Middle East and Other Musings: Bill Overpaid. Kraft/Anti-semitism. Need For Deaf American and Less Mass Media. Fascist. Calming Waters. Allen West Speaks.

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Bill screwed again. Trump, art of the deal won again.

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Pats' Kraft starts campaign to fight antisemitism
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faced the camera during a video call, pointing to a small, sky-blue lapel pin on his blazer.

The pin is the symbol of a $25 million "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign launched Monday by the 81-year-old billionaire through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, aiming to raise awareness nationwide about soaring incidents of antisemitism online and in person. The campaign will feature emotive ads to be introduced by stars of top television shows such as NBC's "The Voice," and the "Kelly Clarkson Show," and Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen."

"This little blue square represents the Jewish population in the United States -- 2.4%," said Kraft, who was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, in an observant Orthodox Jewish family. "But we're the victims of 55% of the hate crimes in this country."

The ads are intended to tug at the heartstrings of non-Jewish Americans, said Matthew Berger, the foundation's executive director. One of the ads, set to premiere Monday, shows a non-Jewish neighbor painting over a garage door vandalized with the Nazi swastika and the words "No Jews," concluding with the message: "Hate only wins if you let it."

Another ad focuses on online hate: A Jewish teen is shown crestfallen as he is trolled after posting a video of his bar mitzvah. Soon after, he sees a Harlem choir tag him with their version of his worship song. He sings along with the choir as these words pop up on screen: "Voices of support are louder than words of hate."

Berger said the foundation worked with its creative team to find scenarios "that would be specifically impactful and showcase what antisemitism looks like." He said the ads will be featured during the NFL draft and the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as on social media, promoted by prominent influencers.

The campaign's launch follows last week's release of a report by the Anti-Defamation League asserting that antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose 36% in 2022. The report tracked 3,697 incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault aimed at Jewish people and communities last year. It's the third time in five years that the annual total has been the highest ever recorded since the group began collecting data in 1979.

The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, based at California State University, San Bernardino, reported last week that Jews were the most targeted of all U.S. religious groups in 2022 in 21 major cities, accounting for 78% of religious hate crimes

Brian Levin, the center's director, said he is concerned about brazen, public expressions of antisemitism, and the proliferation of antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories online. A campaign against antisemitism that solicits the support of non-Jewish people can help create awareness, he said.

"It is so important to show that antisemitism is un-American," Levin said. "If we can show non-Jews as allies, that could be powerful."

In October, Kraft's foundation aired a 30-second ad during a Patriots-Jets game urging the public to speak out against antisemitism. That ad came after antisemitic comments made by the music mogul formerly known as Kanye West and basketball star Kyrie Irving's apparent support for an antisemitic film.

"The rise of antisemitism, to me, is the real breakdown of what this society stands on," Kraft said. "In my lifetime, I have never seen the way things are right now with this hatred against Jews."

The mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018, in which 11 people were killed in the nation's deadliest antisemitic attack, was a catalytic moment in his life, Kraft said. Two months after the shooting, he attended a Shabbat service at the synagogue, the day before his team was to play the Steelers.

Kraft established the foundation a year later, after he received the $1 million Genesis Prize, awarded to Jews who have achieved significant professional success and are committed to Jewish values. The annual award is given by the Genesis Foundation in partnership with the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Over the past decade, Kraft has encountered much turbulence in his personal and professional life.

In 2015, he and his team got caught up in the Deflategate scandal. The NFL issued a 243-page report after an investigation found that Patriots employees violated the league's rules covering game balls and that the team's star quarterback, Tom Brady, was "at least generally aware" of plans to deflate the footballs to his liking. Kraft accepted the team penalty of a $1 million fine and loss of two draft picks.

In 2020, Florida prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor charge against Kraft after courts blocked their use of video that allegedly showed him paying for massage parlor sex. He issued a statement saying he "hurt and disappointed" his family, friends, co-workers, fans and others who hold him "to a higher standard."

"I expect to be judged not by my words, but by my actions. And through those actions, I hope to regain your confidence and respect," Kraft said at the time.

