To the dismay of most Bozemanite's we hit the news again. It wasn't bad news, just our secret being made public again. The US News and World Report claims that Bozeman is one of the top ten cities in America for retirement. On behalf of my fellow Montanan's I want to let you all know that the only thing that is accurate in that article is that " The people of Bozeman, Mont., don't want this story to be published. They want the writers and photographers out, and they want the media to forget that their beautiful, once little town exists." Trust me, it's not even October and we are freezing already! My humble and personal opinion is that it's much nicer to retire in Utah or Idaho…..
Now that I got my commercial message out of the way, let's get to Sukkot. What a beautiful holiday, we eat, drink, celebrate and some even sleep in the Sukkah. We spend seven days enjoying our life outdoors, or semi outdoors, and it's a Mitzvah. Some may think that being that camping and hanging out in the outdoors is a way of life in Montana, it would be from the easier Mitzvos on our to-do lists! Yet, no matter how outdoorsy you are, eating chicken soup or potato Kugel in 29 degrees and snow on the mountains; is no picnic for anyone!
So why in the world would we spend seven days in an outdoor hut? The Torah tells us that for forty years, as our ancestors traversed the Sinai Desert prior to their entry into the Holy Land, miraculous "clouds of glory" surrounded and hovered over them, shielding them from the dangers and discomforts of the desert. Ever since, we remember G-d's kindness and reaffirm our trust in His providence by dwelling in a Sukkah for seven days and nights. It's the beautiful tradition of commemorating G-d's devotion and care to his Jewish children as we escaped bondage on route to Israel, and also to remember that the Jews lived in temporary dwellings during that same time period in Jewish history.
Yet, I am sure some of you are bothered by the timing of this. Didn't the Jews leave Egypt in the spring, around Passover? Why the heck would we choose to spend seven days outdoors in October? For heavens sake, did you ever try sleeping or eating in Bozeman, Anchorage or Yekaterinburg? It's by no means an easy or warm experience? So the Midrash tells us that indeed, the Jews left Egypt at the commencement of the spring season. For the next few months, however, the weather was pleasant and did not necessitate the building of shelters. Only with the approach of autumn, and with an eye towards the winter, did the Jewish people erect their " Sukkot".
One very important lesson we can learn from Sukkot , is to celebrate and cherish each and every moment. You can think to yourself, big deal, so for forty years the Jews had clouds of glory? Big whoop? So they built shelters? Therefore what? Judaism believes that every second in our life should be treasured and every single part of our history has vital messages for us today.
Sukkot tells us that temporary dwellings are also a Mitzvah. Seven days is seven full days, in which spirituality and infinite light shines in the Sukkah and emanates from it to the entire universe. Don't cast it aside as a small Mitzvah, Yes, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are important, but it's not enough. As the holiday settles in tomorrow evening, please keep in mind that the moments in the Sukkah are priceless, our entire body is enwrapped in this Mitzvah, and the spiritual energy we receive though this is invaluable, so step into this home away from home and celebrate the beauty imbued in temporariness!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Gut Yom Tov – Chag Sameach!! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!! *****
Only last night I mentioned how hardcore Craig over at MT Politics is. From having the first widely read Montana political blog, to being Montana's podcast pioneer with Small Town, Long Streets over at Blog Talk Radio, there's nary a part of the greater Mishblogha that Craig hasn't touched and mastered.
Now he's gone off and written the code for Montana's newest blogwire, the DextraFeed, showing up on the finest of mainstream Montana blogs everywhere.
Almost a year ago I quietly joined in sponsorship of the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. Their audio podcasts and publications are worth every penny. Now they've gone one step further to advance the cause of lifelong learning with Cato University.
This is a self-paced, home study program, enabling you to spend time with brilliant minds in your home, office, or car; during a workout; while on vacation; or wherever and whenever you have an opportunity to listen and think. They definitely aren't the type of dry lectures you may have nodded off to in school. Each program is presented by professional actors and broadcasters, and the content is lively, dynamic, and truly thought-provoking.
Marty Peretz over at TNR writes on just how out of touch many of those who subscribe to nutroots group-think are:
The day before the disgrace at Columbia University, the Daily Kos took a poll among the netroots asking whether they'd rather have George Bush or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president. Alas, 40% of the respondents chose the wiry genocidalist (the number is now 32%). This enormous cohort is now part of your Democratic Party. Are they your comrades?
As an editorial in this morning's Sun points out, this is a disaster for the Democratic candidates for president. Hillary, Obama, and Edwards all have to please these philo-terrorists and philo-Islamic fascists to get the nomination, and they will be saddled with their support and demands until November 2008.
Elsewhere, these guys continue to prove how out of touch they are even within their own party. From Byron York at NRO:
Readers of DailyKos have voted in another one of their regular polls on the Democratic presidential race. These are the results:
The key part of this seems to be the reversal of positions of Edwards and Clinton in the DailyKos world and the Democratic world. (Obama has pretty much the same level of support among Kossacks as he does among Democrats in general.) The question that raises is whether Clinton really needs to reach out to the netroots beyond what she has already done. Does she need to show up at netroots events? Does she need to tailor her positions to make them happy? Last April, Clinton's rating was just three percent, and now it's 11. So her work courting them has paid off a bit, and she is rising, but it seems clear she will never be the first, or maybe even the second, choice of the netroots. With such strong support among other Democrats, does she need them?
It's not too difficult to find about the same percentage of deluded bloggers here in Montana. Whether it concerns their collective Bush Derangement Syndrome, or their vocal support of any presidential candidate other than Clinton, who is sure to decimate the down ticket races so important to their supposed organization success, these people simply do not represent mainstream Montana values.
