Saudis Say Michelle Obama Not Blurred on TV

Is too! Is NOT! Is too! . . .

Bloomberg

"The new king shook hands with President Obama at the Erga Palace but didn’t acknowledge the first lady during a brief meeting at the funeral for King Abdullah. Barack and Michelle Obama cut short their trip to India to attend the funeral.  

"Several videos posted on Saudis' Facebook pages obscured Michelle Obama's face. They were removed shortly after they were posted. I captured a screenshot of one such video before it was taken down. The Arab news service Mashahead posted on YouTube a video allegedly taken from the Saudi government television broadcast showing the blurred spot." . .

. . . "The alleged blurring wasn't the only controversy.  Some Arab media outlets criticized Michelle Obama for wearing a blue dress, rather than a black one. Videos of the short meeting between Salman and President Obama showed the king leaving in the middle of the protocol, abruptly turning around and walking away, in order to go to prayer.". .

. 

One can cheer this sticking it in the face of these 7th century denizens, but then we realize this is all part of a pattern of tone-deafness and lack of grace in this couple toward both  political opponents and international allies over the past six years.

If the next president is a Republican, they will have to start off their time in office with a world apology tour and a couple of dozen reset buttons. TD

Report: Islamic tribunal confirmed in Texas, media largely silent

The eyes of Texas better open soon.
Examiner.com 

. . . "On Tuesday, Breitbart Texas said it confirmed the existence of an Islamic tribunal dispensing Sharia law in Texas. According to the report, the tribunal consists of four attorneys operating in Dallas. The tribunal, Breitbart added, issues voluntary rulings on civil disputes like divorces and family problems. While one might think the existence of such a tribunal would make national news, a Google search found that the so-called "mainstream media" has yet to issue a single report as of this writing.

Taher El-badawi, one of the so-called "judges" of the tribunal, told Breitbart the tribunal applies Shariah law only to litigants who voluntarily accept their rulings on disputes involving family and business issues. According to El-badawi, the organization is “a tribunal, not arbitration.” Meriam(sp)-Webster’s Dictionary defines tribunal as “a court or forum of justice.”

An in-depth look at Shariah Law by  Adina Kutnicki:
ISLAMIC ALARM ALERT: Shariah Law Implanted in America! What/Where Are The Dangers?  (Emphases in the original. TD)

. . . "SPECIFICALLY, the Muslim Brotherhood’s overall plan is to subsume all of America under the boot of Shariah, not “just” the Muslim community. They are deadly serious, and their track record attests as much. Don’t dare to dismiss their American (and global) designs.

"AT its base, Shariah Law is a knock out blow (despite protestations to the contrary, ala Islamists and anti-American leftists) to the U.S. Constitution, the law of the land."  Much more on this here.

Related, wouldn't you say?  From The Freedom Fighter's Journal:

‘Discover Hell on Earth’: France Releases Graphic Video Showing Executions, Crucifixions and Terror to Warn Citizens Against Joining the Islamic State
"Editor’s Note:

The video embedded in this story features disturbing themes and extreme violence."

. . . "The graphic, two-minute clip published on Stop Djihadisme (Stop Jihadism), a new counter-jihad website created by France’s Interior Ministry, attempts to dismiss the promises that terrorists are making to individuals interested in joining jihadist groups, with the government telling French citizens that they will “discover hell on earth” and “die alone” if they join militants.. . . 

#Stopdjihadisme : Ils te disent… by gouvernementFR

Sarah Palin Slips into Self-Parody (Updated)

Her recent performance in Iowa should disqualify her from any role in the GOP going forward. 

Charles C.W. Cooke  "In Des Moines this past weekend, Sarah Palin gave a speech, and at long last the vultures began to circle. “A tragedy,” declared Joe Scarborough, on Morning Joe; “bizarro,” ajudged the London Times’ Toby Harnden; “an interminable ramble,” said Iowa professor Sam Clovis. These, alas, were among the kinder adjectives." . . .

Lloyd Marcus: Sarah Palin Too Toxic for 2016?. . . "The Left launched an over the top vicious shock and awe champion to crucify Sarah Palin, her family and her disciples. When the Left sought after Palin supporters, sadly, many cowardly said, “I never knew her.” There is something deja vu about this scenario.

"So, Palin courageously comes along and does everything patriots have been longing and praying for someone to do. Her reward is patriots distancing themselves from her. Classy."  .


Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/01/sarah_palin_too_toxic_for_2016.html#ixzz3QBhN3Zdn
Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook

UPDATED: Ann Coulter asks, HOW MUCH IS THAT PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE WORTH?

College Insurrection update: Ann Coulter Urges GOP to Go on Offense in Higher Ed

Ann Coulter

. . . "Democrats are on offense all the time, even when they've just had their legs cut off. They announce absurd agenda items and then indignantly demand to know why Republicans are refusing to deal with the free unicorn-rides proposal. Obama is a lame-duck president and, three months ago, his party was slaughtered in midterm elections. And yet, I gather that his State of the Union address consisted of a litany of insanely expensive, utterly pointless ideas. 

