MEDIA-OCRITIES
NYT‘s Mara Gay: Any Understanding of the Republican Party Without the Historical Backlash to Civil Rights Is Incomplete: Real Clear Politics, Nov. 28, 2022
“…The origin of the Republican Party as we know it today really has to do with a backlash to civil rights. And so any understanding of that Republican Party without that historical backlash to civil rights is incomplete.” — Mara Gay. [Quite the opposite; see: Newsbusters’ Kevin Tober’s response: “On MSNBC‘s The ReidOut, New York Times editorial board member and MSNBCanalyst, Mara Gay proved that she knows very little about the civil rights movement or how the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed when she attempted to slime the “modern” Republican Party as being in opposition to civil rights. When in reality, the civil rights legislation of the 1960s would never have passed without GOP support.” — Ed.]
Why I Want Twitter to Live: Chris Hayes, NY Times, Nov. 26, 2022“My Twitter archive is over 6.4 gigabytes — more than 161,000 tweets over 15 years. It’s enough writing to fill about 10 books. What was going on when I tweeted, “Wait, which one?” in October 2008? I’ll never know. I didn’t download the archive because I thought Twitter was going to die. Even my gravest fears about Elon Musk’s ownership did not involve him nuking the entire $44 billion property in under a month. But I did not want the sole record of my microblogging output to be owned by a red-pilled billionaire going through a midlife crisis. If Twitter survives — and I fervently hope it does — its near-death experience has revealed something fundamental about our online lives: the digital spaces of civic life, the “public town Square,” as Mr. Musk deemed Twitter, have been privatized, to our collective detriment. … Twitter is where I spend a good deal of my life. That’s partly because I’m an inveterate poster and have been most of my life — [Imagine admitting all this publicly, let alone proudly. Maybe, he should get a life instead. – Ed.]
“…The origin of the Republican Party as we know it today really has to do with a backlash to civil rights. And so any understanding of that Republican Party without that historical backlash to civil rights is incomplete.” — Mara Gay. [Quite the opposite; see: Newsbusters’ Kevin Tober’s response: “On MSNBC‘s The ReidOut, New York Times editorial board member and MSNBCanalyst, Mara Gay proved that she knows very little about the civil rights movement or how the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed when she attempted to slime the “modern” Republican Party as being in opposition to civil rights. When in reality, the civil rights legislation of the 1960s would never have passed without GOP support.” — Ed.]
Why I Want Twitter to Live: Chris Hayes, NY Times, Nov. 26, 2022“My Twitter archive is over 6.4 gigabytes — more than 161,000 tweets over 15 years. It’s enough writing to fill about 10 books. What was going on when I tweeted, “Wait, which one?” in October 2008? I’ll never know. I didn’t download the archive because I thought Twitter was going to die. Even my gravest fears about Elon Musk’s ownership did not involve him nuking the entire $44 billion property in under a month. But I did not want the sole record of my microblogging output to be owned by a red-pilled billionaire going through a midlife crisis. If Twitter survives — and I fervently hope it does — its near-death experience has revealed something fundamental about our online lives: the digital spaces of civic life, the “public town Square,” as Mr. Musk deemed Twitter, have been privatized, to our collective detriment. … Twitter is where I spend a good deal of my life. That’s partly because I’m an inveterate poster and have been most of my life — [Imagine admitting all this publicly, let alone proudly. Maybe, he should get a life instead. – Ed.]
WEEKLY QUOTES
“Prime Minister-designate Benjamin] Netanyahu said this week that the fact that I am calling on the heads of the authorities not to cooperate with [Noam Party leader Avi] Maoz is sedition. There is no limit to this man’s shamelessness. If you think what I’ve been saying the last few days is rebellious, I have news for you; You ain’t seen nothing yet.” – outgoing PM Yair Lapid said at a meeting of his Yesh Atid Party. He shot back at his prospective successor’s accusation that his call on municipalities to flout the incoming government’s directives amount to sedition. (WIN, Dec. 5, 2022)
“I just want to make few things clear: the Holocaust happened; Hitler was a demonic figure. and instead of giving it a platform, our political leaders should be calling out and rejecting antisemitism wherever it hides. Silence is complicity.” — President Biden, at the end of a week of criticism of former President Trump for having dinner with Kanye West and Nick Fuentes, the former recently spouting antisemitic canards, and the latter a notorious white nationalist. “When we see this type of hatred, and we see this type of anti-Semitism, we need to call it out.” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday, declining to say against whom the statement was directed.” – journalist Jennifer Callas. [The article notes that the Anti-Defamation League has reported that the number of reported antisemitic incidents in 2021 marked a new high since tracking began in 1979.) (WSJ, Dec. 2, 2022)
“Not a word of praise for Israel. Not a single recognition of Israel’s achievements or value. Not a single embrace of the Israeli people.” — AIPAC on Twitter. The organization added that in his 19-minute speech about the lobby, J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami made one thing clear: “J Street is many things, but it’s not pro-Israel.” J Street‘s annual conference was held on Sunday. (Israel National News, Dec. 3, 2022)
“Morality police have nothing to do with the judiciary [and have been abolished. . .and] both Parliament and the public are working on whether to continue requiring women to cover their heads” — Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, quoted by the ISNA news agency. These moves, seen as attempts to appease ongoing protests, have not been confirmed by the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the morality police.” [Protests began Sept.16, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amkiniw, died after being booked for improperly wearing her hijab, or head-covering, by the morality police. 470 protesters have so far been killed, including 64 minors, and 18, 210 demonstrators imprisoned] – journalist David Meyer. (NY Post, Dec. 4, 2022).