Many of you know the conservative Montana Mishblogha is starting to come into it's own. In recent weeks a number of new blogs have burst onto the scene, and as is usually the case, it's increased not only the quantity, but in my mind (and more importantly), the quality of the commentary as well.
I'm not interested in the "but....they're all anonymous!" meme. People have different reasons for doing what they do, and one would assume the most liberal among us would understand that, except when it threatens their 'hood.' So whine and complain all you want about the so-called "anonymous" conservative bloggers out there, but until folks like "Highline Lily," "jhwygirl," "V," and "Gerik," among others, throw off the cloak of THEIR anonymity I'd just as soon welcome them to the greater community and wish them well.
To that end is installment one of "Look.Right!" My intention is not to leave-off any conservative bloggers out there, so if you know of someone not included, please drop a note in my inbox and the situation will be remedied.
First up, we go Ridin' for the Brand with the Conservative Cowgirls. While I haven't been following the controversy surrounding Michael Vick, and the charges against him (I'm a Hockey and Curling kinda guy), the Cowgirl's have, and when they're not busy comparing and contrasting the vainness of NFL celebrities, they save up just a little for the rude movie patrons in their neck of the woods. Good stuff!
Next up, the eponymous Dave Budge. When he's not busy promoting The Spoon or making a living, he's the foremost commentator on economics and free markets there is. At his best, Dave is professorial and learned at what he does. At his worst? Delicious.
Gregg over at the Electric City Weblog is turning into a tour d'force both on and off the web. You might be from Dagmar if you don't know Gregg has teamed-up with Dave Sherman at GreaterFalls to sponsor a city-wide live mayoral debate. With all of the issues surrounding Electric City Power and citizens access to government information, it's good to know someone like Gregg and David are out there not to make names for themselves or the organizations they're associated with, but just because it's the right thing to do. Great Falls, and greater Montana, is better off with these guys around!
Carol at Missoulapolis is a breath of fresh air. If you thought Dave Budge was the only one holding down the fort for normative Montanans in the People's Republic you'd be wrong. Carol joined the scene and become a prolific blogger since her first post in June. From Max, to MoveOn, to Mike McGrath, Carol's got it covered, and then some. She's pretty handy with firearms too!
Montana Headlines points out the utter indignation many on the left showed towards Representative Rehberg and others for not posting their daily schedule online has not exactly been expressed towards the governor's office refusal to do so, provides more insight into Rehberg's S-CHIP vote, and shows us how Senator Tester's confusion continues regarding MoveOn in particular, and ethics in general.
The folks over at Montana Main Street have been highlighting how Montana is missing out on major energy development for both coal and wind power, something Governor Schweitzer promised, in my opinion, to help attract rural voters to his tent. While we're on the subject of wind energy, no one is better at blowing a strong breeze than the governor, but did the state Department of Administration apply Enron-style accounting practices for HB-9? There's a fairly strong case being made out there that the answer is yes.
You'd have to have been in a coma for the last few days not to know Craig of MT Politics and his much than better half Cammy added another Sprout to the garden in the last week. Go over and welcome the beautiful Chloe Elizabeth to the world with a hearty Mazel Tov...just don't hit his mailbox on the way down the street! Craig is seriously hard core. This guy puts himself out there week after week on Blog Talk Radio's "Small Town, Long Streets" podcast so give it a listen, but beter yet call in sometime and show Craig the respect he deserves for devoting his valuable time away from his beautiful wife and children to help enhance all of us through his efforts.
Steve Eschenbacher over at Rabid Sanity has also been turning up the heat on MoveOn and Discussing Delusions. His most recent post highlights the Democrats plan to raise taxes on your energy comsumption and take away the interest tax deduction from your home. All this while trying to maintain the patina of bringing a breath of fresh air to Washington. Amazing.
Scoop Montana. What else is there to say? When Scoop is not being generous enough to let us peek in on Mr. Googles from from time to time he's busy presenting a fairly straightforward case on how Governor Schweitzer can be beat. In his off time Scoop presents a rather compelling contrast on how a Liberal-Progressive can't win but a mainstream Conservative can. Oh...and I've never seen Team America, World Police, but after Scoop's recommendation, it's already in my Netflix queue.
Andy over at The Hammond Report also threw down the gauntlet regarding MoveOn's tasteless ad and informs about the progressive plan for defeat in Iraq in the Senate. Oh yeah...and so much for "big tent" Democrats having room for differing views on Iraq, as Washington's Brian Baird learned the hard way.
The Hardliner also has the scoop on the Enron-style accounting procedures prevalent at the state Department of Administration and reports how pay at Montana's universities are actually falling under the Schweitzer administration, literally and figuratively. The Hardliner also reports how the Montana Trial Lawyers Association may have bought a seat for Justice Cotter.
The Montana Misanthrope contemplates whether "we're" really all in this together after-all, and throws some blog-love towards Helena... when he's not showing us that there is hope indeed for petulant former line cooks and college drop outs from Missoula to finally, like Mary Tyler Moore, make it after-all.
Almost finally, Jack The Blogger over at The Western Word picks up on the progressive plan for defeat in Iraq, gives us the skinny on college and "pro"fessional football and shows us how the meme that Representative Rehberg changed his vote on S-CHIP is, quite simply, just fantasy. Oh, and the bad news, Max fell down again. The good news? Wanda was no where around.
One can't help but relish this evenings apology from MSNBC's David Shuster following the faux outrage the nutroots, and the Momzer of Missoula™, mustered over the fact a US congresswoman couldn't remember the name of a soldier killed in Iraq who was supposedly from her district in Tennessee.
Shuster's on-air apology, which had all the spontaneity of a hostage video, differed from what he had said in a presumably more candid email earlier today. As noted at National Review's Media Log, Shuster had replied to criticism from a reader by emailing this:
the story was about blackburn's hypocrisy... it wouldn't matter whether the soldier's name was David shuster or Crazy Water [the email name of the reader]. she didn't know the name, period.
