Seems Mikey’s ratcheted up his anti-Giuliani sentiments over at his website. He’s parading all and any firefighter he can find who is even remotely cirtical of their former boss. I guess that means we are all post-WTC firefighters, and they appear symbolic for every single New Yorker. (Except the Jews, who were sick at home on 9/11.)
He must consider Adolf G the likeliest Rethugnician candidate.
I never thought that I’d see the day when a union member is pissed at management. Look at how far labor relations have fallen during the Bushitler administration. Praise Allah that mikkel has brought it to the light of day…
Mikeys verbally creaming himself (with whatever that mung is he ferments in his pasty jowls) over Giulianis assertion that:
“I was at ground zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers.”—Rudolph Giuliani
In closing, sir, I wish you great health and happiness, but not success in your presidential campaign unless you do what is morally right and start helping 9/11 heroes. If you couldn’t help the people of our great city, then how in Sam Hill are you going to help the people of this country?
Is it still Giuliani’s job to take care of NYC firefighters?
Rangel said, “He was never one of our boys. He was a bum. He was a terrible man. It’s the post 9/11, when we couldn’t find the president, and he was fearlessly walking up and down the streets. And that’s the guy that America has known. But now the firemen are coming out, the emergency medical people are coming out, his kids are coming out. You know, people are going to find out who is this guy, and it’s not going to be kind.”
Lets use a little lefite logic here - Sean Penn walked Iraq. Therefore he knows from Iraq. He canoed New Orleans. He’s one of them. By visiting Chavez in Venezuela he became a Revolutionary astride with the likes of Castro and Guevara. ossi knows we have 52 states.
If you think they hate us now
A Republican victory in 2008 could sink America’s reputation in the world even lower.
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The Republicans most likely to win their party’s presidential nomination constantly use language that is meant to inflame anger against Muslims for political advantage.
During the last Republican debate, on Aug. 5, Rudolph Giuliani eagerly provided an example of this syndrome when he attacked the Democratic presidential candidates for failing to describe terrorism as Islamic. “During four Democratic debates,” he complained, “not a single Democratic candidate said the word [sic] ‘Islamic terrorism.’ Now, that is taking political correctness to extremes.” To him, the absence of that phrase in their speeches, no matter how tough their stance against terror, proved that Democrats are guilty of “weakness and appeasement.” The other Republicans, again except for Paul, agreed—although as John Dickerson of Slate has pointed out, that phrase is also assiduously avoided by the Bush White House.
There is an obvious reason not to say “Islamic terror,” which stupidly suggests that terror is indeed Islamic, as the ideologists of al-Qaida would argue. There is also an obvious reason to say that same phrase—if you believe that we are careening toward a war of civilizations and your aim is to inflame.
Throughout his career, Giuliani has pandered to the far right on Mideast policy. More than a decade ago he made a fool of himself on the world stage but became a hero to the religious right and Likud extremists when he told his aides to eject Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from a Lincoln Center concert during the United Nations’ 50th anniversary celebration in New York. He played to the cheap seats again after 9/11, when he ordered the return of a $10 million charitable donation to a victims fund returned to a Saudi prince who had urged more balance in America’s Mideast policy.
Like many other Republican candidates, Giuliani has a limited understanding of Islam and Islamist movements, despite his claims to expertise. Not long ago, he told Charlie Rose that the West must be on guard against the “Islamic Brotherhood,” which doesn’t exist. (The PBS host noted that Giuliani probably meant the Muslim Brotherhood, a relatively moderate Islamic party that isn’t much of a problem compared with al-Qaida or Hezbollah.)
.........
So lets explore the issue Rangel has with Rudi a bit more:
Rangel replied, “I don’t think any federal prosecutor indicted more people that were subsequently acquitted than Giuliani. You know, he’s a tough guy from the neighborhood that wants everyone to know how tough he is. He’s the guy that calls the police to rally, cussing and fussing and bringing out the meanness in them as they drank beer and attacked David Dinkins. He polarized the city like no mayor’s ever done.”
Dinkins did so much for NY- or would have, if only they’d have let him, all those white Jews.
Pressman later spoke of the large numbers of New Yorkers who think he did a great job. Rangel said it’s deceptive.
Because Rangel was really, truly there. He is truly one of “us”. No bum.
“Yes, because he filled a vacuum. When we couldn’t find the president in 9/11, he was there. Whether decisions he’s made was right—whether we should go to the same World Trade Center that was bombed before in order to put this emergency—whether or not they should have had masks, you know, that’s something. But there’s no question that a city that was frightened—and I was one of the first down there to support the mayor, Republicans and Democrats, this is no time to be partisan. And he was there and he stood tall… Giuliani looked like he was in charge, and that’s what we needed then. We were confused, we were frightened, and he was there.
