Isn't that special!

Amir Taheri at the NY Post - Why Paris is Burning:

AS THE night falls, the "troubles" start — and the pattern is always the same.

Bands of youths in balaclavas start by setting fire to parked cars, break shop windows with baseball bats, wreck public telephones and ransack cinemas, libraries and schools. When the police arrive on the scene, the rioters attack them with stones, knives and baseball bats.

The police respond by firing tear-gas grenades and, on occasions, blank shots in the air. Sometimes the youths fire back — with real bullets.

Really swell plan so far.

How did it all start? The accepted account is that sometime last week, a group of young boys in Clichy engaged in one of their favorite sports: stealing parts of parked cars.

Normally, nothing dramatic would have happened, as the police have not been present in that suburb for years.

The problem came when one of the inhabitants, a female busybody, telephoned the police and reported the thieving spree taking place just opposite her building. The police were thus obliged to do something — which meant entering a city that, as noted, had been a no-go area for them.

That's good too.

Within hours, the original cause of the incidents was forgotten and the issue jelled around a demand by the representatives of the rioters that the French police leave the "occupied territories."

Here we go. What do you think the chances are that the oh-so-sensitive Frenchies will surrender? And I can't help having a little schadenfreude:

President Jacques Chirac and Premier de Villepin are especially sore because they had believed that their opposition to the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003 would give France a heroic image in the Muslim community.

Payback's a bitch, fellas. Much more by following the link including the problem of an unassimilated minority that doesn't even speak the national language. Sound familiar?

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:35 PM -

 
Stuck in the green room with Joe Wilson



Analyst says Wilson 'outed' wife in 2002:

A retired Army general says the man at the center of the CIA leak controversy, Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, revealed wife Valerie Plame's identity in a casual conversation more than a year before she allegedly was "outed" by the White House through a columnist.

Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely told WorldNetDaily that Wilson mentioned Plame's status as a CIA operative in at least three, possibly five, separate conversations in 2002 in the Fox News Channel's "green room" in Washington, D.C., as they waited to appear on air as analysts.

Sheesh, stuck in the same room with Joe Wilson. That would gag a hagfish!

"He was a total self promoter," Vallely said. "I don't know it if was out of insecurity, to make him feel important, but he's created so much turmoil, he needs to be investigated and put under oath."
...
Vallely said, citing CIA colleagues, that in addition to his conversations with Wilson, the ambassador was proud to introduce Plame at cocktail parties and other social events around Washington as his CIA wife.

What do you call a "power couple" when they are both inept goofs? CIA employees.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 10:10 AM -

 
2nd Hoot!

Tim Blair: FRENCH CAR-B-Q CONTINUES. Since Tim is Australian, I suppose a "Throw another Renault on the barbie" is in order. Anyway, much good stuff starring the usual suspects by following the link including:

A newspaper editor discusses the Bush administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina:

The Government probably wasn’t prepared enough, didn’t know what to do, still probably finds it very difficult to deal with this situation and firstly and most importantly it took a few days before they realised that they really had a major crisis on their hands.

Actually, that’s Pierre Rousselin, editor of Le Figaro, and he’s talking about the ongoing French riots.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 9:47 AM -

 
Today's Hoot!

Roger Simon - France according to the New York Times:

And they ask us to pay extra for their opinion writers? We already get them free on the front page.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 9:33 AM -

 
With a friend like this, who needs enemies?

Brothers Judd (starting off with a quote from an International Herald Tribune article):

In one account, the book [Cent Semaines] tells how the foreign minister was informed at a meeting at the Quai d'Orsay that the American-led war agaist Saddam Hussein would likely be a short one. His response: "That's not desirable. France would appear ridiculous." There is a long silence. Another diplomat says, "The Americans and British are our allies." Villepin ends the meeting.

Good to know that there's someone at the French Foreign Ministry who thinks we're allies -- if, that is, he's still employed.

The violet sniffer is a real warm guy, non?

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 6:08 PM -

 
Hey Meester! Want to meet my seester?

In the latest issue of City Journal, Heather Mac Donald has lengthy article on Mexico’s Undiplomatic Diplomats in the USA. Not to put too fine a point on it, they're pimps. Their main job seems to be to expedite the arrival of illegal Mexican aliens in this country, maintain them once they get here, and, most important, make sure their earnings get sent back home. And they don't mind interfering in the USA's internal affairs to do it.

