'How Israel’s hawks intimidated and silenced the last remnants of the anti-war left...'

That subtitle's written if intimidating the antiwar left was a bad thing, lol.

From Gregg Carlstrom, at Foreign Policy, "The Death of Sympathy":

A piece I did trying to capture the angry mood and the lack of space for public debate in Israel this month: http://t.co/lqTbsXbXla

— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) August 6, 2014

TEL AVIV — Pro-war demonstrators stand behind a police barricade in Tel Aviv, chanting, "Gaza is a graveyard." An elderly woman pushes a cart of groceries down the street in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and asks a reporter, "Jewish or Arab? Because I won't talk to Arabs." A man in Sderot, a town that lies less than a mile from Gaza, looks up as an Israeli plane, en route to the Hamas-ruled territory, drops a blizzard of leaflets over the town. "I hope that's not all we're dropping," he says.

Even before the war, Israel was shifting right, as an increasingly strident cadre of politicians took ownership of the public debate on security and foreign affairs. But the Gaza conflict has accelerated the lurch -- empowering nationalistic and militant voices, dramatically narrowing the space for debate, and eroding whatever public sympathy remained for the Palestinians.

The fighting seems to be winding down, but it leaves behind a hardened Israeli public opinion: There is a widespread feeling that Israelis are the true victims here, that this war with a guerrilla army in a besieged territory is existential.

Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has found himself under pressure from politicians even further to his right. The premier has suspended negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, arrested more than 1,000 Palestinians, demolished the homes of several people convicted of no crimes, and launched an offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 1,800 people. That's not enough, even for some members of Netanyahu's own party, who see worrying signs of weakness.

"We've seen the influence of [Tzipi] Livni over the prime minister," Likud Knesset member Danny Danon told Foreign Policy, referring to the justice minister and her centrist party. "My position is to make sure we're not becoming a construct of the left.... As long as he stays loyal, he'll have the backing of the party."

Netanyahu fired Danon from his post as deputy defense minister last month, because he was too critical of the government's strategy in Gaza. But Danon cannot be dismissed as a marginal figure: He took control of the Likud central committee last year, and has used the post to steer the party further right -- an ironic turnabout, as Netanyahu used the same tactics to drive out former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a decade ago. Even before his election, the 2012 Likud primary turned Netanyahu into perhaps the most liberal member of his own party.

Public opinion polls confirm the Israeli right's gains during the current conflict. A survey conducted by the Knesset Channel last week found that the right-wing parties would win 56 seats in the next election, up from 43 last year. The center-left bloc would shrink from 59 seats to 48. Other surveys suggest that the right could win a majority by itself, without needing religious parties or centrists to form a coalition.

But perhaps more striking is the public's near-unanimous support for the Gaza war, from Israelis across the political spectrum. Roughly 90 percent of Jewish Israelis support the war, according to recent polls. Less than 4 percent believe the army has used "excessive firepower," the Israel Democracy Institute found, though even Israeli officials admit that a majority of the 1,800 Palestinians killed so far are civilians.

Meanwhile, Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog, the ostensible head of the opposition, is doing public relations work for Netanyahu, defending the war at a gathering of foreign diplomats. Livni herself at times sounds more hawkish than the prime minister, arguing that Israel should topple Hamas and build a moat to separate itself from Gaza. "I have two words for you: Get lost," she told the U.N. Human Rights Council after it voted to investigate possible Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

And Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who once threatened to bolt the coalition if talks with the Palestinians collapsed, has been another vocal advocate. "This is a tough war, but a necessary one," he said last month.

Decades ago, a commentator coined the phrase "quiet, we're shooting" -- a reflection of the Israeli public's tendency to rally behind the army in wartime. But this time, public dissent hasn't just been silenced, it's been all but smothered. A popular comedian was dumped from her job as the spokeswoman for a cruise line after she criticized the war. Local radio refused to air an advertisement from B'Tselem, a rights group, which simply intended to name the victims in Gaza.

Scattered anti-war rallies have drawn small crowds, mostly in the low hundreds; the largest brought several thousand people to Tel Aviv on July 26. But most of the protests ended in violence at the hands of ultranationalists, who attacked them and set up roving checkpoints to hunt for "leftists" afterwards. Demonstrators have been beaten, pepper-sprayed, and bludgeoned with chairs...

Heh, "hunt for leftists." You gotta love it.

More.

'Amanda Marcotte needs to be hit in the face with a whip cream pie...'

That's the fabulous first comment at Althouse, "The conundrum of the monogamous bisexual."

Via Instapundit, "RULE OF THUMB: IF AMANDA MARCOTTE IS BASHING YOU, YOU’RE NOT THE “DUMB GUY”."

Renewed Predictions of a Third Intifada

I wrote about this last week.

And now here's Khaled Elgindy, at Foreign Affairs, "Welcome to the Third Intifada: After Gaza, Palestine's Uprising Will Spread to the West Bank":

Given the intensity of the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, it is easy to forget that the current crisis began in a different part of Palestine. The kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank led to a severe Israeli crackdown on Hamas, which responded with a barrage of rocket fire at Israel from Gaza. Meanwhile, the murder of a Palestinian teenager by Jewish extremists sparked several days of violent protests by Palestinians in East Jerusalem and elsewhere. The shift in venue served Israel’s interests, diverting the conflict away from sensitive and strategically vulnerable areas. For Israeli policymakers, another concentrated war against Gaza was preferable to the possibility of another West Bank uprising against Israel, akin to the so-called intifadas that occurred in the late 1980s and the early 2000s. Contrary to what Israelis may have hoped, however, the present war has made a third intifada more, not less, likely...

More.

This Elgindy guy looks like he favors a third intifada, actually, given the nature of his pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Monthly Credit: California Assemblywoman Introduces Bill to Provide Diaper Stipend to Low-Income Women

Makes sense for dependency state leftists, especially in California. They have a "welfare stipend" for just about everything nowadays.

At KGTV-ABC10 News San Diego, "A welfare program for diapers? Diaper stipend proposed for low-income families."

The Palestinian people vs. the Israelis

"HELPFUL COMPARISON CHART FOR JOURNALISTS," via Director Blue.

WSJ/NBC News Poll: Widespread Economic Anxiety, Fear; Next Generation Will Have Fewer Opportunities

At the Wall Street Journal, "Poll Finds Widespread Economic Anxiety: Respondents in WSJ/NBC Poll Fear Their Children's Generation Will Have Fewer Opportunities—And They Blame Washington Politicians (via Google and Memeorandum):

WSJ/NBC poll: 71% of U.S. adults think the country is on the wrong track. http://t.co/OTDSLxSdSx pic.twitter.com/1Z7mc6choi

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 5, 2014

Still scarred by a recession that ended five years ago, Americans are registering record levels of anxiety about the opportunities available to younger generations and are pessimistic about the nation's long-term prospects, directing their blame at elected leaders in Washington.

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that despite the steady pace of hiring in recent months, 76% of adults lack confidence that their children's generation will have a better life than they do—an all-time high. Some 71% of adults think the country is on the wrong track, a leap of 8 points from a June survey, and 60% believe the U.S. is in a state of decline.

