Wednesday, October 31, 2012

ISRAELI / US ELECTIONS

I can follow US political intrigue with relative ease.When it comes to Israel, everyday is a new mental exercise with potential political groupings you  would never think of.Today Communication Minister Moshe Kahlon who promised Bibi a few days ago that he would remain in Likud
may be having a change of heart,
It seems he commissioned a poll to see the results if he started his own party with or without Labor.I assume a left-center party . What he believes in is not clear to me ,except the relative roles of the sephardic community vs the Russians.
With Bibi in Paris, he challenged the French President Hollande, to sponsor an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference with  NO PRECONDITIONS----FAT CHANCE ABBAS WILL ACCEPT
 

As we come down to the wire, political junkies like yours truly can get a headache fro the multitude of polls many of which are contradictory.
If you read Real Clear Politics, twice a day they choose about 12-20 news articles and op-ed from throughout the US to allow their followers to read or copy.
These days you can read on 1 line why the swing states are leaning to Obama.On the next line is an article why they are moving toward Romney.
Next Wed.(hopefully) we will have the ansers and the reasons ( early conclusions)  WHY!    

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

EARLY VOTING

Sheila and I wanted to go to vote early.When we came to the polling place, the line was around the building.We were told it was a 2 hour plus wait.
We decided to try again another time at another place.Our neighbor yesterday went to 2 places and left because of the wait .This morning he went to a 3rd place and voted after 1 1/2 wait..
The Gallup poll says early voters are breaking for Romney,and that the number of Obama early voters is down 22 % from 4 years ago at this time.

After experts said that the storm has nothing to do with global warming, MSNBC is pushing that theory.What is important to realize that so  many of our bridges and tunnels are old and need repairs.
Some communities have power lines underground-that should be our goal,THE COST ?

Monday, October 29, 2012

GETTING CLOSE-YHE ELECTION & THE STORM

The good news of the day is that Rasmussen who is the most accurate of the polls ,now calls Ohio for Romney by 2 points.Another national poll predicts a Romney victory,
Sadly the Obama team is getting desperate.The storm has knocked off their get-out the vote program.With some predicting power outages of greater than a week,there is always a tendency for angry , frustrated and tired citizens to take it out on the incumbent.
Over the last 3 years , I have read quite a number of books on Obama-however I just  finished reading THE AMATEUR by Edward Klein.It is truly an indictment of Obama as an amateur in the WH, totally incompetent and lost-surrounded by Chicago yes-men.

The bad news of course is the storm.It is hard to hear the constant description  of a monster event when all our children and grand-children are up north in the eye of the storm.With the eye scheduled to make landfall within the hour, our prayers  are with them and the entire region.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A WET PERIOD

The first polls from Israel not only show  no gain from the the Likud-Lieberman venture, but a 7 seat loss.The  rockets today into Beersheba are ominous signs  for Iranian-Hamas intentions.

What effect the massive storm will have on the elections is not clear.
HOW LONG WILL POWER BE OUT?
WILL PEOPLE RUN FOR EARLY POLLING IN HIGHER NUMBERS?
WILL PEOPLE WHO DON'T ROUTINELY VOTE COME OUT OF A 5 DAY PERIOD  WITH NO FOOD,,A NEED FOR CLEAN-UP AND SKIP VOTING?

The trend is toward  Romney---Ohio-Michigan-N.V.-Florida and so on,and I stick with my prediction for a Romney victory

Friday, October 26, 2012

FOR SHAME THAT 4 AMERICANS DIED

Normally I do not blog on Friday, however the news coming out regarding the inaction by the CIA, Defense Dept, White House,State Dept and the President's staff is nothing short of malfeasance and malpractice.
I don't know if definitely the 4 Americans could have been saved,but no  one tried.
With a firefight lasting 7 hours,why did we not have a Drone overhead? why did we not send a jet or helicopter gunship to spray the area.Why not send in special forces?
To me it brings back memories of Vietnam, where at the 45th Surgical Hospital we were surrounded by enemy,We were told that a B52 raid would be sent to save us and they did.
How can it be with all our military and intelligence sophistication  that NO INDIVIDUAL KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING_AND ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GOT WAS SOME CRAP ABOUT AN UNHEARD OF MOVIE?   HEADS SHOULD ROLL! 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

THE UN AT ITS BEST / ISRAELI POLITICS

This is the second time in 2 weeks that anti-Israel  activity at the UN almost flies under the radar.
First our Ambassador Susan Rice issued a statement to the Security Council blasting Israel on the settlements and on their treatment of Palestinians.
 The today the Human Rights Council came out with a blast calling for boycott and divestment of Israel,and threatening companies that don't cooperate WITH LEGAL ACTION.

