It's Official: Senator Al Franken

News item: The Minnesota Supreme Court has certified comedian Al Franken as the winner of the state senatorial election. He now becomes the 60th Democrat in the Senate.



Question: "How many clowns can fit in a Volkswagen?"
Answer: 60

"Hey, leave one more space for Al."

The Firefighter Case-an Embarrassment for Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor


Monday, the Supreme Court-divided along conservative/liberal lines- issued its decision on the famous New Haven firefighter case (Ricci v DeStefano) that ruled in favor of the white and Hispanic firefighters who were denied promotions they had earned on a city exam because no African-Americans qualified. Since no black firefighters had qualified on the exam, the city of New Haven-fearing a lawsuit, acted pro-actively in throwing out the exam. Not only does the ruling signal the possible end of race-based affirmative action, it also raises another question about Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor and her legal judgment. As part of a three-judge panel in the Second Circuit, she had summarily dismissed the lawsuit by the firefighters claiming that were victims of discrimination.

Though some Republican senators on her confirmation panel will raise the issue, albeit gingerly, in her confirmation hearings, the votes are not there to derail her confirmation. Only if she stumbles badly in dealing with the questions or other issues, such as her "wise Latina" comment, is there any real possibility of her nomination sinking. This case underlies, however, the inescapable fact that we will have a race-conscious activist judge on the Supreme Court, one who has had seven of eight decisions that have gone to the Supreme Court for review overturned. Not an impressive record for one ascending to that same court.

"Welcome to the Supreme Court, Justice Sotomayor. We've read your writings."

Now let's look at the test itself. This test was highly-vented for flaws that would deem it culturally discrimnatory against African-Americans (whatever that entails). It was reviewed by minority firefighters among the supervisory ranks for flaws. It was deemed fair. Yet, no African-American scored high enough to merit promotion. So it was thrown out, and those white fire-fighters (plus two Hispanics) who qualified were denied their promotions in the name of racial equity. In that case, why not forget about promotional tests and throw them all out? Just pick your promotions along racial lines and be done with it?

And what message do we send to African-American employees when we throw out a test in which none qualified? Are we to say to our black employees that they are not good enough to pass a certain test because they are black? Just what are the factors that officials look for when determining that a test is culturally biased against a specific ethnic group?

To me, this case shows that affirmative action is an idea whose time has passed. Whatever need may have existed for it once no longer exists. It is nothing more than an insult to minorities which sends a message that they should be judged by lesser standards. Is that what they really want? Is it not a form of racism to set up an artificial system to ensure that the required number of minority employees are represented? Don't we believe that they are fully capable of achieving results on their own?

Don't you believe that, Judge Sotomayor?

Honduras-The Pajama Revolution

"Last night, I was President of Honduras. Now I'm here in Costa Rica."


Back in the early 1980s, when I was working with DEA in Los Angeles, our enforcement group had arrested a third country national for a drug extradition to Sweden. His attorney filed all the appeals with the courts as his client remained free on bond. Late one afternoon, we got word that the courts had denied his appeal and authorized the extradition to go through. Apparently, the subject and his attorney were the last to know because our agents spent the evening making reservations for three on SAS to Stockholm for early the next morning. Sure enough, two of our agents picked him up at his house and took him straight to the airport and off they went before his attorney could file an appeal.

I was reminded of that story upon hearing of the coup that removed Honduran President (now-ex president) Manuel Zelaya from power. Seems the military (acting on authorization from the Supreme Court)had gone to the presidential place and whisked Zelaya off to lovely Costa Rica-still dressed in his pajamas.

Zelaya was in the process of throwing out the Honduran constitution by setting up a sham referendum that would allow him to extend his term in office. Problem is, no such voter referendum is allowed by the Honduran constitution. Zelaya plugged ahead anyway, firing his military chief when he refused to cooperate. In the end, the constitution prevailed, at least in Honduran fashion.

Zelaya had been trying to move his country left in the mode of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Not surprisingly, Chavez, along with Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Fidel Castro in Cuba, have condemned the coup. They have company. Barack Obama has also condemned the coup and called it "illegal".

Not only that, but now it is revealed that the Obama administration, having gotten an inkling of the impending coup, tried to head it off by asking the military not to intervene, but they ignored the requests from Washington.

So, how this plays out is any body's guess. Zelaya is now scheduled to come to New York and address the United Nations. Hopefully, he won't still be in his pajamas.

Joe Jackson- Now it All Seems so Clear

If you have ever wondered why Michael Jackson had so many....."issues", shall we say, his father, Joe, cleared it all up with his bizarre performance at the BET event in LA, where he was interviewed by CNN's Don Lemon. Check it out above.

Now you get it, right?

This guy acted like he had just lost 100 bucks at the craps table rather than a son. In fact, it seems Michael was the last thing on his mind-after making sure everyone knew who was in charge of all the legal issues, introducing his attorney, his record label, etc.

Yuk!

Iran-When All Else Fails, Raid the Embassies

Would you invite these guys over for 4th of July?
"Where's the mustard?"


As the events in Iran continue to unfold, the barbaric government-still blaming the West for the unrest and now threatening to execute protesters (the ones who are not executed in the streets)- have resorted to the tactic in which the Islamic Republic was born; grabbing innocents out of the embassies. This time, eight Iranian employees of the British Embassy in Teheran have been arrested. The Brits and the EU are demanding their release-just as the US demanded the release of our diplomats thirty years ago. However, this regime cares little for the niceties of international diplomatic relations. They have traditionally used their own embassies as a center from which to foment terrorism around the world. The question begs as to why any civilized nation would want to have diplomatic relations with the crazed mullahs who run Iran.

But what is the status of local nationals who work in diplomatic missions? It is common practice for embassies around the globe to hire local nationals to help in their administrative tasks as well as other liaison duties. After all, they speak the language and know how to get things done in the country where the embassy is located.

When I worked overseas with DEA in Bangkok, Thailand and Milan, Italy, my office was naturally located in the embassy and consulate respectively. Both facilities were filled with local Thai and Italian nationals. DEA also utilized local investigative assistants who were valuable for liaison purposes. They had no diplomatic status nor were they able to access classified information. I don't know what duties the specific arrestees had in the British embassy, but it is highly doubtful that they were doing anything against the interests of their own nation (Iran). That, of course, matters little to the fanatics who are in charge of Iran. They have no respect for embassies whatsoever. There is no telling what fate may lie in store for those arrested. Will they be publicly hanged in a square from a construction crane? If any are women, will they be publicly stoned to death? Are they being tortured at this very moment?

In light of this latest event, it is hard to imagine why there is any serious discussion of the US restoring diplomatic relations with Iran. So the next time there is a dispute between our two countries, they can seize our diplomats again? It is the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you......". Any talk of restoring diplomatic ties with Iran should be reserved for the day when a respectable and civilized government returns to power. What would be nice would be to see the UK and the rest of the EU obtain the freedom of the embassy employees and then close down their embassies-and, of course, send the Iranian diplomats in their countries back home.

Yes, the same Iranian diplomats that were invited to our 4th of July celebrations.

There Goes Michael-Here Come the Ambulance Chasers

It was all so predictable. No sooner than the body is cold, here come the same old tired faces. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, LA attorney Gloria Allred. It seems everybody is jumping in on the story that won't go away for years-a la Anna Nicole Smith. Here are examples:

Jesse Jackson, the biggest non-attorney ambulance chaser in America, is appearing with the Jackson family ("to begin the healing process", presumably), but also to join in calling for a second autopsy by a private forensic examiner on behalf of the family. That segues into Drs. Cyril Wecht and Michael Baden, who are always found on TV whenever an autopsy makes the news. No doubt one of them will wind up re-carving the famous remains. If it's Wecht, he will undoubtedly proclaim that the first autopsy was botched and Jackson may have been the victim of.......

Foul Play.

Then there is the Reverend Al Sharpton, who is all over the cable network talking about his friendship with Jackson. And don't forget Gloria Allred, LA attorney who is certain to file a lawsuit on behalf of someone who knew Jackson.

Already, Geraldo Rivera is hosting specials on Fox showing replays of his interviews with everyone in the Jackson family over the years and interviewing all those hangers-on who are blasting other hangers-on for enabling Jackson's destructive behavior.

"That's why I'm speaking out, Geraldo" (fill in the name).

And don't forget Fox's Greta van Susteran. As always, she is already on the scene broadcasting from the street in front of the house where Jackson died. (There's nothing in there, Greta.) Remember when the bride-to-be in Georgia disappeared a few years back? Greta was camped in front of her house for a week proclaiming that, "something bad has happened." It was bad, alright. The woman had gotten cold feet and hopped a bus for Vegas, while Greta was asking, "Where is....?"

We'd better get used to it. With the investigation sure to come into the doctor who was present when Jackson died, there is the Jackson estate to carve up and fight over, the three kids to fight over, the lawsuits- I mean, we all saw the template when Anna Nicole Smith keeled over from years of drug use. The cable talk shows are set for the next two years.

And Iran? Can you say page 23?

My New Look

"Same ol' sh--, different color."


With much work and screwing up, I have changed the design of my website. Since I am a rank amateur, I lost many of the features which I had before, but I am in the process of restoring them. My blogroll will be somewhat reduced, but for those with whom I have mutual links, I will get yours up. If I overlook it, let me know.

Where is CAIR on Iran?

Mr Awad, Mr Hooper?


I periodically check out the official website of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to see if they have issued a statement on the happenings in Iran. I have thus far, failed to find any mention of Iran on their site. Of course, it may be that they posted something briefly and I missed it. Or it may be that their national leaders have issued a statement which doesn't appear on the website. Maybe it's all my ineptitude, but I just can't find any mention or statement by CAIR.

Of course, any time you read their website, you will find lots of reports of anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamophobia that they report, as well as reports of all the good works they are doing to promote inter-faith understanding and articles that dispel rumors about the group.

I have found a statement on Iran on the website of the Islamic Society of North America, which calls on the Iranian government to release those arrested during the disturbances, particularly one individual. That's about as far as it goes.

But nothing from CAIR. Can anybody help me out here? Or does CAIR not want to discuss the atrocities and crimes carried out by Islamic governments against their own people? If you want to find CAIR condemnations of Israel when it fights back against terrorists, you will be rewarded. But what about an Islamic government (that's what it calls itself) murdering its own people on the streets of Iranian cities?

So if anyone can illuminate me on any statements by CAIR, it's executive director, Nihad Awad or press spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, I will be happy to acknowledge them.

Congress Holds Moment of Silence for Jacko!!

Are you kidding me?

No, this is not a moment of silence for our fallen troops, nor Neda Soltan, nor any other victim of the Iranian government crackdown. Not even for Ed McMahon, who fought in our wars.

It's for the King of Pop.

Our tax dollars at work!

Sanford, Ensign, Conyers, Jefferson, Boxer et al: And You Want Big Government?

"We need a bigger ship."


Every time you think the latest bit of legislation or big government program is a good idea, you need to remind yourselves of people like....

Mark Sanford, John Ensign, Barney Frank, William Jefferson, Barbara Boxer, Larry Craig, Monica Conyers, Eliot Spitzer.......

I could go on forever, couldn't I?

Yet, it is astounding how so many people in this country want to see an ever-expanding government, which gives characters like these more and more control over our lives.

If you think government should run health care, read the above list of names and add your own.

Maxine Waters, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd, Jon Corzine, David Vitters, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Paterson....

If you think government should take over the banks, read the above lists and add more of your own.

Janet Napolitano, Ray Nagin, John Conyers, Antonio Villaraigosa, Joe Biden, Gavin Newsom, John Edwards...........

I really could go on forever, couldn't I?

If you think government should run the auto industry, add some more names.....

Mark Foley, David Vitter, Marion Barry, Arlen Specter, Patrick Kennedy, Roland Burris, Rod Blagoyevich......

Can't stop now. I'm on a roll.

Is this really what you want, all you liberals out there? More contriol over our lives by these people? More of your money going into the hands of these people to use as they see fit?

Kwame Kilpatrick, Fabian Nunez, Charles Rangel, Richard Daley, Jennifer Granholm, Charles Barron, John Kerry, Al Gore, Barbara Lee, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton......

If you think government knows better than you how to spend your hard-earned money, consider.....

Cynthia McKinney, Ted Kennedy, Bill Richardson, Diane Watson, Dennis Kucinich, Robert Byrd......

Note that I have included both Democrats and Republicans, senators, congressmen and women, governors and mayors. If you are really honest about it, this is the perfect argument for a smaller, more limited government, one with term limits.

But it's your choice. Our choice.

Al Franken, Bernie Sanders, Keith Ellison, Henry Waxman...........

Michael Jackson

I never was a fan of Michael Jackson. Maybe I was just a few years too old to be caught up in his music. That is not to deny his talent, which he was obviously born with. As a singer, he was OK. His extraordinary skill was his dancing and choreography. But who am I? Michael Jackson was possibly the biggest music star of all time. Still, with all the monumental problems going on in the world-especially in Iran, it seems incongruous to me that the world has come to a standstill over his death. Better it come to a standstill over the death of Neda, the young Iranian woman shot dead in the streets of Teheran by a hoodlum government.

Like it or not, however, this Michael Jackson thing is not going away any time soon. The whole episode is a mess-far beyond a 50-year-old man-child dying suddenly of cardiac arrest. No, this has all the ingredients of another Anna Nicole Smith drama complete with drugs, pain-killers, questionable conduct by a physician, alleged injections of Demerol, pending autopsy results, prominent pathologists like Cyril Wecht coming out of the woodwork to second-guess, and CPR performed by a cardiologist on a bed. Throw in the custody battle to come over his three kids and fighting over his estate. Add millions of fans lighting candles, holding vigils, crying, and what have you; it's going to be all Michael-all the time-even if the world comes to an end.

As cynical as I am, I was touched yesterday by the account of local ABC reporter Leo Stallworth, as he recounted his meeting with Jackson a few years back during the course of the infamous child-molestation trial. One day, Stallworth was walking across the parking lot of the courthouse when he encountered Jackson, who was sitting in an SUV. Jackson, recognizing him as a reporter, waved him over, introduced himself, and invited him into the vehicle for a chat. He asked Stallworth about his childhood and how he came to be a reporter. He then explained to Stallworth that he himself was a human, but one who had never had the opportunity to have a cherished childhood. There's not much more I can add to that because I can't tell the story in as moving a way as Stallworth did.

From what we all know of Jackson's life, it is a given that he did not have a normal childhood. Nor did he have the opportunity to become a normally-functioning adult. He have heard stories of possible abuse by his father, but I am no more qualified to pass judgement on that than anyone else. Nor can I pass judgement on the charges of pedophilia, of which he was acquitted. I have my own opinion, but that is all it's worth.

For all his talent, Jackson's legacy will always be clouded. There will always be the questions about chemical dependency, his eccentricities, and the eternal question of his relationships with young children. Was it simply a matter of a confused individual trying to capture a childhood he never had for altruistic reasons, or was it something more sinister? Aside from the superstar performer and the million-selling hits, what will be Jackson's legacy as a person and a citizen? It is unfortunate that we may never settle that question once and for all. Yes, he was a tragic figure-like many others who were brought down by their careers and celebrity. Jackson enjoyed many rewards in life for his talent, but it came at a price.

At the end of it all, I can't decide whether I pity him or not. I do feel, however, that there are more important people and issues in the world that we should be crying over.

John Conyers Statement on Wife's Guilty Plea

Mr and Mrs John Conyers


Now that Monica Conyers, city councilwoman of Detrtoit and wife of Rep. John Conyers has entered a plea of guilty to bribery charges, I suggest my readers click on to John Conyers' website to see his official statement.

http://conyers.house.gov/

If you don't see it on the front page, click to press releases. If it's not there, try his blog.

If it's not there, try.............

Actually, there is this from the Detroit Free Press:

"This has been a trying time for the Conyers family and with hope and prayer they will make it through as a family. Public officials must expect to be held to the highest ethical and legal standard. With this in mind, Mr. Conyers wants to work toward helping his family and city recover from this serious matter."

Perhaps some hearings, Congressman? Every time this guy tries to start more hearings to dig up dirt on this or that Republican, I am going to remind him of the dirt in his own backyard.

