Obama Hitches a Ride*

Referring to his economic team, and his plans for socializing---er, dealing with the current economic situation--in America,the president-elect said:

"But understand where the vision for change comes from. First and foremost, it comes from me. That's my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going and to make sure then that my team is implementing."

Then why does in look like he is hitching a ride on the Clinton bandwagon?

*photo by Charles Dharapak, AP

Obama Jeopardy

Category:   American history for $1000.

Answer:  He is the former American leader who has the most in common with Barack Obama.

Question:  Who is __________?

a.   Lincoln 

b.   FDR 

c.   George III

Post your answers in Comments.   Watch future blogs for the correct answer.

How do you spell KGB?

This from Ben Evans of the Obama-Associated Press:

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set," Obama said in July. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Civilian national security force? Do we not have enough over-zealous police already?

And you thought the Patriot Act was bad!

Political SAT Question

IAGO : OTHELLO RAHM EMANUEL : ____________?

Two Americas

The term "Two Americas" was coined by the great slip-and-fall Senator from North Carolina, John Edwards.  We can now see graphic proof of his idea in this county-by-county electoral map from the recent presidential election.  The map is the work of Mark Newman.  Notice how the blue is mostly limited to urban areas of high population density:   the northeast, the west coast, the tip of Florida, the upper midwest (Chicago, etc.)     This is one America, comprised of upper middle class and upper class white liberal elites,  service union members,   city dwellers who do not depend on cars, the entertainment industry, the pornography industry, etc.  The second America,  the Red America, is the rest of us.   We are also know as bitter clingers, or, in the olden days, the silent majority.

(Please also notice the correct use of the word comprised.)

A Date That Will Live in History

BHRA*

Congratulations to Barack Obama.   Congratulations to the United States of America.  Yesterday was a date that will live in history.   Now it is time to turn our eyes to the future.  How will the new president and his party handle their long-sought  power?

On January 20, 2009, everybody turn on your TVs,   and then tell me what you see:   is it an inauguration or a coronation?  The democrats and their friends from Hollywood love to stage grand spectacles, and the Obama convention speech and acceptance speech were mere rehearsals for the Big One when he takes the oath of office.

 

McCain, Bush I and II,  and Reagan all approached the presidency with a sense of humility, meaning they realized that the office was larger than them.  They were mere occupants for 4 or 8 years, servants of the people and guardians of the Constitution.   Clinton viewed the presidency as something for him to use, as a tool to advance his own cause, or his wife’s, or his party’s.   It is only a slight exaggeration to say it was a toy for him to play with.

 

What about Obama?   Will he view himself as a servant of The People, or their King?

What about us?   Will we view him as a fallible servant of the The People, or as our King?

 

Barack Honolulus, Rex Americanae.   BHRA*

*cf. the Catholic motto, INRI,   for  Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudæorum, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.   John 19:19

Obamalation, Obamanation

Congratulations,  President-Elect Obama, and sympathy for the loss of your grandmother.

Why Jews will vote for Obama, a Sermon

Stop me if I get too preachy.

On second thought, do not stop me.   Some of you out there, especially the Ninevites in Congress and Palm Beach County, could use a good sermon.   

I have been reading "What God Can Do for You Now," by Robert Levine (Sourcebooks, Inc.,  2008).   Levine quotes Rabbi Harold Schulweis:  "Jewish holiness is in relatonship with the broken vessels of society: the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, the widow...It takes place in the marketplace, the prison, the hospital, the convalescent home." [page 178]    This refers to Leviticus, chapter 19, known as the holiness code, which explains in detail our responsibilities to our fellow men, especially those less fortunate than ourselves.

Democrat politicians, Obama in particular, preach about helping the poor, the homeless, the illegal alien, the sick, the minority, the sexually alternative, etc.   This message appeals to Jews, who have been inculcated with the holiness code their whole lives,   and liberals, who are laden with guilt, and others, who hope to be on the receiving end of government's largess.   The popularity of the democrat message is understandable.  Unfortunately,  those who buy into it are "...persons who cannot discern between their right and their left hand..." (Jonah 4:11).

Why is it wrong for Jews, in particular, to support the democrat-liberal social welfare agenda?

What is wrong is that it is an abrogation of their responsibility under their covenant with God.

The holiness code, and, arguably, much of the old testament, is about personal responsibility.

Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to set up governments to do our holiness for us.   Leviticus is about our individual obligations to our fellow man.  "You wanna be Holy, you do these things," it says.    It does not say, "You wanna be Holy, you pay your taxes and let your government do the dirty work."    It is not for Barack Obama to take the gleanings of your harvest and transfer them to others, it is for you to do so.   And the measure of your Holiness is not by how much you pay in taxes, but by how much you voluntarily do for you neighbor and your community.