What a bum. I’d hate to have a leader stand up and cuss under any circumstances.
If it’s not Islamic then what the hell else is it? Buddhist? Unitarian? Waves of Animist bombers? Are Wiccans running around lopping off heads?
It is a war of civilizations. Somehow admitting reality is “inflammatory.”
Odd how when They denounce the West and all its works we need to examine ourselves as to what we could’ve done to possibly upset the poor beleaguered primitive zealots and their murderous cohorts. When we suggest that they want to do just what they claim (either expressly or tacitly through non-action) we are “inflammatory.”
Its the classic “if we melt our guns and go vegan, Nature will eventually follow suit” mentality.
Mikeys posting away like crazy over this:
“He is such a liar, because the only time he was down there was for photo-ops with celebrities, with politicians, with diplomats,” said deputy fire chief Jimmy Riches, who spent months digging for his firefighter son.
“On 9/11 all he did was run. He got that soot on him, and I don’t think he’s taken a shower since.”
Putting on blackface, was he? How evil.
Posing with celebs and politicians is phoney. Did everyone read that? Thats yuck. Well, unless they’re Sheehan and Penn and Chavez....
If it’s not Islamic then what the hell else is it? Buddhist? Unitarian? Waves of Animist bombers? Are Wiccans running around lopping off heads?
It is a war of civilizations. Somehow admitting reality is “inflammatory.”
Odd how when They denounce the West and all its works we need to examine ourselves as to what we could’ve done to possibly upset the poor beleaguered primitive zealots and their murderous cohorts. When we suggest that they want to do just what they claim (either expressly or tacitly through non-action) we are “inflammatory.”
‘War of Civilisations’ suggests that we’re against all of Islam though. That our civilisation is against theirs. When in fact the West is fighting a relatively small number of fanatics (although we’re doing a bang-up job of ensuring the numbers are sustained). It’s those fanatics who are claiming to want stuff, not Muslims generally or Islam.
You don’t believe that we need to examine ourselves? I would argue that any group or body that engages in all matters on a worldwide scale should constantly be questioning their actions. We’ve not responsible for what the fanatics do, but we’re damned responsible for what we do.
‘War of Civilisations’ suggests that we’re against all of Islam though. That our civilisation is against theirs. When in fact the West is fighting a relatively small number of fanatics (although we’re doing a bang-up job of ensuring the numbers are sustained). It’s those fanatics who are claiming to want stuff, not Muslims generally or Islam.
You don’t believe that we need to examine ourselves? I would argue that any group or body that engages in all matters on a worldwide scale should constantly be questioning their actions. We’ve not responsible for what the fanatics do, but we’re damned responsible for what we do.
I have no problem with people calling on us to consider and reconsider what affect a few people acting in our name has on the world and our reputation/standing in it.
I simply want to know why the Islamic world is so rarely called on to do the same by those calling on us.
You don’t believe that we need to examine ourselves? I would argue that any group or body that engages in all matters on a worldwide scale should constantly be questioning their actions.
So say I come up with a few uses for wood. I invent a saw, have some engineer build me a few, pay folks with trees to cut them and go about my business building things, and even make a profit from it.
You, in turn, fly around the world asking people what they think about the wood industry. Other than the fact that wood is all natural, these days all you’ll hear is complaints: Its bad for the environment, erosion, blabla global warming, blabla natural habitats, workers are underpaid, they lack unions, the US is making all the profits. What to do? Call a demo, chant some slogans, stage a concert.
The Chinese are finally moving away from using wooden chopsticks. So whats the alternative? Plastic? Its bad for the environment, erosion, blabla global warming, blabla natural habitats, workers are underpaid, they lack unions, the US is making all the profits. Call a demo, chant some slogans, stage a concert.
May I open a Starbucks near you? Its bad for the environment, erosion, blabla global warming, blabla natural habitats, workers are underpaid, they lack unions, the US is making all the profits. Call a demo, chant some slogans, stage a concert.
Next thing you know we’re all crouching around in our feces like the Taliban for alck of toilet paper, knowing the one answer to everything.
We’re not responsible for what the fanatics do, but we’re damned responsible for what we do
And its time for the fanatics and their apologists to take some responsibilty too.
‘War of Civilisations’ suggests that we’re against all of Islam though. That our civilisation is against theirs. When in fact the West is fighting a relatively small number of fanatics (although we’re doing a bang-up job of ensuring the numbers are sustained). It’s those fanatics who are claiming to want stuff, not Muslims generally or Islam.
