Month: October 2023

Widespread Antisemitism And Islamophobia Deeply Alarming!

The attack of Hamas on Israel on October 7 has unleashed widespread antisemitism and Islamophoba worldwide, including in America, and even more troubling, on college and university campuses.

Anyone in America who is Jewish or Muslim has to be on heightened alert, as threats and attacks on people of those beliefs are occurring.

Unfortunately, some politicians of both parties are promoting hatred, and synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions of both faiths are requiring increased security protections.

Social Media are adding to the threat, as there is promotion of hate and fear, inciting unstable people and pure bigots who are striking out against both groups!

Jim Jordan Would Have Been A National Security Threat As Speaker Of The House Of Representatives!

This author and blogger, unfortunately, was offline for three days due to computer issues, but glad to be back!

It has been a tortorous few days watching the potential Speakership of Jim Jordan, who would have been a national security risk, as an Insurrectionist on January 6, 2021, and still refusing to accept that Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump!

Thank goodness it looks as if finally he is done as a candidate for Speaker of the House, which is only two heartbeats away from the Presidency, due to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947!

But the Republican Party is still a total mess, leaving the House of Representatives unable to meet its responsibilities!

Support Of Israel And Ukraine Linked, Especially For American Jews!

Military support for both Israel and Ukraine has become essential to promote and preserve democracy against Hamas and Russian authoritarianism.

Particularly for American Jews, and Jews around the world, there is an emotional commitment to preservation of both nations’ ability to survive against massive threats to their sovereignty.

Personally, this author and blogger, being Jewish and whose ancestry is from Ukraine, and with Israel being the national homeland of the Jewish people, feels a special affinity to continued support for both nations.

The vast majority of the Democratic Party is behind continued support of Israel and Ukraine, while many Senate Republicans and some House Republicans agree.

But the MAGA Republican element, as respresented by Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan’s bid to be Speaker, are a dire threat to Ukraine, and unreliable on their Israeli support, as they bow to the evil of Donald Trump, who now attacks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for accepting Joe Biden’s victory in 2020, and praises Hezbollah, the threat to Israel from Lebanon. And Trump was impeached in 2019 for trying to force Ukraine to help him against Joe Biden, and is a known supporter of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation!

A Turning Point Crisis In Israel Will Affect Presidential Election Of 2024!

The horrendous massacre and mass murder of Hamas against civilians in Israel, including the kidnapping of hostages, is uniting most Americans around the great, compassionate, and dedicated support of President Joe Biden and his administration toward the Jewish state in this moment of existential crisis.

Even many conservatives and Republicans are applauding President Biden’s statements and actions on this most significant crisis of 2023.

Meanwhile, the Republicans cannot even select a Speaker of the House, and former President Donald Trump has demonstrated that he is willing to attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on petty grounds that he accepted and acknowleded Joe Biden’s victory in the Presidential Election of 2020.

Additionally, Trump praised Hezbollah, the terorrist group in Lebanon, as being “smart”, alienating many Republicans with such an outrageous statement.

So one can expect that Joe Biden will gain mightily from his handling of the Israel-Gaza War crisis, not because of the fact itself, but instead the continued demonstration of compassion, decency, competence, and experience that Joe Biden has brought to the Presidency.

The Republican Party, and its likely nominee, Donald Trump, truly the equivalent of a “suicide mission” for the party, will suffer dearly as they well deserve to do so a year from now, by what is likely a smashing defeat in the Presidential and Congressional Elections of 2024!

Jim Jordan As Speaker Of The House Unacceptable Danger!

The future of the nation is in danger if Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, now the choice of House Republicans, is permitted to become Speaker of the House.

This man is a danger, a supporter of Donald Trump, who was engaged in the planning of January 6, and refused to testify before the January 6 House Committee investigating the Insurrection at the US Capitol!

Jordan is a divisive figure, an extreme right wing MAGA Republican, who would be two heartbeats away from the Presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, endangering American national security and undermining support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

It is hoped that more than five Republicans will work to prevent this menace to public order from becoming Speaker, as he would also have access to important national secrets by assuming leadership in the House of Representatives!

Unless someone like Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Don Bacon of Nebraska, or Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania can become Speaker, then moderates, such as the above, must unite to make Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, the Speaker of the House for the remaining 14 months of the 118th Congress!

Horrifying Division In America Over The Israel-Gaza Tragedy!

The shocking Hamas attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip last weekend has caused horrifying division in America over the Israel-Gaza tragedy!

We have seen some young American Jews in law schools and universities denounce Israel, causing a split among American Jews.

We have seen Arab Americans in colleges and universities, and in major American cities, march and demonstrate against American Jews and Israel, and there have been reports of physical assaults by Arab Americans and Israeli supporters against each other, requiring more law enforcement buildup in major urban centers.

There is growing fear of open bloodshed and loss of life occurring as the upcoming invasion of Gaza City by the Israelis begins in the coming days, as Israel has made it clear it will stop at no restraints to destroy Hamas and its terrorist network.

In so doing, Israel may be engaged in the future in violation of international law and basic human rights, and likely to cause massive death and destruction of a captive population which has nowhere to go, and large numbers not supportive of the Hamas terrorism.

Massive loss of life in the Middle East is feared, and already, Israel’s loss of life from the dastardly attack on October 7 and since is the equivalent of 10 September 11’s, as if 30,000 had been killed on September 11, 2001, instead of 3,000!

The war could expand to include all of the nations of the Middle East, including the villainous Iran, and with possible supportive backing by other rivals of the United States and Israel, including Russia and North Korea!

