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CNN’s Feyerick Plays Hardball With Ground Zero Mosque Developer

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On Wednesday’s Newsroom, CNN correspondent Deborah Feyerick refreshingly asked the developer behind the planned mosque near Ground Zero many hard questions. Feyerick bluntly asked Sharif el-Gamel, “Why not have a prayer space for Buddhists or Jews or Christians… why must it be Muslim? ” The correspondent even brought up how one of the landing gear of one of the planes ended up on the site of the planned mosque . Feyrick conducted her hardball interview of el-Gamel at his New York City office. The CNN correspondent almost immediately launched into her prayer space question. When the real estate developer initially replied, “There are Jewish community centers all over the country,” Feyerick interrupted with a sharp retort: ” But the Jews didn’t take down two towers .” El-Gamel continued that “there are YMCA’s all over the country,” but she gave a similar reply: ” But the Christians didn’t take down two towers .” The journalist followed up with the issue of the planned mosque’s proximity to the Ground Zero and mentioned the plane wreckage that ended up on the site: ” For those who are so- still sensitive and so raw to this, their question- their overriding question is, why here? Why so close? It’s two blocks, but it was close enough that landing gear ended up on the roof. Why? ” Later in the segment, Feyerick mentioned the recent confrontational zoning meeting where supporters and opponents of the mosque faced off and quoted from one of the opponents who used a historical parallel: ” Coming out of that hearing, somebody said, ‘The Japanese would never have dared to build on Pearl Harbor.’ What makes this different? ” Towards the end of the segment, the CNN correspondent asked el-Gamel if he planned to make sure Islamic extremism stays out of the “Islamic community center” and if they would reject funding from Islamist sources: “Can you guarantee that this center will r oot out extremism or completely reject any extremists that try to get into it?…Will you reject any money that comes…from any person, any country, any organization… that has any links to terrorism ? Will you be doing due diligence ?” In her final question, Feyerick asked the developer to directly address a key claim by the opponents of the mosque: ” For those who would say, this is not an olive branch to greater understanding, this is more an act of defiance- how would you answer those people? ” The full transcript of correspondent Deborah Feyerich’s interview of Sharif el-Gamel, which aired 47 minutes into the 12 pm Eastern hour of Wednesday’s Newsroom program: FREDERICKA WHITFIELD: Some say plans to build an Islamic center and mosque near 9/11’s Ground Zero disrespects the victims of the attacks. Others say that attitude is bigoted and intolerant. CNN’s Deborah Feyerick spoke with the developer of the project to get his thoughts. DEBORAH FEYERICK: This is where you sort of conceived of the idea? SHARIF EL-GAMEL, SOHO PROPERTIES: Yes, it is. FEYERICK (voice-over): Meet New York real estate developer Sharif el-Gamel, the man at the center of a controversial plan a stone’s throw from the World Trade Center site. EL-GAMEL: This is an Muslim-led project. This is an Islamic community center that will cater to all of New York. There’s gym and basketball courts. FEYERICK: Plans include a performing arts center, swimming pool, child care facilities, and yes, a Muslim prayer space two blocks from the worst terror attack in U.S. history. FEYERICK (on-camera): Why not have a prayer space for Buddhists or Jews or Christians or- why must it be Muslim? It can’t just be a business decision. EL-GAMEL: There are Jewish community centers all over the country. There are Y- FEYERICK: But the Jews didn’t take down two towers. EL-GAMEL: There are YMCA’s all over the country- FEYERICK: But the Christians didn’t take down two towers. EL-GAMEL: And this is- and this is a need that exists. FEYERICK: For those who are so- still sensitive and so raw to this, their question- their overriding question is, why here? Why so close? It’s two blocks, but it was close enough that landing gear ended up on the roof. Why? EL-GAMEL: There is a need. It’s supply and demand. The community wants it. The politicians are supporting it. FEYERICK (voice-over): Maybe, but many who attended a town hall meeting recently were dead set against it. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have we forgotten what happened at 9/11? EL-GAMEL: What happened that day is not Islam. What happened that day is terrorism. FEYERICK (on-camera): Coming out of that hearing, somebody said, ‘The Japanese would never have dared to build on Pearl Harbor.’ What makes this different? EL-GAMEL: If you were at that hearing the way that I was at that hearing, you come out understanding that there is a great need for dialogue now. FEYERICK (voice-over): El-Gamel says many people don’t understand Islam. But does that make it Islamophobia? EL-GAMEL: One hundred percent. FEYERICK (on-camera): Why? EL-GAMEL: Because the moderate voice of Islam is not coming out. FEYERICK: Can you guarantee that this center will root out extremism or completely reject any extremists that try to get into it? EL-GAMEL: One hundred percent- we will not tolerate extremism. We will not tolerate extremism. FEYERICK (voice-over): And yet, critics say the religious leader, Iman Faisal Abdul Rauf, has links to groups that support terror. EL-GAMEL: Imam Faisal is one of the most moderate Muslims that exists in this country today. FEYERICK (on-camera): Will you reject any money that comes, either directly or indirectly, from any person, any country, any organization, any corporation, that has any links to terrorism? Will you be doing due diligence? EL-GAMEL: We are going to be doing extreme due diligence, and we are going to hire the best security experts in the country to help us walk through the process, and we plan on being very transparent throughout the whole process. FEYERICK: For those who would say, this is not an olive branch to greater understanding, this is more an act of defiance- how would you answer those people? EL-GAMEL: This is an olive branch. FEYERICK: El-Gamel points out there are more than a million Muslims in the tri-state area, and that the American Muslim consumer spends nearly $200 billion a year. So, when he talks about this center as a business, it certainly is that. He also says he wants his two young daughters to have a place where they can feel a sense of cultural and religious pride and belonging- where everyone can learn and share in the mainstream Muslim experience. Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

