Horne on Hardball

Andrew Horne will be making an appearance on Hardball with Chris Matthews on Friday at 5:30 PM. Encore at 7:30 pm. Both will be on MSNBC.

He was scheduled to appear today but that appearance got scratched due to this senator called Larry Craig. Ever hear of him?

GOP Gone Wild

I'd like to call for the removal of Ernie Fletcher but you don't see that happening.

Could we please stop with the BS coming from the Republican party? Don't you remember 2006 at all? This is an embarrassment and you wonder why I'm moving to Chicago next year. Oy gevalt!

Biteh, Governor. Bist meshugeh? Ich bin dich nit mekaneh.

Whatever the Republican Party does, es vet helfen vi a toiten bahnkes.

The Third Show...

I recorded the third show of my comedy podcast tonight. You can listen to an archived version of said podcast here.

If I sound congested on the mp3, it's because I am.

While I have your attention, if you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering for the Every 1 Reads program here in Louisville, sign up for a training session at every1reads.com. Tell your friends! They still need 3,000 volunteers.

Gonzales resigns

About bloody time, I say.

That's harsh...

Who would confiscate a cell phone and then donate it? What type of school board is this that would allow such a thing?!? You know, in some cases, such as emergencies, cell phones need to be on!

But in Oldham County, the parents get punished because after two warnings to students, under school policy, they lose their phones for good. Parents, most of the time, are the ones that pay the phone bills.

Oldham County educators should be ashamed of themselves. You can fight technology all you want but you can't ignore it.

Ernie, what's wrong with you?

Well, well, well. Look at what Ernie Fletcher did this time. What an embarrassment that he has become. Since when did he start impersonating Lindsay, Britney, and Paris? This is not what a governor is. This is a crime to humanity, that's what it is. You don't go schmoozing with the mayor of another town right before you trash it on your campaign advertisements. It's wrong and uncalled for.

Ernie's a hypocrite. He's so anti-casino gambling, why hasn't he banned the state lottery yet? And then there's horse racing. Why doesn't he close down all the tracks across the state if he hates gambling that much? Why should we trust him when he's set the state back at least ten years, if not more?!?

And don't doctors take that oath where they say first do no harm and he allows an execution to happen and doesn't stop it.

The New York Post spoke with Michael Cera and Jonah Hill recently. It's a very entertaining read.

Ben Chandler wants a water attraction in Lexington. Anyone know the status of the fountain that used to be located on the Ohio River? I guess they can have that one if anyone knows it's location.

Former UK player Travis Ford has hired a friend that used to play at Kentucky as his assistant coach at UMass: Rodrick Rhodes.

What a travesty CNN has become! Did you watch G-d's Warriors on CNN? What an embarrassment it is to CNN. I'm no longer watching CNN. It's embarrassing. YOu can read more on CAMERA about this CNN debacle. Here's the update after part 2 had it's airing. This has to be the worst propoganda ever aired on CNN in it's history. Even Sondra Oster Baras, the director of the Israel Office of the Christian Friends of Israeli Communities thought the program was a disappointment.

Obama gets his mideast advice from Dennis Ross.

Apologies...

My apologies...I've been busy and out of town so forgive me for being light on posting but while I have you're attention, here's a reminder about tomorrow's show.

I am pleased to see that U.S. unions are organizing against the British union boycott of Israel.

You know, I tend to be liberal on social issues but like many, when it comes to Israel, I am a Zionist true and true again. I was excited to read Prof. Dershowitz' article in the Forward blog.

I, too, am a politically liberal Jew who supports Israel, though I am critical of some of its policies (as I am of some policies of every country). You are absolutely right that the hard left has made it politically incorrect to show any support for Israel. Indeed, virulent anti-Israel extremism has become a litmus test for acceptance by the hard left.

I, too, find it impossible to support the neo-cons and other right-wing groups, since I favor the end of the occupation, the two-state solution and Israeli efforts to reach out to pragmatic Palestinians. I also strongly oppose the right on issues of social justice, tikkun olam and separation of church and state.

There is, however, a place for a liberal Jew who supports Israel. We are a proud group that includes Barney Frank, Irwin Cotler, Chuck Schumer, Michael Walzer and many others. The situation you describe is widespread: Liberal Jews who are appalled by the attitude many of their left-wing friends show toward Israel. That is why I am planning to write a memoir entitled “Why I Left the Left But Couldn’t Join the Right.” I suspect I speak for quite a few people on this issue.

Oh, really? Who would have thought?

Jay Footlik fired back at the GOP.

Jay Footlik, who lived in Israel for four years after stepping down as Bill Clinton's Jewish liaison, accused Kirk of mounting a campaign of personal destruction against him and condemned the quotations he said were "cherry-picked" from the Daily Kos Web site.

