Mazeltov!

New White House Staff!


So far we have:

Rahm Emanuel - Chief of Staff - Jewish

David Axelrod - Senior Advisor to the President - Jewish

Ronald Klain - Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United States - Jewish

Larry Summers - Economic Advisor to the President - Jewish

Paul Volcker - Economic Advisor to the President, Former Head of Fed Reserve - Jewish

Tim Geithner - Treasury Secetary - Jewish

Peter Orszag - Head of Budget - Jewish

Am I the only one noticing that Obama and Biden are not so much assembling staff, as gathering a minyan?

-Forwarded from Hollywood Mark

The forgotten Iron Man

Dodger second baseman Jeff Kent will retire today from the game of baseball. He will give a speech at approximately 11:30AM from Dodger Stadium. Almost no one will be listening. Virtually no one here on campus at Hollywood High School, a known baseball school, nor radio announcers salivating over Kobe Bryant's dislocated finger are discussing the retirement. This says all you need to know about the sorry state of our society. He will retire with a .290 career batting average, 377 home runs, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. His 351 home runs hit as a second baseman are 74 more than the next closest second baseman, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. In his last four seasons he hit .291 with 75 home runs for the Dodgers. He will also retire not having garnered the ring he so longed for.

The 2000 National League MVP, Kent was a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. He drove in more than 100 runs eight times (a record at the position), scored at least 100 runs three times and had at least 20 home runs 12 times. In 2008 he passed Ralph Kiner, Gil Hodges and Carlton Fisk on the all-time home-run list and passed Billy Williams, Dave Parker and Mickey Mantle on the all-time RBIs list. He's tied with Eddie Murray for 20th on the all-time doubles list with 560.

His numbers the last four years are second only to Jackie Robinson as a Dodger over that same time period. Whether this first ballot hall of famer goes in as a Dodger is anyone's guess. I suspect he will go in as a Giant. And so he should.

Another old school baseball player rides off into the sunset leaving us with questions about what kind of player will replace him. I have confidence in Blake Dewitt as a young man of character to fill his shoes nicely. But the numbers...OH the numbers.

Double Standard

Yesterday the Los Angeles Unified School District restructured the schedule of the entire district in order that all students might have an opportunity to watch the inauguration of president elect Barack Obama. Every class on campus here at Hollywood High School witnessed this historic event in the theater auditorium. This was essentially a mandatory event, one in which I chose to not attend.

Four years ago when then president elect George W. Bush was reelected to a second term, the mood on campus was anything but historic. Anger and animus were the order of the day. I do not recall being given the option of attending an inauguration for Mr. Bush that day, nor do I recall anything like the restructuring that occured yesterday.

While not a fan of either Mr. Bush nor Mr. Obama, I believe this sends a very bad message to our students. If indeed our roles as educators is to teach students to think and choose for themselves, this inconsistency is dangerous. While I understand the historic nature of the day, I am troubled by this double standard.

The Dodger Tony Show

Gabcast! Stop this noise in my head #26 - The Dodger Tony Show

Episode #2. Topics include upcoming arbitration for Dodger's catcher Russell Martin, Manny Ramirez, Spring Training, Camelback Park, Hall of Fame and others.

My response to the so called Jews who chained themselves up at the Israeli Consulate in LA today.

The sheer white heat generated by this discussion is evidence of blatant anti Semitism and bigotry coupled with a grotesque ignorance of the facts as related to the so called crisis in the middle east. The fact that "only" a handful of Israelis have been killed in "disproportion" to the innocent Palestinian children and elderly is an affront to those who understand that if the Palestinians COULD kill a thousand Jews they would do it in a heartbeat. The horrific actions of Hamas to cynically place armaments in civilian locations WITH civilians in these dwellings acting as "human shields" is one of the most subhuman acts I have ever had the disgust to comprehend. The singular motive of Hamas to sacrifice innocent Palestinians to court world anti-Jewish opinion is incomprehensible. In addition, the almost 50 percent split in opinion on this post is terrifying and reveals a much larger anti Jewish issue in Los Angeles, far worse than I suspected but knew. Thankfully we have a zillion Latinos who have no dog in this hunt.
I suspect that the group of Jews who chained themselves up are converts. No wait, converts would care far more than these self- loathing cripples.
Thank you Tamar Andrews for your brilliant post.
I encourage all of you to see the movie "Defiance". Learn from history people. Thank you Adonai for blessing the Israelis with one remarkable character asset: they don't give a sh...t what you think.

