Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had become a perpetual gaff machine. He would be funny if he were not so menacing in his effort to roll back on civil liberties and break down the secular traditions of Turkey in favor of Islamification of the government. He is facing growing criticism internationally and last week responded to allegations that he was trying to establish himself as a new Sultan. No, Erdoğan insisted, he really just wants to be more like Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. As shown in other embarrassing moments recently, Erdoğan’s’s knowledge of history is even worst than his appreciation for human rights.
Recently, we discussed the arrest of Mehmet Emin Altunses, 16, who allegedly committed the crime of “insulting” Erdoğan. calling people who use birth control “traitors” and saying Muslims discovered America, you are not allowed to be disrespectful or insulting in discussing Erdoğan. The situation is even more dire for journalists who have found themselves threatened or arrested for reporting on Erdoğan or his cronies. Ye, as Turkish police arrested Dutch reporter Frederike Geerdink on terrorism charges, Erdoğan insisted that this is just one more “false” report from Western media since it is about terrorism not journalism. It is his statement about the record of Turkey on press freedoms that truly takes Erdoğan’s menacing comments into the realm of madness.
Erdoğan’s latest absurd statement came after he was confronted over his dismantling of democratic protections, push for a new constitution, and the reconstruction of something that looks a bit like a “Ottoman Sultan.” Oh no, Erdoğan, insisted, think of me as a Queen: “In my opinion, even the UK is a semi-presidency. And the dominant element is the Queen . . . I mean, why is it only a monarchy when an idea like this is floated in Turkey?” Well, because it is a monarchy Mr. President. Moreover, the Queen is no more dominant in the English system than the Ravens of the Tower of London. He also suggested that his system would look like the United States and no one is claiming that that is a monarchy.
It did not help that Erdoğan had just unveiled a grand new presidential palace on the outskirts of Ankara that was bigger than Buckingham Palace as well as the Kremlin and the White House.
Erdoğan seemed miffed that he was getting push back to creating a centralized power in the presidency and could not understand why — despite an array of critics explaining that he is viewed as a threat to basic liberties and the idea of centralizing his power is understandably unsettling. Yet, he seemed either clueless or willfully blind to those objections:
“One has to be able to use the powers invested in you by the national will in the best possible way. But at the moment, I am not able to do that,” he said. “At the moment, you have to ask permission of three different people for each decision, for each appointment. One is constantly being hindered. The judiciary puts obstacles in the way. One cannot run a country like that. For me, that is the biggest flaw of a parliamentary system.”
There may indeed be room for reforms of the Turkish system, but those reforms would include limitations not expansions on the abusive powers wielded by Erdogan and his Islamic allies in cracking down on journalists, activists, and religious minorities. Ironically, many would relish the idea of reducing Erdogan to a largely ceremonial (if not decorative) figure like the Queen of England. However, most expect that the Queen of Hearts is more in line with Erdogan’s royal aspirations.
Source: Yahoo
Since the admin of this website is working, no hesitation very soon it will be well-known, due to its feature contents.
Karen-
“I don’t ascribe to any political party consistently; the only one I disagree with most is modern Liberals. ”
“Liberal” isn’t a political party.
Happy – yep. That thread blew up. I just poked my head in. I had commented far upstream and hadn’t returned.
Don’t feel bad. The Party of Peace and Tolerance has gone after me before, too, for being a fiscal conservative. I don’t ascribe to any political party consistently; the only one I disagree with most is modern Liberals. The movement is so different from the time of my grandparents. Plus Obamacare has made me bitter against the Party. You may have noticed.
Karen
I totally understand now and as I told Ari, I changed my position on Netanyahu as I agree with him the US should watch out for Iran and I feel Obama is a Congenital Narcissist for believing he will spread peace, love and happiness through Iran at the expense of Israel. I also told them on another thread it amazed me that if they were supposed to be so kind and helpful to the oppressed if they felt I was mentally ill, then why gang up on me and laugh gleefully? Does that show their Tolerance and Love or their Arrogance and Narcissim and Pseudointellectualism?? .
