Truth in comedy

Mike VanOuse " . . . In a quest for comic relief, this author clicked on a random YouTube stand-up video, titled "Offended?," by an Australian-born comedian named Steve Hughes, performed in England.  The routine is only 7 minutes and 48 seconds long and well worth the investment in time. 


He saunters onto the stage with the visage of a lanky Charles Manson and reassures the crowd, "I'm thinking the same thing about you...freaks!"  That broke the ice.  Unlike many stand-up routines, this one is absent profanity.  He makes mockery of Britain's "Health and Safety" regulations, which are predicated on the assumption that the common citizen is an imbecile. 


About halfway through, he transitions to ridiculing "political correctness" (which is an easy target).  But during the segue, he rapidly mutters – almost under his breath – the following observation: 

And then we have political correctness, which is a joy that is the other side of health and safety: health and safety is the small oppression of our physical movement, and so we can't do anything without permission from the state.  And political correctness is the oppression of our intellectual movement, so no one says anything anymore, in case somebody else gets offended. 

"That has got to be the most succinct, lucid, and accurate estimate of the subliminal totalitarianism that plagues Western civilization this author has ever encountered." . . . 


Health and safety language advisory. Sorta like warning you not to walk into a pit:

Chris Wallace learns a new term from Rush Limbaugh: "deep state"

Althouse   "On today's "Fox News Sunday," first Chris Wallace was talking to Rush Limbaugh:

WALLACE:  You also use a phrase which I have to say that I only heard for the first time in the last couple of weeks, "the deep state".  And that’s the notion that there’s an Obama shadow government embedded in the bureaucracy that is working against this new president.  I think that some folks are going to think that’s right on and some folks will think it’s awfully conspiratorial. 

. . .  

Video from Rush Limbaugh:




"* Jonah Goldberg quickly tweeted "Note to Rush and Chris Wallace, 'the Deep State' is not a new term and Glenn Greenwald didn't coin it," and Greenwald retweeted that saying "FACT CHECK: True," with a link goes to "Deep State: Inside the Government Secrecy Industry 1st Edition," a 2013 book by by Marc Ambinder and D.B. Grady. Goldberg's tweet linked to a Wikipedia article, "State within a state":

State within a state is a political situation in a country when an internal organ ("deep state"), such as the armed forces and civilian authorities (intelligence agencies, police, administrative agencies and branches of governmental bureaucracy), does not respond to the civilian political leadership. Although the state within the state can be conspiratorial in nature, the Deep State can also take the form of entrenched unelected career civil servants acting in a non-conspiratorial manner, to further their own interests (e.g., job security, enhanced power and authority, pursuit of ideological goals and objectives, and the general growth of their agency) and in opposition to the policies of elected officials, by obstructing, resisting, and subverting the policies and directives of elected officials. The term, like many in politics, derives from the Greek language (κράτος εν κράτει, kratos en kratei, later adopted into Latin as imperium in imperio or status in statu).

"That article has a long list of historical examples, including one for the United States, which goes here." . . .

Former CIA Official Confirms Obama Deep-State Operatives Are Leaking to Undermine Trump

Pope Francis: ‘Muslim Terrorism Does Not Exist’

Weasel Zippers
"Pope Francis delivers a left wing twofer… “Muslim terrorism does not exist” and “don’t be a science denier”. "

Via Breitbart:

In an impassioned address Friday, Pope Francis denied the existence of Islamic terrorism, while simultaneously asserting that “the ecological crisis is real.”
“Christian terrorism does not exist, Jewish terrorism does not exist, and Muslim terrorism does not exist. They do not exist,” Francis said in his speech to a world meeting of populist movements.
What he apparently meant is that not all Christians are terrorists and not all Muslims are terrorists—a fact evident to all—yet his words also seemed to suggest that no specifically Islamic form of terrorism exists in the world, an assertion that stands in stark contradiction to established fact.
. . .
The Pope also reiterated his conviction that all religions promote peace and that the danger of violent radicalization exists equally in all religions.
“There are fundamentalist and violent individuals in all peoples and religions—and with intolerant generalizations they become stronger because they feed on hate and xenophobia,” he said.
While denying the existence of Islamic terrorism, Francis also seemed to condemn the denial of global warming, asserting that “the ecological crisis is real.”
“A very solid scientific consensus indicates that we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system,” he said.
We know “what happens when we deny science and disregard the voice of Nature,” the Pope said. “Let us not fall into denial. Time is running out. Let us act. I ask you again—all of you, people of all backgrounds including native people, pastors, political leaders—to defend Creation.”
Keep reading…

The American Mirror   "The Nation of Islam had its annual gathering in Detroit over the weekend and thousands of attendees chanted “Allahu Akbar” as Louis Farrakhan made his way onto the stage."