What's more, seven in 10 adults blamed the malaise more on Washington leaders than on any deeper economic trends, and 79% expressed some level of dissatisfaction with the American political system.

"The American public is telling its elected representatives that the economic distress that a significant proportion of them are feeling is directly their fault," said Democratic pollster Fred Yang, who conducts the Journal poll with Republican Bill McInturff. "The public seems to have moved beyond the plaintive cry of 'feel our pain' to the more angry pronouncement of 'you are causing our pain.' "

That frustration is taking its toll on President Barack Obama and members of Congress. Mr. Obama registered his lowest-ever approval rating for his overall job performance and handling of foreign policy in the new Journal poll, as well as the worst personal favorability ratings of his presidency.

The president's approval rating dropped to 40% in this latest poll from 41% in a June survey, and he notched a disapproval rating of 54%, matching a previous high. Meanwhile, 36% approve of Mr. Obama's handling of foreign policy, compared with the 60% who disapprove—his worst-ever marks.

Congressional Republicans fared even worse, with 54% of adults viewing them negatively and just 19% expressing positive views, a gap of 35 percentage points. Democrats in Congress were viewed negatively by 46% and favorably by 31%, a difference of 15 points.

This gloom sets the stage for a midterm election in which Americans, according to the early data, are less motivated to vote than in many previous cycles, a trend bound to complicate Democratic efforts to hold the Senate. But the lingering frustration with Washington also presents a hurdle for Republicans, who continue to fall further out of favor with women.

"If there was ever a hold-our-nose election, this certainly would be it," Mr. Yang said.

The latest Journal poll of 1,000 adults, conducted between Wednesday and Sunday night, found some signs of improvement in American views of the economy. Half of those polled said the economy is improving, and 49% think the U.S. is still in a recession, down from 58% last summer and 77% in 2008.

Sixty-four percent of those polled said they are still feeling some impact from the recession, down from the 71% who said they initially felt effects from the downturn when it began more than six years ago. Forty percent said someone in their household had lost a job over the last five years, and one of three said someone they live with was forced to take a job with a significantly lower income.

While hiring has picked up and job openings are at a seven-year high, growth in inflation-adjusted wages and family income has been distressingly slow. The Census Bureau says the income of the median, or typical, American family in 2012 was $51,017, or about the same as in 1995 adjusting for inflation. Median family income is about 8% below 2007 levels.

"I was doing better five years ago than I'm doing now," said Laura Colvin, 29, a fast-food worker in Jonesboro, Ark., whose hourly wage has risen less than a $1 over that period while her utility costs and the price of other goods and services have risen.

"We've always wanted our kids to have it better than we did, whether it's an education or a good job, and it just doesn't seem like I see that for my kids," said Luis Gomez, 64 years old, a land surveyor from Overland Park, Kan., who is worried about the costs of higher education for his 17-year-old son. "It feels like we're Japan, that the economy has flatlined."

In the survey, roughly a quarter of adults said they or their child has more than $5,000 in student-loan debt, and 25% said someone in their house had to take a second job just to pay the bills. The groups most impacted by the recession include: Latinos, white women between the ages of 35 and 49, people who make less than $30,000 and white working-class Americans.

A majority of those polled agreed with the statement that growing income inequality between the wealthy and everyone else "is undermining the idea that every American has the opportunity to move up to a better standard of living." Those impacted most by the recession were far more likely to hold that view.

This widespread discontent is evident among just about every segment of the population. Fifty-seven percent of those polled said that something upset them enough to carry a protest sign for one day. That included 61% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans, as well as 70% of adults who identify with the tea party and 67% of self-described liberals. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

With congressional approval ratings still hovering near all-time lows, a plurality of those polled said they want their vote in this fall's midterm election to be seen as a message that the country needs incumbents of both parties to lose to usher new people into Congress. Adults split more or less evenly between those who want their votes to be a referendum for, or a check on, Mr. Obama.

"I don't think they're working for the middle class," said Evan Coley, a 22-year-old resident of Albermarle, N.C., who works in an auto shop. "They're trying to help themselves more than anyone else."

Well, I think both parties have a lot to worry about going into November, but especially the Democrats, since their hold on power in the Senate looks increasingly tenuous.

More at the Lonely Conservative, "Poll Finds American Pessimism Is At An All Time High."

VIDEO: RAF Fighter Jet Intercepts, Escorts Qatar Airlines Flight QR23 After Terrorist 'Bomb Threat'

Lovely.

At London's Daily Mail, "'There is a bomb on board this plane': Terror on Flight QR23 as RAF Typhoon escorts it to Manchester Airport before armed police storm on to arrest man, 47, over 'bomb threat hoax'."



More video at the Sydney Morning Herald, "Man arrested for hoax bomb threat on plane escorted by fighter jet to Manchester Airport."

U.S. General Killed in Afghanistan

This is horrible.

At Regular Right Guy, "U.S. General Murdered by Afghan ‘Ally’."

At the New York Times, "U.S. General Is Killed in Attack at Afghan Base, Officials Say":

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan soldier shot a United States Army major general to death and wounded a German brigadier general and at least 14 other foreign and Afghan military service members on Tuesday at a military training academy on the outskirts of Kabul, officials of the American-led coalition said Tuesday. The major general appeared to be the highest-ranking member of the American military to die in hostilities overseas since the Vietnam War.

The coalition officials said a senior Afghan commander also was among the wounded. The officials declined to identify any of the victims by name. The identity of the gunman was not disclosed, either, but a Pentagon spokesman told reporters in Washington that he had been killed.

The Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, also said officials believed the gunman was “a member of the Afghan national security forces,” but he had no other details about him or the circumstances of the shooting.

Admiral Kirby also said the shooting, the first so-called insider attack in months in Afghanistan, was an inherent risk of the war, calling it “a pernicious threat and always difficult to ascertain.”

The German military confirmed that one of its brigadier generals serving in Afghanistan was among 15 coalition-led troops wounded in the shooting, described as “presumably an internal attack.” The general was being treated for his injuries, which were not life-threatening, the Germans said in a statement.

Other details of the shooting were sketchy, and the coalition, in an official statement, would only confirm that one of its service members had been killed in what it described as “an incident” at the Marshall Fahim National Defense University in Kabul. The coalition declined to specify any further details, saying it was still working to notify the family of the deceased.

More (via Memeorandum).

Westwood Demonstrators Call for Peace in #Gaza

Here's KTLA's report on the "phony" ANSWER protest from last Saturday: "Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators gathered outside the federal building in Westwood on Saturday and called for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza."

PREVIOUSLY: "Communists, Hamas Solidarity Protesters Demand Israel's Extermination in Los Angeles — #ANSWERLA."

Sick Anti-Zionist Repsac3: 'The Fact Is' I've Got 'No Tweets Supporting' Racist BDS Movement

I thought I'd better screencap this one, since once again racist, smarmy Repsac3 is cornered like a greasy polecat, dishonestly --- no, wickedly --- attempting to weasel out of his own words.