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Are The View Producers Muzzling Conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck While Allowing Joy Behar Free Rein?

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On June 15, 2010, View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck declined to fight with lefist comedienne Kathy Griffin, who was appearing on that day’s show. This despite the fact that the entertainer had previously had previously slammed the conservative as a “f—ing Survivor reject.” Hasselbeck demurred, “It’s cool, we’re cool.” The host remained quiet, even as Griffin taunted her by mocking, “Bring it.”  Yet, on July 15, 2010, liberal Joy Behar showed no such restraint with conservative radio star Laura Ingraham. The two got into a heated discussion over whether wearing a burqa in society is acceptable. Behar lectured, “Then all religions subjugate women.” Earlier, Behar responded to a Ingraham joke by proclaiming, “I don’t want anybody to think you know me.” A transcript of the two exchanges can be found below: July 14, 2010 JOY BEHAR: You know what? I think it’s so wrong to do that to people. People really want their religious freedom, whether their Muslim, Jewish or Christian. And they should be allowed to wear a cross, and a star, and a burqa if they have to. LAURA INGRAHAM: But that’s different from covering your whole face, Joy. BEHAR: Why, why? That’s what they do! INGRAHAM: Why does grandma have to undo her walker at the TSA line at the airport but someone could go through fully covered up with just slits for their eyes? That’s the point of subjugation. You’re for women. BEHAR: I’m not sure they should go through security that way. They’re talking about people just walking around. INGRAHAM: Public places. Yes, yes. Public places. We go into airports. BEHAR: But they’re also saying it’s against women, that is subjugates women. INGRAHAM: It is subjugating to women. BEHAR: Then all religions subjugate women. INGRAHAM: Oh, that’s a crock. That is ridiculous. BEHAR: Are you kidding me? INGRAHAM: Lump every religion together and every facet of every religion together. I’m sorry, I wear a cross. This does not subjugate, okay? This is liberating. BEHAR: No women priests are allowed in the priesthood, for example. (Applause) INGRAHAM: Okay, notice how this has become an indictment for the Catholic Church. Why are you clapping for that? BEHAR: Wait a second. In a Jewish synagogue, the women, in orthodox, have to sit upstairs, they’re not allowed on the floor with the men. They have to wear a schriedel (sc?) to cover their heads. I mean, every religion has something. June 15, 2010 ELISABETH HASSELBECK: You’ve said things about people here that are a) untrue and b) not so funny. So do you ever feel weird like then coming here and saying, sitting here, you know, promoting things. KATHY GRIFFIN: Actually this moment is what I live for so bring it. HASSELBECK: I know. I know. (Applause) HASSELBECK: Sadly, I have a debate in my head whether feeding your curious fire there. GRIFFIN: This is how I write my act. HASSELBECK: It’s cool, we’re cool. GRIFFIN: I’m cool if you’re cool. I think it’s all for a joke. HASSELBECK: It’s all cool. GRIFFIN: Is there anything else you’d like to say, Elisabeth? Because this is just getting good.