"And Republicans fall for it every time. They consider it a major victory to come back with a free-market approach to surrender. 

"In response to Obama's "free" community college idea, Republicans should say: We're not giving you anything, and, in fact, we're demanding answers from the entire "higher ed" establishment. You'll be surprised how liberating and fun it is to go on offense, Republicans." . . . 

Then, Coulter hits the sweet spot with this:

"The GOP needs to hold tobacco company-style hearings, hauling in the presidents of various universities and asking them to justify their multimillion-dollar salaries. 

"We want professors explaining, under penalty of perjury, exactly how much they make per hour for their rigorous schedules of two classes a week, summers off, and full-year "sabbaticals" every few terms. 

"Also, we'd like to know how driving the getaway car for a cop-killer constitutes a qualification to teach college." . . .

Iraqis Watch “American Sniper” In Baghdad: “Shoot Him! He Has An IED! Don’t Wait For Permission!”…

Weasel Zippers

Linking to Global Post:
Here’s what moviegoers in Baghdad think of ‘American Sniper’

"When Gaith Mohammed, a young man in his twenties with a degree in accounting, went to see "American Sniper" during its opening week at Baghdad’s Mansour Mall, he says the theater was full and rowdy. 

“ 'Some people watching were just concentrating, but others were screaming ‘F*ck, shoot him! He has an IED, don’t wait for permission!!’” Mohammed laughed, recounting the film’s many tense scenes when US Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, radios in for authorization to take out a potential threat in his crosshairs.

"The film, set during the US-led occupation of Iraq and released on Christmas Day, hit nerves in the United States immediately. Some critics and commentators lauded it as patriotic and unflinching; others dismissed it as reductionist and racist."

. . .

"But after just a week on screens, the Mansour Mall movie theater pulled the controversial war movie. A theater employee sitting at the box office says management made the decision “because the hero of this film boasts of killing more than 160 Muslims.”  The employee declined to give his name because he did not have permission to speak to journalists. "

. . .

“ 'I love watching war movies because especially now they give me the strength to face ISIS,” he said, using one of the acronyms for the Islamic State. When asked if he thought the movie was racist or anti-Arab — a charge made by some critics in the West — he replied, “No, why? The sniper was killing terrorists, the only thing that bothered me was when he said he didn’t know anything about the Quran!' ”

First Lady draws criticism for not wearing headscarf in highly conservative country

Michelle Obama causes outrage in Saudi Arabia by not wearing headscarf

"In a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia, President Barack Obama cut short his visit to India and led a parade of American dignitaries in Riyadh on Tuesday to pay respects after King Abdullah's death.

"But it was the presence - and attire - of his wife Michelle which drew the most attention in the ultraconservative desert kingdom.

"The First Lady dressed conservatively in black trousers and a long jacket, wearing loose clothing that fully covered her arms, but did not cover her head.

"It is forbidden for Saudi women to appear in public without their heads covered, and most Saudi women wear niqabs." . . .. 

Good on you, Michelle Obama A genuine attagirl from Legal Insurrection.  This isn’t an unprecedented move by the First Lady. During their trips to Saudi Arabia, neither Hillary Clinton nor Laura Bush opted to don a head scarf. (Technically, the modesty rules people are having such a hard time with here don’t apply to visitors.) But, as the Washington Postnotes, “in Saudi Arabia, the simple act of not covering your head can be political, intentionally or not.”

Is the Britain—or America—of 2015 Capable of Producing Another Churchill?

rosejaffe

Ed Driscoll  . . . "But perhaps most importantly, before the excoriating impact of political correctness would begin to tarnish how we view World War II, which unless we really have reached what Robert Tracinski of the Federalist calls “Peak Leftism,” will likelyonly get worse in coming decades. Political correctness is a disease that advanced slowly before fully metastasizing; but its roots were already present among 1930s British leftwing elites, who vowed would “in no circumstances fight for king and country,” and feared Churchill more than they feared Hitler (plus ça change). And as the 15th-episode of the World at War, titled “Home Fires” notes, even as England was on the verge of defeating National Socialism in Germany, it was about to institute an ever-increasing peacetime amount of nationalization and socialism at home:
...
"Speaking of political correctness, the transformation of a people, and Margaret Thatcher, Mr. Obama couldn’t be bothered to attend her funeral in 2013. Presumably, he wouldn’t have made time for Churchill’s either, right?" .
 . 

.

Meanwhile, here at home:   

President Obama was interviewed on YouTube by whacky GloZell Green. She posts videos of herself eating Fruit Loops from her bathwater as she bathes. He said that John Boehner inviting Bibi Netanyahu to address Congress without his permission undermines the dignity of the presidency.        Comedian Argus Hamilton 

Boom: This Column Contains The Most Epic Takedown Of Michael Moore

Townhall   
The quoted letter here is merely a portion of this entire article by Doug Giles

. . . "When Moore laid into American Sniper via his tweet, I immediately contacted my buddy, Green Beret Sniper Bryan Sikes, asking him what he thought about Michael Moore's calling American Sniper, Chris Kyle, a coward. Bryan’s response was nothing short of epic. Check it out…" Quoting:

Mr. Moore-

Good afternoon there sweetheart, I hope this finds you alive and well. You can thank our men and women of the armed forces for that, by the way, and that also includes us “cowardly snipers”. It seems you've found time between licking the jelly off your fingers and releasing your grasp of a bear claw to tweet some junk about snipers being cowards. My buddies and I got a good laugh over the tweet, so I thank you. For a guy worth $50 million dollars, you sure have quite a bit to bitch and cry about. I guess like a moth to flame, you too gravitate towards things that are popular and in the moment — in this case it’s snipers. Too bad for you that your attempt at being relevant via your 70+ year old family experience has failed. It has only made you look dumber than a bag of hammers. Next time you should try something more original than going after snipers for one reason or another…that was so last month.

