The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

How Glenn Greenwald Bamboozled People Who Should Know Better

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 69 Comments

Let’s start with the obvious: If Glenn Greenwald is a “serious journalist,” I’m a McChicken sandwich with a side order of fries.

He’s an emotionally unbalanced weirdo who knows as much about national security as Andrew Sullivan knows about vaginas.

The proximity of Greenwald to the Snowden story should have aroused more suspicion than it did, but people bought into the narrative and just weren’t sufficiently skeptical:

From the moment I began researching Edward Snowden’s biography, there were hints that the NSA leaker was kind of . . . eccentric. Weird. Flaky.
A lot of computer geeks are kind of flaky, but Snowden’s flakiness is exacerbated by the fact that he dropped out of school in 10th grade and much of his education since then has been autodidactic. And it is this self-taught 29-year-old nerd who decided to leak top-secret information about the National Security Agency’s surveillance program because . . . he’s a kook.
Snowden’s buddy Glenn Greenwald has decided to give him more rope to hang himself with, in the form of additional video interview excerpts, some of which have been transcribed by Mandy Nagy at Legal Insurrection. . . .

You can read the rest of that at The American Spectator, but the basic point is that Snowden is a kook, which is directly relevant to Glenn Greenwald’s motives. Lee Stranahan at Breitbart.com:

The technique is simple: throw as much mud as possible, knowing that, when the mud is washed away and the facts are revealed, most people will only remember the mud. The goal is to create lingering doubt. If all that mud was there, there has to be something to the allegations, right? Something?
This is media legerdemain of the highest order and it’s Greenwald’s modus operandi. It feeds on human nature; once people are emotionally invested in a position, it’s very hard to get them to shake it. Nobody likes to admit they were wrong, and ever fewer people like to admit they were fooled. It’s easier for the people who have been conned to attack the person pointing out the con game.
Greenwald desperately wants to deflect from legitimate questions about whether he broke the law in his work with Edward Snowden. The timeline of events shows clearly that Greenwald was working with Snowden prior to Snowden taking a job at NSA contractor Booz Allen for the express purpose of getting classified information. . . .

Go read that whole thing, because Lee has put his finger on the key point: Greenwald got people “emotionally invested in a position” — i.e., that the government was spying on them — and now that we’re seeing facts that don’t seem to support this hyped-up paranoia, Greenwald is playing the martyr, so that to criticize Greenwald and/or Snowden offends people who have bought into their narrative.

GLENN GREENWALD IS AN EXPATRIATE
TAX EVADER AND A RATHER NOTORIOUS LIAR.

If you’re a conservative who is up in arms about NSA surveillance, you’ve been played for a chump by Greenwald, who has shrewdly exploited your anti-Obama sentiments for his own purposes. Again, here’s Lee Stranahan at Breitbart.com:

Here’s a Greenwald column from March of this year entitled “The racism that fuels the ‘war on terror'” — and the title sums up Greenwald’s position concisely: he’s opposed to the war on terror. He doesn’t even believe it’s a real thing, so he puts it in scare quotes. Greenwald believes it is fueled by racism.

You really should read the whole thing, then come to grips with the fact that you’ve been deceived by Greenwald.

 

Category: Conspiracy Theories

Meet the New Boss …

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 31 Comments

The Nightmare at 3600 New York Avenue, otherwise known as The Washington Times, resurrected its own Freddy Krueger again today, announcing that John Solomon will return in “the joint role of Editor and Vice President for Content and Business Development, where he will have broad responsibility for the content, audience and business strategies of the company. In this role he will oversee all news and opinion content in the newsroom as well as the advertising, sales and digital departments on our business side.”

Which is to say, he is The Franchise. Solomon becomes the fifth editor at the paper in the past five years. I tendered my resignation in January 2008, the day after it was announced that Solomon would be hired, knowing an ill omen when I saw one.

The newspaper has gone through wave after wave of layoffs in recent years, each successive predictable catastrophe announced by the clueless management as a Bold Step Forward. To make room for hiring back Solomon as Supreme Commissar, they kicked to the curb executive editor David Jackson because who gives a damn about loyalty, huh? Betsy Rothstein quotes an “insider” at the paper:

“This raises the question, ‘What is the Washington Times?’ TWT’s brand has always been as a conservative alternative to the Post, but Solomon is not and never has been a conservative, having worked at the liberal Post, a liberal wire service and the George Soros-funded Center for Public Integrity. He persecuted conservatives last time he was editor of the paper and pushed a hard pro-Obama line, which went so far as to fill the walls of the building with framed copies of A1 cover pages promoting the liberal president. Looks like the Moonies bought the same snake oil that failed to solve their problems before.”