Given the American public’s swelling anger about illegal immigration, it’s past time for Washington to tell Mexico to cease interfering and for the Bush administration to start enforcing the law.

Damn straight.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 6:01 PM -

 
Look for the union label ... somewhere else

(Via Oraculations) Peter Schweizer's new book, Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy has some fun facts about one of our favorite limousine liberals, Nancy Pelosi:

Staunch union supporter Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has received the Cesar Chavez Award from the United Farmworkers Union. But the $25 million Northern California vineyard she and her husband own is a non-union shop.

The hypocrisy doesn't end there. Pelosi has received more money from the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union than any other member of Congress in recent election cycles.

But the Pelosis own a large stake in an exclusive hotel in Rutherford, Calif. It has more than 250 employees. But none of them are in a union, according to Schweizer, author of "The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty" and a regular contributor to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other periodicals.

The Pelosis are also partners in a restaurant chain called Piatti, which has 900 employees. The chain is – that's right, a non-union shop.

I guess being a leftoid princess means you're exempt from the usual union whine.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:58 AM -

 
More Clown Boy macho antics



The Gay Blade of Caracas has been out of the news for a couple of days and was feeling lonely:

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, emboldened by thousands of anti-American protesters, is getting a rare chance to stand up to his adversary, George Bush, with promises to keep the president from reviving talks on a free trade area stretching from Alaska to Argentina.

The two men were to arrive in Argentina for the fourth Americas summit Thursday, the same day Venezuela is staging a mock U.S. invasion of its own territory. The event is the latest exercise intended to prepare soldiers and civilian volunteers for what Chavez says is a possible attack by American troops.

U.S. officials deny any such plan, but Chavez says it's best to be ready just in case.

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean we aren't out to get ya, Hugo! And what's to practice? All they'll do is speed dial the NY Times and the Democrat National Committee and yell for help.

With tensions rising between the two nations, Chavez and Bush will likely see each other Friday at the summit's inauguration _ after Chavez addresses a rally of mostly anti-Bush protesters. The two leaders are not scheduled to meet one-on-one, but they will both be taking part in the same summit sessions.

Chavez has joked about whether Bush is afraid of him, saying he might sneak up and scare Bush at the summit.

I'll bet Hugo is the highlight of the hot tub.

There are signs the U.S. may be winning over supporters for the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas, the summit's main sticking point. A high-ranking Brazilian official who said he wasn't authorized to give his name told reporters that 28 of the 34 countries participating in the summit had agreed talks should begin as early as April.

Negotiators missed a January 2005 deadline for wrapping up talks on the agreement.

The region has been divided over the FTAA, as Venezuela uses the issue to try to recruit supporters of its own so-called socialist "revolution."

Chavez has used Venezuela's oil wealth to push for regional solidarity, offering fuel with preferential financing to various Caribbean and Latin American countries.

He also bought $950 million this year in Argentine bonds, saying it was a step toward creating a so-called Bank of the South to help provide financing to the region.

A fool and his nation's money. There's more blather by following the link including a nice pout from Fidel because he didn't get invited to the soiree.

In other Fat Boy news, Hugo blames global capitalism for earthquakes and mud slides; Hugo's Thought Police try to track down protesting pumpkins, and my fave:

ONE OF THE TOP CULPRITS of the March 11 massacre in Madrid apparently has been arrested in Pakistan.

Interestingly, he's the same guy who reportedly had been hiding in Venezuela under the protection of a Chavist official (link in Spanish) until a TV interview with Johan Peña, a former agent of Venezuela intelligence service, was aired. A very good source there told me back then that Setmarian quicky fled the South American country after the broadcast.

More here. Ole Fatty is running up quite a tab.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:02 AM -

 
Another lowlight for Dana Milbank

Michael M. Bates:

In today's Washington Post, Dana Milbank takes the judge to task for assorted failings. Alito, we're told, wears a rumpled and ill-fitting suit as he makes the rounds of senatorial offices. We learn that "At Princeton, he skipped the selective eating clubs to join Stevenson Hall, known as a haven for dweebs." While coaching Little League, the judge wore a baseball uniform. He has a picture of former Phillies star Mike Schmidt hung in his appellate chambers. He's gone to a baseball fantasy camp.

"Are these not the marks of a nerd,?" asks Milbank. To make certain we arrive at the correct conclusion, he observes: "Washington is a town of geeks and misfits who, for the most part,suppress their inner dorks much of the time. But Alito wears this status on his sleeve."