The fact is, not only has Walter James Casper III tweeted his racist support of BDS, he's allied himself with the most disgusting anti-Zionist racists I've ever seen.

Here's a Google link to more lies from racist anti-Zionist Walter James Casper III: "Donald Douglas Beclowns Himself (again), and Insults His Friend."

And he writes:

The fact is there are no tweets supporting BDS--in fact I don't support that movement, and never have--and while I did once post a tweet saying "Occupy Wherever You Are," it's quite the implausible stretch for Donald to imply that that tweet is in any way racist...not that the implausibility of his...well, "conspiracy theories" regarding me have ever stopped him before...

Screencapped here, since lying skunk-wad Reppy will probably pull the post, the racist pig:



As I noted earlier today, Repsac3's health is failing him --- he's literally at death's door --- and he's obviously lost his cognitive capacities. Heart bypass patients often suffer reduced blood flow --- and oxygen --- to the brain, restricting mental function. I've suggested that sick racist Reppy just call off his hateful jihad against American Power. He's been stalking me for over 6 years. He tried to get me fired by sponsoring attacks at American Nihilist, posting my work contact information, and he's continued to ally himself with all the hateful trolls who've libeled me time and again throughout the years of workplace harassment.

Repsac3's a racist, a stalker, and a liar.

Here's my post from April 2013, where Repsac3 attacked Pamela Geller, posting an endorsement of the eliminationist BDS movement: "Hateful Anti-Semitic Ghoul Walter James Casper III Tweets Jew-Bashing Attack on Pamela Geller — and Israel!" Screencapped here, since Reppy might pull that tweet, just as his racist BFF "Cassandra Rules" has been doing all weekend:



Walter James Casper tweeted his support for censoring Pamela Geller --- my friend in liberty, and a true crusader for human rights. His same tweet says that BDS hatred "should be allowed."

BDS is the premiere organization of contemporary global anti-Zionism. Judea Pearl, father of slain Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl, has written that BDS should be understood for precisely what it is: a racist movement whose sole purpose is the destruction of Israel and the Jews. See: "Anti-Zionism is Racism."

So again, if Repsac3 doesn't like being called out for his racism then he should stop his racism. Simple as that.

Oh, and my wonderful friend the Mad Jewess Woman wrote that the ANSWER LA protest last weekend was "phoney," as in composed of a bunch of bullshit losers. She was writing facetiously.

Repsac3, on the other hand, was writing literally, not only correcting his spelling to the non-facetious "phony," but further elaborating with some conspiracy about how I "make a point" showing up at these protests" looking for these women."

Again, not enough circulation to Reppy's de-oxygenated brain. I wouldn't have even known who "these women" were until the disgusting Reppy starting reaching out to "Cassandra Rules" on Twitter in mid-July.

So, I renew my plea for Walter James Casper III to retire from this madness. He's getting worse. He's been bad a long time, since he started trolling me at Biobrain's blog. But he's gotten worse, more sinister and racist, and more intent to inflict harm on me and my friends. It's not good for him. It's obviously been bad for his health. He needs to just come clean and say, simply, "I'm sorry. Enough. No more of the hate. I'll leave you alone."

Anti-Israel Protesters Greeted by Zionists in New York's Diamond District, July 25, 2014

This is the most beautiful video. It starts out hateful and eliminationist, like the #ANSWERLA protest. But the streets are soon filled with happy warriors, chanting "Is-ra-el!" Is-ra-el!" The hateful Hamas solidarity protesters are disoriented and demoralized. They're overtaken by a righteous mob of prideful people repudiating the leftist hatred.

Via Fouse Squawk, "Standing up to Pro-Hamas Bullies in N.Y."

Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband Slammed for 'Pathetic' and 'Distasteful' Wreath Message

Figures. The dude's a died-in-the-wool leftist.

At the Telegraph UK, "Ed Miliband branded 'crass' for not signing wreath for First World War commemoration":

Labour leader's wreath carries no name or personal message in 'disrespectful' omission.

Miliband not bothering to write a card is not "playing politics" it is a fundamental stain on his character as a political leader. Fail.

— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) August 4, 2014

Heh: Ben Shapiro, Appearing on CNN, Blasts CNN for Its Anti-Israel Bias Live, On the Air

At Truth Revolt, "Ben Shapiro Blasts CNN's Gaza Coverage Live On Air":

“If Hamas could have come up with any sort of outlet that would have created a will to kill more Jewish babies and Palestinian babies, CNN would be it. CNN is a key factor in drawing the same sort of equivalency.”

Watch: "Ben Shapiro Blasts CNN for Anti-Israel Bias."

Heinous Video of Extreme Animal Cruelty: Fish Taken Out of Water to Smoke a Cigarette

This mad me very sad, and angry, at the Mirror UK:

Video of fish smoking CIGARETTE sparks fury among animal lovers http://t.co/hdnNhIJFZX pic.twitter.com/4UX8rlj2Am

— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 4, 2014

Probabilistic vs. Non-Probabilistic Modern Survey Sampling

Remember that huge panel survey for the November elections out from CBS News and the New York Times? I posted on it here, "CBS News/New York Times Battleground Tracker: Republicans Positioned to Take Senate in November."

The survey uses a non-probabilistic sample, a panel survey to be updated monthly before the elections. Well, it turns out the American Association of Public Opinion Research blasted the format in a statement, and a couple of the political scientists at the Monkey Cage have responded.

See, "Modern polling needs innovation, not traditionalism":

In practice, the probability pollster needs to make massive and changing assumptions about the method of reaching people, as the breakdown of landline-only, cellphone/landline and cellphone-only households switches. There is no known ground truth to how people can be reached and the quantity of people at each phone. As the response rates fall below 10 percent, polls need to make more decisions about how to adjust for systematic differences between respondents and the general population. And pollsters continue to make decisions about their models for the likelihood that a respondent will turn out to vote.

In short, probability pollsters need to make many assumption selections into their polls, just as YouGov does! An important difference is that while YouGov examines their selection issues aggressively and publicly, probability pollsters sometimes ignore the growing lists of selection issues they face. While academics and practitioners alike have studied the issue, traditional probability polling still reports a margin of error that is based on the assumption of 100 percent response rates for a random and representative sample of the population. AAPOR writes of non-probability polling: “In general, these methods have little grounding in theory and the results can vary widely based on the particular method used.” In fact, the theory used by YouGov and in other non-probability polling contexts is well-founded and publicly disclosed, based on the general principles of adjusting for known differences between sample and population.

Yet, oddly, AAPOR’s letter barely mentions methodology but instead focuses on transparency; they accuse the New York Times of obfuscating the methodology. That is odd because Doug Rivers of YouGov is a prolific writer who has detailed the methodology at length and subjected the methodology and results to public transparency that rivals the best practices of major polling companies. YouGov polls fare well when scrutinized along with the major traditional probability polling companies. Doug’s (and other’s) academic papers are published in the top peer review journals. If anything, people on the cutting edge of research are not hiding anything; on the contrary, we are fighting hard to overcome entrenched methods by being even more diligent and transparent...

