For deep seated anti-Semitism. The evangelical believe is that Israel must exist and ALL Jews (including those in the US) must return to Israel is a precursor to Rapture and the eventual return of Jesus. Note also that in their believe system any Jew that does not convert before Jesus returns in doomed to eternal fires.

The ultimate goal of evangelicals is the destruction of Israel and the elimination of all Jews. Their ‘support’ for the state of Israel is just a means to achieve that end.

I wish more Jewish groups (particularly AIPAC) would figure this out and would 'reject and denounce' these people for what they truly are; anti-semites.

I think the Republican strategy is to tank this election cycle. They know just how much S%^# is coming down in the next few years and they know just how impossible it will be for anybody to fix it. They’re hoping when things really get bad in 2009 and 2010 the ADD public will blame the Democrats since they are in office and sweep Jeb Bush into the Presidency in 2012.

The Democrats stopped hiding in the corner every time a Republican (or Lieberman) talks ‘national security’. They need to keep up this line of attack.

My guess is there will be a few high level ‘prosecutions’ of building inspectors and various senior people involved in school construction. Each one designed to send the message that going forward this sort of thing will not be tolerated. One can hope China will learn from this. But the reality is, there is little China can do in the short to mid term. It is a huge country with decades of sub-standard construction to make up for.

As for the google search graph; it is indeed humbling and it shows the deep connection many Chinese feel towards their country and its children. As NPR noted yesterday, due to China’s ‘One-Child’ policy many families lost an entire generation in the quake.

Mean the same thing.

Somebody had to say it.

They turn the video camera's OFF for their more off the reservation sermons.

If there were video of Hagee as opposed to transcripts and the occasional audio tape the cable dweebs would still be hyping it. Remember, if as far as cable is concerned, if there is know video, it never happened.

Remains health costs. A huge number of Americans are literally one car accident, one cancer diagnosis just one health emergency away from finacial ruin. And that's the people WITH insurance.

The US remains the only major industrial power in the world where this is the case. Its a disgrace.

Penn to Join Obama Campaign

I know its unlikely. But if I see that headline I'll know Dems are going to lose badly this year.

Is genuine new purchases vs. a reflection of increased prices?

What I mean is in: Apr 10 people bought cameras for $100 each and in May 8 people bought cameras for $130 each. Apr sales $1,000 May sales $1,040. Less people buying more expensive stuff = increased retail sales. That doesn’t mean an improved outlook going forward and still means more people pulling back.

For the record, my ‘rebate’ check went to savings and will not be touched any time soon.

With locations picked by McCain’s camp and, even Fox News admitted to this, audiences arranged for by McCain’s people?

How is that good for Obama?

These are not ‘free’ ‘open’ ‘bipartisan’ events when one candidate makes all the decisions about format, location, topics and studio audience.

The good thing about immigration is that its one of the issues that pulls McCain away from the Republican base and for much of that base immigration a core issue that they VOTE on. He has to walk a very fine line when talking about immigration with Latino voters. He goes too far and the base attacks him. He doesn’t go far enough or tries to shore up his base and he looks like he is flip-flopping yet again.

Given McCain’s performance on Social Security (he’s against privatizing, but he supports Bush’s privatization plan, huh?) over the last couple of days I don’t think he’s going have very much success walking that line.

Credit goes to former Republican Governor Pete Wilson of California who make immigrant bashing the centerpiece of his reelection campaign in the mid-nineties and supported several anti-immigrant initiatives on the ballot. I remember thinking at the time that while Wilson’s strategy might have been a good thing in the short term for him, it was a horrible long term policy that would cripple Republican’s in CA and the rest of the country with Latino voters for years to come. Glad to know I might be proven right on that.

Is to liberalize their immigration policies to bring in more workers. Which is essentially what the US does. Albiet quite badly by the widespread use of 'illegal' labor combined lax/inconsistent enforcement and incohorent immigration policies (YEARS, as in five or more, for legal immigrants to become citizens is ridiculous).

And that is the real value of the ’50 State Strategy’. By having a presence everywhere Obama gives support to down ticket Dems, it could mean the difference between a six seat pickup vs an eight or nine seat pick up in the Senate. It could also net an extra 10 or 12 seats in the House. Not to mention help Dems at the state and local levels. And even if they lose this time around, it builds up an organization (volunteers, donor lists etc) that can be expanded on for the 2010 midterms and beyond.

No more playing defense, no more conceding ground to Republicans.

NO MORE HIDING!!

Fight everywhere, make the Republicans play defense for once. Every dollar McCain and the 527s have to spend defending Virginia, Alaska, Georgia, Colorado etc etc is one less dollar for Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida. And for the first time in years Obama (the Dem) has the lead in money over McCain (the Rep). Lets use it.