Attacking McCain

I have been quite upset over the attacks in recent days and weeks against the military record of John McCain.
FIRSTLY TO DENIGRATE HIS SERVICE AND COMMITTMNT AS BEING OF LITTLE VALUE IS BEYOND THE PALE
But it is not an accidental remark by Gen. Wesley Clark acting as an Obama surrogate.Sen. Jay Rockefeller accused McCain of not caring where his bombs dropped.I don't remember the good Senator. attacking those who carpet bombed Dresden, or those who dropped the A-bombs.However for political gain, every level of disgusting filthy attack is legitimate. This APPEARS TO BE A CAMPAIGN THAT IS BEING ORCHESTRATED BY THE LEFT.
The charges that McCain doesn't deserve to be Pres. because of his war record,represents a straw man that the Dems are hoping to destroy.
No,McCain was not an Eisenhower, but the leadership and grit he exhibited in captivity, has shaped and molded a world outlook reinforced by 26 years in Congress.
The American people will not respond favorably to attacking McCain in such a fashion.If you disagree with McCain on the issues .fine However even his enemies would agree that the "surge" was his idea long before Bush proposed it.McCain made that proposal at great political risk.He is a man of character and principles. Assasination of his military record will surely rebound against the Dems.
As far as Obama's performance today on PATRIOTISM !
Methinks he protesteth too much.
Fifty flags behind him, lapel pins on both sides.holding both his hands to his heart during the National Anthem will not prove to me anything.
I know that when the Anthem is played,I still get goosepimples.Patriotism on the part of a politician, is not the speeches he makes,but his body language and his actions and above all his record.

Malik Obama /The AIPAC Case

I have previosly written about what is a fairly well known item-except that Obama denies it,namely that he was raised as a Muslim.
Now comes new proof,from his half-brother Malik who said last week "Despite his Muslim background" he (BARAK) will make a good President for the Jews. (Israel-Commentrary.Org:80/ )
Islam is a religion BASED ON PATRILENEAL DESCENT.THUS, HE WAS BORN A MUSLIM REGISTERED AS SUCH IN SCHOOL,ATTENDED ISLAMIC CLASSES (WHICH PRESUMABLY WERE MANDATORY) AND WENT WITH HIS STEP-FATHER TO THE MOSQUE.
This new report claims he can recite the Koran in Arabic.
NO ONE IS CLAIMING THAT HE IS MUSLIM TODAY.SURELY WE KNOW HE IS A PRACTICING CHRISTIAN,AND UNTIL RECENTLY A MEMBER OF THE REV.WRIGHT CONG.
WHAT IS DISTURBING IS HIS TOTAL DENIAL OF EVEN A HINT OF ATTACHMENT AS A CHILD TO ISLAM.
What if anything this impacts on his world view is for each individual to come to their own conclusions.
Of course it is nice he will be visiting Israel.Perhaps he will see first hand why Jerusalem cannot be divided.

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The Appelate Court decision that the case against two former AIPAC staffers Keith Weissman and Steve Rosen must be held in open court and that the burden of proof by the Govt. cannot be lowered is a great victory for them.
It is sad that only 2 Jewish Organizations the American Jewish Committee and the Reform Movements Political wing have applauded this decision.It is time for all Jewish (and non-Jewish) groups to publicly call upon the Govt to drop this case,which is a witch-hunt.Indeed almost every organization used Steve Rosen as a speaker for an inside look at US policy in the Middle East.
I personally sat in countless briefings by members of administration after administration ,from the White House to the State or Defense Dept.,which started with the words"THIS IS OFF THE RECORD'.
In truth most of what they said WAS PLAIN OLD -FASHIONED ANALYSIS,( that could be read on some blog or news analysis) but occasionally there was insight into yet unpublished material, especially as a result of the questions and answer period.Was this really SECRET? Did anyone seriously believe that everyone in the room was bound to an oath of silence?Didn't every "leader" in that room try to use the briefing as a way to push American policy a little way toward our point of view,as they were trying to get us to support their point of view
These two staffers merely did what occurs on a DAILY BASIS IN WASHINGTON-DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND GATHER AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION.