“We should stand with these voices of freedom inside our no.1 adversary. Everyone knows that these organic protests of the Chinese people are not just about COVID policies, but about their yearning for freedom, and they are dying to hear from America — from the leader of the free world — that we support their deepest aspirations. …. The White House response was pitiful. . . [Biden almost] wishes he was driving a tank in Tienanmen Square” –Sen. Ted Cruz (R.-Texas) “The Chinese Communist Party’s lockdowns have imprisoned people against their will—many have died. As Chinese citizens bravely protest, Joe Biden & the corporate class shrug.” — Mark Moore. (NY Post, Nov.29, 2022)
“Whig-liberal and Marxist ideologies have failed, and postmodern scepticism leads to anarchy, chaos, and madness, as it did for the tragic, pathetic misfit and extremist Nietzsche. But objectivity and ethics are not dead; and human history is not over as a consciously civilizing project until and unless we lose faith in the words, concepts, values, virtues, and deeds that constitute it. …” — M.D. Aeschliman in review of James M. Banner, Jr., The Ever-Changing Past: Why All History is Revisionist History (Yale, 304 pp.) (National Review, Nov. 10, 2022)
“Sam Bankman-Fried faced the music, at least a little bit, in the form of a contentious interview with the New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook Summit yesterday. The answers from the disgraced founder of the cryptocurrency platform FTX range from complicated jargon to utterly implausible excuses to dodges to what smells like straight-up BS. Right now, Bankman-Fried looks like the worst form of a capitalist, one who knew exactly how to seduce and win over progressives and socialists. He’s a walking, talking demonstration that a lot of powerful movers and shakers in this world are a lot more gullible than they will ever admit.” – Jim Geraghty. (National Review, Dec. 1, 2022)
“You were really good at talking about ethics.’ He replied that ‘I had to be’ because of ‘this dumb game we woke westerners play where we say all the right shibboleths and so everyone likes us.’ ” — Disgraced FTX bitcoin firm founder Samuel Bankman-Fried, 30, in an interview, cited by Daniel Henninger. (WSJ, Nov. 30, 2022)
“How many tanks are you asking for. I just wanna ask [Defence Minister] Anita [Anand] how many we’ve got on hand.” – Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino reply to Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti’s text urging him to call in the Canadian Armed Forces to dismantle the Freedom Convoy. This exchange took place only days after Freedom Convoy first set up shop in the Ottawa core, indicating that federal ministers were casually discussing whether they should order the demonstration to be crushed with tanks early on. (National Post, Nov. 24, 2022)
“It wasn’t an elaborate, multilayered plot. It wasn’t democracy hanging by a thread. It was a mob run amok, a riot. It was dangerous for those on the scene, and it was notorious because it happened at the Capitol instead of, say, on the streets of Minneapolis. But it was a spontaneous, chaotic, nearly pointless tantrum that had no chance of achieving even the nebulous, short-term aim of preventing Congress from counting state-certified electoral votes, much less of overthrowing America’s constitutional order. Oh, and to hear prosecutors tell the story of January 6, Donald Trump had precious little to do with the whole thing. These are the only logical conclusions to draw from the verdicts returned Tuesday afternoon by a jury in deep blue Washington, D.C.” – columnist and former prosecutor Andrew McCarthy on the verdict of a jury in deep blue Washington DC in the government’s court case against five Oath Keeper defendants. (National Review, Nov. 30, 2022)
SHORT TAKES
UAE CHIEF WELCOMES ISRAELI PRESIDENT TO ‘SECOND HOME’ IN ABU DHABI (Abu Dhabi) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with the president of the United Arab Emirates, after addressing a global forum on outer space in Abu Dhabi. It was Herzog’s fourth meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan since becoming president, a largely ceremonial role. On Sunday, he became the first Israeli head of state to visit Bahrain. (Algemeiner, Dec. 5, 2022)
‘BLATANT MURDER’ – AL JAZEERA SUES ISRAEL AT ICC OVER ABU AKLEH DEATH (Qatar) — The Al Jazeera news network filed a criminal complaint against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging that the shooting death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was a “blatant murder” and a “heinous crime.” The site also claimed that the May 2021 bombing of its offices in the Gaza Strip prove an Israeli government agenda to “silence” the news agency. Abu Akleh was shot in Jenin while covering clashes between Palestinian terrorists and IDF troops in the flashpoint city. (WIN, Dec. 6, 2022)
