January 17, 2005
NO DOG IN THIS FIGHT (via Tom Morin):
A ‘Commentary’ on Dutch Conservative Geert Wilders (Gary Shapiro, 1/11/05, NY Sun)
Commentary magazine hosted a morning program yesterday with a controversial member of the Dutch Parliament, Geert Wilders, who broke with his party in September 2004 when it moved to the middle and he to the right.The magazine’s managing editor, Gary Rosen, and the director of the Edmund Burke Foundation, Bart Spruyt, sat on either side of Mr. Wilders. American law books lined the conference room walls. Offprint copies of Norman Podhoretz’s Commentary article “World War IV: How It Started, What It Means, and Why We Have to Win” lay on the table — appropriate accessories to the ensuing discussion of the conflict between Islamic fundamentalism and Western Enlightenment values.
A tall, soft-spoken Dutchman with wavy blond hair and uncompromising views, Mr. Wilders said that he is polling from 6% to 20% of the Dutch electorate.
His rise to prominence can be better understood in the context of recent tragic events. The Netherlands has long been known for its tolerance; Ian Buruma in The New Yorker recently described it as a kind of “Berkeley writ large.”
Men like Pim Fortuyn don't rise to power in decent societies.
Posted by Orrin Judd at January 17, 2005 11:27 PM
David Duke polled the same kind of numbers Pim Fortuyn did.
What kind of man is David Duke?
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at January 18, 2005 8:04 AMEvil.
LA also voted against Bobby Jindahl for governer because of his skin color. That's a sick society.
Posted by: oj at January 18, 2005 9:43 AMPrecisely.
And in an electoral system like the Netherlands, would have risen to power.
So are you saying we don't live in a decent society?
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at January 18, 2005 12:22 PMIdeas matter, OJ.
Yes Duke was evil, but the high point of his electability that I think you people may be referring to was his opposition to Afirmative Action and Welfare. A year later Newt and Clinton ended the worse abuses then occurring on Welfare.
If Duke or Hitler or Hopefully the benevolent, godly, sainted Abraham Lincoln are seen as the only personality capable of ending a highly unpopular practice of the Government then sh*t hits the fan.
Jeff, I wonder what issue is currently on the Judicial table that the people are almost totally against, that could ignite the next Duke, or Hitler or other unstable personality. Hmmm I'll have to think about that.
OJ
You say La. voted against Jindal because of his skin color. Baloney, his last election was in a majority white district. Don't believe what you read in the paper.
Yes, he can carry a district, but not the rural portions of the state.
Posted by: oj at January 18, 2005 3:18 PMHe was never electable nationwide.
Posted by: oj at January 18, 2005 3:18 PMAnyone who thinks racism is as bad as paedophilia is a retard.
Posted by: David at January 18, 2005 6:08 PMNever electable Nationwide?
Heck, statewide (anywhere in the US outside a few of those fussy little Northeast entities) is bigger than the Netherlands.
David:
I think institutionalized racism is about as bad as it gets. Anyone who thinks lynchings aren't as bad as paedophilia is a retard.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at January 19, 2005 7:27 AMJeff:
Are you under the impression that makes LA a nation?
Posted by: oj at January 19, 2005 7:37 AMNo--I'm under the impression that LA as a state and the Netherlands as a nation is a distinction practically without difference.
Do you think San Marino is a nation, or a city?
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at January 19, 2005 2:30 PMSo the society of David Duke is hardly American society, while that of Fortuyn is Dutch.
Posted by: oj at January 19, 2005 5:57 PMYou have never been to the South, have you?
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at January 20, 2005 6:29 AMWhich would prove my point.
Posted by: oj at January 20, 2005 7:17 AM