Head West, Turn Right

The Joint Blog of the Conservative Northwest Blogging Alliance: Red State Points of View from a Blue State Point on the Compass.

Friday, February 24, 2006

All Quiet on the Western Front?

Cross Posted at: Respectfully Republican and Reagan's Children Blog

Commenting on the upcoming midterm elections, Seattle PI columnis Connelly, writes today that Washington State “will have a front-row seat in the battle for Congress.” True, campaigns are kicking off, but by and large, there is still relatively little “chatter” in the media about a forthcoming fight. So just where is this knockdown battle to rue all battles that Connelly envisions?

While Congressional Republicans want to increase and consolidate their hold on power, many strategists are predicting this could be a bad year for Republicans. In fact, it’s been popular to suggest that something like the 1994 sweep, but in reverse fashion, could occur. Democrats, who have long been salivating for a chance to regain influence in Congress, are gearing up, and you better believe they are willing to pull out all the stops. On a larger scale, other campaigns in the West, especially in California, seem especially ripe for a clash of interests.

Back in my home state, even with the state legislature in Olympia churning at full speed, on the surface at least, it’s politics as usual. In my best estimation, the incumbents and their respective challengers are quietly posturing and plotting for the upcoming campaign season, while quietly building up their war chests.

Actually there is some action to be seen: several Washington Republicans are opposing the UAE-based DPW deal brokered by the Bush Administration. The dissension is nothing new and it’s really just more posturing. Congressman Dave Reichert for example, has been on the opposite side of a number of issues championed by the Bush Whitehouse, from the Terry Schiavo case, to drilling in ANWR. He's also the only Republican Congressman east of the Cascades.

With all of the political calculations spinning, the issues are beginning to take shape: alternative energy, technology & innovation, and the continuing war on terror all seem to be ‘dinner table’ issues that Republicans hope to capitalize on.

Meanwhile, Democrats no doubt hope to keep the Abramoff scandal front and center. Whether that makes political sense when many Democrats had their hands caught in the cookie jar too, remains to be seen. But besides a ‘scandal plagued Administration’ where is the beef from Democrats? According to Connelly's column, Gregoire distanced herself from Dean in a recent visit; what, not a Deaniac?

If Connelly’s right, and I think he is, things will start heating up around here soon enough. Republican candidates like Senate hopeful Mike McGavick are still on the Lincoln Day speaking tour. By the time the last Lincoln Day speech is done, we should see more substance from both sides. And trust me, I’ll be there, as Connelly suggests, hopefully with a front row seat.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Operation Coverup Underway at UW

If denigrating the memory of a great American hero wasn't enough, now the ASUW is trying to cover it all up. The Daily reports that the minutes of the Febuary 7th meeting (where the controversy started) have been amended, and certain statements adjusted. The title of the story is foreshadows what many have already speculated, now that the Leftists of been caught, they'll do or say anything to deny they've done anyting wrong: "National Attention Creates Confusion".

In an earlier post, I reported that the moonbats behind the comments were caught in a precarious "doublespeak". But how does one get away from comments like 'A Marine isn't the sort of person we want to be producing' or 'we don't need anymore monuments to rich white men'. The honest and frank answer is: you don't get away from them, you take responsibility and apologize.

But instead of taking responsibility for their actions, it's becoming clear the Leftists would rather just erase history and write in what makes them feel good. Operation Coverup is in full swing at UW.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Leftists At UW Caught In Doublespeak

Cross Posted at Respectfully Republican.

Finally the Leftists at UW are having their feet held to the fire over the insensitive, race-baiting, and lunatic comments they made regarding a proposed memorial for WWII hero, and UW Alumnus, Gregoy "Pappy" Boyington.

Read the original and official minutes recorded at the ASUW meeting, where the controversy began.



In typical Leftist fashion, the irresponsible ingrates who made the comments are in full spin mode. 'Oh, we didn't mean that, our words were "taken out of context"... Yadda Yadda Yadda'.

And Seattle media's coverage, while helpful in raising the importance of the controversy, has been generally slanted to ease the pain of the offensive and rabid mouthpieces.

See e.g. "UW Students Face Barbs Of Free Speech" (Seattle PI) and "UW Student Senate To Vote Again On Memoriall" (KOMO 4).

As if a do-over is going to solve the underlying problem at UW, and what's this "barbs of free speech" crap all about? Damn skippy free speech has barbs, and responsibility for your words is one of them--but the PI article actually appears to try and remove any inroads to personal responsibility.

I don't doubt that some people have harassed and threatened those who spoke so ardently against honoring an American hero. While I would condemn threats of violence and profane harassment, these moronic Leftists need to be taught a lesson; one they won't soon forget. In fact, they should be held to account for their offensive comments, and made an example of to the larger community, as examples of what today's Academy produces in contrast to the 30's when UW churned out heroes like Pappy!

But it's also possible they aren't 100% at fault for their ignorance, after all, the Academy isn't exactly friendly towards the military these days, and with professors brainwashing students at every chance, this type of "doublespeak" should be understood, if not expected.

I mean, where's that security blanket of the classroom? Where's the sympathetic professor to defend you against the 'Zionist' neo-con enemy? Welcome to the real world kids!!!

Stay tuned to this controversy, as we'll see in the next few days whether the campus Leftists are successful in ducking out of responsibility. Their doublespeak, after all, is already being aided by the UW's student ("moobat-run") newspaper, The Daily.

Persecution? How about Pay It Forward?!?

Update 2/17: Michelle Malkin is on top of this story, as well. See: "The Fight Over Pappy Boyington"

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Seattle Moonbats, At It Again?