News Flash: Management doesn’t have a freaking clue.

They wouldn’t know where to buy a clue if they could afford one.

Damn, I’m glad I got out while the getting was good.

 

Category: Journalism

Rush Is Right: Media Can’t Hide Their Disappointment Over Zimmerman Trial

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 97 Comments

The murder trial of George Zimmerman was required only to satisfy the national media demand for it. You may recall that Zimmerman was not initially charged with any crime in connection with the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. But then various civil-rights activists began agitating, and their agitation was echoed and amplified by the national media and so prosecutors charged Zimmerman with a crime of which, as the trial has shown, he can never be convicted.

Andrew Branca argues that the defense’s motion to acquit should have been granted. Given the weak case presented by the prosecution, all the defense now has to do is avoid errors and Zimmerman walks. So what is the media doing now? Hoping for riots:

DAN ABRAMS, ABC NEWS: “If Zimmerman is found not guilty, is your office ready for that?”
SANFORD POLICE CHIEF CECIL SMITH: “I believe we have plans that will be able to deal with issues as they arise.”
ABRAMS: “I assume the worst-case scenario, then, would be riots?”
SMITH: “Yeah, and I will say it again: You know, we are not talking about riots. We’re talking about rallies.  If people choose to come to Sanford and voice their opinions or if they want to come and rally, we welcome that. We want people to have the opportunity to express themselves.”

After playing that on his show last week, Rush Limbaugh did a montage of media commentators discussing the possibility of Zimmerman being convicted of a lesser charge:

Isn’t it amazing? Here comes the media begging, “Can we at least do manslaughter? Oh, my God, we’re not gonna get murder one, can we get manslaughter?” This guy’s gotta get convicted of something. We’re too invested in this. And short of a conviction, the media is saying, “Oh, it would be so, so sad if we had riots.” You can see what’s being stoked out there.

Listen to this 4-minute segment:

Hat-tip: The Jawa Report. I doubt there will be riots in a relatively small town like Sanford, Florida. More likely you would see eruptions of violence in big cities. Of course, if they riot in Chicago, how would it be more violent than any other day in Chicago?

UPDATE: The screaming voice on the 911 recording? Zimmerman, say seven witnesses for the defense. Ace reiterates the obvious:

The media’s role in this has been shameful. It is obvious now as it was obvious then that this was a racial prosecution, pure and simple, and yet they cheerleaded for it just the same.

Everybody knows this, even the media themselves, but such is their emotional investment in the narrative, they can’t let go.

 

Category: Crime, Rush Limbaugh

Rule 5 Monday: Independence Day Weekend Catch-Up Edition

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 20 Comments

— compiled by Wombat-socho

I am, as usual, obliged to remind the Loyal Readers that while most of the links to follow are quite tasteful and artistic, others are Not Safe For Work, and clicking on them could lead to a serious contamination of your purity of essence, among other unfortunate eventualities. On with the linkagery!

Laughing Conservative, being a gentleman, prefers blondes like Anna Kournikova; Randy’s Roundtable likewise links Gretchen Rossi in suitable swimwear for the holiday. Blackmailers Don’t Shoot continues the patriotic theme with Pretty Girls on a Thursday: Happy Birthday America Edition, and Animal Magnetism chips in with Rule 5 Friday and the Saturday Gingermageddon. 90 Miles From Tyranny has Late Night Ladies, and Reaganite Republican has Miss Poland, Paulina Krupinska. Wine, Women and Politics hooked us up with Friday Hotties, July 4th Women, and Women of Wednesday. First Street Journal doesn’t need a special occasion to show patriotic women; this week, it’s Basic Combat Training at Ft. Jackson.

EBL puts us some historical knowledge with the unfortunately named Ima Hogg, achieves the seemingly impossible with WBC Rule 5, and then settles down with some Taylor Swift – but wait, it’s some disturbing Professor Bainbridge/Paula Deen Rule 34. x_x Next, some IDF girls dancing, Egyptian Freedom, and Mrs. Met. Also, more Egyptians, the Bangles’ “Walk Like An Egyptian”, and Mona Eltahawy: Separated At Birth?