Hillary Must Go

Remember that pointed question President Obama was asked at this last press conference about the invitations to Iranian diplomats being invited to the 4th of July celebrations at US embassies world-wide-the one that Obama didn't want to answer? That opened up the little-known fact that per recommendation of the State Department, said invitations would go out to Iranian diplomats all over the world. In light of the recent brutal crackdown in Iran, these invitations have proved to be an embarrassment, and, as a result, they have now been rescinded.So no-harm, no foul, right?

Not so fast. What were these invitations all about anyway? Obviously, part of Obama's outreach to the mullahs in Iran. Was this possibly a prelude to something bigger? Like a sit-down with Ahmadinejad, perhaps? Or maybe even a meeting with The "Supreme Leader" (the Iranian one)?

At any rate, the 4th of July invitations were the brilliant idea of the State Department. More specifically, the brilliant idea of.....

"And the bucks stops...."



This is just another example of bad advice that this State Department has given Obama since he entered office. As I have more than once suggested, perhaps it is time for a shake-up at State. I suggest cutting off the snake at its very head. That means, in the most diplomatic way I can put it....


Hillary Clinton should be fired.

Jerusalem Post Reports on George Galloway

British Member of Parliament George Galloway
(He's the one in red.)


Below is an article from the Jerusalem Post dated June 21, 2009 reporting on flaky British MP George Galloway's fund drive in the US to raise money/supplies for Gaza. The Anti-Defamation League has already formally requested US Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate this fund drive as a possible violation of US laws regarding support to Hamas, a US-designated terrorist organization and ruler of Gaza. At this point, we have no information on Holder's intent to investigate or not. On May 21, I was present at the University of California at Irvine during Galloway's appearance when boxes were passed for people to drop in donations.

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ADL: Probe ties between US NGO, Hamas
Jun. 21, 2009
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST


The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged the Justice Department Sunday to investigate whether a US-based campaign is raising funds for "the purpose of providing material support to Hamas," and voiced concern about the fund raising activities of the campaign's leader, George Galloway, a member of the British Parliament.
The campaign, Viva Palestina US, is modeled after Mr. Galloway's European initiative, which delivered a convoy of vehicles - as well as a substantial amount of cash - to representatives of Hamas in Gaza in March 2009. Mr. Galloway, who plans to lead the Viva Palestina US convoy in July, has visited the US on several occasions in recent months to promote and raise funds for the upcoming convoy.

While the campaign's organizers claim that it intends to comply with US law and will deliver the money raised to a reception committee of NGOs in Gaza, in a letter to US Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., ADL said "it is not verifiable that this 'committee' will function independently of the Hamas leadership in Gaza, and Galloway - who plans to lead the American convoy - has already demonstrated his willingness to directly support Hamas."

"We believe that the Justice Department should investigate reports of fundraising by MP Galloway and Viva Palestina US for the purpose of providing material support to Hamas," said Michael Salberg, ADL's International Affairs Director.
Both the United States and the European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Mr. Galloway is currently on another speaking tour in the US, and plans to visit California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington, DC between now and the end of June.

In May 2009, ADL wrote to Attorney General Holder to raise concerns about Mr. Galloway, Viva Palestina US and their activities.
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"Where is Everyone?"

I am cross-posting an article that has appeared on the front page of Ma'ariv, a Hebrew-language newspaper in Israel. It is co-written by Ben Caspit and Ben-Dror Yemini. (I apologize for the dis-jointed lines.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where is Everyone?
Ma’ariv (Monday, June 22, 09) by Ben Caspit and Ben-Dror Yemini (opinion) –


"Tell us, where is everyone? Where did all the people who
demonstrated against Israel’s brutality in Operation Cast Lead, in the
Second Lebanon War, in Operation Defensive Shield, or even in The
Hague, when we were dragged there unwillingly after daring to build a separation barrier between us and the suicide bombers, disappear to? We see demonstrations here and there, but these are mainly Iranian exiles. Europe, in principle, is peaceful and calm. So is the United States. Here and there a few dozens, here and there a few hundreds. Have they evaporated because it is Tehran and not here?

All the peace-loving and justice-loving Europeans, British professors in
search of freedom and equality, the friends filling the newspapers,
magazines and various academic journals with various demands for boycotting
Israel, defaming Zionism and blaming us and it for all the ills and woes of
the world—could it be that they have taken a long summer vacation? Now
of all times, when the Basij hooligans have begun to slaughter innocent
civilians in the city squares of Tehran? Aren’t they connected to the
Internet? Don’t they have YouTube? Has a terrible virus struck down their
computer? Have their justice glands been removed in a complicated surgical
procedure (to be re-implanted successfully for the next confrontation in
Gaza)? How can it be that when a Jew kills a Muslim, the entire world
boils, and when extremist Islam slaughters its citizens, whose sole sin is
the aspiration to freedom, the world is silent?

Imagine that this were not happening now in Tehran, but rather here.
Let’s say in Nablus. Spontaneous demonstrations of Palestinians turning
into an ongoing bloodbath. Border Policemen armed with knives, on
motorcycles, butchering demonstrators. A young woman downed by a sniper in
midday, dying before the cameras. Actually, why imagine? We can just
recall what happened with the child Mohammed a-Dura. How the affair (which
was very harsh, admittedly) swept the world from one end to another. The
fact that a later independent investigative report raised tough questions as
to the identity of the weapon from which a-Dura was shot, did not make a
difference to anyone. The Zionists were to blame, and that was that.
And where are the world’s leaders? Where is the wondrous rhetorical
ability of Barack Obama? Where has his sublime vocabulary gone? Where is
the desire, that is supposed to be built into all American presidents, to
defend and act on behalf of freedom seekers around the globe? What is this
stammering?

A source who is connected to the Iranian and security situation, said
yesterday that if Obama had shown on the Iranian matter a quarter of the
determination with which he assaulted the settlements in the territories,
everything would have looked different. “The demonstrators in Iran are
desperate for help,” said the man, who served in very senior positions for
many years, “they need to know that they have backing, that there is an
entire world that supports them, but instead they see indifference. And
this is happening at such a critical stage of this battle for the soul of
Iran and the freedom of the Iranian people. It’s sad.”

Or the European Union, for example. The organization that speaks of
justice and peace all year round. Why should its leaders not declare
clearly that the world wants to see a democratic and free Iran, and support
it unreservedly? Could it be20that the tongue of too many Europeans is
still connected to dark places? The pathetic excuse that such support would
give Khamenei and Ahmadinejad an excuse to call the demonstrators “Western
agents,” does not hold water. They call them “Western agents” in any case,
so what difference does it make?

To think that just six months ago, when Europe was flooded with
demonstrations against Israel, leftists and Islamists raised pictures of
Nasrallah, the protégé of the ayatollah regime. The fact that this was a
benighted regime did not trouble them. This is madness, but it is sinking
in and influencing the weary West. If there is a truly free world here, let
it appear immediately! And impose sanctions, for example, on those who
slaughter the members of their own people. Just as it imposed them on North
Korea, or on the military regime in Burma. It is only a question of will,
not of ability.

Apparently, something happens to the global adherence to justice and
equality, when it comes to Iran. The oppression is overt and known. The
Internet era broadcasts everything live, and it is all for the better.
Hooligans acting on behalf of the regime shoot and stab masses of
demonstrators, who cry out for freedom.

Is anything more needed? Apparently it is. Because it is to no avail.
The West remains indifferent. Obama is polite. Why shouldn’t he be, after
all, he aspires to a dialogue with the ayatollahs. And that is very fine
and good, the problem is that at this stage there is no dialogue, but there
is death and murder on the streets. At this stage, one must forget the
rules of etiquette for a moment. The voices being heard from Obama elicit
concern that we are actually dealing with a new version of Chamberlain.
Being conciliatory is a positive trait, particularly when it follows the
clumsy bellicosity of George Bush, but when conciliation becomes blindness,
we have a problem.

The courageous voice of Angela Merkel, who issued yesterday a firm
statement of support for the Iranian people and its right to freedom, is in
the meantime a lone voice in the Western wilderness. It is only a shame
that she has not announced an economic boycott, in light of the fact that
this is the European country that is most invested in building
infrastructure in Iran. She was joined by British Foreign Secretary
Miliband. It is little, it is late, it is not enough. Millions of freedom
seekers have taken to the streets in Iran, and the West is straddling the
fence, one leg here, the other leg there.

There is a different Islam. This is already clear today. Even in Iran.
There are millions of Muslims who support freedom, human rights,
equality for women. These millions loathe Khamenei, Chavez and Nasrallah too.
But part of the global left wing prefers the ayatollah regime over them.
The main thing is for them to raise flags against Israel and America.
The question is why the democrats, the liberals, and Obama, Blair
and Sarkozy, are continuing to sit on the fence. This is not a fence of
separation, it is a fence of shame."

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Fousesquawk comment:

Bravo. (or more properly "bravi" in Italiano). This article points out the total hypocrisy of the anti-Israel left that has been so loud in condemning Israel's actions-taken in true defense while standing silent on the brutalities of the Iranian government-against fellow Muslims.

Next week, our school quarter begins anew at the University of California at Irvine, where I teach. I am so anxious to see what the campus Muslim Student Union (MSU) will do to protest the atrocities taking place in Iran. Indeed, I await the reaction of Muslim Student Associations all across North America. But I will pay particular attention to UCI's MSU. Will they hold a week of events dedicated to condemning the repression in Iran? Will they bring in previous speakers such as Yvonne Ridley of the UK-who is a spokesperson for the Iranian Government. Will they bring back Addul Musa, who is also a huge supporter of the Iranian Government? Not likely-unless they want to mount a full-scale defense of the Mullahs and Ahmadinejad. Or will they bring in (again) other knuckleheads such as Norman Finklestein, Ward Churchill, George Galloway or Cynthia McKinney and what will they say now?

And what will be the actions in the coming weeks of the leftist, anti-Israel professors who infest our campuses? Will they come before the podiums to condemn Iran? Where will these people be-conducting more forums to condemn Israel for its "violations" of Palestinian human rights?

The authors of the above piece are spot on. I would expand their questions to include the leftists who speak on US campuses-sponsored by various Muslim Student Associations. What do they have to say now?

Congratulations to the Main Stream News Media

Photograph of the apartment where Maria lives. (If you look closely, you can see a MSM reporter lurking behind the tree.)


We must give credit where credit is due. The mainstream news media (MSM), often the target of my sarcastic wrath in not investigating juicy stories of personal misconduct by politicians, has been Johnny on the spot as to the Mark Sanford scandal.

http://www.thestate.com/sanford/story/839350.html

Yes, the MSM is all over this one. The State, South Carolina's largest newspaper published the first name of Sanford's girlfriend in Buenos Aires, pictures of her apartment building and word for word transcripts of Sanford's juicy e-mails to the lady. It seems The State has had the e-mails since December. Were they waiting for a more opportune time to go public? At any rate, Sanford was met by State reporters Wednesday morning as he arrived on a flight from Buenos Aires. The same day, he spilled the beans.

This all goes to show that when the MSM is on your track, they always get their man.

Yessir, whether your name is Mark Sanford, Mark Foley, Larry Craig or John Ensign, no illicit assignation will slip under the radar of the mainstream media. Their ace reporters are everywhere, behind every tree as J. Edgar Hoover used to say. Just like the omnipresent FBI, the MSM stands ready to expose every public official who tries to play around on the side-even in far-off Argentina-the MSM is there.

As long as you have an (R) after your name.

The question begs; where was the MSM during the John Edwards story-which had to be dragged out and exposed by the National Enquirer? Which national MSM outlet broke the Clinton-Lewinsky story? Where were all those ace investigative reporters then?
Sure, the MSM grudgingly had to go along and cover Democratic scandals when they could no longer be ignored-stick them on page 23, do a one-time interview with John Edwards after everything was out, accept his bland denials of having any knowledge of money going to his mistress as well as his denial of paternity-and....

Move on.

In fact, wasn't that the mantra of the Clinton followers-that he had admitted his mistake, aplogized, and we must.....move on? Wasn't that the whole impetus for creating the liberal blog, MoveOn.org?

Anyway, my point is this; enjoy the story. I'm posting it too. I think that aside from the love affair, his mysterious disappearance, with his staff (presumably on his word) telling the public that he was hiking in Appalachia, indicates that he is no longer fit to serve as governor. I just wish the MSM would show the same expertise (enthusiasm, actually) for catching Democratic Lotharios.

Another Press Conference-Mark Sanford

Look familiar?


Another press conference. Another confession. Another apology to the wife and kids.

This time, it is South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford doing the mea culpa after a bizarre week in which he disappeared from public view and nobody knew where he was. Then his staff told reporters he was hiking in Appalachia.

Rather piking in Argentina.






So now Sanford tells us that he was with a mistress in Argentina, and he is apologizing to his wife and kids and .......boo hoo hoo.

So goes another "rising star" in the Republican Party who some were touting as presidential material in 2012. Good bye to all that. As anyone can tell you, only men of the highest moral character can occupy the Oval Office.

"Argentina? How come I never thought of that?"

So You Want European Style Health Care......

"Let's see. John Doe is 75 and needs chemotherapy? Cost of chemo is $20,000 divided by 75 x 5 year life expectancy x .005 per cent of success" equals 6,667 points. Minimum number of points to qualify is 7,000. Therefore, the application is denied. He's probably dead anyway. This application is 6 months old. Hey, let's break for lunch"



How many times have you heard someone say, "Why can't we have health care like those Europeans (They're so sophisticated, you know)?" Actually, that is precisely what President Obama wants to do with his health care plan. He wants to fight the high cost of health care by setting up a government committee (made up of doctors and experts) that would set guidelines for what type of medical procedures and medications would be approved for specific patients. Cost effectiveness is, of course, the major consideration. If that sounds reasonable to you so far, how does the phrase "health rationing" sound to you? That is precisely where we are headed. What it boils down to is that this "committee of doctors and experts" would utilize a formula that compares the cost of the drug or treatment with the patient's age and other variables. What comes out of the mix is a decision from Washington to grant or deny you care. If you don't like HMOs, this is HMOs on steroids.

If you want an example, you need look no further than Great Britain, which has something called the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). That is what they do in the UK. It's what normal people would call health care rationing. Check out their web site.


http://www.nice.org.uk/#


Let's say, for example, that your doctor is considering using a particular drug to treat the initial stages of Alzheimer's Disease. He/she must refer to a 67-page report issued by the nice people at NICE that uses a formula based on points which considers a whole range of factors including of course, the patient's age. It means that even if your doctor feels the drug or treatment would work on a particular patient, the final decision is made by the nice people at NICE. If it is approved, great. If not......oh well, you were too old anyway.

Remember Tom Daschle, Obama's would-be secretary of Health and Human Services? This is exactly what he was advocating.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-tom-daschle/progressive-solutions-to-_b_89590.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123060332638041525.html

One of the scariest ideas that Obama has proposed is the National Health Insurance Exchange, a new bureaucracy that would "help you purchase health insurance" (just what we need), but would also computerize everything related to every person's health issues. They would also work to reduce health costs-just like those nice people in the UK who work for NICE.

So we are faced with a decision. Do we want to resort to health rationing with all the implications it entails. Are we ready to deny health treatment to our elderly and infirm because it is not cost effective? Let's not forget that the overwhelming majority of our health care costs are for the elderly. Should we, as Tom Daschle suggests, be prepared to make the hard choices on health care?

As someone who just lost his 88-year-old mother after seven years of intensive health care treatment following a stroke, I say no. If we go in this direction, we are going in the same direction as we have on abortion. We are making a choice that some one's life is not cost effective. In short, we will lose our soul. Let us not forget that elderly people do have their own say on whether to continue battling for life-or hopefully, they have a loved one able to execute their wishes if they are incapacitated. We cannot let the government intrude into this arena.

But, you say, Obama's committee will be composed partly by doctors. Surely they will sign off on what the personal physician recommends.

I don't think so. Once they go to work for the government, their job description is to save the government money-and that's what they will do. And if Grandma has to wait 6 months for an operation-as in the UK-or doesn't get that operation because of her age, that's too bad. The sick and elderly often don't get certain operations because the doctor determines that they wouldn't survive the surgery due to their age and weakened condition-or the patient makes the decision him/herself. But once cost effectiveness enters the picture, we lose something as a people. What comes next-euthanasia?