Avrum Burg

I always wondered why do certain people react in a certain way.Occasionally, you can make an amateur psychiatric conclusion and probably be right.
Such is the case of. Avraham Burg.Mr Burg or as everyone who knows him-Avrum, is a former member of Knesset.He was in fact the Speaker of the Knesset.At one time, he was a candidate for Prime Minister.He was also the head of the Jewish Agency,where I had many disagreements with him.
What made him stand out was the fact that he was the son of one of the founders of the State, a signer of the Declaration of Independence of Israel, and not only a torah scholar,but the leading member of the Mizrachi Political Party-Mafdal.Dr Yosef Burg ,was loved and respected by the cross-section of the Israeli body politic,as he served in most of the governments during his lifetime.He was a pleasure to talk to,and you realized that he had the needs of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael uppermost in his heart and actions.
Avrum ,wore a tiny-tiny skullcap ,joined Labor (as a sign of rebellion?) and sent his kids to a Conservative s chool.Because of his so called 'ORTHODOX' persona, he rose as a "superstar" in politics.He was always a lone wolf.
After failing to advance to the PMship,he left politics.
Now he is back in the news.He advocates the end of the Jewish State,and the end of Jewish sovereignty over the Temple Mount.He woud create a bi-national State, and divide Jerusalem.
Instead of insulting him,I can only be thankful that his FatherOBM, who I knew and admired is not around to be so shamed.

All psychiatric evaluations are welcome!

Pres Sarkozy

The speech by French President Sarkozy to the Knesset was very disappointing.Though he proclaimed his friendship, he next advocated deporting Jews from Judea and Samaria,and then dividing Jerusalem.Such friendships hasten the destruction of Israel.
It speaks to his total ignorance regarding thee history of the region.Israel cannot bear a "peace" with its Capital divided.
As I sat in synagogue this shabbat, and listened to the story of the spies,I looked carefully at the travels of Calev, who alone went to visit the graves of our fathers in Hebron.Jewish history and the history of the land are intertwined.Long after Sarkozy finishes his Presidency,Jerusalem will remain undivided.
If Sarkozy was a man of history, he would know that Jordan is an artificial 19-20th century creation,that sits on the land G-d promised to the Jews.He would know of the Arab massacres and destruction of Jewish settlements not since 1948, but long before the creation of a State.
He would know that long before the "48 war,and the 6 day war" long before Israel starteds to build on its ancient homeland and within Municipal Jerusalem, Arabs pledged never to accept the "infidel" Jewish people.
If he were our real friend he would embrace a unified Jerusalem,move the French Embassy there,and prevent the Iranian nuclear development ,not with words but deeds.

Technology at the city bridges // McCain

If you drive on the George Washington Bridge ,or on the Garden State Parkway -Paramus toll for example,you will note terchnology at work.There are lanes for those with EZ-Pass,and no gates that go up and down with each car.Thus traffic can flow smoothly.
Yet on the Triborough Bridge,you still have the toll gates that go up and down with each car,even if they have EZ-Pass..In addition , you have a cadre of usually overweight TA or Bridge Authority policemen standing between lanes,as though they are overseeing traffic.Surely, removing those barriers,would increase traffic flow immensely.On the Garden State,one need not even slow down as you pass the overheand electronics that count and identify the vehicles.


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Todays polling show a huge lead for Obama that is more than a simple bump.One gets the feeling that the McCain camp is poorly organized.
He has to speak with greater warmth and feeling,as he tries to master the teleprompter.McCain has not pressed home the issues that work in his favor.
He must explain why off-sshore drilling is safe.He must change his mind on ANWAR.
Free Trade,and Tax hikes are two issues that must be explained to the American public.
When McCain tells us that Obama's ideas on natioinal security are immature and not thought out, he must follow up so that Americans understand the issues.
It is not too late to turn the campaign around.

