RON PAUL RALLY, SOUTH LAWN, US CAPITOL, WASHINGTON DC: APRIL 15, 2008 [*sigh*] So this is what it's come down to. Yeah, OK ... we're all listing a bit to port [or is it starboard]. It's been a long day. First ... this. [urf] Then work, then ... taxes. With a nice Cabernet in between. To deaden the pain. Sorta. I won't even mention traffic. I have to say ... this was one of the smallest, most jejune turnouts that wasn't an ANSWER protest I've ever seen. And that's saying a lot. It bore a pathetic and striking resemblance to church [*blurp*] barbecues I used to attend with my thank-gawd-ex-wife. Except fewer kids. ... or not. I'm guessing that "Hope for America" can somehow be fathomed as emanating from this and other like get-up. Perhaps we can all "be a part" of "it". Or not. For some impenetrable, abstruse reason "costuming" was prevalent at this event. I was, thankfully, no part of "it". It was a nice day, though. DC in the spring is just lovely. Then it's tax time. I hate taxes. Which is something I and the Paulans have in common. I think it has something to do with working around the Federal Government for years and years [and more years] on end. I can see, literally, where my tax dollars go ... a privilege denied those "beyond the beltway" ... and it ain't pretty. I can't help but think, come April 16, as I deal once again with another brickheaded apparatchik: "Ah, yes ... my tax dollars." I had a buddy once who said that I should be proud to pay so much in taxes ... it means I'm doing extremely well! I suppose I should assume the same attitude when people key my car or try to break into my home. Wow! I must be doing well! Thanks! He is an awfully clean looking bloke. What can one say. Then we have the seriously disturbed ... ... and the disturbingly serious. ... as we end on the inevitable coda of an inscrutably held and slightly dissonant chord. Be sure to check out other coverage of the rally at This Ain't Hell. Jonn and I met at the rally and had some laughs.

FREE SPEECH IN AN AGE OF JIHAD, APRIL 10, 2008: NEW YORK CITY I took this image [left] well after the conference. My lovely spouse Julia and I just finished a fulfilling dinner at Shun Lee ... a great Chinese restaurant near Lincoln Center ... and were combing the streets of East Side Manhattan ... when she looked up and pointed out the moon. Yes, we're that type of couple. I thought that the moon was beautiful, the building was gorgeous and the sky perfect so I snapped it. Somehow, I also think the crescent moon juxtaposed against a part of the Manhattan skyline a highly appropriate image to cap the day. I wasn't able to get any video of this conference. The material I did get ... Mark Steyn's luncheon address ... is probably copyrighted material and I'm awaiting permission to post. It's about 45 minutes long and, sadly, only audio. But who wants to watch a talking head for 45 minutes anyway? And the fact is I want to use all of it, which would put me well beyond the bounds of fair use. Believe me, it's well worth the wait. I checked the audio and it's highly entertaining and of OK quality. I didn't have any problem understanding every word, though there are some crowd noises and some inevitable glass tinkling [it was a luncheon after all]. Mark Steyn's people got back to me and have referred me to Roger Kimball of the New Criterion. I haven't heard back from him. The Conference took place at the Princeton Club on West 43rd Street. I guess the Columbia Club is only "In Residence". I'm not sure I would have advertised that. It's one thing to take second billing ... quite another to do so "In Residence" I would think. This is me with Robert Spencer, Director of Jihad Watch and author extraordinaire. OK, you can't really see me, but that's my hand. I'm standing beside him. Really. I cropped myself out ... as I'll explain below. I know, I know ... I can almost hear my half-dozen loyal readers lament. "Again with the hand." What's with the hand? The fact is ... that that's it ... that's all you're gonna get. A hand. My hand. This time my right hand. Live with it. Look, I meet a lot of pretty nefarious creatures at the "events" I normally cover. Some real head-choppers. I was even followed by some after an anti-Israel protest last year. Emes. Then there's Code Pink. I've been followed by a couple of them, too ... but for what seem to be highly different [but almost as deeply disquieting] motivations. [shudder] Now, it's true: both Code Pink's Medea Benjamin and her tanless toady Brian Becker of ANSWER know me by sight, but I still like to maintain at least some anonymity. Nice hand, though, huh?
Here's the interior of the room the conference took place in. Nice. I'm trying out my new Canon Rebel XTi, so if there's a lack of consistency with these photos ... that's why. I did a lot of experimenting. Mostly I hate using a flash, so I tried a number of settings to avoid that. Not all the results were good. The photo [above] is OK, I think. I used the flash with this one. This is Roger Kimball, Editor of the New Criterion and the Moderator for the first panel. I try to not miss an article by him if I can help it. Ezra Levant was there, of course. He and I and my lovely wife had a very nice and somewhat lengthy conversation near the end of the conference ... touching on many subjects; from the conference to raising kids. Frankly, Ezra's just about the most personable and agreeable person I've ever met. I can see now just how angry he must have been during the Canadian "Human Rights" Commission kangaroo court for him to lose his cool to even the small extent that he did. He's a real mench. Here's a nice photo of him speaking with some other attendees after his panel presentation. Mark Steyn showed up about half way through the first panel and stood quietly near the back ... very close to where my wife and I were seated. I approached him and asked him if I could take a photo and he agreed ... the photo didn't turn out well, though, so I'm not including it. Blast. This photo was taken during the luncheon before Mark spoke. I think this was the heavy-hitter table. As I said above, I have his complete speech in audio. It's about 45 minutes and I think the whole thing is worth hearing. However, this event was a private event and using all 45 minutes is well well beyond "fair use", so I don't feel comfortable posting it without permission. I contacted his people and they got back to me pretty quickly and referred me to Roger Kimball. I contacted him but by that time is was in the late afternoon, so I don't expect to have any answer before Monday. The fellow in the foreground Steven Emerson, Director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. We sat at the same table. Robert Bork was there for the final panel. He is, of course, a firm defender of the First Amendment, but he reminded us that even Justice Holmes' "Marketplace of Ideas" dictum has it's limits. He reminded us that Holmes himself fought during the Civil War and was wounded four times. Holmes, more than many, knew that there are times when the civility of political debate breaks down and everyone needs to recognize that they are in a struggle ... and like any struggle there will be winners and losers ... and that we all need at those times to hunker down and do our duty and fight hard for what we know is right. It's time for us to recognize the struggle that we're in and work for victory. I had the opportunity to meet other bloggers at this event. Here's Pam Geller of Atlas Shrugs. I also had the privilege of meeting Judith Weiss of Kesher Talk, though sadly I didn't get a good photo of her.

Free Speech in an Age of Jihad Libel Tourism, “Hate Speech,” and Political Freedom The lovely Julia Flyte and I will be driving our convertible to New York City tomorrow under hopefully sunny skies to attend a seminar. Said seminar will be this Thursday ... hosted by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and The New Criterion. The subject is "Free Speech in an Age of Jihad Libel Tourism, “Hate Speech,” and Political Freedom". Mark Steyn will be the Luncheon Keynote Speaker ... his topic: “The Dimming of Liberty: Legal Jihad and the Criminalization of Resistance.” Perhaps there will be seething on the street. One never knows ... one can but hope. Should prove interesting. I'm sure to have some photos. Perhaps video. Check back!