Noah Sheidlower

How do American Jews feel about the US abstaining from USNC vote https://ift.tt/3dbaGRz The Republican Jewish Coalition and the Zionist Organization of America both issued statements condemning the Biden administration‘s abstention on the United Nations Security Council resolution, calling it a “new level of betrayal” and “disgraceful.” In a statement, ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said it’s disgraceful that the Biden administration refused to veto the resolution. Klein accused the Biden administration of ignoring its own prior warnings that UNSC resolutions could hurt negotiations to halt hostilities and release hostages. “The Biden administration’s failure to veto the resolution enabled this anti-Israel/antisemitic resolution to pass. Calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ enables Hamas’ terror army to survive, regroup, and rebuild its ability to attack innocent Israelis again and again and again,” Klein said.  Klein said the resolution did not condition its call for a ceasefire on the release of all hostages and that Hamas would “of course” ignore the call to release or allow access to the hostages. Klein also noted the resolution failed to condemn Hamas – which is why the US said it abstained from the vote.  Only Israel is bound by the resolution, not Hamas “Thus, the resolution in effect only provides ammunition against the Jewish State of Israel,” Klein said. “But according to the UN – and the Biden administration, which enabled the UN’s duplicitous double standards – when terrorists attack Jews or Israel, the terrorists should be helped and defended instead of combatted by all means! This double standard has a name. It’s called antisemitism!“ PROTESTERS MARCH past the US Capitol Building in Washington last week, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. (credit: REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS) In a statement, RJC CEO Matt Brooks said Biden must be “called out for his ineffectual UN diplomacy” before it does any more damage to Israel’s security and Israel’s relationship with the US.  Source link via POTPOURRINEWS https://ift.tt/3CgWfYx April 25, 2024 at 04:35AM

🔴 In Red Montana: Two Democrats Take a New Political Approach In deeply red Montana, two Democrats are adopting a new strategy. How are they planning to make an impact in such a challenging political landscape? #Montana #Politics #Democrats Read more: https://lnkd.in/ewhwgXFq

Biden approval ticks up, extremism still top worry – poll https://ift.tt/loruBNx US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings ticked up slightly in the last month, according to a poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, as more Americans named extremism and threats to democracy as their top worry ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Two-fifths of Americans surveyed said they approved of Biden’s performance, while 56% said they disapproved. That was a slight increase from last month’s poll, which showed that 37% of respondents approved of Biden, close to the lowest level of his presidency. The online poll was conducted March 22-24, after Biden’s annual State of the Union address to Congress, where he delivered an energetic speech challenging Republicans that was intended to tamp down concerns about his age and vigor. Biden, 81, is seeking a second term in office, where he is expected to face off against former President Donald Trump, 77, in the election. Threats to democracy A slightly larger number of respondents also expressed concerns over political extremism or threats to democracy, with 23% of respondents saying that was their top concern, up from 21% last month. Began and ended his speech on nation, elections, and democracy. Joe Biden (credit: REUTERS) More than a third of Democrats – 36% – said that was their top worry, while 11% of Republicans and a quarter of independent voters said the same. Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from him, including in a fiery speech shortly before hundreds of his supporters stormed the US Capitol in 2021. Five people died. Trump faces several legal challenges, including some tied to his role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. On the campaign trail, Trump has said he would release people imprisoned for their role in the Jan. 6 attack and has referred to them as “hostages.” He has also made a series of racist and inflammatory statements in his latest run for office. Other top issues for voters were the economy, which 19% of respondents said was the most important problem for the country, and immigration, with 17% of respondents citing it as the top issue. While 32% of Republican voters said immigration was their top concern, that was a decrease from last month’s poll, which showed 38% of Republicans saw it as the top issue for the country. Voters largely disapproved of the country’s institutions. Most people surveyed had unfavorable opinions of the House of Representatives (65%), the Senate (60%) and the Supreme Court (56%). The Federal Reserve was the only institution that a majority favored, with 53% of poll respondents saying they had a favorable view. The US central bank has raised interest rates since March 2022 in a bid to lower inflation, but has kept rates steady since July and is expected to cut rates later this year. The Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses online from 1,021 adults, using a nationally representative sampl...

Targeting Netzach Yehuda with sanctions is a grave injustice https://ift.tt/y79cuPF I came back from Vietnam on a stretcher, wounded from battle, wondering why. I found the answer in Concord, Massachusetts, on that rude bridge that arched the flood, stood shoulder to shoulder with my fellow soldiers, and heard that shot fired around the world.  It’s our blood that stains those stripes in our flag red, and our ideals stand undiminished: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Warriors who fight for common ideals in the country It is those ideals that I discovered many years later in the fledgling Netzach Yehuda, the only battalion of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) soldiers in the IDF. They are warriors who fight for our common ideals and the values of the Bible that inspired the founding fathers of our great country. Media reports indicate that the US government is contemplating imposing sanctions on Netzach Yehuda. Targeting Netzach Yehuda is a deep injustice.  THE HAREDI community has realized that the army is ‘a positive Torah environment, [comforting] the parents who were afraid their sons would become secular.’ (credit: REVACH HAFAKOT) Since its inception 25 years ago as the only haredi battalion, and until two years ago, Netzach Yehuda has operated predominantly in the West Bank, including five years of continuous operation between 2017 and 2022.  This is unique for any IDF combat battalion, which is usually transferred from one sector to another every few months. Over the years, the battalion has received numerous accolades, including several excellence awards, for its significant contributions to Israel’s security. Hailing from haredi society, many of the battalion’s soldiers joined the IDF at significant personal cost, and, by all accounts, they form a highly motivated and high-achieving unit. Unfortunately, as can be expected, there have also been several incidents over 25 years of service, but all were dealt with by the army prosecution, with soldiers imprisoned and punished. In recent years, Netzach Yehudah has served with distinction, earning accolades for its courage and professionalism. Of course, these incidents are truly regrettable, and every effort has been made to minimize them. They are an inevitable by-product of combat situations in which soldiers are under constant attack by both civilian and paramilitary forces.  They occur in many units in all armies around the world. As someone who served in the US military, I saw mistakes made. The morality of the military is not determined by the mistakes it has made but by whether it rectifies them and ensures they do not occur again. That is exactly what happened with Netzach Yehudah. The voices rising against Netzach Yehuda come from anti-Israel NGOs. These NGOs, such as Dawn, have a long agenda of anti-Israel rhetoric. Their mu...

