Debbie Schlussel on January 29, 2008 at 6:21 PM

Gosh, with four links to your own blog no less!

Not one of ours!

Is there anything substantive to your objections, re: Mitt Romney’s candidacy, aside from the typical petty political disputes you trot out at every available opportunity?

But when you wait until this point in the primary process to pick a candidate, you’re not basing the decision on “expertise,” you’re basing it on political gamesmanship.

One last thought. Extremism is not a virtue.

jerrytbg on January 30, 2008 at 9:41 AM

Agreed, and the fact that D.S. considers it her business to smear someone because (horrors!) they started dating Jack Kemp’s campaign official is disgusting.

Debbie Schlussel on January 29, 2008 at 6:21 PM

As you know, but you conveniently omitted, I had a whole paragraph before that on why Romney’s top Michigan organizer is a political prostitute and how she helped pro-choice, liberal Democrat, trial lawyer candidates.

I read all of that, Debster. Calling someone a ‘whore’ because of who they date is a vile smear tactic, no matter what side of the political aisle you stand on.

Oh, and by the way, you’re still buying into that misplaced “Buy Danish” stuff? Hilarious. I proudly do NOT buy Danish.

I chose that name during the Cartoon intifada and have stuck with it for its anti-jihadi/free speech symbolism.

By the way, I note this from HotAir’s headlines today:

Danish library to exhibit Mohammed cartoons

Kasem Said Ahmad, a spokesman for the Danish Muslim Society, which led the campaign against the cartoons said: “We will not be holding any demonstrations as we got nothing from the Danish courts when we tried to sue the newspapers. We will ignore all provocations in future.”

Thanks Denmark!

One last thought. Extremism is not a virtue.

Why does this “expert” continue to use the PC phrase “War on Terror”? Terror is not the enemy–it’s the tactic of the enemy. We’re fighting Islamofascists.

jgapinoy on January 29, 2008 at 8:24 AM

Dr. Phares uses the terms “jihadism” and “jihadist”, they are synonomous with “islamofascism” you know. Besides, I am so sick of hearing this argument. Yes, we all know terror is a “tactic” and the perpetrators are “islamofascists” for the millionth time. Who gives a sh#t as long as they are killed or captured before they carry out their mission.

As you know, but you conveniently omitted, I had a whole paragraph before that on why Romney’s top Michigan organizer is a political prostitute and how she helped pro-choice, liberal Democrat, trial lawyer candidates.

And as you know, I pointed out Romney’s endorsement by and Michigan campaign with Hezbollah’s biggest enabler and funder in Congress.

Oh, and by the way, you’re still buying into that misplaced “Buy Danish” stuff? Hilarious. I proudly do NOT buy Danish. Some of us know that Denmark is a supporter and enabler of Palestinian terrorists and, frankly, got stung by Karma with the cartoon jihad, yet still didn’t learn a thing.

Thanks, George!

this………
Debbie Schlussel on January 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM

was worth repeating? ahh… why don’t you do excerpts like she does.

Debbie Schlussel is an outstanding blog that does not take prisoners.

georgealbert on January 29, 2008 at 3:35 PM

Sorry Georgie boy, but calling people ‘whores’ because of who they date is beyond the pale and all too typical of the trash that Debbie throws out there. It’s too bad because there is some useful information but she has gone off the deep end.

As for “facts”, both you and Debbie peddle that false claim that Mitt said he “admired Hezbollah”, and as I recall you falsely claimed that Mitt was an “investment banker”, so you may want to think about who’s dealing in facts and who isn’t.

Debbie Schlussel is an outstanding blog that does not take prisoners. What folks like you want are fairy tales and lies to make you feel good.

Once again, thank you Debbie for your outstanding work!!!

Being an anti-jihadist talking head and writing books on the topic is one thing–and Phares has done a good job in this area–but off-camera, when it came down to it, in keeping terrorists behind bars in this country, he failed and took the wrong side for political reasons.

Moreover, Mitt Romney has also surrounded himself with endorsements from and appearances with Hezbollah’s best friend and biggest Congressional funder, Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), something which your “pre-eminent anti-jihadist” has negligently not made himself aware of. Knollenberg worked hand-in-hand, at the instruction of Arab American Institute’s Jim Zogby, to send millions in USAID funds to Hezbollah.

Mitt Romney is a fraud on this issue and, like all others, has flip-flopped a million times over on it. I guess everyone has forgotten Romney’s statement that he “admired Hezbollah” at a town hall on C-SPAN, which he later scrambled to explain.

Mitt Romney has also failed to denounce the LDS Church’s donations of $20 million in goods to a HAMAS charity, Islamic Relief Worldwide. When a McCain staffer called him on this in the summer, Romney accused him of bigotry and McCain fired him.

