| Senator Lieberman and Senator Nelson are Hypocrites |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|06:23 pm] |
The future of health care reform in the USA may be in the hands of two powerful US Senators.
Joe Lieberman, (I-CT), is opposed to a so-called "public option" and he is opposed to reducing the eligibility age for Medicare, Joe says that we can't afford it and he objects to more governmental intrusion into the health care system.
Senator Ben Nelson, (D-NE), is opposed to any bill that does not increase restrictions on abortion services.
Both of these Senators are long-time friends of Israel and both are fans of everything Israeli. In light of that, I find it both ironic and hypocritical that these honorable gentlemen would deny their own constituents something that every Israeli citizen is entitled to.
Israel is the number one recipient of US foreign aid. Thanks to the generosity of the US taxpayer and the unquestioning support of benefactors like Lieberman and Nelson, the Israelis are able to provide their citizens with a generous, comprehensive, nationalized, health care delivery system.
The Israeli plan includes full dental coverage for all children, coverage for organ transplants and a host of other pricey benefits. The Israeli system even covers abortion services. According to a website hosted by Friends of Efrat Israel Charity, close to 50,000 abortions are performed in Israel every year.
Senator Lieberman and Senator Nelson have never criticized the Israeli national health care plan. Oddly, these two zealots are now vociferously criticizing the relatively modest proposals for health care reform here in the USA.
If Joe Lieberman truly cared about saving money by cutting wasteful federal spending and if Ben Nelson really cared about stopping state-sponsored abortions, they would join forces and lead the fight to cut US aid to Israel. |
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| The Year's Highlights vis-a-vis the US-Israel "Special Relationship": |
[Dec. 12th, 2009|12:12 pm] |
I was Googling the news when this headline piqued my interest: "Obama Issues Hanukkah Message in Hebrew" the article is dated Dec. 11, 2009 and is by Sheryl Gay Stolberg.
Since my blog has been quite dormant lately, I thought that my response to the NYT Caucus article would make a suitable new_york_loner journal entry.
Here's the URL for the NYT Caucus webpage:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/obama-issues-hanukkah-message-in-hebrew/#preview
My post is awaiting moderation at this time, it may not be posted by the Caucus. I post as "loner" on the NY Times boards. Here's the text of my comment:
Let's review the year's highlights vis-a-vis the US-Israel "special relationship":
Pres. Obama gave Israeli PM Netanyahu (AKA: Bibi) "written affirmation", in May, that the US would continue to ignore Israel's illegal nuclear arsenal. Later, Bibi blabbed to Israel radio about the "secret" deal.
Then Obama backed down on a US demand for a settlement freeze in the W. Bank and E. Jerusalem. Bibi scored again.
More recently, Obama acceded to Bibi's demand that the US condemn the UN Goldstone report, which documented IDF war crimes in Gaza, during Israel's Operation Cast Lead.
Obediently, President Obama is giving Israel the state of the art F-35 aircraft. According to Israeli reports, the avionics for those give-aways, however, will be all-Israeli; apparently they don't trust the US on that vital point.
And now a personal Hanukkah greeting from President Obama, in Hebrew. And a gala party.
In spite of all these submissive gestures, the NYT reported that Obama's popularity in Israel is at an astonishing 4%. Junior Bush enjoyed an 80% approval rating.
Reliable sources claim that 40% of Israelis believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Obama may acquiesce to every Israeli and AIPAC demand, but it seems clear that nothing he can do will endear him to the Jewish people. The Israelis have nothing but contempt for President Obama.
Sadly, Obama appears to be a man who craves approval and detests being hated. What more will he give the Israelis and their US-based supporters in a vain effort to win their approval?
With a dismal 4% approval rating, may G-d preserve Obama from zealots who may feel that their noble ends justify their wicked means.
Shalom! |
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| ADL slams two US Republicans for calling Jews penny-pinchers. |
[Oct. 21st, 2009|02:19 pm] |
I was perusing the online news sources, when I came upon an interesting headline: ADL slams two US Republicans for calling Jews penny-pinchers.
Here’s the URL for the page:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1122621.html
Here is a snippet from the Haaretz article:
“In an opinion piece published Oct. 18 in The Times and Democrat newspaper, Bamberg County GOP Chairman Edwin Merwin and Orangeburg County Chairman James Ulmer defended the fiscal policies of U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, by saying he was "like Jews who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves." (End of snippet)
Of course, I had to leave a comment. The Haaretz web administrator let the comment go through and they posted it as comment #4. Here is the text of my post -
Wow! I have to agree, the remark was insensitive and ignorant. Stereotyping entire ethnic groups is the first step to genocide.
Oddly, Southern GOP leaders are usually born-again Christians and they support the Jewish State’s right to exist, as an article of faith.
Theodor Herzl predicted that anti-Semitic nations would support Zionism, because anti-Semitic nations would welcome an opportunity to dump their unwanted Jews. When one reads remarks like those of these two Republican leaders, one might conclude that Herzl, the Father of Zionism, was probably right on that fundamental point.
