9th October 2009
President Obama has won Nobel Peace for 2009, for giving the world "hope for a better future", we give the President our best wishes and heartiest congratulations. President Barack Obama has been rated as the finest Statesman the world has seen, in the recent years by leading political analysts. His economic policies has seen, the US economy as well as the world economy cool down, from the free fall it has been witnessing. President Obama's climate change initiatives will be creating more job oppurtunity, than any industrial or green revolutions has created so far.
Lets also seek in earnest, pursual of Ethical Governance, i.e Ethics based policymaking and management that addreses performance issues, in business, government, politics, international relations, health care and beyond. The compromise in these, has seen financial woes in major institutions, nations being depraved and fleeced by corrupt practices. Lets seek active support and cooperation for Ethical Governance, locally and globally, to save the world from financial meltdowns, terrorism, corrupt politicians and bureaucrats and gross misuse of power and government machinaries, by despotic rulers, to make this world a better place to live in. (http://ethicalgov.co.cc)
President Obama's path breaking climate change initiatives will create more jobs than any major Industrial or Green revolutions ever has, so far globally.
One of the most important factors in the global fight against climate change will be governmental policies favouring climate change. Only active government policy will trigger the wholesale expansion of clean energy? Energy industries is going to be key driver of low carbon and its related employment opportunities. This is a global and a local matter, and action on both levels will create greater benefits for all. Lets seek active support and cooperation to President Obama's Climate Change Initiatives locally and globally.
http://ethicalgov.co.cc
In the aftermath of President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo, Egypt there are many things that happened and are currently happening. Frankly I and a few of my colleagues expected these issues to raise sooner or later. On June 3rd during his Middle East trip I received a letter from the White House and Obama in response to a previous letter I sent him concerning the Israel/Palestine issue. I stated that I looked forward to working together to solve the conflict. In his June 3rd reply he stated that now was "the time to work together" and I was ready to give it. However, on the 4th Obama stated in his speech that Israeli settlements in the West Bank would no longer be tolerated by the US. This stance I believe is "politically understandable" similar to what one journalist stated in Haaretz, because by showing that there is no favouritism given to Israel then that opens up real communication with other countries that are against Israel and think the US is bias on the subject of Israel. In addition, Obama stated in both his Cairo speech and restated in his Moscow speech that the days of one nation suppressing another nation are over. So from an outsiders perspective in the case of Israel when Israeli settlements are established within the UN set borders of the Palestinian people then those settlements are consider like an invasion and violation of a UN policy... and so must be removed. Obama has currently taken the position to reset Israel/ Palestinian borders to the original UN borders and also making Jerusalem an internationally or UN controlled city. This concepts comes from the Crusaders era when Jerusalem was established to be a Christian focus-point city (as displayed in most Byzantine and later European explorer maps of the area).
On June 3rd protesters in Israel gathered in front of the US Embassy in Jerusalem to speak against stopping settlement construction in the West Bank and shouted how Obama is anti-Semitic. I personally agree that settlement construction shouldn't be halted in the West Bank (I support Netanyahu's actions of approving new settlement construction and in a moment I will go into why the idea of halting settlements from a Torah view is out of the question), yet trying to accuse Obama of being anti-Semitic because he has an anti-settlement view isn't fair and more importantly is a contradiction because Obama's views on the subject came from both the Jewish advisors in his administration and a few Jewish foreign policy organizations in Israel that are promoting the idea of a West Bank Palestinian State. I think that people should remember that not too long ago PM Arial Sharon and President Bush were moving the very same plan across the table in Israel.... Obama is just considering if it should be continued. (I'm hoping that you will help me answer to him a NO! But also give another idea that could solve this conflict).
My communications with the US President have shown one consistency from him... he will only promote an idea that is supported by both the Israelis and Palestinians. So because the current idea of a Palestinian State in the West Bank is supported by both Israelis and Palestinians then that is what the US President will support. However, on the 7th of June I sent a letter to President Obama and the White House to express my opposition to his statement on Israeli settlements and to ask that he keep an open mind to other potential solutions to the two-state concept. One idea I requested that he review is the two-state solution proposed by Rabbi Howshua Amariel in which the Palestinian State would be setup in extended borders of the current Gaza strip and the West Bank area would be dissolved fully into the State of Israel. Within this proposal is the idea of fully helping setup a financial independent system for the Palestinian people.