Regards, D
Translation: Who cares about the soldier? I just want to make my point.
I believe that just about sums up how the left really feels about the war and the lives of our soldiers. They're nothing more than political props to be used against those whom may or may not have been behind the war from the beginning, but who now believe we have no choice but to try to eek out something approaching a victory.
The most recent missive from the office of Montana's senior senator proudly proclaims Max Baucus has bought into the 'carbon neutral" racket currently being perpetrated by guilt-ridden moralists as the latest cure for global warming.
What Max's press release didn't say was the company he's using to purchase his "offsets," Native Energy, was the same one used by Al Gore's production company for An Inconvenient Truth. Max, much like Al Gore, somehow believes that spending money for carbon offsets absolves him of any responsibility for carbon emissions. But what if it doesn't work out according to plans?
The LA Times exposes voluntary carbon offsets as an ineffective way to help the planet, but a great way for companies offering carbon neutrality to get rich quick, and highlights more than just a few instances of Native Energy not making good on the promises made to their naive clientele.
But the industry is clouded by an approach to carbon accounting that makes it easy to claim reductions that didn't occur. Many projects that have received money from offset companies would have reduced emissions by the same amount anyway.
"These offsets are not addressing the problem that must be addressed now," said James Hansen, NASA's top climate researcher. "If we just fool around with marginal things, we will be up a creek without a paddle in the rather near future."
In the case of Native Energy...
It was a ridiculously good deal with one problem: So far, it has not led to any additional emissions reductions.
In the beginning, there were good intentions.
The race to save the planet from global warming has spawned a budding industry of middlemen selling environmental salvation at bargain prices.
The "voluntary carbon offset" companies developed a plan.
The companies take millions of dollars collected from their customers and funnel them into carbon-cutting projects, such as tree farms in Ecuador, windmills in Minnesota and no-till fields in Iowa.
The plan had a bit of a glitch.
... the industry is clouded by an approach to carbon accounting that makes it easy to claim reductions that didn't occur. Many projects that have received money from offset companies would have reduced emissions by the same amount anyway.
I don't use the word "scam" lightly. It appears I am not the only one.
The growing popularity of offsets has now prompted the Federal Trade Commission to begin looking into the $55-million-a-year industry.
... Several environmental and clean energy groups have also raised concerns about verifying projects, monitoring their actual carbon reductions and ensuring that each carbon offset is not sold more than once.
Another way to think of this as a potential scam is to look closely at how the business operates, what it claims to do, and what it actually does.
... a windmill project that the cooperative was building in the Yup'ik Eskimo village of Kasigluk, a soggy patch of tundra on the remote Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska.
The cooperative sold 25 years of carbon dioxide reductions to Native Energy for $36,000 -- roughly $4 a ton.
Native Energy had contributed just over 1% of the total cost of the project yet claimed 100% of its carbon reductions.
I care not a single iota if Max chooses to waste his campaign contributions on carbon credits. I just hope his campaign isn't putting a new spin on that famous verse from Ecclesiastes, "Cast your bread upon the water...and it will come back to you one hundred-fold." In Max's case, lets just hope he doesn't plan to cast his supposed carbon neutrality upon the masses in the hope it returns campaign contributions from Native Energy, and other useful idiots.
Remember the words of Executive Director of MoveOn.org, Eli Pariser, "The Democratic Party is ours. We bought it, we own it, and we're taking it back."
During an Thursday interview for MSNBC's Tucker with Tucker Carlson, Pariser mentioned Montana's own, Senator Jon Tester, recipient of more than $300K in donations from MoveOn. "We helped elect Jon Tester and many other people..."
Make no mistake, Tester did not "repudiate" MoveOn by quietly casting a vote in favor of General Petraeus and against MoveOn.org. To do so would have meant that he has refused to accept or be associated with an organization that stands in stark contrast with Montana values. Tester has yet to address this issue directly with Montanans, has yet to indicate whether he plans to either return MoveOn.org donations or refuse to accept them in the future, and refuses to publicly repudiate the single organization that brought more money to his campaign than any other. In doing so, with the power of OUR VOTE in the Senate, Tester gives a wink and a nod to the organization that takes a lot of the credit for bringing him to the very money trough he campaigned against a scant 11 months ago... and the middle finger to mainstream Montana, who hoped he'd be the agent of change he claimed to be, only to find out he learned how to play the DC money game in record time. That brings us to Max Baucus. We're all aware how Max uses the political climate of the day to help gain support, whether it's embracing budget reform and appearing in campaign commercials with President Bush when it suits him, or voting for one meaningless measure after another in the Senate. Will Max prove he is man enough to stand-up to the MoveOn.org money machine, and refuse to use an organization that does not represent Montana values as a proxy to raise campaign cash in the next year? Or will he join Jon Tester in the dance for cash? Only time will tell. Until then, we have a poll conducted by the National Journal to help us gauge where normative American's really stand:
It does make one wonder if the usual Montana apologists for MoveOn.org, you know, those who operate various non-profits around the state who endorse and work on behalf of various "progressive" candidates, benefit in any way from MoveOn's cash. Me think they doth protest too much.
May you and yours be signed and sealed in the book of life for a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year. May G-d grant you and your family all your spiritual, physical and material needs. May this be the year in which we all usher in a Messianic era with the coming of our righteous Moshiach, Amen.
