Flotsam and Jetsam - Syria Falls

And the world shrugs. Late yesterday, news came that the rebels in Syria had taken Bagdad and the 50 year tyranny of the Assad family had been toppled as the ruler Bashar al-Assad had taken off for locations unknown, presumably Russia, or perhaps Iran, his allies. Syria has been a suppurating sore on the cancer ridden patient that is the mid-east. He will not be missed, except by maybe Anna Wintour, but it's dubious that the regime that replace him will be an improvement. William Strook, Saturday Updates "Okay let's see what's happening in Syria...this is bad. Israel Radar has an excellent summation. We admit in the short term the fall of Assad would be good for Israel, as it cuts the major ratline from Hezbollah to Iran. In the long term though, the seizure of Syria by an amalgamation of rebel groups led by ex ISIS/AQ and supported by the Turks is bad. Syria will(?) fall apart. Its large Christian community will be annihilated ... This is bad. What's Erdogan's game? We don't know." Matt Vespa at TownHall, hears Reports: Plane Carrying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Reportedly Disappears. At Insty, REPORT: Syrian rebels claim Assad regime has fallen after entering Damascus and Syrian government appears to have fallen in stunning end to 50-year rule of Assad family. Althouse, "Syrian rebels topple President Assad, his whereabouts unknown." "Speaking of "whereabouts unknown"... where, if anywhere, is our President, the President of the United States? Is Biden there at all? Or is Trump already the acting President? No one stopped him from looking like the President yesterday at the French festivities.If Trump is the relevant President, we already know his ostensible position on Syria: "THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT."" Sundance at CTH, President Trump Responds to Civil War in Syria: “This is not our fight” … “Do not get involved”. 

Bob Spencer at PJM, hears the Biden White House Isn’t Blaming Trump for His Pardon of Hunter. It’s Blaming This Guy Instead, Jim Clyburn. At OTP, White House On Pardons: ‘More To Come’. Of course. Outgoing White Houses always hand out a wad of pardons, but will there be a large contingent of clearly political, preemptive pardons? Doing so would be a tacit admission that the various prosecutions of Trump and his allies were political. At Reason, After Hunter's Pardon, Joe Biden Should Support De-Weaponizing Government Power, "Maybe we can all agree that government officials shouldn’t target political enemies." Peter Navarro to Newsmax: Blanket Pardons Would Be Bad for Democracy. Navarro was jailed for defying a subpoena from the J6 committee. Pop Times hears Trump Is Going To “Beat You To Death With The Bat You Just Handed” Him: Chris Cuomo. "Biden’s announcement of the pardon on Sunday included an acknowledgment that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had engaged in politically motivated actions. Trump’s attorney cited this admission in a motion filed Tuesday seeking to dismiss his New York case. “It took exactly one day for Trump and the funky bunch to seize on the gift that Biden just gave him,” Cuomo said during his broadcast." Althouse highlights Succinct perfection in hypocrisy.

The most overpaid actress ever. pic.twitter.com/2tx3PqdA8c

— MAZE (@mazemoore) December 6, 2024

At Fox, Biden EPA makes first-ever climate change arrest "The EPA increased the number of penalties for polluters this fiscal year." "The AIM Act led to the arrest of Michael Hart, of San Diego, in March on charges related to "smuggling potent greenhouse gases," highlighted in the EPA report. The charges marked the first-ever greenhouse gas-related arrest issued under the AIM Act, but according to an EPA press release from earlier this year, "it will not be the last." From the Free Bacon, Feds Use Bank Loophole To Surveil Americans' Financial Data Without Warrants, House Judiciary Says. Nice Deb at Am Great is outraged that the Biden Regime Quietly Revokes Veterans Hiring Preference For Civil Service Jobs, too white and male. At Fox, Iowa sues Biden administration to verify status of 2,000 registered voters who may be noncitizens, "Iowa officials say state had to rely on 'imperfect' data because federal government would not provide voter information."

