Thursday, May 31, 2007

Democrats, Bush and Jeruslaem

Front page Today's NYSun - Democratic Congress Calls out Bush to fulfill long unfulfilled campaign promise- to move the American embassy in Israel to the capital city of Jerusalem http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=55534&v=9246160811

- The Irony of it all -

The Praise for the resolution:
http://www.ou.org/public_affairs/article/ou_commends_introduction_of_jerusalem_resolution/
The Ignored, Unacknowleged Unprescedented Yom Yerushalayim American Snub:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122430

The Other Ignored, par for the Course Snub:
http://jta-vip.mediapolis.com/cgi-bin/iowa/news/print/20070110Whynooutragefrom.html

In context, as used in campain, double standard, hypocrisy, etc.
http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/usa/campaign_2000/sd09-01jewish_voters.htm

the Republican Jewish Coalition cites a report in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz that "Al Gore has stated he would delay moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv until a final status agreement is forged between Israel and the Palestinians." "This is in direct conflict with the will of Congress which passed legislation mandating the move in 1995," the RJC [Republican Jewish Coalition] reports. "By contrast, Governor Bush has pledged that he would move the embassy to Jerusalem as soon as he was sworn in as President."

Friday, May 4, 2007

Speaking of Guilt By Disassociation...

Ten of them - and they can't even say his name.
Republican White House hopefuls Thursday night frequently invoked the name of former President Ronald Reagan during the first GOP presidential debate but avoided mentioning the current president by name.
Until the final question, which specifically asked the ten candidates how they would be different from President Bush, the name of the commander in chief was uttered only once by a candidate, according to a transcript of the event. In fact, they mentioned Bush’s brother Jeb and his father George H. W. Bush as many times as the current chief executive.
Ten middle aged white men who seek desire to be annoited as his successor. Ten people who are members of the party which he leads as the supreme commander guy. Ten people who enabled him and gave him a free pass. And none of them can even say his name.

Talk about setting the tone.

Barry Hussein Christian Danforth Herbert Walker Jefferson Rodham Benito Double Yoo - Hey George, What's in a name?

It's kinda nauseating already - every time Ann Coulter and her ratkateers insist on referencing emphasizing the Illionois senator as Barack Hussein Obama - for no reason other than to remind people that he carries the same name as a well known evil doer. For no reason other than to draw a non existent distant paralel and associate Obama with another person named Hussein.

If they are going to be so strict about the rules of proper fullnaming, then perhaps they should at least be consistent, and be mindfully careful to pronounce everyone in their proper full names. (After all, that was the entire basis of the '04 campaign, professed consistency against a giant pair of beach slippers).

If you are going to be so formal as to constantly interject Barack Hussein Obama every chance you get, it would be inconsistent even disprespectful not to afford the same courtesy to Richard Bruce Cheney, John Sidney McCain and Karl Christian Rove.

Here's an another idea. Suppose others were to stoop to such an inane level of schoolyard taunting, one might choose to consider a similar yet more pathetically congruent guilt by association. The ironic current republican frontrunner, Rudy Giuliani has a very famous middle initial. So famous that if people were to adopt it as a new reference for the deity, his identity could be reminiscent of a moniker synonymous with the term "collasal failure." Giuliani's middle initial is W. Officially, he has been referred to many times as Rudolph W. Giuliani.

Dubya. Has a nice ring to it.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY TO HONOR CHARLIE RANGEL

YU's Wurzweiler School of Social Work shall bestow honors on Congressman Charlie Rangel during their upcoming anniversary conference next week. Rangel, the 18 term congressman and chairman of the house ways and means committee represents the district which Yeshiva calls home. NY1 city politics maven Dominic Carter will also address the conference.
Irrespective, the aforementioned apprant District 15 congressional campaign by an intrepid young former YU student presses on.

Also, for those who missed it the other day, journalist Tim Russert of NBC's Meet The Press will delviver the keynote address at this year's Yeshiva University commencement.

BTW, The first round of best post voting is almost over, don't forget to vote for The Town Crier:

Touro 2.0

Beyond cookie cutter website maintenence,
Lander / Touro College has rolled out their new better looing more informative and comprensive web site. Very nice.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Who Said It?

"Hillary Clinton is my least favorite Democrat"

