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03.24.10 - 5:55 PM
Galloway No, Coulter Yes (Sort Of)
It seems enough rowdy Canadians turned up to protest Ann Coulter's speech at the University of Ottawa that they had to cancel it, which is all well and good. Still, some questioned why Canada would let such a hate-filled creep into their placid land to begin with - especially since they just banned British anti-war M.P George Galloway, who has led aid convoys to Gaza. Galloway, who is scheduled to speak at a March 30 war-resistance forum, was deemed "inadmissible" because of his opposition to the war in Afghanistan. He called the ban "idiotic."
"This decision is a very sad day for the Canada we have known and loved - a bastion of the freedoms that supporters of the occupation of Afghanistan claim to be defending... This has further vindicated the anti-war movement's contention that unjust wars abroad will end up consuming the very liberties that make us who we are."
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32 Comments so far
Show AllWhen I go to bookstores in Canada I can not help but notice the Anne Coulter books piled up to the Cieling that are on sale for 2.99$$.
I am just curious as to who buys Glen Beck Books. I would be as embarrassed paying for one of these at the counter as I would be buying porn.
$2.99? No book down hear in Yankeeland would sell for any less than three times that amount. Though I wouldn't buy her book if it was one red cent.
not hot off the press but these are in the remainder bin
Even recycled, I wouldn't use her screeds as toilet paper.
Maybe if it had her face on it.
A victory for the progressives -- albeit in Canada.
I still remember when Galloway was barred from entering Canada to speak.
GwNorth: Good to know that Coulter doesn't sell in Canada -- at least not in the bookstores you visit.
I've never been too embarrassed to buy porn, but I wouldn't think of buying Beck's or Coulter's trashy books.
This was a publicity stunt on Coulter's part. She knew that speaking at a Canadian University wouldn't go well for her. So of course, now she's off to the university of calgary... If she's heckled off the stage there I'll have to revise my opinion of that university. If she can do a speech without inciting hatred against any recognizable group I'll eat my furry hat.
I'll be very surprised if Calgary, Texas, is anything but ecstatic to see Coulter. There are too many rednecks who want to giggle when Ann tells a muzzie where he can fly his carpet, hardy har har.
They've moved her talk off-campus to a relatively small meeting room in the football stadium.
It was pointed out by a local comedian that her shows are simply a perfomance, just like Andrew Dice Clay (the late-'80s uber-mysogenist)scripted to offend.
the problem is she is put forward as a serious commentator, when in-fact she is just a half-rated, third-string casino standup act. They should serve beer at her shows.
The fact that Ann Coulter was "invited" in the first place shows that there are enough number of Canadians who think she has something worthwhile to say. They may be in a minority (?). But I'm willing to bet that this "minority" is actively looking to increase their numbers. They are probably more active than the progressives. And when enough of them get elected, a minority can still produce changes. The numbers game in a parliamentary system is so screwed up that it doesn't really need a solid majority to mess with the system.
I saw her "speak" at the University of Western Ontario on Monday night. Actually, all it was was a continuous spew of hearsay, hyperbole, and ad hominem attacks. If we're talking about defending free speech, shouldn't your speech at least be worth defending??? Underneath her taunts and sneers, she's incapable of putting together any kind of logical, coherent argument. Except for the Young Tory keeners in the first three rows who clapped and cheered on cue, the rest of the students were having none of it. The camel comment she made to the young Muslim student (which has been reported in the news) and the comment that "some people are not worth converting" which wasn't reported, were particularly disgusting.
From what you write, I may be in danger of having to eat my hat.
I saw the photo of the goofs in the front row at Western. They were stuffed into their suits like they were hoping it was a job fair.
These Young Tory keeners have not self-respect, especially with the way Coulter has insulted Canada in the past. Then again, Harper himself has insulted and denigrated Canada in the past, and he still gets to be Prime Minister.
Coulter is welcome in Canada...we support gays, lesbians AND transexuals here, no matter if they are ignorant hatemongers or vapid publicity sluts.
Galloway was barred from the country for donating $45,000 to Hamas...which is deemed a terrorist organisation by the Canadian Government ( and which I dont agree with, as Hamas is the elected government of the future state of Palistine)
I love the smell of gratuitous transphobia in the morning.
Also, before you claim that Canada is supportive of trans people, you might want to do some research. I mean, we're better than a lot of places, but Canadian trans people are currently second-class citizens at best.