Surprise ==is the announcement of the merger of Likud and Avigdor Lieberman into a united bloc.
Will it last? What happens if he is indicted?
I once did  some research on how many parties are formed, united or disappear each Knesset session.It is considerable.
The political effects?==TOO EARLY TO TELL
STAY TUNED!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A LESSON FROM REAGAN / ROCKET ATTACKS

There has been 1 argument not made by Romney that I believe  is very powerful on how to deal with the Iranians.
The point has been made that mere talk, and "economic sanctions " have not worked .Thus perhaps only a military strike is the answer.
However  there is a proven approach -WHEN WERE THE HOSTAGES RELEASED FROM IRANIAN CUSTODY? AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF JIMMY CARTER "KOCKING AROUND" WITH WORDS AND A FAILED MILITARY MISSION, SUDDENLY IRAN RELEASED THEM.
WHEN?
JAN 20 JUST AS RONALD REAGAN WAS BEING INAUGURATED.
The Iranians realized that there was a new head honcho in town who meant business.

THE DAY MITT ROMNEY IS INAUGURATED THE ATMOSPHERE WILL CHANGE.THE LAST THING IRAN WANTS IS A WAR WITH THE US.

80 Rockets from Hamas into southern Israel, causing schools tom be closed.
The attacks caused rhe IDF to call a halt to the joint exercise with the US and shift men and anti-missile batteries down South.
The delicate question is what will happen with the US  forces without a partner?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

POST ELECTION ANALYSIS

When the history  of this election is written the Romney victory (which I am predicting) from behind will point to a number of factors.

From the beginning the Obama team, chose to "destroy" Romney as a person of such poor quality as to be unfit for the job-felon- murderer- tax cheat-war monger-woman hater-racist- liar-Bain capital exploiter and so on.
After a while people got tired,and when they finally saw Romney, all these ideas went ot the window.

Obama never campaigned on his economic record or defended "Obamacare"

Obama , unlike Clinton turned left after 2010 , made his base happy ,upsetting the middle.

He never took Romney seriously, thus he failed to prepare for the first debate. His performance turned America around.

Biden acted deranged during his debate, and there is no way independents would have a positive feel for the ticket.

In the last debate,it appears his internal polls showed him losing,  and thus he acted like a challenger and was trite ,sarcastic and nasty.In short he was not Presidential.At the end of the debate he was angry, that he could not draw Romney into an argument to show him as bellicose and war-like
The strategy of Romney not to get into battle with Obama on Benghazi, Syria  etc, angered many conservatives.
However, the debate was not for liberals or conservatives.It was for that small group of undecided who worry about jobs, the economy, and gridlock in WASHINGTON.HE WAS MASTERFUL IN FOLLOWING THIS STRATEGY .
NOTE TODAY RASMUSSEN GIVES ROMNEY A 4 POINT LEAD, AND GALLUP 5 POINTS
ALSO RASMUSSEN GIVES ROMNEY 5 POINT LEAD IN THE SWING STATES.

Monday, October 22, 2012

THE BIG DEBATE

There is much excitement here in Florida pre-debate.
How can this country sanction International observers to monitor our election? ARE WE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY?=YET?
Dan Rather says the GOP will steal Ohio-I recall ballots floating down the river from Chicago as the State of Illinois went for Kennedy.

Yes the polls are tightening, but are moving in Romney's direction, because after a Romney victory, the polls of the mainstream media do not want to look like they missed the boat.

It is a joke that the Dems are accusing Romney of politicizing Benghazi ! After the machers promised not to discuss Bin Laden's death , the next day Biden was talking about it publicly.
 Since  when is it too pokitical to discuss a foreign policy-security failure where 4 Americans died?