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NYT Finds ‘Bellicose’ Bloggers Against ‘Monument to Religious Tolerance’ (i.e., a Mosque) at Ground Zero

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The New York Times continues its delicate, sympathetic coverage of NYC-centric Muslims issues with its treatment of the controversy over the Cordoba House, a proposed Muslim community center, to be topped by a mosque, that would be raised at the sight of the World Trade Center. Wednesday’s Metro section story by Javier Hernandez, ” Planned Sign of Tolerance Bringing Division Instead ” certainly made a lot of positive-sounding assumptions (starting with the headline) about the ideas behind the mosque, but failed to probe the secret details of the financiers behind it or to question the propriety of building an Islamic worship site at the same spot where thousands were murdered by radical Muslims in the name of Islam. The Cordoba House was supposed to be a monument to religious tolerance , an homage to the city in Spain where Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived together centuries ago in the midst of religious foment. Its 15 stories, home to a Muslim community center and a mosque, would rise two blocks from the pit of dust and cranes where the twin towers once stood, a symbol of the resilience of the American melting pot, its supporters said. But instead of inspiring mutual respect, the center has opened deep divisions marked by vitriolic commentary , pitting Muslims against Christians, Tea Partiers against staunch liberals, and Sept. 11 families against one another. And so what began as a gesture of combined good faith by Muslims and non-Muslims has turned into a familiar game of New York City political football. The bellicose discourse was on full display on Tuesday in an auditorium at Hunter College in Manhattan as the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission considered whether to grant one of the buildings that would be torn down for the project, at 45-47 Park Place, status as a protected landmark. The entire center would occupy 45-51 Park Place. …. In recent days, politicians have called for an investigation of the group’s finances and expressed concerns about the views of its leader, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf , who has held services in a small mosque in TriBeCa since 1983. The Internet has featured fury from all sides, and some bloggers have labeled the proposal a sub-rosa effort to spread extremist Islam. Many Muslim-Americans have been taken aback by the intensity of the reaction, saying it was a sign that discrimination was alive and well nearly nine years after 9/11. But they said the vigorous opposition underscored the need for the $100 million center, which would include a 500-seat auditorium and offer a range of programs modeled on the Y.M.C.A. and the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. El-Gamal refuses to say where the funding for the $100 million project is coming from, a detail Hernandez skips even while saying the project “began as a gesture of combined good faith by Muslims and non-Muslims.” So who are they, exactly? Hernandez wasn’t curious. Neither did he raise Rauf’s recent refusal to call Hamas a terrorist group . A 9-11 victim’s group that opposes the construction rounded up details on The Cordoba Initiative, the consortium backing the plan, the name of which didn’t appear in the Times’s article. The Times has a history of soft, sympathetic pseudo-coverage of local Muslim initiatives and controversies, going so far as to blame rival papers like the New York Post for ” relentless criticism,” in the case of principal Debbie Almontaser, dismissed from a Muslim academy in Brooklyn for defending distribution of a T-shirt by a related organization that read “Intifada NYC.”

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Jimmy Buffett Changes Tune on Oil Spill, No Longer Blames Bush

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Last week, singer Jimmy Buffett took a swipe at former President George W. Bush, saying that the Republican administration was responsible for the oil spill off the Gulf Coast. “To me it was more about eight years of bad policy before [President Obama] got there that let this happen,” Buffett told the Associated Press. “It was Dracula running the blood bank in terms of oil and leases.” But Buffett appeared to change his mind at his concert in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Sunday, and laid the blame for the spill solely on BP. The musician revamped the lyrics of his famous “Margaritaville” song to: “Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame; but I know it’s all BP’s fault.”  We think this revision is a bit more on-target.