In recent months, he has become a powerful voice against antisemitism. Kraft says he treasures the spiritual values he inherited from his parents, especially his father who skipped television and other pastimes to read the Torah.

"I was privileged to receive that upbringing," he said. "It gave me a spiritual core no amount of money can buy."

Kraft said he hopes the ad campaign will help "educate and empower all Americans to stand up against Jewish hate" and the blue square he wears on his lapel will become "a unifying symbol of solidarity" in that quest.

"I hope this campaign calls out hate against all communities -- Black people, the LGBTQ community -- just anyone who is experiencing hate," he said. "My hope is this will become an effort that builds bridges with all Americans."

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IF THERE WERE MORE
DEAF AMERICANS, AND NO MASS MEDIA, TRUMP WOULD MAKE A GREAT PRESIDENT AGAIN.
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More than six in 10 Americans don’t want Trump to be president again: poll
BY Victor Nava

A majority of Americans do not want to see former President Donald Trump reelected to the White House as he faces a possible indictment in Manhattan, according to a new poll.

The Marist poll, released on Monday, found that nearly 61% of adults do not want Trump, 76, to become president again, compared to 38% who said they do want four more years of Trump.

The poll was conducted from March 20-23, during a week when many, including the 76-year-old former president himself, expected charges to be brought against Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg related to a $130,000 “hush money” payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The survey showed that a majority of adults, 56%, think the slew of criminal investigations into Trump – which include Bragg’s case as well as an election interference probe in Georgia, and federal investigations into his handling of classified documents and his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol Building – are “fair,” while 41% believe they are a “witch hunt,” as the former president is prone to deride them as.

Forty-six percent think Trump did something illegal, 29% think he did something unethical but not illegal, and 23% say he did nothing wrong, the poll found.

The vast majority of registered Democrats surveyed, 89%, and most independents, 64%, were averse to Trump being president again.

In contrast, 76% of registered Republicans said they want Trump to be elected again in 2024.

Trump supporter carries flags at the site of a "White Lives Matter" rally on April 11, 2021 in Huntington Beach, California.Trump supporter carries flags at the site of a “White Lives Matter” rally on April 11, 2021 in Huntington Beach, California.Getty Images

Eighty-one percent of past Trump voters also said they still back the 45th president in 2024, despite his possible indictment.

The Marist poll highlighted that Trump received a tepid response from white Evangelical Christians, 41% of whom are against Trump in 2024.

And only 39% of Americans, down from 42% in November of 2022, have a favorable opinion of Trump, with 51% having an unfavorable view of the former commander-in-chief.

The poll surveyed 1,327 adults, 1,226 of whom are registered voters, and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
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NO ONE CARES IF RADICAL DEMOCRATS (READ HILLARY) STEALS AN ELECTION, DOES SO THROUGH BY PAYING OFF A DEMOCRAT LAW FIRM AND GET'S OFF SCOTT FREE. THIS BREAK DOWN OF GOVERNMENT IS THE BASIS FOR DESTROYING OUR NATION. ANYONE IN DENIAL IS A FASCIST IN THE MAKING.

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https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/durham-bombshell-fbi-text-message-shows-clinton-lawyer

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BIBI AND HERZOG ARE GIVING ISRAELI'S TIME TO EXHAUST THEMSELVES. WHAT BIBI AND HERZOG ARE DOING IS NOT AS PORTRAYED BUT THE RADICALS ALWAYS START WITH THEIR CLAIM AND PUT THE OTHER SIDE ON THE DEFENSIVE.

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Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu / Statement by President Isaac Herzog

Inbox

From: Robert Pincus

Subject: Fwd: Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu / Statement by President Isaac Herzog

Statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Monday, 27 March 2023), issued the following statement:

"Citizens of Israel,

Three thousand years ago, here in Jerusalem, the judgement of Solomon took place. Two women came before King Solomon. Each one claimed that she was the real mother of the infant. King Solomon commanded that a sword be brought and that the baby be cut in half. One woman was prepared to rend the baby in two while the other woman absolutely refused and insisted that the infant stay alive and whole.

Today as well, both sides in the national controversy claim to love the infant, to love our country. I am aware of the enormous tension that is building between the two sides, between two parts of the nation, and I am attentive to the desire of many citizens to dispel this tension.

