Thursday, August 30, 2007

Ann Coulter On Alberto Gonzales, And Chinese Propaganda About Tibet: A Comparison

I find it fascinating that, no matter what kind of totalitarianism we're talking about, the stink of the apologists is much the same. Consider the case of Ann Coulter's latest column: a defense of Alberto "No Recollection" Gonzales.

Here are some recent points from China.org.cn about how things are better in Tibet since China's genocidal invasion and occupation (sorry... "repatriation") in the 1950's, followed by some tidbits from the latest steaming lump of Coulterness about America's Greatest Attorney-General In Recent Memory (recent being the last week or so). Compare and contrast:

"Lamaism follows a strict hierarchical system that requires students to obey their master, contending that this system prevents people from developing their own personalities."

Kids, I recall a guy named Mao. It seems to me he wasn't really a big fan of "doing your own thing" either.

"...the door of consultation and dialogue on the personal future of the Dalai Lama is always open if he truly gives up his pursuit of "Tibet independence."

"We'll listen as soon as you start saying something we want to listen to."

"...the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) stressed the importance to unswervingly adhere to the people's congress system and the system of regional autonomy of ethnic groups in Tibet Autonomous Region."

"The guards have promised to respect the autonomy of your head as they are clubbing it."

And now, some recent points from Ann Coulter about US Justice:

"-- Innocent people put in prison by Ashcroft: 0
-- Innocent people put in prison by Gonzales: 0
-- Innocent people put in prison by Reno: at least 1 that I know of"

Of course, Janet Reno didn't have the Homeland Security provisions that Ashcroft and Gonzo had, so maybe, officially, Ann's right on this one.

"-- Number of obvious civil rights violations ignored by Ashcroft: 0
-- Number of obvious civil rights violations ignored by Gonzales: 0
-- Number of obvious civil rights violations ignored by Reno: at least 1

On Aug. 19, 1991, rabbinical student Yankel Rosenbaum was stabbed to death in Crown Heights by a black racist mob shouting "Kill the Jew!" as retaliation for another Hasidic man killing a black child in a car accident hours earlier."

By definition (having eliminated so many civil rights) Ashcroft and Gonzales can't really be said to have ignored any civil rights violations... right? Besides, there aren't any US citizens locked up in Gitmo, are there?

Oops.

"Number of 6-year-old boys deported to totalitarian dictatorships by Ashcroft: 0
Number of 6-year-old boys deported to totalitarian dictatorships by Gonzales: 0
Number of 6-year-old boys deported to totalitarian dictatorships by Reno: 1"

Ah, little Elian, how we miss you. It was terrible, that mean old government sending you back to your nasty father. At least we've heard of you though. If you had fallen into the hands of the CIA's "rendition program" of smuggling suspected terrorists out to countries more willing to use torture than the US to interrogate you (a shorter list than it once was), you may have suffered in anonymity. No one deserves that.

Except, maybe, Ann Coulter.

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