Community Voices column on Ted Stevens is Out--Anchorage Press picks up the Stevens "America Alone" story with a twist

Here is the link on ADN.

Brendan Joel Kelley reported on the story, crediting Phil's and my blog:

When questioned about the Patriot Act and Real ID, Stevens defended his votes for them, and referenced the book America Alone by neocon author Mark Steyn. “Read that book… and decide if we want to become France,” Stevens said at the conference. Steyn’s book is a controversial look at the possibility of an Islamic Europe and has been embraced by many right-wingers and hawks. On the left, Steyn’s considered a bigot and Islamophobe, and the lefty blogs around Alaska like Progressive Alaska and Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis pounced on Stevens’ endorsement of the book.

Steyn, a Canadian citizen who lives in New Hampshire and is a prolific conservative commentator published in several newspapers and magazines, has come under fire for using the words “Japs,” “Chinks,” “gooks,” and “wogs” (a British pejorative for Indians), as well as calling Muslims “sheep-shaggers,” in his “journalism.” He was one of the first to perpetuate the rumor—in the Chicago Sun-Times—that Barack Obama is a Muslim and “was raised in an Indonesian madrassah by radical imams.” (This is, of course, not true.)

Flashlight isn’t sure this is the best strategery for Uncle Ted (to borrow a term from Dubya); perhaps he’s unaware of Steyn’s looseness with racial slurs— Flashlight got an email from his office saying that the liberal bloggers’ bitching about Stevens referencing the book didn’t warrant a response; “consider the source,” it said.

Woot!!!! I've been dissed by Ted Stevens!!!!

Speaking of Phil Munger, he posted an excellent piece on "Ted Steven's Nuttery" for Daily Kos.

Follow-up on Ted Stevens reference to "America Alone"

David Neiwert of Firedoglake did an article on this. It was nice to see a large, national blog take notice.

He also quotes himself on a previous post about the book:

I don't see how it's possible to interpret this excerpt -- given that Steyn is also contending that these demographics are inevitable throughout Europe, and he offers no solution that would accommodate or assimilate Muslims -- as anything other than outright advocacy of genocide and the Bosnian model of "ethnic cleansing" for the rest of Europe. Hitchens, rather typically, softens it by noting that Steyn is saying "that Serbo-fascist ethnic cleansing can appear more rational in retrospect than it did at the time."

Phil Munger keeps posting on this also HERE--only he has some GREAT pictures! He also knows a bit more about Mr. Neiwert that he shares on this post. I didn't realize this guy was an expert!

Some of the folks in the Afrosphere have pointed out that "racism" is an inaccurate term (a point on which I'll agree, as we are all one race genetics-wise.)I have also been taking some criticism for calling it "racism" when folks are pointing out that it is actually a religion we are talking about, not a skin color.

Considering I believe this all stems from a "fear of brown people," on that point I disagree.

However, for the sake of accuracy, I will use the terms "bigotted" or "bigot."

When looking at my past experience in dealing with the "ethnic purity" people and subsequent research on the subject, it is clear that "genocide" of those "mud people" is a primary goal. This is justified in the Christian Identity movement because they believe that the "mud people" (which includes people of color, Jews, Muslims, etc...) are quite literally the "people of Satan." Demonizing people is always an effective way to justifiably kill them.

Turning back to Mark Steyn's book:

Why did Bosnia collapse into the worst slaughter in Europe since World War Two? In the thirty years before the meltdown, Bosnian Serbs had declined from 43 percent to 31percent of the population, while Bosnian Muslims had increased from 26 percent to 44 percent. In a democratic age, you can’t buck demography—except through civil war. The Serbs figured that out—as other Continentals will in the years ahead: if you can’t outbreed the enemy, cull ’em. The problem that Europe faces is that Bosnia’s demographic profile is now the model for the entire continent.

There has been much debate around this quote, with Steyn denouncing his critics and stating that he was against genocide as a solution and was merely "predicting" what would happen. However, as I've been reading the book, I haven't found anything in it truly renouncing the idea...just stating that it probably wouldn't work. That's not a renounciation to me.

So, my question with all of this...why is the MSM not screaming to the rooftops that a sitting U.S. Senator has openly admitted that this book has played a part in forming HIS DOMESTIC SECURITY POLICY?

I didn't post this until now because I finally finished writing this month's column for the ADN. It's on this topic and it asks that question so we'll see if they'll publish it.

The Ted and Sarah Show...conspiracy theories, misinformation...so many "gold nuggets," so little time.

Ted Stevens should never speak...never. I can just imagine how the Begich Team's mouth must have started watering when they saw the latest diatribes on ADN's Alaska Politics and Dennis Zacki's "Alaska Report" and Blog.

One tidbit was in regards to Alaska Democrats:



Watching this made me flash immediately onto Grandpa Simpson.



The Democrats won this round of "Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots":

Anchorage, AK – The Alaska Democratic Party (ADP) reacted today to Senator Ted Stevens and called his recent allegations conspiracy theories. Yesterday, Stevens refused to answer tough questions about his record on oil speculation, which has caused gas prices to skyrocket leaving Alaska families behind. He then accused the ADP of being controlled by outside interests. The ADP issued the following statement in response:

"Senator Stevens continues to refuse to answer Alaskans’ tough questions. Instead, he dodges and distracts the public with conspiracy theories. It's absurd to think that anyone other than Alaskans run the Alaska Democratic Party. This is becoming a pattern – Stevens hiding behind expensive lawyers and national politics instead of answering questions about the FBI investigation and how he’s paying his legal bills. We expect Senator Stevens to answer hard questions and take responsibility for his record."

-- Kay Brown, spokeswoman for the Alaska Democratic Party.

If Ted's behavior remains consistent, I believe our rightful expectations will be disappointed.

Once again, Stevens speaks on ANWR:



Dennis's Blog as well as two excellent pieces by Phil Munger on Progressive Alaska covers Steven's and Palin's proclamations regarding ANWR and oil prices nicely.

Phil's comment here slices right to the heart of Steven's primary tactic during the last few years of his political career...and the reason for his success:

Robert Dillon, a very knowledgeable reporter, covered Stevens' full-frontal assault on the truth this week, by telling readers it was a sign that Stevens is ready to hit back at Begich, and hit hard. No, Robert, it is a sign that only when he has to, as a last resort, do something - his bullshit "energy blueprint" plan is in competition with 18 other bills dealing with this - he'll do as little as possible and make the most out of it he can. Trusting, all the time, that you'll help him tell his fucking lie his way.

This is the same point (though more eloquently stated) that I've been trying to make about Steven's alleged "support for the Veterans"...especially regarding the GI Bill. When Stevens can depend on a lack of research from the Mainstream Media and has a lacky like former aide Ric Davidge using pretty red, white and blue pastels to shade the truth, why would he need to exert any effort on behalf of Alaskans?

Phil is absolutely dead-on when he talks about Ted's deteriorating communication skills (which were pretty poor in the beginning) and when he questions whether blatant inaccuracies are purposeful lies or merely a signal of a fading memory. Even the accusations of alleged wrongdoing which sparked the FBI investigation, if true, seem to signal a desire to benefit from past accomplishments and associations...calling in markers at the end of a long career.

It makes one wonder if the rational part of him is begging for retirement while the "pit bull" part just can't stop fighting?