Friday, February 23, 2007

Exclusive: CNN's Amanpour interviews Ahmadinejad



I'm CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. I recently visited Tehran, Iran for an exclusive interview with president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.


Do you see? Do you see, Christiane???


What is this you're waving, Mr. President?


It's the New York Times! Thomas Friedman! We are natural allies!


How do you mean?


We are not after conflict. We are peaceful people. We are not after war.


Is this the view of, say, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Your supreme leader?


No... it's the view of Mayor McCheese. Yes, Khamenei!


But how do you feel about Washington increasing pressure against Iran lately? Blaming Tehran for funneling weapons into Iraq?


A patent falsehood! Those explosively formed penetrators were manufactured in --er-- some other country. Like... Al Qaeda-istan!


What about Iran's nuclear program? Are you really after civilian nuclear power? Or something more?


We considered windmills, but Al Gore convinced us that global warming would destroy their effectiveness. We require nuclear power because oil is so expensive.


But do you want the bomb?


No... no... it's all about power. Peaceful power. And... peace... peace will guide the planets. And love will fill the sun!


Is it time for Iran and America to talk directly?


Each of us is afraid of looking weak if we take the first step. We must say to each other, "I am not weak." I am not weak! Check out these biceps! I call them the 'pythons of jihad'... easily a foot in circumference.


Some would ask how we can be allies when many say you are creating chaos on Iraq??


Al Qaeda!


What??


Al Qaeda is our enemy! Enemies of us both! For example, they don't believe in Santa Claus. Or Elvis even.


But why are you interested in extending an olive branch now? Why now?


When your President Bush talks about our involvement with Iraq... my sphincter is clenching. Forcefully. I am having to withhold leakage from my underpants.


What about Israel? Why would you help Hezbollah?


The old saying: the enema of our enema is our friend.


Even so, what about critics who say that Iran has been at war with America since 1979?


When Mr. Bush called us an 'Axis of Evil', we were psychologically damaged. We had to go on Paxil. We were insulted. We were very much scratching our heads, since we have been seeking a way of engaging with the U.S.


But which country will take the first step at rapprochement?


We must both take a step in a direction of peace. Christiane, I must say your eyes... are bedeviling...


You... You know you don't have to act with me, Mahmoud.


I am becoming tumescent, Christiane...


You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing.


...


Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Mahmoud? You just put your lips together and... blow.


Piano player! Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.'


...A beautiful song... so... romantic...


Of all the gin joints... in all the towns... in all the world, she walks into mine.


This is Christiane Amanpour... signing off from Tehran... for the night, at the very least.


It's tragically typical that CNN's 'journalists' can't ask the simple questions that even a nineteen year-old cub reporter could have come up with. Perhaps a question about Iran's declaration of war against the U.S., the U.K., and Israel? Or Iran's funding of terrorism throughout the world? Well, these and other questions are apparently beyond the comprehension of useful dupes like Amanpour. Not exactly powerful intellects, to be sure. And where their true loyalties lie is anyone's guess.

Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, At Largely, Bill's Bites, Blue Crab Boulevard, Captain's Quarters, Dean Esmay, Dinocrat, Don Surber, Dr. Sanity, Gateway Pundit, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, Jules Crittenden (and again), Michelle Malkin, OTB, Rick Moran, Sister Toldjah, STACLU, Wizbang, Wuzzadem

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

I went to a hockey game and a Dem Primary broke out

Democrats Gone Wild! Hillary Hunted! It's an Obamination!


Powerline observes that the Obama vs. Clinton grudge match has begun to boil over. David Geffen -- who once raised $18 million for Bill Clinton -- pillaged Hillary's campaign in a manner reminiscent of Genghis Kahn:

* Marc Rich getting pardoned? An oil-profiteer expatriate who left the country rather than pay taxes or face justice? Yet another time when the Clintons were unwilling to stand for the things that they genuinely believe in. Everybody in politics lies, but they do it with such ease, it’s troubling.


* God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton?

* She is overproduced and overscripted. "It’s not a very big thing to say, ‘I made a mistake’ on the war, and typical of Hillary Clinton that she can’t..."

The CarpetBagger Report notes that Geffen went on to say that the Clintons “lie” with “such ease, it’s troubling.”


Hillary's SWAT team wasted no time returning fire against Obama's vast, left-wing conspiracy.

...If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money...