Your friends at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim & Chavie
****** The Shabbos class will resume on September 15 th. ****** Sushi in the Sukkah – Don't miss it!
****** Yom Kippur with the Mormons! By Rabbi Chaim
I sit here in Salt Lake City, Mormon Country, in the final hours before Yom Kippur, spending quality time with fellow Chassidim, most prominently Rabbi Benny Zippel, who many of you know very well. What can I say? Tomorrow night begins the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Jewish souls from Bozeman to Moscow, from Salt Lake City to Tokyo will be gathering for Kol Nidrei and letting their Heavenly Father know how much he really means in their life.
I was thinking to myself, what can I possibly share with you that can properly express to you how highly I think of the Jewish people. There is a heartwarming article written a while back by a Chabad Master Rabbi Manis Friedman, I think you will find this to be true, uplifting, and very inspiring:
If you ask someone coming out of church on a Sunday, "Do you believe in G-d?" the worshipper is shocked. "What type of question is that? Of course I do!" If you then ask him, "Do you consider yourself religious?" what will the answer be? "Certainly. That's why I'm here!"
If you go to a mosque on Friday and you ask the average person there, "Do you believe in G-d?" what will the answer be? "Definitely." "Do you consider yourself religious?" "Well, obviously."
This is normal. These conversations make sense.
Now go to a synagogue on Yom Kippur. Ask the Jew sitting in the synagogue on Yom Kippur, fasting, "Do you believe in G-d? "You cannot get a straight answer. "Umm, it depends on what you mean by 'G-d'." That's if they're the philosophical type. Otherwise they'll simply say, "What am I? A rabbi? I don't know."
So then ask them, "Do you consider yourself religious?" Have you ever asked an American Jew if they're religious? They crack up laughing. And they assure you that they're the furthest things from religious. "Are you kidding? Do you know what I eat for breakfast?"
Then every one of them will say, "I had a grandfather, on my mother's side, oh, that was a religious man. But me...?"
Today is Yom Kippur even if I don't have a calendar. This is a synagogue even if I don't like it. I am a Jew even if I'm not religious, and G-d is G-d even when I don't believe in Him. So you ask what appears to be a logical question. "Then why are you here?"
For some reason, this average Jew, who doesn't believe in G-d and is very not religious, will look at you like you're crazy and say, "What do you mean? It's Yom Kippur!"
This is not normal.
Let's analyze this for a moment. What is this Jew actually saying? You asked him if he believes in G-d and he said "No." Or "When I was younger I used to." Or "When I get older I'll start to."
"So you don't believe in G-d?"
"No. I don't."
"Are you religious?"
"Furthest thing from it."
"So why are you here?"
"Because it's Yom Kippur!"
What he's saying is this: "Why am I here? Because G-d wants a Jew to be in the synagogue on Yom Kippur. So where else should I be?"
So you say: "But you don't believe in G-d."
He says, "So what?" and he doesn't understand your problem.
He is saying: "Today is Yom Kippur even if I don't have a calendar. This is a synagogue even if I don't like it. I am a Jew even if I'm not religious, and G-d is G-d even when I don't believe in Him. So what's your problem?"
Now that can be dismissed, and unfortunately many of us do dismiss it, as sheer hypocrisy. We say, "You don't believe in G-d and you're not religious--don't come to the synagogue. Don't come here just to show how Jewish you are."
The Lubavitcher Rebbe has a different approach. This insanity is what makes us Jewish. This is what shows how special we are in our relationship with G-d.
That's called truth. It's not about me. I don't want to be religious. I don't want to believe in G-d, I don't want to hear about this. But He wants me here, so here I am.
Now let's put it all in context. Three thousand, three hundred and fifteen years ago G-d asked us if we would marry him. We had an extraordinary wedding ceremony, with great special effects--we were wowed. After the wedding He said, "I have a few things I'd like you to take care of for me so, please... I'll be right back." He hasn't been heard from since. For more than three thousand, three hundred years. He has sent messengers, messages, postcards--you know, writing on the walls... but we haven't heard a word from Him in all this time.
Imagine, a couple gets married, and the man says to his new wife, "Would you make me something to eat, please? I'll be right back." She begins preparing. The guy comes back 3300 years later, walks into the house, up to the table, straight to his favorite chair, sits down and tastes the soup that is on the table. The soup is cold.
What will his reaction be? If he's a wise man, he won't complain. Rather he'll think it's a miracle that the house is still there, that his table and favorite chair are still there. He'll be delighted to see a bowl of soup at his place. The soup is cold? Well, yes, over 3300 years, soup can get cold.
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Shana Tova!! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!! *****
The last time I checked, the fires that plague Montana nearly every summer are fought with pulaski's and the sweat of firefighters who put their life on the line to protect Montana's homes, ranches, and forests, and not with press releases from Montana's Democrats.
A month ago, soon to be former Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Jim Ferrell, put out a press release criticizing Representative Rehberg for "cavorting on the beaches of Ipanema...in order to junket at taxpayers' expense in Brazil, Argentina and Chile...while Montana burns." The trip,"appears to have the sole purpose of flying Rehberg and friends to desirable destinations -- and paying for their hotel rooms, dinners, drinks and other entertainment," said Ferrell, adding Rehberg's "trip to South America seems to be little more than a pricey vacation – in the company of their spouses – wrapped around a few speeches and brief meetings."
If, by cavorting on the beaches of Ipanema (which he didn't, it's no where near Sรฃo Paulo) Ferrell means Rehberg was conducting a results-oriented excursion on behalf of Montana taxpayers that earned results, while others cavorted around on safe, escourted tours of fire damage at taxpayers expense for nothing more than a photo-op, Ferrell might be writing something more approaching the truth. Of course it should come as no surprise that Ferrell simply invents the charge that Rehberg paid for "their hotel rooms, dinners, drinks and other entertainment," on a "pricey vacation...wrapped around a few speeches and brief meetings."
A recent trade mission to South America resulted in millions of dollars in new contracts - and millions more in potential deals - for nine Montana businesses.
