaching out to the people they are attacking. Though, they, like the other articles, did reach out to Warmists to attempt to rebut Newman

Australia PM’s adviser says climate change a UN hoax

A top Australian government business adviser has said climate change is a hoax by the United Nations.

Most climate models were wrong and there was little evidence of climate change, said Maurice Newman.

He said the UN had used climate change as a “hook” to establish and control a new world order.

Sounds pretty bad, eh? Especially that “new world order” thing, which is a conspiracy theory that even had me shaking my head. Until I continued reading.

He wrote in an opinion article for The Australian newspaper on Friday: “It’s a well-kept secret, but 95% of the climate models we are told prove the link between human CO2 emissions and catastrophic global warming have been found, after nearly two decades of temperature stasis, to be in error.”

Huh. That’s true. BTW, since the BBC refused to provide a link (which is the same at many other articles. It’s almost like they do not want you to read it), here it is. Rather than excerpt more from the Beebs, let’s go straight to the opinion piece

Why then, with such little evidence, does the UN insist the world spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on futile climate change policies? Perhaps Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN’s Framework on Climate Change has the answer?

In Brussels last February she said, “This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time, to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years since the Industrial Revolution.”

In other words, the real agenda is concentrated political authority. Global warming is the hook.

Figueres is on record saying democracy is a poor political system for fighting global warming. Communist China, she says, is the best model. This is not about facts or logic. It’s about a new world order under the control of the UN. It is opposed to capitalism and freedom and has made environmental catastrophism a household topic to achieve its objective.

Figueres says that, unlike the Industrial Revolution, “This is a centralised transformation that is taking place.” She sees the US partisan divide on global warming as “very detrimental”. Of course. In her authoritarian world there will be no room for debate or ­disagreement.

So, what he’s talking about is not a New World Order, but a complete change in world economics and power base as espoused by UN officials (and Warmists in general). They’ve stated time and time again, at least the honest ones, that they want to do away with capitalism.

Read: BBC Very Upset That Aussie PM’s Adviser Said True Things About UN Climate Change Push »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Global Warming, Journalistic Malpractice | 13 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach May 8, 2015 – 1:00 pm

…is a horrible, horrible refrigerator that puts out evil greenhouse gases, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Legal Insurrection, with a post on a Muslim cleric saying Pam Geller deserves death.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

Strange: Uber – Warmist California Residents Aren’t Cutting Back On Water Usage

By William Teach May 8, 2015 – 10:01 am

Hence, all these Cult of Climastrology members must be forced by Government

(USA Today) California’s state water board on Tuesday approved emergency drought regulations that aim to slash water use in urban areas by 25%.

The measures call for cities and water agencies to reduce water usage by amounts ranging from 8% to 36%. The State Water Resources Control Board drew up the rules to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s order for a 25% cut in urban water use statewide. (Snip)

According to the latest figures released by the board, Californians reduced water use by just 3.6% in March as compared to the same month in 2013. That was a slight change from a 2.8% reduction in February, and significantly less than a 22% drop in December and a 7.3% reduction in January.

Max Gomberg, a senior environmental scientist with the state water board, called the new mandatory measures a “desperate times approach.”

Well, that’s strange. Warmists in California simply blew off the call to reduce their water usage. I guess they figure they Did Their Part in December, and now Other People should have to suffer.

I wonder if the very liberal folks living in McMansions, working in Hollywood, and tech companies will reduce their water usage?

Read: Strange: Uber – Warmist California Residents Aren’t Cutting Back On Water Usage »

Posted in Climahypocrites, Global Warming | 17 Comments | Trackback URL

SJWs: Having A Loving Family Is Apparently An Unfair Advantage

By William Teach May 8, 2015 – 7:12 am

Which can lead to all sorts of Bad Things, like your kids doing well in school and life, but, some other kid may not do so well

Reading to children at bedtime: ABC questions value of time-honoured practice

“Is having a loving family an unfair advantage?” asks a story on the ABC’s website. (WT note: that’s the actual headline)

“Should parents snuggling up for one last story before lights out be even a little concerned about the advantage they might be conferring?”

The story was followed by a broadcast on the ABC’s Radio National that also tackled the apparently divisive issue of bedtime reading.

“Evidence shows that the difference between those who get bedtime stories and those who don’t — the difference in their life chances — is bigger than the difference between those who get elite private schooling and those that don’t,” British academic Adam Swift told ABC presenter Joe Gelonesi.