Those who are pessimistic see a gloomy future, and the thoughts of an expanded war make some imagine that we might be on the cusp of World War III!

Time For Reasonable Republicans To Support Hakeem Jeffries As Speaker Of The House Of Representatives!

Here we are in Day Two of the latest Republican inability to pick a new Speaker of the House of Representatives, and in so doing, paralyzing the ability of the federal government to do anything!

It seems as if Steve Scalise will not be able to gain 217 votes, and neither likely will Jim Jordan.

It is now time for five or more Republicans (such as Don Bacon of Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and a few of the newly elected Republicans from New York from Biden Districts) to cross party lines, and join Democrats in making Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House!

A Half Century Ago, The Nation Was Saved From Spiro Agnew!

Exactly 50 years ago, the nation witnessed the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew on October 10, 1973, on charges of criminal conspiracy, bribery, extortion, and tax fraud, which led to a pleading of no contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion.

That moment, while maybe not reflected on then or since, in retrospect, was an absolute blessing for the nation, the Presidency, and American democracy!

Sprio Agnew was, arguably, the most dangerous and corrupt Vice President in American history, a man who worked to divide the nation and promote evil in a monstrous way, including attacks on news media, and being in general “an attack dog” for the corrupt intentions of President Richard Nixon.

Agnew employed racist language, reminiscent of later what Donald Trump would do, and forecast the right wing populism that would be used by Republicans in later decades.

Agnew attacked liberals and anti Vietnam War protestors, and was vicious in his rhetoric, reminding many of former Red Scare provocateur Senator Joseph McCarthy, and gained a reputation as “Nixon’s Nixon”!

Even now, a half century later, when this author and blogger gives lectures on Richard Nixon, and mentions Spiro Agnew’s name, it gets a negative reaction from audiences!

But what is often forgotten is IF Agnew had not been investigated and found to be corrupt, as well as his evil doings as Vice President, he would have succeeded Richard Nixon when he resigned 10 months later on August 9, 1974!

Instead, the nation was fortunate that there was a 25th Amendment, and that Gerald Ford became Vice President by nomination of Nixon and approval by both houses of Congress!

Gerald Ford proved to be a savior, being the right person at the time of the Watergate Scandal, to be the successor to a President seen as the most corrupt in American history, until the disgraced Presidency of Donald Trump surpassed Nixon in the level of venality! 🙁

The Danger Presented By Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. As Independent Presidential Candidate

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the namesake of former Senator and 1968 Presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy, has announced a run as an independent for the Presidential Election of 2024.

Other than being his namesake, there is absolutely no motivation for any sane person to vote for RFK Jr, as he clearly is a mental case, with major psychological and drug problems, and promotes lunatic conspiracy theories about vaccines and other scientific research.

His own siblings and other Kennedy family members have denounced him, and he has caused great pain and suffering for his elderly mother Ethel Kennedy, who is in her mid 90’s, still surviving 55 years after her husband’s tragic assassination. He is a disgrace to the Kennedy family tradition!

If Robert F. Kennedy had been alive now, nearing 98, he would, clearly, be totally shocked and stunned at what has happened to the mental state of his namesake.

It is a great human tragedy of massive proportions, but he could, in theory, affect the election results due to lunatic followers who may even think he is his father, and vote for him and undermine President Joe Biden, who has always been a great admirer of RFK, and has a bust of him on his desk, seen every time Biden is sitting and commenting on events.

Interestingly, Donald Trump has now denounced him, because it is thought, without proof, that RFK Jr. could siphon more Republican votes than Democratic votes in the election, but the best solution would be for him to go back into the woodwork and leave America free from his crazy, reckless and maniacal ideas!

Israel-Hamas Crisis The Most Significant News Event Of 2023!

The shocking invasion by Hamas of Israel by air, land, and sea on October 7 will go down in history as the most significant news event of 2023!

The danger to world peace is massive, as it is becoming clear that Iran’s extremist government is behind the planning and operation of this terrorist action.

There will be a massive ground operation into Gaza City in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Defense Forces that will make civilians living in that location feel they are in a living hell, where many will lose their lives.

Already, there are reports of at least 700 Israelis killed, 400-500 Palestinians killed, and thousands of wounded on both sides, as well as an estimate of at least one hundred Israelis kidnapped and held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

The United States and the civilized world have condemned this horrendous set of circumstances, but antisemites across the globe are hailing the surprise invasion, catching the Israeli Defense forces off guard, and demonstrating that the Iron Dome defense system has flaws that allowed for blunders in intelligence gathering.

This is a exisential crisis for the survival of Israel, a nation which just celebrated its 75th anniversary, and with the prospect of a long, drawn out war without any certainty of its long range outcome.

It is known that some Americans and other foreign nationals were killed, wounded, or captured by Hamas, and the question of how to secure the release of all hostages is a nightmarish situation.

There is no doubt that this international crisis will have an effect on American politics in the coming year, with only 13 months until the Presidential Election Of 2024.

It also brings to mind the danger of Donald Trump, who has been loose and easy in sharing intelligence information since leaving office, and is reckless in a way that undermines American national security short term and long term.

As things now stand, it seems clear that the best alternative for the Republican Party is Nikki Haley, with her prior experience as United Nations Ambassador, and her comparatively moderate rhetoric.

But to believe that the MAGA Republican cancer will be able to be overwhelmed is an issue one has to have major doubts can occur!

So the strong leadership of Joe Biden is to be supported in all ways possible in a crisis that can be perceived as one of the greatest in recent history!