AT ANTI-ISRAEL EVENT, BLINKEN WARNS JEWISH STATE NOT TO ALLOW PRAYER AT HOLIEST SITE (Washington) — Addressing the annual event for the radical-left J Street, Secretary of State Blinken took an opening shot at the incoming conservative Israeli government, warning, “We will also continue to unequivocally oppose any acts that undermine the prospects of a two-state solution, including, but not limited to, settlement expansion; moves toward annexation of the West Bank; disruption to the historic status quo at holy sites; demolitions and evictions; and incitement to violence,” Blinken said. (WIN, Dec. 5, 2022)
LAPID SINGLES OUT ORTHODOX ZIONISTS FOR CONTEMPT (Jerusalem) — Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid slammed Orthodox Zionists, suggesting that PM-elect Benjamin Netanyahu had made a grave mistake in granting authority within the Defense Ministry to lawmakers from that sector. “Netanyahu has sold out the country to the hardalim,” Lapid wrote. The word hardalim is a portmanteau of the terms haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and Dati Leumi (Religious Zionists.) Hardalim is a plural noun, referring to multiple people. The word hardal (singular) in Hebrew also means mustard. (WIN, Dec. 6, 2022)
REPORT: IDF CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS COALITION DEALS ‘BREAK CHAIN OF COMMAND’ (Jerusalem) — IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi strongly criticizes the granting of powers in Judea and Samaria to Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich in the coalition agreements. According to the report, Kochavi, who is expected to end his term soon claimed that the splitting of powers. which previously belonged solely to the Defense Ministry to give them to Ben-Gvir and Smotrich “breaks the chain of command.” (Jewish National News, Dec. 5, 2022)
STATE NEWS: IRAN EXECUTED 4 PEOPLE IT SAYS SPIED FOR ISRAEL (Tehran) — Iranian authorities executed four people accused of working for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency/. Three others received lengthy prison sentences. (VosIzNeis News, Dec. 4, 2022)
FOR FIRST TIME, LITHUANIA CONSIDERS HOLOCAUST RESTITUTION BILL FOR INDIVIDUALS (Kyiv) — Lithuania’s prime minister has introduced a bill to the country’s parliament that would set aside €37 million to pay restitution for the first time ever to individual Holocaust survivors and their heirs. Legislation passed in 2011 established a “Good Will Foundation” to pay a similar amount, €36 million, over the course of 10 years, for real estate confiscated from Jewish communities during the Nazi and Soviet periods. According to the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO), which is a partner in the foundation, this amount was what the government determined was 30% of the value of 152 Jewish synagogues, cemeteries, and related properties. (WIN, Dec. 6, 2022)
126 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SEND LETTER URGING UNIFIED NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM (Washington) — A bipartisan group of 126 Senators and Congressional Representatives sent a letter to the Biden administration recommending the development of a unified national strategy to combat antisemitism along with the creation of an interagency task force. The letter was drafted by the co-chairs of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism: Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK) and Reps. Kathy Manning (D-NC) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). (Algemeiner, Dec. 6, 2022)
NEW YORK ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES UP 125 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER, NYPD SAYS (NYC) — Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City during the month of November increased by 125 percent when compared to last year, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported. The NYPD recorded 45 antisemitic hate crimes in November 2022. In November 2021, it recorded 20. According to the data, Jewish New Yorkers were the most targeted group, accounting for 60 percent of all hate crimes that occurred. (Algemeiner, Dec. 5, 2022)
TRUMP REBUKED FOR CALL TO SUSPEND CONSTITUTION OVER ELECTION(Miami) — Former President Donald Trump faced rebuke from officials in both parties after calling for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution over his claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Trump, who announced last month that he is running again for president, made the claim over the weekend on his Truth Social media platform. “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!” (VIN News, Dec. 4, 2022)
IRAN PROTESTERS CALL FOR STRIKE, PROSECUTOR SAYS MORALITY POLICE SHUT DOWN (Tehran) — Protesters in Iran called for a three-day strike this week, stepping up pressure on authorities after the public prosecutor said the morality police whose detention of a young woman triggered months of protests had been shut down. There was no confirmation of the closure from the Interior Ministry which oversees the morality police, and Iranian state media said Public Prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri was not responsible for overseeing the force. (Algemeiner, Dec. 4, 2022)