Gelonesi responded online: “This devilish twist of evidence surely leads to a further conclusion that perhaps — in the interests of levelling the playing field — bedtime stories should also be restricted.”

Sadly, this is a real thing. This does not come from The Onion or some other satire site. From the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) article

So many disputes in our liberal democratic society hinge on the tension between inequality and fairness: between groups, between sexes, between individuals, and increasingly between families.

The power of the family to tilt equality hasn’t gone unnoticed, and academics and public commentators have been blowing the whistle for some time. Now, philosophers Adam Swift and Harry Brighouse have felt compelled to conduct a cool reassessment.

Swift in particular has been conflicted for some time over the curious situation that arises when a parent wants to do the best for her child but in the process makes the playing field for others even more lopsided.

Got that? It’s a Bad Thing for a parent to do what is best for his/her child.

So, what to do?

According to Swift, from a purely instrumental position the answer is straightforward.

‘One way philosophers might think about solving the social justice problem would be by simply abolishing the family. If the family is this source of unfairness in society then it looks plausible to think that if we abolished the family there would be a more level playing field.’

Swift, though, has reservations about going full Plato in wanting The State to raise the children. But doesn’t really offer another solution.

‘What we realised we needed was a way of thinking about what it was we wanted to allow parents to do for their children, and what it was that we didn’t need to allow parents to do for their children, if allowing those activities would create unfairnesses for other people’s children’.

“…allow parents to do for their children..” That should give everyone chills.

What about giving kids nutritious food? Is that an unfair advantage?

Perhaps, instead of talking about restricting successful parents and families, we should be looking for ways to make the dysfunctional families more successful.

Read: SJWs: Having A Loving Family Is Apparently An Unfair Advantage »

Posted in Unhinged Tools | 10 Comments | Trackback URL

Good News: Secret Service Installing More Spikes On White House Fence

By William Teach May 8, 2015 – 6:49 am

Gotta keep the peasants away from the aristocracy, ya know

(Fox News) The Secret Service is adding a second layer of steel spikes to the top of the White House fence to keep would-be intruders at bay, according to a proposal submitted to the National Capitol Planning Commission.

The steel “pencil point” spikes will be snapped into place at the top of the fence and protrude outward, according to a diagram included in the proposal submitted for the Secret Service by that National Park Service. The commission approved the proposal at a hearing Thursday afternoon.

The spikes will be added to the fence along the north and south sides of the White House grounds starting Friday, the Secret Service and National Park Service said in a statement Thursday.

And not just spikes

The Secret Service will also start work Friday on changes to vehicle checkpoints at the White House complex. The agency said the work will include work to officer booths. Security changes at the checkpoints are expected to be completed in early July.

Interesting. There is an apparent need to deter the occasional fence jumper with spikes that could skewer the body when it comes to the White House, yet, the guy who is in charge of the White House (along with Democrats and some Republicans) is against securing our southern border against an invasion of illegal aliens with a full fence. He’d rather just have some roving patrols which can catch a few border jumpers now and then. But, is apparently very upset when a few folks jump the WH fence.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Good News: Secret Service Installing More Spikes On White House Fence »

Posted in Illegal Immigration | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

The Winners Of Today’s “Climate Change And Tornadoes” Nuttbaggery Are…

By William Teach May 7, 2015 – 8:03 pm

You just had to know that the Cult Of Climastrology would be out in force after yesterdays tornadoes. Not one measure of sympathy, but, plenty of bat guano insanity

We couldn’t have nuttbaggery without a 350.org member (more below the fold)

Read More »

Read: The Winners Of Today’s “Climate Change And Tornadoes” Nuttbaggery Are… »

Posted in Global Warming, Unhinged Tools | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach May 7, 2015 – 1:00 pm

…is a world that is rapidly being turned into a desert, you may just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Lonely Conservative, with a post on IRS employees who are tax cheaters and get promotions.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

Baltimore Mayor Calls On DOJ To Probe The Police Department She’s In Charge Of

By William Teach May 7, 2015 – 11:09 am

I never got around to this one Wednesday, but it is hilarious

Baltimore mayor asks DOJ for civil rights probe into city police department

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake requested Wednesday that the Department of Justice order a “pattern or practice” civil rights investigation into the city’s police department, similar to the probe conducted in Ferguson, Missouri after the shooting death of Michael Brown last summer.

