Free Speech under Attack in London…

Dutch member of Parliament and EU Citizen Geert Wilders was denied entry into Great Britain today upon his arrival at Heathrow airport. Mr. Wilders was invited to attend a showing of his 17-minute film, Fitna, at the House of Lords by a member of the British Parliament.

The film describes how verses in the Koran are used to incite violence by extremist followers of Islam.

A Home Office representative, Lord West defended the arrest and expulsion, stating: “Under European law a member state of the European Economic Area may refuse entry to a national of another EEA state if they constitute a threat to public policy, public security or public health.”

The Times of London has the complete news story.

The Times also published an editorial supporting Mr. Wilders today.

Submitted by ASO member: Jeter

First Try at the Bully Pulpit?

Last night, President Obama held his first primetime press conference for a full hour of valuable all network coverage. American Idol it was not; but for those of us interested in serious political discourse and open questions it did provide a first glimpse at the new President’s style and rhetoric, now that the governing is beginning.

Sadly, President Obama repeatedly built false Republican straw men to tear down, and was intellectually dishonest in his description of Republicans as supporting “no government response” to the current economic crisis, or “tax cuts alone.” Jay Cost at RealClearPolitics provides a complete analysis.

Here’s hoping the new man with the bully pulpit doesn’t turn out to be slick-suited bully…

Submitted by ASO member: Jeter