Thursday, July 28, 2016

Why aren't I 100 percent for Hillary?


As pleased as I was by Obama's performance last night (see this post) I still can't get excited about Hillary's candidacy, even though I agree she is experienced, smart, and no more or less corrupt than the typical politician. 

Plus I (largely) support her political hashkofah

So why aren't I all in? 

Am I sexist? 

Should I have been on the side of Pruzansky and Gordimer for all these years?

(Meanwhile I am firmly opposed to the possibility of "President Trump" but I don't attribute that to misandry or fear of the color orange. I attribute it to the fact that he's a buffoon, supported by racists, who all have horrible plans for America.)

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Recapping Kaine and Obama

Tim Kaine is fumbling, unsteady, wearing a too dark blue shirt and sporting a comb over. Plus that tie is gross. Not impressed. Yet.

Update: All of his applause lines are flat. He has the charisma of a wet corn chip. How did this mayonnaise man get elected senator?

Update: Kaine is neither likable nor persuasive. He's not a captivating speaker. On the other hand he's also not a lunatic, con man, or psychopath.

Update: Not even paying attention anymore. Sad! I was really looking forward to some red attack dog meat.

Update: His ending was ok with the name checking but not rousing. He sounded horse and reminds me of someone's nerdy father with that lame Trump impersonation. Next!

Update OBAMA TIME! Over the last eight years I've become a huge fan of his oration skills.  Here we go. Professional communicator par excellence at work.

Update: Of course he's killing it. Excellent diction, rhythm, cadence, timing, language. Like watching Helfgott sing. And by the way this isn't an easy assignment. He's got to simultaneously persuade us that he did an awesome job as president but that there is still more work to do.

Update: Ha! He just ignored that TPP heckler. Didn't even change his facial expression. Ice! Not a thin-skinner.

Update: Obama is on fire. The polish, the confidence, the skill with which he's developing his themes and the mastery of his delivery.

Update: Trump is now getting buried. I wish Obama would talk smack about that orange goon 24/7.

Update: The optimistic pro America parts of this speech have been awesome. So have the pro people parts. The guy comes across as a genuine humanist and and a real patriot

Update: ahhaha the president of the United States just used the word yarmulke in a convention speech. And how he's riffing on the meaning of being an American and I, like everyone in the arena, am absolutely rapt.

Update: Strong powerful ending. Bill Clinton, a wizard in his own right, has a what-did-I-just-see expression on his face. This address was artful, powerful, inspirational and soul stirring. If you don't believe me read the transcript for yourself.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

OMG Has the whole world gone Charedi?

Gotcha! That sneak Michelle Obama almost pulled a fast one on the American people. Luckily, true American hero Bill O'Reilly was able to set the record straight.
Bill O'Reilly reacted to Michelle Obama's big DNC speech tonight by fact-checking what she said about slaves building the White House.
MEDIAITE.COM


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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Horrendous Hasbarah


 Here's what might be the worst example of Hasbarah I've ever seen



Aside from the flip and cavalier tone and the feel-good message at the expense of terrorist victims the logic doesn't add up:

1) Europe didn't just discover terrorism this year. Europe already knows plenty about terrorism, as the following chart indicates:



2) Europe is a big place. Believe it or not, it is possible for European security experts to be firmly focused on stopping terrorists while AT THE SAME TIME other Europeans are putting stickers on products.

3) The meme suggests Europe has been sitting around picking its nails, and allowing terrorists to roam free, despite Israel's concerned warnings. However as the following chart makes clear,  Europol and Interpol are not soft on terror:



Anyway, imagine if "Europe" reacted to the Kiryat Arba attack with something like this:

Europe WARNED Israel about terrorism, but ISRAEL was too busy appropriating PALESTINIAN LAND and BULLDOZING ORCHARDS to listen. SHAME REALLY!