The mayor said such a probe was necessary to achieve the kind of “sustainable and significant reform” of the department that she and the citizens of Baltimore want to see.

“The DOJ has employed these investigations in communities across our nation to reform serious patterns and practices of force, biased policing and other unconstitutional practices by law enforcement,” she told reporters at her weekly press conference. “I’m asking the Department of Justice to investigate if our police department has engaged in a pattern or practice of stops, searches or arrests that violate the fourth amendment.”

Really?

https://twitter.com/WilliamTeach/status/595958479841525760

https://twitter.com/WilliamTeach/status/595958661471698944

Last time I checked, she’s been mayor of Baltimore since 2/4/2010.

https://twitter.com/WilliamTeach/status/595975060864823297

Let’s also remember that the last Republican who served as Baltimore mayor, Theodore R. McKeldin, left office in 1967. All Democrats since. And Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has a Black police captain, Black police commissioner, and the force is roughly 43% Black. Will she take responsibility?

Read: Baltimore Mayor Calls On DOJ To Probe The Police Department She’s In Charge Of »

Posted in Beyond Moonbat, Liberal World | 7 Comments | Trackback URL

March Sees CO2 At Over 400ppm For Month, World Doesn’t End

By William Teach May 7, 2015 – 7:24 am

NOAA breathlessly reports

Greenhouse gas benchmark reached
Global carbon dioxide concentrations surpass 400 parts per million for the first month since measurements began

For the first time since we began tracking carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere, the monthly global average concentration of this greenhouse gas surpassed 400 parts per million in March 2015, according to NOAA’s latest results.

“It was only a matter of time that we would average 400 parts per million globally,” said Pieter Tans, lead scientist of NOAA’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. “We first reported 400 ppm when all of our Arctic sites reached that value in the spring of 2012. In 2013 the record at NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory first crossed the 400 ppm threshold. Reaching 400 parts per million as a global average is a significant milestone.

“This marks the fact that humans burning fossil fuels have caused global carbon dioxide concentrations to rise more than 120 parts per million since pre-industrial times,” added Tans. “Half of that rise has occurred since 1980.”

Huh. Well, that’s interesting.

(UK Guardian) Dr Ed Hawkins, a climate scientist at the University of Reading told the Guardian: “This event is a milestone on a road to unprecedented climate change for the human race. The last time the Earth had this much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was more than a million years ago, when modern humans hadn’t even evolved yet.

“Reaching 400ppm doesn’t mean much in itself, but the steady increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases should serve as a stark reminder of the task facing politicians as they sit down in Paris later this year.”

So, it’s happened before, and, oh, BTW, it really is meaningless other than as a political talking point. Of course, Warmists are hyperventilating, but, hey, what about this?

Global temperature update: no warming for 18 years 5 months

By Christopher Monckton of Brenchley

Since December 1996 there has been no global warming at all (Fig. 1). This month’s RSS temperature – still unaffected by the most persistent el Niño conditions of the current weak cycle – shows a new record length for the Pause: 18 years 5 months.

The result, as always, comes with a warning that the temperature increase that usually accompanies an el Niño may come through after a lag of four or five months. If, on the other hand, la Niña conditions begin to cool the oceans in time, there could be a lengthening of the Pause just in time for the Paris world-government summit in December 2015.

I’ve written it before and I’ll write it again: the pause in no way invalidates that the Earth is currently in a Holocene warm period, and doesn’t mean that warming will not restart. This pattern has happened multiple times during the Modern Warm Period, and, if we had actual measured data from the previous Holocene warm periods, would most likely have similar patterns. What it does show is that the political talking points about doom from CO2 are overblown, especially when we consider that 95% of the computer models have failed, in terms of them predicting that temperatures would continue to go up up up, and they haven’t.

There’s no doubt that Mankind has an effect on the climate, but, it is small. If CO2 was that dangerous, Cult Of Climastrology members would be putting their beliefs into practice in their own lives, wouldn’t you think? Especially not taking thousands of fossil fueled flights, particularly with so many private jets, to the lovely vacation spot of Paris, France, right?

Read: March Sees CO2 At Over 400ppm For Month, World Doesn’t End »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Climahypocrites, Global Warming | 8 Comments | Trackback URL
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