Bookeristas In The News

USA: Senate Favorite Would Make History

Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is emerging as a favorite to be named as Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's (R-Texas) successor if she resigns to run for governor, where he could become the first black U.S. senator from Texas. If chosen by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the conservative politico - who is part of a state regulatory body over the oil and natural gas industries, and no longer railroads - also would be the only black Republican in a Senate where the GOP is battling the nation's first black president on health care and global warming. The only other black senator is a Democrat from Illinois who was appointed to replace President Barack Obama. If appointed, Mr. Williams would be only the fifth black to serve in the Senate since Reconstruction. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a millionaire who could self-finance a special election, remains a strong contender for Gov. Perry's appointment, despite having announced for re-election. Gov. Perry could name himself as Sen. Hutchison's replacement, but that is believed to be highly unlikely.

Netherlands: Hirsi Ali: "Islamdebat Is Mislukt (The Islam Debate Failed)"

Ayaan Hirsi Ali makes her declaration as the fifth anniversary of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh's death approaches on Monday. The Somali-born libertarian feminist and former Dutch parliamentarian collaborated with Mr. van Gogh on "Submission", a controversial film which analyzed how Islam oppresses women. A jihadist murdered Mr. van Gogh on an Amsterdam street and stabbed a death note addressed to Ms. Hirsi Ali into Mr. van Gogh's chest. Ms. Hirsi Ali, who lives in 24/7 protection in the United States (with the help of American individuals), argues that freedom of expression is not well-protected in the Netherlands and Dutch law has failed in reining in Muslim extremists (article in Dutch).

Ms. Hirsi Ali, who is a former-Muslim-turned-atheist, on Muslim extremists' death threats: ''It's an effective way to gag anyone. But I'm not the danger, but radical Muslims.'' She asserts that at the time of Mr. van Gogh's death, leaders of that time were about "diversity in the room and listening to the incumbent center parties, while continuing to cover up integration problems." She added, "What is going on, the civilization of Islam, is not addressed.''