"I obviously condemn those remarks and those attacks," Footlik told JTA. "But let's remember that those remarks and those attacks can also come from right-wing bloggers, and often do. You can't dismiss this entire group of people on the basis of the disgusting and horrific comments of a few."

Kirk could not be reached for comment.

Footlik's Jewish credentials are difficult to beat. After leaving the Clinton White House, he worked on projects promoting Israeli-Palestinian coexistence, including some with Israeli President Shimon Peres. He is a partner in a Washington consulting firm with Yuval Rabin, son of the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. His wife, Grace, is Israeli and a veteran of the Israeli Air Force.

In June, Footlik's candidacy was endorsed by a number of prominent Jewish Americans, including two former chairs of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Mort Zuckerman and Shoshana Cardin, and Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz.

"This is something that is deeply personal to me as it is for many American Jews," Footlik said. "To somehow say that because I went to a conference where some bloggers happen to write things that are horrifically anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, that I stand with Ahmadinejad and I stand with the virulent anti-Semites and Israel bashers -- nothing could be farther from the truth."

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Under the weather...

I have to see what my work schedule looks like so that I have some free time to blog in the evenings.

Stand-up podcasting...

I'm venturing into the podcasting world...kinda.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/comicsolz will be the home on the internets for my radio show that I am starting up. It's going to be on Sundays at 1 PM at least for the first two weeks. We're looking at fifteen minutes each the first two shows.

EDIT: I'm postponing the show til Monday evening or afternoon due to the frequent background noise going on which will be annoying.

Hey Ernie...Get Help!

I've never been more embarrassed by the governor of Kentucky. Nevermind, I have.

Ernie Fletcher called upon Moshe regarding the Ten Commandments but apparently Fletcher himself forgot them.

Fletcher later pointed to a character dressed like Moses. "He must be looking for the Ten Commandments, but he won't find them in our courthouses or schools," the governor said.

He was referring to Beshear's decision as attorney general from 1979 to 1983 when Beshear issued advisory opinions that removed copies of the Ten Commandments from public-school classrooms. At the time, Beshear said he had to follow constitutional and U.S. Supreme Court guidelines.

Perhaps he needs a refresher course? Not a problem, hold on please.

1. "I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence." (Shemot 20,2)
2. "You shall not make a carved image nor any likeness of that which is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the water beneath the earth. You shall not prostrate yourself before them nor worship them, for I am Hashem your G-d - a jealous G-d, Who visits the sin of fathers on children to the third and fourth generations, for My enemies; but Who shows kindness for thousands [of generations] to those who love Me and observe My commandments." (Shemot 20:4-6)
3. "You shall not take the name of Hashem, your G-d, in vain, for Hashem will not absolve anyone who takes His Name in vain." (Shemot 20:7)
4. "Remember the Day of Shabbat to sanctify it. Six days shall you work and accomplish all your work; but the seventh day is Shabbat to Hashem, your G-d; you shall not do any work - you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant, your animal, and your convert within your gates - for in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, Hashem blessed the Day of Shabbat and sanctified it." (Shemot 20:8-11)
5. "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be lengthened upon the land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you." (Shemot 20:12)
6. "You shall not murder!" (Shemot 20:13)
7. "You shall not commit adultery!" (Shemot 20:13)
8. "You shall not steal!" (Shemot 20:13)
9. "You shall not bear false witness against your fellow!" (Shemot 20:13)
10. "You shall not covet your fellow's house. You shall not covet your fellow's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow!" (Shemot 20:14)

Another problem lies in this: WHICH VERSION WOULD BE POSTED? See here for details and read for yourself.

Not only do I take the Ten Commandments very seriously but also the 613 positive and negative mitzvot that G-d gave to us. Number 9, as you can see is: You shall not bear false witness against your fellow! Hmmm, I think I know of people who did that, oh wait, they were all indicted and subsequently pardoned by the governor. The Republicans want the Ten Commandments posted in public places yet they don't wish to follow it?!? That makes no sense to me. As for me, I no longer do any political activities on Shabbas.

Get your blog on...

So this one is being posted a bit later than I thought it would. Don't blame me, I was watching The Marx Brothers on DVD.

I don't think peace talks with Syria will work out. There's no way that Israel will give up the Golan Heights. It forms a natural border between the two countries.

Bashar Assad conditioned new peace talks with Israel on a guaranteed return of the Golan Heights to Syria.

"There must be guarantees to return the whole land," the Syrian president said Tuesday in a speech to parliament. "We cannot enter negotiations without knowing what they're going to be about. They must present a word of trust or something written."