Sunday, October 21, 2012

ED minus 15

As we get closer to E Day , I keep coming back in my mind to the fact that the last almost 4 years have been such a failure.
The number of promises not kept.the economic mess, increasing deficit, rising unemployment,reduction of our credit ,increasing poverty and food stamps,and so on all  speak to a failed Presidency,
It is interesting that now during the Benghazi scandal,Panetta, Susan Rice, Hillary and the CIA head Petraeus are AWOL.They are waiting until after the election.Only campaign officials are spinning the bad news.
I probably said this before,however in any business or corporation a CEO/Pres who failed so  miserably would be out on his golden parachute.Unlike the Democratic Party, stockholders would never tolerate such incompetence.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

GETTING CLOSE

Yes a 7 point Gallup lead in likely voters-but before we celebrate-the  lead among registered voters is only 1 per cent.  Why the people who have an opinion but will not vote is a mystery to me.

Today early voting begins in S Carolina.

I did not realize it until,a few days  ago that the Jerusalem Post is really an Obama supporter-especially their headlines  and stories.

Watching Biden today makes me think of a clown, not a veep.

What a joke that Shas has brought Deri and Yishai together for the election.I have no problems with ex-convicts being given a second chance.However not as leaders of a national movement or party.Of course everyone is waiting for Olmert to announce!

The firing of anti-aircraft missiles in Gaza and the drone from Iran/Lebanon are ominous signs.In addition the firing of hand held stinger missiles in Syria all add to a difficult strategic  situation.
The US-Israel joint military exercises are just about getting underway.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

THE DEBATE IN PERSPECTIVE

IT IS AMAZING WATCHING AND READING THE MAIN STREAM-LEFT WING MEDIA.
They view the debate as one would judge a High School debate-points , style, presentation etc.

To me the debate has to have a context- We are at the tail end of a failed 4 year Presidency-=where did he fail? where did he succeed?  how well did he keep his promises? are we better off today than 4 years ago? what will he do differently in a new term? HOW?  WHY?
And if there are charges ie.. oil permits on federal land, the pipeline, Benghazi -cover up, more foodstamps, increased health costs and so on,= how did he answer them.?

The problem for Obama== he has a record that he cannot defend
In addition compare their economic history-community organizer, chronic campaigner for State Senate, US Senate and WH   vs.24 years in business,, saving the Olympics and Gov. of Mass.
Aside from likability-it is norm contest, and even there Romney is surging.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

"you guys"

The debate was sharp and heated.Certainly Obama did better than the first debate,
To me, if you supported Obama,you would say he won.Similarly Romney fans would make an opposite claim.
Probably it was a draw.However to me  ROMNEY LOOKED MORE PRESIDENTIAL.

Romney missed an opportunity on Libya to pin the Amb Rice fiasco on Obama  
It will take a few days to see if the polls change.
Obama  must have used the word  "guys"  30 times. NOT REALLY AN ELEGANT TERM FOR A PRESIDENT.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

wise thoughts

I saw the following in a blog from Rick Wilson
"when a wise person debates a fool, the fool rages and laughs and there is no peace and quiet"
Proverbs 29.9

My brother-in-law Kal Hartstein was kind enough to point out that in response to Biden's ATTACK
that the Republicans cut State Dept. funding and therefore they couldn't protect the Benghazi consulate, they have
770 Million for NE and African "Incentives"
7 Billion for International debt relief
2.2 Billion to strengthen Pakistani democracy
499 mil for global climate
587 mil for student exchange
and, a fund to renovate mosques.

The trend is in the right direction!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Biden and his juvenile actions

While I await tonites debate,the polls remain interesting.
Gallup as a result of left wing pressure, now in the middle of our electoral cycle, is increasing the ratio of cell phones.and reducing the number of whites in their tallies==ADVANTAGE OBAMA

Suffolk has stopped polling in Fla,Va and S.Carolina since they feel confident Romney will win these.
Tonites latest Tampa STATEWIDE POLL  ROMNEY-51   OBAMA- 44
Even California which will vote Dem, saw a 12 point drop for O and increase for R.

The Real Clear Politics Electoral College has narrowed, and a number of Obama States are now tossups. 

I was so upset with Biden's behavior last nite, that I forgot to finish the blog.
I thought Ryan should have concluded by saying " I am saddened that VP Biden saw fit to ridicule me, by his juvenile actions .He owes an apology to the American people who take these debates seriously."

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

liar..LIAR

It is encouraging to see the polls and their trend toward Romney.

The response  of the Obama team to the debate  is "Kerry"  "altitude"  and "Romney is a LIAR"  .
Sadly for them, the economic facts,including unemployment ,debt and so on are facts.
The "5 trillion dollar charge" is patently false.