Led by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., the delegation from Montana made stops in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Santiago, Chile during the weeklong trade mission.
It really turned out to be one of the best we've ever done,” Sherman said. “I think every single company was very pleased with what took place.”
It was the first such mission for three Montana companies, including TowHaul Corp./Smith Equipment USA, which ended up signing nearly $2 million worth of contracts.
The company, which operates a factory in Belgrade, designs and manufactures equipment for mining operations. It exports between 50 percent and 80 percent of its business every year, and has filled orders in 15 different countries, said TowHaul president Kim Wild.
Larry Kolb also met with success on his first trade mission. Kolb is president of Missoula-based TSI Health Sciences, which has gradually transitioned from a sourcing business that deals solely in nutritional supplements into a fully integrated manufacturing company that also makes active ingredients for pharmaceuticals.
Compared to most other states, Montana offers very little support infrastructure for companies that want to do business internationally, he said. On the other hand, Montana businesses also have greater access to organizations like the Montana World Trade Center, and to congressional delegates like Rehberg.
While Kolb has experience inking international deals, the trade mission helped him lock up more deals faster, he said.
“It definitely was a much better venture than me going off on my own,” he said. “Right now, I've got about four deals pending with direct users of my ingredients, and I've got two pending distribution deals. They're not done deals yet, but they're very close.”
For the cost of airfare and lodging, several local entrepreneurs got access to key business leaders and politicians in South America, he said. That access, he added, was primarily due to Rehberg's presence.
“It put the seal of approval on the whole thing,” Sherman said.
Rehberg has accompanied a number of trade missions in the past and plans to lend his support to future missions, he said.
“I jokingly say they use me as bait,” Rehberg said in a telephone interview. “Having been a salesman myself, I know sometimes the most difficult thing is just to have the credibility to get in the door.”
The people he spoke with in South America were eager to do business with companies in the United States, but reluctant to partner with companies they knew very little about, Rehberg said. He sat in on their meetings in order to demonstrate his confidence in the businesses from Montana.
It was also a chance for him to get to know some Montana entrepreneurs a little better, he said, adding, “Montana's a small enough state that I actually know a lot of the players before we go.”
Other local businesses that made up the mission include Globalization Partners International, MSE Technology Applications, Corvallis Feed and Seed, Evergreen International Inc., Corporate Air, Wood's Powr-Grip and bioLytical Laboratories.
One manufacturer in particular expressed interest in building a production facility in the state, he said. If that happens, the company would be looking to hire 200 to 300 workers.
So, there you have it. A minimum of $2 Million in new contracts for one Montana company alone, all for the cost of airfare and lodging, and the possibility of 200-300 new jobs. Not a bad ROI if you ask me, and certainly more cost-effective than the time taken away from firefighting for time spent in front of a Nikon with one of Montana's senators. Just how much did THOSE taxpayer-sponsored junkets cost Mr. Ferrell?
I'm having a bit of trouble gauging the faux outrage that many on the political left are having over the recent vote on S. 1257, which would have provided D.C. with voting rights in the House of Representatives. The defeat of this measure was nothing less than the latest beginning of the end of our republic, if much of the rhetoric is to be believed.
If those in favor of such a measure concede, as they seem to be doing, that such a law would be unconstitutional, then what's the fuss? Really? Is wasting time debating and voting on a law which would clearly be unconstitutional be any different from the time many of these defeatists claim was spent debating and voting on Senator Cornyn's amendment expressing outrage over MoveOn's attack on General Petraeus?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the defeatists claim it was a waste of time to support a decorated member of the military, who happens to have under his command troops which are fighting in Iraq, and who was unanimously supported by the Democrats before he delivered news they didn't want to hear?
Seriously, one can't help but chuckle at a comment read earlier today about "an ass-kissing little chickenshit." My first thought was that it referred to Singer's initial contact with Scirotum™ but I was wrong. It apparently involves a difference of opinion between CENTCOM Commander Admiral Fallon and General Petraeus. Who would have guessed? A flag officer and an army general don't see eye to eye on every issue. Stop the friggin presses!
I'll posit that the real "ass-kissing little chickenshits" are Senators Baucus and Tester, for quietly casting their vote in support of General Petraeus without a press release or public comment against the organization that made the vote possible in the first place. As I said before, Tester continues to dance with the one that brung him, and no doubt continues to want to cash the checks MoveOn forwards in his direction.
As for voting rights in DC. Well, that's how the cookie crumbles. The best take on the issue I've read so far comes from Heritage, but I'll leave you with Jonah's suggestion, taking the idea of retrocession a bit further:
There are several reasons why this idea has merit. First and foremost, it would be very good for me. This point really cannot be overemphasized. But it would also be good for the District's mostly black, mostly poor, 700,000 residents. Of course, if this proposal were implemented without care, the District would become Monaco on the Potomac almost overnight. Rich Americans would buy up land and property everywhere they could. Poor people would be evicted and all the rest. Honestly, that wouldn't be that bad in the big picture.
But, for political and compassionate reasons we should be more careful. If the Russians can sell off socialized industries, public housing and the rest, surely we can do the same here. People in public housing could be given vouchers for their “stake” in the buildings which would have to be purchased by any developer. Those who already own their homes would be in great shape.
Either way, there would be a huge transfer payment from the private sector to some of the country's poorest people. Would this result in poor people being squeezed out of the District? Sure would. But most wouldn't be poor anymore. That's a poverty program that works. Besides, the local government could still collect taxes from the richest people in the world who'd be moving into town in droves. That would pay for schools, roads, rat eradication, etc.