More.

Social Media: The New Propaganda War Tool

Ain't it the truth:

The Moral Divide: #Hamas Violence Breeds Violence

Video channel hat tip, the Daley Gator.

'Cassandra' 'Wanted to Scratch the Eyeballs Out of One of the Pro-Israeli Women' at Hamas Solidarity Protest in Los Angeles

From commenter Gary on my coverage of the protest last Saturday:

Don,

I observed "Cassandra" when she crossed the street to go after the pro-Israelis. A few minutes later, when I crossed back across to Wilshire to the pro-Hamas side, she was there telling some other girls how much she wanted to scratch the eyeballs out of one of the pro-Israeli women. I don't remember the exact words, but she was using her hands to describe scratching the eyes out of someone. She was some piece of work, a poster child for our side to demonstrate the misfits among the Americans who have aligned with the pro-Hamas forces.

She's a nasty bitch, that's for sure.

A mean racist Jew-hating anti-Zionist. Just nasty all around.

PREVIOUSLY: "'Cassandra Rules' Tweets Racist Slur Against Pro-Israel Demonstrator: 'Zionist piece of shit...'"

Thousands March Against Israel in Los Angeles: Racist Repsac3 Sees Conspiracy of 'Phony' Protest

Perhaps readers will feel sorry for him, as apparently Walter James Casper III is a dead man walking, with a debilitating heart condition, but it's just sad that he's losing his cognitive faculties as well.

Thousands turned out for the protest march I covered last weekend in Los Angeles. See the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, "Pro-Palestinian protest in Westwood draws thousands, causes Wilshire to shut down."

Never mind that, though. It turns out that near-death Repsac3, in his diminished capacity, is bizarrely warping reality in his ongoing demonization efforts and hate-mongering. It was a "phony" protest, or something:

Not an answer, @MadJewessWoman Donald (not Doug) shows up to these phony protests and makes a point looking for these women. It's Stalking.

— W. James Casper (@repsac3) August 4, 2014

Well, we know Repsac hates Israel and the Jews --- given his long history of tweeting support for the racist Occupy Wall Street movement, not to mention his tweets backing the Jew-hating BDS movment --- so his conspiracies are all of a piece. Right in line with this old man urging Muslims to stand up and blame the Jews for the September 11 attacks. Yep, this is what Reppy's all about::

.@RSMcCain Anti-#Israel 9/11 truther at #ANSWERLA protest. #Wilshire. pic.twitter.com/3elBaMoxNP

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

Repsac3 started trolling me over six years ago, upset that I was paying no attention to him, and he's never given up. That is some obsession. His stalking hate-blog is now members-only, but he continues to troll my online presence relentlessly, and at this point it's actually clinical and perverted. The dude should give it up and take care of his health, enjoy whatever remainder of time he has on this good green earth.

And most of all, he should just disassociate with the racist anti-Israel protesters he's been reaching out to. Seriously, these are terrible people. Liars and racists. Too bad for Reppy, but it's come to this in his twilight.

The Islamic State Genocide

Strange, but I was posting on ISIS (and the impending genocide) in June, but here comes CBS Evening News in any case, from last night:

Mark Levin Slams White House, Valerie Jarrett: 'It's Easy to Jew-Bash...'

At Breitbart.

'Nantucket visitor Owen Perkins tells us he spotted Kerry on Sunday and snapped the picture below...'

From Eliana Johnson, at National Review, "While the Middle East Burns..."

Spotted: John Kerry riding girls' bike on Nantucket over the weekend...lookin' good http://t.co/GgQLJbpZ0W

— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) August 4, 2014

'I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried, in every way I could, to make you see how much I love you. Ooo, I thought you understood...'

An encore, from Junior Walker and the All-Stars, after six years.

What Would Hamas Do If It Could Do Whatever It Wanted?

From Jeffrey Goldberg, at the Atlantic:

It is, in my opinion, a dereliction of responsibility on the part of progressives not to try to understand the goals and beliefs of Islamist totalitarian movements.

RTWT.

Wolf Blitzer Calls Out Hamas Spokesman Osama Hamdan for His 'Disturbing' Blood Libel Against the Jews

Man, this is just wow.

The f-ker would not retract or repudiate his own statements, which are replayed during the segment, in Arabic with translations.

At Blazing Cat Fur, "Wolf Blitzer Confronts Hamas SpokesNazi for His ‘Disturbing’ Blood Libel Remarks."

Innocent Civilians Will Continue to Die Until #Hamas Brutality and Propaganda Are Exposed

From Melanie Phillips, at the Times of London, "You’re not getting the real truth about Gaza":

Ed Miliband has berated David Cameron for not condemning Israel’s attacks in Gaza. No 10 says it is shocked that Mr Miliband is making political capital out of the war. Meanwhile Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, says the suffering in Gaza is intolerable and has called for an unconditional humanitarian ceasefire.

The exchanges illustrate the widespread incomprehension of the nature of this conflict and the uniquely dreadful dilemma it poses.

The civilian suffering, particularly the dead and injured children, is indeed appalling and tragic. No one of any conscience could fail to be horrified. With these sickening images regularly broadcast on TV, and with interviewers all but accusing Israeli spokesmen of being cruel and reckless child-killers, it is no surprise that much of the public is being inflamed against Israel.

People don’t realise, however, how their emotions are being manipulated. They are not being shown how Hamas is using its own people as human shields and sacrifices, to enable it to continue firing rockets at Israeli civilians and to increase its own civilian casualties in order to turn western opinion against Israel.

It has built no shelters, forcing civilians to use UN schools, for instance, instead. It has ordered Gazans to ignore Israeli warnings to flee their houses and stay put under bombardment.

Declassified Israeli aerial pictures show rocket launchers situated in mosques, schools and playgrounds. Hamas rockets have been found stashed in three UN-run schools. A senior UN official, John Ging, has said Hamas “are firing their rockets into Israel from the vicinity of UN facilities and residential areas”.

Shifa hospital also acts as a Hamas command centre. Reporters know this, as they often conduct interviews there with Hamas spokesmen. Yet this detail is generally denied to the public. Nor are the public informed about rocket fire from that hospital. A Finnish journalist was a lone exception when she recently reported that a rocket was launched from the hospital’s parking lot.

Such war crimes aren’t usually publicised because reporters work under an implicit threat. One Spanish journalist admitted: “We did see Hamas people launching rockets close to our hotel, but if ever we dared point our camera on them they would simply shoot at us and kill us.”

Instead, news reports parrot the Hamas line. So the “overwhelming majority” of the casualties are reported to be civilian. In fact, an analysis by Al Jazeera shows that most of those killed have been young men of fighting age, not women, children or old people. Rules published by Hamas order anyone talking to the media to describe all Gaza casualties as “innocent civilians” and ensure “there is no evidence of rockets being fired from Gaza population centres”.