The “anti-jihadist” candidate? Not even close. And, sadly, Walid Phares is as ignorant on his candidate as he is an opportunist in now suddenly supporting Romney, apparently because he thinks Romney will win.

Debbie Schlussel on January 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM

========================

Thank You Debbie!!! Outstanding Post!! Sometimes I think the Mitt Koolaid drinkers just can’t put the cup down long enough actually look at the facts. They would rather believe in fairly tales.

Beyond what others have said so far and it’s been quite a bit. I think it’s important to say your pointing out his use of political expedience to further a deeper understanding of the threat is noted and well taken. However, he does have that knowledge and the means by which he delineates said knowledge, I feel, should not be undermined. At the very least he gets the message out. As for alliances, strange bedfellows, I agree only to a VERY small point, the message is what counts. No? Don’t sell him so short, we need ten thousand more like him. The alternative is as unacceptable as YOUR agenda.

Then, there’s the presence of Katie Packer as one of Romney’s top campaign aides in Michigan….

I’ve known the Packer family for most of my life. They are one of the sleaziest, most phony bunch of people I’ve met. They claim they are evangelical conservatives who are pro-life and believe in small government. But they aren’t. Lori Packer, when she ran Pat Robertson’s campaign in the Detroit area in 1988, started dating Jack Kemp’s campaign official in the same area, apparently to “do a delegate deal.” (Yes, sometimes political “whoring” needs no quotation marks.) That’s the level of sleaze involved with this family now working for Mitt Romney.

I am glad to hear Phares choices as to the best aware candidate out there.

Bryan on January 29, 2008 at 1:01 PM

You are correct. Maybe Debbie doesn’t doesn’t know that quotation marks indicate a direct quote, as she indicates on her website:

Oh, and don’t forget Romney’s previous statement at a town hall meeting that he “admires Hezbollah.”

If she can’t even get that right, how can we trust her credibility on other issues?

/rhetorical question.

What Hezbollah does in Lebanon is very impressive, evil, but impressive.

Debbie Schlussel on January 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM

You are more dishonest and take more things out of context than John McCain.

Please provide a direct quote from Mitt Romney where he says he “admires Hezbollah” as you claim on your website.

Thanks in advance.

Debbie Schlussel on January 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM

I’m not going to get into a back-and-forth over this, chiefly because it’s a huge waste of time, but Romney’s comments didn’t show “admiration” for Hezbollah. They were ill-informed comments, as I said at the time, and they paralleled Sen. Patty Murray’s “Osama momma” comments, and I said as much too. But here’s what Romney actually said.

Romney: …”Did you notice in Lebanon, what Hezbollah did? Lebanon became a democracy some time ago and while their government was getting underway, Hezbollah went into southern Lebanon and provided health clinics to some of the people there, and schools. And they built their support there by having done so. That kind of diplomacy is something that would help America become stronger around the world and help people understand that our interest is an interest towards modernity and goodness and freedom for all people in the world. And so, I want to see America carry out that kind of health diplomacy…”

Those comments ignore the incredible humanitarian work that the US conducts every day all over the world. But they’re not borne of admiration for what Hezbollah does. He’s attempting, and failing, to make the point that Hezbollah buys much of its support via its non-lethal work among local populations. He’s making a strategic point, not a value judgment. And that part of what he said is true. It’s also true, though, that this work is funded by Iran. And it’s true that ideology draws support to Hezbollah as well. People may like the Hezbollah health plan, but if they don’t agree with its goals they’re unlikely to die for Nasrallah.

I’m not defending what Romney said by any means. But I’m not mischaracterizing them either and I’m not going to go out of my way to slam an imperfect ally.

Being an anti-jihadist talking head and writing books on the topic is one thing–and Phares has done a good job in this area–but off-camera, when it came down to it, in keeping terrorists behind bars in this country, he failed and took the wrong side for political reasons.

Moreover, Mitt Romney has also surrounded himself with endorsements from and appearances with Hezbollah’s best friend and biggest Congressional funder, Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), something which your “pre-eminent anti-jihadist” has negligently not made himself aware of. Knollenberg worked hand-in-hand, at the instruction of Arab American Institute’s Jim Zogby, to send millions in USAID funds to Hezbollah.

Mitt Romney is a fraud on this issue and, like all others, has flip-flopped a million times over on it. I guess everyone has forgotten Romney’s statement that he “admired Hezbollah” at a town hall on C-SPAN, which he later scrambled to explain.

Mitt Romney has also failed to denounce the LDS Church’s donations of $20 million in goods to a HAMAS charity, Islamic Relief Worldwide. When a McCain staffer called him on this in the summer, Romney accused him of bigotry and McCain fired him.

The “anti-jihadist” candidate? Not even close. And, sadly, Walid Phares is as ignorant on his candidate as he is an opportunist in now suddenly supporting Romney, apparently because he thinks Romney will win.