Thank you for your kind words and support 😉
Happy – no, I missed that. Which thread?
Karen
I don’t even know if you went to that thread. It was a progressive nightmare. lol It was the one where Professer Turle Testified in the Senate Confirmation. Mespo crawled out from under a rock or something
po
I stand corrected, prairie Rose. By conservatives, I actually meant that extremist fringe of the conservative movement that isn’t satisfied with live and let live, but that is,rather, spurred by either religion or bias, not the entirety of the conservative realm across race, social class and religion.,
on 1, February 1, 2015 at 12:35 am Wadewilliams
How about this idiocy?
“The Natives received their lands back in most cases but there was bloodshed.”
Congratulations, Prof. Turley. You’ve got yourself some fine ‘minds’ that frolic here.
What a dung heap!
on 1, February 1, 2015 at 12:37 am po
Happy
I am not sure how to respond. That sentence of yours is…is…wow!
on 1, February 1, 2015 at 12:41 am po
And Happy, Wadewilliams surely has a point, I glossed over that trying to give you the benefit of the doubt but am not sure it is simple ignorance(as in lack of knowledge of something)…or…something else!
Those two points about blacks and native americans are incredibly misguided.
on 1, February 1, 2015 at 12:48 am Wadewilliams
Misguided?
The woman is a moron.
on 1, February 1, 2015 at 12:59 am happypappies
Po and Wadewilliams – I was going to title the remark with I am going to take Paul Schulte’s side this time but I decided to leave it blank and see what happened as there are many sides to every issue. Of course there is the Liberal side here which is always very one dimensional and throws – not you PO but Wadewilliams – sticks and stones at me – Oh Oh don’t hurt me please ouch ouch my tender feelings. NO one has ever done me any wrong in this wide world Wadewilliams. I have come thru unscathed. lol. I even have some Native Blood. omg. Can I go and jump in that dung heep? Please please please???? Pretty please. Po knows how I am so he is not going to prod really hard, Po – did you see that Charlie Hebdo comic of Jesus in the Menage de troi about gay marriage with St Peter with the Crown of Thorns bent over and everything with the holes in his hands and feet. I told you they leave no prisoners over there. I saw it in a google search and I am sufficiently irreverent that I had to laugh at the stupid look they had put on Jesus Face. I don’t know what part of my psyche they get to do that, but they find it. I hope you won’t think I am incredibly depraved now but just human.
Wadewilliams – can I please be ignorant for you? lol I meant it about the Nanny State right now though. That is winning. Did you watch my little video. It’s hilarious. I really am a progressive socially you know. lolol 😉
Sniping is not worth the effort. As to Erdogan. He does resemble Queen Elizabeth in some ways. From now on we should refer to him as Queeny.
happy, we have some snipers who take a few shots and then disappear back into the jungle. Wade is one of them. The good snipers stick around and take fire.
Nick
I have all the respect in the world for good snipers. I like it when I see improvement in snipers who pick their battles now but are still reading every word and keeping up.
I wonder where he scuttled off to.
Ceterum censeo Obamacare delendo est.
PLUS, in addition to that $11,000 – $16,000 estimate, don’t forget that absolutely fabulous $6,250/person deductible.
Now, who wouldn’t love that?
I just went on Covered California, again. My minimum estimate for unsubsidized coverage, family of 3, is over $11,000/year, with a high end of $16,000/year.
We’re just middle class.
I cannot wait for the employer mandate to hit. All those smug Obamacare supporters will have to hang their heads in shame as the middle class takes a catastrophic hit. They won’t be able to deny the effects anymore, when it affects everyone.
How typical. What was it Reagan said about the most terrifying words being, “We’re from the government, and we’re here to help.”
I wonder if there could be a class action lawsuit over the Obamacare pediatric dental. Clearly, it’s not dental insurance, at all, if the child has to incur catastrophic medical bills for the coverage to kick in at all.
Karen – Wadewilliams called me a moron did you know that? Regarding the Native Americans and all. 😉