But, you say, we would never go that far. We're too civilized for that.

Take a look at The Netherlands.

Are you sure we want to be like the Europeans?

Grizzly Groundswell Show Tonight

I will be a guest tonight on Chad Everson's Blog Talk Radio show, Grizzly Groundswell. The show will air 7:30-8 pm (CST). We will be discussing the three recent shootings in Kansas, Arkansas and the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. You can join in at (646) 915-9997.

Engagement With Iran?

This is progress?


President Obama seems to be holding on to any thread of hope that he can engage with the rulers of Iran, bring about a cancellation of their nuclear weapons development and coax them into the family of nations. I think it is a fool's errand.

We should ask ourselves this question; how has the government of Iran changed since it took power 30 years ago? True, some faces have changed. The odious Ayatollah Khomeini died and has been replaced by other mullahs and Ahmadinejad. But what has changed?

The nasty government that was founded on taking of diplomats as hostages, subsequently sent millions of young boys against the machine guns of Iraq mainly to clear the mine fields for their regular troops. They then were implicated in acts of terror and kidnapping of our diplomats and CIA personnel in Lebanon. In subsequent years, this government has fomented terror and violence throughout the region. They have funded-and still fund Hizbollah and Hamas. And all the while, they have operated a police state at home. Dissenters wound up in the notorious Evin prison to be tortured or murdered. Gays have been hanged in Iran leading Ahmadinejad to declare that the county literally had no homosexuals. Speaking of hangings, we're talking about public hangings from construction cranes. Women accused of adultery? Stoned to death. Members of the Baha'i faith, which is not recognized in Iran, are routinely persecuted. When I say persecuted, I mean arrested, tortured, raped and murdered by this regime. Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust and calls for Israel to be wiped off the face of the map. The country ignores every call from the international community to act like a civilized member of the family of nations. And ever since they humiliated the hapless Jimmy Carter, they have played subsequent presidents like violins-or ignored them altogether. Now that their nuclear program has become an issue, everybody says that Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons (just like North Korea), but no one knows how to do anything about it. All we do is sit back, take encouragement from this or that "moderate" mullah who rises to power or influence and continue to read the tea leaves-as the Iranian government laughs at the West for our weakness.

Clearly, this current demonstration of wanton brutality should convince world leaders that this is an outlaw regime that cannot be dealt with as a normal nation. This is a government that sends out armed Basig militiamen, who are nothing more than goons, onto the streets to beat and shoot its citizens.

So now, what does Mr Obama intend to accomplish by talking to people like Ahmadinejad or "The Supreme Leader" of The Islamic Republic of Iran, as he so respectfully puts it? Will he use his famous charisma and charm to get the mullahs to end their nuclear weapons program? Will he convince them to renounce terror and support of Hizbollah and Hamas? Will he get them to stop sending weapons and fighters to kill our troops in Iraq? Will he get them to respect the human rights of its own citizens? Will he get them to forget about destroying Israel. Will he get them to forget about achieving hedgemony in the Middle East?

No.

What needs to be done, not only by the US, but by the entire international community is to isolate Iran completely. That means no diplomatic recognition, no Iranian embassies in other countries, no assistance with oil refineries (they have oil, but they don't refine it.), no nothing. Let that place simmer until overturning the government becomes a matter of national urgency. And as for those nuclear facilities? Let the US and Israel flip a coin as to who takes them out.

Of course, except for possibly the latter, none of this is likely. The rest of the world is too feckless and selfish over its own interests, namely Iranian oil and assurances that they won't foment terror in other countries, say in Europe. The UN is....well, the UN. They will be too busy arranging next year's Palestinian oppression week exhibits in the UN foyer.

Neville Chamberlain, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama...when will they ever learn? It's really no different from the schoolyard bully, the kid who makes you fork over your lunch money, the gang-banger, the guy who robs the liquor store, the Hitlers, the ayatollahs, the terrorists, the pirates, etc. The civilized majority need to band together and make these bad guys disappear. Then we can have that wonderful thing called PEACE.

Obama's Press Conference on Iran

"We have plenty of seats up front."


Just having watched the Obama press conference, in which he spoke on Iran, energy and health care, I'd like to forgo the latter two (with one small exception) and concentrate on his words regarding the crisis in Iran because I think it was most telling. My impression is that the President has been changing his tune on Iran day by day as events unfold and in response to the domestic criticism on his measured responses.

Notice that the President read from a prepared text-as perhaps he should have- given that every word he says on Iran is being measured world wide. Suffice to say that he more forcefully criticized the Iranian Government than in past days. I think it's fair to say that what he said today he could have said a few days ago. That tells me he is reacting to the critics who have accused him of not saying enough.

As I said previously, Obama clearly wants to prevent the Iranian regime from making the US the issue by charging US/CIA interference in its domestic affairs. However, as he himself noted, they are doing that already, a charge he forcefully denied. If the Mullahs and Ahmadinejad can convince the Iranians that the protests are all inspired and orchestrated by the Americans, they will win. Having said that, I think it's a stretch to think that verbal condemnation of the Iranian governmental actions does not constitute interference-especially when entities like the French and German governments have been much more outspoken.

It is also becoming clear that when it comes to foreign affairs, Obama is not nearly the smooth, comfortable technocrat that he is on domestic issues. He is clearly feeling his way in the international arena.

It was also noteworthy that even though Fox News correspondent Major Garrett asked the toughest question (on Iran), other reporters from other outlets also asked some pointed questions and pressed for follow-up questions-often to Obama's annoyance. Fox's Britt Hume has now opined that the much-criticized "honeymoon" period with the press (which was threatening to turn into a successful marriage) may now be coming to an end. We'll see.

The exception I wanted to note was when a lady reporter queried him about black unemployment and what he would do to curb the rising unemployment rate. His answer was that the best he could do for the black (and Latino) unemployment situation was to press through his economic reforms, which would raise everyone's situation. Isn't that the same answer that Republican presidents have been giving for decades-and for which they have been criticized by Democrats?

President Obama, in my view, has been moving boldly on his domestic agenda (I just don't agree on it.) It seems to me, however, that when it comes to Iran, he is waking up every day to see which way the wind is blowing-over there-and over here.

Speaking of waking up, has anybody woken up Helen Thomas yet?

Email from President Obama

Is this coming to America?


Either technology has reached frightening new heights or I am becoming a very important figure. Recently, I have received emails from Michelle Obama for Father's Day and David Axelrod linking me to President Obama's speech in Cairo. Now, today, I get an email from President Obama himself, apparently taking a break from the rigours of trying to figure out what to say or not say about Iran from one day to the next.

This email is about this new service corps he calls United We Serve (catchy name, I say), which he is starting up, in which he wants everyone-inluding me- to engage in volunteer service for my community. Here it is.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dear Friend,

Last week, I announced United We Serve – a nationwide call to service challenging you and all Americans to volunteer this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America.

And when I say “all,” I mean everyone – young and old, from every background, all across the country. We need individuals, community organizations, corporations, foundations, and our government to be part of this effort.

Today, for the official kick off of United We Serve, members of my administration have fanned out across America to participate in service events and encourage all Americans to join them.

The First Lady is rolling up her sleeves and getting to work too. But before she headed out today, she asked me to share this message with you.

"Oh, one more thing, Barack. Be sure you send this video to Gary in California."



Our nation faces some of the greatest challenges it has in generations and we know it’s going to take a lot of hard work to get us back on track.

While Michelle and I are calling on every American to participate in United We Serve, the call to service doesn’t end this fall. We need to stay involved in our towns and communities for a long time to come. After all, America’s new foundation will be built one neighborhood at a time – and that starts with you.

Thank you,
President Barack Obama"


Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500 · 202-456-1111
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In spite of the instructions not to reply to the email, I did anyway. I said,

"Are you kidding me? What's next, ACORN knocking at my door?"

I could have added that the neighborhood where I live is doing just fine, and we don't need any volunteers. I could have also added that I've done my bit. Served in the Armed Forces, US Customs, DEA and yes, some volunteer work on the side from time to time. And I'll do more before I'm through, just as I'll continue to contribute to charitable causes I want to support-without the government directing me to do it. The American people have proved time and time again that they are willing to chip in and help others when needs arise.

Finally, I think it is somewhat troublesome that technology has reached the point where the White House wastes time sending emails to anybody with an email account.

Get back to work, Mr President, and next time tell your toadies in the basement of the White House to send emails to people like Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann instead of me.

PS to the readers:

Volunteer for something you feel strongly about. You'll be glad you did.

Neda

Neda

Viewer discretion advised

Above is the graphic video of the shooting of Neda, a 26-year-old Iranian girl who was protesting the government in Teheran. This is the nature of the Iranian government and their thugs who stamp out dissent on the streets. What act could she have been engaged in that endangered the lives of the government forces?

This is why this government should never be allowed to get its hands on nuclear weapons. This is why Israel has reason to be alarmed about Iran and its nuclear program.

What's Happening to My Talk Radio?

They're coming!



Dr Paul Craig Roberts



Alex Jones


I confess that I am a big talk radio fan. Whenever I'm in my car, I am tuned to voices like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Medved, ect. And, yes, I agree with just about everything they say. Imagine my surprise when I turned on KRLA (870am) driving home from Los Angeles this evening and found myself listening to something called the Alex Jones Show (nationally syndicated out of Texas).

KRLA has a stable of good conservative voices from Dennis Prager to Michael Medved to Mike Gallagher, all of whom I listen to and respect. I had never heard of Alex Jones, however. By the time we got home, I was laughing and my wife thought I had lost my mind listening to this guy.

This evening, Jones was interviewing a guy named Dr Paul Craig Roberts, who actually was an under-secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. I had never heard of him either. The topic of discussion was the uprising in Iran. Since I was driving, I couldn't take notes, so this is my recollection of what this guy was saying.

1 The youthful people who are protesting in the streets of Iran's major cities are "idiots". Why?

Because they are paving the way for Obama to launch a "shock and awe" on Iran (a beautiful and modern country according to Roberts). Yes, this is all leading to a pretense for the US and Israel to invade Iran. He also made a confusing reference to Twitter in connection with Israel's advances in cell phone technology, but to be fair, I'm not sure if he was quoting conspiracy charges by the Iranian mullahs or advancing his own conspiracy theory.

Doing a little googling on this guy, I found that he cannot be pigeon-holed so neatly as a right-winger. He apparently has attacked both political parties. According to Wikipedia...

"In an interview on August 27, 2008, on a broadcast of "The Alex Jones Show," Roberts stated that he believed that influential neoconservatives affiliated with the Bush administration were leading the United States into a nuclear confrontation with Russia over the situation in Georgia and South Ossetia. Roberts gave the conflict “almost total certainty if John McCain gets in office" and stated that the conflict would being in a time frame of about two or three years."


September 11, 2001 attacks

"Of the 9/11 Commission Report he wrote in 2006, "One would think that if the report could stand analysis, there would not be a taboo against calling attention to the inadequacy of its explanations." (see Criticisms of the 9/11 Commission Report). He has reported what he says are findings by experts that conclude there is a large energy deficit in the official account of the collapse of the three WTC buildings, and says that this deficit remains unexplained.

Roberts comments on the "scientific impossibility" of the official explanation for the events on 9/11 and says those engineers and physicists who accept this theory are wrong. On August 18, 2006, he wrote:

I will begin by stating what we know to be a solid incontrovertible scientific fact. We know that it is strictly impossible for any building, much less steel columned buildings, to “pancake” at free fall speed. Therefore, it is a non-controversial fact that the official explanation of the collapse of the WTC buildings is false... Since the damning incontrovertible fact has not been investigated, speculation and “conspiracy theories” have filled the void.

On the (back) cover of Debunking 9/11 Debunking (2007) he is quoted:Professor Griffin is the nemesis of the 9/11 cover-up. This new book destroys the credibility of the NIST and Popular Mechanics reports and annihilates his critics.Book Cover Quote


Roberts adding that the so-called neoconservatives intended to use a renewal of the fight against terrorism to rally the American people around the fading Republican Party. "The administration figures themselves and prominent Republican propagandists ... are preparing us for another 9/11 event or series of events," he said. "You have to count on the fact that if al Qaeda is not going to do it, it is going to be orchestrated."


National media

"Anyone who depends on print, TV, or right-wing talk radio media is totally misinformed. The Bush administration has achieved a de facto Ministry of Propaganda."

"The uniformity of the US media has become much more complete since the days of the cold war. During the 1990s, the US government permitted an unconscionable concentration of print and broadcast media that terminated the independence of the media. Today the US media is owned by 5 giant companies in which pro-Zionist Jews have disproportionate influence. More importantly, the values of the conglomerates reside in the broadcast licenses, which are granted by the government, and the corporations are run by corporate executives—not by journalists—whose eyes are on advertising revenues and the avoidance of controversy that might produce boycotts or upset advertisers and subscribers. Americans who rely on the totally corrupt corporate media have no idea what is happening anywhere on earth, much less at home."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there it is, folks. Neo-cons leading the US into a nuclear confrontation against Russia over Georgia and South Ossetia, 9-11 inside job, and those Jews controlling the media.

Folks, if you meet this guy on the street, call 9-11. Don't attempt to apprehend by yourself.

Then, after Jones finished his phone conversation with Roberts, he went into a monologue which convinced me that he is an even bigger nut. Here are some of his more "salient" points.

The CIA is behind the protests in Iran.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?- CIA operative.

Not that they didn't torture him-they did. But it was only after they tortured his kid in front of him that he started confessing.

CIA torturers who have been thrown in prison....(keep reading)....have been silenced by the government from spilling the frijoles by being threatened with prosecution for some violation of a secrecy law.

(Has anybody out there heard about CIA officers being thrown in jail for torturing terrorist prisoners? That's strange, me neither.)

Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld? "Sickos".

He also added that while he won't leave the US himself, he is close to sending his family out of the country (while he defends the Alamo I presume).

Even though KRLA brands itself, "conservative talk radio", they need to do better than this. These guys are not real conservatives. They're just nuts.

Anti-Israel De-shelving Operation at Trader Joe's Fizzles

I am happy to post this article from the Jewish Journal on the attempt by a San Jose activist group to organize a de-shelving operation at Trader Joe's stores selling Israeli products. Kudos to Trader Joes for standing up to these yahoos. According to the article below, the whole operation was a big dud.

Kudos also to those readers who picked up on the issue and spread the word. The power of the blogosphere should not be underestimated.I am also attaching a reader comment on my original thread from a Trader Joes worker.

Finally, I deleted a comment from a woman believed to be part of the de-shelving movement not because I disagreed with it, rather because it was little more than talking points propaganda. She did acknowledge her disappointment and stated that the next step would be to boycott Trader Joes. If that ever gets off the ground, I will be happy to let my readers know so that Trader Joes can experience another surge in sales.

Anti-Israel Group Boycotts Trader Joe’s
By Lilly Fowler and Tom Tugend
Jewish Journal


By Lilly Fowler and Tom Tugend

Although “World Refugee Day,” the boycott of Trader Joe’s planned by the anti-Israel group “Don’t Buy into Apartheid,” came and went on Saturday, June 20, with no apparent incidents in Los Angeles, other cities in California did witness protesters invade the popular supermarket chain.

Kate Raphael, one of the organizers of the event, said she joined approximately 20 others as they marched into a Trader Joe’s store in Oakland, Calif., passing out hundreds of leaflets, which condemned Israel’s actions, while taking Israeli products off the shelves. Similar demonstrations happened in San Francisco and Sacramento.

In Los Angeles however, the only unusual activity reported was that of local patrons walking into the national food chain to ask to buy Israeli products in specific.

E-mails calling for a response to the boycott had circulated virally in the week prior throughout the Jewish community, as well as on Facebook, asking people to patronize the store in defiance of the boycott and in support of the Jewish State. Roz Rothstein, CEO of StandWithUs, said that her pro-Israel organization had also urged supporters across the United States and elsewhere to go into Trader Joe’s and other markets to purchase Israeli goods.

Despite the Jewish backlash, Raphael declared the “Don’t Buy into Apartheid” demonstrations a success.

