USA, midterm circus

Housing sales down, unemployment up...but why are we so unfair with this fellow Obama.
He is probably the best man for the job and on the job since Woodrow Wilson.
It will take years to repair what this last yokel screwed up and or allowed to happen.
Had McCain been elected things would be even worse.

Give the man a chance, he's on the right track.

floods..hunger..famine..asia..pakistan...perspective

The recent G8 G20 conference in Toronto cost about 1.2 Billion Dollars to run and police. That is 1,000 million and 200 million, total, 1.2 billion.

In contrast, Canada so far has come up with the support of 32 million dollars for the catastrophe assistance in Pakistan. Combined with all the efforts and support from Europe, about 800 million dollars have been pledged for the support in Pakistan. Compare that with the G policing cost in Toronto and it tells you how much we (humanity) are prepared to spend for useless efforts as compared to true human urgent needs.

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more...on the Israel scene...

Since its founding in 1897, the Zionist Organization of America has been fighting for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Under the leadership of such illustrious presidents as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, Rabbi Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, and current National President Morton A. Klein, the ZOA has been on the front lines of Jewish activism.

With a national membership of over 30,000, and chapters throughout the United States (including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, North Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, South Jersey and Washington D.C.), the ZOA today works to strengthen US-Israeli relations, through educational activities, public affairs programs, working every day on Capitol Hill, and by combating anti-Israel bias in the media, textbooks, and on campuses.

the boatpeople have arrived

....about 500 passengers and crew arrived this morning at the west coast, boat people from Somalia. Tigers.Smugglers. Who knows. This has happened before and no doubt the scene is being watched  for more of the same. They will be processed...takes about a year and a half and going by recent history about 80% will receive refuge status and be allowed to remain here. Most will probably end up in Toronto...apply to bring a bunch of other family members over within the next fife years and on the Summer weekends they all end up here uptown at the Cobourg beach.

What's wrong with that? Nothing.\It will give our government departments something to do...
Anyway that is what's in the news today and after being crammed up in a small ship for over three months on the pacific journey, these folks need a break, no matter what or why they find themselves in this situation.

why more time?

Standing meekly aside while Karzai's cadre rips-off the country; blissfully ignoring the total ineffectiveness of COIN; and, shelving our real strategic advantage--our commitment to self-government, an independent judiciary, and the rule of law - is a formula for self-defeat. Hawk Ann Marlowe thinks that's exactly what America is doing. And more time, of more of the same, will give the same result. Google Anne Marlowe, writer.

Israel....

I remember...way back when...1949..50..51..etc I used to feel sorry for the poor, displaced people of Palestine who were forced into UN camps to make room for the new Israeli settlements..such horror, such injustice.
War is hell and Israel has bravely fought several wars for their conquered space, territory and Independence.
And then...they end up giving part of it  back, only to be sniped at and attacked from these areas.

I can not think of any  wars or conflicts in the world since Hitlers Army crossed Poland to take on the Soviet Union that have resulted in permanent territorial gain for the aggressors...Israel is about the only nation  I know of  which has been formed, exists as a country ( and the only democracy in the region).

Just how many wars does Israel have to win to be able to build the kind of country they deserve. Enough is enough ...next time fight for , keep and defend  the conquered lands for good...
This may include part or all of Lebanon,Saudi Arabia...parts of Egypt if need be, and a host of other neighboring Territories. Iraq, Iran, Syria,as well as Jordan which already is home to many Palestinians. There, I finally said it...

billions of dollars...wasted

Well, ...this week pictures the cover of Time as a young woman, a girl from Afghanistan with her nose and ears cut off by the Taliban. That's why we're there to stop this outrageous nonsense.

...and this picture is of a woman, pregnant widow, being executed with three rifle shots to the head...I don't think we can leave this horrible and corrupt place until some kind of humanity has come to it to protect women and children.

Dear Fred:
I want to thank you for signing my birthday card.
Michelle told me that she was planning something a little different this year, and I was overwhelmed by the kind words I received from so many supporters like you.

This job has a way of offering humbling moments. And the support you have shown me, time and time again, has sustained me through any number of difficult days. It is more than any president deserves, and I could not be more grateful.

On my birthday, I spent some time considering what the year ahead will bring -- a new set of challenges and opportunities, some that we can foresee and some that we cannot.

If we continue to stand together, I know we will continue to move America forward and win these fights for change.
Thank you again for taking a moment to sign my card. As far as birthdays go, it is hard to imagine topping this one. But then again, Michelle always has a way of surprising me.

Sincerely,
Barack

Mr.Obama is probably one of the finest men and best choice to occupy the white house since Woodrow Wilson. I signed his Birthday Card along with another million or more others and above is the nicely worded response.