Matt Vespa hears There's Another Reason Why There Was No Mini-Primary After Biden's Ouster, " they were afraid to infuriate black women if someone other than Kamala won." NewsMax, Harris' Chief of Staff: VP Ran 'Pretty Flawless Campaign', except for that losing thing. Driscoll at Insty cites the NEW YORK TIMES: Kamala’s Deputy Campaign Manager Threatened Staffers Over Leaks. Also at NYT, Harris Staffers Went Rogue to Reach Black and Latino Voters in Philadelphia - The New York Times. At PJM Matt Margolis says Let's Laugh At Tim Walz Before Everyone Forgets Who He Is. I had to look up Hillary's running mate the other day.

From Breitbart, Outgoing DNC Chair Says ‘Identity Politics’ Should Remain Central Message After Landslide Loss. Da Caller, ‘I Am Naming Names’: DNC Chair Says He’s Going Scorched Earth On Party When Term Ends, Defends Identity Politics. From Twitchy, Eric Holder's 'Tired' of Billionaires Influencing Politics (Except THIS One... and THAT One). At Althouse,If only the Democratic Party could be more like a megachurch.

An idea thrown out by Barack Obama, speaking on "the power of pluralism," at the Democracy Forum in Chicago last Thursday:

[M]ega churches understand that belonging precedes belief. If you show up at one of these churches, they don’t start off peppering you with questions about whether you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. They don’t quiz you on the Bible. They invite you in, introduce you around, give you something to eat, tell you all about the activities and groups you can be a part of from the young adult social club to the ballroom dance group to the men’s choir which for those of you not familiar that’s where they put folks whose voices aren’t quite good enough to be in the main choir.... The point is megachurches are built around ‘let’s get you if here, doing stuff, meeting people, and showing you how you can participate and be active.’ It is about agency and relationships, it is not about theology or handouts. And they’re trying to create a big tent where lots of different people can feel comfortable. Once that happens, then they can have a deeper conversation about faith in a way that folks aren’t spooked by....

The ideas are creepy and offputting, so hold off on the ideas and give people a place to sing and dance and socialize.

 Insty says SAME: MTG wants ‘murder charges’ for officer who shot Ashli Babbitt. “Testimony and video from the day showed Babbitt being pushed through a door window into the House Speaker’s Lobby behind the House floor when, without warning, she was shot by Byrd. The shooting was investigated, but no charges were leveled, and Byrd was promoted. In addition to the promotion from lieutenant, Just the News reported this week that House Democratic leaders pressured the Capitol Police to give Byrd a $37,000 retention bonus, help with $160,000 in private fundraising, and housing. Meanwhile, the 115-pound Babbitt, who was 36 when shot, has been savaged in the liberal media.”

Atop Da Hill, Pete Hegseth’s lawyer threatens extortion lawsuit against accuser "Parlatore told CNN that the woman’s false claim was “put out in violation of a settlement agreement.”" Remember, Stormy Daniels owes Donald Trump bunch of money for ignoring their NDA. At RCW, Joni Ernst: “I Don’t Have a Campaign Against Pete” Hegseth "Complained Donald Trump Jr., the son of the president-elect, in a social media post Thursday, “If you're a GOP Senator who voted for Lloyd Austin but criticize Pete Hegseth then maybe you’re in the wrong political party!”" PJM's Scott Pinsker sees The Political Castration of Joni Ernst  "her hometown paper has detected an Iowa backlash. She’s in danger of being primaried." Victor Joecks at Hat Hair maintains Women Shouldn't Be in Combat Roles. At Da Blaze asks 'Why me?' Ex-Mike Pence adviser attacks Kash Patel then cries victim when met with defamation legal notice. "Olivia Troye, sued by Richard Grenell in 2022 for alleged defamation, appears keen to make it a habit." From Fox, National Police Association endorses Trump pick for FBI director, "The group praised Kash Patel's record of 'transparency' and accountability." From the TN Star, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Meets with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Introduces Bills to Assist DOGE in Reforming Federal Workforce. Greg Piper at JTN reports GOP-led COVID subcommittee claims vaccines saved 'millions of lives,' celebrates liability shield. "Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic's final report cites two modeling studies for its claim, doesn't identify them as such, and touts manufacturer immunity in section praising Trump for Operation Warp Speed." 