“I think overall the response by customers was quite positive,” Raphael said, when describing the reaction to her group and their effort to alert customers to what they see as Trader Joe’s unfair policy: stocking Israeli products, while carrying no Palestinian goods.

She said while some customers argued with her and other demonstrators, others simply thanked them for the information. The response on the part of Trader Joe’s staff was equally wide-ranging.

The manager of the Oakland store informed the group that they would not stop carrying Israeli products until a majority of their customers stopped buying them.

But Alison Mochizuki, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s more than 300 stores, reiterated the privately owned chain’s stance.

“Trader Joe’s will not be used as a political tool, and we will not remove any products under pressure from any group. We believe our customers are smart and capable enough to make their own choices,” she said.

Raphael said her organization will be releasing a press release and pictures of the boycott on Monday, June 22.

“Don’t Buy into Apartheid,” is part of the “Global BDS Movement,” or “Boycott Divestment Sanctions Campaign,” and aims to “oppose Israeli occupation, apartheid, violence, and land theft and to support equality and justice for all, including the Palestinian people.”

StandWithUs has called the campaign “one-sided” and has accused the organization of undermining the Middle East peace process.
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At June 21, 2009 7:31 PM , Anonymous said...
HI! I WORK FOR TRADER JOE'S AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR NEGATIVE PUBLICITY! WE ARE SO BUSY MORE THAN EVER! OUR TJ'S DOES OVER $100,000 A DAY AND WE ARE BREAKING ARE YTD (YEAR TO DATE) DOLLAR AMOUNTS WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO ORDER ALOT MORE ISRALI PRODUCTS THAT ARE FLYING OFF THE SHELVES SO YOU ARE DOING THEM A BIG FAVOR AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYEE'S WE HAVE TO WORK OVER TIME BECAUSE OF OUR HIGH VOLUME SALES THANKS TO YOU! YOUR AWESOME!! PLEASE KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING! WE ARE MAKING SO MUCH MONEY AND WE OWE ALL TO YOU!


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Remembrances of a Lithuanian Jew

Memorial in Israel to a Lithuanian shtetl (Anikst)


Back in the 1990s, I was researching my first book on the languages of the former Soviet republics, which included a chapter on the Soviet Jews. In Rockville, Maryland, I met the acquaintance of a remarkable woman named Basya Shadevichene, a Lithuanian Jew who had survived German occupation during World War II. Her story is so moving that I would like to repeat it here.

First, I should supply a little background. When the Soviet Union annexed the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia after a brief period of independence, many viewed their Jewish populations, rightfully or wrongfully, as Soviet supporters. Thus, when the Germans occupied those states during World War II, Jewish residents were subject to acts of murder by Baltic nationalists-even before the Germans instigated their own "solution to the Jewish problem". It is a complicated and dark chapter in the history of the Baltic states.

The reader will also note a lot of reference to language(s) in the text since this was the focus of the book.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"I was born in 1921 in the Ukraine. My mother was Ukrainian, and my father Lithuanian. Within a couple of months of my birth, my family moved to Lithuania, where I grew up. The language that we spoke at home was Yiddish, which my mother spoke with a Ukrainian accent.

At the age of 6, I began attending a Jewish public school in which the language of instruction was Yiddish. At this school, we also studied in Lithuanian and Hebrew. Subsequently, I attended gymnasium.

At the age of 13, my parents took me to Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania since Vilnius was occupied by Poland. In Kaunas, I attended a Hebrew gymnasium. All of the subjects were taught in Hebrew except Lithuanian and German classes. later, I had to switch to a less expensive gymnasium because my family's economic situation was very bad. Both of my parents were tailors, and in those days, people would sew one suit, wear it for twenty years and pass it on to their sons. So, as you can see, business was not very good.

In 1937 I graduated from the gymnasium but couldn't receive the diploma due to some unpaid tuition. I was able to begin at Kaunas University on a provisional basis where I studied philology (German, Latin and Greek).

After the Soviets occupied eastern Poland in 1939, they returned Vilnius to Lithuania. Therefore, many of the faculty and students at Kaunas University moved to the University of Vilnius. In Vilnius, I was able to get a job teaching Lithuanian to Polish-speaking children. At the same time, I was attending a Hebrew teachers academy from which I graduated. My dream was to be a teacher in a Hebrew school.

When the USSR took over Lithuania in 1940, all Jewish institutions were closed. Schools, yeshivas, gymnasiums, teachers' academies, libraries and synagogues. Everything.

When the Germans invaded Lithuania as part of the USSR, we were living in a shtetl (village occupied principally by Jews). When we heard the news, I was with my sister on a trip to a lake. The Germans overran Lithuania so fast that we couldn't return to our shtetl, and all we could do was join the thousands of people fleeing. The roads were choked with people in their wagons, on foot or bicycle, and the German planes were bombing us and shooting at us from very low in the sky. My sister and I were the only members of our family to survive. I lost my parents and brother during the German occupation.

My sister and I were able to get out of Lithuania and ended up in Russia. Eventually, I heard about a Lithuanian division being formed in Russia to fight with the Soviet Army against the Nazis. At that time, I was teaching in a middle school, but I left my job and walked three days in the bitter cold to Morshansk, from where I was taken to Gorky. This trip took almost a day. I rode on an open train car until I reached the division which I joined as an interpreter. By then, I knew Yiddish, Lithuanian, Hebrew, German and Russian. In June 1944, I arrived back in Lithuania with my division. I received many medals from the Soviet Government for my wartime service. I was released from the army at the end of 1946.

When I returned to my shtetl in 1944, I couldn't find a single Jew. I lost my mother, father, brother, two uncles and an aunt, along with their families. Twelve of them in all had been killed. A Polish woman, who was a former neighbor in my shtetl, had kept a few photographs, one of which was of my mother. I loved my mother very much, and today, this photograph is hanging in my bedroom across from my bed. I talk to her every day when I get up and before I go to bed.

All of the Jewish people in my shtetl and throughout Lithuania were killed, a total of about 200,000 according to the Lithuanian newspapers. Between my shtetl and that of my husband, I saw two large pits where Jews had been pushed in alive and executed. One pit had contained 2,000 women, the other 4,000 men. Eventually, Jewish survivors built a fence around the pits and erected two large stone monuments on which was written: 'Here lie 2,000 Jewish women and 4,000 Jewish men who were killed by the German fascists and Lithuanian nationalists' We wanted to inscribe the same text in Yiddish but could not get permission from the local authorities.

After the war, the Soviets refused to allow Yiddish or Hebrew schools. People who wanted to study either language were considered 'Zionists' and subject to deportation. There was an informal Jewish theatre in Vilnius, but it had to operate in a discreet manner. The Yiddish-speaking population has grown older, and many have died. The younger generation of Jewish people have grown up speaking mostly Lithuanian and Russian.

The Yiddish language is still an international language for Jews around the world. In Israel, there are many elderly Yiddish-speaking people. In answer to your question, Yiddish will not die as long as the Jewish nation survives. It will continue to be an international language for Jews."

Ms Basya Shadevichene
Rockville, Md
July 26, 1996

from: The Languages of the Former Soviet Republics-Their History and Development
by Gary Fouse
University Press of America, 2000
pp 379-381

Let's Play, "Name That Novice!"

Latest model


Who made the following statement?

"I don't know anything about cars."

a Henry Ford
b Edsel Ford
c David Buick
d Walter Chrysler
e Chevy Chase
f Edward Whitacre Jr.

If you guessed "f", you're a winner!

And who is Edward Whitacre Jr, you ask?

He is the (government-appointed) chairman of the board of directors at GM.

California State Head of Education Wants to Raise Taxes

Jack O'Connell says:


"Don't let this happen to your kids this summer. Support summer school. Support more property taxes. Do it for the children."




It's the same old story in California. Jack O'Connell, the political hack who is in charge of education in California, is bemoaning the lack of funds that may force the cancellation of summer school, thus forcing kids to be on the street or in hot apartments unattended by their parents and exposed to gangs, drugs, rape, the Boogey Man and other forms of violence. (Don't take my word for it. Check out the below site from the California Dept of Education.)

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr09/yr09rel94.asp

Today, O'Connell is targeting property taxes, which he thinks should be raised in order to provide more money to the faltering schools. The problem is Proposition 13, which the voters passed in 1978 to stop the outrageous property taxes that were forcing thousands of residents out of their homes. The liberals and politicians absolutely hate Prop 13 because it stands between them and billions in tax-payers' money.

Of course, O'Connell can't explain why throwing more money at a failing school system will solve the problem. If LA Unified for example, is seeing a drop-out rate of over 50%, how does O'Connell think money is going to fix that? How is money going to fix a school system that is overrun with gangs, drugs, guns and students who can't speak English because they and their families are not even in the country legally?

Why don't O'Connell and other politicians demand that illegal immigration be stopped and our borders secured? That would go miles toward improving the California school system, especially in places like Los Angeles. But you won't hear them calling for that. Nor will you hear them calling for stricter drug laws or anti-gang legislation like Jamiel's Law, which would free up the LAPD in dealing with known illegal alien gang members, who turn the schools and surrounding streets into war zones. No, what is needed is more tax-payer money to pour into the cesspool that is education in our state. More money for teachers (ably represented by their powerful teachers union)and more money for after-school programs, self-esteem programs, diversity training, busing and summer school.

I myself am a product of the LA Unified School District when it was a quality program in the 1960s. No more. The high school I attended (University High School) was the number 2 rated school in the country in the 1960s. Today, that is a distant memory as the once-beautiful campus is now run down and surrounded by iron fencing as if it were a minimum security prison. I would also remind Mr O'Connell that I did not always go to summer school. When I did, it was purely for academic reasons. When I didn't, I wasn't getting arrested, beat up, raped, left at home alone, chased by the Boogey Man or suffering from heat exhaustion in a cramped apartment.

The day is rapidly approaching when California will have to officially admit that it is broke and the spigot has run dry. I can't wait for that day to arrive. Hopefully, there won't even be enough money to pay Jack O'Connell's salary.

Senate Arrogance on Parade-Barbara Boxer

(Viewer warning: Keep a barf bag handy while viewing.)



Our California embarrassment, Sen. Barbara Boxer, is at it again, this time on June 16, while asking questions of Brigadier General Michael Walsh, who, in line with military custom, calls her "Ma'am. Not good enough for Boxer, who asks that the general address her as "Senator". "Yes, Senator," replies the suitably chastened general.

Just another example of the arrogance of our elected leaders in Washington, who apparently, are oblivious to the fact that their approval ratings are somewhere in the teens-and for good reason.

Barbara Boxer (excuse me, Senator Boxer) has been an embarrassment to California ever since she entered public office. Why is she not voted out?

She is from San Francisco. Enough said.

I don't know beans about General Walsh, but just the fact that he is a General in the US Military tells me one thing:

Ten Barbara Boxers couldn't make one General Walsh. Thus, she should be paying attention to how she addresses a member of an institution that ranks head and shoulders above her own.

Senator Boxer!!!???!!

Senator John Ensign

Look familiar?


I regularly get emails from Michael Steele, the RNC Chairman, at least from his website. Addressing me as "Dear Gary", they alert me to the latest Democratic skulduggery or outrage. Of course, the message always ends with an appeal for money.

I don't know how I got on the mailing list since I am not a Republican. At any rate, I never send money.

I am reminded why every time a scandal comes along like Larry Craig, Mark Foley and now, Senator John Ensign (R-NV). This is partly why the Republican Party fell out of power-because of people like Ensign, who have used their positions of power to feather their own nests- in Ensign's case, perhaps not financially, but certainly to spice up his sex life.

Does this mean that senators are more prone to play around than the rest of us normal folks? I don't know, but certainly, their power leads to increased opportunities. At any rate, once again, those who have placed their hopes in a Republican Party that would stand for certain principles and policies, have to witness another hypocrite who poses in front of the cameras with his family and poses with the troops, etc. etc, who was just using his office for his own benefit-not to mention helping the husband of his mistress get jobs.

So, Mr Steele, as much as I respect you, I must say that I will not be joining the Republican Party or donating any money until this kind of mess is cleaned up. (You can start by calling for Ensign's resignation.) I continue to believe that the Democratic Party is much worse-and yes, much more corrupt, but the likes of John Ensign need to disappear-even at the cost of another Republican seat in the Senate.

Meanwhile in "Palestine".....

This video was shown at a Fatah event demonstrating the brutality of Hamas toward a member of Fatah (Viewer discretion advised).

I would heartily recommend this video to folks like;

Jimmy Carter
Norman Finklestein
George Galloway
Anna Baltzer
Cynthia McKinney
Amir Abdel Malik Ali
Mohammed al-Asi

And, oh yes, President Obama since he plans to send a few hundred million dollars of our tax money to Gaza and bring a several thousand of these characters to the US where they can foment more hatred on our soil.

Enjoy.

Here's a Scandal for John Conyers to Investigate

Monica Conyers (in grey) leaving her radio show where she asked her listeners to pray for her.

Why?


Congressman John Conyers (D-MI)has for years been trying to dig up any possible scandal that pertains to Republicans. The 80-year-old head of the House Judiciary Committee never ceases to be outraged by the skulduggery committed by Republicans that he sees going all around him in Washington. Now it seems that he has a golden opportunity to find a scandal in his own backyard of Detroit-or more specifically in his own bedroom. That's right. His own wife, Monica (44) a Detroit City Councilwoman is implicated in a major bribery scandal.

The Detroit Free Press and others are reporting that Mrs Conyers has been identified as the infamous "City Council Member A," in court documents, who received thousands of dollars in bribes to vote "yes" on a city waste contract with a company called Synagro worth over a billion dollars. She is now reportedly engaged in plea negotiations with federal authorities before they indict her.

Yes, it's serious. People are pleading guilty and cooperating with prosecutors. And they are naming Mrs Conyers. Consider the following:

"In former Synagro consultant Rayford Jackson's plea this week, Jackson's brother, Lennie (who's cooperating with authorities) is alleged to have carried thousands in bribes to Conyers and her former aide, Sam Riddle."

-Detroit Free Press

and this:

"In January, James Rosendall, the former Michigan vice president for Synagro, pleaded guilty to engineering the scheme to get City Council votes on a $1.2-billion sludge-hauling contract. Conyers was one of the alleged targets of that scheme."

-Detroit Free Press


Mrs. Conyers won't comment on the charges or the plea negotiations, but on her weekly television show this week, she told her listeners this:

"If you're not praying for me, you're just adding to the problem." Indeed.

What about Mr Conyers? No comment coming from him either. Of course, he's too busy getting to the bottom of Bush, Rove, water boarding and all that other stuff.

Or praying.

While no one has pointed any accusations at John Conyers in this matter, he can't escape suspicion since normally, husbands and wives tend to share assets, so to speak. So if Mrs Conyers is indicted or pleas to accepting bribes, does this call for an investigation by Congress (and the FBI) into what role or benefit was involved with Congressman Conyers? Surely those watchdogs who are always calling for this or that Republican to be investigated will call for an inquiry here. I'm talking about Democrats like Charles Schumer, Henry Waxman, Pat Leahy and, oh yes, Arlen Specter.

What do you think the odds are of a Congressional inquiry by the Ethics Panel into John Conyers?

Just wondering.

The Iranians and Their Government

The Iranian "election" -and the winner is.......
(Tip of the hat to the great Don Martin)


I must confess I have very mixed reactions to the happenings in Iran over the "re-election" of Ahmadinejad. That's because I vividly remember the hostage crisis thirty years ago, when our diplomats were held under threat of trial and execution while a feckless president named Jimmy Carter wrung his hands in helplessness. Like most Americans, I was outraged. I could not understand why we did not go to war and crush Iran. Yes, it would have probably meant the deaths of most if not all of the hostages, but America would not have been humiliated by a third-rate country run by fanatical mullahs.

I also remember the behavior of some Iranians living in the US at the time, especially the so-called Iranian students, many of whom supported the revolution. I was stationed with DEA in Los Angeles at the time and recall that we had a rash of heroin and hashish smuggling cases involving young Iranians whose funding for their stay in America had been cut off. In one case, we arrested several Iranians connected with the seizure of hash concealed in framed pictures of the Ayatollah Khomeini. I remember the satisfaction I felt as I tore apart the portraits to remove the drugs in front of the prisoners, who gritted their teeth in silent rage.