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MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer Lobbies U.S. Politicians to ‘Stand Up’ for Gay Rights

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer on Monday appeared baffled as to why more U.S. politicians weren’t ‘standing up’ to demand the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” touting it as “a civil rights issue.” In the span of two hours, the cable network featured a gay member of the military and a conservative to discuss the issue. It was hardly a case of hearing two sides, however. Both guests favored allowing gays to serve openly. Talking to Richard Grenell , a former spokesman for Ambassador John Bolton, Brewer editorialized, ” It is a civil rights issue…Is it time for our American leaders to stand up for what’s right and no matter what public opinion polls say to have the leadership and the courage to take a stand on it? ” Earlier, Brewer cited a survey sent out to service members asking them questions such as whether they’d be comfortable showering with an openly gay individual. The cable host dismissed, “Now, substitute in the word black or Jewish and would that question to service members ever be okay?…Why aren’t more American leaders itching for a fight on gay rights?” At the end of the segment, Brewer read viewer e-mail on the issue. Two such messages favored repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. These she recited without comment. When she read a letter disagreeing with gay rights, Brewer could hardly disguise her opinion: “Carolyn Bramblett says, “Homosexuality is a sin issue, not a civil rights issue.’ Well, you know what Jesus said: ‘Let he who is without sin.'” In the 11am hour, MSNBC featured openly gay veteran Daniel Choi to dismiss the survey. Grenell is also gay. So, the network hardly sought out a variety of voices on the subject. A transcript of the segment, which aired at 12:43pm EDT, follows: 12:20 tease CONTESSA BREWER: Another traditionally safe [makes quotes marks] constituency for Democrats also angry, this time over a survey about the potential repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, many say has incendiary and homophobic language. The President said he wants Congress to repeal the law and Pentagon is in the process of studying the issue. But, a new survey sent out to service members asks questions that many find offensive. So, here’s the problem: Critics say the survey assumes a position of homophobia. For instance, here’s one of the questions: “If Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is repealed and you are assigned to bathroom facilities with open bay showers with a gay or lesbian service member, would you take no action or use a shower at a different time?” Now, substitute in the word black or Jewish and would that question to service members ever be okay? This is a pivotal civil rights issue. My big question today: Why aren’t more American leaders itching for a fight on gay rights? You can share your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook. You can get me on e-mail. Contessa@MSNBC.com We’re going to have a lively discussion about this in the next half hour. 12:43 BREWER: A new Pentagon survey is stirring up the controversy because it asks very pointed questions about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Some groups even suggest the survey uses homophobic language. 400,000 members of the armed forces got the question via e-mail asking questions about living with gays and using the same showers and same-sex couples in military housing.  The Pentagon is defending the questions. Rick Grenell is a conservative columnist, former spokesman to John Bolton and three other U.S. ambassadors and believes Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell should be repealed. We knew that the survey would happen. Claire McCaskill, actually, Rick, brought up her concerns about how the questions would be framed. When public policy pollsters conduct surveys to gain credibility and validity they have to formulate truly open ended questions. Do you have a problem with these questions? RICHARD GRENELL: Well, I think the key to this is having questions at all for a civil rights issue. What’s most surprising is President Obama and Nancy Pelosi that they are actually trying to say that this isn’t a civil rights issue, because clearly by having a questionnaire, they’re not so sure themselves. And I think the troubling thing for me and for a lot of conservatives is that they campaigned on this issue, that it was a civil rights issue and they were elected, they would end this. You know, when Barack Obama was a senator, he spent a lot of time telling people that it should just be taken care of with an executive order. Now that he’s president, the executive order excuse goes away and he’s blaming Congress. So, I think it’s really a difficult issue for the Democrats and they campaigned like it was an easy issue. BREWER: So, to drive this point home and it’s the argument that I made further, that if you put in instead of same-sex or homosexual and used, say, black, here would be the way the sample question would read. “If a wartime situation made it necessary for you to share a room, birth or field tent with someone you believed to be- insert here black- service-member which are you most likely to do?” And goes on to how you take action. You’re right. That question to service members would never be considered. And, in fact, when they integrated the military, my understanding is there was no general survey taken to see how service members would feel about it. It was done because it was the right thing to do. That being said, after I asked my big question today, Rick, I got a bunch of E-mail responses in. And you have people, viewers here who are writing and arguing that it’s not a civil rights issue because being born black is not a choice but being born gay is. GRENELL: Well, look, what I would say there is I’m a conservative. I think it’s outrageous that we are spending so much money, $4.5 million alone on this survey to investigate someone’s personal life. Whether you believe this is a choice, whether you believe that someone is born gay, I think it goes to the question of why are we wasting so much money to go after someone’s personal life, to investigate? It’s a national security issue when you’re encouraging people to actually lie. I’ve held a top secret security clearance. They want to know everything about you. They want to know that you’re truthful. BREWER: Right. GRENELL: At the end of the day people have to remember that individuals in the military are already showering with gay military folk. BREWER: And, again, regardless of what you think about homosexuality as an issue, that is like arguing you get to choose what region you are as an adult and you still can’t discriminate on the basis of that. I agree with you fully. It is a civil rights issue. Let’s talk about the leadership here. Is it time for our American leaders to stand up for what’s right and no matter what public opinion polls say to have the leadership and the courage to take a stand on it? GRENELL: Well, I agree. I think, yes, the answer is a definitive yes. However, it’s outrageous to me that this has been dragged through the political sphere. The Democrats are raising money off this issue. They want it to be a political issue. They are making this a political issue. They are choosing to make this a non-civil rights issue. They want this issue to go into the fall. They want to raise money and they want to make sure that Americans are constantly talking about this issue. And I think that that’s outrageous. BREWER: Rick, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate your time. I appreciate you weighing in. A lot of folks have been weighing in online about why our nation’s leaders aren’t embracing gay rights as is civil rights issue. Clinton Hancock responds, “The politicians are too fearful of their constituents. Sometimes you have to teach your constituents, not just listen to them. Carolyn Bramblett says, “Homosexuality is a sin issue, not a civil rights issue.” Well, you know what Jesus said: Let he who is without sin. Paul Heimsath writes, “It’s 2010, people. This should not even be an issue.” You can reach out to me. Let me know your thoughts.

