Tensions in Orange County Jewish Community Erupt

From Reut Cohen, at Pajamas Media.

I don't really see a brief passage worth quoting, so folks'll have to RTWT. I can say though that an allegedly "pro-Israel" Jewish student group is really no friend of Israel if it believes it can promote "interfaith understanding" with the likes of the International Solidarity Movement. And that's what's going on at base, along with the controversies and reactions to developments by the wider community.

RELATED: I just plugged "International Solidarity Movement Mavi Marmara" into Google, which gives you an indication of what I'm taking about.

Plus, at FrontPage Magazine, "Solidarity With Terror" (on the ISM). And, "Jews for Jihad? Hillel does interfaith with the Hamas linked Muslim Student Association" (on Hillel). But see, "Rutgers Hillel: Rutgers University Organization Funding Illegal Gaza Flotilla."

No time for more research. UC Irvine Hillel needs to think through these relationships, and thus I'm on the side of the wider O.C. Jewish community here.

Army Chaplain Makes Ultimate Sacrifice for God and Country

At LAT:

Reporting from Colorado Springs, Colo. — When Christy Goetz's husband, Dale, told her at the outset of the war in Iraq that he wanted to join the Army to become a chaplain, she rebelled.

"I told him: 'You're not going over there and getting killed,' " Christy Goetz recalled. "I mean, he's my honey. I love him. I don't want anything to happen to him."

Dale Goetz, a Baptist minister, signed up anyway in January 2004. Before long he was Chaplain Goetz, ministering to troops in Iraq later that year and the next. He volunteered for a second combat tour last summer, in Afghanistan.

"I prayed on it and realized that this is what God wants him to do," Christy Goetz recalled. "Who am I to stand in God's way?"

She knew what every chaplain's wife knows: They may carry holy books instead of rifles, but they're still soldiers, and they still tread in harm's way.

On Aug. 30, a chaplain and another soldier knocked on the door of the tan split-level Dale and Christy bought here last year — the first house they had ever owned.

Capt. Dale Goetz was dead at 43, the first chaplain killed in combat since the Vietnam War.

He was on a trip that day to conduct services and counsel soldiers at several remote combat outposts in Kandahar province when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle. Goetz and four other soldiers were killed.

His soldiers say the chaplain died doing what he loved — talking to them, praying with them, helping counsel them through long days and nights of fear and dread. He had been carrying CDs for them to record personal messages to their families.

"He was committed to his soldiers — that was his gift," said Pastor Jason Parker of High Country Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, which Goetz and his family officially joined the day he left for Afghanistan.

RTWT.

I read this piece all the way through and was amazed at the absence of left-wing antiwar propaganda. I good piece of reporting. My prayers are for Christy Goetz, who's heckuva good woman.

WikiLeaks Cables Reveal Unease Over Mexican Drug War

At LAT:

In contrast to their upbeat public assessments, U.S. officials expressed frustration with a "risk averse" Mexican army and rivalries among security agencies that have hampered the Mexican government's war against drug cartels, according to secret U.S. diplomatic cables disclosed Thursday.

The cables quoted Mexican officials expressing fear that the government was losing control of parts of its national territory and that time was "running out" to rein in drug violence.

The cables gave a much starker view of the pitfalls and obstacles facing Mexican President Felipe Calderon, a departure from the public statements of unwavering support that have come out of Washington for most of the 4-year-old war, which has claimed more than 30,000 lives.

Two cables from U.S. Embassy officials in Mexico, one dated January of this year and the other October 2009, praise Calderon for persisting in his campaign to tackle "head on" the powerful cartels that traffic most of the cocaine, heroin and marijuana that reaches the U.S.

But the Mexican president's struggles with "an unwieldy and uncoordinated interagency" law enforcement effort have created the perception that he is failing, the cable dated Jan. 29 said. His inability to halt the violence or contain the rising death toll has become a principal political liability as his public ratings have declined, it said.

