Mark Steyn: Durbin slanders his own country

Chicago Sun Times ^ | June 19, 2005 | MARK STEYN

[mal]

Throughout the last campaign season, senior Democrats had a standard line in their speeches, usually delivered with righteous anger, about how "nobody has a right to question my patriotism!" Given that nobody was questioning their patriotism, it seemed an odd thing to harp on about. But, aware of their touchiness on the subject, I hasten to add that in what follows I am not questioning Dick Durbin's patriotism, at least not for the first couple of paragraphs. Instead, I'll begin by questioning his sanity.

Last Tuesday, Senator Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, quoted a report of U.S. "atrocities" at Guantanamo and then added:

"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings."

Er, well, your average low-wattage senator might. But I wouldn't. The "atrocities" he enumerated -- "Not only was the temperature unbearably hot, but extremely loud rap music was being played in the room" -- are not characteristic of the Nazis, the Soviets or Pol Pot, and, at the end, the body count in Gitmo was a lot lower. That's to say, it was zero, which would have been counted a poor day's work in Auschwitz or Siberia or the killing fields of Cambodia.

[alwaysconservative]

Another WONDERFUL Steyn article! Thanks for the ping, Pokey!

[concrete is my business]

RE:"Lots that happened in Durban at this UN conference has been forgotten since it took place only ten days before September 11th. "

I think even the Canadians walked out in disgust.

[moog]

This will generate some letters to the editor in Chi-town

You don't listen to Jim Rome, do you?

[Dad yer funny]

bookmk ping and thanks

[AmishDude]

You don't listen to Jim Rome, do you?

No. Who does?

[moog]

Acutally a lot of people listen to old Jim. I don't a lot, but when he made a tour stop here and in other places it was packed.
He uses an expression like your chi-town one.

[meema]

...levin amd stabenow would probably say the same thing.

That's true, but thanks for the sympathy anyway. I can't remember when we had a Republican senator (other than Percy.) Is your Republican party in the same shape as ours?

It's sad, isn't it.

[CyberAnt]

And .. what's amazing about that event .. THE DEMS STILL DON'T GET IT .. THEY ARE BLINDED BY THEIR OWN ARROGANCE.

While it aggrivates me that the dems don't get it .. I'm actually glad they DON'T. They do not see what's coming for them in November of 2006 .. at the rate they're going .. it could be a bloodbath of lost dems seats in the House and the Senate. And .. the DeWine election IS PROOF.

[meema]

I remeber all those lovely demz, too. So my age is showing also!
Trouble is, IL Pubbies have been no better recently, either.

[Zivasmate]

Just an idea. If you want the best way to get Durban out of the Senate, link ALL other Democrat Senators to him. They will have two choices: either defend him, which would be politically harmful to them, and they know it; or demand his censure and ouster from the Senate because of his treasonous remarks. This can be led by Rush and Conservative talk radio putting lots of pressure on the 'Rats along with Fox News Channel.

Confront leading 'Rats whether they defend him or condemn him? At the very least, it will put the 'Rats on the defensive.

[CyberAnt]

Shame on him, and shame on those fellow senators and Democrats - who by their refusal to condemn him - endorse his slander."

This last sentence just says it all .. thanks to Mark for saying what the media in America will not say.

[irv]

Thanks for the ping to a magnificent article. Unfortunately, it's preaching to the choir. Nothing will happen to Durbin, except maybe promotion to even more responsibility in the party.

[aculeus]

All credit to Laura Ingrahem who was apparently the first to comment on his empty-chamber speech.

[nothingnew]

Thanks Pokey.

FMCDH(BITS)

[nothingnew]

In a word, your post was "Beautiful".

Thank you bbmom.

FMCDH(BITS)

[rawcatslyentist]

P>

"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged."

Abraham Lincoln

Stop Dick Turbinladen Durbin before he aids our enemy again!
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!!Contact your REPS

Link to contact your senator
Link to contact your representative

ABC CBS NBC CNN its all the SAME, Propaganda.
Might as well call them all AmeriJazerra.
Show them how much Gravitas Hugh Bris has. Vote with your remote! Shut down the Alphabet channels.

He's Got A Plan
Zippo Hero
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

Don't be a know nothing do nothing dumbocrap!

"Hitlery's legal stance on everything"

[nothingnew]

heck...everyone knows there aint no "sanity clause"

Thankyew Groucho....but...vy a duck?...why not a chicken?

FMCDH(BITS)

[McGavin999]

"Not only was the temperature unbearably hot, but extremely loud rap music was being played..."

Yeah, I understand the temperature was cranked all the way up to 100 degrees. Of course, that's 30 degrees cooler than the summers these animals are used to, and it's far cooler than what our soldiers experience during the Iraqi summer with full battle rattle. Yet the "senator" claims that's torture.

Why has nobody mentioned that fact?

[AmishDude]

Chi-town is a standard sports reference to Chicago. Rome is probably the last to use it, not the first. I used to listen to his show about 5 years ago off and on. I stopped and last I heard he had an ESPN TV show.

[moog]

Chi-town is a standard sports reference to Chicago. Rome is probably the last to use it, not the first. I used to listen to his show about 5 years ago off and on. I stopped and last I heard he had an ESPN TV show.

His radio show is still going strong.