The Canonist a Jewish blog attacks me for endorsing Sen Trent Lott's return to leadership in the Senate.I am fully aware of his statement at a dinner (I believe honoring )praising the old segregationst Strom Thurmond,and indeed at the time viewed video of the event.
I looked at it as pure puffery without any real meaning.Politicians like all of us often say foolish things that they later regret.Our talmud is full of such examples of puffery that people use in day to day activities.Trent was embellishing in an
off the cuff talk about an elderly Senator with a long record in the Congress ( and certainly no friend of ours)
If one listens to the talk on the floor of the Senate, one realizes that most of the mutual praise is pro-forma.
Nevertheless I did not think then or now that he should have resigned.He was a great leader of his party, an outstanding friend of Israel from his days in the House.
I met him on many occasions and know full well his close association with the Jewish community in the South ,as well as nationally.
All the years that I headed HUVPAC we did our best to give him a maximum PAC contribution.For this I am indeed thankful for the Hakorat Hatov we were able to exhibit to a great friend .
Should we be fortunate enough to see him in a real leadership position ,our community would surely benefit.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Sen Frist /Hillary vs Condi 3/6/06
Many who heard Majority Leader Sen Bill Frist (R. Tenn) speak at this weeks Orthodox Union dinner were unanimous in their criticism of his speaking abilities."Boring, monotone,uninspiring and devoid of personality" were among the criticisms. Sen Frist,a cardiac surgeon, is a good man with solid political skills.He has vowed not to run for a third term,ostensibly to run for the Presidency.Unless he can take some speech lessons and learn how to inspire a large audience,he would be better off going back to surgery==or running for re-election.
Hopefully Sen Rick Santorum of Pa will be re-elected and remain in the Republican Senate leadership.However,the Senate Republicans really need Sen Trent Lott in a major leadership position.He never should have resigned over an innocent remark taken out of context regarding Strom Thurmond.
The talk and book re Hillary vs Condi in '08 to me is just hype.
Hillary whether you like her or not is out there, raising funds ,putting together a national staff and campaign,developing relations and speaking out on her issues.She will by '08 have won two Senate contests in NY.If she gets the nomination, she will have worked for it and will deserve it.
Condi, on the other hand has no political base.Were she to desire to run,she would have to resign her present position very shortly.Republican candidates are not sitting back waiting for her.Where does she stand on abortion, immigration, affirmative action, taxes and a myriad of social issues.? If she is a social liberal, then she surely could not win the nomination-no campaign funds and wrong on the issues- from the point of view of the republican base.Even Sen John McCain will have problems in that regard. The Republicans, with Sens Allen ,McCain, Frist and a number of Governors including Romney and Pataki as well as Rudy Guliani are not waiting for a "Draft Condi " movement.
In short, its great for the talking heads on cable tv, but far from realpolitik !
Hopefully Sen Rick Santorum of Pa will be re-elected and remain in the Republican Senate leadership.However,the Senate Republicans really need Sen Trent Lott in a major leadership position.He never should have resigned over an innocent remark taken out of context regarding Strom Thurmond.
The talk and book re Hillary vs Condi in '08 to me is just hype.
Hillary whether you like her or not is out there, raising funds ,putting together a national staff and campaign,developing relations and speaking out on her issues.She will by '08 have won two Senate contests in NY.If she gets the nomination, she will have worked for it and will deserve it.
Condi, on the other hand has no political base.Were she to desire to run,she would have to resign her present position very shortly.Republican candidates are not sitting back waiting for her.Where does she stand on abortion, immigration, affirmative action, taxes and a myriad of social issues.? If she is a social liberal, then she surely could not win the nomination-no campaign funds and wrong on the issues- from the point of view of the republican base.Even Sen John McCain will have problems in that regard. The Republicans, with Sens Allen ,McCain, Frist and a number of Governors including Romney and Pataki as well as Rudy Guliani are not waiting for a "Draft Condi " movement.
In short, its great for the talking heads on cable tv, but far from realpolitik !