It’s typical of “men” like you to criticize the intestinal fortitude, focus, discipline and patriotism of a sniper. It must stem from an inferiority complex or something. But hey, it’s okay cupcake. We snipers are thick skinned and the efforts of world class turds such as yourself to portray us in a negative light only makes us laugh. If you and I were in the same room, I’d throw you a smile and gently pat you on the head knowing you’re nothing more than a mouth breathing, Crisco sweating waste of space not even worthy of being in the presence of a sniper. It’s almost funny how people like you preach things like 'acceptance' and 'not passing judgment' or 'labeling people', but then are the first to do so when a person is in some way dissimilar from you.

So tenderfoot, I leave you with this final thought: what if you found yourself in some sort of hostage situation where you were held at knife-point by some crazed person and they were dead set on making an example of you by bleeding you out on Hollywood Blvd in front of the world, and the only way out was with the precision aimed fire of a sniper? Would you want that coward to take the shot? Because knowing how you feel about snipers such as myself and your hatred of firearms, I’d probably drop the mag, roll the bolt and go get a Jack & Coke before helping you out.

Very Respectfully,

Sikes   (End quote)

Hat tip to Robert Hope; Sacramento, CA

Heard enough about deflated footballs?

You mean like this next one?

PATRIOTS’ FAN LOUIE C.K. PUTS DEFLATE-GATE INTO PERSPECTIVE  . . . "Yep, sounds about right. Definitely a more cynical stance than Eli Manning’s take on the whole deflated ball controversy, but similarly accurate."

Can Obama conduct diplomacy and chew gum at the same time? Head scarf update.

Legal Insurrection

. . . "The Times of India notes that the country’s social media was aghast at the site of our President chewing gum during this important event:. . . "

Obama’s chewing gum habit: A diplomatic faux pas in India?  "During his visit to India, President Obama was once again spotted chewing gum at a public event. Diplomatic faux pas or a public struggle with nicotine addiction? "

 The Huffington Post pontificates on this as well here: Why Open-Mouth Chewing Makes Us Crazy. (But I digress)


UPDATE:  Michelle Obama's uncovered head draws Saudi Twitter critique
... "Saudi Arabia has a strict dress code for women, who are instructed to wear black robes and head coverings at all times in public, though visitors to the country are not required to abide by the dress code. In 2011, when then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Abdullah in New York, she did not cover her face or hair. Nor did then-first lady Laura Bush during a 2006 visit with Abdullah in Saudi Arabia." ...

Besides,  other women including Nancy Pelosi were uncovered as well.

REPORT: Bergdahl to be charged with desertion

iOTW Report

Breitbart (Video)   . . . “Bill, the Army has come to its conclusion and Bowe Bergdahl,” Shaffer said, “Sgt. Bergdahl will be charged with desertion. I have been told and confirmed by two other sources that his attorney was given what we call a charge sheet. A charge sheet is results of the investigation listing out the articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that have been violated. The key violation is desertion. And this is has been done. The decision has been made. Let me be very clear. As a corporate entity, the Army has decided that they want to pursue Bergdahl for this violation.” . . .

Was Bergdahl’s Charge List Leaked to Avoid Obama’s Interference? . . . "Considering how much trouble Obama went to make Bowe Bergdahl’s Taliban trade into a high profile event, it seems likely that the White House would have shut down the charges if it had gotten a chance.

"So instead the leak may have been a way of pre-empting the White House."

The Blizzard That Wasn't

Alan Caruba

. . . "When, earlier in January, NOAA and NASA reported that 2014 had been "the warmest year" it should have raised far more questions and media coverage given the sheer absurdity of such a report. Remember, though, these are two federal government agencies we expect to get it right. They didn’t just get it wrong, skeptical scientists were quick to note how they had deliberately distorted the data on which they based the claim.

"That is the heart of the issue surrounding the endless claims of “global warming” or “climate change.”  The planet has not been warming for 19 years at this point because the sun has been in a perfectly natural cycle of low radiation.

. . .

"That’s the good news. The bad news was the over-reaction of meteorologists and politicians. No doubt they wanted to be “safe than sorry” but they inadvertently taught us all a lesson about the way environmental organizations and a government led by a President telling us that “climate change” is the most dangerous challenge facing us have been deliberately lying about the true meteorological record in order to drag us all back to a time in which we burned wood for heat and rode horses for transportation." . . .

Full article here.