You don’t believe that we need to examine ourselves? I would argue that any group or body that engages in all matters on a worldwide scale should constantly be questioning their actions. We’ve not responsible for what the fanatics do, but we’re damned responsible for what we do.
I have no problem with people calling on us to consider and reconsider what affect a few people acting in our name has on the world and our reputation/standing in it.
I simply want to know why the Islamic world is so rarely called on to do the same by those calling on us.
So the problem is that we don’t put enough pressure on Muslim moderates to pull in the extremists?
Do those extremists really care what their moderates think? To them, the moderates are as bad as us. Or worse.
Which suggests that the extemists are extermists and/or terrorists first, and just happen to invoke or use Islam as their pretext.
Also, the fact that Islam doesn’t have a central figure, like a Pope, makes it very difficult to call on ‘them’. I know Deus has written about this at length in the past.
Funnily enough it’s Muslim Awareness Week in NZ. I’m sure some of you will get a kick out of that.
http://www.islamawareness.co.nz/
Islam Awareness Week is a week of information and activities organised by local Muslims to increase New Zealanders’ awareness of their beliefs, values and practices, and to tackle misinformation about their religion in a positive way. The aim is to achieve greater understanding between us all, by promoting communication and new relationships. It’s also hoped to reduce ignorance and misconceptions about the world’s second largest religion: prejudices about Islam often result from misinformation through news media reporting on world events involving Muslims. Most provide little or no perspective as to what Islam’s take is on the issue or the position of the other 1.3999 billion Muslims. Negative reporting has been a major cause of the ignorance of Islam we see today.
On the other hand, interactions during Islam Awareness Week provide a chance for all of us to find out directly from each other what it is that concerns us or we want to know about. Activities during the Week such as Mosque open days, talks, video screenings and information displays will allow people an insight into the Islamic way of life and the Muslims who follow it. Some may build on what they know, others might change what they thought they knew, or learn basic facts, such as that most Muslims are not Arabs, or that Islam means peace. Others may be interested in topics of their own interest whether it be Peace, Women, War, Law, God, or whatever – if we just come to know each other a little better in our own ways, Islam Awareness Week will certainly have achieved its goal.
Apparently we’re all invited into local Mosques to see what it’s all about.
So the problem is that we don’t put enough pressure on Muslim moderates to pull in the extremists?Do those extremists really care what their moderates think? To them, the moderates are as bad as us. Or worse.
Which suggests that the extemists are extermists and/or terrorists first, and just happen to invoke or use Islam as their pretext.
.
You got it. The moderates should be out there waving banners and burning kaffiyehs and Osama effigies decrying his besmirching their religion. But they won’t. While they may not have a pope they sure as hell indulge in the cult of personality just like every other band of losers out there.
You treat them like rock and roll stars not bound to conventional, lame international rules.
“Well if Castro/Chavez/Osama weren’t around to stop US imperialism, who knows what tthe world would look like.”
So the problem is that we don’t put enough pressure on Muslim moderates to pull in the extremists?
Do those extremists really care what their moderates think? To them, the moderates are as bad as us. Or worse.
The problem is that the moderates should be applying pressure to the extremists themselves. Before someone tries to cry that “they don’t know any better,” I call bullshit. Many moderates live in western countries and are surrounded by our values and culture. Many moderates, by their own claims, are members of our societies. There should be more than a handfull of muslim groups decrying terrorist actions in their names.
The extremists should care what moderates think, as their operations are funded, at least in part, by moderates. How many Islamic charities have been fronts for terrorist groups? Hell, the terrorist groups have political parties in some of the nations of the Middle East!
Also, the fact that Islam doesn’t have a central figure, like a Pope, makes it very difficult to call on ‘them’. I know Deus has written about this at length in the past.
Doesn’t matter. If this is the culture war you attribute to “War of Civilizations” then it is in their best interests of survival for moderates to make themselves heard. Especially if the west wakes up to the culture war you speak of, as we can take the kid gloves off. If a “total war” becomes necessary, then(assuming the West has the will to do what needs to be done) we will wipe Islam out. Lets face it, we have the destructive capabilities to turn the Middle East into a broken sheet of glass.
If these are isolated extremeists, then there will be no mainstream voice to stop the moderates call for peace. With the wallets closed, the terrorist groups won’t be able to fund their operations against anyone, at least without outside help. Without bombs going off and Jews/Americans/infidels dying, morale will drop and the groups will dwindle to a pathetic shade of what they once were.
