Have the Jews gone crazy?
Well, I know quite a few who haven't and they find Israel's growing alignment with American Christian crusading-crackpots as very disturbing. Along with us, they find our own government's (at least this administration's) granting of access to the halls of power to this group of loons highly disturbing.
We I.U.s have warned Israel, through message boards and news outlets in Israel, that they are making a huge mistake aligning themselves with Hagee and his ilk. In doing so, they alienate many Americans who then question Israeli policy, whether it's considered anti-semitic or not. We do not consider criticizing Israeli policy as being anti-semitic anymore than criticism of Germany's policy is being anti-German.
No one should know better than we, hapless Americans, that ordinary people cannot be held responsible for their government's idiotic policies, especially when those ordinary people have fought courageously against them.
Can the Israelis possibly not understand that the crusading-crackpots have hell in store for them? That they intend to bring about Armageddon if they possibly can, and that all but 144,000 Jews and all Muslims will be nothing but cannon fodder, so that the Temple can be re-built. (Jesus won't come back until it is, for some strange reason. It's hard to believe that he is off pouting somewhere until the deaths of possibly millions make it possible for a Temple to be built. I just really find that hard to believe, since I have read the Bible and He doesn't seem to be a war-mongering, blood thirsty type.)
I hope that they don't think that reading the Christian Bible helps them know the crackpots and their agenda. Half of what they teach isn't even in the Bible. Take the rapture for example. No where is the rapture to be found, not even in the magic-mushroom induced Revelation of John.
The Israelis should hear what these people say when no one but they own little flock of loons is listening, when the cameras aren't rolling. It ain't pretty. I've heard it.
Hear Oh Israel! Don't align yourselves with hate-mongering idiots.
And then there's Rover. Of course he is consulting with McCain and his campaign. What knot-head would believe that he isn't? He will back Satan himself over a Democrat. The man has a pathological hatred for Democrats. When he slithered out of an indictment, didn't we all know he would be back, in another guise. Enough said.
Altercation, by Eric Alterman
Are we going to war with Iran? "The Man Between War and Peace" is gone.
In reading the Forward this week, I came across some useful questions and answers having to do with politicians, their supporters, and the media's lack of interest in really covering them. For instance: Who is John Hagee? Here are some answers:
On Hurricane Katrina: "All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that ... I believe that Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans."
On the Catholic Church: "Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews."
On Muslims: Asked whether he believes that Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews, Hagee replied, "Well, the Quran teaches that. Yes, it teaches that very clearly."
On women: "Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist."
On the Antichrist: "He's going to make a seven-year treaty with Israel and set up his image to be worshiped in Israel. And that is where I'm convinced that a Jewish person who understands who he is shoots him, because the Bible says he's wounded in the head and recovers wondrously, emulating the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. At this point in time when he comes back to life he has the personality of a Hitler. He now pursues the Jewish people. The Jewish people then go to Petra, which is a place in Jordan that is a natural fortress. And that God is going to provide for them there protection from him. And as he gets ready to pursue him, the Bible says that he, the Antichrist, hears tidings from the east that disturb him. The tidings from the east is that... the Chinese army is marching up the Euphrates River, 200 million of them, and they're moving toward the battle of Armageddon, because they want the oil that will make them a superpower."
On the Israeli-Palestinian peace process: "When the Annapolis Conference was being planned and the topic of dividing Jerusalem came up, one man asked me, 'Where do you stand on this based on the Bible?' I responded that 'the plan of the Antichrist is to divide Jerusalem.' If America puts pressure on Israel to divide Jerusalem we are following the blueprint of the Prince of Darkness. Amos 3:2 states that any nation that divides the Land of Israel will come under the severe judgment of God."
Turns out he is also the fellow who was invited to the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and is greeted there with rapturous applause. He is given the "Humanitarian of the Year" award by the San Antonio B'nai B'rith Council. He is honored with the Zionist Organization of America's "Israel Award."
Also, who is James Baker? He is a McCain endorser who, as secretary of State, was famous for telling the president "Fuck the Jews." Are we all OK with that, neocons who are hysterical about Samantha Power, Rob Malley, and Zbigniew Brzezinski?
Is anti-Semitism growing in the United States? Antisemitic Incidents Down for Third Year: "The ADL counted 1,357 antisemitic incidents in the United States last year, compared with 1,554 in 2006 -- a 13% decrease. The number of reported episodes has declined steadily for the past three years, according to the organization."
George Zornick adds: During televised political discussions, it's always good journalistic form to identify if the person talking is actively supporting a candidate's campaign -- is the person giving their analysis, or the party line? (That's an indistinguishable difference for some pundits these days, but never mind. At least tell us if the commentator has been hired by a politician to be there). So when we see this, it's disturbing:
Republican strategist and Fox News contributor Karl Rove appeared on Fox News' America's Election HQ and Hannity & Colmes to discuss the presidential race, but none of the hosts -- Bill Hemmer, Sean Hannity, or Alan Colmes -- asked Rove whether he was "informally advising" Sen. John McCain's campaign, as a Politico article citing "[a] top McCain adviser" reported, and none noted that Rove has reportedly confirmed donating to McCain's campaign.
This is somewhat ambiguous, since Rove is only reported -- albeit by a top McCain adviser -- to be on board with the campaign. But the hosts have to at least ask the question. Beyond just being bad journalistic form in this case, it's also doubly problematic because Karl Rove is considered by many to be a chief architect of the Bush presidency, and so his active support of John McCain raises the question of how closely McCain's leadership would mirror that of the past eight years. It's a question voters have to evaluate, and it's important to have crucial facts like this. If in the coming months Rove ever leaves the comfy confines of Fox News for, say, the Sunday show circuit, it will be interesting to see if he is identified properly.
Speaking of the Sunday talk circuit, The New York Times reports (via CJR) that Barack Obama made a conscious decision to avoid it as a freshman senator:
Determined to be viewed as substantive, Mr. Obama kept his head down, declining Sunday talk show invitations for his first year, and consulted Senate elders for advice.
So Sen. Obama thinks not appearing on Meet the Press, et al, helps him to be seen as substantive. Let's hope he explains to Russert exactly why he believes that during his next appearance. That would be a substantive interview.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. I.U. has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is I.U endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.
Posted October 10, 2007 | 07:39 PM (EST)