Well, we DID dedicate the main East-West highway in the country in honour of them...
Because the Canadian government is one of the few more screwed up and backwards than our own? (Don't get me wrong though, there are many Canadians I love and admire - it's just the government that's f-ed up).
Why else do you think they are the land of baby seal clubbing and tarsands? Yes, we are the main purchaser of tarsands oil (which we are fighting to change) but we certainly don't buy those bloody baby pelts.
"Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the shadow"
HOW IS IT THAT THAT RETHUGLICAN MADE IT ACROSS THE BORDER INTO CANADA WHEN GALLOWAY WAS BLOCKED.
For the same reason the international war criminal and mass murderer George W. Bush was allowed across the border.
To preach the doctrine of hatred and capitalism to the 'Conservative' party faithful at $500 a plate.
Ezra Levant, Canada's own Jewish quisling has nothing but praise for Coulter. And Bush.
Haven't we learned this yet? The answer to bad speech is more speech, not censorship. Let the woman speak. She's her own worst enemy. www.eightfits.blogspot.com
I totally agree with you censorship of any kind is abhorrent to me. But that didn't apply in this case. For starters most of those called protesters were people angry about not being able to get in to the venue. According to the police they merely advised moving to a larger venue and there was no violence. Plus it was Colter's people who called off the event not the authorities.
She wasn't censored. She staged a publicity stunt at the U of Ottawa, nothing more. She could have given a speech there, but she saw more value in not speaking.
Canada is terrified of controversy and has the most undemocratic system of democracy possible. The population always defers to authority. We still have an unelected senate where mediocre political hacks that couldn't get elected are appointed for life at taxpayer's expense and a governor general representing the queen of england and whom people actually respect which is absolutely astonishing to me. The members of parliament are nothing but sheep herded into the chamber to vote according to the wishes of the prime minister and utterly useless otherwise. There isn't even talk about reforming these ridiculous institutions as the population is very easily pleased and passive.
Any POTUS would love to have the power to control the agenda that a Canadian PM has. All the PM has to do is order his caucus to vote the party line and it is a done deal
[Canada is terrified of controversy]
Missed the controversies over conscription, Quebec Separation, Abortion, etc., eh? Idiot.
[ and has the most undemocratic system of democracy possible.]
The votes in Canada do get counted, unlike some other countries. You don't need to be a millionaire to be elected in Canada. I'm amazed that you think the Queen actually has any real power here, she might have the power to order toast when she visits, but that's about it.
[There isn't even talk about reforming these ridiculous institutions as the population is very easily pleased and passive.]
No, Steven Harper has never advocated the triple E senate; except when he did. 'Easily pleased and passive'??? You're dumber than Coulter aren't you?
You mean, you need Alan Grayson and Anthony Weiner in your parliament? Ya can't have them. We need them in Congress.
Just tell your MP to grow a set of balls.
Have you ever BEEN to Canada? We are polite, but will still kick your ass...we just say "excuse me" when we step on your teeth.
I was amazed the CBC and rest of our so-called media didn't call attention to other speakers who'd been blocked by the Harperite gov't or by university admin. notably in Montreal. As another comment noted this person made her own decision not to speak jeez it was a couple hundred kids after all.
One good point CBC has begun to refer to her as a performance artist & in the same breath mentioned Andy Kaufman which is I think disrespectful talking of the dead you know but set my mind to wondering when she'd take up wrestling maybe with Chris Hedges. Now I'd pay to see that one.
That's all any of those mouthpieces are, really. Coulter, Limbaugh, Beck, Shannity, O'Reilly ... all performers spewing vitriol.
At least the left wing uses humor. Jon Stewart and Colbert are on Comedy Central, and their shows are obviously satire. We _know_ they're performers, because their shows are presented that way. The right-wing idiots are disguising their "humor" as "absolute truth".
Beck even admits he's not a journalist. On the March 18 episode of the Daily Show, there's a clip of Glenn Beck where he says, "I want you to know, I'm not a journalist, I'm a Conservative, I am much more a Libertarian."
yep, just a third-rate performer of the same ilk as Andrew Dice Clay. scripted to offend.
Ann's tour is oganised by this tool: Ezra Levant.
http://ezralevant.com/
a Karl Rove wannabe who got kicked out of the Conservative caucus because he wouldn't step aside and let Harper run in his safe electoral riding after harper won the leadership race. A real piece of work.