NYTimes.com: Israelis United on War as Censure Rises Abroad

This page was sent to you by:  tforkush@juno.com INTERNATIONAL / MIDDLE EAST   | January 13, 2009 Israelis United on War as Censure Rises Abroad By ETHAN BRONNER Israel's critics abroad call the Gaza war a disproportionate response. In Israel, very few people see it that way. 1. Well: The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating 2. A Tactic to Cut I.C.U. Trauma: Get Patients Up 3. Who Would Jesus Smack Down? 4. Op-Ed Columnist: Eight Years of Madoffs 5. Ideas for Obama »  Go to Complete List Advertisement The Wrestler Nominated for 3 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actor-Mickey Rourke. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Now playing in select theaters. Click here to view trailer Copyright 2009  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

Bup Cumpston: The Date.

Camp Midnight's take off on "Love Connection" with the affable Bup Cumpston showing us all how its done...NOT!

The Dodger Tony Show

Gabcast! Stop this noise in my head #25 - The Dodger Tony Show

Jamie Bozian and Dodger Tony discuss all things Dodgers. Will the Dodgers re-sign Manny Ramirez? Are Frank and Jamie McCourt committed to winning? Is there collusion going on this off-season? What are the chances of the Dodgers repeating as NL West champs? These and other subjects are discussed in this first episode of the Dodger Tony Show.

Hamas' war crimes

This story was sent to you by: tforkush@juno.com

This is the sad truth of Hamas.

--------------------
Hamas' war crimes
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In Gaza, it targets Israeli citizens with rockets, then shields its fighters behind Palestinian civilians.

By Alan M. Dershowitz

January 10 2009

Atemporary cease-fire in Gaza that simply allows Hamas to obtain more lethal weapons will assure a repetition of Hamas' win-win tactic of firing rockets at Israeli civilians while using Palestinian civilians as human shields.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-dershowitz10-2009jan10,0,2587090.story

Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

Dershowitz on Larry King

Gabcast! Stop this noise in my head #24 - Allan Dershowitz tells James Zogby to put it where the sun don't shine.

The Harvard attorney refuses to back down in this Lincoln-Douglas debate on the middle east on Larry King live.

NYTimes.com: CONNECTIONS; Mutating Virus: Hatred of Jews

This page was sent to you by:  tforkush@juno.com Message from sender: In response to your contention Jamie that anti-Semitism has declined. ARTS & IDEAS/CULTURAL DESK   | May 17, 2003 CONNECTIONS; Mutating Virus: Hatred of Jews By EDWARD ROTHSTEIN At a conference on anti-Semitism at the Center for Jewish History earlier this week one panelist told a classic Jewish joke: After a Jewish man is rejected for a job as a radio announcer, the story goes, an acquaintance asks him why he was passed over. Simple, the man replies with an agonized stutter, Anti-S-S-S-S-Semitism. 1. Op-Ed Columnist: A President Forgotten but Not Gone 2. Op-Ed Contributors: The End of the Financial World as We Know It 3. A New Cigarette Hazard: ‘Third-Hand Smoke’ 4. How to Repair a Broken Financial World 5. The Irish Economy’s Rise Was Steep, and the Fall Was Fast »  Go to Complete List Advertisement The Wrestler Nominated for 3 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actor-Mickey Rourke. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Now playing in select theaters. Click here to view trailer Copyright 2009  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

Palestinian liars

The Truth About Gaza
by Martin Peretz

I don't doubt the suffering caused by Israel's bombing of Gaza, and I don't doubt that many innocents are victims. Of course, had Hamas not been launching missiles against the population of Israel Gaza would have been left undisturbed. Enough is enough.

Arabic is a language easily taken to exaggeration and hyperbole. The easy use of the word genocide is an instance of this Arab habit. There is no genocide in Sudan but there is in the Strip. Sorry, I had it in reverse. This lying also extends to details that can be quickly checked by reporters who don't. Would you not think that, with the hysteria about starvation, you'd see some bloated bellies on the TV? Instead, you see healthy children and strong young men in the rituals of resistance.

And sneakers. You have to look closely at the sneakers, seemingly new and, of course, costly.

In the midst of all this catastrophe propaganda there are some facts. These were provided to me by Jacob Dallal, an old and trusted friend who happens to work for the spokesman's unit of the I.D.F. He has been my informant in several comparable situations: he has never told me a lie or even a fib.