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ABC’s George Stephanopoulos Hectors Netanyahu, Saddles Israel With Responsibility for Peace

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday repeatedly berated Benjamin Netanyahu as to what the Israeli Prime Minister will do for the peace process. Focusing almost entirely on Israel, while excluding the U.S. and the Palestinians, he hectored, “What are you prepared to do? More security autonomy for the Palestinians on the West Bank? Prisoner releases?” Stephanopoulos did highlight the contrast between April’s frosty meeting with President Obama and a more friendly visit at the White House, Tuesday. In the tease for the show, he wondered, “President Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister all smiles at the White House. But, is the friendship as solid as they claim?” Yet, the former Democratic operative failed to ask a single question as to what Obama could do to make the relationship stronger. Instead, he seemed to suggest that since this meeting went better, the burden was now on the Israelis side: “And I guess you couldn’t have asked for a warmer reception from President Obama yesterday. There was the private meeting in the Oval Office. Pretty effusive displays of friendship from the President and the First Lady to your wife, Sara.” Stephanopoulos then pressed as to “what’s going to come” of the visit. He dismissed, “One analyst said, this is a false con. Suggesting that you can’t or won’t deliver what President Obama is calling for in the peace process. So, what concrete steps are you prepared to take?” Although the morning show host did note Obama snubs from the April meeting, such as when the President kept Netanyahu waiting for hours while he ate dinner, he asked no questions on the subject and didn’t ask if this offended the Prime Minister. A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:13am EDT, follows: 7am tease GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: President Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister all smiles at the White House. But, is the friendship as solid as they claim? Will it create progress towards peace. Prime Minister Netanyahu joins us live in a GMA exclusive. 7:13 GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to turn now to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He met with President Obama at the White House Tuesday, after a series of disagreements and diplomatic gaffes, plunged U.S./Israeli relations into their chilliest period in years. The last time they met in April, there were no public photographs. And President Obama kept the Prime Minister waiting for hours while he ate dinner. Not yesterday. It was smiles all around. And here for his first interview since the meeting is the Isreali Prime Minister. Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you for joining us today. PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Good morning. STEPHANOPOULOS: And I guess you couldn’t have asked for a warmer reception from President Obama yesterday. There was the private meeting in the Oval Office. Pretty effusive displays of friendship from the President and the First Lady to your wife, Sara. But, I guess the big question, is what’s going to come of it? One analyst said, this is a false con. Suggesting that you can’t or won’t deliver what President Obama is calling for in the peace process. So, what concrete steps are you prepared to take? NETANYAHU: I think it was a warm reception. First of all, it was very warm in Washington. Still is. Even for that climate, an unusually warm reception. And my wife and I appreciated it. And the state of Israel appreciates it. We’ve had disagreements. It’s natural between two allies. But in recent weeks and months, we’ve come closer and closer together on a number of important things. How to open up Gaza for civilian traffic and keep the arms blockade. How to make sure to clarify to the world that America’s policy regarding the NPT, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, that policy, stands firm in the way that it’s always stood. All of this was clarified in the course of these discussions. But the main thing, George, that came out of these very good discussions I had with the President is that we want to advance peace. And the simplest way to advance peace is to put aside all the grievances and all the preconditions and all the excuses that have been put up to prevent me and President Abbas of the Palestinian authority from sitting