As we all know, Jews can be spendthrifts and profligate spenders - case in point: The Israeli Defense Dept`s expensive junket to this year’s Paris Air Show. The Israeli officials stayed for 4 nights, but paid for 6 nights, at some of the most expensive hotels in town. They booked too late.
No, the stereotype is not only ignorant, insensitive and hurtful, it is downright inaccurate. (End of post.)
Those two US Republicans probably thought that they were complimenting the Jewish people for their frugality; the "compliment" backfired.
I have to agree with the Anti Defamation League, their remarks reveal an insensitivity to the perils of stereotyping entire ethnic groups, even if the stereotype is a positive one. |
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| US Votes "NO" on the Goldstone Report |
[Oct. 17th, 2009|08:07 pm] |
An internationally renowned jurist, Judge Richard Goldstone, from South Africa, headed a UN Fact Finding Mission concerning the 22-day Gaza Conflict. Judge Goldstone’s team was charged with investigating alleged war crimes committed during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, nearly a year ago.
The recently released, 575-page Goldstone Report accuses both Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces of possible crimes against humanity and urges both sides to investigate themselves and bring the guilty to justice.
Israel has rejected the findings and condemned the report and its authors.
It is fair to say that President Obama’s first post-Nobel betrayal of the spirit of the award has now been officially registered. The US vote, last Friday, against endorsing the Goldstone Report, is both disappointing and tragic.
It is disappointing to witness more US acquiescence to the will of the Israeli government.
US aid to Israel amounts to over 10 million dollars every day, yet the Israelis call the tune and Uncle Sam dances.
The tragedy lies in the fact that shielding Israel from accountability, for its brutal behavior in the Gaza War, is counterproductive to US interests.
Defending the indefensible actions of the IDF only increases anti-American sentiment across the globe. The IDF used white phosphorous munitions on civilians, Arab babies melted in their mother’s arms.
Now, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has a convenient excuse to kill the already moribund peace process. Continued Israeli intransigence will now be characterized as virtuous self-defense.
Sadly, the US will get nothing but contempt from Israel in return for our attempt to shield the Israeli government and the IDF from this legitimate criticism. |
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| When Will Israel Attack Iran? |
[Sep. 16th, 2009|02:09 pm] |
I was perusing the Google News online site when a headline caught my eye - 'We may have to attack Iran by Dec.' The headline is a quote of the words of former Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh.
The article appeared on the Jerusalem Post's Sept.16, 2009 webpage and it is authored by "JPOST.COM STAFF".
Here's the URL for the JP article:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804586448&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
I went to the JP article and I just had to comment.
Why?...because the consequences for the USA, as a result of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and its defensive systems could be quite negative. What's in Israel's perceived best interest is not always in America's best interest.
The JP online moderators often reject my Talkback submissions, the fact that they published this one is quite remarkable.
Comments on the JP boards are limited to 600 characters and paragraph breaks are not available.
Here's the text of my post on the Jerusalem Post's Talkback board for this article:
Post #9. Subject: Mutually Assured Destruction
Sneh sez: "We cannot live under the shadow of an Iran with nuclear weapons," Oh really? Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon have been living under the shadow of a nuclear armed Jewish State for the past several decades. If Iran has a nuclear weapons program, something unproven, the Islamic Republic is understandably trying to assert its right to defend itself from a nuclear armed Jewish State, or anyone else. The Persians want to have the capability to deliver mutually assured destruction to those who threaten them with WMD. Israel should understand the Iranian position.
new_york_loner - USA (09/16/2009 17:24) |
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| Forgiveness |
[Aug. 21st, 2009|02:47 pm] |
A Letter To the Editor (LTE) appearing in the Nashville City Paper this morning prompted this journal entry.
I often post on the NCP boards, it's a good place to find fundamentalists and ditto-heads and I enjoy the verbal sparring that we engage in.
The LTE's author is the unforgiving Mr. Tony Zizza. The headline for Tony's letter is "We don't need to forgive Vick". Here's the link:
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-voices/letters-editor-1602
The letter's subject is NFL star Mike Vick's return to professional football and whether or not he should be forgiven for his conviction on dog-fighting charges and subsequent incarceration.
Tony Zizza's long-winded, passionate rant ended with this quote' "I'm sorry, but there are some crimes that warrant no forgiveness."
Here's my response to the Tony Zizza-types out there:
Bible-thumpers can forgive...their own. Bill Bennett, for example, was absolved of his sins (gambling, gluttony etc.) Bill Clinton, however, wasn't forgiven for his sin.
As long as the affair is heterosexual, and the offender is a Republican, the Christian Right is usually able to quickly forgive those who might succumb to the temptations of the flesh.
Apparently, the hetero kind of lust is forgivable, the homo sort isn't. Democratic lust is unforgivable - Republican lust is forgivable. It's a clear cut case of Situational Ethics.
In Vick's case, forgiveness is difficult, unless you can identify with Vick in some personal way. Black men might be more forgiving than white men...but, I have no stats on that.
It's safe to say that other dog-fight aficionados have probably defended Mr. Vick.
