middle-east

It is time for American Jews to demand that Obama instruct Israel to obey international law. Well-known actress and comedian, Roseanne Barr, has been a consistent and persistent voice for decades against some of the acts committed by the state of Israel. Specifically, she has vigorously, unflinchingly, unequivocally, uncompromisingly, and courageously called upon Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. With this latest incident of the flotilla raid by Israeli commandos, we sat down for a talk.

Over the last several days the reviews for Sex and the City 2 have been rolling in, and not surprisingly they have been scathing with a side of mean. I stopped reading them when I saw the word “leathery” describe the women’s skin. I actually think that people really get off on beating up on this film, and I can’t decide whether it’s because a gay man has made a pretty gay film that is for women, or because the film is for and about women that’s going to make a ton of money and no one gives a shit if a single straight guy goes and sees it.

The views expressed in this piece are solely those of the writer and don’t represent any organization he serves. This piece originally appeared as an op-ed on JTA in response to a piece by a new group called, “Jews for Palin.” When President Obama took office last year, our country seemed to be teetering. Eight years of war, monstrous deficit spending, a breakdown of diplomacy and a disdain for science and civil liberties welcomed the new President into office.

Sarah Palin blasted out another Facebook diatribe Friday, criticizing President Obama for lacking “faith in American exceptionalism” for his positions on foreign policy and the military. “The truth is this: by his actions we see a president who seems to be much more comfortable with an American military that isn’t quite so dominant and who feels the need to apologize for America when he travels overseas,” Palin wrote. “Could it be a lack of faith in American exceptionalism?

In informal discussions with people, I often shock them when I relate the simple fact that Jewish rabbis spoke Arabic and lived in the Arab-Muslim world. So conditioned have we become to Jews being Ashkenazim from Eastern Europe with their lox and bagels, chopped liver and matzoh ball soup, that it is startling for many to find that Jews once lived in the Arab world and acculturated to the norms of those places.

The Republican win in the special Senate election in Massachussetts has been compared to a powerful earthquake that could transform U.S. politics as we know it, pointing out to a forceful populist uprising that reflects the rage of the economically distressed and politically frustrated American voters who are ready to storm the barricades and get rid of the crooked politicians on Capitol Hill and the Fat Cats in Wall Street.

IN TODAY’S AUDIO REPORT: Our special coverage of the historic U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen continues; AP finds ‘no fraud’ in stolen climate science emails; New poll finds majority of Americans want a climate treaty … PLUS : Teabaggers in Copenhagen get a taste of their own tea! … All that and more in today’s Green News Report! Got comments, tips, love letters, hate mail? Drop us a line at GreenNews@BradBlog.com or right here at the comments link below. All GNRs are always archived at GreenNews.BradBlog.com .

I have a hard time looking at or listening to Joe Lieberman. I know this is my problem. If I agreed with the man’s politics, I’d likely view his smirking mien, his habit of droning and whining, even that occasional Alfred E. Newman grin with something resembling affection.

Several events of the past week should be a wake-up call to the Obama administration. Bottom line: the medicine isn’t working. Stronger stuff is needed. Consider: The June Unemployment Numbers . The green-shoots school was expecting that the rising rate of unemployment would continue to slow, as it did in May. But instead the number spiked back up. A total of 467,000 jobs were lost. The unemployment rate rose to 9.5 percent, and OECD economists project that U.S. unemployment will still be in double digits as late as 2011.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media. ___ Iran’s hardline president lashed out anew at the United States and President Barack Obama on Saturday, accusing him of interference and suggesting that Washington’s stance on Iran’s postelection turmoil could imperil Obama’s aim of improving relations.