william.scherk

Thanks! I can only imagine the impact that last part of the speech made on Egyptians watching DreamTV -- while state television was broadcasting harsh propaganda against 'foreign elements,' 'spies,' 'saboteurs' and so on. I could not help but be moved by his reaction to the montage of the dead's photos, and his breakdown. I think -- as the WSJ and other outlets noted -- this interview played a part in the next day's massive turnout in the streets. Shows me the power that media can have over human emotion and action. For anyone who wonders what may have impelled implacable resistance to the regime, please watch the second video above and imagine you lived under the regime on that evening of the broadcast. Powerful stuff.

I always imagine our politicians using their electoral rhetoric at home. Layton strikes me as one who has a hard time shifting into normal English. Here is him at home complaining about Olivia's household management, and calling on the kids to help sway the House. "Canadians are asking for a change of the towels. Folks losing their socks, looking at their last pay cheque don’t know where to turn. Husbands are trying to decide what bills they can afford to pay. There is a majority Coalition in this House that’s ready to act on pressing issues for Canadian families. For the families already hurting from the economic crisis, we are having meatloaf, again. Business and labour leaders demanded action, and we get meatloaf, again. How long will ordinary Canadians put up with this government's refusal to listen to the people?" Read more: http://www.ndp.ca/press/jack-laytons-speech-to-toronto-rally-for-change#ixzz1Dm7fvEWN

A striking interview with Wael Ghonim, the Google executive whose sinister manipulation of the revolution was noted by Glenn Beck in the video above. Embedded in an excellent Wall Street Journal blog dispatch, . See also the WSJ story cited by Beck -- The Secret Rally That Sparked an Uprising. (the interview was broadcast on the non-state satellite channel DreamTV. The second part is especially significant)

Check against the notes on family law and custody at International-divorce.com, Adam. See also the changes made in 2005. The child does not move to the physical custody of the father without court adjudication.

The New York Times has gander at television coverage of the day Mubarak left office, in a story called Mubarak’s Fall Prompts Double Takes by Anchors. More 'gushing' over Al Jazeera.

With regard to Egypt, or their own countries? Egypt. How can that kind of revolution be spun so that the readers don't think, "well, yeah, but who elected you, dude?"

Good call. That whole thread is an education, a living definition of Incorrigible. I can only imagine Mrs Grundy at home: -- you have your sweater on backward. -- no, I don't. -- and inside-out. -- nuh uh. -- and it doesn't match your skirt, which is also on backwards. -- wrong. -- well, sweetheart, if you want to wear the green skirt with the orange top and the seam sides out and zippers to the front, to your interview for deputy hallmonitor at the Pre-school, I can't stop you. The white socks and fuck-me pumps are a nice touch though. Good luck. -- what's that supposed to mean? -- it means I love you, darling, and always will, but sometimes you are fucked in the head. I know you are going to change your pretty outfit once you get on the bus, and that when you get home later you will pretend that this conversation never happened. It's okay. Here's your lunch. Try not get hit by a car again. Call me if you get lost. -- I didn't get hit by a car.

Where do you live, if you don't mind me asking, and if telling doesn't mean the secret police with drag you off. I have been searching for some kind of official reaction from Cuba, Belarus, North Korea and Libya.

Hilarious interview by Iran State Television with an Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood member. The Iranian propaganda machine has been ladling out the hooey bigtime, trying to gather the Egyptian uprising under the skirts of Big Momma Islamic Iran. The title of the story is US support for Mubarak insults Egyptians -- but that is out of the mouth of the Iranian. Read the interview to see the Muslim Brotherhood guy refuse to take the bait. Quite funny.

I would say that have figured out the first fifteen steps. Revise the Constitution Articles 76, 77, 88, 93, 181, and 189. Annul Article 179. End administrative practices that harry independent media. End the dominance of the NDP over the judiciary. End NDP dominance of state media. End emergency detentions. End emergency courts. End torture in military and civil prisons. End harassment of civil society organs. Release political prisoners. David, these things have been figured out. What remains to be seen is how and when and in what order the Supreme Military Council lives up to its word to implement every single one of these steps.

It's going viral! Over 300 views so far!