If Biden brings up "LIAR" the proper answer should be that coming from an admitted plagiarizer    who had to withdraw his Presidential candidacy for that reason and , that is a joke.

When I ran for President of the Student Council in H.S.. if an issue like "BIG BIRD" came up, we would laugh and use it.
That the President uses this argument  to make fun of Romney  in a Presidential race where major issues are at stake, is ludicrous.
The US  Govt. gives  444 million dollars to Public Television. The President of NPR makes a one million dollar salary.They have a few hundred million in the bank.
These programs can be supported by the public and corporations, like operas etc.
Romney used this as an example of what can be cut.
It shows that Obama has no idea of how to cut programs.

Friday, October 05, 2012

LAUGHING WITH YASHERKES

Obama  was out on the campaign trail the day following his debate debacle.He was making jokes and laughing.
MY GRANDMOTHER MAY SHE  IN PEACE DESCRIBED IT AS "LAUGHING WITH YASHERKES"=translation-making believe-putting the best face forward-crying inwardly

The sad part about political commentators-THEY LIE (and politicians)
And they are not ashamed to look you straight in the eye and LIE...LIE   ..LIE


WHEN BILL CLINTON'S TESTIMONY ON HIS GRAND JURY LIES  WAS ABOUT TO BE MADE PUBLIC ON ROSH HASHONA, A REFORM RABBI PETITIONED THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TO DELAY ITS RELEASE SINCE IT WAS NOT FAIR TO JEWS TO BE DEPRIVED OF THE MONICA LEWINSKY GARBAGE FOR 2 DAYS.
I TOLD THE NY TIMES,THAT I WAS THANKFUL THAT WE HAD TIME TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALMIGHTY AND NOT BE EXPOSED TO SUCH FILTH.

TODAY, I AM THANKFUL FOR SHABBAT, AND 2 DAYS YOM TOV.SO WE CAN REST FROM THE 'SPIN' PRIOR TO THE VEEP DEBATE.

Thursday, October 04, 2012

THE DEBATE

When I was in high school and college I served as a member of the debating team.We had excellent individuals trying out for the team, and the format was that had one topic each year,as we competed against other schools.
We had great coaches,and when we traveled,we often debated 2 or 3 times in a day. We would be on the affirmative side in one debate, and then the opposite side in the next debate.
Included in my HS team were Avi ( Alan ) Dershowitz and Steve Riskin ( Rabbi Shlomo ).(AND COLLEGE)
We prepared and debated each other.We trained how to walk,stand , and  use our hands,and so on.
Mitt Romney was well trained.He knew his material, had minutiae in his brain in an orderly fashion, was funny, relaxed and aggressive.
Obama was ill at ease.He was not happy being questioned or criticized.
He looked angry that he had to be there.
To me the question as to how he would bring people together,was a no-brainier.Romney had A SET COMMON SENSE ANSWER.
OBAMA RAMBLED AND AVOIDED   A PLAUSIBLE ANSWER .

"HOW DARE SOMEONE QUESTION OR CORRECT HIM?"!
HE COULD NOT HIDE HIS CONTEMPT FOR ROMNEY,THE PROCESS  OR THE ELECTORAL PROCESS-HE DESERVES TO WIN---PERIOD!

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

ELECTIONS IN THE US AND ISRAEL

It is debate day, and the polls are tightening.  STAY TUNED!
It is very hard for me to comprehend how with such terrible economic news on jobs,deficit ,credit ratings, national debt , trade etc that an incumbent President would even be a serious contender.
Romney thought the election would be a referendum on Obama.However, Obama made it a referendum on Romney.
Mitt has not answered Clinton's charge-No one could have done better---or that it is all Bush's fault.
We don't hear about 2 years of an iron-clad Dem majority in the Congress, the huge  stimulus which went toward union and so on.

It  appears that the recent sabotage at Fordo  in Iran has gained Bibi about 6 months time  before an attack is mandatory.
In the meantime elections on Feb 13 or thereabouts is in the works.
Since Barak has no party,unless Bibi appoints him again as Defense Min., he would be ineligible to serve.Evidently Bibiu has not guaranteed him a slot in the next Cabinet, and that is the basis for the bitterness between the two.Members of Likud are not happy with Ehud.