Showing posts with label Ezra Levant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ezra Levant. Show all posts
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Ezra And The Law: A Small Victory?
Ezra Levant's twitter feed from back in the fall of 2017:
Ezra's twitter feed today, after I sent a series of emails to the Alberta Law Society and then the Law Society of Ontario arguing that, since the guy is no longer a lawyer, he shouldn't be allowed to go around calling himself one:
Now, correlation does not = causation, but I know the Ontario body was in touch with him (File 2017-211411), and I'd like to think I helped in a small way to make Ezra's life more miserable.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Your Daily Nazi: Nazi Salutes At Rebel Media Event Attended By CPC Leadership Candidates
.@ezralevant says @HilaryBeaumont is lying about seeing a Nazi salute in the crowd, but, ummmm... (c/o @sdbcraig) pic.twitter.com/RMgHDlbI0J— Beisan Zubi (@beisan) February 16, 2017
PS. Anyone with more crowd shots, please post somewhere.
Wednesday, October 05, 2016
Before You Cancel That Telus Contract!
because the company favors a price on carbon, read Rebel Media's (that's Ezra Levant's latest venture, if you haven't been paying attention) fight back letter!
Note the fifth and seventh paragraph. While Holly the Rebel wants you to dump Telus now, she herself only plans to cancel someday, maybe, if the cards fall right. That's about the lamest form of rebellion I've ever seen.
PS. They address me as Heywood J. because I am in the Rebel database as Heywood J. Blome. Its an old joke. I get a ton of email from these folks.
Monday, April 04, 2016
Ezzrata: When Ezra Levant Was Young And Sue-y
Someone has posted a trove of legal documents from Ezra Levant's past, related to a libel case he brought against the University of Calgary student newspaper, back in the day. Human rights lawyer Richard Warman has posted some commentary re this case on his website. Here I'm just copping my favorite bits:
There's more through the link, and other edifying material on various topics. You may judge how this effects Ezra's status as a free speech warrior.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Ezra Levant's Hearing Before Alberta Law Society Has Been...
...postponed while they consider his application to resign. Sounds like he wants to swing a trade; he'll quit if he exits with a clean slate. In the end, though, he won't be able to say he's a lawyer anymore, and he won't be able to make $ from it. Good either way?
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Ezra Levant, The Alberta NDP, And Journosplaining
I guess I should say something about this. Alberta's NDP government decided they weren't willing to put up with any more disruptions out of kooks from The Rebel (the online HQ of Ezra Levant's personal death cult), and kicked them out of one of their press conferences. They're rationale was that Ezra was, in his own words, "not a journalist". Of course, when the real journos heard about this, they collectively shat, and rushed to our lads defense. Not like rational men. Like Pavlov the dog drooling at his master's bell. Like chimps chasing a stray banana.
And their arguments were quite silly. There's apparently no way to tell who is a journalist and who isn't; also, its important to allow even bad journalism. Imagine if someone had applied this line of thinking to cars. How can we really know which cars are safe? But we must allow even shitty cars!
But of course nobody making these arguments believes them for one second. What real media outlet would be willing to hire Ezra Levant after all those lost libel cases? Let alone the nine-tooth yobos that make up the "contributors" to his cult newsletter.
Theoretically, though, a news outlet is supposed to accept as a journalist anyone who shows up on the front step with a pencil and a notepad.
The fact is, we regulate pork, we regulate cheese, we regulate guns, we can certainly regulate words; we can eliminate whatever kind of talk we think demeans the public discourse in the same way we've eliminated spitting on the floor. When journos tell you you shouldn't regulate them discount what they say and get to the root, in the same way you would if you were listening to a herring fisherman bitching about new regs on the herring fishery. "As the herring fishery goes, so goes the nation! If you destroy the herring fishery, then you will be the ones who suffer!!!" And etc.
And the thing with the MSM and Ezra, they're not defending him because its a free speech thing. They defend him because accept him as being one of the family, the slow cousin in the basement that they can feel superior too and occasionally decide he's really got a dabble of wisdom in him in his own thuggish way, even if they've seen him eating live baby squirrels or running naked through the woods at night.
Or maybe its like they've been stuck with him so long they've all got a version of Stockholm's Syndrome.
And about this journosplaining nonsense. Please, journalists, when arguing this issue don't whip out the few lines your remember from On Liberty, or Mencken, or that book by John Milton with the name that sounds like a piece of gym equipment, as though folks on the other side of the issue didn't read them in college 30 years ago and weren't impressed. D'you know that Mill's arguments for absolute Freedom of Speech rely on the purest form of truth relativism? We can't deny Ezra's droolers whatever because, who knows, we can't know they're wrong about the ROMA being sub-human.
