Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

May 20, 2017 By Fausta

A poisoning in Iceland

This time I know the victim.

Read my post, A poisoning in Iceland.



Share

Filed Under: Fausta's blog, Islam, Robert Spencer

June 20, 2008 By Fausta

Silent movie: Freedom of speech

Via Irish Spy, Bound and gagged:

Share

Filed Under: Robert Spencer

August 20, 2007 By Fausta

Special podcast on Wednesday at noon Eastern: Robert Spencer!

blog radio

Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch will join Siggy and I this Wednesday at noon for a special podcast.

Robert will be talking about his new book, Religion of Peace? Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn’t

I read the book over the weekend and highly recommend it. Western civlization stands on Judeo-Christian values, and both are worth defending.

Tomorrow at noon Robert will be podcasting with Pamela of Atlas Shrugs.

Don’t miss either podcast!

Update
Related: The ACLU, footbaths and double-standards

Share

Filed Under: AtlasShrugs, Blog Talk Radio, JihadWatch, podcasts, Robert Spencer, Sigmund Carl and Alfred

March 4, 2007 By Fausta

Debate, or invective?

The big news around the blogs (and I include Drudge) is Ann Coulter.

I’ve never liked Ann Coulter because for as long as I’ve been aware of her existence she’s been one of the people lowering the bar of political discourse. She’s a very intelligent woman, and, while some think she’s crazy, I believe that not only she’s not crazy and she knows exactly what she’s doing, she’s cashing in on it. The picture I took of the people standing in line for an autographed copy of her book at CPAC doesn’t start to show how many were in line to buy her book:

To give you an idea, the exhibit room had been converted from the indoor parking area and was approx. 100′ x 200′. The line at the point where I took the picture had started 300′ away, and extended another 100′ behind the last person on the left in the picture. Now, I know for a fact because the line formed right in front from where I was sitting that the people in line got in line BEFORE Coulter even started her speech on Friday. But this is not the first time Coulter’s done her schitck at a CPAC.

I am sure Edwards’s campaign people are getting donations because of Coulter’s “careless” remark.

The way I see it, you either do invective and vituperation, or you don’t.

As Mama said, while talking about other matters,

weak thinking is contagious

and name calling and invective are symptoms of weak thinking.

Now, Coulter was not debating anyone. She was just giving a speech to a very friendly audience. It wasn’t as if she got carried away in the heat of a debate. This was not the first time she’s addressed a large audience, so it’s not as if her nerves got the best of her. As I said, she knew what she was doing – weak thinking can be very profitable when the royalty checks arrive, too.

Weak thinking is contagious because it’s easy. It’s a heck of a lot easier than looking at the world and trying to find out what is going on, and what the issues are.

The day before I attended a real debate: Dinesh D’Souza and Robert Spencer debated “Terrorism: Is Religious Extremism or Secular Extremism the Problem?”

You can listen to the debate at the CSPAN website (click on Conservative Political Action Conference). The debate was brief but substantive and lively.

Even in the circus atmosphere of CPAC, there was real debate. There was an exchange of ideas. And lo and behold, no one insulted anyone. The audience was much smaller than for Coulter, and the lines for Dinesh’s or Dr Spencer’s books were much shorter. Lively as the debate was, both men remained civilized to each other. After the debate I had an opportunity and complimented each of them on their debate.

A few hours before Coulter spoke I attended Giuliani’s speech. This main theme was that America is a country of ideas. The ideas that Giuliani espouses are personal responsibility, strength as a nation, and America’s role in the world. Giuliani, who took on the Mafia and prosecuted terrorists before he was mayor of New York City, is a man of clear, strong thinking.

And he was sensational.

He didn’t have a single solitary volunteer handing out Rudy posters, stickers, or buttons, but the ballroom was packed to the rafters and the people who coudln’t get in would have filled another ballroom that size. He didn’t schmooze with the bloggers, even when I wish he had. He didn’t give a stump speech like the other candidates, he came to explain what he’s about.

He came, gave his speech, and left.

But by clearly explaining his ideas, he gave people something to take home and think about. One of the things people like me will think about is that Giuliani’s message will appeal to a large number of Americans, consevatives or not conservatives.

So here’s the situation:
– The conservatives can continue having Coulter as a CPAC guest and have a jolly good time as they amuse themselves with her insults and attacks. By doing so, as Steve put it,

This woman is doing things for the Democrats they could never begin to do for themselves.

If they choose that option, they lose all right to complain when Dean, Hillary, et al, sling the basests insults at them. All the while, they’ll drive the Republican party to sure extinction. Look at McCain: he stayed away, and rumor has it that he might do a third-party run. That will be disastrous. The Elephant will become as extinct as its genetic relative, the mamooth.

– Or the conservatives can bring more clear thinkers who can raise the level of the political discourse, and actually win elections.

It’s up to them.

Update: The American Mind

One aspect of CPAC is all the college kids running around. Many idolize Coulter. Her lack of intellectual substance sets a poor example for those people to take back to their schools.

Share

Filed Under: Ann Coulter, Democrats, Dinesh D'Souza, politics, Republicans, Robert Spencer, Rudolph Giuliani

Tweets by @Fausta
retirees_raise-2015_300x250

Pages

  • About
  • Email

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Previous Posts

  • Mrs. Maisel goes full Alinsky on Mrs. Schlafly
  • Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • You need to unfriend me
  • Go ahead and Kiss the Girl, if you dare
  • Ashamed

Recent Comments

  • John on Mrs. Maisel goes full Alinsky on Mrs. Schlafly
  • Today’s hot topics: Democrats’ collusion shift, tax-return rift, Venezuela drift, and more! – PoliticalWitchDoctor.com on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Today’s hot topics: Democrats’ collusion shift, tax-return rift, Venezuela drift, and more! - AmericanTruthToday on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Did Venezuela’s Minister of Defense Back Out At The Last Minute? on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Roseanne Not Back, Khan not Invited, Operaman’s back, Jobs back, Fausta’s back (but not here yet) Thoughts under the fedora – Da Tech Guy Blog on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?

Archives

  • 2019
    • December 2019
    • May 2019
    • January 2019
  • 2018
    • December 2018
    • October 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
  • 2017
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
  • 2016
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
  • 2015
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
  • 2014
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
  • 2013
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
  • 2012
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • 2011
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
  • 2010
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
  • 2009
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
  • 2008
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
  • 2007
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • September 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • February 2007
    • January 2007
  • 2006
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • October 2006
    • September 2006
    • August 2006
    • July 2006
    • June 2006
    • May 2006
    • April 2006
    • March 2006
    • February 2006
    • January 2006
  • 2005
    • December 2005
    • November 2005
    • October 2005
    • September 2005
    • August 2005
    • July 2005
    • June 2005
    • May 2005
    • April 2005
    • March 2005
    • February 2005
    • January 2005
  • 2004
    • December 2004
    • November 2004
    • October 2004
    • September 2004
    • August 2004
    • July 2004
    • June 2004
    • May 2004
    • April 2004
    • March 2004
Content Copyright Fausta's Blog

Site Developed and Managed by 300m.com