The members of my Temple are strong supporters of Israel. Not just in words but in deeds. Numerous trips to Israel sponsored very year, advocating for Israel, financial support for Israel. In addition, they are well-schooled in the history of Israel and the conflict. Our Rabbi Emeritus is a Holocaust survivor as are many of the other older members of the congregation. There are many children (and grandchildren) of survivors. In short, our support for Israel is rock hard. So, why are there so many among us who enthusiastically support Obama - right from the beginning of his campaign? Why is it that when I go into the parking lot during religious school or at other times when it is crowded that I see lots and lots of Obama bumper stickers (in fact, I have seen no Hillary bumper stickers)? Do we not count among the Jewish people?

IT is because, the actions of the Bush administration - abandoning Afghanistan to invade Iraq - have made Israel less secure. And Hillary Clinton supported those actions. By removing Saddam and not replacing him with anything but chaos - we unleashed Iran - making Iran and the terrorists they support (Hamas and Hezbollah) stronger!! The Bush administration agreed to hold elections in the Palestinian Authority even though Hamas was on the ballot! This is something Obama opposed. And, how did that work out?? The Bush administration has done NOTHING to help Israel - they have taken virtually no steps to help Israel resolve this terrible situation. Israel has finally taken steps on its own - talks with its enemies brokered by Eqypt and Turkey. Obama has said that, unlike the Bush, he will not wait until the "waning days" of his administration to truly help Israel - not just pay lip service. If you truly love Israel you cannot possibly vote for continuation of a foreign policy that has made Israel much, much less secure. If you can do that - vote for McCain - then you have not been paying attention to the facts on the ground - only to the lies of Bush/McCain.

Haven't read through all the letters, so, I'm sure someone else has used this line - apologies.

Anyway, up front - I am and have been a very strong Obama supporter during all of the primary season. However, a year ago my sons' band played at the high school graduation. Sen. Clinton was the keynote speaker (which was the reason I volunteered to be a chaperone). She gave a lovely speech - non-political given the setting - talking very passionately about Chelsea. Also, I was told that an aide had forgotten her speech and she did it off the cuff - that was very impressive. Some people boycotted the graduation - even close relatives of graduates!! Most of them right-wing, Republicans. I remember thinking - how stupid - are you people kidding!! You would be witnessing an historic event - hearing the person who could very likely be the first woman President - and you'd miss it? Ridiculous. And I also remember thinking how thrilled I would be to vote for her both in the primary and general election. On the other hand, I had been following Obama since a trip to Chicago in June before he was elected to the Senate. Once he entered the race I supported his candidacy. But there was no doubt in my mind that I would vote for Clinton if she were the nominee. No doubt at all.

So, I agree with everything in Joe Conason's article and the letter (an editor's selection) from MoCrash. It is time to unite the party - recognize that we are all Democrats who support the positions taken by both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama. Eight years of a destructive Bush administration is quite enough and to vote for McCain is truly a vote for "staying the course" (wasn't that a Nixon campaign slogan?). Something none of us want.

Time to put down the swords (which, to be honest, both sides have been wielding) and unite this party to defeat the Republicans in November. I know that I myself have posted some very negative things on here. But I hereby vow that I will no longer do so - okay, at least not against my fellow Democrats.

How silly! I am married - have been for over 2 decades - and I think I'm pretty happy (but, who knows, maybe my body language says otherwise). Does that mean I automatically assume that single women are miserable, that they could not possibly be happy? No. Married or not married - some people are happy some are not. I would never presume that someone is unhappy simply because they are single. And, that body language stuff is crock. What a putz this women is!

Just read on TPM that a 2006 political thriller contains a plot element nearly identical to these (probably non-existent) "whitey" tapes. Apparently the book was about the first African-American presidential candidate. The only difference is that in the book the recording is of the candidate himself not his wife. I can't remember the name of the book but it is on the TPM site.

Anyone who either wants a good laugh or who likes a good scare or both should go to the website referenced in the Wired article. I think it is hrcsfjm.com. If you dare...