On June 14th after Netanyahu's response to Obama's speech, I did an interview with Baruch Spier on Rusty Mike Radio.com in Jerusalem on my opinion of Obama's speech and the state solution concepts. I stated to Mr. Spier the same thing that I said to President Obama in my reply to him. I believe that his speech was very necessary for the Moslem world to hear and it was given in a way that only Barack Obama as president of the United States could have done. I think in that moment it was made clear to all those that supported or didn't support Obama why he was the right choice for the job. However, in the interview I also said that I didn't agree with the President's tough stance against settlements in the West Bank. In fact the promotion of a Palestinian state within the West Bank is only a temporary fix to a problem that goes much more deep than Obama is realizing. If we will solve this conflict it must be done showing a sincere respect for all religions involved rather than ignore them.... as if they don't matter when to every party involved they do. This conflict is based out of a religious concept rooted in the very essence of who the Jewish people are.
Ben-amen Netanyahu recently allowed for settlement constructions to continue in the West Bank.... WHY? For those of you who do not know this year is a Jubilee Year. The Jubilee year comes out of the Torah and basically states that every 50 years regardless of if one has sold there land or it was taken it is required that they or their relatives come back to reclaim it (either by purchase or force). Right now in Israel all sorts of properties are in review for future construction settlement projects and settlements within the West Bank are not excluded.
I find it funny that history has a habit of repeating and it seems that all of the usual players are in this same scenario today as was 2000 to 3000 years ago; a foreign Empire (US and European Union)..., the Jewish people....., and the Philistines (Keep in mind that in Arabic they don't call these people Palestinians... they call them Philistines and have done some for centuries.) The fact of the matter is that since the time of Joshua the Philistines have existed in the land... they were never conquered.. nor should they have been (they should only been kept out of the borders of the land of Israel).
If we review the history of the children of Israel and the Jewish people when it came to this land it is very clear that there is a pattern. Aside from the original possession of the land by Joshua and Israel; when Israel came from Babylon they rebuilt so much of their former land to the end that their neighbours wrote to the Emperor warning against Israel's habit of reclaiming their territory. This same pattern happened during Alexander the Great's reign and the Roman Empire's reign to the point that after 100AD Jews were restricted from the entire Judean area by Emperor Hadrian of Rome for this same fear incited by our Philistine neighbours. Yet that never stopped the Jewish people from returning time after time again to the land. Why? The Jubilee Year... So the idea of the UN that somehow the Jewish people will now forget this part of ourselves I think is very nieve.
In 1948 the UN divided the land borders of Israel into the Gaza Strip, Israel and the West Bank. Because the Palestinians stated that Israel took Ashkelon and Ashdod from them they went on a crusade to reclaim their former territory. Also because a very large portion of the mountains of the ancient land of Israel was given to the Palestinians... the Jewish settlers went on a crusade to reclaim them. Thus, since this conflict is largely based upon ancient territorial rights of both the parties then the true solution to the problem is to push the so called 'reset button' on borders back to the very ancient guidelines that motivate both parties.
Therefore, today I am announcing a new campaign that I am asking both Jews within Israel (right and left) to support. Leave your prejudices at the door! Because this is for all of those that share the views of President Obama in that the Palestinian (Philistine) people need their own state; view of Prime Minister Netanyahu's that such a state should be financial independent from the State of Israel and also for the benefit of the Palestinian people; and also the views of the Torah & Tanach in that the Palestinian & Israelite people were covenanted to respect each other's borders (according to treaty at the well in the South called Beer-Sheba or well of the oath between Abraham and the king of the Philistines).
I have spoke to about hundred people on this subject and although most begin the conversation with the thought that such a idea isn't realistic I say that the same could have been said about a Black President of the United States not too long ago. What determines if something is possible is only the willingness of the parties to make it possible. This idea is definitely possible... but the question for the Jews that believe this proposal is very controversial I ask you to consider what do you prefer... an undivided beach alone the coast or an undivided Jerusalem for the State of Israel.
As for the Palestinians that may so happen to read this who believe that this is just another way for Israel to gain control over you and your land... I say that this proposal has Israel concede just as much as the Palestinians will have to concede, but any other extra-requirements are accompanied by sufficient compensations enough to help every Palestinian family moved and the State as a whole achieve financial independence from the State of Israel. In other words this is a win-win situation.
I ask you all to support this new two-state proposal that will hold true to all of these ideas by establishing a Palestinian State in the Gaza Strip, but also return some borders along the coast that are proven to be the original land of their ancient people. This will fulfil the same proclaimed goals of the both the Hamas and Palestinian government (as verified in Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech). Within these borders resources will be left to them that would aid in the establishment of an independent financial system for the Palestinian people. A sign if any that Israel is ready to make concessions.
But I suggest that you get Hamas under control with its statements against Israel... the Torah states that if a people will proclaim peace to Israel then we should be at peace with them, but if they declare war then war is what we give them. If you want peace then express it for others to clearly hear you.
If both parties that I have addressed will express their support for the idea then it will get Israeli leaders attention, it will get UN attention, it will get American attention. The fate of the country is literally in the hands of its inhabitants.
