Up on the High Wire

Clinton and Trump, up on the high wire,
Once side's ice and one is fire,
Putting on a show for you and me.

by Gaius Publius

I'm preparing for a month-long haitus (vacation, finally), and while I'll be reading the news I won't be commenting on it. Ahead of that, I'd like to offer these thoughts.

1. Our "Look Ahead" series will continue as the fall campaign kicks off. The outcome of the election, though, is very hard to predict. Each campaign seems determined to drive its own car into the ditch. Last car with wheels on the road will win this one. Plus there's those ever-present black swans, like this one.

As to what happens after the election, it gets more predictable. Whoever ultimately wins, we'll know enough in the fall to know nearly every player's fate for the next few years — Trump, Clinton, the progressive-hating Democratic leadership, the Koch-bossed Republican Party, Sanders-supporting progressives themselves; all of their Tarot cards will be laid out for reading, up to the moment when the climate throws its own card into the mix. We just have to be willing to look at what those cards say.

If you're interested, the parts so far of the Look Ahead series are these:

A Look Ahead: Neither Party Can Win Without Winning Independents

A Look Ahead: Coming to the Philadelphia Crossroad

A Look Ahead: "Event Risk" and the Remaining Presidential Candidates

2. Clinton is looking more and more vulnerable, according to the latest Economist / YouGov poll (pdf). Whatever you think of the outcome of the Trump-Clinton contest, so far no one has a real lead, and both are playing high-risk game of highwire, a tightrope act without a net.

Surprising Poll Results

The following look at some of the poll results comes from poster Vraye_Foi at the Reddit site r/Kossacks_for_Sanders. The poll itself is long and worth a further look, if you're so inclined. My thanks for this summary of just a a few of its findings (my emphasis except where noted):

Pages 12 and 13 of the report [the "enthusiasm" pages] are full of interesting data, some of which I'll highlight -

• 25% of Democrats are either Dissatisfied or Upset [Clinton] is the Democrat candidate for President
• 62% of Independents are either Dissatisfied or Upset that she is the Democrat candidate for President
• 43% of those polled across the board (includes all demographics and party affiliations) are "Upset" that she is the Democrat candidate for President

When it comes to Independents' view of Donald Trump, only 44% are Dissatisfied or Upset that he is the Republican nominee.

Enthusiastic Support for Trump within his party is at 51%. Hillary's Enthusiastic support within her party: 34%. 

The choices for this question are: Enthusiastic, Satisfied, Dissatisfied, Upset, Not Sure. The wording of the most extreme categories is Enthusiastic and Upset. So Trump starts the pre-convention head-to-head campaigning with more enthusiasm within his party and also with independents than Clinton does, by a lot if the poll is right.

When looking at support among women:

And continuing on the theme of "Enthusiastic Support", how about this surprise:

• 18% of female respondents are Enthusiastic for Trump
• 19% of female respondents are Enthusiastic for Clinton

So just an aside and speaking as a woman here, can the HRC campaign cut the shit bout how it's sexist if you don't support or vote for Hillary? Please? Because this poll shows that women are about as enthusiastic and thrilled about Hillary as they are about Trump. ...

On the negative side, when it comes to Hillary being the Democrats' candidate, 12% of the women polled feel "Dissatisfied but not Upset" and 42% are UPSET.

It must be troubling news for the HRC campaign to see Enthusiastic/Satisfied combined numbers (45%) linger behind the Dissatisfied/Upset numbers (54%). A lot of women are not happy that Clinton is the nominee.

We're not saying that situation is right or wrong, just that it is. Now about enthusiasm by age (emphasis in original):

The other shocker is that 49% of respondents age 45 - 64 are "Upset" she is the Dem's candidate. But wait - it gets even more shocking: 53% of respondents over the age of 65 responded "Upset" as well.

Hasn't the narrative been that HRC has solid support from the over 45s and women? This poll raises some questions about that. Just as with the women respondents, the 45 and older crowd's negative sentiments towards HRC's candidacy are HIGHER than the positive ones.

That "over 65" polling number is across all genders and party identifications, but so is the general election.

Gary Johnson and Jill Stein

There's Johnson and Stein polling in the report as well. The reddit poster quoted above notes this (regarding data on pages 21 and 23):

General Election | Johnson Preference

Would you say you are mostly voting FOR Gary Johnson, AGAINST Hillary Clinton or AGAINST Donald Trump? Asked of those who would vote for Gary Johnson

• I’m mostly voting FOR Gary Johnson 38%
• I’m mostly voting AGAINST Hillary Clinton 37%
• I’m mostly voting AGAINST Donald Trump 23%
• Not sure 2%

General Election | Stein Preference

Would you say you are mostly voting FOR Jill Stein, AGAINST Hillary Clinton or AGAINST Donald Trump? Asked of those who would vote for Jill Stein

• I’m mostly voting FOR Jill Stein 36%
• I’m mostly voting AGAINST Hillary Clinton 42%
• I’m mostly voting AGAINST Donald Trump 8%
• Not sure 13%

Page 25 of the poll gives data in general on whether people are voting For a given candidate or Against a given candidate. Those general results are mainly a wash. The split in voting for vs. against Clinton is 28%–23%. The same split for Trump is 23%–20%, with 2% each saying they're voting FOR Johnson or Stein.

But it's the Against Clinton number in the Johnson and Stein polling that should cause worry in the Democratic camp. The Johnson+Stein combined Against Clinton total, as shown above, is 79%. The Johnson+Stein combined Against Trump total is just 31%. In other words, prospective Libertarian+Green voters, as a group, are much more strongly against Clinton than against Donald Trump, at least prior to the start of the fall campaign.

Pages 27–30 are also interesting. The question is, "Would you consider voting for [Clinton/Trump/Johnson/Stein]?" Possible responses are Might, Would Never, Not Sure, with overall totals and cross-tabulated breakdowns by gender, age, and so on. The Might vs. Would Never breakdown for Clinton among Democratic primary voters who prefer Sanders is 59%–38%. The same breakdown  for this group (Democratic primary voters who prefer Sanders) for Johnson is 45%–28%, and for Stein is 44%–20%.

To put that more simply, 38% of Sanders supporters would never vote for Clinton. Where would they go? An even split — 45% would vote for Johnson and 44% would vote for Stein.

Independents Still Control this Election

It looks like it's still true, that this year's "radical independents," people who were attracted to Trump and/or Sanders as a way to raise a "pronounced middle finger" to the powers that be (Norman Solomon's phrase in a slightly different context), are likely to decide this election. They may not know who they're for, but they're pretty sure who, or what, they're against. For far too many voters, there is no good outcome.

 "Le Pendu," the one left hanging, suspended in time and awaiting the outcome (source).

Enjoy the rest of the summer. I'll be back with more in a month.

GP
 

Obama's Affect on Gilo, Israel and International Law Towards Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                                

Democrats: Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton

                                                                           

Down to 3 Republicans running, Cruz, Kasich, Trump

Republicans, pared down from 17 to 3;  Donald  Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich. 

In selecting our vote for the next president, let's look at our present Obama administration's 2 terms  and what it has stood for as far as Israel is concerned.  Michael Oren's comment has done that:

Quote of the Week:                   

A street in Gilo, Jerusalem, Israel

“Obama has a worldview that would challenge any government in Israel, rightwing or leftwing. His worldview is so foreign to us. For example his intense reluctance to use military force; or his cooperation with international organizations that are always condemning us, like the Human Rights Council; reaching out his hand to the Muslims and Iran; the demand that we freeze all construction even in Jerusalem – even Meretz couldn’t freeze all the construction in Gilo – but that’s what Obama demanded.” - Michael Oren, a former Israeli Ambassador to the US                

Prof. Eugene Kontorovich 

Michael Oren

I'll put up a spokesman for Israel's rights anytime against Obama's views of international law.  My selection is Professor Eugene Kontorovich, who understands international law completely.  "

He has a new research paper on Israel’s borders and international law

A new research article shows that under the universal rules that determine the borders of new states, Israel upon its creation have included the West Bank and Gaza.  Gilo would be considered as in the area of Judea and Samaria-commonly called the West Bank.  

Gilo is a large neighborhood in East Jerusalem, which was before 1967, inhabited mostly by Arabs since it was part of Jordan's territory, illegally taken.  After 1967's war, Jerusalem was freed and the barriers were taken down separating East from the rest of the city and was unified.  It's in the SW section of East Jerusalem and is inhabited by about 40,000 Jews, legalized by the 1980 Israeli law. "It is administered as part of the Jerusalem municipality. " 

Gilo is located on a hilltop in southwestern East Jerusalem separated from Beit Jala by a deep gorge. The Tunnels Highway to Gush Etzion runs underneath it on the east, and the neighborhood of Har Gilo is visible on the adjacent peak. Beit Safafa and Sharafat are located north of Gilo, while Bethlehem is to the South.  Remember, most places are very close since Israel is only 8,000 sq miles small.   Obama has expected all construction to stop in this 40,000 Jewish community for years and years and years.                                                    

                                                                           

Samuel anointing David

Gilo was a big part of our biblical history, found in the Bible.  "The biblical town of Gilo is mentioned in the Book of Joshua (Joshua 15:51) and the Book of Samuel (II Sam 15:12).  Some scholars believe that biblical Gilo was located in the central Hebron Hills, whereas the name of the modern neighborhood was chosen because of its proximity to Beit Jala, possibly a corruption of Gilo.  A city in the southwest part of the hill-country of Judah (Josh. 15:51), Gilo was the birthplace of Ahithophel "the Gilonite" (Josh. 15:51; 2 Sam. 15:12), and the place where he committed suicide (17:23). Gilo has been identified with Kurbet Jala, about 7 miles (11 km) north of Hebron." 

Now, what candidate is most likely to continue this policy? Most likely, It's Hillary Clinton, who has been Obama's Secretary of State in his first 4 years.  Then we have Sanders, a Jewish man who is not standing up for Israel.  The only thing I've heard from him are attacks.  It's ironic that here is a chance for Jews in America to have a Jewish president and he has blown it by not really saying a thing good about Israel.  Our Christian presidential hopefuls have been much more vocal about their support, such as Cruz and Rubio, Republicans. Trump wants a chance to sit down with the Jews and Palestinians to bring about peace.  After all, he wrote the book on the Deal.  He's a deal maker.  My hope is that he would learn of Israel's special needs for safety-first before he makes any deals.  The Obama administration has wanted deals that did not take this into consideration, expecting Israel to go back to the 67 lines, or the 49 lines.  They had a big bru-ha-ha over this which evolved to be seen on live TV. where Netanyahu had to give Obama quite a lecture about why this wasn't a good idea for Israel.   

"The Arabs have wanted to destroy Israel's heartland.  That's why they have not made peace for the 67 years of Israel's existence.  If Israel had a willing partner in the Palestine Authority who also said they wanted peace, how perfect that would be.  Yet they bombed southern Israel again and again.  They would have their break, rested up, probably dug some more tunnels, and here  went the bombing again.  Sderot and Ashkelon suffered the most.  

                                                                        

Now we have the horrid agreement with Iran, a country who has said loud and clear that they are the power holders and want very badly to destroy Israel.  

Obama's affect on people who support Israel has been very distressing.  We have watched for 8 whole years the acts of this president that shows he has given preference to the Muslims more than to the 6 million Jews that are citizens of Israel.  He has not been even handed, running on CHANGE.  Little did Jews of the USA realize what this change was-certainly far more than swaying away from the Republican Bush administration.  Now, we are watching and weighing the details in trying to decide who will be a good partner for Israel.  Actions still speak loud and clear, more than political promises.  

Resource:http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2013/01/international-law-professor-eugene.html  on Professor Eugene Kontorovich

 International Law Used as anti-Israel Lawfare

by Robbie Sabel, (JCPA 2013)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilo

http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2015/09/obama-administration-broke-law.html

http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2015/06/kontorovichs-take-on-obamas-tough-love.html

http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2015/04/hamas-enemy-of-israel-decides-to-create.html   with Kontorovich 

http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2015/01/abbass-latest-step-accusing-israel-of.html  with Kontorovich

http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2014/12/part-8-rebutting-chomsky-on-gush-etzion.html  with Kontorovich

http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2014/12/part-9-rebutting-chomsky-on-2-state.html  with Kontorovich

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/eugene-Kontorovich

Is Hillary a True Friend of Israel?

Nadene Goldfoot                                                 

Huma Abedin, who works for Hillary Clinton in White House. and Hillary Clinton.
Huma was U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff at the State Department
Huma's parents are avid Muslim Brotherhood members.  She's like
a daughter to Hillary. At age 2, Huma's Indian father and Pakistani mother moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she was raised and lived until returning to the United States for college. On June 13, 2012, five members of Congress alleged that Abedin had "immediate family connections to foreign extremist organizations" which they said were "potentially disqualifying conditions for obtaining a security clearance" and questioned why Abedin had not been "disqualified for a security clearance.  With Obama as president and Hillary as a friend, "the claims in the letter were generally rejected, and were labeled by some as conspiracy theories."  

Oh Hillary!  I just finished printing out her 8 page speech to AIPAC that she gave on March 21st and thought, she knows all of Israel's problems.
                                                                             

 She's so aware and has been very involved in our dire situations, but she was on the other side!  She had joined Obama's team and did his bidding, which was so different from what she has written as her speech.  She quoted Elie Wiesel at the end of her speech when he was given the Nobel Peace Prize and said, "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."  Did the Obama administration heed his words in their dealings with Syria?  Didn't  the Obama Administration keep quiet in chiding the Palestinians about attacking Israel, or didn't they instead blame Israel but never the Palestinians?  Yes, they did speak out at the UN against the countries coming down on Israel, but I haven't heard of anything they've done to let Hamas or even Fatah know that they can't keep attacking Israel and still find any favor with the USA.
                                                                         
She admitted right away that "we may not have always agreed on every detail, " and indeed, the details have been quite large, as a matter of fact, like Iran, which she brings up later.  When Netanyahu came to speak to Congress on Tuesday, March 3, 2015,  about  why he was  against President Obama’s plan for a possible nuclear deal with Iran,  who attended?  Almost none of the Democrats. Here are the Senators who gave notice early that they wouldn't attend.  Notice that Bernie Sanders' name is in this list.  All are Democrats plus Bernie, the Independent.

1. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)
2. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
3. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
4. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
5. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
6. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
7. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
8. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)

    In total, 48 members of the House of Representatives and eight Senators skipped the Israeli leader's speech. Did Hillary?  This subject was a matter of LIFE and DEATH for Israel.  She admits very well that she knows about all of Iran's deadly accomplishments towards this Jewish country.   It takes a lot of chutzpa to think that AIPAC members are going to push all the negativity aside to vote for her after playing ball with the opposing team.                                              

 "Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (Vt.) joined 56 Democratic lawmakers in the boycott, which was seen by many as snub to the powerful Jewish-American lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).  Also not in attendance were President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The president said he could not be present because of the speech's proximity to the Israeli election, while Biden had a scheduling conflict. That was the election Obama had been interfering with.  

She spoke about the huge movement of BDS, boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel used in trying to manipulate Israel to do the movement's bidding.  She says many young people in the audience are on the front lines of the battle to oppose it, and in that she is right.  She agreed that it is maligning, isolating and undermining Israel and the Jewish people.  Does she realize that the most popular Protestant churches are in the front line of leading this international movement?  Did she offer any concrete help in combatting it?  She said she has been sounding the alarm and had written a letter last year to Jewish organizations that we have to unite to fight against it.  They've been trying to do that, Hillary.  It would be nice if you wrote a letter to the churches promoting it.   She  told Jewish college students at the meeting to stay strong and keep speaking out.  She told them not to let anyone silence you, bully you or try to shut down debate.  That's why they are AIPAC members, Hillary.  They already have heard that from the choir.

At times, she seemed to be lecturing to the choir.  Instead, her words should have been aimed at the Palestinians.  Why tell AIPAC members, and these attending this meeting are the very active ones, to not harm others, etc.  She said to AIPAC members, who spend their free time trying to educate others about what is happening to Israel, that "all of us must condemn actions that set back the cause of peace." That's what AIPAC knows is happening to Israelis.  They know about what their enemies are doing.  She said that "terrorism should never  be encouraged or celebrated."  Really!  Why tell AIPAC members this?  This is what her friend, Arafat stood for and encouraged.  This is what Israelis are fighting against!  She said that "children should not be taught to hate in schools as that poisons the future."   Hillary is showing AIPAC that she is aware of what Israel is up against, something that this audience knows about full well, but they would like to know how she sees the USA's part in combating such acts.  Pushing for a 2 state solution when this is going on is madness.  Can she give the Palestinians an incentive for peaceful behavior other than backing them all the time and expecting Israel to give them more and more land?  Hillary; from promises Israel was promised the Promised Land.  That promise only lasted a short while before Great Britain turned around and gave 80% of that land to King Abdullah.  (update) 

She spoke of 3 choices that we have, and the 1st one was to take the Israel-USA relationship to the NEXT LEVEL.  Trump has spoken of the art of the deal.  Perhaps she has read his book, for she is offering Israel a 10 year deal of a "defense memorandum of understanding to meet Israel's security needs far into the future." She is not afraid that this will send a clear message to Israel's enemies in that the USA and Israel stand together, united.  If this is really believed by her, then why won't she go for moving the USA embassy to Jerusalem and send the same strong message by doing it?

Getting to that NEXT LEVEL, according to her speech, was to make sure she became president-a president with a deep personal commitment to Israel's future as a secure Democratic Jewish state.  We hear the knocking and warnings of what Trump would be like as a president with dire consequences.  We get the warning, that to have security for Israel, America needs to remain a respected global leader, committed to defending and advancing the international order.  Hillary, like it has been these past 8 years?  Frankly, this is what has been missing!  Even she said a paragraph down that it's not good enough to trust and verify, and that our approach must be to distrust and verify.  Well, with your past shenanigans with your own ambassador's life being taken in a terrorist attack, there has been a lot of distrust.  Couple that with not even following your own USA rules about emails, and the mess that has entailed makes me want a lot of verification because that distrust has built up.  The question is, can we trust you and why?
                                                                           

Qaradawi of Qatar

Like reading about your good relations with Qatar, whose friend in good standing is  Al-Qaradawi of Egypt.  Qaradawi was kicked out of Egypt for being a trouble-maker and he lives in Qatar.  He's a Muslim religious leader who goads his followers to kill Jews.  He would do it himself, but he'd have a hard time choking one of us as he's in a wheelchair.  However, he has said that he would do it.  On February 15, 2010, Hillary Rodham Clinton participated in an official Al-Jazeera town hall interview at the Carnegie Mellon U branch in Qatar's Education City.  Al-Jazeera in Arabic advocates killing Jews on Qaradawi's program.  She said she's been followng the Qatar Foundation.  The Al-Qaradawi Centre for Research in Moderate Thought is a short walk away from Education City.  He happens to be barred from entering the USA and is documented as having called for the destruction of America and for the annihilation of the Jews; another Hitler.  Education City's support of Sheikh Al-Qaradawi means they support what he teaches.  This is all documented by MEMRI-(Sheikh Al-Qaradawi & Qatar's Education City Hosting American University Branches.)  As Secretary of State, didn't you realize that this man is a terrorist leader, as bad as ISIS?
                                                                     

Iron Dome shooting down a missile 

That was one promise-a memorandum.  She also said that the USA should provide Israel with the most sophisticated defense technology to deter and stop any threats, like the Arrow 3 and David's Sling, better tunnel detections, technology to prevent armed smuggling, kidnapping and terrorist attacks.  Who does she think will actually come up with these items?  No doubt our creative Israelis will, who continue to share with the USA all they have to protect themselves.  She must have forgotten that Israel has already created the IRON DOME.  It was developed by Haifa-based Rafael SPYDER, a company already known for its anti-aircraft systems.  She said she wanted to tighten the links between Silicon Valley and Israeli tech companies and entrepreneurs.  We already have many Israelis working in Portland in this field.  Israel spent a lot of money providing themselves with 3 of the Iron Domes.  "The $200 million offered by the Obama White House in 2010 helped build a fourth installment."  Because of probably mostly Republican Senators and House members, the USA has been helping Israel in this way, thank goodness.  In March of this year Israel announced the Iron Dome had successfully intercepted 90 percent of incoming Gaza missiles that would have landed in populated Israeli areas.  
                                                                              

One of the  first things Hillary will do as President is to invite the Israeli Prime Minister to visit the White House.  Does she figure Netanyahu won't be in this chair by January?  Why didn't she use his name?  He's been there many a time, Hillary, but not with you as Prez.  You can say that the relationship between Obama and Netanyahu is quite strained these days.  Obama was actively involved in the USA setting up an office in Tel Aviv to vote for Netanyahu's opposing party in his last election.  Since when would we ever put up with foreign interference in our political affairs so boldly?  That was crass!  

Halperin and Heilemann's book that tells how Hillary
operated when running in 2008 for the presidency.  

                                            

American Evita, published in 2004.

A book by Christopher Anderson called American Evita is about Hillary.
In it, on pages 49-50, Anderson cites  a 1973 incident that happened before Bill and Hillary were married on October 11, 1975.   Bill had driven over to a friend's house during a trip to his home state of Arkansas with Hillary to meet a politically well-connected friend.  They noticed as they came close to  the house that a menorah was on the door.  Bill's friend came to the door and when questioned about it, told Bill that his father was half-Jewish (by DNA-I suppose-since one either is or isn't following Judaism).  It was his father who hammered the menorah to the door to be proud that they were part Jewish.  The son couldn't say no.  However, Hillary wouldn't get out of the car to meet him.  Bill had to apologize and told his friend that she's really tight with the people of the PLO in New York.  They are her friends and she doesn't feel right about the menorah.

This is a case of anti-Semitism by Hillary, but it doesn't add up.  Jews don't have menorahs on their door.  They have a small mezzuzah on the side of the door with the 10 Commandments in the case.  To spot it from a car means they were looking for it, no doubt.  A mezzuzah is small.   Why should they worry about a chatchka from the car of a friend's house?  Who ever heard of a menorah on a door, anyway?  Not even in Israel did I see such a door decoration.  Somebody is meshuganah!
                                                                         

Arafat at UN General Assembly  on November 13, 1974
 packing a pistol and called on the world community to decide between
an "olive branch or a freedom fighter's gun."At a time when elements of the American Left embraced the Palestinian cause and condemned Israel, Hillary was telling friends that she was “sympathetic” to the terrorist organization and admired its flamboyant leader, Yasser Arafat. When Arafat made his famous appearance before the UN General Assembly in November 1974 wearing his revolutionary uniform and his holster on his hip, Bill “was outraged like everybody else,” said a Yale Law School classmate. But not Hillary, who tried to convince Bill that Arafat was a “freedom fighter” trying to free his people from their Israeli “oppressors.”
When a first lady in May 1998, "Ms Clinton became the first member of any presidential administration ever to call for a Palestinian State.  With Arafat never agreeing to anything, one wonders whose idea it was?  

                                                                                 

Hillary spoke about Iran and their threats to Israel to wipe them out.  She said that Iranian provocations, like the recent ballistic missile tests, are also unacceptable and should be answered firmly and quickly including more sanctions.  We know that, Hillary, and are not seeing it.  What has Obama done about it?  Are you nudging him properly if you believe this?  His presidency has been a "do nothing" and it will blow over thing.  He seems to not believe in "mixing in."  She says that" if elected, the leaders of Iran will have no doubt that if we see any indication that they are violating their commitment not to seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons, the USA will act to stop it and that we will do so with force if necessary." We heard this from Obama, but haven't seen it.  It's turned out to be empty promises, just like Iran's promise to obey them.  

By addressing AIPAC,  Hillary didn't miss a trick in getting jabs in at Trump.  Israel will not benefit from her offers if he gets in,  was some of the message currently  on her mind and lips.                                                                                     

  Updated 3/23/16 12:50pm.PST.                                            
Resource: http://www.timesofisrael.com/hillary-clintons-full-speech-to-aipac/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Andersen
http://lidblog.com/hillary-clintons-latest-lie-shes-a-friend-of-israel/
https://warsclerotic.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/hillary-clintons-anti-israel-history/
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-israel-developed-the-iron-dome-2012-11
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/democrats-skipping-netanyahu-speech
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/03/03/nearly-60-lawmakers-boycott-netanyahu-speech
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huma_Abedin
http://wgno.com/2015/02/05/senators-threaten-boycott-of-netanyahu-speech/

Jerusalem and the USA's Presidential Candidates

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

Bernie and Hillary, the only 2 presidential candidates of the Democrat Party,
Hillary, first to speak at AIPAC Meeting; Sanders, only Jewish candidate, who just vilifies Israel, naturally had scheduled a speaking engagement elsewhere out in the West and didn't attend.  I saw and heard him  speak about Israel on TV and was so angry that I had to throw my rolled up anklets at the TV screen.  I couldn't take his tearing down Israel and changed the channel.  He just repeated Palestinian rhetoric.  

Peter Roff reminded us after the AIPAC meeting where Hillary Clinton was the first to speak, " that she has been our nation's lead diplomat under what has been characterized as the most anti-Israel administration ever to occupy the White House, and she has a lot to answer for.  Her record shows she has not been a friend of Israel.  She has been an integral part of 2 administrations, telling us of this constantly as a reason for being president.    The administration tried to force Israel into a dangerous land-for-peace deal.  This is where political operatives close to the president engineered the election of Labor Party's Ehud Barak as prime minister. They helped to open an office and promoted him against Netanyahu.  Then, the administration has made a devil's bargain with Iran that jeopardizes Israeli security."   Peter Roff is a U.S. News & World Report contributing editor and longtime observer of the Washington scene who wrote about this.  .                             

Menorah in front of Knesset in Jerusalem

One thing she is not in agreement with Trump or Cruz is that she would NOT move the American embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  She thinks this would stir up the Palestinian Arabs and cause them to become violent.  Trump and Cruz are ready to do this much desired act by Israelis as soon as they become presidents, Cruz on the very first day of taking office. 

                                                                            

Jerusalem, where 3 religions come together; Jewish, Christian, Muslim.
 Under Israeli law, all are safe.

A miracle happened in 1967.  Egypt and  Arab states (Jordan, Iraq, Syria) with Soviet Union spreading false rumors instigating them,  and all their soldiers and war machines attacked Israel on June 5, 1967 and after 6 days, had lost the war.  By losing, Israel came into land they had lost to Jordan in the beginning of 1948 that was to be part of Israel in the deal with the British who held the mandate.  Britain had double-dealt to both parties.  

 "The capital of Israel is Jerusalem. That is where the seat of government resides, where the country's parliament stands and legislates and where the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet have their offices and meet."  

                                                             

Tower of David in Jerusalem-principal tower of the Jerusalem citadel, south of the Jaffa Gate.  It's base holds the foundation of the Phasael tower, erected by King Herod who was made king of Judea  by the Roman Senate (73 BCE to 4 BCE)  in memory of his brother.   Herod's towers were left standing after the siege of Titus, Roman emperor from 79-81 CE and served to protect the Roman camp in Jerusalem.  The identification with David's Tower dates back to the Byzantine Period.  Excavations were commenced there in 1969.   Herod had rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem.  

In fact, Jerusalem has long been called The City of David. King David back 1010 BCE to 970 BCE had built this city and it was the capital of Israel and then was the capital of Judea  (southern Israel) until the Romans burned the city and Temple down in 70 CE.  It has more than political standing.  It is a religious icon and holy site to the Jewish people.  

 In 2008, when candidate Barack Obama declared,  "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."  Within 24 hours, he started backtracking."  This is how politicians make speeches to people when they want votes from them.  They lie a lot.  

"Later, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, tried to adhere to the official line, but she kept slipping. Visiting Jerusalem she talked about being "Here, in Israel." (Oops.) Even National Security Adviser Susan Rice slipped, tweeting "Great to be back in Israel." (Oops again)." Both Trump and Cruz feel this move to Jerusalem would show American strength of our conviction and are prepared to show Hamas terrorists that they are standing with their friends who don't go around committing acts of terrorism but are the only democratic good friend from the Middle East, and that they stand by their proven friends. 
                                                               

USA Embassy in Tel Aviv

 1967's war of all the surrounding Arab states against Israel was 49 years ago.  It will be 50 years ago when we have a new American president.  It's time that the USA recognize Israel's capital as Jerusalem.                                                                                                                     

Jews praying at Western Wall (Wailing Wall) 

Not only have Jews continued to live in Jerusalem for the past 3,000 years, but they have constituted the largest single group of people there since the 1840's.  In Jerusalem we find the Western Wall of the Temple, where Jewish people go to pray, as it is the holiest site in Judaism, though the entire city is sacred.                                            

Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock) sits in the center of the ancient Solomon's Temple area (al-Harim ash-Sherif), built by Caliph Abd al-Malik in about 738 to replace the temporary structure set up by Caliph Omar 100 years before.  It is situated on the traditional site of Mt. Moriah.
Policed by Jordan, they do not allow Jews here.  Jews found on this site are 2nd class citizens in their own capital and are in trouble.  

Jerusalem has NEVER served as a provincial capital under Muslim rule.  It has NEVER been a Muslim cultural center.  The only holy site to Muslims in Jerusalem is the majestic Dome of the Rock.  To Muslims, there is a great difference between Jerusalem and Mecca or Medina.  Jerusalem has no major significance to Muslims other than the fact that it is holy to the Jews who won when all the Arabs ganged up on Israel in 1967 and attacked but lost anyway!  

Year 1844 7,120 Jews...5,000 Muslims...3,390 Christians 

Year 1948  100,000 Jews.... 40,000 Muslims.....25,000 Christians

Year 1990  378,200 Jews....131,800 Muslims....14,400 Christians 

Year 2011(end of year)   804,400 Jews...293,000 Arabs (96% Muslims) 

Jerusalem now has the density of 1,484 per km2.   

Jerusalem's 2011 Jewish population was  8% of Israel's population.  Jerusalem's Arab population made up 18% of the total Arab population of Israel.     

Resource:  http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/articles/2016-03-21/hillary-clintons-aipac-speech-doesnt-prove-she-is-a-friend-to-israel

Fox TV News 3/21/16

CNN TV News 3/21/16

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/08/opinions/ghitis-supreme-court-jerusalem/

Myths and Facts-a concise record of the Arab-Israeli conflict by Mitchell G. Bard, Joel Himelfarb

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/newpop.html

http://www.jiis.org/.upload/facts-2013-eng%20(1).pdf

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/18/politics/bernie-sanders-aipac-speaking/index.html

Republican Party's Sour Grapes Action by Romney and Soros

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                     

A creative and forceful TV star  ( THE APPRENTICE- You're Fired!) has risen from the dying Republican Party who is a billionaire leading people in the race to become the Republican candidate for President.  He is Donald Trump, hotel builder and owner, a man who has shown people he is a go-getter and man of accomplishment.  He needs 1,237 delegates to win.  He's already won 18 states in this race of 30 primaries. .
                                                                             

 He's written the book, "The Art Of The Deal," that was published in 1992,   telling people how to make the best deals.  This is how he has accomplished so much successfully; making good deals.  It's evidently his most important skill.
                                                                             

The established Republican Party, led by Mitt Romney, takes this success as sour grapes and are doing everything to end Trump's success. He is aided by George Soros, another billionaire who has little use for Israel, even though he is Jewish.  His horrible Holocaust experience turned him against so much, and he is one who backs J Street, a thorn in my side and in Israel's side, too.  They say they are for Israel but their actions are not.

  The established Republicans like Romney have  taken out ads against Trump, washing his dirty linen in public regardless whether it needs it or not, 90% lies, 10% truth (as he has mentioned on TV) and are turning possible followers even back as far as either to Hillary or Sanders, the Democrat contenders, whereas Trump has brought in Democrats who are not happy with their 2 candidates.
                                                                                 

Ted Cruz, a Republican Senator, coming in 2nd, has won 8 states
including his state of Texas versus Trump's 18 states.
He is avidly for Israel.  

Here are 14 of the Republican candidates.
Trump started out as a celebrity  and still is the #1 leader
of the pack.  

Instead of sitting back and letting Hillary or Sanders get all the accolades, Trump has energized people for the Republican  Party. News about Trump is always more interesting to see and hear than a soap opera.

Here his own party has turned out to be his worst enemy.  This is the most stupid act I've ever seen of a group not open-minded enough to see the handwriting on the wall; many  people LIKE  Trump and want to nominate him as shown by the votes he has received thus far.  He's the leader of this pack and at this point is 100 points ahead of Cruz, who's coming in second.
                                                                         

As of March 9th, Bernie Sanders losing to Hillary Clinton
when 2,308 delegates remained for Democrats
Hillary had 1,606
Sanders had 851 

That Trump didn't win Ohio and lost their 66 delegates was expected since their governor, John Kasich, is very popular there. Kasich wound up with 46.8% of the votes to Trump's 35.6%. This was the only state that Kasich has won.    However, Trump did win Florida over Rubio, which was a shocker.  Rubio was only a senator there, not a governor.  He hadn't really run the show to prove his merits, but instead wasn't doing his own job as senator.  He wasn't there to vote on issues but was absent because he was too busy running for President.  That wasn't wise, at his youthful age.

As of March 9th, The Republicans had 2,472 that are up for grabs for the winner.  The remaining amount to earn is 1,061 delegates.  Trump had 673. He needs a total of 1,237.  He needs 564 more by November.
                 Cruz  had   411
               Kasich had  143.

My concern out of this presidential race between the Republicans and Democrats is to get a president that will be siding with Israel and realize they are their best friend in the Middle East.  Harry S. Truman was one who voted them in as a state in the UN of which almost all the members agreed and also voted Israel as a member state.                                            

Bernie, age 74 and Hillary, age 68 Democrat contenders

Now is not the time to go against something as important as the lives of  8 million people of Israel and side with their enemies; not in such an important decision as Israel who is a part of our religious history, both of Christians and Jews.  We have had a president who was not on the same page but had brought change to our country and to current events and the lives of all in the Middle East just as he promised, and the change hasn't been all good.  We have watched for 8 years of mistake after mistake of our government in regards to Israel.  Now is the time to vote in someone we can stand behind in regards to this teeny state who has offered so much to all.  Who will it be?
                                                                   

Trump with youngest son

Trump is leading.  Is he educated in Israel's past and present history?  Not that I can see, but then I can't see jerking him out of the line as leader, either.  His beautiful daughter has married an orthodox Jewish real estate person  and they have children.  Hopefully, if Trump is our Republican lead man, he will develop an interest in our history and what has been going on currently and use his inner common sense to back Israel in their own defense against so many enemies. That's what he says about  his resource on such matters, his own sensible common sense.   I'm counting on him spotting shenanigans of men, having worked so much amongst men.  He can spot a con artist, hopefully because he's been actively working in the business world .  I've read where even Israel is now banking on him winning.  As it looks now, Trump will be facing Hillary, his old friend.  If not Trump in this seat, then who?  Whoever  could the dark horse be?

Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75SEy1qu71I
http://patch.com/us/across-america/live-primary-results-florida-illinois-missouri-ohio-north-carolina-vote-0
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/ohio
http://www.vox.com/2016/3/15/11240918/ohio-primary-results-republican-kasich
http://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/delegate-count-tracker
NBC News TV-own common sense resource- not someone else comment this morning.
http://news.yahoo.com/trump-scores-crucial-win-florida-five-states-vote-000447322.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/12181095/US-presidential-elections-2016-State-by-state-results-tracker.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-15/soros-alarmed-by-trump-pours-money-into-2016-race