Or do you (journalists) spout these lines like you're dropping little semantics turds that sound nice but which you don't know the meaning of. In either case, it is insulting. Stop it.
And their arguments were quite silly. There's apparently no way to tell who is a journalist and who isn't; also, its important to allow even bad journalism. Imagine if someone had applied this line of thinking to cars. How can we really know which cars are safe? But we must allow even shitty cars!
But of course nobody making these arguments believes them for one second. What real media outlet would be willing to hire Ezra Levant after all those lost libel cases? Let alone the nine-tooth yobos that make up the "contributors" to his cult newsletter.
Theoretically, though, a news outlet is supposed to accept as a journalist anyone who shows up on the front step with a pencil and a notepad.
The fact is, we regulate pork, we regulate cheese, we regulate guns, we can certainly regulate words; we can eliminate whatever kind of talk we think demeans the public discourse in the same way we've eliminated spitting on the floor. When journos tell you you shouldn't regulate them discount what they say and get to the root, in the same way you would if you were listening to a herring fisherman bitching about new regs on the herring fishery. "As the herring fishery goes, so goes the nation! If you destroy the herring fishery, then you will be the ones who suffer!!!" And etc.
And the thing with the MSM and Ezra, they're not defending him because its a free speech thing. They defend him because accept him as being one of the family, the slow cousin in the basement that they can feel superior too and occasionally decide he's really got a dabble of wisdom in him in his own thuggish way, even if they've seen him eating live baby squirrels or running naked through the woods at night.
Or maybe its like they've been stuck with him so long they've all got a version of Stockholm's Syndrome.
And about this journosplaining nonsense. Please, journalists, when arguing this issue don't whip out the few lines your remember from On Liberty, or Mencken, or that book by John Milton with the name that sounds like a piece of gym equipment, as though folks on the other side of the issue didn't read them in college 30 years ago and weren't impressed. D'you know that Mill's arguments for absolute Freedom of Speech rely on the purest form of truth relativism? We can't deny Ezra's droolers whatever because, who knows, we can't know they're wrong about the ROMA being sub-human.
Or do you (journalists) spout these lines like you're dropping little semantics turds that sound nice but which you don't know the meaning of. In either case, it is insulting. Stop it.
Monday, November 23, 2015
The Alberta Climate Plan: Is Ezra Levant Right?
Not when he says the oil companies don't represent the oil companies, but in his generally negative attitude towards the whole thing? Well, let's play Devil's advocate for a minute. What does Alberta get from the rest of the planet for imposing on itself an economy-wide carbon tax? We know what it wants: pipelines West and South so it can sell its oil to Asia. Nobody really cares about Energy East.
But Keystone is dead. So we're down to Northern Gateway and Transmountain. Does the plan buy them either? Well, the Trudeau government is going to formally ban oil tankers along B.C.'s North coast, so Northern Gateway is still dead. What about Transmountain? Well, a lot of the opposition to this line has nothing to with climate change, and of course there is a faction in the enviro community who would like the oil-sands shut down regardless of any commitments to better behavior the province and the oil companies might make. They won't be swayed. So maybe Transmountain goes through, or maybe not, but even if so it will be years down the line and billions spent along the proposed route to grease the skids before its open. And who knows whether the market will need it by then.
And that's the only prize Alberta gets...potentially...from the whole endeavor. So: good for the planet, good for Canada, but arguably not so great for Alberta.
But Keystone is dead. So we're down to Northern Gateway and Transmountain. Does the plan buy them either? Well, the Trudeau government is going to formally ban oil tankers along B.C.'s North coast, so Northern Gateway is still dead. What about Transmountain? Well, a lot of the opposition to this line has nothing to with climate change, and of course there is a faction in the enviro community who would like the oil-sands shut down regardless of any commitments to better behavior the province and the oil companies might make. They won't be swayed. So maybe Transmountain goes through, or maybe not, but even if so it will be years down the line and billions spent along the proposed route to grease the skids before its open. And who knows whether the market will need it by then.
And that's the only prize Alberta gets...potentially...from the whole endeavor. So: good for the planet, good for Canada, but arguably not so great for Alberta.
Friday, June 05, 2015
Ezra's Calgary Anti-Tims Protest: The Money Shot
24 heads clearly visible; one other soul, maybe, holding up the sign next to "#Boycott Tim's" sign. Ezra has claimed 50 attendees, but he must be seeing double. Get those glasses checked, Ez!