I will finish with one more statement… I continue for the most part to support President Barack Obama and I wouldn’t take back my decision to elect him… after all McCain would have done the exact same thing because it is in the road map to peace Bush followed. Yet with President Obama I look forward to working this issue out with foreign policy experts, him and the administration and working together as planned because after all it was Obama who once said that he welcomed debate in the White House. In this case that is what I will do… I invite others to join in.
Sincerely,
Yeshiyah Amariel
Israel for Obama
On Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th, Empowerment Partners is sponsoring the "One America Celebration: Mobilizing National Service" weekend. The weekend program includes a Welcome Reception at Fernbank Museum, National Panel Discussion on Healthcare Reform at Emory University; Community Service projects/Food Drive; Celebrity Golf Tournament at Cherokee Run Golf Club and conclude with "One America Red Carpet and Awards Gala" where we are saluting community leaders such as: Juanita Baranco, COO of Mercedes of Buckhead; Elizabeth Omilami, CEO of Hosea Feed the Hungry and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Medical Correspondent. The goal of "One America Celebration" is to educate, empower and increase understanding of public policy issues that impact our communities. Empowerment Partners is a non-partisan organization that encourages all Americans to step forward and to take the lead in bridging our divides, strengthening our communities and building a more vibrant democracy. Today, there is a strong initiative all across our nation that transcends age, nationality or social status. Americans are renewed with pride to help rebuild our great country by donating time and talents to schools, churches, hospitals and local nonprofit organizations in an effort to improve communities and to serve a purpose greater than themselves.
Register at: www.oneamericacelebration.org
Obama Family,
I hope all is well with you. I was asked by the producer of the Emmy Award-winning public affairs show, "IN CONTACT" of WPBA TV-30 to participate in an upcoming segment: New Political Power: In the age of Obama. The program airs at 9am on Sunday mornings on Atlanta's own WPBA TV-30. The half-hour program will take a look at the relevance of such iconic civil rights organizations as the NAACP, the National Urban League and Operation Push as they continue to service marginalized communities in what many are now calling a Post-Civil Rights Era and how to engage our young people are in these activities.I will tape the segment on Monday, May 4th 2009 and will let you know when my program will be televised. About IN CONTACT "IN CONTACT," hosted by veteran journalist and Atlanta Association of Black Journalist member Angela Robinson, delivers lively discussions on a variety of topics that connect and impact the African-American community, including the community's triumphs and challenges. By delivering an African-American perspective and encouraging dialog on timely topics, "IN CONTACT" is unique among Atlanta television programming. REACHBy airing on WPBA Channel 30, "IN CONTACT" has the potential to reach over 1.5 million people in 500,000 homes throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. The show reaches, on average, 5,000 households each Sunday.Thank you for your support, Preston L. Harden,Georgia's 7th CongressionalDistrict Delegate GO OBAMA!!!!! 2008(404) 376-683You're invited to visit and join our movementwww.prestonlharden.com You're invited to join our group Georgia Young Professionals for Change on My.BarackObama.com:http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/YoungProfessionalsforChange
President Obama promised transparency of government when he was elected, yet since his inauguration the average person is under the impression that information concerning controversial issues such as the economic plan are not available to them in order to review. Over the last month the mainstream media (especially Fox News) have played this perception for all it is worth. Most programs on the Fox News Cable Network talk against Obama’s plan to recover the economy (which is officially entitled the ‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’). If you listen to what most publications on the economic package say you will only hear that it contains many earmarks (or pork) that have nothing to do with recovering economy. They all say that the plan is very massive and that is was hardly read through… yet most of them show a stack of papers that they refer to as the ‘economic stimulus plan’. On the ‘Beltway Boys’ they criticise the economic plan because it has socialist philosophies and will not help the problems immediately within this year.
The truth of the matter is that the ‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’ can be found on online government websites (such as the House Appropriations Committee website). The package is around 260 pages and is purposed for “making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.”
Whether the American people agree with every program that is being given money, unlike the media madness against this economic plan, I’m giving the people a chance to read the full plan for themselves and conclusion concerning the details of the plan. The fact of the matter is that this plan puts money into the all of the agriculture department (which in detail actually means rural developments that will create jobs for those who need them), Educational department (a campaign promise to students), $16,126,000,000 for STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (a campaign promise), $500,000,000 for STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OPERATIONS, Housing Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows: $22,129,000,000 for loans to section 502 borrowers, Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans, $500,000,000, Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) $100,000,000, and along with several other important job creating public construction projects (such as building roads and bridges) that exist within the United States this package also supplies the ‘‘Small Business Administration—Office of Inspector General’’, $10,000,000, the ‘‘Social Security Administration—Office of Inspector General’’, $2,000,000 and every military branch new funding (a total of $4,500,000,000 for ‘Operation and Maintenance’ of the military) to remain available until September 30, 2013, for oversight and audit of programs, grants, and projects funded under this Act.