* Today (Wed.), 93 truckloads with 2,500 tons of food and medical supplies were transferred to Gaza.
* Since the beginning of the operation in Gaza Saturday, 6,500 tons of food and medicine were transferred to Gaza.
* The World Food Program has informed Israel that they will not be resuming shipment of food into Gaza because their warehouses are at full capacity, with enough supplies for at least 2 weeks.
* 12 Palestinians from Gaza entered Israel today (Wed.) for medical treatment.

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JPost Article From Friend

Your friend, Dodger Tony , tforkush@juno.com, has sent you an article from JPost.

His / her message: Obama's silence is becoming more ominous by the day. He needs to make some sort of statement unequivocal in support of Israel and now..

Article: Obama should speak up now in support of Israel

Click here to view the entire article:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1230733173577

AOL Users click here to view the article:
<A HREF="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1230733173577">http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1230733173577</A>

Don't miss out on any of the important breaking news stories and in-depth analysis about Israel you can only get from JPost.For more news updates, go to http://www.jpost.com

JPost Article From Friend

Your friend, Dodger Tony , tforkush@juno.com, has sent you an article from JPost.

His / her message: Obama's silence is becoming more ominous by the day. He needs to make some sort of statement unequivocal in support of Israel and now..

Article: Obama should speak up now in support of Israel

Click here to view the entire article:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1230733173577

AOL Users click here to view the article:
<A HREF="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1230733173577">http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1230733173577</A>

Don't miss out on any of the important breaking news stories and in-depth analysis about Israel you can only get from JPost.For more news updates, go to http://www.jpost.com

A story from ynet has been sent to you

02:48 , 01.04.09

Gaza Op Misplaced pity Photo: AP

Don't pity the Palestinians Pity worst form of patronizing, will ensure Gazans continue to whine instead of acting Adi Dvir Observers worldwide have been expressing great pity for the people of Gaza, many of whom have been killed, injured, or forced to flee their homes during the ongoing IDF operation. This pity may be a natural emotional reaction, yet it is unethical and immoral.   To pity the people of Gaza is to patronize them, in essence implying that they do not control their fate, the state of their government, or their own actions. It is to assume one of two things: Either that Gazans are too stupid to oust the cancerous Hamas presence in their midst, or that they are unable to do so.   Just as a crying baby who only elicits pity will continue to cry, the citizens of Gaza will continue to cry out to the world instead of taking matters into their own hands. As long as they are told that they are helpless victims or mere pawns at the hands of terrorists, Gazans will only see their suffering prolonged.   The residents of Gaza, and the Palestinians as a whole, say they would like their own state. Yet such state must be earned. And earning a state - a piece of land to call your own - takes much more than incessant whining to the international community coupled with a desire to drive out the Jews. It requires inner strength and the ability to create rather than destroy. This is what Israelis proved time and again for over 60 years, and this is what Palestinians have yet to prove.   Yet before the people of Gaza are able to build, Hamas must be obliterated. Moreover, Hamas' ultimate defeat must not be at the hands of the IDF, but rather, it is an endeavor that must be undertaken by Gaza residents themselves. After all, Hamas is the true reason for their misery.   Those who believe that Gazans are capable of this should do away with their pity. As to those who do not believe Gazans can do it - why waste time pitying them in the first place?   Adi Dvir is a Ynetnews editor

Strunz and Farah at the Granada Theater, Dallas TX

An excellent performance from their recent concert in November.

Underneath it all.

The simple and shocking truth behind the intense over attention on the middle east is this: Any opportunity to hate Jews will be exploited by those who hate Jews. There are innumerable wars and conflicts in the world every day. They can be read about and seen and are easily accessible. This does not take into account those killed by crime in their own communities worldwide.
The over focus on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is heightened by the irrational and latent anti-Semitism of those who refuse to recognize the difference between good and evil. They are in fact a participant in that same evil, of course. Happily this is not the case with the overwhelming majority of United States citizens who have not wavered in their unequivocal support of Israel. Statistics continue to show an 80% approval rating from Americans towards Israel. Thank God almighty that we do not live in Europe, where anti-Semitism was born and solicited to the Arab world, also brought along by the late motor baron Ford himself. Living is Los Angeles, I continue to see the degree of virulent hatred of Jews everywhere around me. One simply need read the comments section on this same issue in the toilet paper known as the LA Times. Thank God for Israel.