There is also virtually no reporting of Gazan casualties caused by Hamas’s own rockets falling short. Last Monday, there were explosions in a kindergarten and Shifa’s outpatient clinic. The media immediately blamed Israeli airstrikes. Yet both Israel and official Palestinian media blamed misfired Hamas rockets — a fact endorsed by a reporter who said he could only do so once he left Gaza and escaped Hamas intimidation.

The Israelis take more care than any other army to avoid harming civilians, warning them by leaflet, phone, text or warning shots to flee. Their rules of engagement restrict them from attacking where they know civilians are present, although when gunfire comes from a hospital or school the IDF are entitled to return fire. They have also aborted dozens of attacks when civilians are present. Yet it is the Israelis who are vilified as child-killers.

Ed Miliband says he condemns what Hamas is doing. How else, though, is Hamas to be stopped? Israel has stuck to every ceasefire. Hamas has broken every one of them, although it denies doing so...

Screw Ed Miliband. He's a chip off the old block, his communist father Ralph Miliband.

1984 Redux: Orwellian Illegal Immigration

From VDH, at PJ Media:

Everything we are told about illegal immigration is mostly a lie, and a self-serving one at that. Remember that fact, and the current debate over the border becomes comprehensible.

Everything we are told about illegal immigration is mostly a lie &a self-serving one at that http://t.co/H9mY9waoCH pic.twitter.com/KecCmz1MD2

— Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) August 4, 2014

New Alessandra Ambrosio Bikini Pics from Malibu

She's a good lady.

At Egotastic!, "Alessandra Ambrosio Bikini Mommy Drops So Much Model Sexy on Malibu Beach."

VIDEO: Obama Midterm Strategy to Pit White House Against 'Mean' Republicans in Congress

Actually, it's Barack "Bring a Gun" Obama who's mean.

At the Hill, "Obama wants to fight 'mean Congress'":

The White House’s emerging strategy for the midterm elections is to run against a “mean” Congress.

President Obama has made that tack known more than ever in recent days.

In the last week, he’s accused Republicans of getting into disagreements with themselves over the border supplemental funding and for not being able to pass “plain vanilla” legislation.
He asked them to “stop hating” and “being mad all the time.” And he mocked House Republicans for suing him and added, “And I said to Speaker Boehner, tell your caucus the best way to avoid me acting on my own is work with me to actually do something. Then you don’t have to worry about it.”

Just as important as Obama’s words are his gestures and style.

The president is in his wheelhouse when he’s in campaign mode, and during the Kansas City, Mo., address, he was frequently joking and smiling with the crowds.

He at times oozed with sarcasm as he hailed the infrequent times when he said Republicans had been willing to work with him. Laughter and smirks were diced through the speech.

His audience ate up the storyline portraying House Republicans as the villains in the 2014 storyline.

Those in Obama's circle say it’s no coincidence that, with the fall elections just months away, Obama is ramping up his attacks on a “do-nothing” Congress.

“All of us have always thought he's better with an opponent and someone to fight against,” said Tommy Vietor, a former longtime Obama communications aide. “When you got an opponent, especially an opponent as absurd as the Republican Congress, he's in a better place because he can point out their hypocrisy, their mean spiritedness, and he can do it with humor.

“The more feisty campaign tone is where he's strongest,” Vietor continued, adding that the president's recent Kansas City event, “felt like a campaign stop, and it felt like him at his best.”

Obama has a past of running against Bogeymen. In 2008, he campaigned against former President George W. Bush, even has he competed for the White House with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP’s nominee.

And in 2012, he depicted Mitt Romney, his rival in the presidential election, as an out-of-touch billionaire who couldn't relate to every day Americans.

Obama's success in 2014 will be measured by one thing: who controls the Senate.

More.

And Chuck Woolery has the push-back:

We do not have a do nothing Congress. We do have a do nothing Senate.
— Chuck Woolery (@chuckwoolery) August 4, 2014

I think Obama is a first in many ways for this Country.I don't think very many even begin to understand the man and his feelings and purpose
— Chuck Woolery (@chuckwoolery) August 4, 2014

Andrea Tantaros Slams Geraldo Rivera: You're 'an apologist for' Hamas...' (VIDEO)

Via the Blaze, "‘You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself’: Geraldo Erupts After Fellow Panelist Challenges Him on Israel Criticism."

'As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, all I can say is that it is déjà vu back to 1933...'

From Lynne Rabinoff, at FrontPage Magazine, "Jew-Hatred Flying Like Hamas’ Missiles":

I am a daughter of Holocaust survivors, and I’m sad to say, I’m glad both my parents are no longer living. What they would see, to their horror, is déjà vu back to 1933 with an explosion of anti-Semitism, especially in Europe, the UK and even in the U.S. and Canada. Throughout Europe, where Muslim populations have grown substantially along with a left-leaning constituency, out-of-control violence against Jews and Israel has erupted, with the perpetrators using the Israeli-Gaza conflict as an excuse for the “old hatred.” This is, in part, a direct result of the media coverage of the conflict. The openly biased written and visual reporting has created a frenzy of anti-Semitism – even though much of this reporting has been, or will be, proven incorrect and to be simple disinformation propaganda.

In country after EU country, there have been violent anti-Israel demonstrations with signs reading such things as “death to Jews” and “no dogs or Jews allowed” (this was a sign seen by an elderly woman in Cologne, Germany who lived through the Holocaust). In France, Jewish businesses have been torched and synagogues attacked. The trend has also been visible in the US at demonstrations in Boston, Chicago and other locations. They have become violent where left-wing constituencies and large Muslim populations prevail. There is also the element of the universities, where anti-Israel sentiment is widespread and becoming a real danger in the United States. In addition, there is almost no outrage voiced by the U.S. administration or from the EU.

This whole situation is not a far cry from Kristallnacht...

No, not a far cry at all.

Keep reading.

Rare Archive Footage from Start of World War One in 1914

Via Telegraph UK:

Early cinema newsreel from 1914 captures the outbreak of World War One in Europe.

From the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 to Britain’s declaration of war on Germany in August of that year, the Telegraph looks the momentous events which defined the The Great War.

An intricate web of alliances began to crumble as nationalist and imperialist rhetoric reached fever-pitch well before 1914.

The Great Powers responded by mobilising their entire populations for a period of total war.

And ICYMI, from last Monday, "100 Years Ago Today: Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia."

Bwahaha! CAIR, Unindicted Co-Conspirator, Wants 'Bomb Gaza' Games Pulled from Google App Store

CAIR, the unindicted co-conspirator in the Hamas funding case, has its panties in a wad.

Via Blazing Cat Fur, "There really is no fun in Islam: CAIR Calls for Removal of 'Bomb Gaza' Games from Google's App Store."

