Twelve dead, 29 injured (updates continue) on Bondi Beach in Australia

Very much sending Love and support to all our Aussie friends.

I will save commentary for a more reasonable time.

Perhaps I came a bit late because you might already know this, but it is worth sharing the obituary anyway.

RIP James Ransone. Actor James Ransone, known for his role in ‘The Wire,’ dead at 46.

His fictional character, Ziggy Sobotka, was one of my favourites in The Wire. I read on the Internet that he also performed in other interesting works of American drama.

More than a dozen staff members at the influential conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation are leaving the organization to join a group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence.

The mass departure follows turmoil within Heritage and the larger conservative movement over the role of right-wing influencers who've promoted antisemitic and other extremist ideas. Those tensions were on display at Heritage after its president, Kevin Roberts, released a video defending Tucker Carlson for a friendly interview in October with Nick Fuentes, an avowed white nationalist who has previously praised Adolf Hitler. — NPR

I found this story interesting. The right seems to be dividing out between the ideologues and the entertainers. The former are trying to push their ideology and the latter trying to get as many hits as possible. You've got Tucker Carlson platforming an open racist/misogynist/anti-Semite (Fuentes), Candace Owen with crazy conspiracy theories, and plenty of others complicit on that side. Then you've got the true believers running from them (the Heritage Foundation members, Pence, and Shapiro). The fault line was openly exposed by Shapiro (an Orthodox Jew) with his open atrack on Carlson when Fuentes said Hitler was great guy (or some such).

Vance, not wanting to lose support from the racist crowd, has tried to ride the fence. Hopefully that works out poorly for him.

What I'm hoping is this moment signals the beginning of the end to Trump Republicanism. Unfortunately the left has responded to Trump by shifting too far left for ordinary voters, which means the binary choice will be between radicals.

The next few years will be interesting. Vance commented that he's fascinated by Bernie Sanders. I hope that's a good sign, because Sanders is a fundamentally decent human being, whatever one thinks of his politics.

A rather confused analysis.

In fact what is happening in the U.S. and throughout Europe is the rise of forms of ethno-nationalism (similar to what is in effect in Israel), largely in response to the post-war policies of "openness" and "inclusivity," and spurred on by the inevitable problems being caused by mass immigration (from grooming gangs in England to widespread fraud in Minnesota).

The reaction of the post-war generation is predictable: accuse everyone of "racism" or some made-up "phobia" and hope the problem goes away. Instead of having an honest look at the real problems, just rely on dogma, taboo, and shibboleths in conjunction with a great deal of sanctimony. Indeed, this has been the policy of TPF in banning individuals who raise these burgeoning societal issues, from Lionino to Bob Ross. This has resulted in a highly insular echo chamber filled with individuals who cannot see the forest for the trees.

R. R. Reno is among those who have catalogued the problem that the post-war regime will inevitably have to stop ignoring with their taboos and gaslighting. Here is a short video.

Instead of having an honest look at the real problems, just rely on dogma, taboo, and shibboleths in conjunction with a great deal of sanctimony. Indeed, this has been the policy of TPF in banning individuals who raise these burgeoning societal issues, from Lionino to Bob Ross. This has resulted in a highly insular echo chamber filled with individuals who cannot see the forest for the trees. — Leontiskos

We can openly discuss what you've described, which is a societal reaction to stresses, without entertaining thinly concealed attempts at advocacy for unacceptable positions

For example, you may wish to argue Nick Fuentes arose from a dysfunctional system and that to correct the problem we should identify the source, but that doesn't equate to our treating his positions as valid.

I don't get to parade my misogyny around (for example) because society hasn't taught me a better way to express myself. If you want to talk about why misogyny might be on the rise we can, but if I speak not as the analyst, but the advocate, I should expect ostracizism.

So, if you want to know why homophobia is on the rise, ask it. If you want to say gays are disgusting deviates (as Bob did), save it or get banned. There's a difference between asking why bigots are on the rise and catering to them.

:up: :up: :up:

Squirrel seeks shelter:

:up:

The difference between advocating and analysis is often obscured by those who use "freedom of speech" as a tool to attempt bringing in a trojan horse of bigoted bullshit to a discussion.

If someone is unable to spot the difference, that is either utter stupidity, or just an act to keep the "freedom of speech"-shield up against any criticism.

Not tolerating the intolerant is an act to defend freedom of speech.

Yeah, definitely agree here. There's some issues with his finances etc... but clearly a reasonable person in general.

I'm unsure you're seeing hte problem that objectors see with that position. It's not quite that it's "wrong" - because intolerance, on it's face is something soceity rejects. So much is true, and te concept is sound.

But what constitutes "intolerance" is often confused, muddled and in some cases plainly reversed (i.e UK arrests for pithy posts, abusing citizens for wearing tshirts you don't like etc..). I am not saying you, personally, would indulge in this sort of confusion but it clearly happens that, apparently, plenty agree that killing Charlie Kirk was justified on those grounds. I presume you'd disagree? So maybe there's less daylight between the two positions than initially appears.
Which is worse: Wearing a MAGA shirt, or assaulting someone wearing one? Again, not putting that on your shoulders just illustrating why some are going to just laugh at this.

Not tolerating the intolerant is an act to defend freedom of speech. — Christoffer

When adequately tempered and moderated, sure, but then the questions arise about who gets to draw lines etc... It may seem obvious to you where they are, but that doesn't make you right.

Another fatal high-speed train crash in Spain. At least more than 20 people have been killed. :sad:

High-speed train crash in southern Spain leaves at least 21 dead.

UPDATE: The death toll is 39.

High-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and crashed into an oncoming train on Sunday in southern Spain.

Turtle saves other turtle.

Absolutely indefensible verdict acquitting Palestinian Action 'protesters' of aggravated burglary and GBH which the judge should have thrown out immediately. This better get challenged and reversed - there is no possible way to have acquitted people who were filmed carrying out the offense they are on trial for. Juries can do this because of bias - but the judicial system is bound to correct this. It is legally untenable.

Further, disgusting that Jeremy Corbyn called this is a triumph for Palestinian action: If that's the case, you support terrorism and political violence. Full stop. Absolutely abhorrent stuff.

Just to counter the one-sided propaganda: the protesters’ did indeed have a defense, including that the security used excessive force and that video footage went “missing.” Actually perfectly defensible, to anyone who has the slightest clue about law.

The selective outrage is telling. Notice that it’s not directed at genocide, but rather at those trying to stop it. That’s striking. Also embarrassing.

The article says it best:

“Our loved ones dared to poke this beast – and no expense has been spared in policing, prosecuting and imprisoning them without trial. Imagine if the government had put the same amount of money, resources and political will into preventing a genocide.”

Yes, and likewise — if only the righteous indignation and posturing outrage were directed more towards the genocide part. These are the same types that would have vehemently opposed those trying to stop the Holocaust, reserving the harshest language for their unlawfulness and crimes while ignoring or minimizing the actual atrocities. And we know why: they either deny it’s happening or don’t care. Disgusting indeed.

The acquittal should be celebrated. I’m very heartened to hear it.