I suggest that anyone that seeks to support or criticise this plan will take the time to seriously read over the programs and projects that will be stimulated. (http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf) I should also note that most of the ‘pork’ statements that were made on Fox News such as the purchase of motorcycles, automobiles, and etc. I did not find anywhere within this package. Feel free to read over the proposal yourselves and come to your own conclusions, but in my opinion the plan has enough positive benefits for the simultaneous creation of jobs, aid to the unemployed, and start for fulfilling campaign promises from Obama during his campaign to be supported by the general public that elected him. This package is designed to help the poor, middle class and help build State government projects in return and reduce taxes.
The additional tax cuts for top companies that the Republicans are pushing for is the current issue… Remember that conservatives don’t like big government because of increase taxes on the rich and decreased taxes and social programs for the poor and middle class. What they prefer are tax-cuts and social programs for the wealthy… so they are pushing that ‘Bush styled’ tax-cuts be given to companies and social programs be cut.
The fact of the matter is that average citizens can either work for one of the two powers that exist within the world… for government programs or for companies that without government restrictions wouldn’t give a damn about the average American’s well-being (remember workers rights in the 1920s and the current issue over the Peanut butter company… I rest my case).
It’s time for a serious economic conversation in the United States. We hear politicians all over the news on both the Democrat and Republican sides, but it is time for the citizens of the America to think for themselves and stop believing everything that they see on the news. What’s going on in the Congress, the DNC and the RNC right now are political games to put it politely.
We elected for change… but we must remember that a large percentage of people that voted in the United States also voted against Obama. The RNC is on its last leg and there is only one way for them to survive… that is to make Obama a failure. They are seeking to destroy Obama’s creditability as quickly as possible (You can tell the name of the game by watching Fox News or Hannity). At the same time there are big power struggles going on in the DNC to keep Obama in line with whatever they want. Remember, Obama never really got support from the Democratic Party (for the general election the DNC hardly raised a dime for the Obama campaign, even when the RNC raised millions for John McCain)…. His success came out of a support from the people (internet contributions and donations from the famous and rich). Because famous people supported him the media supported him…, but the media never really like him. The truth is that Obama’s policies threaten the powers-that-be in Washington (because when ordinary people begin to exert their power that upsets the social Darwinism philosophies that most power-players operate on). Companies that spend most of their time buying politicians have to subdue the Obama administration in order to bring-in projects and money from the government on the backs of the every day citizens.
When these politicians talk about their different methods for fixing the economy they all use words that never helps the average person understand what will or won’t help in the end.
What is the National Debt? It is the money barrowed from either another country or itself from future income from taxes from its citizens’ children.
What is the real solution to the economic crises? Companies’ are playing big games with the lives of normal people (social Darwinism at its best). To defeat the power they have average citizens have to do what Kind did with the civil rights issues and boycott certain companies that are playing these games and then redirecting their support to either companies that will support job production or give their support to smaller businesses that exist and do the same things the big companies do (this will catapult the small companies into the major leagues of the stock market and force the other companies to compete by conforming to the people’s needs or buy the new companies out keep the same pro-American job policies).
The other goal is to push Congress to create and support laws that will help job creation within the United States and aid those who have lost their jobs because of these political games. Let’s have no misunderstanding here… the United States doesn’t lack productivity, workers, or finances. There are 360,000,000 million people in the United States, we have a 20 percent unemployment rate which depending upon the work force. If the work force is half of the population, then the number of unemployment is 72,000,000. The stimulus plan just reached $925,000,000,000 billion dollars which if given to every unemployed worker $12,847 is enough to re-stimulate the economy in a heart beat. Those who have credit card and mortgage debts will repay them… those that without debts will put there money in banks (thus supplying them with investment money) and others will spend the money in the auto industry (solving that problem by busting the companies and creating jobs), create small businesses that will give lower income families money and the final group will invest the money into the stock market (at least 128 shares of a 100 dollar stock per investor) and cause the NASDAX to skyrocket. So the real power is in the hands of the people to solve their economic troubles and politicians (the people’s reps) to support them.
Many will jump to say that this is a socialist philosophy, however, the government giving companies money and calling it a bale-out is a socialist philosophy.... one that Republicans had no problem supporting before. Yet when it comes to saving the jobs of thousands of Americans and aiding those hurt by the recession they say it is un-American... when that is the most patriotic thing we can do.
After Obama's election to the Presidency of the United States, the next day I contacted him to offer our continued support and teamwork with an Obama administration and also to inform him of the new created Israel for Change "think tank" group (if you are interested in join visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/israelforchange/; or http://groups.google.com/group/israelforchange?hl=en).