Football fans might give Mr. Vick a second chance, those who detest football might not...just my guess.
Dog lovers number in the tens of millions, I don't expect them to ever forgive Mike Vick.
It's all irrelevant, of course. Mr. Vick paid his debt to society. He's now about to return to his profession. Let's see if he can still throw the pigskin, effectively scramble and thereby move the sticks & chain.
For Mike Vick and for the Eagles, it makes economic sense...people will tune in, just to watch that ex-con play. Whether it's dog fighting or professional football, either way, it's violent and it's lucrative.
Now, the "dog" in the pit, with the other big & mean dogs, will be Mister Vick himself. When Vick gets smash-sacked to the unforgiving astroturf, the Tony Zizza types will hoist a cold one. Schadenfreude....we all experience it.
We're all sinners and the Lord's prayer seems to imply that we must forgive, in order to be forgiven. What would Jesus do, in the case of Mr. Vick? |
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| Crux of the Problem |
[Jul. 29th, 2009|12:15 pm] |
I came across an interesting article appearing on the Israeli Haaretz website and I succeeded in getting my comment approved by the Haaretz moderator-censors. That alone is encouraging.
The piece was written by Nathan Guttman and published in the July 29, 2009 edition of Haaretz.com; it's entitled, "Obama begins pressuring Arab leaders on deal with Israel". Here's the link:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103685.html
As usual, the Talkback comments are quite revealing. Contrary to the popular perception, when it comes to prejudice and bigotry, the Israelis and their American sympathizers are not without guilt. Their caustic comments speak for themselves.
Since Haaretz limits all comments to a maximum of 600 characters, I was forced to keep it short, if not sweet. Here is the text of my Talkback comment, (post #20):
Here is the crux of the problem, as succinctly expressed by the writer, Mr. Guttman: "Those U.N. resolutions, however, appear to require the refugees` return to homes in present-day Israel, constituting one of Israel`s principal objections to the proposal."
Therein lies the rub, the influx of a million displaced Muslim Arabs into present-day Israel would dilute the Jewishness of the self-described "Jewish State".
If these stateless, Arab "victims" of Zionism were allowed to return to their pre-1948 homeland, Herzl`s utopian notions about race and faith-based colonialism, as a way to insure the survival of the Jewish people, would face an "existential threat".
The idea of a "Jewish State" smacks of theocracy, apartheid and even Jewish supremacy. It`s time for a paradigm shift.
If Israel were to welcome these refugees back as Israeli citizens, the world would be much more sympathetic to Zionism and to Israel`s claims of legitimacy and its claims of humanity. (end of post)
As always, I welcome comments on my views. |
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| Is President Obama an Existential Threat to the Jewish State? |
[Jun. 10th, 2009|10:29 am] |
The fallout from President Obama’s Cairo speech is still raining down. Al Qaeda, AIPAC and the Limbaugh-led GOP have basically condemned it, moderates in the “Islamic world” are cautiously optimistic, and the Netanyahu-led Israelis are nervous and jerky.
The big question is this - will the Israelis and their ardent US supporters see President Obama as an existential threat to the Jewish State?
The “special relationship” between the US and Israel has not been this stressed since JFK demanded a halt to Israel’s nascent nuclear weapons program, in the spring of 1963. Israel’s PM, David Ben Gurion resigned rather than comply. A few months later, JFK was gunned down in Dallas. LBJ gave the Israelis the green light to proceed with their nuclear ambitions.
I see a parallel dynamic developing. With a far-right Israeli government currently in power, somebody may be thinking the unthinkable. Is Biden as ruthless and self-serving as LBJ was in 1963? We shall see.
Here is a link to an excellent article appearing on Haaretz.com, with this ominous headline, “Loving Israel by hating Obama “, by Bradley Burston.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1091234.html
It is an eye-opening, provocative piece that dares to expose a racist element in Israel-loving US Jews. I just had to comment.
Here is the text of my post:
Thank you, Mr. Burston, for having the courage and will to speak so openly on such a taboo subject. Please continue to inform us about issues that are uncomfortable and therefore often left out of the news and opinion sections of the mainstream media.
It appears that victimhood, in itself, does not confer righteousness upon the victims.
A history of being oppressed does not seem to engender a sense of collective compassion, sympathy or tolerance in the former victims.
On the contrary, former victims of hatred can become brutal perpetrators - this is true for individuals as well as for nations.
It is more than ironic when the Israeli government and Jewish NGO's speak out about "growing anti-Semitism" in Europe and elsewhere.
The world sees the apartheid wall, the Jim Crow system for Arab Israelis and the squalid Arab refugee camps.
When and if the Israelis abandon their notions about Jewish supremacy in Palestine, the world might genuinely eschew anti-Semitism. |
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| The Torture Issue |
[Apr. 24th, 2009|09:54 am] |
This new_york_loner site has grown cold from neglect; I've been spending my online time on posting boards across the globe. Mea culpa, once again.
The hot story this fine Spring morning is the debate and controversy surrounding the release of formerly classified documents that reveal the repeated use of waterboarding and other forbidden techniques on terror suspects held by the US.