down. I say I’m ready to sit down with him in Jerusalem, in Ramallah, that’s ten minutes away from my office, to discuss peace without preconditions. And if we do it, we can defy the world. STEPHANOPOULOS: I know that’s your position, Mr. Prime Minister. But even yesterday, you did say you were prepared to take concrete steps to advance this process. You know the Palestinians need to see that. What are you prepared to do? More security autonomy for the Palestinians on the West Bank? Prisoner releases? Are you willing to extend the settlement freeze past its deadline of September? NETANYAHU: Well, we’ve done a lot of bit in relaxing hundreds of roadblocks and checkpoints that’s facilitated the West Bank economic boom. I’ve talked about my vision of peace about a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state of Israel. We adopted a moratorium seven months ago for the Palestinians to enter the talks. They haven’t so far done that. I think all these things, in word and deed, show that we are interested in launching this peace forward. Now, rather than pile up more preconditions, even though there are more things we’re prepared to do. STEPHANOPOULOS: What are they? NETANYAHU: The important thing is the Palestinians- Additional easing of movements. Some questions of economic projects. There are quite a few. And the point is, we’re prepared to do them. But what we want to see, finally, is one thing. We want President Abbas to grasp my hand, get into a room, shake it, sit down and negotiate a final settlement of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Believe me, George, it’s hard. The risks for us, for me, also for my country, will have to have very strong security arrangements so that the areas that we vacate do not turn into Iranian strongholds for firing rockets, sending terrorists against us. That’s happened before in Lebanon and in Gaza. So, we have some very clear requirements. The Palestinians will have very clear requirements. The only way that is going to mesh together is if we sit down together, so we can live in peace and security, side-by-side, together. STEPHANOPOULOS: How about extending- How about establishing the settlement freeze? The President said yesterday he hopes there will be progress in the peace talks for the freeze to be extended past September. What exactly do you need to see from the Palestinians in order to extend that settlement freeze past the deadline in September? NETANYAHU: We discussed the concrete steps that need to be taken in the next few days, literally in the next few days and weeks to finally begin direct negotiations for peace. I think once we get there, realities may change. But I think the most important reality is that we don’t stick on, as we negotiate our historic peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, we don’t stick on requirements and grievances. STEPHANOPOULOS: So, you’re open to extending the freeze? NETANYAHU: I’m open to beginning peace negotiations now. And that’s what I want to do. And by the way, I’ve been open for the last year and a quarter. I think we wasted a lot of time with these kinds of excuses, preconditions. All sorts of things that are packed in the way of a simple action. You know you’ve seen these pictures of peace conferences that are- let’s put it in the Middle East as a peace tent. We’re sitting in the tent. We’re waiting for Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, to sit on the other side, across the table, in the tent. And the Palestinians say, we won’t even enter the tent before the tent or the one before that tent, as well. I said, just fold the tents, get into the main arena. Engage in negotiations. Let’s not waste our energies on ancillary things, on minor things. Let’s try to absolve the issues of security, territory, refugees, water. These are huge issues. I think, I’m confident, that I- I’m convinced that our security needs are met, I think I can bring the peace that the majority of the people of Israel will support. And what we’d really like to see is the Palestinians understand that we expect them to end the conflict. That the state that they will receive will not be a platform for additional conflicts against Israel. But an end to the conflict with solid security arrangements. STEPHANOPOULOS: I’m afraid that’s all the time we have, Mr. Prime Minister. I’m sorry for that. But, thank you for joining us this morning. NETANYAHU: Well, don’t be so skeptical. Raise your hopes. It’s summer time. We can perform miracles.