A) Don Imus
B) Cindy Sheehan
C) Ralph Nader
D) Michael Badnarik

PELOSI WAS 'BAD', BUT NOW CONDI WILL GO TALK TO SYRIA

Let me see...Pelosi was bad because we don't talk to bad people...unless we talk to the bad people...then its ok. Riiiiggght. Wash Post: Rice to Meet Syrian Foreign Minister
Nico lays it all out:
After State Department Attacked Pelosi, Rice To Meet With Syrian Leader
Word of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) bipartisan delegation to Syria was first made public on March 30 during a State Department press briefing.
Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, “In our view, it’s not the right time to have those sort of high-profile visitors to Syria… [W]e don’t think it would be appropriate for high-level visitors, even those from the Congress, to pay a visit to Syria right now.”
Apparently, one month later, the time is right to meet with Syrian officials:
A senior Iraqi official and a senior Arab diplomat say Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in Egypt on Thursday or Friday.
It would be Rice’s first meeting with a Syrian foreign minister since she took over at the State Department in 2005, adding potentially significant bilateral talks to a regional session meant to help stabilize Iraq.
As Carpetbagger notes, “Literally just one month ago, the Bush administration said U.S. officials should not have contact with the Syrian government.” Vice President Cheney called Pelosi’s effort “bad behavior.” President Bush said Pelosi’s delegation was “counterproductive.”
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino suggested Pelosi was visiting to “have a photo opportunity and have tea” with Syria’s prime minister.
The supreme irony: two weeks ago, President Bush reportedly pulled Pelosi aside after a meeting and “told her he did not criticize her recent trip to Syria.” Bush told Pelosi “in an unsolicited comment that it was actually the State Department that criticized her.”
UPDATE: Dovbear weight in his thoughts in "Terrorist Appeaser Alert."

Indiana University Study: Bill O'Reilly much worse than Don Imus

A new research study out of Indiana University finds that fake war on Christmas Fox News host Bill O'Reilly uses derogatory names more than once every seven seconds. Perhaps he should see Dr. Phil about managing his misplaced anger.

Most Famous Black Hat

Ami Eden tells The Story of Jack's Hat:
A New York Times editorial urging enhanced congressional campaign-donation disclosure rules begins by stating that “Congress is still haunted by the black hat and easy-money grin of Jack Abramoff…”
It’s worth noting that the Forward cracked the mysteryof this black hat that is, apparently, still haunting Capitol Hill way back in January 2006: It’s a $200 Borsalino Como II fedora purchased by Abramoff from Brooklyn’s Bencraft Hatters.

Moadim Lsimcha - We all get another chance

Deep Thought: Don't underestimate the significance of the institution of Pesach Sheni.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

The Irony of a Presidential Proclamation

This reminds me of the "Jesus Day" proclamation made all those years ago by a certain Texas governor.
Pro and con debate over the necessity of "Jewish American Heritage Month" aside, which was the legistlative brainchild of jewish lawmakers Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) , I found the a small part of the presidential declaration to be quite ironic, possibly troubling, definitely worth noting.
Jewish American Heritage Month, 2007 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
The faith and hard work of Jewish Americans have played an integral role in shaping the cultural fabric of America. During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the vital contributions of Jewish Americans to our Nation.
Throughout our history, Jewish Americans have contributed to the strength of our country and the preservation of our values. The talent and imagination of these citizens have helped our Nation prosper, and their efforts continue to remind us of America's gift of religious freedom and the blessings of God's steadfast love. Jewish Americans have worked to promote civil rights and build bridges of mutual understanding among the world's religions. Their deep commitment to faith and strong ties to family enrich our country and set a positive example for others.
This month is also a time to recognize the sacrifices of Jewish Americans who serve our Nation in the Armed Forces. These brave men and women are dedicated to freedom's cause, and all those who live in freedom live in their debt.
Jewish American Heritage Month is an opportunity to honor the accomplishments of Jewish-American citizens and to remember that our Nation is a melting pot of cultures. I join all Americans in celebrating the rich Jewish heritage and the many ways Jewish Americans contribute to a bright future for our country.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do herebyproclaim May 2007 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor Jewish Americans across the country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first. GEORGE W. BUSH
Emphasis mine, irony implicit.

Israeli Muppets Return - Now With Arab Friends

After nearly a decade, the Israeli version of Sesame Street is returning to the Israeli airwaves. Somethings remain the same, and some new things adding new elements. Read all about it:
AP - After years off the air, Sesame Street returns to Israel, Palestinian areas
JTA - 'Sesame Street' returns to Israel

Mayday - News, Jews, Noise

"Blacks and Jews' come together to plant trees in memory of Coretta Scott King.

ForgiveMeFatherForIHaveSinnedDotCom - Online confessionals are all the rage. Think there's any market for this in the Jewish world? Kinda reminds me of that old Rechnitzer rejects advertisement for "Viduy on Video."

Is Michael Bloomberg the second coming of Ross Perot? Steve Forbes, maybe.

Nahal Haredi - the all haredi (ultra orthodox) brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces is launching a massive International recruitment camapign.

What days is it? Condi's "few months" for the surge to work are up, especially since GOP congresspeople have threatened to switch sides since 'if' the surge fails. especially since . And its only costing us 500 Billion.

Yeshiva Boy Aims To Challenge Charlie Rangel in Bid For Congress

JIB Awards for best post - three nominations for "The Deceptive Tenacity of The Republican Jewish Coalition"

Anyway, about the ex Yeshiva boy in District 15 (Washington Heights) - Here is a link to his ampaign website and his facebook group. Apparantly he does not want to "sound like a huge tool." Readers may remember Zechariah "Zee" Mehler from such previous blogposts as the "Jewish American Civil Liberties Union." Oy.

Tim Russert to Keynote YU Commencement

If it's Tuesday, It's Meet the Press (release)

What do Tim Russert, Mike Steinhardt and Coach Stan Watson have in common? [Full Story]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 1, 2003: "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended." - George W. Bush