Obscene right? Well this horrendous example of hasbarah is no better

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Trump exposes conservative hypocrites


The right wing conservative hate machine has been out to get Clinton for years because she and her husband are opposed to everything Conservatives held dear. The Clintons honestly and truly believe government can be a force for good and for this heresy they were marked for destruction. The problem is the right's current standard bearer is also a believer in the power of government. He's not a small government conservative who believes in markets. He's an American Mussolini who has vowed to use the power of government to disrupt markets and to impose his ideas on the country. Honest conservatives have realized this and know that they are stuck choosing between a liberal Democrat and a liberal wanna-be strongman. The amusing mystery is why so many so-called principled conservatives aren't seeing this, too. (Answer: because they were never principled.)

Friday, July 22, 2016

In Trump we Trust


What follows is from the Atlantic, and it confirms my suspicion that Republicans are today mostly empty-headed, weak-willed, beta-males with daddy issues.

 
--
‘I Alone Can Fix It’
Breaking with two centuries of political tradition, Donald Trump didn’t ask Americans to place their trust in each other or in God, but rather, in Trump.
Has any American political leader claimed so directly to embody the nation, to speak for it, to be its sole hope for redemption?
In 1968, Richard Nixon spoke of a nation torn apart by crime at home, and by wars abroad. But, he promised, better days were ahead. “Without God's help and your help, we will surely fail; but with God's help and your help, we shall surely succeed.”
In 1980, Ronald Reagan painted a similarly dark picture of a troubled nation, and offered a similar message of redemption. But his acceptance speech called on Americans to work together to solve their problems. “I ask you not simply to ‘Trust me,’” Reagan said, “but to trust your values—our values—and to hold me responsible for living up to them.”
In 2000, George W. Bush called a troubled nation to renewal, and ended with a note of humility. “I know the presidency is an office that turns pride into prayer,” he said, “But I am eager to start on the work ahead.”
In 2016, Donald J. Trump mounted the stage, and told America that the nation is in crisis. That attacks on police and terrorism threaten the American way of life. That the United States suffers from domestic disaster, and international humiliation. That it is full of shuttered factories and crushed communities. That it is beset by “poverty and violence at home” and “war and destruction abroad.”
And he offered them a solution.
I am your voice, said Trump. I alone can fix it. I will restore law and order. He did not appeal to prayer, or to God. He did not ask Americans to measure him against their values, or to hold him responsible for living up to them. He did not ask for their help. He asked them to place their faith in him.
When Trump said, “I am your voice,” the delegates on the convention floor roared their approval.
He broke with two centuries of American political tradition, in which candidates for office—and above all, for the nation’s highest office—acknowledge their fallibility and limitations, asking for the help of their fellow Americans, and of God, to accomplish what they cannot do on their own.
But when Trump said, “I am your voice,” the delegates on the convention floor roared their approval. When he said, “I alone can fix it,” they shouted their approbation. The crowd peppered his speech with chants of “USA!” and “Lock her up!” and “Build the wall!” and “Trump!” It booed on cue, and cheered when prompted. It seemed, in fact, to chafe—eager to turn a made-for-TV speech into an interactive rally, and frustrated by Trump’s determination to stay on script. Not every delegate cheered; some sat stiffly in their seats. But there was no question that the great bulk of the delegates on the floor were united behind Trump—and ready to trust him.
The most striking aspect of his speech wasn’t his delivery, even though his tone often strayed over the line, from emphatic to strident. It wasn’t the specific policies he outlined, long fixtures of his stump speech. It was the extraordinary spectacle of a man standing on a podium, elevated above the surrounding crowd, telling the millions of Americans who were watching that he, alone, could solve their problems.
And the crowd cheered.
Breaking with two centuries of political tradition, the presidential nominee didn’t ask Americans to place their trust in each other or in God, but rather, in him.
THEATLANTIC.COM|BY YONI APPELBAUM
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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Two cheers for Ted


I find it really surprising that normal people, as opposed to GOP delegates, are also criticizing Cruz for failing to bow down and kiss the toes of the man who repeatedly called him "Lyin' Ted" while also suggesting his father murdered JFK. Are you people insane? Was he supposed to disavow everything he said about Trump during the primary? Wouldn't that  make him a real "Lyin' Ted" 

Anyway, exactly what does Cruz owe Trump? Much as I despise Cruz and his Jesus-adoring, I think the world would be a far better place if all of us took a cue from Ted and stopped mindlessly following the leader.

