The End Of Israeli Democracy?
More than a few bloggers have jumped on the news that the Israeli Knesset's Central Elections Committee voted overwhelmingly to ban Arab parties from running in the upcoming parliamentary elections, with some of these bloggers using the vote to question Israel's status as a democracy. Allegations of racism surrounding the vote demonstrate a lack of knowledge about Israeli history and society. This is not the first time that Israel has banned an extremist political party. In 1988, the Central Election Commission banned Rabbi Meir Kahane's Kach party for its racist and undemocratic platform.
The Boston Globe's Dictator Salon
Leave it to the Boston Globe, the paragon of bien pensant New England liberalism, to publish an op-ed by Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. And on the 20th anniversary week of the Lockerbie Bombing no less! That horrific attack, which killed all 259 passengers and crew members on the Pan-Am 103 flight bound for New York City, was perpetrated by Libyan agents in retaliation for the 1986 American airstrikes launched on Tripoli, itself a response to the unprovoked bombing earlier that year of a West Berlin nightclub patronized by American servicemen.
David Horowitz has a short piece at Politico today on the matter of those people still peddling the conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in Hawaii, and that his birth certificate claiming as such is a fake. Horowitz warns his fellow conservatives (and, implicitly, quite a few PUMAs) not to fall victim to "Obama Derangement Syndrome." The article is prompted by today's Supreme Court decision not to hear a case alleging that Obama had dual nationality at birth due to his father's being a British subject, which, if valid, would render the President-Elect not a "natural born citizen" and thus
Let Lieberman Live
On Tuesday, Democratic Senators will decide the political fate of Joe Lieberman. For the past several years, Lieberman has been a persistent thorn in their side--a relentless critic of Democratic attempts to end the war in Iraq and a no-less-vocal advocate of President Bush’s surge strategy. Relations have grown considerably worse since he endorsed John McCain for President last December and delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention this fall.
Miriam Makeba, Rip
Miriam Makeba, "Mama Africa," died yesterday at the age of 76. An outspoken opponent of apartheid, the singer wasn't allowed to live in her own country from 1960 until 1991, during which period the government revoked her passport. Makeba, perhaps more than anyone else, created "world music" with her medleys blending Xhosa tongue clicks, traditional jazz, folk and pop.
Tell It To Your Queen
Just when you thought Toby Young couldn't lose more friends and alienate more people, there he goes and writes this obnoxious blog post on the site of the London Spectator entitled "Obama isn't black." Barack Obama, Young argues, isn't really "black," he's "bi-racial" (or "caramel-colored"), and thus his election cannot ultimately "assuage the guilt white Americans feel about slavery." Well, as a white American who obviously wishes slavery never occurred (though I'm not capable of feeling "guilt" about the institution, as my family, like many Jewish families, came to this country in the latter
On That Mcconnell Ad...
This may seem a little old given last night's historic election, but fairness requires me to post a follow-up to my item Sunday on an AFSCME radio advertisement asking Mitch McConnell to be "straight" about his over four decades-old military records. On Monday, AFSCME spokesman Gregory King sent me the following statement: AFSCME has nothing to do with the badly photoshopped flyer posted on the Internet, and our radio advertisement in Kentucky says absolutely nothing about Senator McConnell's sexual orientation.
Democratic Gay-baiting? You Don't Say...
Here is a radio advertisement running right now in Kentucky, paid for by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME is one of the largest unions in America and a major Democratic Party ally, and stands to gain much from the public trough should the Democrats take the White House and increase their majorities in Congress substantially. The ad quite clearly raises the allegation that Mitch McConnell was discharged from the military for homosexual conduct some 40 years ago. AFSCME thinks this is very important for the voters of Kentucky to understand.
The Not-so-soft Bigotry Of Rachel Maddow's Low Expectations
Over the weekend, rising liberal pundit Rachel Maddow was interviewed by the New York Times and was asked if she had a favorite Republican. The answer wasn't altogther that surprising. When answering this question, most liberals say either Chuck Hagel or... I like the congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul, because I understand what he believes, and he is fearless and civic-minded in his beliefs, rather than personally zealous. Maddow is a smart woman (a Rhodes Scholar to boot!) and she certainly pays attention to the news.
When Did Sarah Palin "choose" To Be Heterosexual?
In the latest installment of her interview with Katie Couric, Sarah Palin said the following about her much-sought after, but still not yet found, gay friend: One of my absolute best friends for the past 30 years happens to be gay ... I love her dearly. She is not my gay friend -- she is one of my best friends.