Google News, at this moment in time, shows search results for [torture issue] at 5,740.
I decided to pick on the Big Apple this morning and post on the New York Daily News. I found a relevant story and submitted a comment that was accepted and posted.
The NYDN story is headlined, “Maybe torture was helpful, says Gibbs, but other methods may have been, too” and it’s by James Gordon Meek. Here’s the link:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/04/23/2009-04-23_maybe_torture_was_helpful_gibbs_sez.html#community
Here is the text of my post, (post #29):
Sadly, those who feel that heavenly ends justify devilish means may carry the day in this debate. That's the wrong message, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. There will be consequences, some predictable, others unforeseen.
Could it be that much of the pre-invasion “intelligence” that was used to justify the Iraq War was based on waterboard-induced confessions? The OK for these techniques must have come from George W. Bush himself.
If lying to Congress about a marital tryst is a “high crime”, then this torture stuff must meet the criteria to be properly labeled as such. It may be too late to impeach, it’s not too late to prosecute. |
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| The Hanukkah War |
[Jan. 1st, 2009|03:46 pm] |
Is the latest Israeli military operation in Gaza, the Hanukkah War, a Christmas gift, to the Arabs in Gaza, from President Bush?
Is this George W. Bush’s response to the Arab shoe-thrower?
Judging from the Lame Duck’s latest wise-quacks, it is clear that our Commander-In-Chief is reciting AIPAC–approved talking points and blaming the victims for the violence. Bush is giving Israel the green light to proceed with “Operation Cast Lead”.
The Israelis are too smart to start a major military operation without getting the prerequisite go-ahead signal from their closest ally, the USA. It is safe to assume that the Israelis secretly contacted President Bush before initiating their air assault on Gaza.
I think it is also safe to assume that President-elect Obama was also briefed on the situation and it is safe to assume that he too acquiesced to the Israeli plan.
The Christmas tree may still be up, but the Christmas spirit in America seems to have been short-lived this year. The blaring trumpets of Holy War, in the Holy Land are overpowering Christ’s words about hope, forgiveness, brotherly love, and charity – the traditional themes of Christmas.
Welcome to the Great Theocratic wars of the 21st Century. It’s the Zionist-Christian Crusaders versus the Islamic Jihadists.
Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, the death toll is rising. Reliable sources claim that, as of today, at least 380 Palestinians have been killed and many hundreds more have been severely injured, as a direct result of Israel’s Operation Cast Lead.
This American-approved war on Hamas will probably fail to uproot the “terrorists”, the noble goal proclaimed by this war’s proponents; it will certainly inspire a new generation of Arab “freedom fighters” to continue the armed resistance to “militant Zionism in Palestine”.
The stateless Arab refugees from the 1948 and 1967 wars and their descendants are penned-in, like criminals, in the tiny Gaza Strip. The Israelis control their airspace, blockade their ports and coastline and the IDF controls and patrols their land borders, with the help of a compliant regime in Egypt.
Life is hard, in the Gaza Strip – home to a million and a half desperate, displaced Arabs. Unemployment is widespread. Basic items like food, fuel, potable water, medical supplies and electricity are always in short supply. Extremists exploit the general despair.
In all human conflicts, there are causes and there are effects. We Americans need to recognize and deal with the root causes for the Arab and Muslim antipathy toward Israel and its allies.
The architects of the current “war on terror” have mistakenly concentrated on addressing the violent effects, instead of identifying and addressing the underlying causes.
The resolution of the Arab refugee issue has always been assigned to some future “final status” agreement; sadly, this has been the case for the past sixty years.
The so-called “Roadmap to Peace” is upside down, if we can resolve the Arab refugee issue first, instead of last, a major casus belli for the “terrorists” will be removed from the equation.
If we can finally and fairly settle the Arab/Israeli conflict, the militant Jihadists will run out of motivational ammunition. |
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| Obama's Choice for "National Pastor" |
[Dec. 22nd, 2008|02:21 pm] |
It is fair to question and to criticize President-elect Obama’s choice, Pastor Rick Warren, to deliver the inaugural invocation.
President-elect Obama justified and explained his choice; he claimed that his choice represents an attempt to unify the nation by reaching across the great cultural and political divide.
In reality, this is an assault on secular democracy.
Pastor Warren is a Judeo-Christian theocrat.
It may be smart politics, for Obama to choose Pastor Warren, but this continuing slide into theocracy is not good for the long-term health of our secular and democratic republic.
Mega-pastor, Reverend Rick Warren, will now assume the obligations of vetting and anointing our Presidents.
Earlier this year, Reverend Warren, the de facto national pastor, vetted both presidential candidates on his nationally televised “forum “ - a novel event, hosted by his mega-church and underwritten and validated by all the major networks and their sponsors.
Now, he gets the spotlight and the microphone again.
We may conclude that the “separation of church and state” idea is a quaint relic of the past.
Republicans and Democrats agree, playing the faith-based card is right, just and fitting.
