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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Monday, January 31, 2005
The Iraqi election
What else is there to say? Not much. My thoughts are the same as these guys'. This is no time to gloat, but I doubt the Arab world will ever be the same.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:21 PM
Friday, January 28, 2005
RSS feed
To everyone who has emailed me about getting RSS for this site -- it's up!
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:39 PM
The sickening Saudis
One of my favourite organizations, Freedom House, is out with an important report today about Saudi Arabia's efforts to continue proliferating hatred in the US:
The report concludes that the Saudi government propaganda examined reflects a “totalitarian ideology of hatred that can incite to violence,” and the fact that it is “being mainstreamed within our borders through the efforts of a foreign government, namely Saudi Arabia, demands our urgent attention.” The report finds: “Not only does the government of Saudi Arabia not have a right – under the First Amendment or any other legal document – to spread hate ideology within U.S. borders, it is committing a human rights violation by doing so.”
According to the report:
· Various Saudi government publications gathered for this study, most of which are in Arabic, assert that it is a religious obligation for Muslims to hate Christians and Jews and warn against imitating, befriending, or helping them in any way, or taking part in their festivities and celebrations; · The documents promote contempt for the United States because it is ruled by legislated civil law rather than by totalitarian Wahhabi-style Islamic law. They condemn democracy as un-Islamic;
· For a Muslim who fails to uphold the Saudi Wahhabi sect’s sexual mores (i.e. through homosexual activity or heterosexual activity outside of marriage), the edicts published by the Saudi government’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, and found in American mosques advise, “it would be lawful for Muslims to spill his blood and to take his money;” and the list goes on and on. Anyone wishing to know more can check the Freedom House website or read the entire report.
So much for all the Saudi PR about how they are "reforming." Nice work.
These people are sick.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:26 PM
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Stephen Harper, one step ahead?
I would rarely recommend reading anything in the Toronto Star, but today's column by James Travers is worthwhile. In it, Travers posits that the next federal election is going to be about leadership, not the gay marriage issue. Martin is soft, Harper is strong. This, according to Travers, is what explains Harper's strident position in favour of the traditional definition:
Where Martin stands on too many things is a mystery for too many Canadians. From missile defence to a resource bonanza for Newfoundland, the Prime Minister is woolly around the edges, an equivocator in search of a compromise.
Not so Stephen Harper. Ride in any taxi or visit any hair salon and be reminded that the Conservative leader is sharply defined, if not always admired.
That comparative clarity suggests it's possible to score points even from the wrong side of issues. As removed as Harper remains from the sweet spot of federal politics — the spot that exists somewhere between fiscal prudence and social generosity — he is adding to his resumé one of the preconditions for high office.
In taking a clearer position on same-sex marriage than Martin and in casting doubts about Liberal commitment to the Gomery inquiry, Harper is shaping a recognizable political persona and taking a step into the voter comfort zone.
Interesting calculated gamble for Harper. I don't know if it will work. He and his advisors obviously knew his critics inside the party would come out swinging. But if Travers is right, in the long run, Harper may have outsmarted just about everyone.
UPDATE: Great fisking of one of the stories linked above here. Par for the course for the Canadian media.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 10:46 PM
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Cleverest comment from a spokesperson I've seen in a while
Fox News responds to Ted Turner comparing the network to Hitler:
"Ted is understandably bitter having lost his ratings, his network and now his mind -- we wish him well."
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:22 AM
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
The Right champions human rights
One of the more interesting developments in political ideology of the last few years has been the shift of the cause of championing human rights from liberalism to conservatism. The change has gone relatively unnoticed by most pundits and commentators.
At one time, the Left claimed they were the ones who cared about human rights around the world. They were the ones protesting the brutal treatment of minorities by dictators, the afflicted, the dispossessed.
They don't seem to care as much now. In fact, they've completely abdicated the moral high ground on the issue.
This phonemomen was crystallized for me when I read this story, about how Calgary Conservative MP Jason Kenney visited the home of Zhao Ziyang, the now-deceased man fired as Communist party head in China for expressing support for pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square. Kenney was in China with Paul Martin. Martin refused to visit Ziyang's house:
Martin dismissed Kenney's visit as a political stunt -- "some kind of media event."
The Calgary MP -- along with an interpreter and several Canadian reporters, but no cameras -- was allowed through a security perimeter around Zhao's home after someone from the household intervened.
"I think it's an appropriate way to express Canada's solidarity with the brave Chinese youths who gave their lives 15 years ago for the sake of democracy in this country," Kenney said afterward.
It's almost humorous to read. Liberals so often chide the Right for its supposed disregard for human rights. The most oft-cited case is Reagan's support for the contras in Nicaragua.
But now the Left has no foot to stand on. They don't care. They won't take a values-based position on anything to do with foreign policy.