However, there is one thing that I cannot accept. There is an extremist minority that is prepared to tear our country to pieces. It is using violence and incitement, it is threatening to harm elected officials, it is stoking civil war, and it is calling for refusal to serve, which is a terrible crime.

The State of Israel cannot exist without the IDF and the IDF cannot exist with refusal to serve. Refusal to serve by one side will lead to refusal to serve by the other. Refusal to serve is the end of our country. Therefore, I demand that the heads of the security services and of the army vigorously oppose the phenomenon of refusal to serve, not contain it, not understand it, not accept it – but put a stop to it.

Those who call for refusal to serve, those who call for anarchy and violence, are knowingly cutting the baby in two. But the overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens on both sides of the divide do not want to rend the infant. They are unwilling to cut the nation in two.

Citizens of Israel

I am unwilling to cut the nation in two. For three months I have repeatedly called for dialogue and also said that I would leave no stone unturned to find a solution because I remember, we remember, that we are not facing enemies but our brothers.

I say here and now: There can be no civil war. Israeli society is on a dangerous collision course. We are in the midst of a crisis that is endangering the basic unity between us. This crisis requires all of us to act responsibly.

Yesterday I read Benny Gantz's letter in which he promised in good faith to enter into a dialogue on all issues. I know that there are additional people who support his approach. To them I extend my hand and I do so after having received the consent of most of my colleagues.

When there is a chance to prevent civil war through dialogue, I – as Prime Minister – will take a time-out for dialogue. I will give a genuine chance for genuine dialogue. We insist on the need to enact the necessary changes in the judicial system and we will give a chance to achieving broad consensus. This is an incomparably worthy goal.

Therefore, out of national responsibility, out of a desire to prevent a rift in the nation, I have decided to suspend the second and third readings of the law in the current Knesset session in order to allow time to try and reach that broad consensus, ahead of legislation in the next Knesset session. One way or another, we will enact a reform that will restore the balance between the authorities that has been lost, by preserving – and I add, even by strengthening – individual rights.

From here, I would like to appeal to the supporters of the national camp: We have the Knesset majority to do this alone, with immense support among the people. Many of our supporters came to Jerusalem this evening in order to support the reform, to say: We need change, we need reform.

I would like to say to you: I am proud of you. You are not second-class citizens. I appreciate that you turned out today in the streets of our capital in order to make your democratic voice heard. Nobody will silence your voice, our voice.

I must say something else: You came spontaneously, unorganized and unfinanced, not pushed by the media, with all your heart and soul. You have touched me. I only ask of you one thing: Continue to act responsibly and do not be dragged into any provocations

Our path is just. Today, the great majority of the public recognizes the urgency of democratic reform of the judicial system. We will not allow anyone to rob the people of its free choice. While we will not give up on the path for which we were elected, we will make the effort to achieve broad agreement.

Citizens of Israel,

We live in the generation of national revival. History has given us an extraordinary opportunity, unprecedented in the annals of nations, to return to our land and build up our homeland and our state.

Soon we will celebrate Passover, the days of remembrance and Independence Day.

We will gather around the holiday table – together.

We will mourn our fallen – together.

We will celebrate our independence – together.

And together we will thank the men and women of the security forces, who do not forget, even for a moment, their duty to defend all of us, all the time.

We all have a common fate and we all have a common mission, which is to ensure the eternity of Israel."

President Isaac Herzog:

"Stopping the legislation is the right thing. This is the time to begin a sincere, serious, and responsible dialogue that will urgently calm the waters and lower the flames.

I call on everyone to act responsibly. Protests and demonstrations, on whichever side - yes. Violence - absolutely not! If one side wins, the state will lose. We must remain one people and one state - Jewish and democratic.

For the sake of our unity and for the sake of our children's future, we must start talking, here and now. The President's Residence, the People's Home, is a space for dialogue and the formation of as broad agreements as possible, with the aim of extracting our beloved State of Israel from the deep crisis that we are in. "And you gave peace in the Land, and eternal joy to its inhabitants."