Obama's hit-squad launched an immediate counterattack:

...It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom. It is also ironic that Senator Clinton lavished praise on Monday and is fully willing to accept today the support of South Carolina State Sen. Robert Ford, who said if Barack Obama were to win the nomination, he would drag down the rest of the Democratic Party because he’s black...

Hitting 'em with the race card this early in the campaign? It's beginning to remind me of a Don "The Rock" Muraco-Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka grudge-match, though technically Hillary's calves are a bit stronger than Muraco's. Sorry, couldn't resist.


With surprising alacrity, Hillary responded with a flying drop-kick off the top rope:

How can Senator Obama denounce the politics of slash & burn yesterday while his own campaign is espousing the politics of trash today?

For all of the ruckus over Obama's ear-size complex, it's Hillary that seems to be overly-sensitized to criticism.


Criticism of Hillary isn't limited to David Geffen.

A -er- progressive commenter on this fine, subscription-only site (note: I call it DougSelect, with your subscription generously provided through a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) provided an exhaustive list of 50 reasons to not vote for Hillary. My favorites?

# 2. Incredible ability to turn $1,000 into $100,000 overnight.
# 3. She's no Slick Willie, that's for damn sure.
# 4. Coining of the phrase "vast right-wing conspiracy."
# 5. HillaryCare.
# 6. "Let's chat. Let's have a dialogue."
# 7. Carpetbagging from Illinois to Arkansas, then to New York.
# 8. "We are the president."
# 9. "We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society."
# 10. "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
# 21. A Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton presidential succession would look SO lame, not to mention monarchical, in history books.
# 22. "I have gone from a Barry Goldwater Republican to a New Democrat, but I think my underlying values have remained pretty constant."
# 23. Her annoying and pointless crusade against video games.
# 24. Introduction of a "compromise" bill as an alternative to the Flag Desecration Amendment that would nevertheless have criminalized flag burning.
# 25. If we ever have another Clinton running the country it had sure as hell better be George.
# 26. Wearing Yankees hats at Yankee games and Mets hats at Met games.
# 28. Kissing Suha Arafat following a speech in which the late PLO leader's wife falsely accused Israel of using "poison gas" on Palestinians.
# 30. Quick: Name an important piece of legislation Hillary has introduced, sponsored or otherwise ushered toward passage.
# 31. When not reading from a prepared script, she says "Uh" at least every third word.
# 32. Even the use of her maiden name has been the subject of elaborate political calculation on her and Bill's part.
# 33. Fawning support from the Democratic Leadership Committee and her nitwit coterie of neoliberal gasbags like Lanny Davis and Tom Friedman.
# 34. The melange "Billary" paved the way for later couples' media monikers like "Bennifer" and "Vaughniston" (also, to be fair, "Filliam H. Muffman," but more credit is due to Stephen Colbert for that).
# 35. Chris Matthews: "[Bush] made it pretty clear from day one we were going to war. How come she still pretends that she didn't know he was going to war? It's like she didn't know anything about Bill and his behavior. How many times is she going to be confused by men?" It bears repeating.
# 36. Who actually bought It Takes a Village and gave it a serious, thoughtful read?
# 37. Inability to answer a question with "Yes" or "No" even when the questioner takes pains to make absolutely clear that "Yes" or "No" are the only two acceptable answers.
# 40. "I do not think it is a smart policy ... to set a date certain [for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq]." - June 15, 2006
# 41. "If we in Congress don't end this war before January 2009, as president, I will." - February 5, 2007
# 42. "I wonder if it's possible to be a Republican and a Christian at the same time."
# 43. Her campaign logo reads simply, "Hillary." Like she was friggin' Elvis or something.
# 44. She has served as a lawyer, First Lady and U.S. Senator, but where is the evidence that she would be a competent executive? Has she ever been endowed with authority and not subsequently bungled it?
# 48. "Look what the Iraq Study Group came up with. You know, that was a totally nonpartisan group of, you know, 10 wise Americans, you know, some of them Republican, some of them Democrats from different, you know, experiences." You know?

I guess it really does take a village. Some things just make you go... Heh.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, Atlas Shrugs, Captain's Quarters, Carpetbagger Report, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, OTB, Rick Moran, Sondra K., STACLU, Wizbang

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Party of Gullibility backs European Corporations and Iran


Democrats are fond of offering up various European 'allies' to assist our efforts to slow Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.


John Edwards: "...The former North Carolina senator said the U.S. and its European allies have the leverage and resources to enlist Iran's cooperation..."


