The Black Republican

News Flash- Ted Kaczynski in lead to win political office.

That is, of course, not true. I use it to make a point about the likely winner of the Palestinian election. Some guy named Ted running for office may not alarm you. You may - knowing how entertainers like to get involved in politics - mistake the name for a former Saturday Night Live cast member. However, if you recognize the full name as the real name of the domestic terrorist called the UnaBomber, that would concern you. The same scenario is true for Mahmoud Abbas, who went by the name Abu Mazen when he was a terrorist. In Palestine he runs for office as Abbas, in Israel they remember him as Abu Mazen. I think I'll use that name when refering to him from now on too.

Captain Ed notes that Abu Mazen is once again making threats to Israel while on the campaign trail.

Captain Ed also has some words for the Associated Press with regard to their coverage. (You will immediately note that my above explanation is a complete rip off of the Captain's insight and that I should only be credited with providing a different example supporting his observation.)

One last note: the AP sets a new low for bias in its reporting. Take a read of this passage, emphasis mine:

"The Palestinian people have accepted the election laws and will therefore accept its results, even if Abu Mazen gets only a small majority in the polls," said analyst Ali Jerbawi, referring to Abbas by his nickname.
It's a nickname in the same sense that Night Stalker was Richard Ramirez' nickname. Abu Mazen is Mahmoud Abbas' nom de guerre, the identity he used when directing terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. For the AP to glibly overlook this and pass of(f) the use of Abbas' terrorist handle -- a use which calls his status as negotiating partner into question -- shows a contempt for AP's readership and a desire to cover up the less savory aspects of Abbas' past.

You tell 'em Cap'n!

{At this point I divert from the serious.}

I have to wonder if it really is an AP story. The following quote makes me wonder if it isn't actually an audition transcript for a wannabe Saturday Night Live writer.

Though polls show Abbas is far ahead of his only serious challenger, Mustafa Barghouti, Abbas does not command the respect of Arafat, the legendary leader who died Nov. 11.

A bit too reminiscent of, "this just in, Francisco Franco is still dead", no? [subliminal text]Plagiarism[/subliminal text] Or, could someone be planning a sequel to the "weekend.." movies, [subliminal text]Been there, done that[/subliminal text] Weekend At Yasser's maybe? [subliminal text]Lame Oh[/subliminal text] Dead Man Not Respecting? [subliminal text]boring[/subliminal] At any rate, a very curious phrase, and that is all I have to say about it. [subliminal text]Finally[/subliminal text]