WASHINGTON — Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth spent years promoting Josh Hawley as the future of the Republican Party, a “once-in-a-generation” candidate destined to contend for the presidency, perhaps in 2024. But a day after the riot at the U.S. Capitol that left four people dead, Danforth blamed his former protégé for sparking the insurrection. […]
I woke up Wednesday gratified. An African American and a Jew had won the two Senate runoffs in Georgia. The Democrats would dominate the Senate. Mitch McConnell would be minority leader. Chuck Schumer would be the majority leader. I was working in the garage converting wooden wine boxes with my new Dremel saw into whatever. My wife said, “come up stairs, you’ve got to see this.” The elation was short lived. I watched television from 10 am to 11 pm as I flipped between CNN, MSNBC and FOX, which dropped its “Fair and Balanced” motto in 2017. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]
Historians Will Grapple With Events of January 6, 2021 Read More »
Oliver Pollak, USA
US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is the first official in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to announce his or her resignation following the recent attack on the US Capitol. “Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the president stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed,” Chao said in
US transport secretary is first Trump cabinet official to resign Read More »
USA
The still-tentative agreement between Qatar and Saudi Arabia to reopen political relations and closed borders after four years is part of the Trump administration’s priority to reduce friction among its allies. The goal is to decrease the possibility that American forces will waste time and capability putting out smaller fires, thus leaving them in a better position to deal with broader issues: cybersecurity, improving readiness, boosting NATO, countering China and not participating in civil wars in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Africa. Out of Syria. Out of Afghanistan. Out of Somalia. Out of Iraq? [Shoshana Bryen]
Qatar and Saudi Arabia: A Gift of a Different Sort, Maybe Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
As he experiences his first week in Congress, Jamaal Bowman (D-New York) will start on a path to do everything he suggests that former Rep. Eliot L. Engel failed to do and perhaps even obstructed. To blame Engel for destructive social conditions in the Bronx or elsewhere in America, even by implication, exposes how clueless Bowman is about the obstacles that Engel faced and now Bowman himself will face in the next two years. [ Bruce S. Ticker]
Bowman in for a congressional reality lesson Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
Rep. Sara Jacobs says she feared for her life Wednesday as she and other members of Congress seated in the House gallery were led to safety amid the sound of flash-bangs. [Ken Stone, Times of San Diego]
Sara Jacobs feared for life during Capitol siege Read More »
Ken Stone, San Diego County, USA
Following are streaming Jewish programs of academic and lay interest that may be accessed via the Internet. All times Are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (January 10-16, 2021) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
The “Only in America” days may be back again. And, yes, “it’s official. Georgia Democratic Senators-elect Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are going to Washington.” [Dorian de Wind]
An ‘Only in America’ Election in Georgia Read More »
Dorian de Wind, Jewish History, USA
The sight of a crowd of people ascending the steps Wednesday in front of the Capitol building and forcibly entering the American House of Representatives, as happened yesterday and was beamed live all around the world, must have sent shudders down the spine of every freedom-loving individual everywhere. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Attack on U.S. Capitol Causes Free World to Shudder Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, USA
LATE NEWS: A Joint Session of the U.S. Senate and House, presided over by Vice President Mike Pence, certified the electoral college victory of Democrat Joe Biden as the next President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the next Vice President, defeating incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence. As the
US Congress certifies Biden win after Trump mob storms Capitol Read More »
USA
Jordan’s foreign minister called Wednesday for Arab states to be represented in future dialogue on the Iranian nuclear programme, days after Tehran moved to step up its uranium enrichment. Calling for “an end to tensions with Iran”, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Jordan “supports the launching of a dialogue with Iran on the nuclear issue
Jordan says wants dialogue with Iran to ‘end tensions’ Read More »
Middle East
After a long and heated debate on Wednesday night, the government approved the regulations for the country’s latest lockdown, which begins Thursday at midnight and ends two weeks later on January 21.The following are the lockdown rules:> Gatherings: Limited to five people inside and 10 people outside, except for at approved events such as weddings
Israel is locking down (again): Here’s what you need to know Read More »
Middle East
Washington (AFP) – Every living former US president on Wednesday denounced the violence of a mob that stormed the Capitol building in Washington, forcing lawmakers to flee to safety and leaving one woman dead. The crowd, made up of supporters of President Donald Trump, opposed the certification underway in Congress of Joe Biden’s presidential election
Former US presidents denounce Capitol violence Read More »
USA
Jan. 6, 2021, should have been another proud day for American democracy, with Congress formally ratifying the results of a free and fair election, signaling the peaceful transition of power and determining Joe Biden will become the next president of the United States. Instead, it will go down as a dark day in the history
Editorial: Concede or resign, President Trump Read More »
USA