Highlights from the Valley

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In TV shows, there is something called a "clip show" or highlights. Sometimes this is known as "Jumping the Shark." But this is dry land and there are no sharks to jump. Here are some of my favorite posts from the Valley......

10. Reviewing V for Vendetta -- Early postings do not mean coherent postings.

9. Self-Portrait of Delacroix -- A picture of my favorite painter.

8. A computer Prayer -- Use it and miracles appear!

7. Clinton's CIA v. Bush's Administration -- And no one noticed!

6. Another good Delacroix painting.

5. An American National Secrets Act? -- A good theory, but no answers.

4. When Darkness at Noon arrives, it will fly under a Democrat banner.

3. Hevesi in New York State and how it affects me. Also how a congressional seat in Florida affects me as well. (tie)

2. Wilsonian Idealism v. Nixonian Realism. -- More on this on a later post.

1. My post on why George Soros is a Democrat. -- Not for the reasons you think.

Enjoy the posts. Write a comment. Send me an email. There is more to come.

President Ford, R.I.P.

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President Ford was the only un-elected Vice President and the only un-elected 38th President of the United States. He died tonight. Ford's tenure lasted 865 days but it laid the groundwork to modern day America. He was the only other President I met. I met him at the Capitol Hill Club in DC in 1995. Ford was a gentleman.

The 1970's were a period of time when the American Foreign policy and American Dream seemed to ebb. President Ford came after the Democrats in Congress received the scalps of Nixon and Agnew. If Ford was not appointed by Congress, would the Democrats offer a Democrat for the Presidency? It is only due to the maturity of Speaker Carl Albert that this question need never be asked.

Ford's staff included Donald Rumsfeld and Richard Cheney. One was a former House member, and one was a future House member. Ford's presidency can be seen today in the War on Terror.

President Ford was provincial when it came to the House of Representatives. Ford brought calm during the whirlpools of the 70's. Godspeed President Ford.

Merry Christmas!

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Even though I'm Jewish, this is the closest thing to the meaning of Christmas. Sometimes the original beats the updated version.

Two men enter, One man leave.

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This is not Thunderdome. This is New York State politics.

Last month, two men won their respective offices: State Comptroller Alan Hevesi won re-election and Eliot Spitzer won the Governorship. Now the charge against Hevasi is using Government vehicles for personal use. However, if you know New York City and State Politics, this is tiddly winks compared to what has been done before. Remember Gangs of New York? Tammany Hall is not a movie creation; Its roots lie deep throughout the state and New York City.

Hevasi used the Government vehicles to transport his sick wife. Under Liberalism, isn't this a good thing? Let's walk down Baker Street (or in NYC, Bleeker Street) for a moment.

Who had the power to investigate a State Officer? The State Attorney General.
Who was the last State Attorney General? Eliot Spitzer.
Why? Hevasi has worked a lot of years in the Queens and New York City and State Democratic Circles. Before I became a Republican, this was my training ground. In politics, people collect and use "chits" or favors to be used later. Hevasi racked up a lot of chits by playing it straight within the party. In four years, who would be Spitzer's challenger? Hevasi.
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Two side notes: I haven't posted recently because of birthday, then being under the weather, and now Oscar season but now I'm back. And also, why would a Conservative Republican defend a Liberal Democrat in New York State?

Once upon a time I grew up in a town called Forest Hills in New York City. Hevasi's chief of staff lived there. I knew (and still know today) his daughter. She called to wish me a Happy Birthday. I know something as a Pragmatist, that an idealist always forgets, the Personal is never political.

