Freedoms Zone::Blog

August 7, 2008

'Energy Journal Study (and rejection letter) proves allowing more drilling will lead to price drops NOW'

Enough already of the BS about drilling more now taking ten years to affect oil prices. Although the Left has offered all sorts of arguments for why they oppose drilling, including reasons why producing more American oil will not lower gas prices - all of these arguments amount to nothing more than spin, and the American people know it.

Now there's an Economic Study submitted to The Energy Journal which proves this. The study argued that allowing drilling in ANWR would produce an immediate drop in oil prices even if the oil did not enter refineries for several years.

And to further make the researchers' points, just think about what's happened to gas prices since President Bush announced his ending of the executive ban on offshore drilling and the uproar from Americans has resulted in Republicans finally making a major issue over it.

HT - Free Republic

Posted by Richard at 2:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 6, 2008

Muslim Writer: 'You Still Can't Write About Muhammad'

burning%20book.jpg Asra Q. Nomani says that Random House's abrupt calling off of an historical novel about Aisha, the young wife of the prophet Muhammad, upsets her as a Muslim -- and as a writer who believes that fiction can bring Islamic history to life in a uniquely captivating and humanizing way. The author of the novel had taken the time to learn Arabic, studied scholarly works about Aisha's life, and came to admire her protagonist as a woman of courage. When Random House bought her novel last year in a $100,000, two-book deal, she was ecstatic. This past spring, she began plans for an eight-city book tour after the Aug. 12 publication date of "The Jewel of Medina" -- a tale of lust, love and intrigue in the prophet's harem. It's not going to happen (HT - Stop the ACLU). Ms Nomani writes:

In May, Random House abruptly called off publication of the book. The series of events that torpedoed this novel are a window into how quickly fear stunts intelligent discourse about the Muslim world.

Random House feared the book would become a new "Satanic Verses," the Salman Rushdie novel of 1988 that led to death threats, riots and the murder of the book's Japanese translator, among other horrors. In an interview about Ms. Jones's novel, Thomas Perry, deputy publisher at Random House Publishing Group, said that it "disturbs us that we feel we cannot publish it right now." He said that after sending out advance copies of the novel, the company received "from credible and unrelated sources, cautionary advice not only that the publication of this book might be offensive to some in the Muslim community, but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment."

After consulting security experts and Islam scholars, Mr. Perry said the company decided "to postpone publication for the safety of the author, employees of Random House, booksellers and anyone else who would be involved in distribution and sale of the novel."

This saga upsets me as a Muslim -- and as a writer who believes that fiction can bring Islamic history to life in a uniquely captivating and humanizing way. "I'm devastated," Ms. Jones told me after the book got spiked, adding, "I wanted to honor Aisha and all the wives of Muhammad by giving voice to them, remarkable women whose crucial roles in the shaping of Islam have so often been ignored -- silenced -- by historians." Last month, Ms. Jones signed a termination agreement with Random House, so her literary agent could shop the book to other publishers.

This time, the instigator of the trouble wasn't a radical Muslim cleric, but an American academic. In April, looking for endorsements, Random House sent galleys to writers and scholars, including Denise Spellberg, an associate professor of Islamic history at the University of Texas in Austin. Ms. Jones put her on the list because she read Ms. Spellberg's book, "Politics, Gender, and the Islamic Past: The Legacy of 'A'isha Bint Abi Bakr."

But Ms. Spellberg wasn't a fan of Ms. Jones's book. On April 30, Shahed Amanullah, a guest lecturer in Ms. Spellberg's classes and the editor of a popular Muslim Web site, got a frantic call from her. "She was upset," Mr. Amanullah recalls. He says Ms. Spellberg told him the novel "made fun of Muslims and their history," and asked him to warn Muslims.

Contiue reading: You Still Can't Write About Muhammad.

Given the plethora of works previously published by Random House and others, one can't help believe that had the story been a highly anti-Christian or anti-Jewish story it would have made the Aug. 12 publication date.

As Ms Nomani notes in her piece, fear does indeed stunt intelligent discourse about the Muslim world. So why are we allowing Muslims to control our lives and our freedoms?

Posted by Abdul at 10:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 4, 2008

Suicide Of A Nation - Lebanon To Legalize Hizbullah Militia

Lest there be any doubt in your minds up to now, given this development, you can put them all aside. Lebanon is no longer, Lebanon. It is a satelite of Iran and radical Islam:

[...] A draft policy statement that could secure Hizbullah's existence as an armed organization and guarantees its right to "liberate or recover occupied lands" is expected to be approved by the Lebanese council of ministers on Monday before being presented to the parliament in the coming days.