Europe: More Scenes from Worst Episodes of Anti-Semitic Violence Since the 1930s

At Blazing Cat Fur (linking to the Investigative Project), "In Europe, They Call For Death to Jews. Again":

RT @sfrantzman: Everything u ever wanted to know in 1 photo how incitement against #Israel leads to #antisemitism pic.twitter.com/JwdFYhBuCk

— Herman Benschop (@hermanbenschop) August 4, 2014

Since the beginning of the latest clash between Israel and Hamas on July 8, European Muslim groups (and some European leftists) have engaged in violent protests aimed not only in supporting Palestine (or, as in the case of a demonstration in The Hague, supporting ISIS), but in calling for the destruction of the Jews. "Slash their throats," Muslims chanted in a July 26 pro-Palestine event in Paris. "Death to the Jews." In The Hague, a group of mostly Dutch-born youths of Moroccan background repeated the now-familiar refrain: "Hamas, Hamas, all Jews to the Gas," along with new ones: "Itbah ya Yahud" ("slaughter the Jews") and "Khaybar Khaybar ya-Yahud."

The outcome: over 130 incidents of anti-Semitism, some violent, reported in the UK during the month of July alone – the second highest number on record; in the Netherlands, where increasing numbers of Jews are leaving, the normal average of three reports of anti-Semitism per week has skyrocketed to more than 70; and the number of French Jews moving to Israel is approaching a record high. Jews are being attacked in the streets, synagogues burned, Jewish homes firebombed.

But what European officials conveniently overlook is that this hatred didn't happen overnight. It didn't simply emerge when the first shot was fired against the rockets being slammed against Israel from the Gaza Strip, or when Jewish extremists, in retaliation for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli boys, kidnapped and killed a young Palestinian. The recent events in Israel-Gaza have formed only an excuse, an opportunity to release the venom that has been coursing through their veins for years, perhaps their entire lives. And Europe – its teachers, its governments, its neighborhood associations, its libraries – has done absolutely nothing at all to change that reality...

VIDEO: One Killed in Tractor Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem

At Agemeiner, "One Killed in Tractor Terror Attack in Jerusalem, Rogue Driver Shot Dead."

And at Gateway Pundit, "BREAKING: TERROR ATTACK IN JERUSALEM – Bus Flipped By Suicide Terrorist in Tractor (VIDEO)."

Terror Attack in Jerusalem! A Palestinian tractor driver hit&overturned a empty bus, he was shot dead by a Policeman pic.twitter.com/GhaM03oGHy
— Smartguy (@Gr8_guy) August 4, 2014

Newsweek: Why Jews Are Fleeing Europe

Well, we know why they're fleeing. To me it's just interesting that Newsweek put the story on its cover. The piece has a huge leftist slant, and it's much too light on the leftist causes of contemporary anti-Jewish racism, but good for them. People need to be talking about this. A new Shoah is on the horizon. It needs to be stopped.

See, "Exodus: Why Europe's Jews Are Fleeing Once Again."

'Cassandra Rules' Tweets Racist Slur Against Pro-Israel Demonstrator: 'Zionist piece of shit...'

Robert Stacy McCain went around with some trolls yesterday, and summed things up:

1. Professor Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) is not "stalking" @CassandraRules. 2. You should ask Donald about this. @C1TYofFL1NT
— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) August 3, 2014

It's simple: @CassandraRules and @AmPowerBlog are merely two activists on opposite sides of political disputes. @C1TYofFL1NT
— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) August 3, 2014

But Bossy Cracker gave me the heads up on "Cassandra," who's been tweeting (and deleting) me all weekend.

@AmPowerBlog @rsmccain @C1TYofFL1NT She deleted hope you made a screen shot
— Bossy Cracker (@No1Important00) August 3, 2014

Here's a tweet "Cassandra" sent earlier, still up as of 8:50pm Sunday night:

@AmPowerBlog https://t.co/FNksprq7rf
— Cassandra (@CassandraRules) August 3, 2014

Here's the vile racist tweet, "Zionist piece of shit...":

.@RSMcCain Here's "Cassandra" calling a pro-Israel demonstrator a 'Zionist piece of shit.' https://t.co/YrNLBy2ban Repsac's BFF now too lol.
— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

Easy to see why Repsac3's been reaching out to her:

Fascist thugs. How dare they try to help the old guy find his feet. (Bet he didn't take the hand, tho...) @CassandraRules @beautifulchaosJ

— W. James Casper (@repsac3) August 3, 2014

VIDEO: Hamas Solidarity Protesters Violently Harass Pro-Israel Couple at #ANSWERLA Demonstration

Fouse Squawk has lots of coverage.

See: "Pro-Palestinian Protest in Los Angeles UGLY," and "Video of Sunday's Pro-Palestinian Protest in LA."

Here's the profane, violent threatening abuse the communists and Hamas solidarity protesters heap on Israel supporters:



More, "Some Thoughts on Sunday's Pro-Palestinian Rally in L.A":

As expected yesterday's pro-Palestinian rally at the Los Angeles Federal Building was short on logic, long on mindless chants, and long on loud intimidation of opposing voices. The first indication of that came when a lone man carrying a sign that insulted the Prophet Mohammad was swarmed by screaming people who got in his face, screamed insults at him and took away the sign. The second incident was when Steve Goldberg, head of the Zionist Organization of America, and a lady appeared on the scene with an Israeli flag. Once again, they were swarmed by people screaming obscenities at them as they attempted to make their way across Wilshire Blvd where a few dozen pro-Israel folks had gathered.

On both occasions, while filming these incidents, I tried unsuccessfully to get the attention of LASD, LAPD and the Protective Services Security to alert them that violent situations were brewing. I was unsuccessful. The cops at that point were basically acting like potted plants. Most of them were trying to be unobtrusive in a parking lot across the street standing behind a hedge. In the first case it took an event organizer with a bullhorn who eventually told the crowd to leave the man with the sign alone and get back. Only then did Sheriff's deputies arrive to guard the man. In the case of Goldberg, it was only when he crossed Wilshire Blvd that deputies arrived to escort him across the street. Only then did deputies and police start doing their job protecting the Israel supporters from what was a screaming mob. Even then they did not keep the groups separate. Individual Palestinian supporters continued to cross the street to hurl insults at the few dozen Israeli supporters.  At one point, a young man was shouting, "Long live Hamas. Long live Jihad. Long live Hizbollah" in the faces of the pro-Israel supporters. I was less than 10 feet way and saw and heard it clearly...

More.

PREVIOUSLY: "Communists, Hamas Solidarity Protesters Demand Israel's Extermination in Los Angeles — #ANSWERLA."

Hamas Tweets Photo Collage of Dead Israeli Soldiers

The protesters yesterday are down --- no, allied --- with this kind of terrorist evil.

At Gateway Pundit, "BARBARIC! Hamas Posts Dead Jew Collage on Twitter."

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."



More at Randy's Roundtable, "Friday Nite Funnies (early edition)," and at Reaganite Republican, "Reaganite's SUNDAY FUNNIES."

Also at Legal Insurrection, "Branco Cartoon – Crash of Civilization."

And at Theo Spark's, "Pic Dump..."

CARTOON CREDIT: William Warren.

Communists, Hamas Solidarity Protesters Demand Israel's Extermination in Los Angeles — #ANSWERLA

I normally post an announcement when I'm heading out to cover a protest, but not yesterday. I know that some of the ANSWER communists read my blog and, perhaps lying in wait for my arrival, would have assaulted me, stealing my phone and throwing me to the ground, in an effort to prevent me from blogging their rally.