Birthday Post

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First, read this post by my friend Rebbecca. Then, here is what happened today in history. I share the same birthday as Ludvig Van Beethoven and Philip K. Dick. Also today was the beginning of The Battle of the Bulge and the Boston Tea Party. Here are some birthday wishes:

1. Raise the funds for the Annual fundraiser.
2. Vern Buchanan gets seated in the 110th Congress.
3. Eventually, to end up working in a policy job in Washington, DC.
4. Be able to afford a new Car (Toyota Corolla LE)
5. See Jimmy Buffett, Moby and Seal in a concert.
6. Visit Israel again (last time was for my Bar Mitzvah in 1983).
7. Live (and work) under a Republican Majority again (House, Senate and White House).
8. To stop hearing from Democrats, "If we don't win, you cheated," And from Democrats, that they accept the Two party system. Sometimes the bear eats you.
9. The Palestinians accepting the two-state solution and stop sending Homicide bombers and missiles into Israel.
10. Eventually, to work for a Presidential Campaign in New Hampshire.
11. See the Washington Redskins win a Super Bowl. Also, to watch live, the New York Yankees win the World Series.
12. Take a vacation in the Caribbean and get licenced to Scuba Dive.

Standing on the shoulder of giants

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I have engaged in two posts on the Althouse site regarding Republicans and Liberals on the internet. A question came up, does JSF hate Left wingers? If I was asked, I would have said "No." But having been a former Liberal Democrat for New York City, I can despise what the Party and it's members have become.

Try engaging a Democrat (or Liberal) about the War in Iraq. They do not see how engaging Saddam Hussain and making Iraq a proving ground for terrorists (who have stated explicitly that they would attack the US again) makes us here a little bit more safe. As a Jew who was Bar Mitzvahed in Israel, I see the negative posts (and comments) about Israel on the Huffington Post and Daily Kos. My eyes have seen what I already knew.

And domestically? How do you engage in a conversation with someone who says, "If we don't win, you cheated." Because that is all the Democrats have been saying for the past six years. They won and they are still angry. Even during Impeachment, the Republicans in Washington still respected the institution of the Presidency. I can't find one Democrat online (or in real life) who would be civil to the President. I shook President Clinton's hand even though I was opposed to his policies. I was civil. Am I asking too much for the Democrats and their minions to act like adults?

The Democratic Nations Association

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Read this post first. Now, here is a 21st century solution:

The Democratic Nations Association -- The only members of this international club will be members that have Democratic elections on a continuous basis, a free-market (or mixed market) economy and stable transfer of power. Also, a nation-state must have a record of not attacking it's neighbors within 50 years or attacking its citizens in any civil war within 10 years. Their economies must have a central banking system and a stock market. If a nation meets these requirements, then they should be admitted.If you have any more ideas on the DNA, please comment. But the United Nations must vacate Turtle Bay because it has achieved nothing, it must go.

If you have any more ideas on the DNA, please comment. But the United Nations must vacate Turtle Bay because it has achieved nothing, it must go.

Turtles Bay's Home for Autocratic Countries

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"You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately… Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!" -- Oliver Cromwell to the Rump Parliament, 1653

So, Kofi Annan gave his final speech chastising the United States? I would be so bold to spend his ammunition at the United Nations. It's time has past, it's members live in the past (1950's - 1980), America must move past it. The United States is a Haven for countries with autocrats at it's head (i.e. Cuba, Venezuela, Sudan, etc). If the UN is capable of creating goodwill, why did it pass "Zionism is Racism?" And a majority of it's members continuously vote against the weakest member (Israel) and its sponsor member (the US)? How does this bring about World Peace? By continuing to believe the United Nations is capable of solving any problems, Leftists and Liberals believe in a dream that has died long ago.

Let us focus on what should be next. Let us put the UN next to the League of Nations as another failed experiment. Here should be the next one....

See next post.

Palm trees for "The Bloody 8th"

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If you know your Congressional History, there are moments of Grand Debates of Constitutional Issues and then moments when the Congress has knife-fights in the gutter. The 110th Congress is going down into the gutter. Here's why:

In the 99th Congress, there was a election in the Indiana Eighth district won by Rick McIntire over Frank McClosky by 72 votes. The House (run by Tip O'Neill) did not recognize McIntire and seated McClosky. After that, the Republican members walked out and Newt Gingrich rose. Radical among moderates, the Democrats actions toward the Minority party caused the frictions that occured during the "Republican Dozen" years.