A few years ago I had the facockda idea that I could do better investing in the market that those I paid on my behalf. To test the hypothesis I transferred some money into one of those online trading services and started planning my next holiday in Fiji or the Seychelles. To make a long and sad story short, it didn't work. $10K turned into bupkis in just a little over a year, and like Mortimer and Randolph Duke in Trading Places, I owed Rachel a single dollar to prove her hypothesis that I had no friggin idea what I was doing.
NJPSE is a free fantasy political stock market. NJPSE players predict specific political outcomes, including every aspect of the 2008 presidential, congressional and gubernatorial races. NJPSE players use play money ("NJ Dollars") to buy and sell "contracts" - as on a stock market - to earn prizes and glory.
It's free, it's fun, and best of all, I lose nothing if I fail to win.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of dead ISM terror-supporter Rachel Corrie against Caterpillar has been dismissed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle.
When I heard the news that Israel conducted an airstrike in Syria my first thought was, "where in the hell is Flat Fatima™ when you need her? Well, it seems Flat Fatima was busy celebrating a Patriot's win with Bill Belechik.... Oddly enough there was a scarcity of outrage in the Syrian/Islamist world. No obligatory photos of dead civilians (or North Koreans), destroyed homes, or burned Syrian Teddy Bears. What's up with that? These people are the kings of feigned outrage, especially when it concerns Israeli "aggression."
Well, it seems silence really is golden. The IDF struck and destroyed a Syrian nuclear cache, which is the only possible explanation that the streets of Damascus, and the rest of the Islamic world, are not overflowing with screaming Islamic Rage Boys™.
It brings me no particular pleasure to point out what I can only consider a quid pro quo between the reprobates at MoveOn.org, and the donations they were able to funnel to Senator Tester, but that's what it looks like from this end.
The kerfuffle started over MoveOn's shameful ad essentially indicating that General Petraeus was going to be a mouthpiece for the White House and therefore "betray us," if he committed what I can only assume is the ultimate sin amongst many in the left, by not telling them what they wanted to hear. How many of these people can continue the ruse that they "support" the troops (uh-huh) when they refuse to condemn an ad essentially calling their commanding officer a liar is beyond me.
"'No one wants to call [Petraeus] a liar on national TV,' noted one Democratic senator, who spoke on the condition on anonymity. 'The expectation is that the outside groups will do this for us."
But let's focus on the main issue, shall we? As reported in the media over the last day or two, Montana's own Jon Tester was in some small way responsible for defeating a Senate amendment to condemn MoveOn.org by ruling that the issue was not germane to the bill it was attached to. As Duane Petterson points out:
Naturally, one of the beneficiaries of MoveOn money, Jon Tester in Montana, sat in the chair, and without reservation, ruled the Cornyn amendment dead because is was not germane. According to this Congressional Quarterly report, Jon Tester had received at least $88,000 dollars of MoveOn.org money in his successful bid to unseat Conrad Burns.
Before Jon Tester won his Senate seat, MoveOn.org didn't have a presence in Montana. Following his entrance into the race against Conrad Burns, MoveOn opened an office in Missoula, which seems to have mysteriously disappeared. Furthermore, MoveOn.org claims to have funneled more than $350K to the Tester campaign and claims responsibility for making 73,843 calls to voters on then candidate Tester's behalf. However, the money donated to the Tester campaign pales in comparison to the amount of money the organization was able to give to other, more costly, races throughout the country.
As it may be pointed out by others, Tester really had no discretion in issuing the ruling that he did from the chair against Sen. Cornyn's amendment. The Senate parliamentarian tells him or others what to do and they do it. It's why someone who sits at the very bottom of the Senate seniority list is able to occupy the chair in the first place...it's an idiot proof position. What Tester did was act on behalf of himself and other Senate Democrats to demonstrate how beholden they are to MoveOn.org and the money they bring to the table. Tester only proved he was acting as a mouthpiece for the leadership of the Democratic party, who said they refused to accept the Cornyn amendment for the implied threat it might mean to future donations on their behalf.
All of this brings us to yesterday's action on the Senate floor by Senator Tester on behalf of the Democrats. Tester claims to be running an ethical office, based upon, other things, making his facockda schedule public, as if that really means anything. He then runs off and provides nothing less than public pay-back, on behalf of himself, and on behalf of the entire Democratic establishment, to a group that has in no small way claimed partial responsibility for him sitting in the seat he now occupies. Why should I not be surprised? The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Rachel and I wish everyone the blessings for a sweet, happy, healthy, and meaningful New Year. Here's hoping we're all inscribed for another year in the book of life. Now get out there and listen to the shofar!
Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, New York!
Your friends at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim & Chavie
****** The Shabbos class will resume on September 15 th. ****** Join Chabad for Rosh Hashana Services on Thursday Sept. 13 th at 8:00 PM and Friday Sep. 14th at 9:30 AM.
For more info. Call us at 585-8770. ****** This week's Double Torah portions: Nitzavim - Vayelech (Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30)
As I was strolling up and down Kingston Avenue, the "Main Street" of the Crown Heights Jewish Community of Brooklyn, I felt a true sense of Elul in the air. You see, Elul is the month preceding Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, it's a month of reflection and rectification, in it, we plan our New Year resolutions. It is told that in the Shtetel one was able to feel the Elul wind blowing through town. As I joined the modern day Shtetel for a week or so, I truly felt the aura of the Days of Awe crawling up on us rather quickly.
As I scanned the countless shelves in Judaica World, the were throngs of people buying Shofar's, new calendars, greeting cards, and Kittel's – traditional white coats worn by married men on Yom Kippur. I then walked into Hasofer, the Jewish scribe, where hundreds of Jews brought their Teffilin and Mezuzos so their Kosher status can be checked by an authentic scribe, as is customary before the High Holidays. From there I hopped over to the bookstore to purchase the Machzorim, the prayer books for these special days. Then there are always those that think ahead and are already purchasing their Lulav and Etrog, the four species used on Sukkot.