Joe Biden: "...A top Democratic senator urged the Bush administration Sunday to join three European allies in negotiating with Iran to get it to abandon its nuclear programs..."


Hillary Clinton: "...we need to convince our European allies of [Iranian proxy] Hezbollah's threat..."

Unfortunately, today's Journal describes in precise terms why such an approach is fatally flawed (Europe and the Mullahs - subscription required).

...The European Union -- led by Germany, France and Italy -- has long been Iran's largest trading partner. Its share of Iran's total imports is about 35%. Even more notable: Its trade with Tehran has expanded since Iran's secret nuclear program was exposed. Between 2003 and 2005, Europe's exports rose 29% to €12.9 billion; machinery, transport equipment and chemicals make up the bulk of the sales. Imports from Iran, predominantly oil, increased 62% to €11.4 billion in that period...


...The Europeans aren't simply facilitating business between private companies. The vast majority of Iranian industry is state-controlled, while even private companies have been known to act as fronts for the country's nuclear program. EU taxpayers underwrite trade and investment that would otherwise be deterred by the risks of doing business with a rogue regime...

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to link the interests of Europe's most powerful corporations (although it's apparently beyond the intellectual acumen of the typical Democrat). According to a German newspaper, a Foreign Minister told Iran's Mullahs that Europe would act as a "protective shield" against the U.S.-led campaign to end Iran's nuclear program.


The E.U. is behaving outrageously -- but predictably -- as it continues to shield its corporate ties with Iran. That's Iran: the world's largest sponsor of terrorism and a deadly totalitarian regime that has promised to destroy the U.S., the U.K., and Israel.

* * *

Lest we forget, Democrats also advocated a similar outsourcing approach with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which served as a veritable clearinghouse of terrorism:


Consider Harry Reid, "who calls himself a "hawk," not a dove, has nevertheless been adamant that Bush vigorously pursue the support of the United Nations and European allies, calling a go-it-alone attack a very last resort..."


As we now know, some of our European allies (e.g., France), had been utterly corrupted by bribes taken under the aegis of the United Nations' "Oil for Food" program. In fact, the U.N.'s "Independent Inquiry Committee" found that the operation had permitted, "illicit, unethical, and corrupt behavior" that decimated the effectiveness of the $64 billion operation.

* * *

I find it incredibly ironic that the same party that routinely attacks large U.S. corporations -- from Exxon Mobil to Wal-Mart -- now backs Europe's largest corporations in its corrupt, destructive, and hydra-like ties with Tehran.


Iran has been blatant and unremorseful about its quest for nuclear weapons. And it long ago declared war on the U.S., U.K., and Israel.

It's a pity that the Party of Gullibility has become an apologist for enormous corporate interests and the inexorable crawl of a terrorist state towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, Atlas Shrugs, Captain's Quarters, Flopping Aces, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, Outside the Beltway, Rick Moran, STACLU, Wizbang

Edwards: Greatest Threat to World Peace is Israel


Variety is reporting that John Edwards has gone off the deep-end, apparently afflicted with a case of the feverish disease called Moonbatia Anti-Semitica:

Hollywood is of one mind politically -- at least, that's the long-standing myth... there are many other cross-currents as well -- and they are strengthening as the '08 campaign looms.

One obvious area of disagreement, of course, involves personalities. Barack Obama's cameo appearances in town have created a fervent constituency, and Hollywood likes instant stars. Still, the Hillary backers have power and money and are diligently trying to disconnect her from the debacle in Iraq.

There are other emerging fissures, as well. The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the "I" word -- Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. As a chill descended on the gathering, the Edwards event was brought to a polite close...

...The Middle East crisis represents just one of the issues that could splinter the formidable anti-Bush sentiment in the entertainment community.

Outrageous? Don't be surprised, it's just more folderol from the party of Jimmy Carter.

More at LGF and National Review Online.

Update: Edwards has had a change of heart. Israel is not the greatest threat to world peace!

Monday, February 19, 2007

Hypocrisy: Hume vs. Olbermann



Fox's Brit Hume was accused of "smearing" John Murtha in his commentary on Sunday morning.

That sound bite from John Murtha suggests that it’s time a few things be said about him. Even the “Washington Post” noted he didn’t seem particularly well informed about what’s going on over there, to say the least. Look, this man has tremendous cachet among House Democrats, but he is not — this guy is long past the day when he had anything but the foggiest awareness of what the heck is going on in the world.