Now:

After three recounts where Vern Buchanan won by 373 votes, Speaker-to-be Pelosi is already threatening not to seat Rep. Buchanan. Echoes of the 99th Congress. If Pelosi does not seat Buchanan, the Republicans should walk out. Not only should they walk out, but Rep. Buchanan should be considered part of their caucus and vote on the floor. The Republicans should fight this battle every day in the Well and in the Committee rooms. Every Democrat member they meet on the subway, in the Longworth cafeteria, the Rayburn Gym or the Cannon Press room. Republicans should not let this be a repeat of the 99th Congress.

But I have faith that Speaker Pelosi will not be so partisan and reach out to the Minority party. She will seat Rep. Buchanan and the Florida Democrats will act like adults and prepare for 2008. I couldn't stop laughing trying to write that. If gentlemenly Tip O'Neill could not reach out, how can we expect better of Speaker Pelosi. But I do have faith.

An aside:

I actually have dealings with this seat. Back during the 104th Congress, I interned for Dan Miller (R-FL-13) . Also, Buchanan's chief of staff is one of my mentors. These are good people, and they deserve to be there.

December 7, 1941

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Remember.

Thunderclap

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The computer has been down and then came back up today, hence the fundraiser. But what a week it has been. The storm clouds are darkening, can you hear the thunder yet?

First, John Bolton leaves his post in Turtle Bay. Next, former Democratic President Jimmy Carter deigns that Jews are unfit to live in Israel, but Arafat's people are. The Iraq Study Group proposes surrender and hari-kari. And, finally, a delegation of Democratic politicians met with Hamas to decide the fate of Israel and Iraq,

These are foreshadowing of darker times ahead. Negotiating with Hamas, Hezbollah and Al Queda (in Iraq), where does that lead? They are not military armies content to get Real Estate. They wish to recreate Umayyads empire extending from Europe to Asia. And extend their Sharia laws to America and the United Kingdom.

The War in Iraq forced these disparate, but very determined groups to play defense. America leaves, they take the oil funds, 9/11 will be a minor blip compared to what will happen. And yet, the Democrats, have no qualms about sacrificing Israel or America to people who will either convert or kill.

A challenge to my Democrat readers. Again, prove me wrong. How many Minyans are in Mecca? How many Priests or Baptisms are in Indonesia? Will your fight for the Palestinians help stop the terrorists? I await an answer.

Cui Bono?

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According to The Economist, the dollar is falling I read the article at lunch today and tried to put some pieces together. As the Latin saying goes, Cui Bono? , Who benefits? Let's walk down this path together....

Who is the biggest financial speculator on the planet? Someone who has gone into other economies and shorted their currencies?

The American economic system has many checks and balances. We have a central banking system [The Federal Reserve System] that has been determined for the last 20 years by either a Republican President (Bush pere, Bush fils) or a Republican Congress. Soros has been involved in financial speculation of different currencies since 1992, starting with the United Kingdom, and moving onto the Asian flu.

Now following this theory, most Wall Streeters talk of getting "Whales" of investors. For men of Soros' stature, they are looking for "Whale" economies. The United States is the biggest in the world (China is moving up). Start with influencing the Federal Reserve, and the appointment process of its Governors. If the GOP will not support Soros in his work, who will help?

Backing the Democrats in 2004 with 527 organizations, he fought President Bush on ideological grounds. But why? If America was truly a World Police State, there would be military troops in Putin's office, and around American cities. Soros used the specter of 9/11 to help break into the American financial markets. He attacks Bush through proxies, not because of his opposition to Bush's foreign policy, but his economic policies.

If Democrats win the Congress again in 2008, along with the Presidency, with Soros footing the bill, how soon before the Financial Speculators attack the American economy in 2010?