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Wayne State Professor Suspended After Declaring that it is “More Admirable” to Shoot Down than Shout Down Conservative Speakers

Academia, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech March 28, 2023

A professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, has been suspended after posting threatening statements on social media posts that suggested that people would be justified in killing speakers who hold opposing views on issues like transgender policies. Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson released a statement saying that an unnamed professor in the school’s English department made a social media post that is “at best, morally reprehensible and, at worst, criminal.” College Fix identified that professor as Steven Shaviro, who writes in the areas of film, music videos, and science fiction literature.

Wilson stated

On one level, a suspension could be viewed as a necessary proactive step to guarantee that there is no real danger in this circumstance. Indeed, we have seen a strikingly different treatment given to academics on the right as opposed to the left in such actions.

Many conservative or libertarian professors find themselves suspended or under investigation for controversial tweets or jokes. Conversely, it is comparably rare to see such action against those on the left who use inflammatory language including professors advocating “detonating white people,” denouncing police, calling for Republicans to suffer, strangling police officers, celebrating the death of conservatives, calling for the killing of Trump supporters, supporting the murder of conservative protesters and other outrageous statements.

The most analogous case is that of University of Rhode Island professor Erik Loomis, who defended the murder of a conservative protester and said that he saw “nothing wrong” with such acts of violence. Yet, those extreme statements from the left are rarely subject to cancel campaigns or university actions.

I have generally supported academics on both sides on free speech and academic freedom grounds.

Loomis and Shaviro are examples of the violent rhetoric and intolerance of some in academia.

However, as will come as little surprise to many on this blog, I have concerns over more than a temporary suspension to investigate the matter. The intent of Dr. Shaviro is actually less clear than has been suggested in the press.

At the start, Shaviro insists that he does not advocate “violating federal and state criminal codes.” He then makes the violent reference as being better than shouting down opposing speakers. He warns that the left is being attacked for cancelling speakers when the debate should be over what Shaviro calls their own “reprehensible views.” He insists that these are efforts to trigger such responses to provoke an incident that discredits the left.”

Shaviro makes the extreme argument that “it is more admirable to kill a racist, homophobic, transphobic speaker than to shout them down.” He then makes this point even more menacing by referencing the assassination of Symon Petliura by Jewish anarchist Sholem Schwarzbard in 1926. Petliura was blamed for the killings of thousands of Jews during pogroms and Schwarzbard was acquitted.

Shaviro’s main point appears to be that the continued use of “deplatforming” or cancelling conservative speakers is ill-advised. He notably does not oppose such anti-free speech efforts as inimical to higher education, but only because they backfire in the press. In that sense, Shaviro appears no ally to free speech.

However, his rhetoric may be more reckless than intentional in encouraging violence.

The question is how the university should handle such extreme and chilling language. This was not expressed in class and was done through Shaviro’s personal social media. Like Ilya Shapiro at Georgetown, it was a poorly considered tweet, though (unlike Shapiro) Shaviro has not taken down the tweet. In Shapiro’s case, he was put through a long investigation and the university effectively forced him off the faculty.

There is one difference between Shapiro and Shaviro (beyond a single letter): Wayne State University is a state school and subject to the full weight of the First Amendment. Shaviro could challenge the action as a denial of his free speech rights.

Once again, I believe an initial suspension could be upheld as the university assesses a danger. However, Shaviro does not appear a direct threat to others. Moreover, he can point to his precatory language on complying with state and federal law as negating the violent interpretation of his critics. He can also point to the word “more” as reflecting his point. He says it is “more admirable” than shouting down speakers. That does not mean that it is admirable or commendable (though his reference to Schwarzbard remains concerning). He was engaging in what I have called in my academic writings “rage rhetoric.” In my view, this is protected speech.

Shaviro’s words are worthy of our condemnation. However, a federal court could well order reinstatement if anything other than a temporary suspension for investigation is ordered by the university.

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Everything in moderation. You can even over do diversity.