THE SCARVED WOMEN

I thank my broth-in-law Kal Hartstein for pointing me in the direction of
DEBBIESCHLUSSEL.COM, who identifies the 2 women with head scarves ,turned away from the Obama meeting,as being identified with Islamic organizations . PLEASE READ IT FOR YOURSELF

CORRECTION

The truce that goes nto effect today is a TAHDIYA and not a Hudna(as I wrote a while ago). The latter implies recognition of the opposing party.Hamas does not recognize Israel and therefore the truce is an even greater victory for Hamas.
We shall see how long it lasts and if Shalit is released!

CEASE-FIRE

Of course "jaw,jaw jaw" is better than war,war,war".Yet the cease-fire in Gaaza is a victory for Iran,Hamas and the concept of terrorist pressure on a democracy.Just as in the North, the accptance of Hizbollah as co-equals in the Lebanese Govt.by Sec. Rice, is a blow to the Bush doctrine.
Radical Islam agrees to hudna or Cease-fires when it suits them.They never abide by the terms in spirit or principle.Despite the US giving Egypt equiptment that can detect tunnels,we can be sure that Hamas will use the time to dig fortifications,build more weapons and train for the upcoming battle-and it will come.

With these results,what lesson can Hamas or Hizbollah learn that would cause them to abstain from terrorism?The answer is that Israel and the US are soft,and talk tough, but fail to deliver the killer blow.

Rabbi Weil/ Energy needs

Last nite I attended a reception at the Orthodox Union in honor of the newly appointed Exec V.P. Rabbi Steven Weil.He will assume his duties in June 2009.I have great respect and admiration for him . and I wish him well in his desire to remake the modern orthodox-centrist
community.As I ponted out 2 days ago,labels really don't really matter.Rather , actions and results are the criteria.He has a distinguished career in youth work, the Rabbinate in Detroit and LA. In addition he has an MBA from NYU which will help him overhaul a stodgy organzation that needs both streamling and expansion to meet the growing needs of the Jewish Community.
He will have to work hard to replenish the lay volunteer corps of leaders who have been the backbone of the OU.His youth( 42) will be a great commodity..
I have not been up to the office for a period of time.Since the OU moved into its 11 Broadway headquarters under my Presidency, the photos of each of the past OU Presidents were placed in a prominent position on a wall in the conference room.I believe I was the 18th President,of which seven are still alive.Those pictures are gone ,replaced by a wall for donors.
You can come to your own conclusions.However there is a lot of talent among not only former Presidents, but former officers that is not being utilized.That actually is true for most organizations.

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We have much fossil fuel in ANWAR, and off-shore such that that within 5 years if developed could make a huge difference in our ability to meet our energy needs.The new technology if combined with wind,solar and nuclear power must be developed status post-haste.Even committing ourselves to these projects would place pressure on the speculators.In addition as I wrote a long time ago,if private industry won't build new refineries, let the government do it, and auction them off.

Being a Torah Jew

The concept thst one can be an orthodox Jew while violating a whole section of Jewish Law that deals with ethics ,morality and relations between your fellow man is ludicrous.
Sadly we see such behavior on a daily basis and too often accept it with only a silent objection.The individual with the beard,the black suit,the talit over the head,the gartle around the waist,the black velvet yarmulke is telling you-look at me I am a G-d fearing individual But when even one or a small group of such individuals do not honor business ethics,or government laws, then all the accoutremounts are simply play acting.In reality, that person shoud go bare-headed,to show he has rejected G-D'S Torah.
When you read the papers and the internet,and see "teachers" and "Religious Leaders'having sexual relations with people who come to them for spiritual guidance, instead of casting them out from our midst,first we deny their guilt,then with time we forget about it, and then slowly they by inertia often start being re-accepted, because their crimes didn't touch our lives.We conveniently forget the state of chiliul Hashem- the desecration of G-d's name when the accusations and facts become public.
But we have short memories, and most of us are not prepared to to battle to keep such individuals out of our community.
Whether it is white collar crime,or even a lack of business ethics that does not reach the level of a felony or misdemeanor, there cannot be two standards for our life-one to pray to G-d as a "Zaddik"( righteous individual) ,and one to allow us to abuse our relationship with our fellow man in business and personal ethics.