Netanyahu speaks out on the issue.

Israel will keep the Golan Heights forever, Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The Israeli opposition leader made his prediction Tuesday during a pre-recorded address broadcast at 30th anniversary celebrations for Katzrin, a major Golan town.

"I remember the Golan Heights without Katzrin, and suddenly we see a thriving city in the land of Israel, which having been a gem of the Second Temple era has been revived anew," said Netanyahu, who opinion polls predict could win the next general elections. "This place will remain part of the State of Israel forever, but it will be much bigger and will continue to be beautiful."

The Likud Party chairman's comment appeared to be directed, at least in part, at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, given widespread speculation that he could enter peace talks with Syria in which Damascus would demand a return of the Golan.

Israel captured the Golan, which has relics of ancient Jewish communities, in the 1967 Six-Day War, and later annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. Olmert has cautiously welcomed recent peace overtures by Syrian President Bashar Assad but said any new talks should be without preconditions.

This article, I found of deep interest. It all comes down to this question relating to American Jewry:

What is more important, integration and acceptance by the surroundings, or preservation of Jewish identity?

Establishing an eruv in a northwest London neighborhood was controversial but nonetheless, it was approved.

The UN has not done enough to free the soliders.

We're standing here next to the U.N.," Karnit Goldwasser, the wife of one of the kidnapped soldiers, told the crowd at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. "What have they accomplished? Nothing. Where's the Red Cross and Palestinian leaders?"

Hezbollah militants abducted Ehud Goldwasser, 31, and Eldad Regev, 26, on July 12, 2006, precipitating last summer's 34-day war in Lebanon. Their abduction came just weeks after Hamas grabbed Gilad Shalit, 20, in a raid on Israeli soil.

The energized crowd, which consisted of many campers from Reform, Conservative and Orthodox camps in the region, chanted "Free Them Now" several times. Several Jewish organizational leaders and politicians called on the crowd to chant loud enough that U.N. workers could hear their requests for help from the world body.

The focus on the United Nations comes as Jewish organizations are writing off its Human Rights Commission as hopelessly anti-Israel, while also holding out hope that the world body's new secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, will stake out a more balanced position on Middle East issues. On Monday, several speakers stressed their dissatisfaction with the United Nations.

Michael Miller, executive vice president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said the United Nations deserved all of the condemnation it received at the rally because it was not exercising its diplomatic influence to free the soldiers.

"We’re thankful that the new secretary-general is aware of the matter," Miller told JTA the day after the rally. "But we know for certain that more can be done and more needs to be done, so we can celebrate their return back home rather than mark their continued captivity."

One speaker at the event, New York City mayoral hopeful U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, drew applause as he called the United Nations "feckless." Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel also denounced the U.N. for not doing enough to release the soldiers.

"Why is the U.N. Commission on Human Rights silent?" Wiesel declared.

The lineup of speakers included several local New York politicians and five members of the House of Representatives. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), an African American representing parts of Queens, received an ovation when he told the crowd it was important for blacks to show solidarity with the unjust capture of the Israeli men just as Jews historically have contributed so much to the civil rights movement.

Eric Lynn is now Obama's campaign liason to the Jewish community. Obama has found himself in some hot water.

Back from Chicago...

I was in Chicago over the past weekend for a family simcha.

I was scheduled to be back there next week, originally, for an orientation regarding my new job but that was moved to Minneapolis apparently. I don't know if it will be moved back given the bridge collapse on I-35 West or not.

The Minnesota Twins have postponed Thursday's game and stadium groundbreaking accordingly.

The Minnesota Twins have postponed Thursday's game against Kansas City following a bridge collapse near the Metrodome and team president Dave St. Peter said their weekend series with Cleveland also could be affected.

The Twins also postponed Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for the team's new stadium, which will be located downtown.

Twins officials decided to play Wednesday night's game after conferring with department of public safety officials. It was decided that sending 20,000-25,000 people back into traffic could hinder rescue efforts.

"It is a difficult situation, but it was the right to do to play tonight," St. Peter said. "Tomorrow is a different story. Not playing tomorrow is also a matter of traffic control. We are respectful of the situation and for the lives lost."

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was scheduled to be in town for Thursday's groundbreaking. St. Peter said Major League Baseball is aware of the situation and the postponements.

He also said that, to the best of his knowledge, all Twins front office personnel and player's families are safe.

There was no immediate word on the number of injuries in the collapse, but aerial footage on a local television station showed dozens of rescue vehicles.

I'm going to try and blog some real news tomorrow but we'll play it by ear. My thoughts and prayers go out to the city of Minneapolis-St. Paul