PS: Here's another shot. I count 23 people in this one:
PS: Here's another shot. I count 23 people in this one:
Friday, February 06, 2015
Levant Loses Another!
It's been awhile since Lorna Pardy has been in the news. Back in 2008, she was verbally assaulted by comedian Guy Earle at Zesty's Comedy Club in Vancouver. She took him to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, and won. At the time, some, Ezra Levant in particular, were pushing the notion that this case was about the exercise of free speech. It wasn't. It was more about a lowly restaurant functionary going off on a customer. In any event, Ezra said things. And Ms. Pardy commenced a civil action against him. However, the suit lay still-born for a number years until, in 2013, after the various appeals of the original wound up, Ms. Pardy served Ezra with a notice of civil claim. Ezra moved that the case be dismissed due to the long delay but, on January 29th of this year, the judge said no. So, throw another lawsuit on the pile; Ezra's going back to court. And when Ezra goes to court, Ezra tends to lose.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Fox News North Deal Stalls As Teneycke Balks?
From Canadaland:
Multiple sources tell CANADALAND that Sun News Network (SNN), the Quebecor-owned cable news channel that launched in 2011, is on the verge of closing.
Couple of weird things. One is this:
As recently as three weeks ago, sources say that SNN management told several employees that negotiations with Zoomer looked promising and that a deal was close. But a dispute over potential severance packages for SNN executives (including Teneycke) who would not continue on with the network in the event of an acquisition has led to an impasse.
If I am reading it correctly, the deal has gone sideways because Teneycke (among others) is demanding a bigger payout. In other words, if his financial demands aren't met, he's threatening to stay.
The second is: who is The Source or sources? Well shit one of them might be Ezra "The Source" Levant himself! He was on the Canadaland podcast today...and suddenly this is news. Did he blab, advertently or inadvertently? (talking on his cell in the john, for example?)
As a last note, I hope they hold up long enough for the CBSC to process my complaint. It would be an end most fitting if these guys' last act as a news network was to run an apology for screwing up.
Multiple sources tell CANADALAND that Sun News Network (SNN), the Quebecor-owned cable news channel that launched in 2011, is on the verge of closing.
Couple of weird things. One is this:
As recently as three weeks ago, sources say that SNN management told several employees that negotiations with Zoomer looked promising and that a deal was close. But a dispute over potential severance packages for SNN executives (including Teneycke) who would not continue on with the network in the event of an acquisition has led to an impasse.
If I am reading it correctly, the deal has gone sideways because Teneycke (among others) is demanding a bigger payout. In other words, if his financial demands aren't met, he's threatening to stay.
The second is: who is The Source or sources? Well shit one of them might be Ezra "The Source" Levant himself! He was on the Canadaland podcast today...and suddenly this is news. Did he blab, advertently or inadvertently? (talking on his cell in the john, for example?)
As a last note, I hope they hold up long enough for the CBSC to process my complaint. It would be an end most fitting if these guys' last act as a news network was to run an apology for screwing up.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Ezra / 8 or: Corbella Corrects
Licia Corbella has very quietly walked back her earlier figure for Ezra's court costs when he went up against the AHRC:
His offices were never bombed, but he was forced to spend about $100,000 defending himself before the kangaroo court of the human rights commission after Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy lodged a complaint against him.
Worth pointing out that that figure is likely bullshit as well. But it is at least 8 times less bullshit than the estimate Corbella gave previously.
That is all.
His offices were never bombed, but he was forced to spend about $100,000 defending himself before the kangaroo court of the human rights commission after Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy lodged a complaint against him.
Worth pointing out that that figure is likely bullshit as well. But it is at least 8 times less bullshit than the estimate Corbella gave previously.
That is all.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Ezra X 8
Licia Corbella has a pretty bad piece up, about how anyone who didn't publish the Charlie Hebdo covers after the shootings in Paris ought to go get fitted for their Burka, and so forth. She reiterates the same old nonsense about Ezra Levant's being the bravest of men, etc., and then drops this:
The only publisher of the Danish cartoons at the time was Ezra Levant in his now-defunct publication, The Western Standard. His offices were never bombed, but he was forced to spend about $800,000 defending himself before the kangaroo court of the human rights commission after Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy lodged a complaint against him.
Now, Ezra's claims re his HRC costs were always dubious, but Corbella manages to wildly inflate them even more. Here the amount quoted, taken from his book Shakedown, is $100,000. Here, again, Ezra claims $100,000. And here again, same figure. Be interested to know if Ezra provided Ms. Corbella with an upwardly revised amount, or if she just pulled it out of the air.