Here are a few more US elected officials who have no reason to comment on the Egyptian situation. I leave off the link and particular attributions for a few hours so that Il Consiglieri can prepare a denunciamento. There are both Democrats and Republicans mixed in here, but it is obvious who is who . . . suffice it to say that they should all keep their mouths shut. _______________________________ "The Iranians trying to take advantage of the situation in Europe have only exposed the bankruptcy of their system. I say to our Iranian friends: let your people march, let your people speak, release your people from jail, let them have a voice!" "I hope this will lead to an orderly transition to a more orderly government." "I am pleased that President Mubarak has heard and heeded the voice of the Egyptian people, who have called for change. It is crucial that Mubarak's departure be an orderly one and that it leads to true democracy for Egypt, including free, fair and open elections. We caution all sides against violence during this transition, and we will be watching the situation closely. We wish the Egyptian people the best in their next steps toward determining their own future under a democratic process." "I congratulate the Egyptian people for their resolve, courage, and determination to end a thirty year undemocratic system. President Mubarak's resignation today is a major step toward democracy, but it does not complete the task. We should encourage the military, which is now in control, to set out a path to achieve free, transparent, and open elections no later than the current September schedule. There must be an immediate end to any and all laws that prevent the development of viable political parties and a process that encourages moderate and progressive parties to emerge. At this moment, ‘We are all Egyptians.'" "Now that the immediate demands of the Egyptian people have been met, steps must be taken for the prompt commencement of a calm and orderly transition process towards freedom and democracy in Egypt... The Egyptian military can continue to play a constructive role in providing for security and stability during this transformational period. The U.S. and our allies must focus our efforts on helping to create the necessary conditions for such a transition to take place. We must also urge the unequivocal rejection of any involvement by the Muslim Brotherhood and other extremists who may seek to exploit and hijack these events to gain power, oppress the Egyptian people, and do great harm to Egypt's relationship with the United States, Israel, and other free nations." "This announcement is a positive step, and an historic opportunity - and major challenge - for the people of Egypt to establish a government that's responsive to their hopes and needs... The U.S. must stand ready to support an Egyptian-led transition and reform process that respects universal freedoms, human rights, and the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people." "Only the Egyptian people can determine if Egypt's military can be trusted... We should stand with them in their right to self determination." "America stands for the right of the Egyptian people to realize their highest aspirations, and today's news of President Mubarak's resignation marks the most significant moment in Egypt's recent history... I am hopeful that the Egyptian military, now in power, will follow through on recent promises to amend Egypt's constitution, implement democratic changes, investigate the acts of violence that ensued in recent weeks, and advance an orderly and peaceful transition." "The Egyptian people have asked for something very simple and yet remarkable, something that every American can identify with; a good job, food on the table, and a say in the future of their country. America has stood with the Egyptian people and taken its place on the right side of history. Egypt, and the entire world, will remember America's stand for peace and democracy for generations to come. While the resignation of President Mubarak is a monumental step, it is a first step. Egypt's transition to true democracy will require continued support from the United States and peace loving nations throughout the world." "It is impossible to watch the images coming from Egypt of huge numbers of ordinary Egyptians - young and old, secular and religious, men and women, rich and poor - and not be deeply moved by their struggle to bring democracy and human rights to one of the world's great civilizations. Ultimately, the Egyptian people control their political destiny, but the stakes are high for the United States as well. If Egypt succeeds in building a functioning, credible democracy in the heart of the Arab world, it could lead to a new era for hundreds of millions of people."

Later today, at 4:30 pm EST, or so says Scott J. DeSapio (the Online Marketing Director) in reply to comments at the page above. Apparently the 'count-down' clock is bozed, and no one can fix it:

Cool. How might we tuck the Balfour Declaration into a tale of Muslim/Nazi serial killers and dumbass Jews?

Looking forward to a rightly-reasoned statement on events. You seem to intuitively grasp what everyone above the station of adjunct pooperscooper should not say and not do, so it would be instructive to hear your comments. In the meantime, the official Objectivist view of events in the Middle East.