The U.S. assessment said Calderon's tools are limited: "Mexican security institutions are often locked in a zero-sum competition in which one agency's success is viewed as another's failure, information is closely guarded, and joint operations are all but unheard of," said the January cable, which is signed by the No. 2 official in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, John D. Feeley, a veteran diplomat with extensive experience in Latin America.

"Official corruption is widespread, leading to a compartmentalized siege mentality among 'clean' law enforcement leaders and their lieutenants," he said. "Prosecution rates for organized crime-related offenses are dismal; 2% of those detained are brought" to trial.

Tom Flanagan, Former Aide to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Calls for Assassination of Julian Assange

At London's Telegraph, "Julian Assange should be assassinated, Canadian official claims." And the response, at the National Post, "WikiLeaks' Assange lashes out against former Harper aide," and from the Toronto Sun, "WikiLeaks fugitive wants ex-Harper aide charged."

And at the Montreal Gazette, "WikiLeaks fights to stay online as founder’s arrest looms."

Previously at New York Times, "U.S. Diplomats Fretted About Canadians Carrying a ‘Chip on Their Shoulder’," and The Lede, "Latest Updates on Leak of U.S. Cables, Day 6."

The Political Economy of NC-17 Ratings

At LAT, "Two Films, Two Sex Scenes, Two Different Ratings":

One new movie generating Oscar buzz shows a woman engaged in a steamy sex act with another woman in a scene that lasts just over a minute without any nudity. Another new movie also piquing the attention of Academy Awards voters shows a man performing an identical act on a woman in a scene that lasts just over a minute without any nudity.

Filmgoers who watch both movies, especially those oral sex scenes, would be hard-pressed to describe how one is more explicit than the other.

Yet the first movie, "Black Swan," a supernatural drama from Fox Searchlight that opened this weekend, was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Assn. of America, which means it can play in nearly all theaters across the country. The second film, "Blue Valentine," which opens Dec. 31, was given a dreaded NC-17 because of what the Weinstein Co. studio says is that scene.

An NC-17 rating means anyone younger than 17 cannot see the movie in theaters — even if they are accompanied by an adult. Many theater chains have a policy of not exhibiting NC-17 films, and some media outlets refuse to carry ads for NC-17 movies. That means the box office receipts and cultural impact of an NC-17 film are likely to be much more limited than an R-rated movie. No NC-17 rated film has ever won a major prize at the Oscars.

The "Blue Valentine" rating is the latest in a string of controversial decisions by the MPAA and its Classification and Ratings Administration board that have raised the anger of filmmakers and moviegoers. Critics of the system say that the raters take a much harsher line on sex, language and drug use than they do on violence and that the panel's standards are murky and inconsistent.

"I don't have an answer for why that movie ["Black Swan"] would be OK and ours wouldn't," said "Blue Valentine" director Derek Cianfrance, who called the NC-17 rating "a form of censorship." "There's not an ounce of skin, and it's not gratuitous in any way. I'm confused and baffled."

XM25 Supergun Goes to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan

At The Australian, via Jawa Report, where there's additional video:

Unpacking Progressive Trolling

Robert Stacy McCain, at "Narcissism, Isolation and Trolls":

What does this dynamic [of social isolation] mean to the progressive troll? In his virtual world, he feels the need to “represent” as a loyal member of the online tribe. So when a hostile target comes into view – e.g., the self-proclaimed neocon Donald Douglas — there is a competition among the trolls to make the most vicious attack possible. Through these attacks, the troll who excels others in obxnoxious thereby enhances both his self-esteem and his status within the virtual community.

A narcissistic quest for admiration — if only self-admiration — is therefore deeply implicated in the behavior of trolls. Their comments are neither informative nor entertaining, because that is not their purpose. They are engaged in destructive activity and expect to be admired for it by others who share their opinion that the target is worthy of destruction.