The following is the actual Nov 5th letter to Obama and is followed by a link to his response on Nov 14th.
"I am sorry that I could not call you Mr. President-elect, but I want to offer from all your supporters in Israel our sincere congratulations to you, your family and your staff on your victory. American-Israelis are overjoyed that you have been elected president of the United States because when we said 'Yes we can' support you, we did! We have supported the movement for change since your arrival on the national seen, and we made your case to the Jewish people when the smear campaign had tried to mislead voters. We are confident that as President of the United States you will understand the complex issues concerning Israel and the peace process.
In your speech last night you stated that "To those who seek peace and security: We support you." Nevertheless, there are still many concerns within Israel as to if your administration will consider Israel's concerns over security issues. To aid with this problem we will soon be announcing the formation of an organization that aims to continue the movement of change that Israelis can believe in, not just in respect to the United States but also with consideration to the Jerusalem issue, the Palestinian peace process and Tikkun Olam. The "Israel for Change" organization stands ready to work with the Obama administration in these next steps in the global movement toward change we can believe in.
Yeshiyah AmarielIsrael for Obama campaign"
Click Here to read Illinois Senator (President-elect) Obama's response: (http://amarielfamily.tripod.com/ObamaLetter3.pdf)
Yesterday Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain appeared with Tom Brokaw on Meet the Press.
1. McCain talks out of both sides of his mouth. He currently is attacking Bush, an unpopular President, but he voted with Bush 92 percent of the time according to Congressional Quarterly and he even admits his close association to President Bush on previous clips.
2. McCain flat out lied about Barack Obama's tax plan and his record. But Brokaw played some interesting clips about McCain's previous comments on taxing wealthy Americans. McCain flip-flopped on taxes for the wealthy. He once said he was troubled and voted against the Bush tax cuts because they went proportionately to the rich and that those who reach a certain level of comfort ought to pay more taxes. However, he now argues that due to the financial crisis that no one should have their taxes raised, including those least effected the wealthy.
3. McCain insists that Obama’s tax plan will redistribute the wealth and that Obama is a Socialist. He even dropped the name “Joe the Plumber” several times. At one point he called Biden, “Joe the Biden”. Brokaw asked McCain how he would describe the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, in which the American government is buying up shares in banks and about his plan to spend $300 billion of taxpayer dollars to buy up bad mortgages from banks. Sounds like Socialism to me state ownership and nationalization of the banking industry. McCain’s response, “We are in a financial crisis of monumental proportions” and the purpose of government is to intervene in times of crisis.
4. McCain, “I don’t defend [Sarah Palin] I praise her.” He went on to trumpet her accomplishments: She took on the governor of her own party to take on corruption, has more executive experience than Joe Biden and Barack Obama, she was a mayor, she has 24,000 people under her, and her husband works the third shift in the oil facilities on the north slope. Ok let me debunk the myth that Sarah Palin is qualified to be president. On corruption, she used the power of her office for personal gain. An independent prosecutor appointed by a bipartisan panel of the state legislature found that she violated state ethics laws. On experience, she is the governor of Alaska, population 600,000. The mayor of San Bernardino, California has about as much experience and responsibility as Sarah Palin. She was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska a small town with a population of 6,000. Wow 24,000 people are you serious? Did they include moose in that count? I’m not sure how her husband working for an oil company helps her being prepared to be the leader of the free world. But it might explain the Republican desire to drill in ANWR and to think that fossil fuels don’t contribute to global warming. Just “drill baby drill”.
5. McCain is disappointed with General Colin Powell. He begins to list the five Secretary of State’s who endorse his candidacy. However, McCain can only list four of them; he looks dazed and confused, in fact senile.
It is clearly evident that John McCain flunked his final exam on Meet the Press. His academic record indicates that he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed; he graduated 894 out of 899 from the Naval Academy. McCain’s double talk express just got a flat tire and it’s time to visit the repair shop of Joe the Mechanic.
Watch McCain on the Meet the Press below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27387444#27387444
In an attempt to defend Governor Sarah Palin's response about what the role of the Vice President is, Nancy Pfotenhauer, McCain's Senior Policy Advisor, appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews. It is apparent that no one in the McCain Campaign knows the Constitutional role of the Vice President. This lady must think you are all idiots. Nancy Pfotenhauer thinks you must be a Constitutional scholar to know the role of the Vice President. Sorry Nancy, this is elementary grade civics. The Constitution proscribes in Article I Section 3, "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided." The other role of the Vice President, as stated in Article II Section 1, is to replace the President should God forbid something happen to them, like they die in office, are impeached and removed from office, they resign, or are unable to discharge the duties of their office. For those who don't know how to read, including Sarah Palin and the other morons running the McCain Campaign, what that means is that the Vice President has no role in shaping or formulating foreign policy, they only get to vote to break a tie in the Senate. We can't afford to elect leaders who lack the intelligence to understand the Constitution or something that a fifth grader ought to know. If elected, how can you uphold the following oath of office, if you don't understand the Constitution?