"During his appearance at Joe Louis Arena, Farrakhan denounced Jews and told them they are not God’s “chosen” people.

“ 'I want to disabuse the Jews today of the false claim that you are the chosen of God — that Israel or Palestine belongs to you,” he said.

“ 'I want to disabuse you of that. I’m going to tell you about your future. You that think you have power to frighten and dominate the peoples of the world. I’m here to announce the end of your time,” Farrakhan said, slamming his hand on the podium.

"He blamed the world’s ills on white people.

“ 'For 6,000 years, the people of the earth have suffered under a mischief-making rule. Bloodshed and war, hatred and strife, all because a man with a new color — or the lack thereof — thought that he was better than all of those who inhabited the earth before he was even a thought,” Farrakhan said.

“ 'But I am here to announce today the end of his world and the beginning of a brand new reality that all human beings will enjoy peace, freedom justice and equality under the rule of Allah.”

"Farrakhan said he wants to work with Barack Obama to curb Chicago’s out-of-control violence.

"The Detroit Free Press reports:

Farrakhan also directed remarks to former President Barack Obama: “Let’s have coffee” to talk about ways to help Chicago and avoid having to bring in troops." . . .

Washington’s Supreme Court Imposes Its Progressive Faith on a Christian Florist

The ruling in Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers should chill First Amendment advocates everywhere.   

David French; NRO  "If you care about the Bill of Rights, the rights of conscience, or even the English language, there’s a chance that this morning you felt a disturbance in the Force — as if the Founders cried out in rage and were suddenly silenced. That disturbance was the Washington Supreme Court’s oppressive ruling in State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers, a case holding that a florist was bound by state law to use her artistic talents to design floral arrangements to celebrate what she viewed as an immoral event: a gay wedding.

"The pretext for overriding the florist’s rights to free speech and religious liberty was Washington’s so-called “public accommodations law,” which required the owner, Barronelle Stutzman, to provide goods and services to customers “regardless” of their sexual orientation.
"Let’s be clear, according to the plain language of the law and the undisputed facts of the case, Stutzman did nothing illegal. She had always consistently and joyfully served gay clients, including the man who ultimately decided to bring potentially ruinous legal claims against her." . . .

Related, wouldn't you say?

The Companies, Sports Teams, and Celebrity Chefs That Still Won’t Work With Donald Trump  . . . "Meanwhile, media strategist Shannon Coulter has called for a boycott of retailers who carry Ivanka Trump’s fashion line, the Ivanka Trump Collection . . ."

Wegmans facing boycotts for carrying Trump products

Obamaleaks: Suspicious Haaretz “scoop” about Netanyahu blocking “regional peace plan”

Haaretz

"Selective leaks by former Obama officials meant to make Netanyahu look bad don’t hold up to scrutiny."

Barak Ravid, the diplomatic correspondent for the Israeli daily Haaretz, has a reputation of getting great scoops, especially of the sort that makes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu look bad.
"In a story with a sensational headline that has lit up anti-Netanyahu social media, Ravid reported, Exclusive Kerry Offered Netanyahu Regional Peace Plan in Secret 2016 Summit With al-Sissi, King Abdullah.
"The sub-headline read, “Kerry’s outline included Arab recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Netanyahu claimed he couldn’t get his coalition to back it.' ” . . .
. . .
"But there are reason to question the conclusions of Ravid’s report.
"For one thing the Ravid report omits context. In February of last year the so-called knife intifada was winding down, but there were still 107 attacks, largely driven by Palestinian incitement, in which 3 Israelis were killed. Was this really a good time to ask Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians, when its leadership was actively encouraging violence against Israel.
"For another, here’s a paragraph from Ravid’s report:" . . .

Iranian Women, before and after the Islamist Takeover

Mansour Kashfi
. . . "Iran before the Islamic Revolution (1979)


"Reza Shah the Great, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran, courageously initiated the greatest challenge of his era (1925 – 1941): the abolishment of the hijab (veil) for Iranian women on Jan. 6, 1935. The policy of “Kashf-e-Hijab” banned a very basic Islamic law, the covering of the whole woman’s body except the eyes and hands. However, avoiding hypocrisy, he commenced this task with his own family-- namely his own wife and daughters.