Their relevant peer-group (whose admiration they seek) are not people they actually know in real-life, but rather their fellow members of the ideologically organized virtual community. And this sort of behavior is not limited to blog trolls.

RTWT.

Robert's representative troll is c u n d gulag at Mahablog, and by implication Repsac3, who was also trolling the thread there.

And as "this behavior is not limited to blog trolls," Robert's further example is our old antagonist Barret Brown, who's now blogging at Ordinary Gentlemen. Barret responds to Robert: "R.S. McCain accuses me of being a violent militant." (Folks will recall that Ordinary Gentlemen is the blog home of uber weasel E.D. Kain, who, like Repsac3's nihilist horde, mounted a campaign of workplace intimidation against me. Barrett's an okay guy, but E.D. Kain's a spineless freak-nozzle loser who also fits into Robert's theory of narcissistic progressive hatred. Perhaps I'll develop that out a bit more later ...)

Added: From Robert, "Nothing Says ‘Merry Christmas’ ... quite like the threat of a libel action ..."

Progressives Tell Obama to Get With the Program

Hey, the progressive creeps got their man, so it's all schadenfreude with icing on top as far as I'm concerned. See Hammering Jane Hamsher (via Memeorandum):

Lucy Pinder Holiday Rule 5

She was featured previously for a topless Christmas, so who's to argue?

R.S. McCain's lagging on the Rule 5 Sunday entries, although he's been trolling for some Natalie Portman hits: "Prediction: ‘The Black Swan’ Will Break Record for DVD Sales of Ballet Movies." And I'm not planning another epic Rule 5 roundup any time soon, since the return to labor isn't all that great. A few blog buddies do the reciprocal thingy --- Bob Belvedere, Mind-Numbed Robot, Pirate's Cove, Washington Rebel, and Yankee Phil, so far --- but not too many others.

Drop me a comment in the box below if I've forgotten your links. Rule 5 and Google bombs keep the traffic pretty decent around here. RealClearPolitics hasn't been linking lately, and links from Glenn Reynolds are unpredictable. More Lucy Pinder here, although NSFW.

'I'm equating Bloggingheads.tv and its visitors with liberalism'

Right.

Anyone with half a brain would have known, but not the despicable stalking asshat RepRacist3.

But Althouse explains:

I'm equating Bloggingheads.tv and its visitors with liberalism. The GWAR video, which shows the graphic depiction of torturing and killing a woman, is presented by the website for its readers amusement. My point, which I make extremely concisely at the link, but will make verbosely here, is that liberals often put party politics ahead of feminist values, and when they do, I like to point it out. If the female victim were not Sarah Palin, the feminist issue would be obvious.

They're not "liberals," as I always say, but radical progressive manchildren. Besides, finding buttwipe bjkeefe in the comments at the Gwar Bloggingheads was a dead giveaway.

And of course I was extremely concise at my post on Gwar, not only indicating that we should be fair but adding a video of Gwar beheading Barack Obama. But despicable dumbshit RepRacist3 makes a lame gotcha attempt anyway, mumbling stupidly about "you're a fool if you in any way agree with her ..."

So much for RepRacist3's close reading skills. Stupid asshole.

Britney Spears Slams Tabloid Allegations

Jeez, I'm getting behind on my celebrity reporting, and it's Britney no less!

At Us Weekly, "Britney Spears Slams Star Report: 'Kiss My Ass!'"

See all the latest at WeSmirch.

WikiLeaks' Dishonesty and Hypocrisy

The latest WikiLeaks dump could be breaking a record for provoking debate. I've said a lot already. But I'm thinking back to how badly the MFM and progressive manchild bloggers got beat on the Apache video last April. Jawa Report was doing yeoman's work, for example, "For The Idiots Who Still Say There Was no RPG -- UPDATED: Wiki Leak as Left Wing Propaganda."

Liars and hypocrites. And lots more in the news. For example, at The Guardian's reader-response interview, Julian Assange refused to answer this question:

Julian.