"I, [Vice-President Elect's name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
At a minimum, it should be a requirement for anyone aspiring to be the Vice President or President to at least know their roles as specified in the Constitution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkPuYJtz4Qg
"If John McCain wins this woman will be one 72 year olds heartbeat from being President of the United States and if that doesn't scare the hell out of you it should" - Jack Cafferty, on CNN, September 26, 2008
I wholeheartedly agree with Jack Cafferty. After being asked for the third time now this woman still doesn't know the role of the Vice President. Maybe she needs to read the U.S. Constitution. Sarah Palin can't even answer a third graders question, how in the hell do you think she can run America? She obviously is a complete and utter moron. We can't afford to have her anywhere near the White House. John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin illustrates that he is unfit to be President and that he lacks the judgement and decision making ability to be Commander-in-Chief.
Sarah Palin, Master of the Senate
By David Nather | October 21, 2008 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Sarah Palin has taken a lot of grief for the CNBC interview she gave, before she became John McCain’s running mate, in which she dismissed all of the vice presidential talk by asking, “What is it exactly that the VP does every day?”
It’s not a bad question, and one she might want to ask again.
Yesterday, Palin gave an interview to a local news station in Denver in which the anchor, reading a question submitted by a third grader, asked her what the vice president does. Her answer, in this video clip, suggests that she thinks the vice president runs the Senate:
“That’s a great question, Brandon. And a vice president has a really great job because not only are they there to support the president’s agenda, they’re like the team member, the teammate to that president, but also they’re in charge of the United State Senate. So if they want to, they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it’s a great job, and I look forward to having that job.”
Talk about expanding the power of the vice presidency. Even Vice President Dick Cheney never claimed to be in charge of the Senate.
It’s hard to tell whether Palin just used a poor choice of words to describe what the vice president actually does in the Senate — presiding and breaking tie votes — or whether she really believes the vice president runs the place. Palin spokesman Taylor Griffin said she was referring to the vice president’s constitutional role as president of the Senate.
But it’s not as if the vice president is actively involved in the Senate, or even seen very often, except for the occasional tie vote or caucus meeting. And needless to say, Palin’s comments were a bit puzzling to Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the man who actually sets the agenda for the Senate.
“Governor Palin needs to re-read — or perhaps read for the first time — the Constitution,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley. “While the Vice President presides over the Senate, he or she is not “in charge of” it. Article I says, ‘The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.’ The Senate is part of a co-equal branch of the federal government.”
Worse yet for Palin, the clip was circulating on the same day that she was reminding a Reno audience of Joe Biden’s prediction that Barack Obama would be “tested” by an international crisis if he wins the presidency. Not only did Palin launch into an extended critique of Obama’s qualifications to be commander in chief — an issue on which she hasn’t exactly won the confidence of the public either — but she also took the opportunity to tease Biden: “I guess the looming crisis that most worries the Obama campaign right now is Joe Biden’s next speaking engagement.”
Judging from Palin’s performance in one interview after another, the Obama team can’t be any more worried than the McCain team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZTlUXZj_6Q#
Attention fellow Jewish supporters of Senator Barack Obama, the last few weeks have arrived in this election and early votes are being made as you all read this letter. Obama’s campaign has done good to create the Fight the Smears website, however, tons of blogs exist on the net that over shadow that one site. I, among others, have received the letter from Obama’s campaign directors concerning the Jewish vote. They are asking us to do whatever we can to put an end to the smears and get the truth out about Obama’s support for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Therefore I’ve come up with a last strategy for FIGHTING THE SMEARS on the Jewish blogs about Obama. We have been letting right-wing bloggers get away with posting smears on their pages for far too long… WE MUST INVADE!!!!!
What I am proposing is from now until Election Day that in groups of 2 or 3 we invade Jewish blogs on the subjects concerning Obama and completely tackle the questions that have been out there using the evidence provided to us.