Once he has taken the oath of office, President Obama will probably pump millions, if not billions, into the so-called “faith-based initiative”. What started out as a Christian Right scheme to raid the US treasury, will now be used by the Democrats to attract religious voters to the Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, some billion and a half Muslims on planet Earth may see this choice as further proof that Osama Bin Laden is right - the world is at war.
Bin Laden spoke of a Holy War - the Judeo-Christian Crusaders and the Zionists, on one side - and the world’s Muslims and Islam itself, on the other side. Pastor Warren, probably agrees with that grim analysis.
The republic’s Founders warned us about theocracy and foreign entanglements, if we ignore that sound advice, we do so at our own peril. |
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| Dynastic Democracy Meets Gubernatorial Greed |
[Dec. 12th, 2008|11:36 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | beau biden, blagojevich, cuomo clan, dynastic democracy, gubernatorial greed, jesse jackson junior, joe biden, kennedy clan, minner, obama, patterson | ] |
I posted the following rant on one of my favorite discussion board sites – the Nashville City Paper (NCP). An always passionate and sometimes articulate bunch of posters hang around the NCP’s “Letters to the Editor” board. I enjoy the online debates hosted by the NCP and I am thankful to be a part of the discourse.
Here is the URL:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=64748
Here is the text of my post:
Good morning, Nashville!
Great cartoon and great letters today. Bravo, Dargent 7.
The Blagojevich Affair is a classic case of dynastic democracy meeting gubernatorial greed. Jesse Jackson Junior, of the Jackson dynasty, is “Candidate Number 5”? No surprise there, he has repeatedly expressed his ambitious desire for Obama’s seat.
Others ask, “Was Rahm Emmanuel the go-between bagman?” The right-wing talk-show hosts are demanding to know the answers to the standard questions: “What did President-elect Obama know and when did he know it?”
This thing is not going away anytime soon, there will be a cloud over Washington, DC on January 20th, and you don’t need to be a weatherman to know that.
The dynastic democrats and the special interests are also cajoling Governor Patterson, in New York. Will it be the Cuomo clan or the Kennedy clan? It’s all quite disgusting.
In Delaware, Governor Ruth Ann Minner was surely lobbied to appoint the “right” person to take Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s seat in the US Senate. As it turns out, Edward “Ted” Kaufman, a long-time Biden aide, has apparently been declared to be the Chosen One.
Originally, Joe Biden’s son, Beau Biden, now serving in Iraq, was reportedly at the top of the short list of candidates for his dad’s job. Look for Junior Biden to claim his dad’s seat when he returns from Iraq; Kaufman appears to be something of a caretaker/seat-warmer for the Biden family seat.
Illinois Governor Blagojevich’s alleged flagrant corruption may be unique in its boldness and scope, but any Governor is going to be pressured to deliver on favors owed and may be offered quid pro quos whenever a US Senate seat is up for grabs, in any state. ‘twas ever thus.
In my view, US Senate vacancies should be filled in a transparent and democratic fashion, this “appointment” business is inherently flawed and invites corruption.
I think that the US Senator replacement mechanism needs a Constitutional overhaul. The current situation is dangerous and undemocratic by nature.
We read about “Flag Desecration” Amendments to the US Constitution and “Marriage Preservation” Amendments and so on, but nobody seems to be lobbying for a Constitutional fix for situations like these.
Same thing goes for any support for a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the dangerous and undemocratic Electoral College system.
And the Vice Presidential candidate selection process is not just undemocratic, it is risky business; this lamentable situation requires a Constitutional remedy. Sadly, both major US political parties are content with the status quo.
We, the People are content with Democracy lite, yet we are smug enough to think that we have perfected the democratic process to the point where we can impose it upon nations that we invade and occupy. That’s arrogance born of ignorance. |
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| More Turmoil in The Holy Land |
[Nov. 15th, 2008|08:49 pm] |
The US elections are behind us and the globe continues to rotate. Now that the elections are no longer a distraction, the US media seem to be reporting on more news from abroad.
Once again, things are not good in Gaza. Another man-made humanitarian crisis is looming in the Holy Land.
Here is a link to a pertinent article in Monsters and Critics, the title is: Israel threatens offensive in Gaza Strip. The dateline is Nov 15, 2008, 19:47 GMT. Here is the URL:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1443181.php
A poster, Mike in Texas, commented on this story; his arrogant yet ignorant post inspired me to respond.
Here is Mike’s unedited post: I just don't understand the Gaza situation! Israel gave up Gaza to give Palestinians peace. In response, Hamas refuses to accept the existance of Israel and just want to have truces and fire rockets. They know this won't work, but is their way to gain time. A simple fact is Israel was there three thousand years before the Muslim religion was thought of. Judea and Sumaria were always Israel, but Israel would give them a State as long as they remain peaceful and recognize Israel. The real issue here is the Arabs cannot and will not ever get along with any non Muslim neighbors. I believe Israel should level a Gaza house for every rocket fired. This, they might understand.
The following rant is my response to Mike in Texas and to the millions of Americans who might agree with him; I hope that all this will serve as a proper new_york_loner journal entry. Here it is:
With all due respect, Mike in Texas, you have imbibed way too much of that, Made-in-Israel, Kosher Kool-Aid.