Looking forward to that. In the meantime, how about this statement:

I feel a great empathy for our Libertarian Muslim. He is attempting to put down roots and establish an independent identity and make his way in the world, but he is handicapped by the pull of some heavy weights or contradictory attachments. The first is his partial belief in gods. The second is his partial belief in libertarianism. The third is his partial adherence to Islam. The fourth is his partial attachment in his ethnicity. The fifth is his partial attachment to his citizenship. The sixth is his partial attachment to reason. He would like to integrate these incompatible things, to combine all the aspects and attachments and be happy and be wise and be authoritative and be just and fair and honest and respected all at the same time, and it is not possible.

You say, no, but the Organization of Turkish Culture says . . Turkish boys commit 'honour' crimes Honor Killings And Violence Against Women In Turkey

Best start a fresh thread for that, Carol. I suggest "Inexpressibly boring Canucki politics," so folks don't get sidetracked. I would gladly answer there.

You may be quite right -- even though you have an implacable disgust/bias -- what I like to hear is strong enunciation of American principles of freedom. I recall the way Reagan dealt with Marcos . . . dragged out, impotent, indifferent, and ultimately pitiable in retrospect. Reagan offered fuck all to the movement that forced the brutal Marcos regime from office. In any case, maybe only Americans really give a shit about the US position, or obsess and fret and fuss and make partisan hay. Do you think Egyptians pause to even consider the official US position? If they do, here is what your President released as your government position. Can you do better, Adam?

If protests manage to depose the President entirely, elections must be held in sixty days. Any chances of constitutional amendments are frozen. What Mousa says about 'every qualified Egyptian' is true, but the devil is in the details. The only way anyone can get on the ballot is by having a party of parliament sponsor/ratify their candidacy by overwhelming majority, and only party candidates can run. Which party runs parliament? The NDP, with 96% of the seats. So, say Mubarak goes to the beach, Suleiman takes over, who gets on the ballots? If Moussa could somehow get on the ballot, he could win, and then the dismantling of the entire fucking monster regime could begin. But the NDP and the entire fucking monster regime is still in command. This is why Suleiman and Mubarak are indulging in the extra-constitutional whoopee, and not obeying the strictures of the law. Egypt could have a new President two months from Mubarak's departure, but that President would not be to the present regime's taste. Today's dumbshow by the autocrat and his stooge was not credible, not transparent, not detailed, not at all responsive to the demands of Egyptians. The two simply quickened the revolt and clarified that they have lost all connection to the will of the people. It is a wonderful, sad, enthralling, powerful moment. If I could pray, I would pray that tomorrow brings no further bloodshed.

Not weird at all. I wrote that many forceful arguments can be made against teaching Arabic in schools in the USA. Then I wrote, "Putting all those things aside, there are other issues that are worth considering, to my mind." And then I wrote on those other issues. I don't know if you or anyone found them worth considering. I haven't had much reaction to that content, so I expect it's one of those 'chew it over' moments. If anybody finds what I write about Arabic/Middle Eastern media to be uninteresting 'gush,' I can live with that. I very much appreciate the opportunity to post in this forum.

This doesn't make sense. If the news is true, there is an actual legal procedure to be carried out, explicitly laid out in the Egyptian constitution. Why it doesn't make sense is threefold. Neither Suleiman or Mubarak noted the Article (82) that covers transition, although Mubarak cited in his speech several other articles explicitly: 76, 77, 88, 93, 181, and 189 (Mubarak also mentioned that he would direct procedures to annul Article 179 -- the one that allows him to send any legal matter to secret military courts). In a nutshell, if power shifts legally from a President to a Vice-President, the power to propose constitutional amendments or dismiss a cabinet expires in the transition. According to the long-version Constitution (not the one on the official site), once a VP takes over, no constitutional change is possible at all. No wonder the Egyptian Ambassador comes off confused. The way Mubarak has set up the political structure, there is no possible way to have change unless he, the sitting president directs it. It is crazy, but an indication of how Mubarak has manipulated law to prevent anyone from ever taking over from him. I almost feel sorry for the old fuck. He has been boxed in by his own dictatorial law with no way out. ++++++++++++++ Addendum: the built-in confusions are further explicated in a story from Egypt News, Experts disagree over constitutional scenarios to solve crisis in Egypt