I am a former British diplomat. In the course of my former duties I helped to coordinate multilateral action against a brutal regime in the Balkans, impose sanctions on a renegade state threatening ethnic cleansing, and negotiate a debt relief programme for an impoverished nation. None of this would have been possible without the security and secrecy of diplomatic correspondence, and the protection of that correspondence from publication under the laws of the UK and many other liberal and democratic states. An embassy which cannot securely offer advice or pass messages back to London is an embassy which cannot operate. Diplomacy cannot operate without discretion and theprotection of sources. This applies to the UK and the UN as much as the US.

In publishing this massive volume of correspondence, Wikileaks is not highlighting specific cases of wrongdoing but undermining the entire process of diplomacy. If you can publish US cables then you can publish UK telegrams and UN emails.

My question to you is: why should we not hold you personally responsible when next an international crisis goes unresolved because diplomats cannot function.

Julian ASS-ange

More later ...

PREVIOUSLY: "Progressive Manchildren and WikiLeaks."

Democrat Robert Menendez Likens Working With GOP to Negotiating With 'Terrorists'

At ABC News, "Dem Senator: Negotiating with Republicans "Almost" like Negotiating with 'Terrorists'," and The Blog Prof, "Video of Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on negotiating tax rates with GOP : "It’s almost like the question of do you negotiate with terrorists”."

GOP Rolls Out Strategy of Confrontation

At LAT, "GOP Resolve Dominates the Agenda in Congress":

Republicans rolled out a confrontational, no-compromise strategy this week that may carry long-term risks, but has put them in position to dominate the lame-duck session of Congress and marginalize President Obama's agenda.

Among congressional Republicans, confidence levels are so high that they are barreling over what might be considered standard political traps. As they fight to preserve tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers, for instance, they are prepared to let unemployment insurance benefits run out for 2 million jobless Americans unless offsetting spending cuts can be found.

Republican Senate leaders on Wednesday threatened to derail a bill that had previously received bipartisan backing — a food-safety measure — on the grounds that nothing should move until a deal on tax cuts is reached.

The White House and congressional Democrats have been largely reduced to symbolic responses, such as House passage Thursday of an extension of middle-class tax cuts. Republicans in the Senate have vowed to block it because it did not include an extension for the wealthy.

The Democratic bill was greeted scornfully by Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R- Ohio), who described the exercise as "chicken crap."

Yeah. And progressive heads exploded at that.

More later.

Meanwhile follow developments at Memeorandum and The Other McCain.

Holland Reynolds Crawls to Finish Line to Honor Coach Sidelined by ALS

Fascinating story:

"She finished in 37th place, with a time of 20 minutes 15 seconds, giving University the title it would not have won without her struggle over the line."

HAT TIP: Gateway Pundit, "INCREDIBLE VIDEO - High School Runner Crawls Over Finish Line to Win Title For Her Ailing Coach."

RELATED: "University High coach Jim Tracy fighting ALS."

President Obama Addresses Troops at Bagram Airbase Afghanistan — UPDATED!!

At New York Times, "Obama Makes Unannounced Visit to Afghanistan," and Foreign Policy, "Obama in Afghanistan."

I watched the president's speech live. He declared that terrorists will never again attack us on American soil — a dramatic claim that could potentially provoke even greater attempts by our determined enemies. I'll post the video when it's available.

VIDEO UPDATE:

Progressive Manchildren and WikiLeaks

That's John Hawkins:

And here's Progressive Manchild #1: Glenn Greenwald, "WikiLeaks Debate With Steven Aftergood." And seriously. Is Julian Assange a hero? Hardly. The dude should be dead.

RELATED: Just now seeing another manchild, "Doctor Science" at Obsidian Wings (hmm, could be a womanchild), "The culture of conspiracy, the conspiracy of culture" (via Memeorandum). This isn't all that complicated, as I discussed yesterday: "Misunderstanding WikiLeaks." Indeed, it's pretty much broken down to a debate between serious folks on national security and antiwar nihilists. And yes, idiotic manchildren, or in the case of Charli Carpenter ... well, I won't go there: "What is Wikileaks?"