"His policy of forced un-veiling was a catalyst in the advancement of Iranian society and in ending women’s slavery. By doing that, Reza Shah the Great aroused a deep animosity in fundamentalist clergies who had practically ruled the country during the previous Qajar Dynasty for 136 miserable years. He rightfully considered the hijab the emblem of an obsolete tradition which aimed to hinder Iranian women from equal life opportunities. His wholehearted efforts encouraged women to pursue higher education and to work outside the home.
. . .
Iran after the Islamic Revolution


With the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran, clergies in Tehran immediately and severely curtailed the laws established under the White Revolution, including the Family Protection Law in favor of women, which was repealed. Today in Iran under Islamic law, gender equality is practically non-existent. Women are required to obey the Islamic law of wearing the hijab, otherwise they are subject to the severe punishment of lashing and days in prison. Islamic law specifies that women are banned from wearing perfume or shaking hands with males. Women who wear lipstick are detained and their lips are cut with blades or broken glass. Many women’s faces have been permanently scarred by acid, thrown in their faces by Islamic fascist secret police. Women have been barred from judging positions. Islamic laws consider legal testimony by women to be half as valuable as legal testimony by men." . . .

Israeli hospital helps deaf Palestinian children hear for first time

Times of Israel

"Jerusalem medical center carries out 16 cochlear implant surgeries as part of Peres Center for Peace project"

"Sixteen deaf Palestinian children were able to hear for the first time after undergoing a procedure at an Israeli hospital to repair their hearing, Hebrew media reported Saturday.
The operations to repair the children’s hearing, known as cochlear implant surgery, were performed by doctors at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem over the course of the past several months, according to the Ynet news website.

"The last six surgeries took place over the course of just a few days.

"Dr. Michal Kaufmann, who performed the surgeries, told Ynet that being able to perform the operations was quite difficult due to the “logistical challenge[s].”
“Many authorizations were required from the Defense Ministry,” she said, adding that “some of the children arrived without a medical record and required extensive tests at Hadassah alongside emotional and psychological treatment.' ” . . .

Trump: Hour Of Negotiations Saved More Than $1 Billion On Air Force One

Weasel Zippers

"Via Washington Examiner:

President Trump said Saturday that he has reduced the price of two new Air Force One planes by more than $1 billion after spending about an hour on negotiations.
Trump previously slammed the cost of the $4.2 billion Boeing program on Twitter as being too high and secured a personal promise from Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to complete the program for under $4 billion.
“I refuse to fly in a $4.2 billion plane,” Trump said at his Melbourne, Fla., rally. “We’ve got that price down by over $1 billion and I probably haven’t spoken for more than an hour on the project. I got the generals in who are fantastic … but I told Boeing that isn’t good enough, the price is still too high.”

Keep reading…

When President Obama’s National Security Advisor Lied, The Media Laughed

The Federalist

"Lying to Us Only Matters If We Dislike You"

"Buried deep beneath the Michael Flynn hysteria this week was Judicial Watch’s release of newly obtained State Department documents related to the Benghazi terrorist attack on September 11, 2012. One email confirms—again—that the Obama administration knew the day after the attack it was not a random act of violence stemming from an anti-Muslim video. That was the excuse shamefully propagated by top Obama administration officials (including the president himself) and swallowed whole by a media establishment desperate to help Obama win re-election six weeks later.

"According to the summary of a call on September 12, 2012 between State Department Under-Secretary Patrick Kennedy and several congressional staffers, Kennedy was asked if the attack came under cover of protest: “No this was a direct breaching attack,” he answered. Kennedy also denied the attack was coordinated with the protests in Cairo over the video: “Attack in Cairo was a demonstration. There were no weapons shown or used. A few cans of spray paint'.” . . .

Stop Belittling The Holocaust With Your Stupid Nazi Analogies

"If your argument is that all deportations are, in and of themselves, the actions of a proto-Nazi regime, then I would ask: why aren’t you comparing Barack Obama, who deported 2.4 million people from 2009-2014 . . . to Himmler? Or I would say stop appropriating the horrors of history for short-term political gain and come up with a better analogy."

The Federalist  "When the Associated Press dropped a breathless piece contending that the Trump administration was “considering” and “weighing” using 100,000 National Guard troops to help round up illegal immigrants, all the usual hysterics erupted. Soon, the White House denied it had ever considered the memo (and so far there is no reason to believe they are lying). Then we learned the memo itself doesn’t even say anything about “100,000 National Guardsmen” rounding up illegal immigrants. Now, we can theorize about who leaked the story, but it looks to be the epitome of Donald Trump’s Yogi Berraism about a real story being fake news.

"Anyway, none of this stopped the shameful Hitler and Nazi analogies from immediately clogging up social media. Comparing everything to 1932 is now a big part of our national discourse. People who should know better habitually make correlations." . . .

You mean analogies like this bit of demagoguery?

US Intelligence

Michael Ramirez