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Amy Winehouse’s New Tits with her New Black Cock of the Day

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

I have a feeling I know how this went down….and I don’t think it has to do with her having the soulful voice of a black singer of the past that reminded this dude of his grandmother who used to sing every night as she braided his hair or some shit…but has more to do with her being a fucking disgusting rotting wreck of a person making her an easy target to get up inside since no white person wanted her tainted dead unhygienic pussy, white people are too conservative, but black dudes realize all white pussy is worth fucking, not to mention damaged white pussy with lots of money comes with so many benefits, like living the gangster life without having to work….and a great opportunity to launch a singing career of their own…cuz they know their big dicks that ravage white pussy and that get white pussy addicted…will cosign and bankroll anything they do, so long as they don’t stop the goodness… I’ve always seen great potential in Amy Winehouse, as both something fun to fuck if you are into necorphilia and not ready to take the plunge into fucking a dead chick and as a broken down person that would be great for business if you could get inside her…My love for her all started with her big natural Jewish tits on her small frame that turned into some gutter tits but have found a new life by becoming ridiculous implants…cuz I guess that’s the UK way….or at least a good cover-up for a drug overdose…and they are still worth staring at…. Pics via Bauer

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Amy Winehouse’s New Tits with her New Black Cock of the Day

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WaPo Art Critic Slams Norman Rockwell as Lacking ‘Courage’

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Artist Norman Rockwell’s thought crime seems to be that he wasn’t a kneejerk liberal. And for that, he has earned an angry leftwing rant from Washington Post art critic Blake Gopnik who claimed that Rockwell lacked “courage” for not glorifying leftwing causes. Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” series? It disgusts Gopnik because it “doesn’t invoke a communist printing his pamphlets or an atheist on a soapbox.” So if Gopnik can’t stand the popular Norman Rockwell, just what kind of art does he like? You can find out below the fold but a warning: please be sure you are not consuming liquids while viewing an example of Gopnik art or you risk spewing it over your computer monitor when you burst out laughing. However, before we take a look at Gopniks laughable taste in art, let us join him in mid-rant as he tells us how much he absolutely hates Norman Rockwell: Norman Rockwell is often championed as the great painter of American virtues. Yet the one virtue most nearly absent from his work is courage. He doesn’t challenge any of us, or himself, to think new thoughts or try new acts or look with fresh eyes. From the docile realism of his style to the received ideas of his subjects, Rockwell reliably keeps us right in the middle of our comfort zone.  And here is more of Gopnik leaving the sanity zone: Rockwell’s greatest sin as an artist is simple: His is an art of unending cliché. The reason we so easily “recognize ourselves” in his paintings is because they reflect the standard image we already know. His stories resonate so strongly because they are the stories we’ve told ourselves a thousand times.  …America isn’t about Rockwell’s one-note image of it — or anyone else’s. This country is about a game-changing guarantee that equal room will be made for Latino socialists, disgruntled lesbian spinsters, foul-mouthed Jewish comics and even, dare I say it, for metrosexual half-Canadian art critics with a fondness for offal, spinets and kilts. Speaking of offal, here is an example of the kind of art Gopnik likes:  That’s right. A smudgy piece of ugly printing is considered great art by Gopnik. Of course, to Gopnik art is all about politics even to the extent of the need for affirmative action art. Here he is analyzing art quotas of works that appeared in the Obama White House: They seem to redress past imbalances in the nation’s sense of its own art….But there are still only six works by women, vs. 41 by men. And there are no works at all by Latinos. (A work by the deceased Cuban American artist Félix González-Torres would have filled the gap perfectly, and added a nod to the country’s gay culture. The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum has one that could have been borrowed.) Bottom line: it is politics, not really art that has Gopnik so upset at Norman Rockwell. And compared to what he considers good art, those velvet paintings that used to be sold at gas stations look like masterpieces.

