Voting No On God And Jerusalem.
I am not anti-semitic, am not involved in advocating for the Israelis or the Palestinians. I did empathize a little bit with Yasser Arafat, who seemed no match for the mighty Israeli Army. I’ve had friends, several over the years, who served in the Israeli Army. They seemed more sophisticated and cosmopolitan than I could ever hope to be.
I was embarrassed to witness the vote on god and Jerusalem last night at the Democratic Convention. Neither god nor Jerusalem belongs in the party platform. The dispute between the Palestinians and the Israelis should be settled regionally, without U.S. intervention.
elroyjones 
I bet this wasn’t Obama’s idea. He is no friend of Netanyahu – they dislike each other intensely. The U.S. is not the only country becoming more religiously fundamental. In talking about the Israeli settlements, “. . . the military itself is becoming more and more heavily populated by religious Zionists . . . In 1990, only two per cent of the infantry’s officer training corps was religious; now the figure is at forty-two-percent.” Luckily, there are men who served with Sharon who still hold sway and they will not let Netanyahu and his cronies bomb Iran. Netanyahu is as crazy as Ahmadinejad and we have no business backing that country.
That explains quite a lot. My good looking Israeli friends, men and women alike, were not religious at all, which I’m sure had a lot to do with their sophistication 25 years ago.
Particularly when you consider the fact that overly religious Christians… like, oh, I don’t know, ex-pres Bush, actually said out loud that they support the state of Israel because whithout it, there can never be an armeggedon and return of Christ. Talk about a cynical, perverted reason for doing something.
Not to be flippant, but I’d like to know what I should be doing during a proposed armageddon. I can’t imagine there will be bleachers, for the spectators, and as a non-believer it would be in poor taste for me to participate. I wonder what proper etiquette is?
I cannot believe in a god with an agenda of hate, to paraphrase Harper Faulkner- a weak, puny, incompetent, god who has to have humans fight his battles.
I think the proper way to experience the end of days is to limber up… do some stretches… so you can kiss your ass goodbye…
hahahahahaha!
hehehehehehehehehehe
Ha, another list for Sadowski: 10 appropriate activities for a nonparticipant during armageddon.
Excellent idea! I have no idea how one should comport one’s self during such an occasion; I need a list!
You won’t be doing anything during the armageddon because you will quickly be turned to dust where you stand. Poof! Gone, just like that. Only the allotted number will survive (I can’t remember what it is, but you have to be really, really faithful and win that lottery). The others will be turned to dust immediately. I like it. No pain.
Oh good!
I suppose you don’t wear American flag lapel pins either.
I do NOT, your czarness. I wear my peace sign with pride and sometimes, if it’s a formal occasion, I wear my pride rainbow peace sign.
How could you help but like Arafat who looked like he just stepped out of the pages of GQ?
It was the stubble that gave him the animal appeal.
Do you stay awake nights devising traps to get me in trouble?
Yes.
Well, you certainly tossed out some red meat here and it will take a great deal more than a comment in a blog to really do some analysis. But I will say this: I think it’s time that party platforms and party conventions went the way of the dinosaur. At one time a gathering was needed to hash out issues and nominate candidates, but in this age of technology, that gathering is nothing more than a gigantic waste of money. However, to be fair, I will add that I do not believe in the two-party system. It does not allow for flexibility on complex issues. What we need are great statesmen and stateswomen who place the needs of the country and indeed the world ahead of their need for election.
I agree HF, the binary system does not work for us. I thought tonight, as we watched the hoopla from the convention, that there will be excitement from now until the election. The day after, we’ll wake up and have a president, and the problems will be there minus the glitz, like Ash Wednesday after Mardi Gras. Sadly, I believe the days of public “service” are gone.
I have a diabolical plan for future campaigns-
No running for office if you have more than $10k in cash or more than $500k total assets, that includes immediate family and parents per household limit.
No cash donations from anyone at all; unlimited time donations are allowed.
No network or cable advertising.
Debates broadcast on PBS only, on Sunday afternoons.
Make social networking and the internet work.
You may not run if you have never worked.
I like it! I’ll vote for you right now!
Interestingly, the current POTUS wouldn’t be so, if it had not been for a single speech at one of these anachronistic political wingdings. Which is why I think they still serve a purpose. To showcase up and coming talent. Both down ticket players and young party building behind the scene types.
And while I agree with you on how the two party system limits alternative options to political angst, I worry, especially, with a non-parliamentary system, that more the merrier may lead to further political tribes with subsequent ideological and regional balkanization. Think debt celling debates with “Palin Particulars” and the “Clean Coal Coalition” chiming in.
Yup, I always forget that wanting more and different means very different. Being careful what I wish for.
Yeah, good points, but think about this. Historians say we have had only four or five great presidents. Many have been mediocre and many more have been piss poor. So, the system is not working! We are not electing the best and brightest. HF
I agree. Corporate imperialism run by an oligarchy is manipulating the vote. I don’t see a change without a social revolution.