Fox, Social media reacts to Trump 'dominating world leaders' with Macron handshake during meeting in France. Ward Clark at RedState, Watch How *Acting* President Donald Trump Dominates Macron in Visit to France. Twitchy, 'This Picture Says It All': There's a Biden NOT in France As Trump Takes Over World Leader Role. Althouse, Count the many emotions that cross Trump's face in a few seconds. "Let the actors cast to play Trump in future movies study this clip and despair." Sundance at CTH, President Trump’s Notre Dame Entrance is Epic. European leader rush in to suck up. 

Eric Daugherty@EricLDaugh, "JUST IN: J.D. Vance says as soon as he and Trump assume office, the residents of western North Carolina impacted by hurricane damage will get relief they're not receiving from the Biden administration. "It's a bureaucracy that is moving at the speed of a GLACIER." "That's something that is gonna change IMMEDIATELY.". . . " Stephen Moore at Hat Hair thinks Trump Should Call for a New American Patriotism.

Matt Vespa, Was It Appropriate for a CNN Guest to Spill This New Theory About the Healthcare CEO Murder? Suicide by hitman? Insty, IT MAKES MORE SENSE WHEN YOU REALIZE THE SURVEILLANCE IS FOR POLITICAL OPPONENTS, NOT CRIME: How an Assassin Escaped One of the Most Surveilled Cities in the World. and a NOTE TO ALL THE JOURNALISTS WHO ARE CHEERING THE ASSASSINATION OF A HEALTHCARE CEO: "Your industry is hated by millions and millions of people too. Just sayin’."

NewsMax, CBS Seeks to Dismiss Trump Lawsuit Over Harris Interview. "Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit Oct. 31 in the waning days of the presidential campaign, claiming Harris' interview had been deceptively edited to make her appear "coherent and decisive."" From Twitchy, Bang Up Job, Guys! CBS 'Fact Check' on Tom Homan's Fentanyl Death Figures Exposes Them As LIARS. Nuclear Herbs @NuclearHerbs, "Homan: Fentanyl has killed 250k people CBS: Fact check - he's inflating figures. Also CBS: It was really over 334k. Bang up job, journalists."

Tony Airaksinen, notes an NYC RALLY this Sunday: “Jewish Students Deserve to Feel Safe”, "Facebook group with 61,000 members to March Against Antisemitism in NYC tomorrow, Sunday December 8." The College Fix sees ‘Antisemitism on steroids’: Pro-Israel law professor rips Cornell ‘Gaza’ course. Sarah at Insty thinks FREE SPEECH INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO PUBLICLY EXPOSE YOURSELVES AS A**HOLES: "Students at Columbia University launch anti-Israel ‘Columbia Intifada’ newspaper: ‘Outrageous’."

Real Clear Education reports Nation’s Second Largest School District Revises Race-Based Grant Program, Los Angeles. "Because in the wake of a federal civil rights complaint filed by Parents Defending Education in 2023, the U.S. Department of Education forced the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to open up its $120 million Black Student Achievement Plan tutoring program to all students with academic need – no longer conditioning participation on skin color alone." At the Blaze, New Jersey town reverses course after residents rage against ban on Constitution and US flag at hearings. Ilya Shapiro explores The Communist Roots of Campus Illiberalism. "The rise in antisemitism since Oct. 7 has echoes of Soviet propaganda and the Chinese Cultural Revolution."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: The Draft Plays On up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Baba Waawaa Regrets Sucking Up to Dictators

After he's become unpopular: Barbara Walters apologises over links to Syrian aide of Bashar al-Assad

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Emails seen by The Daily Telegraph show that Walters tried to help Sheherazad Jaafari, the daughter of Syria's UN ambassador, secure a place at an Ivy League university and an internship with Piers Morgan's CNN programme.

