In an interview with Walter Williams, he describes what must change in order for Black Americans to move forward. Here’s a snippet:
During Reconstruction and up until the 1940s, 75% to 85% of black children lived in two-parent families. Today, more than 70% of black children are born to single women. “The welfare state has done to black Americans what slavery couldn’t do, what Jim Crow couldn’t do, what the harshest racism couldn’t do,” Mr. Williams says. “And that is to destroy the black family.”
Pleasing your enemies does not turn them into friends
When George W. Bush left office we were assured by everyone on the Left that the Dawn of a New Day was near. We were promised that a conciliatory approach to international relations carried out by intelligent people (ie. not Republicans) was sure to resolve every diplomatic problem in the world.
Now, 2 years later, how has that worked out? Not very darn well it appears. The problem, of course, is that Barack Obama followed closely to what the Leftist ideologues were urging him to do. This course of action failed. Miserably. He refused to show any real sign of support for the brave, freedom loving citizens in Iran. Now many of them are dead or imprisoned.
More recently, he abandoned the democracy loving citizens in Lebanon and the government there fell, in no small part to the forces of Hezbollah, a proxy of the thugocracy in Iran. No one is sure what will happen next but there are great fears that things will be bleak. One thing all* Lebanese are in agreement about is that Barack Obama and America have abandoned them.
Fouad Ajami has a comprehensive new article about all of this. Definitely well worth a read.
A Weapon of Last Resort: Endless Mockery
When a person goes so far beyond any semblance of reasonable discourse, often the only thing you can do is . . . well, mock them:
Here’s a sampling from the brilliantly devious mind of Iowahawk:
Mr. Hector Gutierrez
Gutierrez Bros. Landscaping
Arlington, VA
Dear Mr. Gutierrez:
Nothing could have prepared me for the shock that awaited as I exited the front door of my home early Wednesday morning, where I discovered that your lawn crew had cut a swath of environmental destruction across my yard so horrifying that it only can be compared to the Rape of Nanking. I can scarcely bring myself to describe the killing fields that are my North azalea beds and the brutal degradation and torture suffered by the bluegrass around the locust tree by the rear patio.
Defunding NPR: A Good Example for Canada
In this piece, Byron York writes about a plan this year to stop all federal public funding of National Partisan Public Radio (NPR). Hopefully Conservatives in Ottawa are following this very closely with respect to the CBC.
If you’ve ever wondered how on earth the CBC wasted consumed $1,017,587,000.00 last year in taxpayer dollars, take a look at the number of producers for The Current, a little radio show on CBC 1.
Are You a Liberal?
In this video Dennis Prager echoes what I’ve thought for a long time, namely that many people who call themselves “liberal” are actually not. I’ve taken the time to discuss individual issues with close friends of mine who consistently vote Liberal/NDP/Democrat and lo & behold it quickly becomes apparent that they have mostly conservative views. Unfortunately the MSM has been so successful at brainwashing folks into voting far afield from where their views actually reside. This, by the way, is why I think so many on the Far Left are incredibly scared of the emergence of Sun TV News onto Canadian televisions in a few months.
A Thorough Primer on the Current Politics of BC
David Berner was a talk show radio host in Vancouver for many years but about half a decade ago he left the airwaves for what he thought would be for good. But he is returning now with a half hour TV show in the format of Charlie Rose, which will be broadcast on Shaw TV Vancouver (Cable 4).
I had the great privilege yesterday of photographing the first episode of Berner’s show. He is a personal friend of mine and though politically we appear to be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, on some issues we are very much aligned. For example, there is no greater critic of the misguided, destructive, failed drug addiction policies of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside than him. Plus, we (and millions of other British Columbians) share a very legitimate, and wholly logical, cynicism towards the current political class in our province!
You, the fine members of SDA, get a sneak preview of the premiere episode of the David Berner Show, as it won’t appear on TV in Vancouver until next Tuesday. This first episode, entitled “Candidate Soup”, features Berner talking with the Globe & Mail’s political columnist for BC, Gary Mason. They carefully examine every leadership candidate for both the NDP and the Liberals. Depending on who gets elected, there is every possibility of a polarized battle later this year. If you need a visual, just think of two simultaneous cage matches and then the two winners/survivors going after one another . . . all while the citizens of the province shake their collective heads in disbelief, and frequently disgust.
Without any further adieu, you can now view Parts 1 and 2, plus a behind the scenes vignette by yours truly. If you’re a member of Facebook, feel free to join the show’s page.
Can ‘None of the Above’ Be Added to a Ballot?
The past decade of relative stability in BC Politics appears to be returning to old form: corruption & never ending scandals.
The Liberals: Former solicitor general Kash Heed is alleged to have improperly used $6,000 in public funds to pay campaign workers. More here from Kim Bolan.
The NDP: Leadership candidate Adrian Dix is accused of violating party membership rules, with application forms entering in one box and money coming in another.
CKNW’s Gord MacDonald & Sean Leslie discuss the latest.
Now is the Time at SDA When We Juxtapose
Jan 12, 2011: President Obama issues a call for civility
Jan 19, 2011: Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen compares Republicans to Nazis
Disgraced Democrat ex-Congressman Alan Grayson insists that Sarah Palin instigated the Arizona Shootings
Chief Clarence Louie: An Inspirational Canadian!
Charles Adler had a great segment today, featuring the Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band. Referenced is an article in the Winnipeg Sun written by Tom Brodbeck. And last but not least is this video of Chief Louie talking in Brandon, MB in 2009.