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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Look what the Jews did now


#1 Trump-supporter David Duke says mean Jewish speechwriters are to blame for sabotaging nice Mrs. Trump's speech,. He also says the Jewish media made it look like it was all nice Mrs. Trump's fault.

That's a fun theory, except the speech was written by two guys called Matthew Scully and John McConnell.
Donald Trump's most racist fan has spoken out about the plagiarism mishap in which Mrs. Trump blatantly ripped off a Michelle Obama speech while speaking…
BIPARTISANREPORT.COM|BY BIPARTISAN REPORT


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Tuesday, July 19, 2016

My new great idea


I'm totally asking all the cute women I know if they also would like to teach that mean Mister Trump a lesson by standing around naked while I snap pictures.

Link isn't safe for work
An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Spencer Tunick's "Everything She Says Means Everything."​
ESQUIRE.COM|BY KATE STOREY

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Monday, July 18, 2016

GOP convention - Yawn


Nope, won't be watching the GOP convention tonight. The best and most interesting bits will be available at my convenience on the Internet within minutes. Besides, I prefer to watch my Trump news as filtered through Comedy Central.
While you're here, please enjoy the Ryan selfie featuring His Own Good Self and the entire population of Whitebread, North Dakota.
For some reason Speaker Ryan is claiming that all those white faces belong to GOP Capital Hill Interns, but that's an obvious lie. The GOP is all about Diversity, and Ladders to Opportunity and Looking Just Like America. Surely, they must have at least one black, Hispanic or Asian Intern?



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Why does Cholov Yisroel spoil so quickly

We buy Jewish Milk when convenient. This summer at least three containers have gone bad within 24 hours. Is this because Jews are a) crooks b) careless or c) opposed to the satanic science of refrigerated trucks?



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Not Nice


Someone needs to please tell poor, old Lazer Brody that it makes zero sense to say that 84 people were killed in Nice because 772 years ago someone in Paris was mean to the Jews.

God only holds a grudge for three generations and He directs that grudge at literal descendants not at random strangers who reside within a political entity that coincidentally encompasses some of the same geographic space encompassed by a different political entity over seven centuries ago.

How peaceful the above photo seems of Nice, France. Not anymore - Hashem is calling in His markers... I trod on them in My anger and I trampled them in my wrath...For a day of vengeance is in My heart...
LAZERBRODY.TYPEPAD.COM


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Thursday, July 14, 2016

MIKE PENCE WINS THE TRUMP VP REALITY SHOW.


Ok evangelical Republicans, time to play along and pretend that picking a gaybasher proves Trump is really one of you.

Gov. Mike Pence is dropping his re-election bid in Indiana to become Donald Trump’s running mate.
INDYSTAR.COM|BY JAMES BRIGGS
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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Why I am a non-Zionist


I'm a Zionist, but only in the sense of "liberating Jews from being oppressed by the Gentiles” I think the Zionist mission was swell for places like Czarist Russia and Catholic-crazed places like 19th century France, but isn't really relevant to the post war West. Its a perfectly noble, if dated, political pursuit, but Zionism has no religious value or significance. Also, I detest some of the things that have, purely by accident and quite unfortunately become associated with Zionism, such as jingoism, ethnic supremacy, mistreatment of minorities, and the eroding of the church/state wall, so I don't count myself among them and consider myself a non-Zionist.

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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

YIDDIN not kushin!


Nothing like being lectured by the fake composer of Yiddun on how to infuse your music with spirituality:





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Friday, July 08, 2016

BOO @NYUSJP


This is the sort of weak, shady reasoning and fake dot-connecting that gives liberalism and social justice movements a bad name. 

The fact that some police departments train with the IDF doesn't make the IDF culpable partners in everything cops do. 

Dallas


Of course, there's no justification for the Dallas sniper attacks just like there is no justification for terrorist attacks but to say that the criminals in Dallas acted from pure evil, racism, or whatever, and nothing else, is just a way of avoiding the difficult work of discussing and solving the black community's legitimate grievances. The fact that the Dallas snipers were criminals who committed a despicable act doesn't let us off the hook for police brutality, etc.