When confronted with the emails, which were obtained by a Syrian opposition group, the 82-year-old ABC broadcaster admitted a conflict of interest and expressed "regret" for her actions.

Miss Jaafari, 22, was a close adviser to Mr Assad and was at his side as Syrian troops stepped up their campaign of killing and repression. She would speak to him several times a day, sometimes calling him "the Dude" in her adopted American accent, and was sometimes the only official in the room when he did interviews with Western journalists.

Miss Jaafari, whose father Bashar Jaafari has known Walters for around seven years, began dealing with the broadcaster late last year as ABC News lobbied for an interview with Mr Assad.

A 22 year old "close advisor"?  Yeah, I'm guessing she was really close.  Right next to the skin.  After all, what good is being a dictator if you don't get to sample the dictated?  I hope Asma is green with jealousy.

But she's a hot one, and I wouldn't want to to see her killed in the mess that's coming in Syria.  Maybe we can find a place for her in the EPA; she seems to have the stomach for it.  She could pick out the first five guys from the village and crucify them, no problem.

As for Baba Waawaa?  I didn't know she was still around.  How did that happen?

Asma Assad - "I Wear the Pants in this Country"

That's not quite how she put it, but what she really said might be worse:

Syria: 'I am the real dictator', declares Asma al-Assad 

“As for listening – I am the REAL dictator, he has no choice ...” she wrote on Dec 14.

This in an email to a friend, recently revealed to the world by unfriendly leakers.

On Jan 17, she circulated an email cracking a joke at the expense of the people of Homs, shortly before a regime onslaught that would claim hundreds of lives.

Slow Homsi Students

 Mrs Assad received from her husband an email with the subject line “Student who obtained 0% on an exam”.

It contained one of those lists of jokes that circulate widely on the internet, in the form of questions with silly answers. The first was: “In which battle did Napoleon die? – His last battle”. The next day she forwarded the email to her father and two other family members with the changed subject line: “A really bright Homsi student!”

 She also revealed to a friend that she had taken an on line personality test and had been diagnosed as "a monster."
 
Some bad news for Asma, the EU has issued a travel ban for her, forbidding her from visiting Paris and other European hot spots where she and her husband like to shop:

Her days of shopping in the EU for the president's palace are over, as ministers have decided the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is no longer welcome. The ban on travel and shopping in the EU, will come as a blow to Asma al-Assad, whose love of pricey purchases has been well documented in the past few weeks in leaked emails.

 Asma, could you please order from the little Amazon gizmo over on the right hand side of this blog?

They detailed Asma placing an order for £10,000 worth of candlesticks, concern over getting hold of a new chocolate fondue set from Amazon, and swapping details with friends of crystal-encrusted designer shoes costing nearly £4,000.

The announcement comes as diplomats try to crank up pressure on his government to end a bloody crackdown on popular unrest. Her name is now among 12 people added to the sanctions list, which already includes her husband.

The good news for Asma is that when Syria finishes revolting, she can go back to the U.K:

Asma, who holds dual citizenship, British and Syrian, was educated at a Church of England school in Ealing before attending a private girls’ day school - Queen’s College, Harley Street. From Queen’s, where she achieved four A-levels, Asma went to King’s College London to read Computer Science and take a diploma in French Literature.

She graduated with a First and, after six months of travelling, joined Deutsche Bank as an analyst in hedge-fund management. She then moved to the investment bank JP Morgan and worked in Paris and New York, as well as London. On family holidays back in Syria, she met Bashar.

Maybe she can give economic advice to the Obama administration.  How much worse can she be than John Corzine?

The completion of the revolution in Syria can't come soon enough for me.  I'm tired of Asma, tired of people looking for pictures of Asma (but here's a few more...) and tired of Bashar.  Sure, the revolution in Syria will probably be a total failure, result in a blood bath of the reasonable people in Syria (all six of them), and result in the country becoming an Iranian vassal-state, but really, how much worse would that be?

Really, I'll find another topic.