The only publisher of the Danish cartoons at the time was Ezra Levant in his now-defunct publication, The Western Standard. His offices were never bombed, but he was forced to spend about $800,000 defending himself before the kangaroo court of the human rights commission after Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy lodged a complaint against him.
Now, Ezra's claims re his HRC costs were always dubious, but Corbella manages to wildly inflate them even more. Here the amount quoted, taken from his book Shakedown, is $100,000. Here, again, Ezra claims $100,000. And here again, same figure. Be interested to know if Ezra provided Ms. Corbella with an upwardly revised amount, or if she just pulled it out of the air.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Ezra On Tour
More grey hairs in this place than backstage at a Rolling Stones concert.
Monday, December 08, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Ezrrata
AHRC legal counsel Arman Chak, a frequent target of Sun News TV personality Ezra Levant over the years, has been elected to the BOD of the Alberta Law Society. Ezra's encounters with the Society have been of another kind altogether. So congrats Mr. Chak.
PS. Ezra's now thoroughly debunked anti-Muslim screed from last week has picked up a few "likes" from notorious Canadian racist Paul Fromm.
PS. Ezra's now thoroughly debunked anti-Muslim screed from last week has picked up a few "likes" from notorious Canadian racist Paul Fromm.
Thursday, October 09, 2014
Bernie Farber On Ezra Levant And The Jewish Tradition
My favorite bit:
All too often Levant cloaks himself in his Jewish heritage as a true defender of Jewish values, in contrast to those he refers to as the “official Jews,” or Jewish leadership.
Make no mistake, Levant’s antics and intimidation tactics have nothing whatsoever to do with Judaism. Both Jewish law and tradition speak powerfully about “loshon hora,” derogatory speech against a fellow human being, which is absolutely forbidden.
Indeed, in the Jewish tradition, we believe that the tongue has such awesome power that it requires two gatekeepers, the teeth and the lips. It is recognized that words have meaning and that malicious words can have foul consequences.
All too often Levant cloaks himself in his Jewish heritage as a true defender of Jewish values, in contrast to those he refers to as the “official Jews,” or Jewish leadership.
Make no mistake, Levant’s antics and intimidation tactics have nothing whatsoever to do with Judaism. Both Jewish law and tradition speak powerfully about “loshon hora,” derogatory speech against a fellow human being, which is absolutely forbidden.
Indeed, in the Jewish tradition, we believe that the tongue has such awesome power that it requires two gatekeepers, the teeth and the lips. It is recognized that words have meaning and that malicious words can have foul consequences.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Ezra's Apology, An Early Draft
Yesterday afternoon, we learned
Dear Justin,
I know I've acted badly. I've said things about your mom and dad that would've earned me a well-deserved punch in the mouth from a less finely bred man. And I'm sorry for that. But, Justin, there's something I have to get off my chest before I go any further.
I love you, Justin. I have for a long time now. Since you first became an MP and I was back in Calgary defending The West from your dad's policies. I saw you on on TV and I said to myself I'm gonna make that future liberal prime minister my number one.
And I've tried, and tried. Good Lord I've tried. But you won't talk to me, you won't even look at me, and its made me crazy. And when I get crazy, you know me, I talk crazy. And when I talk crazy, the nations various regulatory agencies starting looking at my bosses like they might pull the plug on STV any minute. And things get all messed up.
But I'm done, Justin. I'm done. I won't follow you around anymore, if you say the word. I've sent you a box of chocolates with a note saying how sorry I am, and a big bouquet of roses...the biggest I could find! But you don't have to eat those chocolates, you don't have to read that note; you can through those roses in the dumpster, if you like.
But let me just say that a better man has not been created on this Earth, Justin. You are like an archangel, who has flown too low and broken his wings. I do and will always worship the ground on which you walk. I would kill and die for you, Justin.
Ezra Levant
I imagine they'll be a few changes made to it before air time.
Brian Mulroney called Liberals to say Sun Media will apologize tomorrow for offensive rant by @ezralevant vs @JustinTrudeau. #cdnpoli
— Robert Fife (@RobertFife) September 28, 2014
Today it was announced that Ezra himself would present the apology. And I was able to secure a first draft of this document from one of my informants inside Sun News. I have reproduced it below:Dear Justin,
I know I've acted badly. I've said things about your mom and dad that would've earned me a well-deserved punch in the mouth from a less finely bred man. And I'm sorry for that. But, Justin, there's something I have to get off my chest before I go any further.
I love you, Justin. I have for a long time now. Since you first became an MP and I was back in Calgary defending The West from your dad's policies. I saw you on on TV and I said to myself I'm gonna make that future liberal prime minister my number one.