DA-Israel Vice Chair Hillel Schenker recently had a debate in Israel with right-wing supporters that can be read on the Israel for Obama blog that may answer many questions. Because of the teamwork of many in the United States and Israel we have been provided with the tools (like the ‘Jewish Americans for Obama’, ‘Israelis for Obama’ and ‘Right man for the job’ videos, and also the IsraelforObama Youtube Channel) to prove that not all Israeli Jews believe the smears against Obama and many support his campaign for president.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2VFRt5W4FM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96chUuvoe0
We must attack the smears head on and to go over a few of the questions out there like:
Is Obama a Muslim? No! We have the ‘Israelis for Obama’ and several videos from Israel (1, 2) that help show that many Israeli Jews understand that he isn’t a Muslim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCVnnh4yUuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbyF30edeMU
On the overall question of Obama character and will he support the Jewish community, we have Jews like Jeff Schoenberg (Illinois State Senator), John Levi (Chicago Civic Leader), Cindy Moelis (Civic Leader), and Ab Mikva (Former Congressman, Federal Judge and White House Counsel) all expressing the Illinois Senator’s “Jewish soul”, Jewish connections and constant support for Jewish causes.
On the all important question of rabbinic support in the Jewish community, we have Rabbi Sam Gordon and the group rabbis for Obama, Rabbi Howshua Amariel and also the Jews for Obama website have a number of rabbis who are endorsing Senator Obama (http://jews4barack.com/endorsements/?cat=16 ).
Within that subject and on the question of Orthodox Jewish support for the senator we have the group Orthodox Jews for Obama, an Israeli Rabbi and the video ‘Israelis for Obama’ that displays both ‘religious’ and ‘non-religious’ Jews in Israel.
On the question of Israel’s security and Iran, Obama has continually stated that Israel’s security is first (one is the Second letter from Obama provided on the Israel for Obama blog), and he has promised continued or increased funding of the Israeli military. Current Israeli leaders have commented that Obama has shown himself to understand the situation in the region. And we also have top former Israeli generals like Amnon Lipkin-Shahak (Chief of Staff of the IDF), Shlomo Brom (IDF commander of the Strategic Planning), Shaul Arieli (IDF commander of the Gaza region), Amram Mitzna (IDF Commander of the Central region), Giora Inbar (IDF Commander of Lebanon) and Naomi Chazan (Former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee) all supporting Obama’s positions on Iran and potential as president of the United States. People can say Israeli left-wing or right-wing but the fact of the matter is that top Israeli officials welcome of Obama’s ideas and quote on quote “trust him”. Not to mention the many Israeli citizens (like Tony Jessen in his video ‘An Israeli-American voting for Obama’) who have served in the IDF as soldiers expressed their support for Obama. As for Yossi Alpher (Former Mossad Senior Officer), Uzi Dayan (retired army general), and Efraim Halevy (former Mossad chief) they back out, but we still have well over enough top officials who stand by their statements.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3FgbaJaZkA
We even have Israeli actors like Moshe Ivgy and Amos Schocken, the publisher of the Ha’aretz Newspaper on our side.
On the key issue of Jerusalem, Obama believes it should be un-divided for the Jewish people (AIPAC speech), but also points out that the final decision on the subject is left for Israel and the Palestinians to decide. The bottom-line is that Obama is open to any plan that would have Jerusalem ‘undivided’ for the Jewish people just as long as a deal can be reached with the Palestinians. The only thing McCain has said is that he will put a US Embassy in Jerusalem when there is already one there (nonsense)!
I have asked Jewish bloggers what has McCain ever said or done that has shown his support for American Jews and what plan does he have to support Israel and deal with the Israel-Palestinian situation? No one has ever given me an answer, because the fact of the matter is that McCain has no real plans for situations in Israel and no confirmed support of the Jewish community. So the real wild card in respect to the Jewish community is McCain and not Obama, because he has made his positions as clear as Obama has.
So it’s time to put our game faces on and use these facts and the pro-Obama Israeli Jewish supporters to tear down the smear walls of the right-wing Jericho which have obscured the view of many Jews in swing states nationwide.
Manager and Strategist
“Israel for Obama” campaign
Alaska panel finds Palin abused power
Campaign officials tried to pre-empt lawmakers with report clearing Palin
"A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner.
The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor." MS-NBC, October 10, 2008
Sarah Palin isn't a maverick. Abusing your power in office for personal gain is not the change and real reform we need in Washington. For the last eight years we have seen Republican corruption. Enron, the leaking of a CIA agent’s identity by the White House as a personal vendetta, Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, Ted Stevens, etc. A brief lesson in American History is relevant here. Republican President’s have a history of scandal and corruption.
President Warren G. Harding’s (1921-1923) cabinet included a group called the Ohio Gang, the president’s poker-playing cronies, who would soon cause a great deal of embarrassment. His corrupt friends used their offices to become wealthy through graft; Charles R. Forbes the head of the Veterans Bureau, was caught illegally selling government and hospital supplies to private companies. The most egregious scandal was Teapot Dome. The Government had set away rich oil lands at Teapot Dome, Wyoming and Elk Hills, California for use by the U.S. Navy Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall got the land transferred from the Navy to the Department of Interior, then secretly leased the land to two oil companies, in return he received more than $400,000 in “loans, bonds, and cash.”