UKRAINE MAY HAVE BRIGHTER FUTURE AS RUSSIA STRUGGLES TO RESUPPLY FIGHTING FORCES: INTEL CHIEF (Simi Valley) – US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines sees better days ahead for Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces — and questioned whether President Vladimir Putin fully grasps the challenges his country faces in its invasion effort. During the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, she said Putin “is becoming more informed of the challenges that the military faces in Russian” as she alluded to past allegations that Putin advisors were shielding him from bad war-front news. A recent survey in Russia indicated 55% of responders supported peace talks with Ukraine, while only 25% wanted the war to continue. (NY Post, Dec. 4, 2022)
RUSSIA POSTPONES TALKS ON NEW START PACT, IMPERILING MAJOR NUCLEAR ACCORD (Moscow) — Russia’s unilateral postponement — citing “political reasons” — of a technical meeting with U.S. officials about the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has called into question the future of the sole remaining strategic nuclear arms control treaty between Washington and Moscow, as Russia lashes out amid setbacks in its war on Ukraine. (Washington Post, Nov. 30, 2022)
“THE U.S. GOVERNMENT KEEPS BUYING CHINESE DRONES” (Washington) — The U.S. continues to buy drones from DJI, the Chinese drone company which is the largest commercial drone manufacturer in the world. Used by our military, Agriculture Department, Secret Service, local police forces and other government agencies, they can collect vast amounts of sensitive data useful to the CCP. The American Security Drone Act of 2021, which failed to gain Congressional approval, should be strengthened and quickly resubmitted (WSJ, Nov. 30, 2022)
‘BLATANT MURDER’ – AL JAZEERA SUES ISRAEL AT ICC OVER ABU AKLEH DEATH (Qatar) — The Al Jazeera news network filed a criminal complaint against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging that the shooting death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was a “blatant murder” and a “heinous crime.” The site also claimed that the May 2021 bombing of its offices in the Gaza Strip prove an Israeli government agenda to “silence” the news agency. Abu Akleh was shot in Jenin while covering clashes between Palestinian terrorists and IDF troops in the flashpoint city. (WIN, Dec. 6, 2022)
AT ANTI-ISRAEL EVENT, BLINKEN WARNS JEWISH STATE NOT TO ALLOW PRAYER AT HOLIEST SITE (Washington) — Addressing the annual event for the radical-left J Street, Secretary of State Blinken took an opening shot at the incoming conservative Israeli government, warning, “We will also continue to unequivocally oppose any acts that undermine the prospects of a two-state solution, including, but not limited to, settlement expansion; moves toward annexation of the West Bank; disruption to the historic status quo at holy sites; demolitions and evictions; and incitement to violence,” Blinken said. (WIN, Dec. 5, 2022)
LAPID SINGLES OUT ORTHODOX ZIONISTS FOR CONTEMPT (Jerusalem) — Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid slammed Orthodox Zionists, suggesting that PM-elect Benjamin Netanyahu had made a grave mistake in granting authority within the Defense Ministry to lawmakers from that sector. “Netanyahu has sold out the country to the hardalim,” Lapid wrote. The word hardalim is a portmanteau of the terms haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and Dati Leumi (Religious Zionists.) Hardalim is a plural noun, referring to multiple people. The word hardal (singular) in Hebrew also means mustard. (WIN, Dec. 6, 2022)
REPORT: IDF CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS COALITION DEALS ‘BREAK CHAIN OF COMMAND’ (Jerusalem) — IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi strongly criticizes the granting of powers in Judea and Samaria to Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich in the coalition agreements. According to the report, Kochavi, who is expected to end his term soon claimed that the splitting of powers. which previously belonged solely to the Defense Ministry to give them to Ben-Gvir and Smotrich “breaks the chain of command.” (Jewish National News, Dec. 5, 2022)
STATE NEWS: IRAN EXECUTED 4 PEOPLE IT SAYS SPIED FOR ISRAEL (Tehran) — Iranian authorities executed four people accused of working for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency/. Three others received lengthy prison sentences. (VosIzNeis News, Dec. 4, 2022)