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Thursday, July 07, 2016

Yay. New ban!


Bans always work, and this new one is going to work, too. Just like all the bans that came before it. Which is why there isn't a single Orthodox Jew among those of you using the Internet to access this post.

[The rule being announced is no sitting next to someone who has a cell phone. Because Kedooooosha)




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Antisemitic thug harasses worshipers at the Kotel. Tears up Siddur. Police do nothing



As this walking disgrace tore up a siddur at the Western Wall, while also screaming insults at Jewish worshipers, the soldiers, police and bystanders who were standing by did nothing. If this doesn't horrify you, please explain why Jewish thugs should be offered courtesies and protections we never extend to gentile thugs (let alone Arab thugs).
PS: Let's also congratulate the staff of Cross Currents. Their campaign of demonetization and misogynistic slander is beginning to bear violent fruits.

Jewish Settlers, Attacked, Needed Help. A Palestinian Doctor Didn’t Hesitate


I see the New York Times is still trying to hoodwink the gullible into recognizing that Palestinians are actual people. Hahah. Good luck with that New York Times.I go to shul. I talk to people at kiddush. I know the Palestinians  are all brainwashed members of a blood thirsty antisemitic cult that would overthrow all of Western civilization if it weren't for brave Mr. Netanyahu. 

But nice try, New York Times.
Dr. Ali Shroukh’s lifesaving efforts on a West Bank road have been hailed in Israel as inspirational in the face of months of increasing conflict.
NYTIMES.COM|BY DIAA HADID


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Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Tel Aviv mayor links terror attack to Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands


No less a luminary then Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv, believes that the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is one of the underlying sparks of terrorism. I don't see how a thinking person can disagree. While I don't justify or excuse acts of terror, at the same time I can very easily see how someone who grew up under the occupation might choose to resist it violently. (I don't agree with that choice, and I think those who make that choice should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.)

Right-wing Israeli lawmakers will never acknowledge this point, because to acknowledge this point is to recognize their own responsibilities. Convincing yourself that Arab terrorists are evil, brainwashed cartoon villains, who are motivated only by irrational antisemitism and nothing else, is a way of letting yourself off the hook. If you turn Arabs into symbols, and forget that they are people, they and their grievances become easier to ignore. If they are symbols of evil, rather than humans, whatever you do to them is justified.

Instead, perhaps we should take a lesson from our father Jacob. As he waited for Esav, we're told that Jacob was "extremely distressed" over the possibility that he might have to kill someone (Rashi)

Why did the thought of killing distress Jacob? We have the right to defend ourselves, and our family do we not? The answer is this. God has the power to change Esav's heart and turn him back, and Jacob has the power to make peace with his brother. A battle with Esav - even a battle that ended in victory for Jacob-  means that Jacob, as a result of his sins, didn't merit peace and tranquility. It means that Jacob had failed either in his obligations to God, or in his obligations to his brother.

Rather than taking the Netanyahu approach, and writing the Arabs off as irredeemably evil, perhaps we should take the Huldai / Yaakov Avinu approach and look inward, instead of outward. Like Huldai and the patriarch perhaps we should ask ourselves what we have done -to God or to our opponents - to put ourselves in so much danger.

"We are the only ones in the world with another people living among us under…
WASHINGTONPOST.COM|BY ISHAAN THAROOR

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Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Gorillas and girls.



Um... "sleeping gorilla in his sleep"?

Anyway, let's fisk the rest of this dumb tweet.

#1: The whole world actually was outraged over the murder of the 13 year old girl. I mean those who knew about it. 

 #2: Only a very small subset of the global population knew about the stupid gorilla, and of those who did know about it,  most were on the side of the zoo and agreed it was right to shoot it.

#3: People are killed by terrorists and other types of criminals virtually every day. In what way does "Ari Yoblak" demonstrate his consistent, daily, ongoing outrage over those events? 

And if Ari reserves his outrage only for unique case that touch him personally, why can't gorilla lovers do that, too?

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