Since when is the United States of America in the business of restoring ancient theocracies?
The answer: Since May 15, 1948. That's the day that the Jewish colonists in Palestine celebrate the birth of their faith-based, race-based, nation-state. For the Arabs of Palestine, that day is known as Al Naqba - the Disaster.
The Arabs were not the perpetrators of the Holocaust, but the Arabs were forced off their lands in order to compensate the Jewish victims who had survived the Nazi death camps. Two "wrongs" do not make a "right".
The Gazans have been living as hapless refugees for sixty years now; their despair spawns the "terror". These people need and deserve just compensation for their losses and third-party nations could do a whole lot more to help with the resettlement of these stateless survivors.
As for any 3,000 year old Biblical claim to the "Holy Land", that is not only irrelevant, that claim has long since expired. The statute of limitations on land claims is very short, just ask any Native American "Indian".
I have read the Old Testament accounts that chronicled the saga of how God's Chosen People, the Israelites, built their kingdom on land that they had seized by force of arms. If Israel and its defenders are using the Bible as evidentiary material, then we must conclude that the Israeli claim to the land was never legitimate.
The Biblical accounts are quite graphic, after the Israelites defeated the enemy armies, the surviving enemy men were slaughtered, virgin girls and young boys were spared and used as slaves. Read your Bible, it contains all the gory details of how the ancient Jews stole the land and enslaved or killed the former landowners.
The ancient Israelites believed that their ethnic cleansing activities were Divinely sanctioned; today’s Zionists also believe that they are acting with Divine sanction.
Mike, my fellow American, de facto Israeli agents have infiltrated the US federal government and co-opted the major US political parties. AIPAC-approved Israel-firsters are formulating US policy; doesn't that alarm you?
Last but not least, I must point out that the fourth estate, the US mainstream media, is absolutely pro-Israel.
Ironically, one must read the Israeli newspapers to get a glimpse of the harsh realities for Arabs in Palestine today. The Israelis actually brag about their inhumanity towards their Semitic cousins - the collective punishments, the IDF's assassinations, Jewish settler violence against Arabs etc. The Israelis report the incidents, but spin the story to their liking. And the Israeli posters on the online discussion boards clearly brag about their anti-Arab racism and their belief in Jewish supremacy and Zionist apartheid – it’s all very revealing.
There it is, Mike, the un-varnished and ugly truth. Can you handle it?
My honest advice: Don't drink the Kosher Kool-Aid. Read the Israeli papers and check out their discussion boards. Question authority. |
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| Hope and Change |
[Nov. 6th, 2008|10:33 am] |
Finally, it is over. A very long and very expensive decision-making process has been completed; the nation has selected Barack Hussein Obama to be its 44th President.
The popular vote was relatively close, Obama: 53% and McCain: 46%; as for the electoral vote tally, it wasn’t even close, Obama: 349 and McCain: 163.
Obama was able to flip at least eight states from Republican red to Democratic blue. North Carolina and Missouri are still counting the votes.
The “Solid South” isn’t so solid these days, Virginia and Florida voted for Obama-Biden.
Things have changed. Many ask, “Will this change be positive or negative, will it be good or bad?”
I don’t have any crystal balls or E-mails from the Almighty, so my opinions and predictions come with no guarantees; but I think that things are changing in a positive way.
It’s safe to say that the color-barrier to personal achievement has been eliminated from our pluralistic society. That’s a positive development.
It appears that the “Bradley effect” was a short-lived political phenomenon. That’s a good thing.
I think that, in future deals, the race card is no longer trump, that card is now the discarded joker. That’s a good thing too, the joker was never very funny.
Enough of the metaphors and ruminations, let us all hope and pray that the new president will meet or exceed the demands of the office and that he places the People’s interests first and foremost in his mind.
As they say, “now comes the hard part”. Mr. Obama has inspired millions with his lofty words and eloquent speeches, after January 20th, 2009, he will be forced to deliver on his promises.
President-elect Obama will have the support of the party-faithful in both Legislative chambers; the Democrats will control Congress. It will be tough to blame the Republicans, if things go badly and I’m sure that the Obama team is acutely aware of that.
Obama’s judgment will now be tested as he selects his cabinet and key advisors. Will the Obama Administration be one that is based upon merit, or will it be like the Bush Administration, where politics and paybacks were factored into the equation.
Obama’s campaign was centered on two words, “Hope” and “Change”. Let’s hope that we haven’t been fooled again, that in itself would be change. |
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| Final Week Fireworks & new_york_loner Endorsement |
[Oct. 28th, 2008|11:29 am] |
This is it. The last week of the 2008 election spectacle – it’s like the grand finale at a fireworks show. Lots of red, white and blue, lots of boom and thunder and then the lingering, clouds of acrid smoke.
If the campaigners have any unused or surplus incendiary or explosive material, they’ll use it now.