Why the Left Hate Sarah Palin – Part 2
This earlier post generated a lot of interesting discussion about the venomous hatred so many on the Left feel towards Sarah Palin. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with not liking her or not supporting her running for POTUS one day, but what’s occurring in the hearts & minds of many Leftists is much, much more than mere dislike.
In the earlier piece, Evan Sayet explained his theory about the hatred. Now “Robin of Berkeley”, a self-proclaimed recovered liberal, gives her take, very much from a female perspective. It’s a fascinating read.
h/t ‘lookout’
Update: Victor Davis Hanson shares his thoughts. h/t ‘ET’
Nick DiPaolo and Dennis Miller Discuss Current Events
A few laughs to start your day on the right note!
Great Moments in Socialism
The Taiwanese Take on Hu Jintao’s DC Visit
Why Does the Left Hate Sarah Palin So Much?
Evan Sayet, arguably most famous for this video, has a new piece out entitled Why the Left Hates Sarah Palin.
Incidentally, the feelings of many on the Left towards Palin is clearly not just mere dislike but absolutely is hatred. If she were African American, what would be a good term to describe those with such feelings?
Update #1: An interesting take on the recent outburst of hatred towards Palin comes from Dana Loesch, a radio talkshow host out of St. Louis, whose show is also simulcast in Indianapolis.
Update #2: Here’s the full clip of Sarah Palin talking with Sean Hannity last night. h/t ‘G’
Pity Those “Poor” Public Sector Employees
The poor darlings of San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency may soon lose their free parking privileges. Oh, the horror!
On the bright side, the monthly income of psychologists in the city is sure to skyrocket when these same employees seek counseling for this atrocity! P.S. Undoubtedly, such services are almost certainly paid for by taxpayer dollars. 🙁
Last Gasp of Affirmative Action?
Talk with any Leftist who actually understands his own belief system <insert your own joke here> and you’ll soon find out that a key value on the Left is “Equality”. But dig a little deeper and you’ll learn that they’re not referring to Equality of Opportunity but rather Equality of End Results.
Meritocracy is an anathema to Leftists. They absolutely abhor the idea that the smartest, strongest, or hardest working person should prevail. This is why, for example, that in a pure union shop everyone of a given “class” gets paid the same. Sure, there are different classifications of employees but one’s ability to move up through that structure is solely based on time worked and “official” educational certification. This gives the illusion that pay is based on experience & competency but does not allow for the possibility of better/smarter/faster work affecting pay.
Affirmative Action first came into being in the United States in 1965. Here in Canada it’s called Employment Equity. The impetus for this idea was a good one: end discrimination and provide equal opportunity for everyone. But as is almost always the case with Stage One Thinking of the Left, it was soon realized that Affirmative Action was penalizing some individuals while artificially promoting others. The hilarious TV show, Modern Family, recently illustrated how absolutely absurd this has become.
A new article by Eileen Toplansky explains that Affirmative Action may soon be on its way into the dustbin of history. Long overdue in my humble opinion!
New Conservative Party Ads
The Conservatives launched a new series of ads today.
What say you? Do you think they’re effective?
Update: SDA’s crack research staff (aka our fantastic commenters) have pointed out that Jane Taber isn’t very pleased with the “sinister” ads such as this one.
If Ms. Taber would like to see truly sinister, perhaps this will help her refresh her memory. Here’s how SDA readers reacted to it 4 years ago.
Now is the Time at SDA When We Juxtapose
Shining a Magnifying Glass onto the Lunacy of Politics in BC
Nov 29, 2010: Hopes & Dreams: I Am NDP video
49 days later . . .
Jan 17, 2011: Reality Bites: Discussion on CKNW (begins at 6:00 but listen to Norman Spector’s thoughts starting at 8:00)
“. . . I think what’s going on is that the NDP are afraid of the kooks that’ll join the race. I mean, there are a lot of kooks on the Left and, you know, we see it on the Internet everyday, we see it on the comment boards, and we’ve seen it in a microcosm in the Cannabis candidate. So I think they’re trying their best to ensure that these kinds of people don’t get into the race. But the downside is that there are all kinds of people on the Left who are potential recruits, and will be available to vote Green because they’ve been shut out of the system. They’ll want to vote anti-system. There’s a huge anti-system vote in this province and the NDP are not mobilizing those people.”
The Consequences of Biased Reporting on “Global Warming”
h/t ‘bluenose’
Update: As per a h/t from ‘Oz’, the video above encompasses clips from the much longer Global Warming Swindle. It should be mandatory viewing for all high school students, especially those going into journalism!
Half a Decade of Harper
The Iceman has an interesting roundup of commentary on Stephen Harper’s tenure as PM. Well worth a read. Here’s a snippet:
“… it is remarkable how effective Stephen Harper has been at his job. One thing you don’t see the Liberals playing these days is the “hidden agenda” card. He has been our Prime Minister for 5 years and guided us through an incredible economic recovery. The hidden agenda message just don’t bite anymore.”
Will There Be a Canadian Federal Election in 2011?
This video, shot 4 days ago, makes me wonder.
Do you think there will be one? If so, what’s your prediction about when it will occur and what issues do you think the Liberals will try to make the election about?
How will Michael Ignatieff answer this question, if asked: “If the Conservatives win the most seats but are unable to form a majority government, will you negotiate with the other parties to take control via a Coalition?”
Open Question: At 0:46 into the video, just after Ignatieff mentioned John Baird’s name, a man’s voice can distinctly be heard saying something. What words do you hear? (h/t Simon)