There's Something About Donald

In an illuminating article by Robert Spencer in Jihad Watch, Donald Trump is depicted as an outspoken, somewhat buffoonish person, who has gone after politicians such as John McCain and Lindsey Graham. In fact, Spencer even admits how it's often hard to go after the Trumpster for his attacks on these career politicians, in spite of Donald's "clumsy savaging" of McCain.

On the other hand, McCain showed similarly poor judgment "when he claimed Michele Bachmann's entirely reasonable questions about Huma Abedin's Muslim Brotherhood ties manifested an "ignorance" that "defame[d]" the spirit of the nation."

As Spencer describe it, "So when it comes to John McCain and Donald Trump, it's blowhard versus boor. But that doesn't excuse Trump."

There is no doubt, as Spencer attests to, that Americans are tired of "mealy-mouthed career politicians talking platitudes. They want a real person as president . . . "

So while it's just great that Trump is willing to fling buffalo chips and attack those who caved to immigration issues and followed the herd on the left, the billionaire businessman is not willing to defend freedom of speech when it might jeopardize his businesses in Dubai.

Let's get specific.

The American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI)/Jihad Watch Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest took place in Garland, Texas. The purpose of this event was for Americans to express their First Amendment right to draw a Muhammad cartoon and possibly win a prize. The event was put on by Pamela Geller, a New York City blogger who is also associated with Robert Spencer and has made many appearances with him in the past to discuss issues regarding Islamo-Fascist problems with the religion of peace. 

You might recall how 2 Muslim terrorists tried to enter the event and kill as many participants as possible, but were summarily killed by a single cop with a handgun.

Trump had this to say about Pamela Geller:

"I watched Pam earlier, and it really looks like she's just taunting everybody. What is she doing drawing Muhammad? I mean it's disgusting. Isn't there something else they could be doing? Drawing Muhammad? They can't do something else? They have to be in the middle of Texas doing something on Muhammad and insulting everybody? What is she doing? Why is she doing it? It's probably very risky for her--I don't know, maybe she likes risks. But what the hell is she doing?"

If Trump has to ask these questions, what does that say about his understanding of the Constitution?

Salman Rushdie said of this tendency we witnessed that it is a case where "Fear is being disguised as respect." And he is absolutely right.

Rushdie had a death fatwa issued by an imam of the religion of peace for writing the novel, Satanic Verses, and had gone into hiding for years. He added that if he were threatened for insulting Islam today that "these people would not come to my defence and would use the same arguments against me by accusing me of insulting an ethnic and cultural minority."



But my personal favorite quote is from Dinesh D'Souza.







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To Drone or Not to Drone

When Rand Paul (R-KY) filibustered on the Senate floor, he made an excellent point about the drone controversy as to whether or not the President of the United States has the authority to kill American citizens on US soil. The Constitution demands a person be afforded due process when deemed to be an enemy of the USA, but the Obama administration was making a case for using lethal force to keep us safe.

John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) attacked Paul's message, and thus attacked Paul,  and it must have made the Democrats smile to see the GOP and all this crazy infighting. On one hand, we have Rand Paul, who has made no secret about his interest in running for president in 2016, while on the other hand, we have a faction of the GOP who doesn't believe Obama would go crazy with the power of the drone. They believe he would only use it to take out terrorists who would pose a future, if not immediate threat to the United States. 

The filibuster clearly raised Paul's perceived validity as a presidential candidate because it gave him the exposure he needs. But it may have hurt McCain, who many on the right see as a RINO (Republican In Name Only). This may have been political suicide for him.

Insofar as how Graham is viewed, that remains to be seen. Some see him as a champion of truth where Benghazi is concerned, and I don't disagree with that notion. Others see him much like McCain because he went against Paul. In Graham's case, I believe it may have been an act of courage to challenge Paul; in McCain's case, I'm less certain of anything. Personally, I have a problem of anyone going to dinner with Obama.

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