President Richard M. Nixon's (1969-1974) involvement in Watergate resulted in the indictment of several of Nixon's closest advisors and ultimately his resignation on August 9, 1974. The scandal began with the arrest of five men for breaking and entering into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate hotel complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972. Investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and later by the Senate Watergate Committee, House Judiciary Committee, and the press revealed that this burglary was one of many illegal activities authorized and carried out by Nixon's staff and loyalists. They also revealed the immense scope of crimes and abuses, which included campaign fraud, political espionage and sabotage, illegal break-ins, improper tax audits, illegal wiretapping on a massive scale, and a secret slush fund laundered in Mexico to pay those who conducted these operations. This secret fund was also used as hush money to buy silence of the seven men who were indicted for the June 17 break-in. Nixon and his staff conspired to cover up the break in as early as six days after it occurred. After two years of mounting evidence against the President and his staff, which included former staff members testifying against them in a Senate investigation, it was revealed that Nixon had a tape recording system in his offices and that he had recorded many conversations. Recordings from these tapes revealed that he had obstructed justice and attempted to cover up the break-in. With certainty of an impeachment in the House of Representatives and of a conviction in the Senate, Nixon resigned ten days later, becoming the only US President to have resigned from office.
The Reagan Administration’s (1981-1989) Iran-Contra Affair which was revealed in November 1986 involved the illegal sale of U.S. weapons to Iran and then diverting a portion of the proceeds from the weapon sales to fund anti-Sandinista and anti-communist rebels, or Contras, in Nicaragua. The plan eventually deteriorated into an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages, without the direct authorization of President Ronald Reagan. Many investigations ensued, including those by the United States Congress and the three-man, Reagan-appointed Tower Commission. Neither could find any evidence that Reagan himself knew of the extent of the multiple programs. In the end, fourteen administration officials were charged with crimes, and eleven convicted, including then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger.
George Santayana wrote, “Those who don’t remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.” Surely, we don’t want to repeat the corrupt and scandal ridden years of Republican Administrations. McCain/Palin offer more of the same as evidenced from their respective records (McCain’s involvement in the Keating Five Scandal and Palin’s Troopergate). Sarah Palin thinks you won’t get it; that you don’t understand the importance of history. Sorry, we are not Joe Sick Pack, Sarah. Vote Obama/Biden for the real change America needs. Be a real maverick.
This is letter I just sent to my local newspaper:
I used to live in Israel. Israel is a beautiful country with incredible people and a dynamic environment. I watched Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin try to make peace with the Palestinians and I watched the religious right, who did not want peace with the Palestinians, call Rabin a terrorist and a traitor for trying to make peace with the enemy. Leaders of the right held rallies and chanted that Rabin was a terrorist and traitor. Crowds called for his death and ultimately Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli Jew.I am having déjà vu as I watch McCain suggest that Obama is unpatriotic and linked to "terrorists" and then snidely ask a crowd, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" and then hear people call out "Kill him!" and "He's a terrorist!" without McCain stopping the crowd or telling people that Obama is not a terrorist and that he should not be killed.I lived through the assassination of the prime minister of Israel. Words have an impact. McCain should tone down his rhetoric.Dave Jacobson
The following was written by DA-Israel Vice Chair Hillel Schenker, Oct. 2, 2008 and posted by DA-Israel Chairwoman Joanne Yaron on the 5th.
Debate between Mr. Hillel Schenker, Vice Chair Democrats Abroad-Israel and Adv. Marc Zell, Co-Chair Republicans in Israel
Hosted by IPCRI, the Israel-Palestine Center for Research & Information at the Ambassador Hotel, Jerusalem, Wednesday, Sept. 24th, 2008
The following is the outline of my presentation at the debate, and some of the exchange which followed. The Republican spokesperson Adv. Marc Zell was very much on the defensive, feeling (correctly) that the audience would be more empathetic to my views, and asked me to speak first. I begin with an outline of my introductory remarks.
•1) HONEST, CREDIBLE BROKER
Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plan to secure America and restore its standing. America is incapable of promoting peace without restoring its standing in the region. Post 9/11 reaction included:
•2) IRAN
•3) IRAQ
•4) SYRIA
•5) NUCLEAR WEAPONS
•6) ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
•7) JERUSALEM
•8) DENNIS ROSS
•9) PALIN FACTOR
•10) THE AUDACITY OF HOPE
BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE EXCHANGE THAT FOLLOWED BETWEEN DA-ISRAEL VICE CHAIR HILLEL SCHENKER AND ADV. MARC ZELL, CO-CHAIR OF REPUBLICANS IN ISRAEL:
