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Drudge has a headline....


REVENGE OF THE JEWS; DEM SEAT TURNS IN NYC



Obama's Israel policy seen as factor that cost him House seat

Bob Turner, who repeatedly criticized Obama on Israel, defeats Democrat David Weprin in district that is 40% Jewish


Did President Obama's positions on Israel cost him a seat in the House? The Republicans have scored an upset victory in a House race that started as a contest to replace New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, who was forced to step down following a sex-texting scandal, but became a referendum on US President Barack Obama's policies.

Retired media executive and political novice Bob Turner defeated Democratic state Assemblyman David Weprin on Tuesday in the special election to fill the seat vacated by Weiner, a seven-term Democrat who resigned in June.

According to the New York Times, Turner took advantage of the discontent among the Jewish community with Obama’s policy toward Israel and his conduct pertaining to the Middle East peace process.

Former Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat, endorsed Turner in July as a way to "send a message" to Obama on his policies toward Israel. And Weprin was challenged on his support of a proposed Islamic center and mosque near the World Trade Center site, in lower Manhattan.

The heavily Democratic district, which spans parts of Queens and Brooklyn and is 40% Jewish, had never sent a Republican to the House. The race was supposed to be an easy win for Democrats, who have a 3-1 ratio registration advantage in the district.

A number of voters who spoke to the New York Times said that the Israel issue played a major role in their decision to support Turner, who was repeatedly critical of Obama on the subject of his policy towards Israel.

Turner, a 70-year-old Catholic, vowed to push back on Obama's policies if elected. He received help from prominent Republicans including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose much-praised stewardship of the city after the September 11 terror attacks was recalled during their 10th anniversary, last weekend.

The fact that Israel was an issue in the campaign came as a surprise, the Times reported, because Weprin is an observant Jew and avid supporter of Israel.

Orthodox Jews, who tend to be conservative on social issues, expressed anger over Weprin's vote in the state Assembly to legalize gay marriage. In July, New York became one of six states to recognize same-sex nuptials.

[color=darkblue] If I were to give advice to the White House, I would likely:

Emphasize my opinion that since Obama wasn't running, his voters probably didn't give rat's ass about this election.

Then I would advise to only congratulate the newly elected congressman, if asked about it. Point out that he is replacing a very troubled congressman and that the people of that district deserved better than they had. Simply state he has the potential to be a great congressman. Let's hope he does by becoming part of the solution to the recession, not part of the problem.

Then, then segway into a lite, polite rant that congressional R's, who only have a 12% favorable rating right now, are obstructing Obama's proposals. They are tying Obama's hands and refuse to move forward. Acknowledge disagreement as to what to do, but emphasize that doing nothing is unnaceptable.


(My personal political analysis is that it probably means nothing, right now, because Obama will bring out the dems to vote for his reflection. He just promised about $1,500 to the typical family coupled with spending cuts- so as not to increase the deficit. A lot of people love to hear that stuff.

Also, this $600 credit being bantered around for hiring a new employee, or what other amount it is, is bull-crap. If such a small amount is the decision making factor, a business would have to be stupid to hire solely based on that incentive.

Again, remember my opinion now that this is going to be a long recession. At least as long as it took to get into it, if not longer. The U.S. didn't fully recover from the Depression until WWII...)

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.

Well, if you walk through enough locker rooms you're going to see a Koch or two...