Liberalism

We Jews are an amazing people.The majority of Jews still cling to the old liberalism of the Democratic Party.If FDR came back from the dead,the liberal set would be celebrating as though he were another Barack Obama.They would sublimate the inactions regarding the concentration camps,and the massive loss of our people.
In Israel as 50 rockets hit the Negev today,liberals shrug it off with the thought that it is Hamas having s little fling before they accept a cease-fire.
And above all the Hebrew University,long a hot bed of left wing sentiment hosted Mearsheimer and Walt as they go around assuring Israelis that Ahmedaminajad really doesnt't mean violence when he threatens Israel.Iran is not a threat, and they want nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Anyway, it is only American Jews who are pushing Washington to attack Iran.
The Jimmy Carter,Mearsheimer-Walt brand of pseudo-intellectual attacks on American Jewry and Israel are certainly helped when our own people open up their campuses for their diatribes.One never sees left-wing or pro-Arab groups invite right-wing speakers for an alternate view of the world.

MICHELLE OBAMA

WHILE IN GENERAL I AGREE THAT CANDIDATES FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE ATTACKED IN THE COURSE OF A CAMPAIGN,(or ever) THERE IS AM IMPORTANT CAVEAT..
IF THE FAMILY MEMBER IS DOING REAL CAMPAIGNING ON SUBSTATIVE ISSUES,THEN THEY ARE FAIR GAME.
WHO WILL BE THE FIRST LADY OF THE LAND IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.TO WIT, MRS. BUSH WAS OUT IN AFGHANISTAN THIS PAST WEEK,AND HILLARY WAS ALL OVER THE GLOBE DURING BILL'S TENURE.
IF A CANDIDATES WIFE PORTRAYS HERSELF AS BEING ANGRY OR DISSATISFIED WITH AMERICA,THEN OF COURSE SHE MUST BEAR THE CRITICISMS.iF SHE APPEARS LESS THAN PATRIOTIC,ISN'T THAT FAIR GAME?
AND IF SHE TAKES HER CHILDREN TO A CHURCH WHERE WEEK AFTER WEEK BLACK NATIONALISTIC THEMES ARE STRESSED, ISN'T THAT A CAUSE FOR CONCERN?
AMERICA HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO MICHELLE OBAMA,DOES SHE HAVE REAL PRIDE?
NOT JUST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RESULTS, BUT IN THE AMERICA THAT ALLOWED HER TO ATTEND THE FINEST COLLEGES AND LAW SCHOOL, AND BE THE WIFE OF A US SENATOR,AT THE SAME TIME WORKING IN CORPORATE AMERICA?
SHE IS A TRUE AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY,HOWEVER THE IMPRESSION ONE GETS IS OF SOMEONE WITH A CHIP ON HER SHOULDER ABOUT AMERICA.

Where is the beef?

A friend of mine was planning on visiting a family deeply entrenched in pro-Obama politics.He asked what should he tell them?My answer,"Where is the Beef"?
Every single election in modern times has candidates yelling it's time for a "change",or "let's end corruption".
The challenge is -How will you bring about change?and more importantly, how did you work toward change up to now?
What in Obama's record in the State Senatye or US Senate?Can he point to as evidence of leadersahip in "CHANGE"? ,or BIPARTIANSHIP ?
As Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Afghanistan,what has he accomplished?How many meetings has he called?---ZERO to both questions.
What major legislative package did he originate,and see through to fruition(not add his name to others efforts) ?
Obama is a great motivational speaker-should be hired by the UJA if he loses.However where is the beef-- the record? the fine points of his programs?-who will pay?Why is he making promises on local issues like teachers,when this is not a federal issue?
What about his terrible judgement in his association with now convicted Chicago real estate operator Rezko ? and his 20 tear membership (and lying about what he ,his wife and children heard )in the Wright hurch.
When he resigned,he did so not because of what was preached,but because the Press was annoying the membership.
The burden of proof is on those who swoon over Obama, to show he is a man of substance.