I also remember the day shortly after our diplomats had been taken hostage that hundreds of Iranians decided to march through the streets of Los Angeles in support of the Ayatollah. They had been denied a permit but chose to march anyway. We knew there was going to be violence, and I have to admit, a couple of my colleagues and I were tempted to take the day off and go "kick some ass". Fortunately, we decided not to put our jobs on the line and we stayed put. As it was, hundreds of counter-demonstrators, outraged Americans, lined the streets and jeered the marchers. The police were out in force, but could not prevent the melee that ensued as the Iranians were spit upon and attacked by the counter-protesters. A lot of Iranians were beaten up that day including women. Many others were arrested along with members of the Jewish Defense League and their leader, Irv Rubin, who were right in the thick of it. (I was not an admirer of Irv Rubin.)

How did I feel about what happened? I was giddy with joy.

Suffice to say, I did not care much for Iranians in those days, and that is putting it mildly.

I also cheered when Iraq, under Saddam Hussein launched a war against Iran. I knew Iraq under Saddam was no ideal nation, but they were fighting our enemy, and so I thought it was right that the US gave support to Saddam in that instance.

Was I wrong to feel those sentiments? I honestly don't know. I do know, however, that I don't feel those sentiments now. As I have told my Iranian friends (Yes, I have a few), eventually, one needs to let go of those kinds of feelings. (Of course, I am much more aware now of the numbers of Iranians I meet who are refugees from the present regime.) So, was it racism on my part? No-it was wounded national pride. I am a nationalist, and I don't like to see my country humiliated.

But how am I supposed to feel now as we witness a mass wave of rejection on the part of so many thousands of young Iranians toward their despicable government? Again, I have mixed feelings. For many years now, I have refused to feel bad for the Iranian people living under such a backward government. After all, they chose that government, didn't they? They threw out the Shah, brought in the Islamic Republic and shouted, "Death to America", so it was my feeling that they had the government they deserved. I was more concerned with the dangers that government posed (and poses) to the West and Israel.

However, I have to take into account that Iran is a young country in demographics. Most of its people were either very young or not yet born in 1979. They see the freedoms that the West enjoys and they want to join in. Maybe they have been swept up in the world-wide Obamamania and they want to join in that as well, who knows?

At any rate, it is no longer 1979; it is 2009, and things are stirring in Iran. What should be the response of the Obama administration? The President is choosing his words carefully-as he should. Obviously, while he supports the idea of more freedom in Iran, the US doesn't want to be seen as propping up the opposition. That would be counter-productive. Are we working behind the scenes to undermine the Iranian government? Hard to say with this administration, but I hope we are. If this government can fall without us or Israel having to go to war, the whole world will be better off.

I have to confess, I still am cynical when I hear American politicians pander about the "Iranian people having the democracy they so richly deserve", but hopefully, there will be another Iranian revolution- as peaceful as possible. If the Iranian people can somehow remove this odious regime and restore Iran to a positive position in that volatile part of the world, I will tip my hat to them.

So there is my confession. The statute of limitations is in effect.

The Case of IG Gerald Walpin-Change?

Kevin Johnson and Barack Obama




Kevin Johnson and Eric Holder



If you remember the furor of the Bush replacement of a number of US Attorneys (a political position), perhaps this will get you fired up. The Obama White House is giving the boot to the Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Gerald Walpin, in whom Obama has supposedly "lost confidence".

I'll say. And according to sources, Michelle Obama may also be playing a role in the firing a'la Travelgate. Walpin was involved in the overview of Americorps, that boondoggle outfit that falls under CNCS, and which hands out goodies to community volunteer organizations. In this case, Walpin was checking into money in the amount of $850,000 given to St Hope Academy, an educational foundation which is connected to now-Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player and Obama supporter. As a result of the investigation, the IG referred Johnson and another St Hope honcho, Dana Gonzalez, for criminal/civil prosecution for misuse and diversion of government funds. Subsequently, in exchange for the lifting of suspensions and disbarments of Johnson and Gonzalez, the academy agreed to repay about one half of the amount given, but apparently, Obama's friends in Sacramento (including the US Attorney, who complained about Walpin's investigation-I told you the US Attorney is a political plum) have prevailed on the White House to fire Walpin.

At a May 20 board meeting, Walpin reportedly criticized the agency's settlement deals with St Hope/Johnson/Gonzalez and City University of New York Research Foundation, the latter of which received massive funding that Walpin characterized as useless.

A few weeks later, on June 10, Walpin allegedly received a call from Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President in the White House, telling him to resign within 24 hours or be fired. Walpin refused because he has certain rights. Any firing of an IG must be given a 30 day notice period and Congress must be given the reasons for the firing-since IGs are supposed to be independent watchdogs.

When the firing was announced, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) wrote to the White House expressing concern and asking for an explanation as to why the normal firing process was being circumvented. Now Special Counsel to the President, Norm Eisen has responded that Walpin was "confused", "disoriented" and "disruptive" at the May 20 board meeting leading to his dismissal. Walpin calls this a lie and charges that his firing is political.

In addition, according to those famous old anonymous sources, it has been leaked that the First Lady is playing a role in the management of CNCS. It has already been announced that Michelle's chief of staff, Jackie Norris, has been sent to CNCS as a senior advisor.

So here is my first question: If Walpin's findings were out of line as it pertains to St Hope Academy and Mr Johnson, why did the academy agree to repay half of the money involved?

Second question: If the reason for Walpin's firing was his behavior at the May 20 meeting, why did the White House wait until June 10 to can him?

Third question: If people are still pushing for an investigation into why President Bush replaced a bunch of US Attorneys-which is known to be a political appointment-what are we to think of the attempted summary dismissal of an IG-not supposed to be a political plum, rather one that is independent? Is the firing purely for the reasons given by Mr Eisen? Or is it because Mr Walpin was investigating the President/First Lady's friends?

Change?

Oh, yee suckers.

Senator Robert Menendez Speaks on Israel

It is not often that I agree with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), but his statement yesterday on the floor of the Senate was spot on. Beginning with a reference to the Holocaust Museum shooting, Senator Menendez gives an overview of the State of Israel since 1948 and why the nation should be allowed to live in peace as a valued partner of the US.

Well stated, Senator.

Adam Gadahn's Anti-Jewish Video

Adam Gadahn


In the past few days, American al-Qaeda member and spokesman Adam Gadahn has issued another “communique“, this one in Arabic explaining his Jewish roots. He describes his Jewish-American grandfather, whom he characterizes as a Zionist, and who tried to influence him in that direction even encouraging him to visit Israel. He also talks about a book written by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was given to him by his grandfather.

He then goes on to speak of the “crimes” committed by Israel and America as is his wont. They need not be repeated here for the umpteenth time.

Having written previously on why Gadahn has turned against his country to the point of becoming a traitor, I also find it interesting as to why he has joined a long list of persons of Jewish ancestry who have turned against their Jewish identity. (Gadahn was actually raised by his parents in a Christian environment.) Many Jewish people with whom I have spoken, refer to this type of (Jewish) person as a “self-hating” Jew. I have heard the term applied to anti-Israel activists such as Norman Finklestein, Anna Baltzer and others. Not being Jewish myself, that is a judgment I choose to leave to others.

I don’t know whether Gadahn has a stronger hatred for his Jewish/Christian ancestry or his American nationality. Suffice to say, he has thrown in his lot with a force that wants to destroy all three. Eventually, I am certain that Gadahn will be held to answer for his treason. The reasons why he took the road he has chosen might be reserved for the psychiatrist’s couch. What Gadahn has overlooked about his country is its unique structural ability to right wrongs from within the system. The American Civil Rights Movement is the classic example. Yet, this misguided young man prefers to destroy our country and its system and replace it with Shariah law, which would take away all our freedoms in the name of religion. He has also overlooked the fact that contrary to some Muslim countries, America-and Israel guarantee freedom of religion. Even in the wake of 9-11, America has gone to great lengths to ensure the rights of Muslims under the Constitution and their freedom to follow their religion. Of course, that is a freedom that Gadahn and his cohorts would obviously deny to non-Muslims. That is why they must be defeated.

I know many of my friends and colleagues are hoping that someday we succeed in dropping a bomb on Gadahn’s head. I do not. I prefer to see the day when he is captured alive and brought back to the US to answer for his treason. I want to see him subjected to the whole battery of tests and interviews to see what really makes this guy tick. Let him have his rant in an open courtroom, and let him see first-hand how a true system of justice works. Who knows? He may even come to appreciate the Judeo-Christian heritage of this country.

Celebrity Endorsements: Sammy Sosa for Wheaties

News item: It has been revealed that in 2003, Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids.

"Hey kids, if you wanna grow up to be a home run slugger like me-you better start eating your Wheaties."



"Here I am as a rookie-before I started eating my Wheaties."
(1989- 4 homers, 13 RBIs)




"Six hundred homers later, here I am after I started eating my Wheaties."

"So take it from Slammin' Sammy-you'd better start eating your Wheaties!"

Reverend Wright and the Muslim Protester in Arkansas-Why I Don't Ignore Them

Jeremiah Wright


One of my readers, who lives in Germany, has admonished me for my latest postings on the anti-Semitic rants of Reverend Jeremiah Wright and a Muslim woman who crashed a wreath-laying at the site of the murder of Pvt William Long in Arkansas by a Muslim convert. In my friend's view, both Wright and the woman are loons that should be ignored. Why waste time and words on them, she asks. Here is my answer.

In the case of the unidentified Muslim woman, not only was she arrogant to the point of demanding respect for her religion as citizens were trying to lay flowers on the site of Pvt Long's murder, which had occurred only hours earlier, she made anti-Semitic references to "the Jews who run the New York Times and Fox News. They are liars!" she shouted. This woman is not just some isolated loon; she represents a mind-set, one that has no place in civilized society, and one that must be confronted and defeated.

In the case of Wright, yet another regular reader took me to task and asked when I was going to write another piece on William Ayres. I understand the argument, but there is another side to this. Jeremiah Wright's relationship and influence on President Obama should never cease to be a topic for discussion. Now, after the "God Damn America" and "Rich white people" rants, we have this: "Them Jews ain't going to let him (Obama) talk to me". He then launches immediately into a discussion of "Zionist" Israel. In addition to hating his country, he also has little use for Jews. His coupling of American Jews with the alleged "crimes" of Israel is a common canard that shows how specious the claim is that there is no connection between "anti-Zionism" and anti-Semitism. They walk all too often hand in hand.

So the argument goes that Wright is old news. It has all been hashed out and found not to be sufficient for not electing Obama to the presidency. Wright is known to be a flake, and we should ignore him.

Wrong.

Jeremiah Wright still has an audience, and there are many who think like he does. When we ignore or pooh-pooh the anti-Semitic rants of Wright and the woman in Arkansas, we repeat the error that was made in the 1920s and 1930s when Europe and America were ignoring the rants of Adolf Hitler. (No, I am not equating either of these two people to Hitler). As I have said many times before, we are living in a time similar to Europe in the 1930s. Hitler's anti-Semitism (and talk of conquest)was not taken seriously. If we don't take the new anti-Semitism we see today seriously, then we are headed for another catastrophe.

So I respectfully disagree with my readers who say I should "move on" and ignore the above two purveyors of hate. No, they should be exposed for what they are, and their words must be countered. Shame on us as a people if we take a "so what" attitude to figures like Jeremiah Wright and that pathetic, arrogant woman in Arkansas.

More on the Arkansas Shooting-a Protester

Recorded by Secure Arkansas and cross-posted from Right in a Left World

This video tape is going around the Internet and is cross-posted from "Right in a left world" blog. It shows a young Muslim woman who shows up at the site of the shooting at the Arkansas military recruiter office where Private William Long was killed earlier the same day. As members of the public are trying to lay flowers at the site, this woman admonishes them for not showing her the proper respect as a Muslim. She goes on to say that 9-11 was an inside job. Even more disturbing is her claim about the New York Times and Fox News being owned by Jews-"They are liars".

I was hesitant to put this posting up but eventually decided I should. I don't know anything about Secure Arkansas and I wasn't really interested in the theologically-driven captions. (A look at their website indicates they are focused on illegal immigration.) I have decided that her words are so outrageous that she should be exposed.

I don't post this to incite. I would hope that leaders of this woman's Muslim community would call her in for a heart to heart chat and explain to her that actions and statements like hers at that time and that place can only increase negative feelings about the Muslim community. If the woman in question was seeking respect, she went about it in the wrong way. I would also like to see organizations like CAIR and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) publicly criticize her words and actions in the wake of this tragedy. Not likely since CAIR's website meakes no mention of the shooting, and the ISNA states only the following:

"ISNA Condemns Arkansas Killing Plainfield, IN 06/ 02/2009 - The Islamic Society of North America condemns the fatal shooting of Pvt. William Long which took place in Little Rock, AK. The use of violence to demonstrate opposition to war is unacceptable and morally reprehensible. Additionally, such use of violence is counter productive to the useful exchange of ideas and beliefs.

ISNA has and will continue working in partnership with law enforcement to deal with this unfortunate reality of violence on our American streets.

ISNA believes in the right of individuals to oppose war, but it strongly denounces the use of violence to do so. In a free democracy, citizens have a moral duty to use peaceful means to express their views and try to influence policy. The use of violence to make one’s point is unacceptable and must be condemned by all people of conscience.

The Islamic Society of North America extends its most heartfelt condolences to the family of Pvt. Long."

Fousesquawk comment; All well and good, but the article is misleading. There is no mention of the fact that the shooter was a Muslim convert who has publicly stated that he was acting because of religious reasons. To simply describe this an anti-war act by some unidentified perpetrator is avoiding an issue that ISNA should have addressed head on.

Testimony of a York University Jewish Student

This article is appearing on Jewish Action Online and is written by York University (Toronto) student David Elmaleh, who discusses how the college campus has become a hub of anti-semitism.

(Tip of the hat also to the Orange County Independent Task Force, from which this article is cross-posted.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Shouting, anti-religious slurs, evil glares and anti-Semitic rhetoric often get thrown my way as I walk through the halls during one of the countless anti-Israel demonstrations at York University. Am I a walking target? I often wonder if I am drawing a bull’s eye for myself when I dress in a way that identifies me as a Jew on campus. Indeed, the distinction between anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish is becoming increasingly blurred.

In several cases, these rallies have deteriorated into soapboxes for Jew bashing. I have been called names and been insulted for simply wearing my kippah. One day, while hurrying to a class, a few individuals stopped me in the hallway and began berating me about Israeli policies.

The campus newspaper has not been very helpful; it consistently presents editorials and articles that blast Israel, while very few pro-Israel pieces make it into the paper. Last year, after the fatal terrorist attack at the Mercaz HaRav yeshivah in Jerusalem, a York student wrote an op-ed for the campus paper entitled “Jewish Attack Not a Surprise,” which defended the massacre and called on continued resistance in order to end the occupation in Gaza. Jewish students of all walks of life felt outraged and hurt that their paper had printed such a hate-inspired editorial. It sparked intense debate among all factions of students, and, as usual, Jews were targeted.

Below is my response to the op-ed.

Upon reading the article “Jewish Attack Not a Surprise,” I was angered, frustrated and disappointed. At what price should freedom of speech be protected? Attempts to incite hate and demonize a minority group on campus are by no means welcome and should not be allowed to continue. The author [of the article] justifies the massacre of eight defenseless and unarmed students by stating that they were learning in a school that is connected to the Israeli military and that its graduating students are contributing to the fighting in Gaza. I wholeheartedly disagree with her analysis of the situation in Gaza. However, her opinion is her prerogative, and not my primary concern. I take issue with her justification of the “Jewish attack.”

I spent some time learning in the Mercaz HaRav yeshivah. . . . If somebody had walked up to me in the [York University] library while I was studying and shot me in cold blood, would the author justify that as well? Or perhaps she was referring to the hundreds of other Jewish students who have studied in similar seminaries before commencing their studies at York? Openly condoning a brutal, heinous and targeted attack on defenseless Jewish students because of their religious and political affiliations threatens the prospect of cohesiveness both abroad and here in our university.