Some observers in Lebanon see the clause on "resistance" as a significant victory for Hizbullah, which has long resisted giving up its arms in its fight against Israel.

[...] ... a vehemently anti-Hizbullah government - led by a majority that has significant Western support - has put its signature to a clause that allows Hizbullah to take actions in the fields listed without seeking government approval," Goksel said.

"It also puts an end to any dreams of disarming Hizbullah. It secures Hizbullah's armed existence."

Government sources in Jerusalem said the decision would make the government in Beirut an accomplice to any Hizbullah aggression and give Israel the right to hold it responsible.

A sad and dangerous day in history and the beginning of an even more dangerous time for Israel, having occurred by the hand of Iran with an eye toward the destruction of Israel and a challenge to the West. Using Hezbollah as its puppet, Iran has just conquered Lebanon.

Other coverage: Lebanese Gov't Sanctions Hezbollah Arsenal

Posted by Mike in Iraq at 7:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Very Best Ad For John McCain - Ever!

... and to my knowledge, the McCain camp didn't have anything to do with it (and if they did, they did a fantastic job).

The audio clips of the Obamas in this video - their own words, are stunning; the video itself vividly demonstrates the profound differences between the two candidates for president.

"Don't Tread On Me, Obama," by Miradena. Watch, and enjoy, every second of it.

From the narrative at YouTube:

The contrast between our two Presidential candidates is staggering.

Compare and contrast:
Obama is the candidate of CHANGE.
He changes his speeches to pander to his audiences.
He changes his mind regarding his promises.
And he will change America by increasing government control and raising taxes.

America has a clear choice.

Compare:
John McCain is a genuine American Hero - a veteran with more than three decades of political service to his country.

Contrast:
Barack Obama is a Junior Senator with no political or foreign policy experience, who refused to vote more than 130 times during his short term in Senate.

Compare:
McCain has had 35 years of intense scrutiny, revealing stellar associations and remarkable character.

Contrast:
Obama has only been examined for several months and there has already been connections made to terrorists, money launderers, political fixers, Communists, Socialists and radical, racist organizations. Tony Rezko, William Ayers, Khalidi, Wright, Dohrn

The choice is ours.

May God Bless America as we fight to keep her and our Constitution from being hijacked by those who want to change her - and our values - beyond all recognition.

Don't Tread On Me.

Miradena

"Miradena" deserves a big thank you from all Americans. And the McCain Team needs to sign this lady up. She indeed does know how to make an ad.

God Bless America! We will never, never, surrender.

This deserves to be passed around.

Related "hardhitting" videos - also by Miradena:

Obama - The Stranger Among Us ...

Narrative by Miradena:

How much does anyone really know about this man, Barack Obama? The evidence appears more and more clear that he has been training for some political revolution for 20 years. His words are the same words spoken by William Ayers. His actions and his voting record are reflective of Marxist policy and his religious convictions are based upon Black Liberation Theology.

His books and his pastors infer racist views of America and his wife Michelle often speaks of her continued disdain for the people in America.

Obamas friends are terrorists and radicals and criminals involved in political unrest, money laundering and obscene crimes such as the actual bombing of US government institutions. Obama, safely tucked within the Senate, has been subjected to some checks and balances - but the real danger is in allowing him free reign, regarding policy dictation, through a majority Democratic Congress.

Reciting the word change is a cheap, conciliatory action to incite applause. But Obama's change can do little more than accelerate our metamorphosis into the Socialist States of America.

What LIES Beneath Obama ...

Posted by Mike in Iraq at 7:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 24, 2008

Democratic Leadership Stands In The Way Of Drilling

As the WSJ points out, the moronic Nancy Pelosi, screwball Harry Reid and other liberal leaders on Capitol Hill are gripped by cold-sweat terror, knowing that if they permit a vote on offshore drilling they will lose when Blue Dogs and oil-patch Democrats defect to the GOP position of increasing domestic energy production. So what do they do? They fall back to their last failsafe and shut down Congress:

Majority Leader Reid has decided that deliberation is too taxing for "the world's greatest deliberative body." This week he cut off serious energy amendments to his antispeculation bill. Then Senate Appropriations baron Robert Byrd abruptly canceled a bill markup planned for today where Republicans intended to press the issue. Mr. Byrd's counterpart in the House, David Obey, is enforcing a similar lockdown. Speaker Pelosi says she won't allow even a debate before Congress's August recess begins in eight days.

She and Mr. Reid are cornered by substance. The upward pressure on oil prices is caused by rising world-wide consumption and limited growth in supplies. Yet at least 65% of America's undiscovered, recoverable oil, and 40% of its natural gas, is hostage to the Congressional drilling moratorium.