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Diversity Is The Death Of Everything

Jesse's Take: Diversity and equity “The Death of Everything.” When your business and your society begins to incentivize anything other than competence, talent, and ability, your short-changing yourself for something of lower quality. While on the surface, having a rainbow of color in the workplace may look nice, it is ultimately prioritizing something that isn’t relevant to the final product of the world: to make money and do an effective job

Wayne State Professor Suspended After Declaring that it is “More Admirable” to Shoot Down than Shout Down Conservative Speakers

Academia, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech

Wilson stated

“This morning, I was made aware of a social media post by a Wayne State University professor in our Department of English. We have on many occasions defended the right of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but we feel this post far exceeds the bounds of reasonable or protected speech. It is, at best, morally reprehensible and, at worst, criminal.”

I have generally supported academics on both sides on free speech and academic freedom grounds.

Loomis and Shaviro are examples of the violent rhetoric and intolerance of some in academia.

However, his rhetoric may be more reckless than intentional in encouraging violence.

Shaviro’s words are worthy of our condemnation. However, a federal court could well order reinstatement if anything other than a temporary suspension for investigation is ordered by the university.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Another view:

BEN SHAPIRO: The Truth Behind Israel’s Judicial Reform Battle

March 27, 2023 5:29 pm

FLORIDA (Yaakov M / VINnews) — Conservative talk-show host Ben Shapiro posted a series of tweets Monday, offering his analysis of the underlying forces behind the judicial reform battle.

A good explanation on the unprecedented political

battle taking place in Israel. 👇 https://t.co/1zwrasCfIk

— Chaskel Bennett (@ChaskelBennett) March 27, 2023

Shapiro wrote:

The judicial reform fight in Israel is a proxy for the actual battle, which is really over the changing nature of Israel’s political landscape.

The Right’s case is procedural. The current coalition is fighting to prevent the Israeli judiciary from acting as a de facto dictatorship, selecting its own successors and providing few or no limits to its authority. This has been the case since Aharon Barak’s ““judicial revolution” of 1995.

And that was a result of the rising power of both Likud voters and religious voters. The Right is correct about the judiciary’s overweening power, and the insanity of an AG who can act without actual authority. Many in the center and even on the Left agree with these critiques.

The Left’s case is consequentialist. They’re fighting against a loss of control in pure power terms. That’s what Barak’s judicial reform was about in 1995, and that’s what the current fight is about now.

The Left sees the judiciary as a bulwark against a rising demographic tide that places a lot of power in the hands of groups that disagree with the secularism of the Left, as well as groups that disproportionately do not serve in the military and receive a lot of social welfare.

This isn’t a fight between democracy vs. authoritarianism. If anything, the Right is calling for more democracy and has an elected coalition, while the Left is using extra-legal measures like shutting down airports and highways to guarantee minority protections.

In the end, this situation is really about Israel negotiating its future. The only way to move forward, as nearly everyone will agree in principle, is with more procedural power-sharing, including some judicial reform, combined with more compromise in terms of actual policy.

The alternative is a pitched battle in which the Left-wing and secular-oriented try to hold back the rising tide using non-electoral means, and in which the Right tries to ram through its agenda via electoral means.

That second option is what we’re seeing right now. And it’s untenable. It leads to a loss of trust in the value of electoral democracy from the coalition voters, and a belief that pressure from outside the system is the most effective tactic from opposition voters.

If the first option is to be pursued, that means negotiation and talking and incrementalism. The question is whether any of the political leaders are willing to do it.

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Those of you who know me know that I was born and raised in the Peach State of Georgia, Atlanta specifically. That I grew up in the historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood which produced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and is the home of the American civil rights movement. But, I just gotta tell ya, what I am about to share makes me cringe, and truly drop my head in disgust and astonishment.

Please refer to my weekly Constitutional Brief below for the rest of the story on that.

Also, I encourage you to join the studio audience for our next video recording. If you complete a complimentary registration to save a spot, you'll have the opportunity to share your views and ask questions. You can register below for this upcoming Muster, Assault on the Second Amendment.

LTC Allen West

Executive Director

American Constitutional Rights Union

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Middle East and Other Musings

Monday, March 27, 2023

Bill Overpaid. Kraft/Anti-semitism. Need For Deaf American and Less Mass Media. Fascist. Calming Waters. Allen West Speaks.

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