FOR FIRST TIME, LITHUANIA CONSIDERS HOLOCAUST RESTITUTION BILL FOR INDIVIDUALS (Kyiv) — Lithuania’s prime minister has introduced a bill to the country’s parliament that would set aside €37 million to pay restitution for the first time ever to individual Holocaust survivors and their heirs. Legislation passed in 2011 established a “Good Will Foundation” to pay a similar amount, €36 million, over the course of 10 years, for real estate confiscated from Jewish communities during the Nazi and Soviet periods. According to the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO), which is a partner in the foundation, this amount was what the government determined was 30% of the value of 152 Jewish synagogues, cemeteries, and related properties. (WIN, Dec. 6, 2022)
126 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SEND LETTER URGING UNIFIED NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM (Washington) — A bipartisan group of 126 Senators and Congressional Representatives sent a letter to the Biden administration recommending the development of a unified national strategy to combat antisemitism along with the creation of an interagency task force. The letter was drafted by the co-chairs of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism: Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK) and Reps. Kathy Manning (D-NC) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). (Algemeiner, Dec. 6, 2022)
NEW YORK ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES UP 125 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER, NYPD SAYS (NYC) — Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City during the month of November increased by 125 percent when compared to last year, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported. The NYPD recorded 45 antisemitic hate crimes in November 2022. In November 2021, it recorded 20. According to the data, Jewish New Yorkers were the most targeted group, accounting for 60 percent of all hate crimes that occurred. (Algemeiner, Dec. 5, 2022)
TRUMP REBUKED FOR CALL TO SUSPEND CONSTITUTION OVER ELECTION(Miami) — Former President Donald Trump faced rebuke from officials in both parties after calling for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution over his claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Trump, who announced last month that he is running again for president, made the claim over the weekend on his Truth Social media platform. “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!” (VIN News, Dec. 4, 2022)
IRAN PROTESTERS CALL FOR STRIKE, PROSECUTOR SAYS MORALITY POLICE SHUT DOWN (Tehran) — Protesters in Iran called for a three-day strike this week, stepping up pressure on authorities after the public prosecutor said the morality police whose detention of a young woman triggered months of protests had been shut down. There was no confirmation of the closure from the Interior Ministry which oversees the morality police, and Iranian state media said Public Prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri was not responsible for overseeing the force. (Algemeiner, Dec. 4, 2022)
UKRAINE MAY HAVE BRIGHTER FUTURE AS RUSSIA STRUGGLES TO RESUPPLY FIGHTING FORCES: INTEL CHIEF (Simi Valley) – US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines sees better days ahead for Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces — and questioned whether President Vladimir Putin fully grasps the challenges his country faces in its invasion effort. During the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, she said Putin “is becoming more informed of the challenges that the military faces in Russian” as she alluded to past allegations that Putin advisors were shielding him from bad war-front news. A recent survey in Russia indicated 55% of responders supported peace talks with Ukraine, while only 25% wanted the war to continue. (NY Post, Dec. 4, 2022)
RUSSIA POSTPONES TALKS ON NEW START PACT, IMPERILING MAJOR NUCLEAR ACCORD (Moscow) — Russia’s unilateral postponement — citing “political reasons” — of a technical meeting with U.S. officials about the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has called into question the future of the sole remaining strategic nuclear arms control treaty between Washington and Moscow, as Russia lashes out amid setbacks in its war on Ukraine. (Washington Post, Nov. 30, 2022)
“THE U.S. GOVERNMENT KEEPS BUYING CHINESE DRONES” (Washington) — The U.S. continues to buy drones from DJI, the Chinese drone company which is the largest commercial drone manufacturer in the world. Used by our military, Agriculture Department, Secret Service, local police forces and other government agencies, they can collect vast amounts of sensitive data useful to the CCP. The American Security Drone Act of 2021, which failed to gain Congressional approval, should be strengthened and quickly resubmitted (WSJ, Nov. 30, 2022)
FOR FURTHER REFERENCE
Canada Must Stop Facilitating Terror: Samidoun: Doris Strub Epstein, Israzine, Dec. 6, 2022 — Samidoun, the “Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network,” is based in Vancouver and has chapters, and affiliates, with links worldwide. [Doris Strub Epstein is the co-Chair of CIJR – Toronto]