More ...

Posted by Richard at 12:43 PM

CEO Of Democratic National Convention Is A Marxist

The head of the DNC's religious outreach, Leah Daughtry who, in addition to believing that God finds abortion acceptable, is a believer in the same Marxist "Black Liberation Theology" preached by Reverend Wright.

As if that's not bad enough, this Marxist is also the CEO of the Democratic National Convention!

As Henry Lamb wrote in his October 8, 2007 Canada Free Press article entitled, "Are the Communists Coming?" :

[...] "It is getting increasingly difficult to distinguish between the agenda of the Democratic party, and the agenda of the Communist Party. Joelle Fishman, Chair, Political Action Committee, CPUSA, says,

"Our Party has an important role to play in keeping the focus on the fight for a new direction in our country for jobs, healthcare and an end to the war. That is how the 2008 elections will be won."
She tells his members that:
"We should get involved in voter registration in every club, and involving every member. We can inspire voter registration and turnout by relating the elections to ending the war, achieving universal single-payer health care, and measures to respond to the economic crisis."
Does this sound like a Democratic rally or what?
"Just a year and a half ago in January 2006 the main estimate of pollsters and the mass media was that it would not be possible to change control of congress. The change was bigger than most anyone anticipated. We are now building on the victory."
"The main emphasis in the Senate is to hold onto and enlarge the Democratic majority."
The sad reality is that because Communists hide behind words such as "progressive," and "democratic," they have been able to sell their agenda to the public.

[...] Should the 2008 elections go to the Democrats, as the Communist Party USA is working to accomplish, the direction of the nation will change dramatically. The direction will not be toward individual freedom, free enterprise, private property rights, and the pursuit of individual happiness. The direction will be toward the values of communism, which holds the state as the grantor of all rights, including socialized medicine through universal health care; amnesty for all illegal aliens who want to come to America; cradle-to-grave education by the state; surrender in Iraq; and acquiescence to all threats of violence; no right to own guns; and a state-assigned job for everyone."

Think this is all a bunch of hooey? Check out Marxists/Socialists/Communists for Obama at the official Obama website.

Meanwhile, as we speak, the Obamamessiah is a rock star in Europe. Are Americans as blind as the Europeans to Marxism? So far it appears that many indeed are.

Posted by Richard at 12:42 PM

July 14, 2008

It May (or may not) Have Been Meant To Be Satire .....

However, you have to admit ....;

... there's an extraordinary ring of truth to it, is there not? Think of the Obamas in the Oval Office, away from the public, cutting loose for the first time since the election, laughing together, and revealing their true selves. So is it satire or insight?

Like I said, I don't see a problem here - except, of course, that it's a typical Muslim reaction to a cartoon.

As a commenter wrote at Lucianne.com: "Michelle as "Professor" Angela Davis? Barack Hussein as Bobby Seale? The problem?

And then there are these interesting tidbits about Barack Obama's Marxist mother, the validity of which seems to be yet undetermined. Although it seems to be validated by a Chicago Tribune piece that says that in reality Obama's mother was a radical Marxist and avowed atheist. (While on the campaign trail, Obama portrays his mother as a Donna Reed like-woman from the heartland in Kansas. It's another Obama lie. While born in Kansas, his mother spent all of her teen years in Seattle hanging out with other young Marxists in Seattle's coffee shops.)

Other coverage: New Yorker Portrays Obamas As Terrorists

Posted by Abdul at 10:26 AM

July 7, 2008

Undercover Detective Exposes Jihadist Activity In New York Mosques

.... no surprise here, just move along and continue pretending American mosques are all about peace.

Posted by Abdul at 2:25 PM

July 2, 2008

Fundraisers for Al-Qaeda detained in Spain

From BFFW:

The detained were Algerian-born and were linked to terrorists in United Kingdom. British agents have been cooperating with Spanish counterterrorist services in the development of this operation, named "Emir". Since 2005, the Spanish Civil Guard was following the steps of this cell who was sending funds for terrorist organizations linked to Al Qaeda since 2005 in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan or Algeria. The arrested (in Huelva, Lepe, Azcoitia and Isla Antilla) obtained the funding by selling different falsified products, among all documents and wearing outfits. They used to send it in small amounts, always under 2,400€ to avoid investigations from banking authorities.

Continue reading "Fundraisers for Al-Qaeda detained in Spain"

Posted by Eurabian at 11:37 AM

July 1, 2008

3 Ways to Lower Gas Prices

As gas prices continue to increase, Congress continues to blame others while ignoring practical steps to stop the pain Americans are feeling at the pump. To lower gasoline prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need real solutions to our energy challenges.