Specifically targeting vulnerable civilians is never acceptable, and such justifications have no business in a university that prides itself on its diversity, acceptance and global interest in human rights. University newspapers . . . should not be used as a vehicle . . . for those who wish to incite hatred and hurt an important minority group on campus that greatly contributes to the academic and social aspects of York.

My response never made it into the paper. I wonder why. . . ."
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Fousesquawk comment: It seems that of all the universities in Canada, York University has acquired the reputation as the worst when it comes to anti-Semitism inspired by the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Jeremiah Wright: "Them Jews Ain't Going to Let Him Talk to Me"

On June 9, Jeremiah Wright spoke to a news reporter from Virginia's Daily Press at a ministers conference in Hampton, Virginia about his current relationship with Barack Obama. When asked if he had had recent contact with Obama, Wright responded; "Them Jews ain't going let him talk to me."

"Them Jews ain't going to let him talk to me .... He's got to do what politicians do. And the Jewish vote, the AIPAC vote that's controlling him, that will not let him send representation to the Darfur Review Conference, that's talking this craziness on Israel because they're Zionists, they will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is. Ethnic cleansing is going on in Gaza—the ethnic cleansing of the Zionists is a sin and a crime against humanity."

Leaving aside what a despicable character this sorry excuse for a man of God is, how many members of the elite media have asked President Obama about his reaction to Wright's words? Or is that simply old news that was addressed during the election? Note how Wright goes from the "Jews" who are keeping him and Obama apart to the Israel-Gaza-Zionism issue. Is this another example of how anti-Zionism is a thinly-veiled veneer for anti-Jew hatred? Is this another example of the "new anti-Semitism", an off-shoot of the opposition to Israel that spills over into condemnation of American Jews-simply for being Jews? In my view-yes.

Why is it that some forms of hate are block-buster news stories while other forms of hate "have no legs" as they say in the news business? Is it becoming acceptable once again to utter anti-Semitic words and talk about how the "Jews control America-control the world"?

Jeremiah Wright is a bitter old man who makes a mockery of his religion, a religion which I share. He is a disgrace, and his long relationship with President Obama should never cease to be an issue for public discussion.

Lakers Win-Fans Riot

Looted shoe store















Even though I was born and raised in LA, I have always rooted against the LA teams. I guess it was my way of being a rebel. The history of the Lakers in recent years convinces me that as a town, LA does not deserve a winner. Four times in recent years, the Lakers have won the NBA title. And four times, fans have spoiled the victory by getting out of hand to one extent or another outside the Staples Center. Last night was another full-scale riot as the usual suspects further tarnished the already faded image of a once-great city. I was hoping the Orlando Magic would win, partially to avoid what has now become automatic following a Laker championship.

During the melee, officers were hit with rocks, police and civilian cars were attacked, fires were set, a bus was smashed and stores were looted. One shoe store lost almost its entire 150,000 dollar inventory. Store owner Richard Torres told reporters he rushed to the store when he heard of the riot but to no avail. As of this writing, approximately 18 hooligans have been arrested. Eight officers were injured, six of whom required hospital treatment.

Almost as shameful was watching the local LA news reports this morning, which treated the riot in a cavalier manner. The only thing that mattered was that their Lakers won. One bubblehead blonde anchor, wearing a Laker t-shirt, chided the on-scene reporter who described the riot as wearing a "puke-green" tie. Others described the up-coming victory parade, which will cost the city about a million bucks, by telling us that "LA deserves it". It was almost as bad as the first riot when sports talk jock Vic "the Jerk" Jacobs* pooh-poohed it by comparing it to the "real riots" he remembered from New York then went on to praise the Laker fans.

(* I am referring to Vic "The Brick" Jacobs, an obnoxious, loudmouth sports commentator given to fur coats and teen-age street jargon. Notice that I have cleaned up the sobriquet I have given him. Usually I refer to him by a nickname that rhymes with "brick".)

At any rate, LAPD Chief (and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stooge) Willam Bratton promises more arrests since they have excellent photos and video of the "knuckleheads and thugs", as Chief Bratton calls them. Of course, he will probably soften his language when it turns out that many if not most of the offenders are illegal alien street gang members. If so, one wonders if the police will notify ICE of the arrests. Probably not, and Chief Bratton will probably tell the public that if they don't like it, they can leave the city (as he has previously stated). I wonder if Chief Bratton would like to repeat that to Mr Torres-or to his eight injured officers.

Fousesquawk-The Official Blogger of Champions

Yes, it's been a great year for Fousesquawk's favorite teams. Behold:



2009 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins




2009 Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers




University of North Carolina Tar Heels
2009 NCAA basketball champions



However........

More Thoughts on the Holocaust Shooting

US Holocaust Museum, Washington DC


The shooting at the Holocaust Museum, combined with the shootings in Arkansas and Kansas, have continued to spur a public discussion on the motives of the shooters and their political implications. Many pundits on the left have continued to use the Tiller murder and the murder at the Holocaust Museum as a basis to attack "right-wingers" and conservative commentators for "inciting hate", while ignoring the murder of a soldier at a US Army recruiting office by a Muslim convert, who has publicly stated that he acted out of religious motives. One of my readers has asked how I would have reacted if the Holocaust Museum shooter had been a Muslim instead of the actual shooter, one James van Brunn, who is being portrayed as a right-wing white supremacist and anti-Semite. Fair enough question, but it should be pointed out that van Brunn apparently had a collection of "enemies" that were spread across the political spectrum.

To begin with, I have condemned all three shootings. None can be justified even though I believed that Dr George Tiller was a monster. His murder was not justified, nor does it, in my view, incriminate abortion opponents as a whole. To suggest that even a sizable minority of anti-abortion activists advocate abortion clinic bombings and the murder of abortion doctors is outrageous. The accused shooter is nothing more than a misguided extremist who should have kept his anti-abortion activities confined to working within the legal and political system to change the laws.

Now to Mr van Brunn. As the investigation unfolds, it appears that this individual is, in fact, a white supremacist and anti-Semite. Yet, it appears that one of his other possible targets may have been the conservative journal, Weekly Standard, whose offices were visited by FBI agents in the days following the shooting inquiring if they had received any threats. It appears this individual had imagined enemies across the political spectrum, and that he cannot be so easily pigeon-holed into the conservative bracket as some, like Keith Olbermann, would suggest. Olbermann has even gone so far as to suggest that the deaths of Dr Tiller and Holocaust Museum security guard Stephen Johns have validated the report by the Dept. of Homeland Security regarding "right-wing hate groups". (Mr Olbermann, of course, conveniently leaves the whole Arkansas shooting out of the equation.)

The lesson of the Holocaust Museum shooting is not that anti-Semitism is in sole possession of the right, as Olbermann would have us believe. Far from it. As Professor Jack Levin of Northeastern University reminded Olbermann on "Countdown" last week, there is more anti-Semitism emanating today from the left. This is what Levin and others describe as the "new anti-Semitism" embraced by the left locked in an embrace with the pro-Palestinian forces as a result of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. I would stress that the left to which Mr Levin refers can be found mainly on our university campuses, where radical Muslim Student Associations have found a ready ally in academia.

This is not to deny the existence of extremists such as the various militias and the likes of Timothy McVeigh and Neo-Nazi skinheads. They are out there, and they must be closely monitored just as any other group or individual determined to advance their cause(s) from outside the established system.

But I have yet to address my reader's question as to my response had the Washington shooter been a Muslim. Obviously, that would have buttressed my belief that extremist Muslims tend to hold anti-Jewish attitudes. Yes, I would have added this to a host of other anti-Semitic incidents committed and inflammatory words uttered in the name of (radical) Islam. However, I would not have condemned all Muslims for the act, and surely, I would know that decent and responsible Muslims would have condemned the action. But it was not committed by a Muslim, thank God.

That, I think, leads to what I consider the only sensible conclusion to be drawn from the three murders: First, that they were committed by three deranged individuals, whose acts cannot be condoned; second, that their actions should not serve to drag in and implicate every other person or group that could possibly be linked to the primary motive, such as religion, stance on abortion, or where they stand on the right-left political spectrum. Finally, we should all stand together on these incidents and use not them (or ignore) them in the name of our ideological positions. All three incidents go to show that we have a cancer in our society (or multiple cancers) and that we need to work together to eradicate it.

The Shooting at the Holocaust Museum

From what we know so far, the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in Washington that left a security guard dead was carried out by an 88-year-old anti-Semitic, white supremacist with a history of crazy activism. Now, just in the past 2 weeks, we have had three fatal shootings carried out for different reasons (Washington, Arkansas and Kansas). Already, the left is painting these shootings (at least two of them) according to their agenda.

Last night, Keith Olbermann described the shootings in Washington and Kansas (George Tiller) to fit neatly into his little left-wing template. That template contains two shootings by "right-wing" radicals/terrorists. Olbermann completely left out the killing of an army private in Arkansas by a Muslim convert because that didn't fit into his template at all. Thus, in Olbermann's world, there were only two shootings of note.

But it was the shooting at the Holocaust Museum that led Keith to bring up the report done by the Department of Homeland Security warning about "dangerous right-wing extremists" and returning war vets that led to an apology from Director Janet Napolitano. During Keith's interview with Northeastern University professor Jack Levin, he started talking about right-wing anti-Semites when Levin corrected him by mentioning the "new anti-Semitism" coming from the left over the issue of Israel/Palestine-something that I write about often.

What happened at the Holocaust Museum was a terrible act carried out by a despicable racist and anti-Semite. It is not typical of conservatives in any way. It should be condemned on its own merits just as the other two shootings should be. To use this incident as an excuse to attack the right is outrageous. Last night, Olbermann exposed himself as a man with an agenda, who will pick two out the three recent attacks that fit into that agenda while leaving out the one which does not.

The Attacks on Sarah Palin

It is true that those in the political arena have to accept the attacks from their opponents. Yet, one has to wonder about the vicious nature of the continuing attacks on Sarah Palin from the left. She has, admittedly kept herself in the public spotlight, so I suppose in that respect, she is fair game. Yet, the reasons why they refuse to let up on the former vice-presidential nominee are fairly obvious. For one thing, she is viewed as a contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. The other reasons are that she is a pro-life and pro-gun female. Add those factors together, and she is one that must be destroyed-not only by the Democrats-but by the news media as well. It is fascinating to watch the news pundits like Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann obsess with Palin. But what David Letterman pulled the other night on his show was downright disgusting.

This week, Palin came to New York for a charity appearance. During her stay, she attended a Yankee game with her 14-year-old daughter. Letterman, in his so-called comedy routine, likened Palin's wardrobe to that of a "slutty airline stewardess". He also cracked a joke about Palin's attendance at the ball game by making reference to Alex Rodriguez ("A-Rod") knocking up her daughter during the 7th inning stretch.

Even Keith Olbermann called his comments over the top (while expressing his love and admiration for Letterman).

Letterman, for his part, issued a statement that might be construed as a half-apology, explaining that he was not referring to the 14-year-old daughter, rather to Bristol Palin, who was 17 at the time of her well-publicized pregnancy. He then issued a light-hearted invitation to Palin to appear on his show as a guest (which she hopefully will decline).

Of course, the age-old question begs, what if a conservative comedian (what few there are) made a similar joke about a liberal female politician? The other question that comes to mind....

Where are all the feminists?

Of course, you won't hear much from them unless public exposure forces them to issue a formal statement of .....uh...,disapproval. That's because with groups like N.O.W., it's really all about liberal Democratic politics.

As for David Letterman (who I don't think is funny at all), he should issue a sincere public apology to the Palin family. Making sexist jokes about teen-age daughters of rival politicians is out of bounds. The young daughters of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have been left alone by all but a handful of opposition commentators -as they should have. David Letterman is not only a very unfunny comedian...

he is a jerk.

Here He Is-The "Pay Czar"

"You're making too much money, Fousesquawk"

Oh, his name? Kenneth Feinberg. Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, if you please. Cute, huh?

Just another one of those new jobs "created" by Obama and his faithful sidekick Joe Biden. This is the guy who will determine if corporate execs are making too much money.

"Power to the people!!"

Trader Joes Not Giving in to Anti-Israel Boycott

I recently posted a notice that a leftist anti-Israel group, South Bay Mobilization of San Jose, California was organizing an effort to force Trader Joes to remove Israeli items from its shelves. Here is an update:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From my contact:

"According to Bob Zeidman and Jonathan Bernstein of the Anti-Defamtion League (ADL), the word from Trader Joe's corporate headquarters is that the company has no intention of boycotting Israeli products. Here is the response that the ADL received from Jon Basalone, Senior VP, Marketing, Trader Joes:

“We have received a few letters like this via our customer relations email as well. Our response is that we sell products, and do not use our products as political tools or to make any statements about any political causes. We have no intention of removing any products based on pressure from any group, no matter what they support or don’t support. As always, we believe our customers are smart, and they are capable of making decisions about what they purchase. Let me know if you have any more questions or need more information.”


Jonathan Bernstein added: "There is another email rumor circulating around about Trader Joes supporting KPFK radio in Los Angeles (a far-left channel)which is apparently false. I think they are eager to set the record straight before these things get out of control. They sent us a note about this matter as well."


Although it seems that TJ's will ignore the SBM's letter requesting a boycott, there's still the threat of SBM's "follow-up action" in local Bay Area TJ's on June 20th, which could spook local customers and managers. Unfortunately June 20th is a Saturday, so I won't suggest a counter-action on that day, but perhaps people can give their local TJ's manager a heads-up of what might happen in the store on that day.


And of course it still couldn't hurt to buy Israeli products at your local TJ's and to encourage the managers to buy even more, like Israeli wines."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fousesquawk comment: It seems to be a pattern that all the anti-Israel events are scheduled on the Jewish sabbath (Saturday), probably to limit a Jewish turn-out to counter protest. I'll make it a point to do my wine run at Trader Joes in Orange County to see if the loons are trying to do their disruption thing.

Joe Biden's World

"It's about pace on the ball, Mr President!!"

I nearly rolled out of bed laughing last night watching the White House press briefing on C-Span by Obama and Biden regarding the "great successes" of the Stimulus Package. First, there was Joe reading from a prepared statement fashioned as a progress report to the President.

Remember those 345,000 jobs that were lost in May? Forget that. Biden now informs us that (thanks to Obama) we have "created or saved" 150,000 jobs in the first hundred days of the Obama presidency.




(That is based on some macro-economic formula probably figured out by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner on his Turbo Tax software.) Actually it means that even more jobs had been expected to be lost. Jobs created? Government jobs, of course to handle all the administrative tasks needed.


By this logic, we can throw out the 15-40 record of the Washington Nationals. They have "saved" 15 games that would otherwise have been lost, right Joe? And according to Joe Biden, "It's all about pace on the ball, Mr President." That means there will be more jobs created or saved in the next 100 days.

Which means the Washington Nationals figure to "save" another 30 games in the next hundred days. Projected final record? 45 games "saved", 117 "not saved".

Joe even threw out anecdotal evidence for his claims, referring to some transformer plant in "Missoura" (yes, he called it "Missoura") which he had recently visited for some unknown reason, and where somebody, thank God, had a job.

Of course, it was all for the benefit of the adoring press as Biden read off this long-winded "white paper" punctuated with about 50 references to "Mr President" as Obama sat there impatiently waiting for his vice-president to finish and wondering what in the hell Biden was talking about.

"It's all about pace on the ball", which is Biden's chief line this week.

"What we're talking about here is putting some pace on the ball here, Mr. President... Every hundred days, if we're doing this right, Mr. President, should produce more than the last 100 days," he said. "By the fall I think we're going to be much further along the road to recovery." The spending would create or save 600,000 jobs over the next 100 days, according to Joe, on top of the 150,000 jobs the White House said were "created" or "saved" in the first 100 days. Among the items on the "roadmap" for the next 100 days are 1,500 highway projects, work at 20 Superfund sites and 200 wastewater treatment projects, as well as grants for doctors and nurses in underserved areas.




Finally, Obama thanked Joe for his "leadership", announced that he was not satisfied, and, after a few more remarks kicked the press out so he and his cabinet could speak frankly about how bad things really are.

But there is some good news; The manager of the Washington Nationals still has his job-"saved" by the stimulus plan-at least for another hundred days.


Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta "saving" one of his pitchers (who apparently didn't have good enough pace on the ball)

Trader Joe's Under Leftist Assault Over Israel

I received this message from a colleague alerting me to the fact that Trader Joe's, a well-known market for imported foods and wines, is now under pressure to stop selling products made in Israel (like Israeli cous cous, for example). This effort is being launched by South Bay Mobilization, a leftist, activist anti-Israel bunch in San Jose, California. In addition to its letter to Trader Joe's asking them not to sell Israeli products, this bunch is asking its members to actually go into local Trader Joe's stores on June 20, which if you did not know, is "World Refugee Day" and "Day to de-shelve Israeli products". It appears they will do what French activists have been doing, filling their shopping carts with Israeli products (with great fanfare) then leaving them in the aisle. Neat, huh? Basically, they conduct themselves like vandals.

There is a letter below written by the Jewish advocacy group, Stand With Us that you can send Trader Joe's if you wish to counter the correspondence sent by SBM. At any rate, you might consider buying some Israeli products next time you go to Trader Joe's. I know I will.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,


I have received some excellent ideas about how to approach the South Bay Mobilization's call for TJ's to boycott Israeli products. Here are some practical suggestions from two correspondents:


1) "I would suggest calling Trader Joe's, getting a contact and sending them that YouTube. What occurred in France is bound to be illegal because it jeopardizes Traders Joe's inventory and borders on vandalism. I would also encourage as many of us-Israel supporters to go into Trader Joes throughout the day [on June 20th] and if we have t-shirts that are supportive of Israel-wear them, go in there and BUY what they sell from Israel (I know they have goat cheese and frozen herbs ). Also, ask for Israeli wines (I hope they may soon stock them)."


2) "I suggest a counter letter writing campaign to Trader Joe's in support of continued selling of Israeli goods. In the letter, we would refute the bogus arguments. Other points could be that Trader Joe's has alot of Jewish customers who greatly appreciate the large number of kosher products. All products from Israel are kosher ( to the best of my knowledge) and boycotting Israeli products is not anti-Israeli but rather anti-Jewish."


If you should want to contact TJ's corporate headquarters, here is their info (I think the email addresses are correct, but I'm not sure):


Don Bane, Chairman and CEO (dbane@traderjoes.com)
Doug Rauch, President (drauch@traderjoes.com)
Charles J. Pilliter, SVP Operations (cpilliter@traderjoes.com)
Trader Joe’s Main Headquarters
800 S. Shamrock Ave.
Monrovia , CA 91016
phone: 626-599-3700 (customer service is extension 3035)
fax: 626-301-4431


Below is an open letter to Trader Joe's that Stand With Us posted today on its website.


http://www.standwithus.com/app/iNews/view_printer.asp?ID=1062


AN OPEN LETTER TO TRADER JOES
Filed under Israel, Boycott on 6/7/2009.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


We have just read a copy of the letter that you are about to receive from the South Bay Mobilization group, which encourages you to isolate Israel and punish it for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Unfortunately, you are the new target of anti-Israel activist groups, who continue a propaganda campaign against Israel and distort facts to persuade merchants and others to boycott Israel. Such policies echo those that Arab countries have had since well before Israel's rebirth in 1948, and they also encourage and strengthen extremists who continue to undermine the peace process.

We note that the letter is a one-sided and self-serving view of the conflict. For example, there is nothing that describes the relentless terrorism coming from the variety of radical Palestinian groups surrounding Israel, including Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah, and fundamentalist groups like Islamic Jihad. We notice that their letter does not refer to Hamas, whose founding document calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel and which has caused the major problems for those who dream of peace in the region.

Also not mentioned in the letter, is the fact that Israel is only the size of New Jersey, and the terrorist groups surround it and continue to launch rockets from Gaza into Israel while calling for the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish people (check their founding documents, you can find them online).

What is mentioned in their letter is historically inaccurate, including issues about "stealing Palestinian land" and the building of the "segregation wall." It’s important to note that Jews have been in the region for over 3,000 years – all the archeology points to this fact – and the Palestinian Arabs never had a country in the region. While there are Palestinians who dream of peace and a better life for their children, the Palestinian leadership has never agreed to compromises that would have created two states, and they have tried to destroy Israel instead. Simply put, any negotiations that Israel has with the Palestinians will result in the creation of a new Palestinian/Arab state, not a reconstitution of a former entity. It is also important to note that the "segregation wall" is simply a security fence, which was built in response to the campaign of suicide bombings and terrorism launched by Palestinian leadership in 2000. The fence has helped reduce suicide bombings by almost 100 percent.

While Israel certainly is not perfect, no amount of propaganda can convince well-informed people that Israel is arbitrarily attacking its neighbors for sport.

We have always loved shopping at Trader Joes because you clearly have not allowed yourselves to be censored by political prejudice but rather offer an array of products that reflect the various tastes of your patrons. We salute you for standing clear of political pressure and maintaining your integrity and neutrality.

Thank you,

The Board and Staff of StandWithUs

Fousesquawk's Top 10 Hit List

I've been listening to music a long time and here are my top ten favorites. With the exception of one national anthem, they are all in the English-language. The national anthem I admit is a strange selection, but it is too beautiful to leave out.


Number 10-"Stardust" by Billy Ward and his Dominos Late 1950s rendition of a classic song. This was by far the best rendition.


Number 9- "One Night " by Elvis Presley Gotta have one by Elvis, and this was my favorite.


Number 8- "The Soviet National Anthem" by the Red Army Choir Evil empire, dopey propagandistic lyrics, but in terms of melody, simply the most beautiful national anthem of all.


Number 7-"Mexico" by Bob Moore A late 1950s musical rendition of a Mexican traditional composition by country artist Bob Moore. Heck'uv a job by a country band capturing the Mexican sound. The video also captures the rich culture that is Mexico.


Number 6-"In the Still of the Night" by the 5 Satins- From the
1950s, still one of the top selling songs of all time.


Number 5- "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison. Not his biggest, but certainly his best.


Number 4-"Mississippi" by Pussycat-This English-language country song by the great Dutch group of the 1970s never made a splash in the US, but was number one in the UK as well as being a huge hit in Europe and Australia. I listened to it in the 1970s in Bangkok. Pussycat was considered The Netherlands' equivalent of Abba.


Number 3-"Alone at Last" by Jackie Wilson- released in the 1950s by the late great Jackie Wilson, was noticeably different from his usual "Mr Excitement" rock sounds. Certainly not his biggest hit, but his greatest work.


Number 2-"Over the Mountain (Across the Sea)" by Johnnie and Joe- 1957 classic from the greatest era of rock n roll.


Number 1-"Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers (actually by Bobby Hatfield) released in 1965, this was hardly their biggest hit for some strange reason, yet became a classic in the late 1980s with the movie "Ghostbusters".

George Galloway's Greatest Hits

Below is a video of George Galloway acting like a pussy cat on a British reality show that made him look like a joke. (I guess that's why they call it "reality TV".)

What follows is his appearance at UC-Irvine on May 21 when he called me a liar for reciting incidents in the US whereby pro-Palestinian demonstrators made anti-Semitic statements. Of course, he had the audience on his side on May 21 when he had a hall full of some 700 anti-Israel folks who cheered his statements as if they were at a soccer game.

At any rate, enjoy the montage. This is a member of British Parliament in action.

(As they say in Britain, "God save the Queen".)







"Now now, Georgie, we won't let that nasty old Fousesquawk take your milk away, will we?"

Video of Cynthia McKinney at UC Irvine Blaming AIPAC for her Defeat

Above is a 7 1/2 minute video of Cynthia McKinney's appearance at UC-Irvine on May 13, 2009 sponsored by the campus Muslim Student Union (MSU). Five minutes into the tape, she takes a question from me (off camera to her right) asking her about anti-semitic statements made by her father and members of her New Black Party bodyguards, specifically Hashim Nzinga, that blamed Jews for her electoral defeats. My question (which is of low audible quality on the video), specifically asks her if she blamed Jews for her defeat. In her long and rambling answer, she mentioned AIPAC (America Israel Public Affairs Committee) as one of the factors in her defeat. She also quotes a report done by former Congressman Gus Savage (an odious little race baiter) which complained about AIPAC.

But enough about Gus Savage (who isn't worth the print). Here below is what my question was based on:



Cynthia McKinney's appearance at UC Irvine was an embarrassment to the university and the Muslim Student Union. She is just another radical and hateful figure who the MSU has dragged onto the UCI campus to push their radical and hateful message. Of course, it all rests on the alter of free speech, but it is still worthwhile to expose it to the public for what it is.

Will Justice Investigate George Galloway and Viva Palestina?

George Galloway




Attorney General Eric Holder


"Rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That's why I'm committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat,"

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/06/05/2009-06-05_obama_gives_a_little_to_muslim_charities.html#ixzz0HgpCJJTK&C

Tucked away in President Obama's speech in Cairo this week was the above reference to American Muslim charities, which have come under scrutiny from time to time. It also comes on the heels of the sentencing of leaders of the Holy Land Foundation to lengthy prison terms as a result of the diversion of charitable funds to terrorist organizations.

So it appears that under Obama and the Holder Justice Department, there will be a relaxation in government scrutiny into the activities of Muslim charities and where the money contributed winds up. This is unfortunate in my view because we are witnessing presently a fundraising drive (Viva Palestina) in North America directed to Gaza (which is governed by Hamas-designated as a terror organization by the US). This drive is being led by British MP George Galloway. I was present during a May 21 appearance at the University of California at Irvine, in which Galloway passed a box around for money to be dropped in for Gaza. This very fundraiser (Viva Palestina) is the subject of a letter from the Anti-Defamation League to Attorney General Eric Holder asking the Justice Department to investigate this drive for any possible violation of US laws. Will Holder order an investigation? In light of Obama's statement in Cairo, that would seem to be in doubt.

No one wants to cut off legitimate charitable contributions by Muslims in America and no one wants to cut off genuine life-sustaining supplies to Gazans in light of their current difficulty. However, if cash collected by Galloway in the US is going into the hands of Hamas, that is a different story. If there are other Holy Land Foundations out there, that must be monitored. Hopefully, the Department of Justice will give the necessary scrutiny to Viva Palestina's fundraising drive in the US to ensure compliance with US laws.

Southern California Mosque Defaced

From Orange County Register



Early Thursday morning, someone spray painted anti-Muslim graffiti on an Islamic center in Cypress in Orange County, California. As yet, the perpetrators are unknown and the incident is being investigated by the police. (A report is also up on the website of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-CAIR). After some thought, I have decided to post my own comment on this incident since I received an anonymous and ugly comment on this blog in connection with the event.

I was not aware of the incident until yesterday morning when I received this comment (I am redacting part of it for obvious reasons. The comment was rejected though I did issue a reply which is contained in the comments section of the posting on the Anti-Defamation League letter to the Attorney General.)

"Mr Fouse;

Was it you who desecrated the Islamic Center of Cypress the other night?

Did you do this on behalf of.....Jewish.....(name redacted- In other words, did I do this on behalf of a Jewish individual whose name I have omitted-who, as far as I know, is not even Jewish.)

Allah Akbar"

(Anonymous)

As I think more about this message, I am at a loss as to who sent it. (Rest assured, I have referred this to the proper people.) Is it an actual anti-Semite? Is there any significance to the English transcription "Allah Akbar" instead of "Allahu Akbar"? In other words, is it possible that the person sending it was masquerading as a Muslim? At this point, who knows? If I accept it at face value, it indicates an anti-Semitic undertone which goes beyond mere "anti-Zionism" and which would be despicable. If it was written by someone trying to discredit Muslims, that would also be despicable. In this on-going controversy, which has spilled onto our shores from the Middle East conflict, any manufactured expression of hate is a disservice to all of us just as are actual expressions of hate.

As for what happened in Cypress, I can only hope that whoever committed the act will be identified and prosecuted. In the wake of the murder of late-term abortion doctor George Tiller in Kansas this past week, it should also serve as a reminder to us that in standing up to radical/militant Islam (whatever you want to call it) and pointing out anti-Semitic undertones when we see them, we have to insure that our words do not inflame or could lead to any action against innocent people. I have stated in a previous posting that the actions of the man accused of killing Tiller were indefensible but not to be blamed on the overwhelming majority of abortion foes. Similarly, I am comfortable that I have avoided painting all Muslims with the radical brush. I know what I have said, just as I know what I have not said. In standing up for what we feel is right, we need to appeal to the overall Muslim community to stand with us against terror. Spray painting mosques is not the way to accomplish that.

Random Shots in the Dark (15)

What is going on over there in France? How reassuring that the West is such good hands when they can't even put the 65th anniversary of D-Day together. First, Obama turns down a dinner invitation from French President Carla Bruni and her husband, Nicholas Sarkozy-over something Sarkozy said about Obama not being experienced, now we learn that the French neglected to invite Queen Elizabeth to the ceremonies. What do the French think they landed themselves at Normandy? No wonder the Brits hate the French. But never fear. None other than Prince Charles will represent the Brits at D-Day. When you think of it, that's the perfect diplomatic snub. I wonder if anyone in uniform will actually be there or just a bunch of suits who never spent a day in the military. And no, those Sgt Pepper uniforms that Prince Charles wears don't count.

"Wanna see my sharp shooter medal?"

I can only imagine how the striped-pants boys at the State Department are trying to spin this imbroglio about Obama and Sarkozy. (I still think Obama should fire his secretary of state.)

Yeah, you.


I read in the news today that Angelo Mazilo, ex-CEO of Countrywide and friend of Chris Dodd, has been indicted. I hope the feds cut a deal with him so we can find out who the "Friends of Angelo" really are if and when Angelo starts singing.

"Countrywide is on your side."



Exclusive Fousesquawk booking photos
"Call my friend, Chris."


Speaking of "friends of shady characters", now we learn that John Murtha's pal and benefactor, William Kuchera, who has raked in millions in defense contracts courtesy of Big John, has a prison record for drug dealing.

(I'm still working on those old mug shots of Kuchera.)

I love how the mainstream news media spun Barack and Michelle's date in New York. My, how romantic. How do you think they would have reported it if George W Bush had flown up to New York to treat Laura to a nice dinner and show?

But why not when you can leave Joe Biden in charge in Washington? Today, there is a video of Joe giving a briefing to some group of gullible fools about the job situation. Check out this spin: In May, the US lost 345,000 jobs and unemployment is now 9.4%. But wait! According to Joe, experts had previously predicted that we would lose 500,000 jobs in May. Therefore, according to Biden-world, the measures that their administration have put into effect....

ARE WORKING!!!

"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful-ah"

Speaking of spin, have you seen the new GM ads?

"We're alive!!!!"


And now, the California Report......

Actually, there is no more California. We're bankrupt. In fact....

We're dead!!!!

Letter From Anti-Defamation League to Attorney General

Attorney General Eric Holder


Below is a copy of a letter from Michael A. Salberg of the Anti-Defamation League to Attorney General Eric Holder. It concerns British MP George Galloway's Viva Palestina drive to gather money and supplies for Gaza. While I am not qualified to comment on the details contained in Mr Salberg's letter, I can state as an eyewitness that on May 21, Galloway spoke at UC-Irvine and that during his appearance, boxes were passed around to receive cash contributions from the audience. It seems logical to me that the Justice Department check into this matter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


May 14, 2009


The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General of the United States
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Holder:

We are writing to bring to your attention our concerns about the US-based organization Viva Palestina US and to urge the Justice Department to investigate reports of fundraising by th is organization for the purpose of providing material support to Hamas.

Viva Palestina US is being promoted by British Member of Parliament, George Galloway, who led a March 9, 2009 convoy of trucks loaded with supplies which were delivered to Hamas in Gaza together with a substantial amount of cash.

According to reports, the initial “Viva Palestina” effort raised in excess of one million British pounds and included 100 vehicles presented to Hamas authorities. At a press conference in Gaza announcing the donations, Galloway openly stated: “We are giving you now 100 vehicles and all of their contents, and we make no apology for what I am about to say. We are giving them to the elected government of Palestine.” Galloway also is reported to have personally donated three cars and ₤25,000 to Hamas, met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and indicated that he was given a Palestinian passport. A March 24, 2009, article in the Guardian UK reported that the UK Charity Commission is currently investigating Viva Palestina. Viva Palestina’s Facebook group page confirms that its bank accounts have been frozen.