It's not like it hasn't happened before, or anything.

But not this time. I had a great day documenting the protest on Twitter and Vine.

I did give Robert Stacy McCain the heads up before attending the rally. Kindly, he retweeted my entries throughout the day, and had gracious worlds of encouragement.

Andrew Breitbart would be so proud of you today, Donald. https://t.co/kiFESEdU80 @AmPowerBlog #tcot

— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) August 2, 2014

Robert also put up a blog post yesterday while I was still in Los Angeles, "The Pro-Hamas Mob in L.A."

I've been covering ANSWER for 5 years. In the early days, I simply asked the organizers if I could attend their events. My reports were literally from the inside. I had infiltrated a movement, for example, "STOP THE WAR! Teach-In on Afghanistan and the Anti-War Struggle - ANSWER L.A."; "Code Pink's Jodie Evans: No 'Rethink' on Afghanistan - 'U.S. Troop Withdrawal Now' ... ANSWER Coalition Decries 'Criminal Occupation'"; "When Defeat is the ANSWER"; and "'We Need to Take 'Em Down' - ANSWER/PSL: Stop the War at Home and Abroad!"

Now, though, these puny little wannabes are scared to death of "just a blogger." In Anaheim these cowards seized my phone, pushed me down, hit me and knocked my cap to the ground. I was injured when I scaled a 10-foot brick wall to retrieve my phone.

They're pussies and weasels. Vile, evil little cowardly trolls who can't stand "just a blogger" telling the real story of their racist protests against the United States and Israel.

Things went as planned yesterday, for the most part. I stood my ground and wasn't accosted until late in the afternoon. I think most people would not appreciate being surrounded by a mob of crazed wannabe Che communists, seriously unclean people, with disgusting, terrible hygiene, getting in their faces. I don't love it. But that's what they do. They do everything they can to intimidate. I won't be intimidated, of course, so the next step for them would be to inflict lethal violence. I'm brave, but I'm not foolish. Friends and followers have been cheering my coverage these last few weeks, calling me a patriot for my fresh, on-the-ground reports. But many have also asked me to be careful. Friends tell me that these leftists are indeed dangerous people and not to take my safety for granted. Wise words and I heeded them yesterday. For one thing, I watched my back all day. I also stayed near the police and Sheriff's deputies. Riot squads were on hand and it got heated at times, as you can see from the posts.

Most of all, understand that these protests are not "pro-Gaza" demonstrations. They're annihilationist anti-Israel protests, with demonstrators raising the flags of Hamas, chanting exterminationist terrorist slogans ("From the desert to the sea..."), and holding anti-Zionist signs attacking Israel as a "Nazi" state, demanding that the Jews be eliminated. As many have been reporting with regard to Europe's surge of anti-Semitic violence, the last few weeks have seen the unleashing of genocidal anti-Jewish hatred not seen since the 1930s. Yesterday in Los Angeles was no different.

The scene at the Federal Wilshire Building for ANSWER protest against for #Israel. @RSMcCain https://t.co/eKI6Xj266l

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Protester w/ pro-#Hamas "From the river to the sea..." sign. Radical racist anti-Zionists. #Israel. pic.twitter.com/IF8teh6rwK

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@Red__Rover Protesters starting up with the anti-#Israel chants. @RSMcCain #ANSWERLA https://t.co/p4hROVB1hD

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@MaroonedInMarin At #Wilshire anti-#Israel protest, racists chant "Free Palestine!" @RSMcCain https://t.co/JuezbZf8Po

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain #Hamas partisan stands w/ #Che Guevara flag-holding racist. #ANSWERLA @PatDollard https://t.co/zeIFbiSNmP

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

The hateful racist @BeautifulChaosJ at the #ANSWER anti-#Israel protest. @SpreadButter @RSMcCain #Racism #Gaza pic.twitter.com/yzWGJuFC9f

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

Communists and #Hamas solidarity protesters at #Wilshire pro-#Gaza hate-fest. @LegInsurrection pic.twitter.com/d0ZvoTSJrf

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Here's the table for the Revolutionary Communist Party at the #Wilshire pro-Hamas protest. pic.twitter.com/6Qt9Ac7Wvp

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain @MichelleMalkin Pro-amnesty protesters in solidarity with #Hamas. #ANSWERLA pic.twitter.com/nSjPOFNFKi

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Here's violent racist "Cassandra" whose "friends" assaulted me in Anaheim. #Wilshire https://t.co/1NhhAzamPD

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@ExJon The pro-Gaza Vichy protesters are out in L.A. #Wilshire #ANSWERLA #Hamas. @RSMcCain @BobBelvedere pic.twitter.com/Ox0JzplVJD

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@MichelleMalkin Pro-#Hamas women with cookie-cutter #ANSWER signs at #Wilshire anti-Israel hate-fest. @RSMcCain pic.twitter.com/A9f8VrT9Ym

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Idiot "Che" commie protester raises fist in solidarity with #Hamas. Sign calls for Israel's destruction. pic.twitter.com/4OGGFbjVcj

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@Red__Rover #Hamas useful idiots on #Wilshire protesting for #Gaza and #terrorism. pic.twitter.com/CoPVqSmoyG

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

On #Wilshire, pro-#Hamas protesters chanting. @RSMcCain @PatDollard #Leftist #Racism https://t.co/X5i37bThyD

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@Instapundit Useful idiot #Hamas solidarity protesters in Los Angeles #Wilshire https://t.co/W6XIIAOd5K

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

#Wilshire march against Israel starting. @RSMcCain https://t.co/KOuxCG4tBS

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain #Hamas protest going under 405 freeway. #ANSWERLA https://t.co/mBmLUmBgd5

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Almost to San Vicente on #Wilshire. @PatDollard #ANSWERLA https://t.co/FWKPQFYzhY

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Protesters chanting #Hamas slogan "From the river to the sea ... Palestine will be free." #ANSWE... https://t.co/kfZJ8Oe0k0

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

Communists protest against Israel in Los Angeles. #Wilshire @RSMcCain pic.twitter.com/W9r8ZekZOx

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@SpreadButter Protesters now outside the #Israeli embassy on #Wilshire in L.A. @RSMcCain pic.twitter.com/ggGdm5rDUp

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

Protesters decrying "criminal" Israel occupation outside embassy on #Wilshire. @RSMcCain pic.twitter.com/dnjVXOirom

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Protesters chanting outside #Israeli embassy. #Wilshire. https://t.co/ZKO6II6RQp

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

#ANSWERLA protesters now screaming at Israel supporters. @RSMcCain https://t.co/ZbPrFuoIEV

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

@RSMcCain More from #Wilshire. https://t.co/RvK0bIsufe

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Cops keeping pro-#Israel supporters back away from racist #Hamas thugs. https://t.co/6W68RIP15O

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

Protesters arrive back at #Wilshire Federal Building. #Hamas Solidarity. @Red__Rover pic.twitter.com/y6TNuELDON

