Kate has some interesting comments at Smalldeadanimals re- Kangaroo Court

From the comment section.......

"My Dear Canadian Friends,

Even though I am an American, I have been watching the Mark Steyn trial closely these last few days.

I must say that through this trial I have been given me a much greater respect for the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and our Supreme Court. At one time I thought it silly that pole dancing and Hustler magazine were "protected speech"...but I must say I would much rather have flag burning and pole dancing and Hustler magazine be "protected speech" than have the Canadian Human Rights Commissions deciding what is and is not plus ungood thoughtcrime.

Yes, the Human Rights Commission IS an embarrassment to eight centuries of English Common Law and Jurisprudence. (Somehow I suspect that if Mr.Steyn were to reference that the Magna Carta was signed at 1215 he would be told that the Court had been in lunch recess from 12:00 to 12:55 and that if he wanted to introduce a document into evidence he should not do so while the Court is at lunch.) Still we should not look just at the darkness here... as an American I try to look on the bright side.

Yes, there is a bright side, at least for the Yanks. The HRC has accomplished the rather difficult goal of making the Canadian Government into the laughing stock of the entire English Speaking World. That is no small accomplishment considering the stiff competition for that title coming from both Washington D.C. and 10 Downing Street these days! In fact, for many years taking that title from Washington D.C was a goal considered to be impossible by many. Nonetheless through timidity, intellectual blindness, and the sort of sheer bureaucratic ignorance that makes a brick look intelligent and open minded by comparison, the HRC has managed to make the Bush Administration, the Democratic Congress, and even Gordon Brown look like models of competent, intelligent, and well managed government. By hitting a new rock bottom, the HRC has managed to make the rest of us look better by comparison. Thank you!

Yes, this no doubt is humiliating for many Canadians, seeing your nation treat the Magna Carta and eight hundred years of Common Law as so much paper to be recycled; but do not think your pain goes unrecognized. We Yanks sincerely thank the HRC for its' exceptional efforts to make sure that the US does not have the most moronic government on the continent. We understand and respect that this was no small accomplishment. The truly stunning levels of stupidity exhibited by the HRC may be a national embarrassment to Canada; but they make the rest of us look brilliant by comparison. No longer will Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama have to be the brunt of jokes...now even the most backward, ignorant and inbred areas of the South will be able to point at Canadian Human Rights Tribunals and say "Well, at least we ain'ts as ignorant and bigoted as them guys!"

I know that the next time I encounter an American bureaucrat who has an I.Q. that would be considered sub-normal for a turnip, the learning ability of a tennis ball, and who exhibits the sort of mental agility that is normally associated only with members of the plant kingdom, I will say to myself "Well it could be worse... in the Canadian Civil Service this person would be considered a genius and be the Judge on a Human Rights Commission!" and I will again thank my lucky stars that I live SOUTH of our common border.

I would like to say "Keep up the good work!" but to be honest, as displays of bureaucratic incompetence and sheer mental dullness go, this one will be hard to top."

Steyn/ Macleans

Bumped

The Kangaroo Court will commence shortly

Coyne....liveblogging....
“The blog world is never quiet. It never sleeps. Its’s 24/7, 365, and there are a lot of strange people out there. And this article did not stir them to life.”....


Putting all these together, what is going on here? “These complaints are not about hate speech at all. These complaints seek a fundamental change in speech regulation by human rights authorities which would empower tribunals across the country to force magazines and newspapers to publish replies at equal length” to articles that some group disagrees with — ie a statutory right of reply.

This is not a new movement. There were attempts to legislate such things in the past. They’re contrary to the constitution, and this tribunal is not the place to try to invent such a doctrine.

Notes that this is about speech that does not fall under the criminal code’s proscription. Availability of human rights code route means “that anyone can be dragged into costly hearings without the protection afforded under criminal law.”

“A hard shove down the slippery slope to censorship.” Must be met “with unflagging resistance form everyone who values freedom in a democratic society.”........

These last five days have been about Meaclean’s vital detailed opinion. “This is what journalism does for liberty.” It’s part of “the essential trade of journalism — argument, fierece argument, dissent, contrariness — the very ‘tocsin of liberty.’” He’s quoting JFK there, and, well, imitating his accent.

Against the argument that you cannot cry fire in a crowded theatre: “Oh yes you can — you must, if in your considered view there is a fire. In that case there is a duty to cry fire.” And he’s done.

(Apparently the Star Chamber didn't want a spotlight on it- maybe CPAC should have covered it - since it was about Freedom of Speech- a concept obviously foreign to some)

"CODA: There will be no more liveblogging. As I left the courtroom for the lunch break, i was taken aside by a sheepish-looking court official, who said that he’d just learned that I had been “broadcasting” from inside the courtroom. So had I. Broadcasting, I said? I didn’t have a microphone, or a camera.

No, he explained: but liveblogging counts as broadcasting. It’s not the computer that’s the problem. You can type away on it all you want. If you step outside to send it, that’s okay, too. But if you send text from within the courtroom, that’s broadcasting.

Anyway, I gave him my solemn word that I would do no more broadcasting. What with the hearings being almost over and all. It seemed a fitting way to put a cap on the week.

Documents associated with the Maclean’s hearing—updated as we receive them:

* Written submissions of the Canadian Association of Journalists and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
* Written submission of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
* Outline of Maclean’s closing submissions
* Statement by Julian Porter, Q.C."

Gas prices- about 30% is speculation, never mind all the other BS excuses

"Refugee children 'sold to Darfur rebels to fight'

Writer says he wants to lose human rights case...........( basically a farce in 3 acts)

Rights watchdogs in the spotlight

Captain Leary returns home on the Highway of Heroes

Steyn / Macleans-- Human Rights Commission -The Current's Podcast.........Part 2

Ezra Levant --looking forward to his Kangaroo Court

Remember this is D-Day and what Canadians were fighting for - Liberty and Freedom- that seems to be going down the toilet 64 years later.Those brave Canadians who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country would be spinning in their graves if they knew how those Freedoms were being eroded

Crime beat

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Global warming- $45 Trillion...........................Bloomberg

Of course a lot of long term financial projections have never been accurate. Usually low balled to get a Project going and then the "extra" costs begin to add up.

D-Day

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...and here

This is Zimbabwe

Global warming Carbon

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