A View From The Beach offers Rachelle Lafevre, wishes for a Happy 4th, Pot Smoking and Craziness, Going To The Beach Makes You Better, Avril Lavigne, Hobbit Strip Trivia, and Lord Take Me Downtown.

Soylent Green has Your AM Angel, Afternooner Hot Wheels, Monday Motivationer Zoe, “I’m Guessing It’s A Wig, Then”, Tuesday Titillation Ginger,  “Cabin In The Woods” Theme Park Maze, Humpday Hawtness Lindsey, Evening Awesome, Soylent Fourth Of July, Fursday Fourth, July 4 Evening Awesome Jessa, Corsetcare Long Weekend, T-GIF Friday, Soylent Art Imitates Life, and AM Awesome Joanna.

Proof Positive’s Friday Night Babe is Missy Peregrym, his Vintage Babe is Dana Gillespie, and of course there’s Sex in Advertising. Also, The Women of PETA XXXIV. Dustbury chips in with Meagan Good and Melisa Sozen, and Three Beers Later presents Korean Sports Championship: Actress v. Gymnast.

The DaleyGator’s DaleyBabes last week included Bria Murphy, Mina Asakura, Leah Dizon, Hiroko Sato, Yuki Morisaki, Michelle Argyris, Olinda Castaneda, Sofie Henao, Yuka Hirata, Vanessa Palestino, Miss Hooters International 2013 Marissa Raisor, Natalie Baccino, Antonella Bongio, Kim Lee, Lily Aldridge, Kimah Nicole, Jessa Hinton, Aline Franzoi, and Tomika Skanes.

Thanks to everyone for the links! Deadline to submit links to the Rule 5 Wombat mailbox is Saturday, July 13.


Category: Rule 5

‘Arab Spring’ Sequel: ‘Arab Anarchy’

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 39 Comments

Here is the headline stack from the Drudge Report:

BLOODBATH IN CAIRO; 51 DEAD…

Massacre at Muslim Brotherhood sit-in…

Sexual assaults rampant…

**WARNING GRAPHIC** Gang throws
rivals from top of building…

Law requires Obama cut off Egyptian aid…

Cairo seeks Gulf help as unrest continues…

Gunmen attack Sinai checkpoints close to Israel border…

Hundreds of Morsi supporters rally in Chicago…

WH not sure it was a ‘coup’…

Question of the Day: What is the Arab word for “Stuttering Clusterf–k of a Miserable Failure”?

 

Category: Egypt

University of Toronto Education Professor Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 40 Comments

“Canadian education,” IYKWIMAITYD:

Police have arrested a University of Toronto professor and member of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s transition team on several charges, including making child pornography.
Benjamin Levin, 61, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of distributing child pornography and one count each of making child pornography, counselling to commit an indictable offence and agreeing to or arranging for a sexual offence against a child under 16.
Levin, who is currently a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and is the Canada research chair in education leadership and policy, was once deputy minister of education from 2004 to 2009 under former premier Dalton McGuinty. . . .
Levin was also named to Wynne’s transition team earlier this year after she became leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in January.

The article doesn’t say whether Professor Levin is into boys or girls, but since he’s a left-wing Canadian with a master’s degree from Harvard University, I’m guessing . . . boys.

(Hat-tip: Eye on Crazy.)

UPDATE: Oh, yeah, definitely boys:

That’s from a video listed on Professor Levin’s curriculum vitae page. The title of the video: “Why a good Canadian education makes for a happier, healthier society.” IYKWIMAITYD.

UPDATE II: A global menace:

The Toronto police investigation also involved officers from the London Police Service and the Censorship and Electronic Messaging Compliance Unit Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand, according to a statement released by the Toronto police.
“It’s often the case in these types of investigations that we end up working with jurisdictions outside the country because Internet offences like this often pass through other jurisdictions,” said Detective Sergeant Kim Gross, the officer in charge of the Child Exploitation Unit at the Toronto Police Service. “So, he’s come on the radar in a few places.”

Yeah. I bet the radar isn’t all he’s come on in a few places.

 

Category: Canada, Crime, Education

In Case I Haven’t Mentioned It Lately, David Brooks Is Still a Useless Idiot

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 26 Comments

Appearing on “Meet the Press,” David Brooks declared that intellectual strength commands support for the Gang of Eight bill:

“You know, I’ve seen a lot of intellectually weak cases in this town. I’ve rarely seen as intellectually a weak case is the case against the Senate immigration bill.”