In a growing conflict marked by low-tech tactics, South Korean activists are sending balloons over the border, loaded with anti-North Korean messages, K-pop songs, and USB drives. This provocative action comes in response to North Korea's recent launch of balloons filled with trash and excrement. The escalating tit-for-tat exchanges have strained relations, leading South Korea to suspend a 2018 de-escalation agreement and resume military drills. To further heighten the situation, the U.S. recently conducted a bombing drill over the Korean Peninsula. #southkorea #NorthKorea #war

Voters in battleground states say the economy is a top issue https://ift.tt/u4PaYdn Voters’ impressions of how good each presidential candidate is for the economy could determine the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election. In Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are engaged in close contests, most voters said the economy will be a major factor in deciding whom they will cast their ballot for, results from a CBS News and YouGov poll show.  In Michigan, 80% of voters say the economy is a top issue for them, followed by 77% of voters who say inflation is. Seventy-two percent of voters ranked the state of democracy as one of the issues that matter most to them. Biden currently has a narrow lead over Trump in the state.  In both Pennsylvania and Washington, 80% of voters similarly ranked the economy as one of the topics they care most about this election. Other lower-ranked topics included candidates’ stances on gun policy, crime, the U.S.-Mexico border and abortion.  “It’s so evident that the economy remains a central issue, but how people interpret the economy, the issues they want addressed to deal with their own economic situation — that’s a complicated questions with complicated answers,” said CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa. About 6 in 10 people polled by CBS News said they rated the economy as “fairly bad” or “very bad,” despite economic measures such as low unemployment, growing wages and a resilient stock market, which point to a strong U.S. economy.  That could pose a challenge for Democrats who Costa said are eager to get “that labor voter, the union member” to vote Democratic and pull ahead of Trump. “They know that those working voters, at times hear the call of the Trump campaign and his message on immigration. And it can be appealing to those voters, and so that’s why Democrats are really trying to focus on the economy by focusing on labor,” Costa said.  Megan Cerullo Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting. Source link via POTPOURRINEWS https://ift.tt/FPJkvEC April 30, 2024 at 12:30AM

1. Cartoon: When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice https://ift.tt/qdvFJSP Cartoon In the realm of political satire, cartoons have long served as a powerful medium to convey complex political scenarios and critiques with humor and wit. One such provocative piece is “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice.” This cartoon captures the essence of political missteps and the often humorous yet critical perspective on governmental affairs. The Art of Political Cartoons Political cartoons are more than just humorous illustrations; they are visual editorials that use satire to provide commentary on current events, political leaders, and policies. The cartoon in question, “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice,” employs sharp wit and clever imagery to highlight the inefficiencies and misjudgments within the administration. Historical Context and Relevance Understanding the historical context in which a political cartoon is created is crucial. This particular cartoon can be seen as a reflection of the current political climate, where political leaders are often under intense scrutiny for their decisions and actions. By portraying the president’s ministers as needing target practice, the cartoonist suggests a lack of precision and competence in their duties. Analyzing the Imagery Symbolism in Political Cartoons Political cartoons rely heavily on symbolism to convey their messages. In “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice,” various elements serve as symbols: The Target: Often represents the goals or issues the administration aims to address. Mini-sters: A play on the word “ministers,” suggesting that these officials are miniature in terms of their capabilities or effectiveness. Target Practice: Implies a need for improvement, training, or correction in their approach to governance. Character Depiction The portrayal of characters in political cartoons is also significant. The ministers in this cartoon are likely depicted in a caricatured manner, exaggerating certain features to highlight their perceived inadequacies or humorous traits. This artistic choice not only entertains but also underscores the cartoonist’s critical viewpoint. Themes and Messages Governmental Inefficiency A recurring theme in political satire is governmental inefficiency. This cartoon taps into this narrative by suggesting that the president’s ministers are not hitting their targets – a metaphor for failing to achieve their policy goals or manage their responsibilities effectively. Accountability and Competence Another central message is the need for accountability and competence in leadership. The notion of target practice implies that the ministers need to improve their skills, which can be interpreted as a call for better leadership and more effective governance. Impact on Public Perception Political cartoons like “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice” play a significant role in shapin...

https://lnkd.in/gw9sATVh Sometimes you just have to ask. Journalists understand the importance of the LWV nonpartisan Voters Guide. KXAN added a link to VOTE411 to their excellent Voters Guide. "The non-partisan League of Women Voters has a voter guide available, including responses from candidates. You can also find a personalized ballot and candidate information on VOTE411."

#Election Review: Election successfully manages to capture and narrate effectively. Election is a compelling thriller that explores the dynamics of generational and grassroot politics. https://lnkd.in/gnw2kUNJ