Martin could have gone to visit Ziyang's place. He could have expressed sympathy for him. He didnt. It is conservatives who care about improving freedom and human liberties in China. It is conservatives who want the people of Iran freed from under the mullah's thumb. Note the Liberals handling of the Zahra Kazemi case, when they refused to take off the kid gloves after Tehran murdered one of our own citizens. Conservatives are the ones deploring dictatorial and despotic regimes everywhere. (And before anyone posts it in the comment section, yes, I'm aware the Bush administration toadies to the Saudi royal family and I think it's repulsive.)
Conservatives are today's champions of the oppressed, and it's an important shift in the political landscape.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:56 PM
Monday, January 24, 2005
Easily, the best moment of the vacation ....
... was leaving from Trudeau airport in Montreal, and arriving at George Bush airport in Houston. What a way to start a holiday!
Unfortunately, the weather was not as great as we were hoping. Only one day did ythe mercury reach that elusive 25 degree c. number. Texas and Florida had a major coldfront coming through. So we didn't tan or hit the beach as much as we wanted. Seeing the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico was pretty neat. We had a lot of fun, and I would recommend cruises to everyone. Great food, great entertainment, amazing staff on board, played blackjack every night and ended up $150. (But be sure to remember to constantly wash your hands -- the sister ship of our boat had a Norwalk virus outbreak and many people were quarantined or sent home.)
Here's a little snapshot from our stop in Key West, Florida.
Back to work.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 2:39 PM
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Leavin' on a jet plane
Probably won't be blogging much for the next week. See you soon.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 3:58 AM
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Liberal media bias
Check out this story, especially the end.
Then try telling me with a straight face that if a conservative had said that, it would still be in the very last line of the story.
Not in a million years.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 8:52 PM
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
New blog
Check out the Blogging Tories, the latest addition to the blogroll.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 6:49 PM
On professionalizing the federal Conservative party
At a party Monday night for the launch of Paul Tuns' book, Jean Chretien: A Legacy of Scandal (buy it now by clicking on the link) I was caught off guard by criticism from a conservative acquaintance about my recent attacks on Harper. This person said that Harper is only doing what I've been calling for: "professionalizing" the party, meaning he's bringing in Red Tories to run the show.
Just to be crystal clear (and I really don't think this needs to be said for anyone who's read this blog), that is not what I've called for. Not once have I said the Harper Tories should move left or bring in the Red Tories.
By professionalizing, I mean running a better communications shop. I mean overall better organization. I mean running a good leaders tour. I mean bring in American consultants, or some of the people who got Mike Harris elected. I mean using an ad firm that knows how to make good ads (they could do worse than to call whoever did this thing.)
In short, "professionalizing" does not mean moving left.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 10:20 AM
Two favourite time wasters
1. Jonathan Rose, a prof I had at Queen's, keeps an online archive of Canadian political advertising. You can watch a bunch of ads here, and the 2004 federal election ads are up here. I'm rewatching that first ad, "Harper and the Conservatives," over and over. Boy, was that an effective ad or what? The Liberals are so brilliant when it comes to negative advertising. Wish the Tories could do the same.
2. The Hoover Institution, the voice of sanity on the American Left Coast, is archiving episodes of William F. Buckley's now-defunct telvision series, Firing Line. Few clips are up as of now, but I think they intend to keep it growing. Particularly worthwhile are the two Reagan shows, "Two Friends Talk."
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:48 AM
Monday, January 10, 2005
Krispy Kreme Kraze is over
There's been a lot in the media lately about the apparent demise of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
A year ago I was elated at the news these tasty treats were making their way to Canada. (I became addicated to them while working as a reporter in Washington, DC.) But it now looks like the chain's best days are behind them. They're about to default on a $150-million credit line, and stores have been closing.
This was unthinkable even a year or two ago. Just goes to show how fickle the modern consumer market can be. I gave up Krispy Kreme because I was putting on too much weight, but still indulge in an iced-cream filled doughnut or two once in a while. I can't resist.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 3:21 PM
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Oh boy
Newt Gingrich for President?
It's possible, apparently.
Seems far fatched to me. I have conflicting views about the former House Speaker. I mean really conflicting: there's probably no one I respect more on a political level, but no one I disprespect more on a personal level. He's been brilliant on Iraq, and of course, as the architect of the Contract with America, revolutionized conservatism and the way campaigns are run.
But the man has been divorced twice, leaving his first wife on her deathbed when she was cancer-striken. Then, he left his second wife for an aide in his office (she is half his age).
Newt isn't just a hell of a bad poster boy for conservative family values, he's a moral disgrace. I do subscribe to the notion of keeping public and private lives separate, but Newt's behaviour reflects both poor character and bad judgement.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 5:56 PM
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
In Peterborough
Thanks to everyone who has continued to comment in my absence. I'm still away from a quick internet connection - this week volunteering in my home town. Regular posting shall resume next week.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 9:26 PM
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