During a recent US speaking tour, George Galloway urged American activists to organize a Viva Palestina convoy of their own. On the last stop of his tour in Anaheim on April 7, 2009, Galloway announced that plans for a Viva Palestina US convoy were underway. There, he reportedly encouraged his audience to contribute to Viva Palestina US to enlarge the original effort, stating for example:

It’s very easy for you. If I can raise 2 million you can raise 10 million. If I can raise 110 vehicles you can raise 500 vehicles. 500 trucks flying American flags would be quite a site going into Gaza.

The Viva Palestina US convoy is set to travel to Egypt on July 4, 2009, to purchase materials and to enter Gaza on July 7. According to their web site, organizers hope to bring 500 vehicles and $10 million to Gaza.

In furtherance of this activity, Viva Palestina US announced today on its website that the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (“IFCO”), a New York-based organization seeking “to advance the struggles of oppressed people for justice and self-determination,” is acting as Viva Palestina US’s “tax free fiscal agent” and that checks should be made payable to “IFCO – Viva Palestina.”

Notably, Mr. Galloway was scheduled to make several stops in Canada during this trip to North America but was denied entry on the grounds that he had provided material support to Hamas. Mr. Galloway is now scheduled to speak at a number of locations in the United States beginning May 17, 2009, and we expect that he will use these engagements to urge contributions to Viva Palestina US.

For your reference, we have attached a list of Mr. Galloway’s planned speaking engag ements, as well as other information relating to Viva Palestina US in the United States.

We know the Department of Justice takes seriously its role to prevent the United States from being used as a base for fundraising and support for designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and we urge you to promptly pursue this matter.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with any additional information.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Salberg
Director, International Affairs
Anti-Defamation League

The President's Speech in Cairo

To my surprise, I received this email from the office of White House Counsel David Axelrod today:

"Hello -

As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.

The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it:

Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities.

We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time."

Thank you,
David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President

I assume this message went out to thousands of bloggers on both sides of the political spectrum, but I am grateful for the chance to watch the entire 55-minute speech, which is without doubt an important event. Here it is:




I was awaiting this speech with a great deal of trepidation because I was concerned that it would be another step in Obama's so-called "apology tour", in which he goes to foreign audiences and recites past American mistakes without duly crediting the great contributions we have made toward making the world a better place. After viewing the speech in its entirety, I guess Obama did what he intended to do-split it down the middle.

Did he pander to his audience? Of course he did, and they applauded him for it. Did he overstate the Muslim influence in American history and society? Of course. True, he touched most of the bases I wanted him to touch. He spoke out forcefully against "the extremists" (though not mentioning the word terror). He promoted religious tolerance (while describing Islam as a bastion of religious tolerance). He talked of 9-11. He defended the war in Afghanistan (but not Iraq). He spoke of America's commitment to Israel and that country's right to exist while condemning the idea of settlements which he said must be stopped. I wish he had spoken of the positive things America had done for Muslims in Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo and the tsunami-stricken areas of Indonesia and Southern Thailand.

What I found most objectionable were the mea culpas about Iraq (war of choice), Guantanemo Bay and torture (which consisted of water boarding three high-level al-Qaida members after 9-11). He even mentioned Muslims being victimized by colonialism without pointing out that said colonialism was carried out by the Ottoman Empire and Britain and France after World War 1-not the US.

I thought it was telling when the President's remarks were met by applause and when they were not. When he spoke glowingly of Islam and quoted the Koran, there was applause. When he offered support to the Palestinians, there was applause. In contrast, there was no applause when he defended America or spoke out against "extremism"-except when he quoted the Koran's passage about killing one innocent person=killing all of mankind. There was no applause when he spoke of Israel's right to exist or the need for Palestinians to forsake violence. There was applause when he spoke of equal rights for women, but the camera didn't show us who in the audience was applauding-men or women.

The real test will be if this speech even begins initial steps toward an improvement regarding Islamic terrorism, the Israel-Palestinian issue or Muslim relations with the West world. Will this speech moderate the speech coming out of so many mosques and madrasses? Will it expedite a peace between Israel and the Palestinians? I am skeptical. Nevertheless, I give it a higher grade than many conservative pundits, but nowhere near the high marks that are coming from the left.

John Murtha, "Public Servant"

King Pork
"Who dares to question me about earmarks?"



Representative John Murtha is back in the news again, and as usual, for all the bad reasons. Once again, Murtha's earmark and pork activities have come to the fore, this time with the cancelling by the Department of Defense of any and all contracts with Kuchera Defense Systems-a favorite client of the Pennsylvania congressman. In January, Kuchera was the focus of an FBI search warrant as part of a misuse of corporate funds investigation.

What has all this to do with Murtha? Plenty. Murtha has received over $65,000 in campaign contributions from the company led by Bill and Ron Kuchera-even more raised by Kuchera-hosted fundraisers. Coincidentally, Murtha has steered millions in government defense projects their way-14.7 million in the last two years alone.

Murtha at a Kuchera Defense Systems demonstration of their latest robot
"And this robot can even pay money to politicians"


This of course is the same John Murtha who saddled the federal government with a drug intelligence center in his home district of Johnstown, PA-even though they already had one in El Paso. This is the same John Murtha who steered millions to build the John Murtha Aerodrome near Johnstown. This white elephant basically serves John Murtha when he flies back and forth between Washington and Johnstown and hardly anybody else. This is the same Murtha who got caught on tape discussing a bribe from an FBI undercover agent during "Abscam". Now it's Kuchera.

Not that Murtha should be concerned about the controversy swirling around his friends at Kuchera. As he angrily told a nosy reporter a few days ago who dared to ask him about the matter; what's it got to do with him. That's a DOD decision.
Asked about Kuchera’s troubles, Murtha said, "What’s that got to do with me? What do you think, I’m supposed to oversee these companies? That’s not my job. That’s the Defense Department’s job." (This is the guy who chairs the House Defense Appropriations Sub-Committee.)




Where does a congressman like Murtha forget that he is supposed to be a public servant? In Murtha's case, he lost sight of that fact a long time ago. Not only is he brazen, but he gets highly indignant when a reporter simply asks for a comment.

Is this the "culture of corruption" that Nancy Pelosi was always talking about when the Republicans were in charge? Will this finally be the downfall of John Murtha?

Conspiracies? The Shootings in Kansas and Arkansas

Scott Roeder




Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad



Within a day of each other, two shooting incidents have put the news media and the left in America on the spot. Those would be naturally, the killing of late-term abortion doctor George Tiller in Kansas-allegedly by a 51-year-old anti-abortion figure and the shooting at an Army recruiting center in Arkansas-allegedly by a Muslim convert, who it now appears spent time training in Yemen. What are the implications of the two cases? Obviously, they are not connected to each other, yet one case (Tiller) has ignited a firestorm from the left-anxious to prove that anti-abortion activists and other figures like Bill O'Reilly have blood on their hands. On the other hand, if the Tiller case cries out for further investigation into the likelihood of conspiracy (which is reasonable), does the shooting in Arkansas cry out for a look into the wider implications of the shooter's thinking and his possible connections? Will the news media give equal attention to both? Will the media remember Private William Long (the Arkansas victim) nearly as long as it remembers George Tiller? History suggests it will not.

The problem with the Arkansas case is that it would take the left and the news media down a road it is not anxious to travel-an examination of the shooter's motivation, which appears to be religiously inspired. It appears that the suspect, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, formerly Carlos Bledsoe, may have had other targets in mind. The AP is reporting that Muhammad had maps to other military locations in the Southeast, Philadelphia, and New York-including Jewish locations. Ah yes, there's that old bug-a-boo again, just like the case in New Jersey of a couple of weeks back, it appears Jews were also on the hit list. Similarly, what was the suspect doing in Yemen recently? Who was he in contact with? Who taught him what? And who paid for him to go to Yemen in the first place? Who provided him with a false Somali passport, for which he was arrested in Yemen? Hopefully, the Eric Holder Justice Department, aided by a horde of investigative journalists, will dig deep into the issue and leave no stone unturned until it gets to the bottom of this terrible act.

Won't it?

One thing is for sure. DOJ and the MSM will devote every resource imaginable into trying to determine if there is a link between Scott Roeder and such entities as Operation Rescue. Moreover, did Bill O'Reilly's features on Tiller, ("the baby killer") incite Roeder into action? At least people like Keith Olbermann are already convinced beyond a shadow of any possible doubt. Will they show the same determination in digging out the details surrounding Mr Muhammad's motivation and connections?

Similarly, how long do you think the media will run with the Arkansas story? If you judge other similar incidents in recent years, like the attacks at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Seattle or San Francisco, it's hard to be optimistic. The attacks in Seattle (July 2006) and San Francisco (August 2006)were targeted against Jews specifically, yet the stories disappeared from the news pages within a day. If, in fact, Muhammad was arrested in possession of maps to Jewish centers, isn't it in the interest of public safety to broadcast that bit of news and let people know if they are a target?

Part of the reason is the media's extreme reluctance to concentrate on any story that has a Muslim anti-Semitic aspect to it. We all know about the Jihad business, but the press and the left are noticeably unwilling to write about radical Muslims who preach hatred towards or target Jews. Indeed many Muslims will explain that they are not anti-Jewish because Jews are considered "people of the book" who worship the same God. No, it's just "Zionists that they are opposed to."

Indeed, were we to delve deeper into the anti-Semitic aspects of these attacks/conspiracies, we are faced with the proposition that the idea of Jihad goes way beyond fighting perceived injustices committed by America and Israel toward Muslim peoples. It means we would have to go back into the passages of the Quran and the statements of the Prophet Mohammed that refer to Jews in unsettling ways. These are topics that the likes of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow are not likely to spend much time on if any. It is much more to their taste to dwell on the murder of an abortion provider and use it to bash pro-life forces and conservative commentators.

Just a hypothetical here: Suppose Mr Muhammad had killed George Tiller-not for performing abortions- but because he was a Jew (which he was not). What take would the kids at MSNBC put on that story do you think?

I say both incidents are worthy of a deeper investigation to determine if others were involved. In the Tiller case, is there a direct connection to the organized anti-abortion forces? I doubt it, but I have no objection to law enforcement doing the necessary investigation into Scott Roeder's associations. I think a similar investigation is warranted into Muhammad's connections (He was already under FBI investigation prior to the shooting.)If, in fact, American Jews are being targeted by radical Jihadists, that must be brought out for a couple of reasons: First, American Jews need to know if they are in danger of violent attacks. Second, it raises a broader question, which is, why randomly attack innocent American Jews if it's only about "The Zionists"?

I don't think the mainstream news media wants to deal with that question. Sadly, I doubt the current administration does either.

What Will Obama Say in Cairo?

Al Azhar University, Cairo


With President Obama on his way to Cairo to deliver an address labeled as a message to the Muslim world, speculation is rife that this will be yet another "apology" to be issued on behalf of America for all the "wrongs" we have committed.

The speech, which will be given at Cairo's Al Azhar University, has now been preceded by Obama's puzzling statement that Iran is entitled to pursue "nuclear energy", probably a sign that the Obama Administration will stand down from our resistance to Iranian nukes.

So what will Obama say to the Muslim world? Will he remind them of America's long history of foreign aid to poor Muslim nations, such as Indonesia in the wake of the tsunami that hit that nation not so long ago? Will he remind them how America liberated Kuwait-a Muslim nation- from a brutal Iraqi occupation not so long ago? Will he remind them of how America came to the aid of Muslims in Bosnia when they were being besieged by Serbs not so long ago? Will he remind them of how America liberated Afghanistan and Iraq from horrific (Muslim) regimes and gave them the chance to live in freedom? Will he remind them of how Muslims are allowed to worship freely in America while in many Muslim countries, non-Muslims are routinely persecuted and/or outlawed?

Probably not.

What I expect will be apologies for Gitmo (which he says he will close but has not yet done), enhanced interrogations and the war of terror. He will wring his hands about how America has failed to "understand" the Middle East. He will never think of asking anyone for any apologies for 9-11. Whether he will even bother to ask decent, peaceful Muslims to join us in defeating terrorism is doubtful.

What is especially frustrating is that conciliatory talk from Obama will fail to wean over the radicals who hate everything we stand for. On the contrary, it will only demonstrate weakness and a lack of resolve on our part. They are already drawing the obvious conclusions that this president will not seriously fight terror or take hard measures to protect America from future attack. Iran (and North Korea) are free to pursue their nuclear weapons while Israel is on notice that America will now tilt to the Palestinian cause and the Arab world. Far from being grateful or moderating their objectives, they will now push full steam ahead.

That is what I expect Obama to say in Cairo and the effect it will have. If he does, in fact, say those things, it will deepen the suspicion in my mind that this president is not overly proud of his country. It's bad enough if he sends that message to us; it's worse if he sends that message to our enemies-and those who are straddling the fence.

I hope to God I am wrong, but I am not looking forward to this trip.

Let's Play, "Name That Commercial!!"

If you guessed "New Blue Cheer" commercial-you are...

WRONG!

Actually, it's a commercial for the "New GM" (General Motors). That's a new white Cadillac El Dorado with a box of Cheer on its hood.

The George Tiller Murder

At this writing, we are still waiting to learn more details about the murder yesterday of late-term abortion doctor George Tiller in a Wichita church. A suspect is in custody, and that's all we know for sure at this point. Yet, it is easy to assume that the motive was the shooter's desire to take the law into his own hands for Tiller's actions as a notorious late-term abortionist. Whatever the motive, the killing was wrong.

Tiller had achieved nation-wide notoriety for the sheer numbers of late-term abortions he was conducting. He has been highlighted on the Bill O'Reilly TV show on Fox. The former Kansas attorney general had tried unsuccessfully to prosecute Tiller prior to leaving office. Then a new state administraion came into power under Governor (now Secretary of Health and Human Services) Kathleen Sebelius, and all efforts to shut Tiller down ceased. If any physician was a poster boy for anti-abortion activists, George Tiller was that man. At this point, the suspect, Scott Roeder (51), is not known to be a member of any major known anti-abortion organization.

No matter what one thinks of Tiller (and I abhorred what he was doing), there is no justification for one taking the law into one's own hands and becoming Tiller's executioner. Moreover, innocent people could have been killed or injured in the incident, which took place during a church service. Most major anti-abortion groups are distancing themselves from this action as well they should. The anti-abortion argument, whether one agrees or disagrees, is a valid argument, but it can only lose its validity by being connected to acts of murder, bombings or other forms of violence. Frustrating as it may be when the law protects the George Tillers of the world (who were mockingly carrying abortion to new heights), the rule of law must prevail here.

But this should not be the occasion to try and shut down the pro-life argument. Nor is it proper, in my view, to condemn those critics of the doctor such as O'Reilly. Nothing O'Reilly said could be construed as being of an inciting nature. Already the Daily Kos, Huffington Post and other leftists are going after Tiller's critics and laying partial blame for what happened. The fact remnains that for over 30 years, Tiller performed tens of thousands of late-term abortions and made a fortune doing so. Even in death, that record should be one for us to discuss and debate. In my view, what Tiller did for all these years brought shame upon the state of Kansas.

CNN Trying to Find the Missing Riot

We now join Wolf Blitzer and Jack Cafferty in the Situation Room.....

Wolf: "We are still working on that mysterious riot that occurred last week. All we know is that it happened in a European capital with a building that resembles our Supreme Court building in Washington. We now go to Jack Cafferty, who is receiving e-mails from our viewers. Do you have anything for us, Jack?"

Jack: "Not yet, Wolf. All I get is emails from those folks who hate Bush. Here's one:

'I don't know where this riot took place because I never read the blogs. All I know if there was a riot, it had to be Bush's fault.'

"Here's another. "Bush is an %*%$*532@#$%."

Wolf: "Keep on it Jack. We'll break in when we get more details. Hey, why don't we send our European correspondent, Richard Quest to find out where it happened?"

Cafferty: "Uh... last I heard, Richard was on assignment in New York-all tied up-if you know what I mean..."


"Riot? What riot?"