And I've tried, and tried. Good Lord I've tried. But you won't talk to me, you won't even look at me, and its made me crazy. And when I get crazy, you know me, I talk crazy. And when I talk crazy, the nations various regulatory agencies starting looking at my bosses like they might pull the plug on STV any minute. And things get all messed up.
But I'm done, Justin. I'm done. I won't follow you around anymore, if you say the word. I've sent you a box of chocolates with a note saying how sorry I am, and a big bouquet of roses...the biggest I could find! But you don't have to eat those chocolates, you don't have to read that note; you can through those roses in the dumpster, if you like.
But let me just say that a better man has not been created on this Earth, Justin. You are like an archangel, who has flown too low and broken his wings. I do and will always worship the ground on which you walk. I would kill and die for you, Justin.
Ezra Levant
I imagine they'll be a few changes made to it before air time.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sun News Prepares To Grovel
RT @RobertFife: Brian Mulroney called Liberals to say Sun Media will apologize tomorrow for offensive rant by @ezralevant vs @JustinTrudeau
— National Newswatch (@natnewswatch) September 28, 2014
If you're thinking WTF Brian Mulroney?
New Chair of Quebecor "@chevymo: Brian Mulroney? Why him? @cfhorgan @RobertFife @ezralevant @JustinTrudeau"
— Robert Fife (@RobertFife) September 28, 2014
And an update:
Even with apology for @ezralevant rant, @JustinTrudeau may ban Sun from campaign plane until Tory editorial links cut, say Libs #cdnpoli
— Robert Fife (@RobertFife) September 28, 2014
Turn the screws until they can be turned no further, say I!
Friday, April 25, 2014
How Ezra Levant Wrecked The Harper Government's Energy Strategy
From Bloomberg:
Still, the prime minister was unhappy that depictions of Canada as a “dirty oil” nation were not being adequately confronted by the industry or his ministers. He had become enamored with an argument put forth by conservative commentator Ezra Levant in a book called “Ethical Oil.” It posited that many petro-nations used their oil riches to finance nefarious activities and subjugate their own citizens.
[...]
Canada, in the view of Levant, stood practically alone as an ethical producer. In a “mandate letter” setting forth his priorities, Harper instructed Oliver, his new Natural Resources Minister, to become a take-no-prisoners salesman for Canada’s greatest resource.
Wow, was that ever dumb. You take a fellow who, insofar as he is known at all in Canada, is known as one of the nation's most hated men, as your exemplar of rational argument. And you send your Natural Resources Minister to act like him: to yell at any BCer with reservations re your pipelines, to call them dirty hippies and allies of Al Qaeda, and etc. And you expect that to work.
People often complain that progressives are out of touch with the concerns of "everyday people". But the Harper Gov. thought threats and belligerance would carry the day in B.C. That's displays an incredible lack of understanding of the local zeitgeist.
Still, the prime minister was unhappy that depictions of Canada as a “dirty oil” nation were not being adequately confronted by the industry or his ministers. He had become enamored with an argument put forth by conservative commentator Ezra Levant in a book called “Ethical Oil.” It posited that many petro-nations used their oil riches to finance nefarious activities and subjugate their own citizens.
[...]
Canada, in the view of Levant, stood practically alone as an ethical producer. In a “mandate letter” setting forth his priorities, Harper instructed Oliver, his new Natural Resources Minister, to become a take-no-prisoners salesman for Canada’s greatest resource.
Wow, was that ever dumb. You take a fellow who, insofar as he is known at all in Canada, is known as one of the nation's most hated men, as your exemplar of rational argument. And you send your Natural Resources Minister to act like him: to yell at any BCer with reservations re your pipelines, to call them dirty hippies and allies of Al Qaeda, and etc. And you expect that to work.
People often complain that progressives are out of touch with the concerns of "everyday people". But the Harper Gov. thought threats and belligerance would carry the day in B.C. That's displays an incredible lack of understanding of the local zeitgeist.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Joseph Howe Institute Update: Its Ezra All The Way Down
To update this post, here's Ezra announcing the creation of the Joseph Howe Institute at the Canadian University Press NASH76:
Pretty ambitious sounding, but looks so far its just him an his trusty web-master, Amanda Achtman:
@VoloDiscere That would be @AmandaAchtman who does all of his websites.Although the kind of ambitions Ezra has are not matched by his financial resources, unless some larger entity is kicking in some money. Worth keeping an eye on.
— Bigcitylib (@Bigcitylib2) March 29, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)