And then Rep. Raul Labrador ripped Brooks to tatters:

Question: Why doesn’t David Brooks emigrate to Canada, if he hates us “intellectually weak” Americans so much?

 

Category: Immigration

The Pope Joins ‘Gang of Eight’?

Posted on | July 8, 2013 | 97 Comments

When I saw this Tweet by the Pope, I was like, “Did George Soros pay him to say that?” The House is now considering the Comprehensive Piece of Crap Bill, and I was pretty pissed about it. Had the Senate Republicans or the Ford Foundation or some other open-borders lobby group gotten the Pope involved in pushing this legislative atrocity?

Apparently not.

Did you know that thousands of Africans have died trying to reach Italy? The European Union’s disastrous immigration policies — apparently, once you set foot there, they can’t kick you out — have made the Italian island of Lampedusa a mooch-magnet:

Pope Francis has visited Lampedusa to pay tribute to the thousands of refugees who have lost their lives trying to reach the European Union. The pope also criticized what he called the “globalization of indifference.”
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, who arrived on the tiny southern Italian island on Monday morning, tossed a wreath into the sea from an Italian coast guard vessel to commemorate the deceased would-be migrants. . . .
Later, the pontiff celebrated a mass on the island . . . in which he slammed what he described as “the globalization of indifference” and “the culture of wealth,” that causes people to become insensitive to the plights of others.
“We pray for a heart which will embrace immigrants,” he said via his Twitter account following the mass. “God will judge us upon how we have treated the most needy.”
Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than the Italian mainland, has been the point of entry to the European Union for more than 200,000 people since 1999. More than 17,000 would-be migrants have died trying to reach the island during the same time period.
Around 4,000 have reached Lampedusa in the first half of this year alone, but this is well below the tens of thousands who reached the island during the Arab Spring revolts of 2011.

The “globalization of indifference”? Hey, dig this, Pope: How about encouraging the localization of responsibility?

If everybody is responsible, nobody is responsible. If it’s Europe’s job to take care of Africans, what is Africa’s job other than building boats so they can try to get to Europe? How about encouraging Africans to do something more productive than trying to leave Africa?

Also, speaking of “how we have treated the most needy,” Pope, I checked my records and you’ve never hit my tip jar. Just sayin’ . . .





 

UPDATE: Catholic readers might be shocked by my disrespectful tone toward His Holiness, but remember, I’m Protestant, so I can backtalk that guy and still get to Heaven. And why should this kind of gooey “social justice” nonsense — which intelligent people would reject as the idiocy it is, if Lindsey Graham said it –be exempt from criticism just because it’s coming from a dude wearing a robe?

C’mon: Was Rerum Novarum divinely inspired? Or was it, as I insist, a failed attempt by a fallible human being — a cleric with no training in economics — to strike a middle ground between the 19th-century radical Left and the reactionary Right? And upon the economic errors of Rerum Novarum, Catholics have erected an edifice of “social justice” doctrine that, a few decades ago, gave rise to the heresy of “liberation theology” that the Pope himself had to rebuke.

The duty of Christian charity cannot be transferred to governments, because that not only relieves the individual of his own obligation to charity, but it also encourages an attitude of helpless dependency and entitlement among the poor. “Social justice” thereby becomes a sort of adhesive that glues the poor to the economic floor, where sloth and profligacy are rewarded by government handouts and the lazy are encouraged toward envy of the industrious and thrifty.

Having turned Europe into a gigantic Social Welfare State, these economic errors have now made Europe a magnet for Muslim “refugees” who claim the right to emigrate on the basis of . . . what? Because they were born in Africa? Really? Just any person born in Africa can go to Europe and claim to be a “refugee,” because they’re African? There are 1 billion people in Africa, and I certainly hope His Holiness doesn’t mean they all have the right to move to Europe, whose citizens must have “a heart which will embrace immigrants” or else be condemned to Hell.

Speaking of being condemned to Hell, if you haven’t hit my tip jar lately, your immortal soul could be in jeopardy.

The Pope’s got his “social justice” doctrine, and I’ve got mine.





 

UPDATE II: A miracle! Like loaves and fishes!

“Go thou and do likewise.” Amen.

 


Category: Catholics, Immigration
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