Ann Coulter interview with Michael Coren + Beck's commentary

Here's Ann Coulter on the Michael Coren show

Also, here's a video with Glenn Beck's commentary on Coulter's reception at the University of Ottawa. [h/t]

Ann Coulter and free speech in Canuckistan

Predictably, Ann Coulter's Canadian speaking tour is stimulating controversy. Taking the cake is the laughably sanctimonious condescension of one Francois Houle, Provost, University of Ottawa, lecturing Miss Coulter on Canada's approach to free speech and warning her to watch what she says or risk criminal charges. Nice touch - Ann will be very thankful for the publicity for her speaking tour and the fodder for further ridiculing Canuckistan.

Mark Steyn's reaction. And lots more at Blazing Cat Fur.

Ann Coulter to U of WO Muslim student - "... take a camel". Heh :)

Also, today Marni Soupcoff claims the whole episode proves that Canadians just don't understand the meaning of free speech - which is a fairly well known fact confirmed by our "human-rights" laws, our "Human Rights" Commissions and Tribunals and today's poll in the Globe & Mail:



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It's all very entertaining .... but at the same time, weirdly pathetic.

Anyway, Ann Coulter rocks! Too bad her tour doesn't include Victoria.

Update from BCF: University of Ottawa disgraces itself - cancels Coulter.

And here's the CBC poll: Ann Coulter: Should she limit her speech in Canada?
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Note. The CBC poll results have significantly turned around since they were posted here.

Feds funding Palestinian hate organization

Last month Blazing Catfur posted about his efforts to chase down the skinny on Palestine House's anti-Israeli hate-mongering. Palestine House Education (PHE), Mississauga, Ont is the recipient of federal funding and BCF requested that people write to our government asking them to wise up. Here's mine today (better late than never?):

To:
Jason Kenney, Minister of CIC, minister@cic.gc.ca
James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Moore.J@parl.gc.ca

Subject: Federal funding of Palestine House

Dear Ministers:

According to NGO Monitor the Canadian government has spent or committed to spending approximately $4 million (2008 through 2010) in support of the activities of Palestine House Educational (PHE) of Mississauga, Ont.

According to information obtained from the RCMP through FOI (see also Part 2 and Part 3), PHE has been engaged in promoting anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic hatred.

Though Canadian taxpayer funding is, ostensibly, for immigrant "settlement and education" it is clear that PHE is engaged in activities that run counter to Canadian values and the public good. It is inappropriate for the Canadian government to fund such an organization in any way, for any purpose. If you insist on funding "settlement and training" for Palestinian immigrants, find another way to do it.

You are urged to cut off all funding for PHE and for any other organization engaged in similarly objectionable activities.

Sincerely,
　
Cc:
CIC Communications Director, Alykhan Velshi alykhan, Velshi@cic.gc.ca
MP Bob Dechert (Conservative, Mississauga-Erindale), Dechert.b@parl.gc.ca ô
Prime Minister Stephen Harper pm@pm.gc.ca

Ouch! "We don't know you, we don't want you and the sooner you're put out to grass the better"

[Via]

The carbon-trading shell game

In a recent Harper's Magazine article "Conning the Climate: Inside the Carbon-Trading Shellgame" Mark Schapiro provides a comprehensive look into the intricacies, vagaries and risks associated with the global carbon emissions market which is now at $300+ billion and growing fast. Jeremy Warner of the Telegraph writes an overview and comments:

According to Mr Schapiro, carbon trading is now the fastest growing commodities market on earth. Since Kyoto signatories bought in to the cap and trade concept in 2005, there have been more than $300bn carbon transactions, prompting several investment banks, including Goldman Sachs and Barclays, to set up their own carbon trading desks. But that’s just the start. If President Obama and his supporters can institute a cap-and-trade system in the United States – and that’s a big if for this increasingly marooned presidency – demand could explode into a $2 to $3 trillion market.

And here’s the great thing about it. Unlike traditional commodities markets, which will eventually involve delivery to someone in physical form, the carbon market is based on lack of delivery of an invisible substance to no-one. Since the market revolves around creating carbon credits, or finding carbon reduction projects whose benefits can then be sold to those with a surplus of emissions, it is entirely intangible.

... The whole thing, though well intentioned, looks wide open to abuse and scams. Mr Schapiro’s account of the carbon trading market is obviously a sceptical one, and no doubt there are others that take a less cynical view. But I wonder what all the wide eyed climate change campaigners are going to say when the first scandals begin to break, still more what they’ll make of it when the whole thing turns out to be another giant asset bubble – if indeed the non production of carbon can be described as an asset.

The above is via FOS who note another potentially catastrophic problem:

The U.N. has authorized 26 firms to participate in the lucrative business of validating these promises world-wide. Due to irregularities the U.N. temporarily suspended the two largest validators - Swiss-based SGS and the Norwegian DNV. However, any questionable carbon credits are never revoked, because that could destroy the market. [Hmm. The U.N., of oil-for-food fraud infamy, overseeing validation of trading in the non-delivery of an invisible gas? What could possibly go wrong?]

Danny Williams: '... this is my heart, it's my health and it's my choice.'

Danny ("Big Mouth") Williams makes a good point - I especially like the "it's my choice" part. But his point runs counter to what he preaches for the rest of us.

It would be great if we all had Williams' "choice" in these matters. The problem is that Williams and his political ilk go out of their way to promote a government monopoly on healthcare for the rest of us - that is, they promote universal lack of choice.

As for Williams' specific medical problem (a leaky mitral valve) he says that in Canada he "wasn't offered" the treatment he received in Florida. That sounds a little weasely. Did he ask for it? If so, what was the answer? It's likely done in Canada but for whatever reasons it wasn't as good a choice as going south where, thanks to the American system, it's readily available.

Update (Feb 24): National Post editorial today:

My heart, my health, my choice. With those six words, Danny Williams neatly summed up the case for private health care. No matter how much the Newfoundland and Labrador Premier goes on to defend Canada's state health care monopoly, the damage has been done to the case for a single-payer system. He has exposed it for what is: a charade with often tragic consequences ...

... Together with North Korea [and Cuba?], Canada is the lone holdout that denies its people choice over one of the most important aspects of their lives: their personal health and well-being.

... Mr. Williams was perfectly within his rights to opt for his superior surgery. But all Canadians should enjoy this choice -- and they shouldn't have to show their passport to get it.

Tiger's sorry

Tiger Woods says he's sorry. And I believe him. It's obvious he has a lot to be sorry for, especially getting caught. But, since "... he has been linked to 19 mistresses ..." getting caught was all but inevitable.

The question remains: What is he not sorry for?