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WaPo Art Critic Slams Norman Rockwell as Lacking ‘Courage’

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Mark Halperin Signs On at MSNBC; But Wait, He Used to Bash ‘Irresponsible Partisan Niche Media’

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

TV Newser and other sites reported yesterday that MSNBC has named Time’s Mark Halperin to be its “senior political analyst,” continuing his regular gigs on the set of Morning Joe, but also adding his observations to other programming. Would that include the hard-core opinion shows like Olbermann and Maddow? Not if those stars read Halperin’s comments about our “irresponsible partisan niche media” from the Jewish newspaper Forward in 2006. ”It’s going to take citizens, whether they have strong ideological views or not, to appreciate the necessity, in a free democracy, of a powerful, responsible, unbiased press,” Halperin continued. “If the country doesn’t care if we have that, if the view of the people of America is, ‘We want irresponsible, partisan, niche media,’ that’s what we’ll have. It’s going to take consumers of news, voting through their subscriptions and their eyeballs, to have an unbiased press. Most of the trend lines are bad.” Halperin was offering one of his occasional admissions of liberal media bias that so frustrate the left-wing blogosphere. (Typical was Salon.com’s Alex Pareene, with the headline “Mark Halperin now paid to be wrong about everything on MSNBC.” He contrasts him as far inferior to MSNBC’s other recent addition, David Weigel.) Halperin argued in 2006 that conservative new media was dominating the discussion (which, er, made Obama’s election impossible?):  “We’ve gone from a system with major national news organizations strong enough to umpire, but who did it in a way that Republicans saw as liberally biased and in important ways was liberally biased,” he said. “That system has been replaced by one that favors conservatives through the new media, which masquerades as a referee but is simply part of the partisan shouting on one side or the other. The old system favored liberals but was a better referee. The new system favors conservatives but is no referee at all. Best would be if we could strengthen national news organizations and eliminate liberal bias.” So perhaps Halperin meant that only conservatives are responsible for creating “irresponsible, partisan niche media.” That would make him a nice match with Bill Press, who thinks only the conservatives engage in “toxic talk.” He may want to avoid Olbermann in the hallway with that talk of how it would be “best” to eliminate liberal bias.

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Mark Halperin Signs On at MSNBC; But Wait, He Used to Bash ‘Irresponsible Partisan Niche Media’

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Jon Voight: Barack Obama Promotes Anti-Semitism, Civil War in Arizona

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

To say Jon Voight is not a huge fan of Barack Obama would probably be a fairly safe statement, but Angelina Jolie’s estranged father has really outdone himself now. Slamming the Commander-in-Chief again in an open letter in the Washington Post , the 71-year-old staunch Republican makes some pretty strong accusations. Jon’s views, in a nutshell: Barack Obama propagandizes and hates Jews while defending criminals, illegal immigrants and terrorists for political gain. Harsh. The letter makes his anti-health care rant seem tame. Here’s what Voight had to say about Obama, who he previously termed a ” false prophet ” and his controversial foreign and domestic policies. Do you agree? “President Obama: “You will be the first American president that lied to the Jewish people, and the American people as well, when you said that you would defend Israel, the only Democratic state in the Middle East, against all their enemies.” “You have done the opposite.” “You have propagandized Israel, until they look like they are everyone’s enemy – and it has resonated throughout the world. You are putting Israel in harm’s way, and you have promoted anti-Semitism throughout the world.” “You have brought this to a people who have given the world the Ten Commandments and most laws we live by today. The Jewish people have given the world our greatest scientists and philosophers, and the cures for many diseases.” “Now you are playing a very dangerous game so you can look like a true martyr to what you see and say are the underdogs. But the underdogs you defend are murderers and criminals who want Israel eradicated.” “You have brought to Arizona a civil war, once again defending the criminals and illegals, creating a meltdown for good, loyal, law-abiding citizens.” “Your destruction of this country may never be remedied. We may never recover.” “I pray to God you stop, and I hope the people in this great country realize your agenda is not for the betterment of mankind, but for the betterment of your politics.” With heartfelt and deep concern for America and Israel, Jon Voight” Umm, sure. What do you think? Is Jon going too far with these remarks? Is the President really fostering destruction from which we may never recover? Interestingly, Us Weekly recently reported that Angelina Jolie has often gotten into some heated fights over Obama with beau Brad Pitt. “She’s into education and rehabilitation and thinks Obama is all about welfare and handouts,” a source said. “She thinks Obama is really a socialist in disguise.” Is Barack Obama a communist?

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Jon Voight: Barack Obama Promotes Anti-Semitism, Civil War in Arizona

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