Cross Posted at Respectfully Republican.


Photo Credit: Money Mamchur

I am beginning to get used to the idea of the Seattle moonbats marching quite frequently. Free speech for them means snarling traffic while they rant and rave about Bush, recruiters in the schools, and basically whatever else they feel like opining about.

But today, I noticed something strangely different. In the procession dominated by blacks, one could see American, Canadian, Ethiopian and Somali flags, in addition to a few others from African nations. The procession was solemn, yet energized by a man on a sound system who clearly wasn't a native english speaker.

It turns out these weren't the Seattle moonabats I expected. Instead, they were a group of mainly Africans who were protesting the arrest of a local Somali imam for an immigration violation. My co-worker snapped the above photo, and immediately titled it "dirka dirka".


Photo Credit: Seattle Times

But the imam they are supporting, while not charged with a violent crime (terrorism-related or otherwise), was charactherized in this Seattle PI article as being "anti-American" with ties to a group the U.S. State Department has listed as a terrorist organization. In court, he was depicted as a dangerous man bv a felon who is currently in the witness protection program (not your most credible source). The PI and Seattle MSM in general, of course, are not to be commended for their uncritical reporting on Islamism (see Stefan Sharkansky's series of posts titled "Selective Willingness to Offend, I, II, and III).


Photo Credit: Seattle PI

I'm interested to see how the hearings progress, but I'm even more interested to see how the Seattle Muslim community responds to them, and what are sure to be more "insensitive" cases of editorializing Islam. Will Seattle's good-natured, peaceful Muslims riot, or will they continue to voice protest peacefully?

Update: Saturday's Seattle Times takes a somewhat different approach to the story: see FBI Says Imam Has Links To Terrorism.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

A carefully orchestrated outrage

The following analysis was sent to me recently by my cousin Chris Barnekov, an economist working within the beltway. I think it is insightful and I hope it gets out.

A Carefully Orchestrated Outrage
by Chris Barnekov

It is now very reliably reported that the eruptions across the Middle East were carefully nurtured by none other than the chief Imam for Denmark (Formanden for Islamisk Trossamfund -- President of the Islamic Society), one Ahmad Abu Laban, assisted by other Danish Muslim leaders.

Twelve drawings were actually published in Jyllands-Posten, but these imams added others -- none of which was published in Denmark (or elsewhere). I have seen some of these additional drawings, and three are incredibly offensive. So much so that I am not adding them to this post. One shows Mohammed with the face and ears of a pig; another shows him in the standard Muslim prayer position, but being sodomized by a male dog; the third depicts him as a pedophile. The Danish Muslim leaders showed these drawings around the Middle East.

These additional three cartoons are obviously made by amateurs, not the artists who made the 12 sketches actually published (which in my opinion are not particularly offensive). The three phony drawings are HIGHLY offensive and disgusting, even to me (and I am certainly no fan of the "prophet"). I can understand why Muslims would respond violently to these, but these were circulated by the Danish Imams who knew perfectly well that they were not published by Danes.

It took the Imams four months to orchestrate the planned uproar (and to make arrangements for such touches as having Danish flags available for burning -- isn't it odd that the street mobs all over the Middle East had Danish flags readily at hand? How many Arab markets regularly stock the Dannebrog?). Evidently this whole affair has been carefully orchestrated by the Muslim leaders of Denmark, no doubt with considerable assistance and funding from their radical Islamist sponsors across the Middle East.

In addition, Abu Laban is recorded as saying one thing to the Danish media, but the opposite the same day to Arabic media. If you can read Danish, here is one link to a recent documented example: http://ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=333164 . Essentially, Abu Laban told Danish media on January 31 that he would urge Arabs to stop the assault on Denmark, but later the same day he told Al Jazeera (the Arab TV channel) that the Muslim citizens must "do their duty in defending the prophet" and that he rejoiced at the uproar. [Later he denied having said this, although Danish TV (DR) has the recording!] This is in the tradition of such 'Muslim leaders' as the late, unlamented Yasser Arafat, who was famous for saying one thing in English and the opposite in Arabic -- a trick he repeated many, many times (and usually got away with!).

Why are they doing this? It is a long term strategy, a frequently repeated tactic. Muslim leaders seize upon some (real or, as here, manufactured) affront to stir up violence and attract recruits. In this case, they thought they could pressure a small country with large export volumes to the Middle East. They hope to force Islamic law in place of Danish freedoms and to further radicalize Muslims in Denmark and abroad. It is a strategy employed over and over again to move toward the goal which has not changed in 1300 years – the subjugation of the entire world to Allah and Islamic law.

What is especially worth noting is that this campaign of violence and hatred has been orchestrated by the Muslim leaders in Denmark – the same leaders who meet with church leaders for dialogue and "understanding." It would be most interesting to follow the money that funded their travel around the Middle East for four months before the violence was ripe.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Whither reform

Candidates for the House majority leader position are courting the right people: Rep. Mike Pence and his Republican Study Committee. For those who don't know (there are many) the RSC is the truly conservative bloc in the Republican party responsible for getting the first budget cuts we have seen in a long time after Katrina finally gave them an excuse to push some pork-busting measures.

Two of the majority leader candidates (minus Roy Blunt--not a big loss), have sat up to answer questions from the RSC. This if hopefully a strong sign the party, in general, is going to allow greater RSC influence in congressional affairs--they are the only group with the ability to save Republican credibility on spending issues.

Read Tim Chapman's article on Townhall.com for details of the RSC questioning--and a greater sense of what the future holds.

Crossposted at Meneltarma