It should be noted in fairness that it's unlikely Dana Milbank is himself confused for James Bond.

More like Pussy Galore. I'm glad to see they're still producing crack journalism at the WaPo.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 9:43 PM -

 
Attendance is compulsory at Kumbaya songfests

France to Let Rioters Govern Themselves:

After seven nights of riots by youth in predominantly-Muslim sections of Paris, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (who is a man) announced today that police would pull out of areas where dozens of cars burn each night to “let the freedom-fighting insurgents govern themselves.”

“Just like the United States should not force democracy upon Muslims in Iraq,” said Mr. de Villepin, “we should not impose our own provincial thinking about the so-called ‘rule of law’ on Muslim immigrants who have established a homeland in Paris. We’re withdrawing our occupation forces immediately.”

It's ScrappleFace, but I'm not betting against it despite Dominique's latest.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:58 PM -

 
Everyone needs a hobby

(Via LGF) The International Herald Tribune reports:

Sarkozy says that violence in French suburbs is a daily fact of life.

Since the start of the year, 9,000 police cars have been stoned and, each night, 20 to 40 cars are torched, Sarkozy said in an interview last week with the newspaper Le Monde.

Must be great to be a used car dealer and bad to be an insurance agent, though. Details (hat tip: Damian Penny) from the AFP make it sound like a fun time fer sure:

We have found our thrills: playing with riot police in the evening," one 22-year-old told AFP, under cover of anonymity.

"As long as the police come and provoke us in the evening, we'll bring out the Molotov cocktails, stones, petanque balls, planks," he said.

Around him, half a dozen youths nodded in agreement.

"In the day we sleep, go see our girlfriends, play video games... And in the evening we have a good time: at 9:00 pm we go and fight the police," said one.

"It's like being in Matrix," the science-fiction film, he said, adding that he liked to see the "riot police in a panic, hiding behind their shields."

I wonder if he can dodge bullets too? Except the police don't really seem to be fighting. Yet.

And count on the usual suspects to start the whining about misunderstood tykes:

Heavy criticism has focused on French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy -- a man with hopes of becoming French president in 2007. His "zero tolerance" policy and harsh language (Sarkozy vowed to rid the suburbs of "louts" and "scum") have made many uncomfortable, as has his tendency to blame the youth of Clichy-sous-Bois exclusively for the crisis.

It was spontaneous combustion?

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:11 PM -

 
Just Damn!



Supersize it at iHillary.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 11:56 PM -

 
Little Harry Reid has a tantrum



The Curmudgeon has a nice snap with dynamite video of the annoying tyke whining about his Fitzmas presents:

HE SPOKE WITH GREATER AGITATION THAN USUAL. He fumbled nervously with a paper, turning it over and over with his left hand, this way and that, like a little child about to get caught in mischief. Then Harry Reid began swinging his right arm wildly, stating he was closing the Senate doors, forcing Senators to relinquish their cell phones and Blackberrys for the sake of “national security.” Reid squelched the work of the American people for three hours in order to harangue Republicans with insane accusations...

Don't tell Dr. Spock, but a certain naughty little boy really deserves a spanking.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 9:50 AM -

 
Today's Hoot!

NYC Letter: Open Letter To His Royal Heinie, Prince Charles:

Your Gracious Royal Heinie,

There's great excitement here about your upcoming American lecture tour. How very nice to spare America a little time for a royal wigging. We are all very excited. Several American people have told me they are planning to have their hair cut. Some are considering the wearing of shoes and others the purchase of a belt. Myself, I intend to iron a clean shirt and over-starch the collar. Did I mention we are all very excited?

PRINCE CHARLES TO PLEAD ISLAM'S CAUSE TO BUSH
[yadda, yadda - ed.]

...
So, your royal exalted heinie, my guess is that what you call non-Muslims' "unthinkable prejudices" about Islam and its customs and laws, well, these are simply the cautions of kaffir who have decided to preserve their persons in the present instead of boning up on the Shahada for a bright future in some 14th century caliphate. Alas, once one has been blown to smithereens or has had one's throat cut and head removed or been otherwise thoroughly murdered, well, such difficulties make it hard to appreciate the nice distinctions you counsel.

Perhaps when everyone is agreed that murderous Islamites should be put down rather than chatted up, well, those distinctions will be easier to make.