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain County Sheriff's deputies with riot gear across from #Wilshire #Hamas protest. pic.twitter.com/bMt5zgP215

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain More riot cops at #ANSWERLA protest. pic.twitter.com/qQzZ3Yke1A

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Anti-#Israel 9/11 truther at #ANSWERLA protest. #Wilshire. pic.twitter.com/3elBaMoxNP

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Sheriff's deputies warning #Hamas supporter to stay the f-k back. #ANSWERLA https://t.co/AUjtd7Cd34

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Now being swarmed by #ANSWERLA https://t.co/W21k02IdO6

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain More cowardly #ANSWERLA racists. https://t.co/hrKS5CMlqD

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain Pro-#Hamas protester getting in my face at #ANSWERLA protest. pic.twitter.com/lkZzyuEArJ

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain This pro-#Hamas woman following me around trying to intimidate. https://t.co/k480iH9Llc

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain, recharging my phone. Here's #Hamas banner from #ANSWERLA march to #Israeli embassy earlier. pic.twitter.com/INXAs695hy

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 2, 2014

.@RSMcCain This little old communist Che Guevara wannabe was at the head of @ANSWER's march. #Wilshire pic.twitter.com/5WLXvp7NRm

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

.@RSMcCain More dirty scum protesters at #Wilshire march. pic.twitter.com/vy8juPyImv

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

.@RSMcCain Large banner with communist hammer and sickle at head of #ANSWER march. Lots of socialist scumbags. pic.twitter.com/bszIssKCFv

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

.@RSMcCain Cops put their riot helmets on, at #Wilshire protest. It's still going on. pic.twitter.com/zCZT0YHsQ4

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

"Israel is a Nazi cancer." #Wilshire #Hamas #ANSWER pic.twitter.com/QEzA23nb6N

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

.@RSMcCain Local KTLA reporter surrounded by #Hamas solidarity protesters. https://t.co/4pIYUd5g25

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

.@RSMcCain Definitely a mob atmosphere. #Hamas #Wilshire protest. https://t.co/7H5pyDpxP5

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

.@RSMcCain Over and out from #Wilshire #ANSWER protest. Thanx4RTs!! pic.twitter.com/ad2W0iskhl

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 3, 2014

Zionism's Astonishing Historical Success

From Ambassador Michael Oren, at the Wall Street Journal, "In Defense of Zionism":

They come from every corner of the country—investment bankers, farmers, computer geeks, jazz drummers, botany professors, car mechanics—leaving their jobs and their families. They put on uniforms that are invariably too tight or too baggy, sign out their gear and guns. Then, scrambling onto military vehicles, 70,000 reservists—women and men—join the young conscripts of what is proportionally the world's largest citizen army. They all know that some of them will return maimed or not at all. And yet, without hesitation or (for the most part) complaint, proudly responding to the call-up, Israelis stand ready to defend their nation. They risk their lives for an idea.

The idea is Zionism. It is the belief that the Jewish people should have their own sovereign state in the Land of Israel. Though founded less than 150 years ago, the Zionist movement sprung from a 4,000-year-long bond between the Jewish people and its historic homeland, an attachment sustained throughout 20 centuries of exile. This is why Zionism achieved its goals and remains relevant and rigorous today. It is why citizens of Israel—the state that Zionism created—willingly take up arms. They believe their idea is worth fighting for.

Yet Zionism, arguably more than any other contemporary ideology, is demonized. "All Zionists are legitimate targets everywhere in the world!" declared a banner recently paraded by anti-Israel protesters in Denmark. "Dogs are allowed in this establishment but Zionists are not under any circumstances," warned a sign in the window of a Belgian cafe. A Jewish demonstrator in Iceland was accosted and told, "You Zionist pig, I'm going to behead you."

In certain academic and media circles, Zionism is synonymous with colonialism and imperialism. Critics on the radical right and left have likened it to racism or, worse, Nazism. And that is in the West. In the Middle East, Zionism is the ultimate abomination—the product of a Holocaust that many in the region deny ever happened while maintaining nevertheless that the Zionists deserved it.

What is it about Zionism that elicits such loathing? After all, the longing of a dispersed people for a state of their own cannot possibly be so repugnant, especially after that people endured centuries of massacres and expulsions, culminating in history's largest mass murder. Perhaps revulsion toward Zionism stems from its unusual blend of national identity, religion and loyalty to a land. Japan offers the closest parallel, but despite its rapacious past, Japanese nationalism doesn't evoke the abhorrence aroused by Zionism.

Clearly anti-Semitism, of both the European and Muslim varieties, plays a role. Cabals, money grubbing, plots to take over the world and murder babies—all the libels historically leveled at Jews are regularly hurled at Zionists. And like the anti-Semitic capitalists who saw all Jews as communists and the communists who painted capitalism as inherently Jewish, the opponents of Zionism portray it as the abominable Other.

But not all of Zionism's critics are bigoted, and not a few of them are Jewish. For a growing number of progressive Jews, Zionism is too militantly nationalist, while for many ultra-Orthodox Jews, the movement is insufficiently pious—even heretical. How can an idea so universally reviled retain its legitimacy, much less lay claim to success?

The answer is simple: Zionism worked...

Continue reading.

This is How Feminists Feel About Men

At Instapundit, "#SHREWCULTURE UPDATE:

So some feminist women set up a hashtag called #DearFeministMen, the point of which was basically, yeah, that’s nice, but you’re still not good enough for us.

#DearFeministMen This is how feminists feel about men.This is how they feel about you.You still want to support them? pic.twitter.com/Jz338ABhWT
— Kristal Garcia (@KristalDGarcia) August 2, 2014

Hamas Brags About Hadar Goldin Abduction ... Then Backtracks, Lies Four Times: 'Very Sorry ... Please Avoid' Previous Tweets

At the Grid, "Hamas Boasts About Its Capture of IDF Soldier ... Then Backtracks Four Times."

Al-Qassams' Twitter feed is here.

Dennis Miller Interviews David Horowitz

Listen to the interview, at Blazing Cat Fur, "A Most Excellent Explanation of the Left's Takeover of America."

Horowitz has a new book out, of course, "Take No Prisoners: The Battle Plan for Defeating the Left."

A Brief History of Mental Illness

From Bill Whittle, the Firewall: "The Truth is Out There" (VIDEO).

Kerry Calls on Qatar and Turkey to Gain Release of Israeli Soldier

Yeah, that oughta work.

From Michael Gordon, at the New York Times.

But see the Washington Post, "Hamas says missing Israeli soldier is likely dead."

Israelis in Ashkelon Express Support of Airstrikes on Gaza

Via Telegraph UK:

When asked whether she wants to see Gaza destroyed, one beachgoer hesitantly admits that she sees no difference between Gaza, the narrow coastal strip the which is inhabited by 1.8 million people and Hamas, the militant group which controls the area and fire rockets into Israel.

A Primer on Hamas Military Capabilities (VIDEO)

At Weasel Zippers, "From Tunnels to R-160s, A Primer on Hamas and Its Deadly Capabilities (VIDEO)."