Let’s hope that the post-election smoke quickly clears and let us all hope that there will be no unexploded ordnance to deal with – like the notorious “hanging chad”, in 2000, or another Supreme Court intervention into deciding who won the election.
Whatever the outcome, the nation will need to put politics aside and unite for the common good; this is not the time for more polarization and divisiveness. The next president will have to act as a national healer and uniter, let us hope that the right person is chosen for this daunting task.
Senator McCain and Governor Palin do not come across as healers or uniters. They come across as agitators.
Senator McCain pandered to the GOP base by selecting a Pentecostal hockey mom as his running mate. His judgment in selecting Sarah Palin is highly questionable.
Throughout the debates, Senator McCain exhibited an un-statesmanlike “wise-ass” streak; this temperament flaw was especially evident to those who viewed the debates on networks using the split-screen. Senator McCain has a long history of issuing angry outbursts. John McCain’s presidential temperament is certainly questionable.
Senator McCain’s claim to be a “maverick”, one who can bring about “change”, is also questionable. By his own admission, he voted with Bush “90% of the time”. McCain was no “maverick”; he led the GOP herd, obediently following the cowboy’s commands, during Junior Bush’s 8-year-long cattle drive to the electoral slaughterhouse.
Senator McCain’s top campaign staff is loaded with special interest lobbyists. If elected, McCain would be highly beholden to those special interests. The potential for conflicts of interest and corruption is certainly there.
I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama, for US President.
Senator Obama is not the perfect candidate, but he appears to have the judgment, temperament and skills needed for the demanding job that he is seeking.
If Barack Obama is given a Democratically controlled Congress to work with, the nation may be able to effect the necessary course corrections in time to avert potential disaster. |
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| Weekend Update |
[Oct. 18th, 2008|08:42 pm] |
It’s Saturday night and things are quiet. I’ll try to put together another journal entry. I made several attempts, during the past week, to put together some cogent comments, concerning current events, but I was repeatedly interrupted and ended up losing the texts.
The dust from Wednesday night’s final presidential debate has settled. The polls seem to indicate that Senator Obama won the debate, although Senator McCain exceeded expectations.
Senator Obama won all three debates; sorry, Senator McCain, three strikes and you’re out.
Joe, the skin-headed, non-union, non-licensed, tax-delinquent plumber stole the show. Skin-headed Joe actually compared Senator Obama to a tap-dancing Sammy Davis Junior. It’s easy to see why McCain and Palin fell in love with Joe the Plumber.
McCain and Obama traded self-deprecating barbs at the Al Smith Dinner on Thursday. I don’t usually like to see tuxedoed politicians rubbing elbows with vestment-wearing clerics, but in this case, I’ll make an exception. The campaign rhetoric was starting to resemble hate-speech; the “roast” acted as a pressure relief valve.
Speaking of the church versus state issue, I came across an interesting article on the Israeli, Haaretz, online site. Bradley Burston and J.J. Goldberg wrote the piece; it’s entitled “Members of the tribe / 36 Jews who have shaped the 2008 U.S. election”. Here is the URL:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1029302.html
As an American patriot who believes in secular governance, it troubles me to read stories like this one. I object to any religion-based meddling in governmental affairs. And I object to the idea of a state outside of our union of states “shaping” our presidential elections.
With that in mind, I left the following post on the Haaretz board:
Apparently it is OK for Jews to brag about the disproportionate Jewish and Israeli influence in the 2008 US presidential elections; but it is not OK for anyone to complain about it.
If any of the so-called, "anti-Semitic" websites and media were to publish this list of influential Jews, they would be labeled as being "anti-Semitic".
Israel's national interests are not at all identical with those of the US. Would these members of "the tribe" put Israel's national interests above those of the USA?
The potential for conflicts of interest is enormous.
Now is the time for the USA to divest from apartheid theocracies, not to be influenced by them.
This list of dual-allegiance, movers and shakers should alarm those American patriots who rightly reject foreign meddling in the formulation of US policy.
Israelis resent US meddling in their affairs, American politicians, on the other hand, seek and welcome Israeli influence.
I'm not a bigot; I'm a patriot. |
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| Candidates Send Wrong Signal to Israel |
[Oct. 8th, 2008|11:02 am] |
The internet is crackling with morning-after reviews of the second presidential debate, here's my take on it: Obama won on all counts.
Senator McCain looked and sounded weak and fragile. Maybe McCain was deliberately trying to milk the sympathy angle; he seemed to act more gimpy than usual. Yes, I know all about his ejection-seat trauma and his horrific POW experience - we've heard it all before ad nauseum. Many voters are now experiencing sympathy burnout for this self-serving and shallow politician.
Smirking McCain sounded bitter at times and condescending throughout the 90-minute show. He still refuses to make eye contact with his opponent, whom he derisively called "that one".
Obama, on the other hand, looked presidential. His answers seemed to be coherent and relevant to the questions asked. Obama appeared to display a cooler head and cooler heads often prevail.
I was disappointed in both candidates when they answered the obligatory questions concerning Israel's national interests. Both candidates are sending the wrong signal to the Israelis; neither candidate is making a distinction between the US response to an Iranian first-strike on Israel and the US response to an Iranian retaliatory strike on Israel.