Obama backtracks

It was too good to be true!
Yesterday Obama talked of an undivided Jerusalem .Clearly anyone who follows the nuances of the ME ,including the Arab world understood this to mean that there will be no Palestinian State Capitol in Jerusalem.
Today, his campaign clarified his AIPAC remarks to indicate that there could be territorial changes in Jerusalem,so long as there was no border between the two.
Yesterday,he also attacked Israeli settlements as being against the peace process.Imagine if he says this during a campaign and before AIPAC,what kind of pressure and negative UN and other policies he would undertake as Pres.
Gen. McPeak is still part of the Obama campaign.He has blamed Israel for the problems in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Jewish vote as BEING TOO INFLUENTIAL .
My long standing fear of Obama is certainly not diminished.
Our community of course must be involved in both campaigns.However sophisticated individuals who have a feeling for national security,the US-Israel relationship and similar issues don't really have much of a choice.

O)bama the pro-Israel "leader"

About 9 years ago when Hillary was running for the Senate,many of us did not believe that she was truly advocating a pro-Israel line.After her infamous kiss of Mrs Arafat, I was going to cancel her upcoming visit to an OU luncheon.
It was Sen. Joe Lieberman, who told me not to,and predicted that if she were to win she would become a Baaalat-Tshuvah ( a believer)That did in fact occur.But it took years of contact with the Pro-Israel Community, and 8 years of service as a NY Senator.
The Obama talk today at AIPAC ,showed how much he has moved in a positive direction during this campaign.Yet 17 days ago,he told an audience that Iran is not a mortal danger to the US, which is opposite of what he said today.Perhaps if he had an 8 year recorde to show us, or 26 year record liks John McCain,I would feel more comfortable with his candidacy.Neveretheless,it is a long way until Nov.,and it is important that Obama master the nuances of the ME. An "undivided Jerusalem" is a great start.
For the immediate future,the polls should show Obama with a lead.Considering the poor state of Congressional Republicans, he should be way ahead at present.That he is not, could spell problems for Obama.
This will be an exciting contest that may not be settled until the morning after election day

Har Homa / Olmert negotiates / Hebrew Charter Schools

Once again Washington has attacked Israeli plans to expand the municipal boundries of Jerusalem.Todays attack comes on "Jerusalem Runification Day" which commemorates the "67 victory which reunified the city.

It is irrelevant that the world cannot allow Jews to live in peace in their biblical and historic Capital. Har Homa and Pisgat Zeev are not "settlements" and thus Israel is free to expand the areas-WHICH WILL NEVER BE RETURNED!

To call them settlements is inflammatory and buys into PA propaganda.

The faster they build, the faster we can get on to the next crisis.



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How amazing that Olmert while under fire, still negotiates with Syria and Hamas.

The US, has asked the UN to look for for 2 or 3 more uranium production centers from which they believe Syria was planning to ship material to the recently destroyed reactor.With Syria meddling in Lebanon ,and in bed with Iran what is the purpose of playing games with Assad?

Similarly, the discovery by Egypt of massive arms in the desert scheduled for smuggling into Gaza,including anti-aircraft missiles ,on top of the daily rocket attacks and tunnel proliferation raises the question-Why negotiate with Hamas?



====================================================================I I have met Michael Steinhardt a couple of times.Wealthy he is,and desirous of using his riches for charity is without question.However one can question his understanding of the needs for Jewish survival.

His latest scheme to create a "Jewish Charter School which will not be kosher,will avoid religion,not be Zionistic,be open to non-Jews,and have some emphasis on the Hebrew language is a remedy for failure.It is reminiscent of the Yiddishishts of another generation,who found that Jewish survival requires tradition based upon our Torah.Absent that you cannot pass our heritage from generation to generation.

I took Spanish in High School and Scientific German in College.My German knowledge is limited to"Das test tube".My Spanish knowledge is based upon my rotation through Obstetrics when I repeated the words -"Puja Momma" which means "PUSH".Does that give me any insight into SPANISH/GERMAN culture or way of life?

Examine the records of the Talmud Torahs of yesteryear,and the Yiddish Schools where there was Yiddish but no Yiddishkeit (Judiaism) and you will see failure.

It will take time to evaluate the Conservative Schools, to see how many students remain married within the faith and carry on our traditions.They are a step in the right direction from Public Schools.