Monday, April 03, 2006
Jerusalem as per Princess Sultana 4/3/06
My friend Lois Blumenfeld was kind enough to share with me her e-mail correspondence with Jean Sasson on behalf of Princess Sultana who wrote "Princess, A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudia Arabia".
Lois objected to page 98 which notes that Jerusalem is the third holiest city to the Muslims and is a city now occupied"and no longer free and open to our people."
In response to her objections,the Sasson web site answers that citizens of Saudia Arabia cannot get Israeli visas and therefore cannot visit the Dome of the Rock.Thus from her point of view Jerusalem is an occupied city etc.
Nothing would make Israel happier,were Saudia Arabia allow its citizens to visit and recognize Israel.In fact no Jew can enter Saudia Arabia, nor can a New or Old Testament be brought in to that country .Christian services are limited to out of the way American bases.
As far as "Holy Cities " nowhere in the Koran is Jerusalem mentioned ,while it is mentioned hundreds of time in our Torah.
Muslims who kneel to pray to Mecca,do so with their back to Jerusalem-Jews pray to Jerusalem.
The King of Morroco who is the Muslim protector of the "holy sites in JERUSALEM' ,never once visited the Temple Mount when it was under Jordanian control .
It was the Jordanians who used Jewish gravestones near the old city for urinals, and prevented Jewish access to the "wailing Wall" (kotel).In contrast to today, where Muslims are free to pray throughout Israel (as well as every other religion) and have access to all holy sites-provided they do not incite mayhem.Israel strictly protects all religious sites.The Dome of the Rock is under Muslim Administration.
Sadly Jewish access to the Temple Mount is restricted, and even silent prayer prevented (if your lips move).
The goal of the PA and the Muslim world is to de-judaize the holy places in Israel, in order to claim that Jews have no connection to the history or the land.Thus they destroy Joseph's tomb, deny our relationship to the Temple (they claim it never existed-I wonder where Jesus really was during his Temple visits if no temple existed?) and our ownership of Mearot Hamachpelah in Hebron,burial place of our forefathers.
Sadly a huge percentage of Israelis, primarily secular and especially youth, have never visited Jerusalem and often don't appreciate its holiness and centrality to our peoplehood.
Lois objected to page 98 which notes that Jerusalem is the third holiest city to the Muslims and is a city now occupied"and no longer free and open to our people."
In response to her objections,the Sasson web site answers that citizens of Saudia Arabia cannot get Israeli visas and therefore cannot visit the Dome of the Rock.Thus from her point of view Jerusalem is an occupied city etc.
Nothing would make Israel happier,were Saudia Arabia allow its citizens to visit and recognize Israel.In fact no Jew can enter Saudia Arabia, nor can a New or Old Testament be brought in to that country .Christian services are limited to out of the way American bases.
As far as "Holy Cities " nowhere in the Koran is Jerusalem mentioned ,while it is mentioned hundreds of time in our Torah.
Muslims who kneel to pray to Mecca,do so with their back to Jerusalem-Jews pray to Jerusalem.
The King of Morroco who is the Muslim protector of the "holy sites in JERUSALEM' ,never once visited the Temple Mount when it was under Jordanian control .
It was the Jordanians who used Jewish gravestones near the old city for urinals, and prevented Jewish access to the "wailing Wall" (kotel).In contrast to today, where Muslims are free to pray throughout Israel (as well as every other religion) and have access to all holy sites-provided they do not incite mayhem.Israel strictly protects all religious sites.The Dome of the Rock is under Muslim Administration.
Sadly Jewish access to the Temple Mount is restricted, and even silent prayer prevented (if your lips move).
The goal of the PA and the Muslim world is to de-judaize the holy places in Israel, in order to claim that Jews have no connection to the history or the land.Thus they destroy Joseph's tomb, deny our relationship to the Temple (they claim it never existed-I wonder where Jesus really was during his Temple visits if no temple existed?) and our ownership of Mearot Hamachpelah in Hebron,burial place of our forefathers.
Sadly a huge percentage of Israelis, primarily secular and especially youth, have never visited Jerusalem and often don't appreciate its holiness and centrality to our peoplehood.
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