Regards, your American buddy,

DGB

I would guess that the royal prat doesn't pay much attention to the news.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 9:05 PM -

 
MSM losers submit urgent request for swift kick in their asterisks

"Who allowed this Black guy to have his own opinions?"

From an editorial on the Alito nomination in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "In losing a woman, the court with Alito would feature seven white men, one white woman and a black man, who deserves an asterisk because he arguably does not represent the views of mainstream black America."

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:47 PM -

 
You can't make this stuff up!

Headline: Woody Allen says he's no wiser with age. Lead sentence of article:

Director Woody Allen says the 1992 scandal that shattered his relationship with actress Mia Farrow and led him to marry her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, was one of the luckiest moments of his life.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 10:04 AM -

 
It's Boo Hugo again!



Chavez warns of spooky US Halloween 'terrorism':

President Hugo Chavez cautioned Venezuelan parents to protect their children from Halloween with a spooky warning that the US tradition is rooted in "terrorism."

Who knew?

"What they have implanted here, which is really a 'gringo' custom, is terrorism," Chavez said, quoted in the local press. "They disguise children as witches and wizards, that is contrary to our culture."

As opposed to approved forms of fancy dress, I guess.

Chavez often lashes out at the US government, which he has described as "terrorist" and accused of plotting his assassination. But this time his warnings were directed at the American celebration that combines costumes and candy.

He issued "an appeal for reflection by parents" not to encourage their children to dress up for the holiday.

His comments came after authorities in Caracas recently seized pumpkins, cardboard skeleton costumes and other traditional Halloween items inscribed with anti-Chavez messages.

Pretty scary, eh Hugo?

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 9:57 AM -

 
Beer goggles alert!



Drudge has some fun with Maureen Dowd. And so do the Freepers (1, 2). I guess everyone's favorite high school princess is all grown up now.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:50 AM -

 
Today's episode of UN Kleptocrats Gone Wild!

Better get the kids out of the room because U.N. poverty expert finds N.O. 'shocking':

After listening to Hurricane Katrina victims and disaster relief workers for several hours Friday, as well as touring parts of New Orleans, United Nations expert on human rights Arjun K. Sengupta, called America's response to the disaster "shocking."

"Something went wrong and it appears to be a gross violation of human rights," said Sengupta, United Nations independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty.

When someone from the United Nations starts whining, you know it's time to put one hand on your wallet and the other on your holster. So what has knotted Arjun's knickers to the point that he discovered a "gross violation of human rights?"

He said the federal government has responded slowly and with poor communications to help some of its poorest and most vulnerable citizens.

"The people in New Orleans and the worst affected areas were very poor and what you have to do is a social responsibility of the federal, state and local governments," he said.

Nice of him to finger the federal government and leave out the locals, but it's still light on specifics. How about some details?

... he wants the world to know what he saw and heard, he said during a meeting at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Blvd.
...
Sengupta, and other international human-rights advocates, listened to about 35 people, many displaced and living in shelters, who detailed how the hurricane has affected them.

Unitarians and "international human-rights advocates" held a whine fest and 35 people showed up. OK, good so far.

Several residents vented their frustrations about everything from not receiving checks from FEMA, lack of communications, to fraud, price gouging, mass evacuation planning and whether they will ever be able to return to their homes and jobs.

They also blasted the government's role in taking care of the poor as well as providing one place where people can get information about housing and finances.

"I'm so confused now," said Faye Jackson of New Orleans, who is living in a church shelter in north Baton Rouge. Jackson said she's received little money.

"I'm so stressed. I have to use my unemployment money to rent a car. I have gotten nothing from FEMA," she said.

I'm confused too. We've got an "expert" on "extreme poverty" here and this is the best they can come up with? Where are the starving tykes with bloated bellies? Where are the locals lining up for their daily bowl of gruel with maggots? Where are the families squatting in cardboard boxes? Sheesh, Faye's tooling around town in a rental car. And if she hasn't gotten any money from FEMA, she's just about the only one (cf. 1, 2)

So what's the point of this whole exercise?

Sengupta plans to reveal his findings before a United Nations panel in April.

He does not know what the council will do with his report -- perhaps draw up a resolution...

It's the United Nations. The point is that there is no point, except that the US taxpayers get to pay for it while some poppinjay furthers his career in whining with the help of the USA's professional Kumbaya chorus.

posted by Cracker Barrel Philosopher at 8:48 AM -