And that sound bite is naivete writ large, and the man is an absolute fountain of such talk, and the fact that he has ascended to the position he has in the eyes of the Democrats in the House and perhaps Democrats around the country tells you a lot about how much they know or care about what’s really going on over there.

On the left side of the blogosphere, ThinkProgress unleashed a crescendo of complaints against Hume, claiming he had "smeared" Murtha. TP did not, however, describe the remarks made by Murtha that prompted Hume's assertions.


In fact, Murtha said:

REP. JOHN P. MURTHA, D-PA.: People tend to say well, if we leave, there's going to be chaos. I don't believe that. Seventy- eight percent of the Iraqis say that's not going to happen. Seventy- eight percent of the Iraqis say it will be -- we're the ones that are causing this, and Al Qaida is going to be -- Al Qaida's going to disappear.

Al Qaida's going to disappear? To call Murtha's predictions "dotty," as Hume later did, is being kind.

I find it ironic, as well, that TP condemns Hume for his relatively mild rebuke. Let's compare and contrast, shall we?


Media Research Center advises us that Keith Olbermann is joining the staff of NBC Nightly News. Olbermann will be offering "occasional essays" that are certain to display the political balance for which he and NBC are famous.


Olbermann has called President Bush a "compulsive liar" and has accused him of "impeachable" offenses after forgetting "the lessons of 9/11." He has labeled SecDef Rumsfeld a "quack" who advocates "fascism." And he claims that conservatives might intentionally "provoke potential terrorists" in an effort to maintain "influence and control of the presidency."


Olbermann called Fox's Chris Wallace, "a monkey posing as a newscaster" and accused Rush Limbaugh of "following the logic and ethics of Osama Bin Laden."


By a margin of 8 to 1, Olbermann has targeted conservatives for his "Worst in the World!" segments.


Cheering on terrorists, Olbermann has stated that, "this country has already lost in Iraq" and "fomented new terrorism," "stoked paranoia," and "pitted Americans one against another." He claimed that troops were sent to Iraq for the president's "lie" (originally) and for his "ego" (now).


Olbermann has also entertained debate on whether Bush is the "worst ever" president, noting that the current White House is a "textbook case of authoritarianism."


After comparing Newt Gingrich's comments on free speech and anti-terrorism measures to those of Nazis, Olbermann refered to Gingrich using terms such "fascism," "barbarism" and "delusions of grandeur."


Just before the 2006 election, Olbermann accused the GOP of terrorist activities, asserting that the president and the Republicans were committing the "dictionary definition" of terrorism in attempting to scare Americans." Olbermann claimed that "the leading terrorist group in this country right now is the Republican Party."


In October, Olbermann suggested that Bush was as significant a "threat" to America as "terrorists." He further claimed that the administration had, "imposed subjugation and called it freedom," accused President Bush of "lies," and announced, addressing Bush personally, that "the threat this generation of Americans needed to take seriously was you."


In another October commentary, which ran eleven minutes, Olbermann stated that, "A President who comes across as a compulsive liar is nothing less than terrifying."


As an aside, this is but a small sampling of Olbermann's sense of balance and fairness. Visit Media Research Center for a more complete list of Olbermann quotes.


Placing a virulent partisan like Olbermann on the NBC Nightly News is like spiking a bottle of moonshine. And it demonstrates that NBC is comfortable discussing both sides of each issue: the progressive side and the liberal side.

And for Think Progress to complain about Brit Hume's comments in light of Olbermann's excretions is the height of hypocrisy. Somehow, I'm not in the least surprised.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
186k Per Second » Brit Hume Calls out Cluless Murtha, A Blog For All, Bitsblog » Britt Hume: John Murtha is 'long past the day', Blue Crab Boulevard » Thimpk Progress Smears Smears, Chapomatic » I Have Two Guesses, discarded lies - hyperlinkopotamus, The Discerning Texan, Dr. Sanity, Drudge Podcast, Ed Driscoll.com, HotAir, justbarkingmad.com, Michelle Malkin, Must see TV » Absolute Moral Authority, Nuke’s news & views » There is no terrorist threat, The Political Pit Bull, Right Voices » Blog Archive » Britt Hume Takes on Murtha; doesn’t know 'what the heck is going on in the world', Right Wing Nut House » WAPO SLAMS MURTHA’S 'SLOW BLEED THE TROOPS' PLAN, ShrinkWrapped, Sister Toldjah, Sprignaturemoves.com, The Ward View » Brit Hume: Murtha not 'particularly well informed about what’s going on over there'