What Do Facebook And Egypt's Elections Have In Common?

IBD Editorials ^ | May 25, 2012 | MARK STEYN

[Kaslin]

So how's that old Arab Spring going? You remember — the "Facebook Revolution."

As I write, they're counting the votes in Egypt's presidential election, so by the time you read this the pecking order may have changed somewhat. But currently in first place is the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi, who in an inspiring stump speech before the students of Cairo University the other night told them, "Death in the name of Allah is our goal."

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In second place is the military's man Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister and a man who in a recent television interview said that "unfortunately the revolution succeeded."

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In third place is moderate Islamist Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh, a 9/11 Truther endorsed by the terrorist organization al-Gama'a al-Islamiya. He's a "moderate" because he thinks Egyptian Christians should be allowed to run for the presidency, although they shouldn't be allowed to win.

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As I said, this thrilling race is by no means over, and one would not rule out an eventual third-place finish by a rival beacon of progress such as Amr Moussa, the longtime Arab League flack and former Mubarak foreign minister.

So what happened to all those candidates embodying the spirit of Egypt's modern progressive democratic youth movement that all those western media rubes were cooing over in Tahrir Square a year ago? How are they doing in Egypt's first free presidential election?

You have 0 friends!

I don't know about you, but I have the feeling that Messrs Morsi, Shafiq, and Abolfotoh are not spending much time on Facebook, or even on Twitter. Indeed, for a "social media revolution," the principal beneficiaries seem to be remarkably antisocial:

[Gritty]

It’s ugly to behold, but Steyn nails it as usual!

[PapaBear3625]

Liberated from the grip of Mubarak, the new Egypt is a land where the Israeli embassy gets attacked and ransacked, Christians get killed and their churches burned to the ground, female reporters for the western media are sexually assaulted in broad daylight, and for the rest of the gals a woman's place is in the clitoridectomy clinic.

The difference between a dictator and a fanatic, is that the dictator will be satisfied if you pay your taxes and refrain from challenging his authority. The fanatic will not be happy until he completely dominates all aspects of your life.

[Slings and Arrows]

I’m more of a bow guy than a stern guy. (Not that there’s anything wrong with it.)

[ken in texas]

You anti-sternite!!

[TheOldLady]

Well, I've always know that!

Here's a nice pair of boobies for you:

[Slings and Arrows]

Bowphile!

[Slings and Arrows]

You're too kind. Have some beefcake.

[TheOldLady]

Oh! Be still, my beating heart! That’s about the only beefcake I get these days, LOL!

Dang! That looks really good.

[Slings and Arrows]

Glad you enjoyed. Heck, you’re making me hungry!

[irv]

for a "social media revolution," the principal beneficiaries seem to be remarkably antisocial

That's the case with most revolutions. Steyn understands that. The idiots who reported on that wonderful "Arab Spring" don't. Obama doesn't. Hillary doesn't.

We have the wrong people in charge. Some days it's annoying. Other days, it's downright dangerous.