So a true sense of excitement and preparation is felt and seen wherever one turns. I was thinking to myself how to best describe the uniqueness of the month of Elul, and after driving through Midtown Manhattan yesterday, I think I figured it out. If you ever looked at the tens of thousands of people walking through the Big Apple, it is no secret that they are all rushed and busy and don't have time for anything. If you ever look at our fellow Montanan's, you will see that for the most part they are laid back and calm. While in New York, people are too busy for themselves, to reflect on their own inner soul, in Montana, people enjoy the mountains and spend much time pondering on their existence and do much soul searching.
So eleven months of the year, are New York months. We are busy living our life, overworking, vacationing; we don't focus on our spiritual side as much as we should. We are too busy to care for our own spiritual nourishment. Elul, these important days preceding the Days of Awe, is a month of Montana. We are calm, collective, and focusing on ourselves. We take stock of our spiritual inventory and makes sure we are set on the right track for next year.
These last few days of 5767, let's reflect on the past year, what did we do right and where did we go wrong. Was I a good husband and wife, a devoted son and daughter, a caring father and mother? Did I allow G-d into my life this year? Did I help my friends and neighbors? Did I cheat on my clients? As we refocus, we will undoubtedly resolve to make 5768 a much better year, both spiritually and physically.
Even if it's hard, please be a real Montanan for a few more days. It's the Elul way to go!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Shana Tova!! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!!
While word came earlier in the day that Lucianone was ill, I have to admit to not being prepared for the moment when the news would arrive of the master's passing. I last heard Pavarotti in person at the Winter Olympics in Torino and can hardly believe the time has come for his incredible gift and monumental talent to belong to the ages, and not to the present.
It's easy to forget, when you're caught up in politics, work, and family commitments that there exists this great world out there involving art and music and good food shared with friends and family. Pavarotti was the personification of joie de vivre. It literally exuded from his very being, and in his presence, whether at a live performance or via CD, radio, or television, he always managed to bring the rest of us along for the ride.
His performance in Torino was a surprise for those of us in attendance, having not been advertised ahead of time or appearing in the program. In the damp cold of the Stadio Comunale di Torino, surrounded by friends and family from three continents, I wept when I heard that voice. I've shaken hands with a few presidents, prime ministers and a Nobel laureate or two, but to be in the presence of such a great artist, literally and figuratively, was among the most memorable experiences of my life. Tonight I weep again.
It comes as no surprise that Senator Craig resigned today, but did he really have to mention my dead Uncle who would have been repulsed by his activity? Yuck.
"Therefore it is with sadness and deep regret that I announce that it is my intent to resign from the Senate, effective Sept. 30. In doing so, I hope to allow a smooth and orderly transition of my loyal staff and for the person appointed to take my place at William E. Borah’s desk.
I kind of feel like Larry David in that episode of Curb when he tries to deliver a bottle of wine, meant as a wedding present, a year late.
In any case, you'd have to be living under a rock not to notice the changes taking place in the Montana Mishblogha in the last month or two. The last few weeks have seen the debut of no less than 4 conservative-oriented blogs, a welcome addition to the neurotic and dysfunctional Mishpacha of Montana blogs.
Not to be outdone, the eponymous Dave Budge, intellectual entrepreneur, is branching out to become, as far as I can tell, Montana's first part-time epicurean blogger with, "The Scoop." Dovid welcomes any and all contributors.
Chavie and I have joined family in New York for a few days in the Catskill Mountains. We traveled for a day and a half and I will therefore share with you the inspiring words of Rabbi Yossy Gordon:
Sholom Aleichem. A great Chasidic mentor once told the following story:
The kaiser of Germany came to visit the czar of Russia. A state dinner with all the trimmings was served. One of the items on the menu was kishke, otherwise known as stuffed derma. Real kishke is nothing like the stuffed derma that is available at your local delicatessen. Real kishke is actually the intestines of the animal stuffed with flour and oil and all sorts of spices. I had it only once in my life when I was visiting Israel. I think it might even be illegal in the United States.
Enough of my food review. The bottom line is that kishke was served and the kaiser loved it. He asked the czar to send his cooks the recipe. The czar graciously promised to do so. After the kaiser's departure the Russian cooks wrote down the recipe and sent it via diplomatic pouch to the kaiser's chefs.
The day finally came when the kaiser was informed that he would be served kishke. He sat down hungrily. Out came a tray. Pew! Did it stink! The kaiser took off the cover and took a bite. He immediately spat out the piece and ordered the tray removed and the kishke thrown away.
A letter of official protest was immediately dispatched to the czar. How dare he send a recipe for such a vile concoction! The czar received the protest letter and summoned his cooking staff to explain.
Initially, the cooking staff was perplexed. They went over the recipe and could not find the problem. After quite some time and in a moment of inspiration, one of the staff exclaimed incredulously, "Of course! We told him how to stuff and spice the kishke, but we never even realized that we need to tell him to clean it out before he cooks and stuffs it!"
This story is a parable for teshuva, a/k/a repentance. Often times we make firm resolutions for the future especially as we near the upcoming Days of Awe. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we begin to think more and more about ways to improve. The above story teaches us that, indeed, resolutions are important. However, resolutions must be prefaced by an honest self stocktaking in order to correct any areas that need fixing. That must come first, otherwise even with all of the spices (good resolutions) in the world, a person will remain a stinking kishke.
This coming Shabbos is going to be Chai Elul, the 18th day of the Hebrew month Elul marking the birthday of Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov (1698) and the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad (1745). (The Hebrew word Chai has the numeric value of eighteen.)