Ambiguity on such a critical point is dangerous.
Here is a link to a relevant story on the Haaretz (Israeli) online site, the piece is entitled "ANALYSIS / Thank goodness for McCain and Obama support on Iran", by Benjamin L. Hartman. Here's the URL:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1027617.html
Here is the text of my comment on the discussion board for that article:
Both presidential candidates tried to outdo each other in sucking up to the Zionists in the Jewish State and to the fifth column Zionists here in the USA.
Of the thousands of questions that were submitted, the Jewish-controlled US media made sure that a question concerning the US/Iran/Israel nexus was put to the candidates. This obsession with Israel’s national interests is a regular feature of the political debates, going back to the primary campaigns.
What is missing from the question is whether the theoretical Iranian attack on Israel is an Iranian first-strike or self-defense, after an Israeli first-strike on Iran.
Israel is getting the wrong signal here, if the Israelis think that they can attack Iran and that the US will defend the Jewish State from a retaliatory strike.
The US needs to make it absolutely clear that if Israel strikes Iran in a first-strike attack, then Israel is on its own to face the Iranian, and possible Chinese and Russian counter-attacks. |
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| Protesting the "Stop Iran Now" Rally in NYC |
[Sep. 22nd, 2008|10:47 am] |
It’s a crisp and sunny morning here in upstate New York; it’s a beautiful day for a protest rally.
Today, Monday September 22, 2008 is the date set for the “Stop Iran Now” (SIN) rally at the UN complex in New York City. I wanted to attend the event, as a lone counter-protester, carrying my usual “HOLY WARS SUCK” sign, but I couldn’t get it all together in time.
This Journal Entry will have to serve as my personal protest platform.
It seems that the SIN protest has had an unplanned impact on the US presidential campaigns.
First, Hillary Clinton was invited to speak at the rally and she accepted, back in August. Then, just recently, the rally organizers invited Sarah Palin to speak.
Palin’s invite apparently infuriated the Clinton people and Hillary quickly cancelled her plans to speak at the rally. The rally organizers then over-reacted and hastily dis-invited Sarah Palin.
The McCain/Palin campaign cynically exploited the story and promptly blamed the whole mess on “Democrat partisans”.
The decision to dis-invite Palin was made by the Council Of Presidents Of Major American Jewish Organizations (COPOMAJO). Other rally organizers have strongly criticized that decision.
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) and the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) have all complained that they were not consulted in the decision-making process.
Here is a link to an Arutz Sheva article that pretty much sums up the current situation:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127704
I posted the following comment (#14) on the discussion board for that story:
I love the irony: COPOMAJO attacked by JINSA, NCYI and ZOA. And the RJC (Republican Jewish Coalition) is probably miffed as well.
There is a certain poetic justice when a hate-filled, bomb-builder blows himself up, while building his bomb.
And there is an element of that poetic justice in this Anti-Iran Rally story.
The Anti-Iran Rally, in NYC, was supposed to galvanize America’s resolve to defend the Jewish State from an existential threat posed by the Iranians. That was the plan.
Now it seems that the American Jewish groups, who organized and planned the Anti-Persian Hate-Fest, have clumsily over-reached. This has blown up in their faces.
Don’t get me wrong, Iran's Ahmadinejad is a dangerous demagogue, but Anti-Iran hate-rallies, sponsored by members of the War Lobby, are not the way to advance world peace.
Let me say it again, HOLY WARS SUCK. |
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| Sarah Palin: Demigoddess and Demagogue. |
[Sep. 11th, 2008|03:29 pm] |
Vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, in my opinion, is a demagogue and a demigod, all rolled into one sweet treat.
Or should I say that Sarah Palin is a demigoddess and a demagogue, all rolled into one sweet treat?
This could be problematic for the Democrats.
The power of fascination should never be underestimated. And Sarah Palin clearly has it. It is the power that propels and enables both demagogue and demigod alike.
Sarah Palin fits the “demagogue” definition: (from thefreedictionary.com) (1) A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. (2) A leader of the common people in ancient times.
Sarah Palin fits the “demigod” definition: (from thefreedictionary.com) (1) a. a being who is part mortal, part god b. a lesser deity (2) a godlike person
Sarah Palin certainly fits the “demigoddess” definition: (from thefreedictionary.com) (1) A female being, often the offspring of a god and a mortal, who has some but not all of the powers of a goddess. (2) A deified woman.
Sarah Palin is certainly “of the common people”; she has shown her disdain for the “elitists” and her performance at the GOP convention showed that she is capable of delivering “impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace”. She’s a demagogue.
Sarah is certainly “a female being”, but whether or not she is “the offspring of a god and a mortal, who has some but not all of the powers of a goddess” has not yet been revealed. Judging from the tabloids, FOX News and the GOP talking points, as well as the Christian media, it’s fair to say that Sarah Palin is being raised to the level of a “deified woman”. She could be a demigoddess.
The Democrats need to deal with this right now or suffer the consequences. |
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