Unemployment Rises to 9.8%

At WSJ, "Economy Added Fewer Jobs Than Expected in November":

The U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected in November and the unemployment rate rose to its highest level since April, indicating the economic recovery remains weak 17 months after the recession ended.

Nonfarm payrolls rose by 39,000 last month as private-sector employers added only 50,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast payrolls would rise by 144,000 and that the jobless rate would remain unchanged at 9.6%.

The unemployment rate, which is obtained from a separate household survey, unexpectedly rose to 9.8% last month. More than 15 million people seeking work can't get a job.

The October payrolls number was revised up slightly to show a 172,000 increase from a previous estimate of 151,000.

The weaker-than-expected data caused the dollar to weaken against the yen and euro and other major currencies. Treasurys rallied on the report.

The U.S. unemployment rate has now been above 9% since May 2009, or 19 months. That matches the longest stretch at such an elevated level since World War II. In the deep recession of the early 1980s, the jobless rate crept to 9% in March 1982 and remained above that mark until September 1983.

Federal Reserve officials believe the jobless rate could still be around 9% a year from now.

Unemployment is a serious thing. Beyond the politics, folks are hurting. I started to post on the debate over unemployment extension, but thought second of it considering some blogger-buddies who aren't working. That said, R.S. McCain isn't shy: "As a Freelance Independent Blogger Consultant, I Have Enormous Sympathy …"

Meghan Daum Back From the Brink

She almost died:

Since I told part of the story in this space last week, many people have asked why the diagnosis took so long. The answer is that I didn't have much of the telltale body rash that goes with this type of typhus; moreover, blood and spinal fluid tests suggested that what I had was viral, not bacterial.

Even more people have asked if they should be afraid of encountering the bacteria in their own backyards. The answer is no. There were 18 cases of murine typhus reported in Los Angeles County in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available. Many more cases probably went unreported because the subjects were barely affected. The chances of getting the disease in any form are very small. The chances of getting as sick as I did are infinitesimal.

Besides, I hardly ever went into the backyard of the north-central Pasadena house my husband and I have been renting. That's probably why I didn't care much that there were piles of leaves left over from last year and that two palm trees on the property were harboring flea-infested rodents. Nor did I fret much in late September when I noticed that my ankles were covered with fleabites, most likely transmitted by our dog, who did sometimes go into the backyard and who sometimes also slept at the foot of the bed. After all, why be scared of a flea?

But a month later, in the hospital, after the results of my lumbar puncture came up positive for typhus, it was apparent we should have been a bit more discriminating about our landscaping. Either that or we shouldn't have let the dog on the bed. Of course, I could have gone to the doctor sooner, but ironically my general good health may have worked against me. I kept thinking recovery was around the corner. Instead, the disease was gaining momentum on its way to a full-blown attack.

Amid all the conjecture about what had happened to me, one thing was certain: I'd gotten better, and that made me exceedingly lucky. I was lucky not only to be alive but to have somehow avoided brain damage, deafness, blindness, loss of limb and paralysis. I was lucky, perhaps above all, to have countless friends and family members pulling for me.

I think that's why my dad never liked animals, but I'll no doubt keep an eye peeled for downed palm trees.

RTWT, plus Meghan's essay from last week.

Blogger's Choice Conservative of the Year 2010

It's Gov. Chris Christie, at RWN:

He's a charismatic, bold, and pugnacious fiscal conservative who has absolutely no qualms about taking on Democrats, the unions, the media, and anybody else who tries to separate the taxpayers of New Jersey from their hard earned money. At a time when the people are terrified that our country is spending itself into bankruptcy while our politicians are too scared to do anything about it, Chris Christie has proven that one man with courage can make a real difference.

Sarah Palin was runner up, but check the post for the full details.