The entire month of Elul is a special time when we are granted unfettered access to our Creator as we prepare for Rosh Hashana. Chassidic philosophy compares the month of Elul to the time when a king who is on his way to his royal palace is passing through a field. He stops to talk to everyone and is kind and gracious to all. He spends time with his "field subjects" and draws them close to him. Eventually, when he returns to his palace, his people remain close to him and he judges them favorably.
Our father in Heaven is going to judge us for the upcoming year on Rosh Hashana. This time is a special time for us to build a private relationship with Him because he is in the "field" with us.
The last twelve days of "field time" begin on Chai Elul. Each of these twelve days correspond to a month of the year. One should use these twelve days to take stock of each month and make a firm commitment to improve.
The holy Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe dedicated their lives to providing guidance to their brethren. The way of life they taught which is based upon brotherly love and senseless kindness permeated with the study of Torah and Divine Service are the tools we use to succeed in the unique service of this month of Elul. As the Rebbe said, "Chai Elul gives life to the service of Elul."
May we succeed in our effort this Elul and may we all be granted the best year ever filled with good health, nachas and prosperity!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Shana Tova!! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!! *****
Leon Wieseltier put it best when he referred to Norman Finkelstein--the hysterical, Hezbollah-loving, soon-to-be-late-of DePaul University political science professor--as "poison, he's a disgusting self-hating Jew, he's something you find under a rock." Finkelstein has built a career on defaming Holocaust survivors as greedy liars out to rob noble Swiss bankers, all the while using "I'm Jewish!" as a defense. The wife of the neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier Ernst Zuendel once said, "I feel like a kid in a candy store… Finkelstein is a Jewish David Irving." You get the picture. But if you don't, read Omer Bartov's review of Finkelstein's The Holocaust Industry in the New York Times.
Well, it looks like Professor Finkelstein has some company under that rock: Tariq Ali, Noam Chomsky and, perhaps more surprising, ostensibly respectable academic figures like Tony Judt and John Mearsheimer, author of the conspiratorial The Israel Lobby.
In June, DePaul University denied Finkelstein tenure. Of course, his defenders are all weeping the tears of those victimized by academic "censorship" (because, as we all know, it's leftists who are "censored" on college campuses). Ultimately, however, it was not Finkelstein's political views--odious as they are--that did him in, but his shoddy scholarship and unprofessional behavior. As DePaul's president wrote at the time, Finkelstein did not ''honor the obligation'' to ''respect and defend the free inquiry of associates.'' DePaul has canceled Finkelstein's class, but the good professor says he may carry out a "hunger strike" in protest. He'd be doing the world a favor if he did.
These academic heroes have joined an outfit called the "DePaul Academic Freedom Committee," the mission of which is to "preserve academic freedom for our faculty on campus." Ali, Chomsky, Judt and Mearsheimer will be convening a teach-in at DePaul in October to protest on behalf of Finkelstein. Though now lacking an academic perch (DePaul is the third university from which he has been fired) Finkelstein won't be out of a job for long; I imagine the Iranian mullahs, Hizbollah or Hamas would love nothing more than to have an energetic, American Jewish spokesperson to make their respective cases (though perhaps he's more effective advocating for them in an unofficial, unpaid capacity). If they don't come through, Finkelstein can always go climb back under his rock.
One expects these sorts of theatrics from Ali and Chomsky. But Judt and Mearsheimer have revealed much about themselves--and their intellectual motivations--by choosing to advocate for a Hezbollah propagandist and hero of neo-Nazis.
I suppose President Bush got out in front of the cameras today to address the subprime liquidity crisis to make us believe he actually has a handle on the problem, it being just a few days following the anniversary of the Katrina crisis in the gulf states and all.
In order to “fix” the subprime lending mess among other things Bush announced that he would be:
Pushing Congress to pass his proposed FHA modernization bill, which would lower down payment requirements and increase loan limits, helping families with low incomes, blemished credit records or little savings.
You read that correctly. Bush is pushing a bill to lower down payment requirements and increase loan limits on government backed and subsidized home loans. Now, I'm no expert in the home loan business, since I don't believe in mortgages and have never used one in order to buy one of my houses, but....isn't this what got us in the mess we're in now? I mean that and 10+ years of wildly irresponsible interest rates engineered by the Fed? It would appear Bush, and the Democrats which are sure to follow this dreck, are going after the wrong people. It’s not the subprime lenders faults. The people who are begin foreclosed on for using subprime loans chose their own fate. That is different from those who suffered from predatory lending. There is a difference between the two though! Why should we bail out real estate speculators and poor financial planners?
Not to be outdone by the President Bush, Senator Barack Hussein Obama (D-loser) now wants to make subprime lending a criminal offense---or does he? Obama's details on this issue are just about as murky as his dalliances with foreign and military policy.
A key provision of his proposed legislation would effectively make it against the law to foreclose on anyone who took out a “risky” subprime home loan — defined as any loan the “borrower does not have the ability to repay at the maximum rate of interest.” The borrower would be given the right to “challenge the lenders business practices” rather than lose his home in foreclosure proceedings. Sorry, but isn't there almost literally a ream of printed disclosures the borrower must sign ahead of time?
Bonus entertainment: Obama provides a laughable historical account of the origins of the subprime mess — one in which Congressional pressure on Freddie Mae and Freddie Mac and Congressional legislation like the Community Reinvestment Act play no role in the current subprime meltdown. Talk about historical revisionism! And don’t be shocked — Obama fails even to mention the Fed and its historic low interest rate policies.
It seems to me that much of this crisis could have been averted if banks and subprime lenders had stuck with the traditional market rather than attempting to put those who traditionally could not either afford a home, or those here illegally, into loans that even a special olympics squad of actuaries would have told them not to do.
