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   <title>The Good Rabbi&apos;s Blog</title>
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   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2009:/blog//1</id>
   <updated>2009-07-28T15:44:06Z</updated>
   <subtitle>You&apos;re Gonna Need a Lot of Spiritual Advice Before This is Over...</subtitle>
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<entry>
   <title>Fear &amp; Loathing in Italy: Bologna, Part II</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2009/07/italy_bologna2.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2009:/blog//1.166</id>
   
   <published>2009-07-28T14:17:25Z</published>
   <updated>2009-07-28T15:44:06Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Somehow on day two of our leg in Bologna, I managed to wake up. I had not yet eaten or drank myself into a stupor. I will definitely have to try harder. After a couple of cappuccinos and a...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Travel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="268" label="Bologna" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="266" label="Honeymoon" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="264" label="Italy" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="271" label="Tamburini Market" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="269" label="Travel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
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      <![CDATA[<img alt="Tamburini market" ALIGN="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/Tamburini.jpg" width="410" height="273" />
Somehow on day two of our leg in Bologna, I managed to wake up.  I had not yet eaten or drank myself into a stupor.  I will definitely have to try harder.  After a couple of cappuccinos and a very nice breakfast that includes most of my mother's fiber regimen, we set off to explore more of the town.  I thought that this should be interesting, because at this point it was a Monday morning, and the opportunity presented itself to see the city as it normally operates during the week.  We walked in the northern part of the city, where the university is (the oldest university in Europe, according to the guide books).  What struck me about this city is that although there is almost no litter at all on the streets, almost all of the buildings are covered in grafitti (and this problem is not limited to the university area).

We stopped by the renowned <A HREF="http://www.tamburini.com/" TARGET="_blank">Tamburini market</A>.  This place was incredible.  It had almost every type of cured meat, cheese, pasta, etc. that you could possibly imagine.  However, given all of this, there was one thing missing: Italians.  I got the impression that this was a shop that has passed its prime, and incredibly expensive.  The wine store that is attached to the market was very cool, and well stocked, although equally expensive.  We decided to hold off on buying anything and have some lunch.  After lunch, we inquired with a travel agent about train tickets to Milan, where we were thinking about going the next day.  Ultimately, we wound up shelving that idea, in favor of something else (which you'll read about shortly).

  We walked up to the northern part of the city, where the university is (the oldest university in Europe, according to the guide book).  One of the things that strikes me about this city is that while there is no litter on the ground, almost all of the buildings are covered in graffiti.  Maybe it is a form of expression here, rather than a public nuisance, but it still makes the place look terrible.  On our way back down toward our hotel, we stopped at a Gelateria, and picked up a scoop of Gelato.  We returned to the Tamburini market, bought some wine and cheese, and headed back to the hotel for an afternoon nap.  That evening, we ventured out again to the main piazza for dinner, and found a great little neighborhood trattoria a little bit off the beaten path.  We decided to do the traditional two courses, which felt like fourteen.  After dinner we decided to do some evening walking (and more gelato, of course - two scoops per day, as per doctor's orders).  We returned to the hotel after walking around for a while at night, and just hung out in the hotel garden for a while.  We turned in a little early, since we had to get up the next day fairly early.  Another great day in Italy in the can....

<B><U>Primi Piatti</U>:</B>

Tagliatelli Bolognese
Tagliatelli Pomodoro

<B><U>Piatti Secondi</U>:</B>
Scallopini al Limone
Penne al Arrabiata

<B><U>Wine</U>:</B>
Soave

<B><U>Gelato</U>:</B>
Mexican Chocolate, Melon
Bacio (Chocolate Hazelnut), Milk Chocolate]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Fear &amp; Loathing in Italy: Bologna, Part I</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2009/07/italy_bologna.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2009:/blog//1.165</id>
   
   <published>2009-07-27T07:52:07Z</published>
   <updated>2009-07-28T14:16:26Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Well, two years into this marriage it finally happened. We finally got around to taking a honeymoon. We bantered on about a number of possible places to go, and ultimately settled on Italy. From the outset, this was due...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Travel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="268" label="Bologna" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="266" label="Honeymoon" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="264" label="Italy" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="269" label="Travel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
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      <![CDATA[<img alt="Neptune Statue, Bologna" ALIGN="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/bologna-italy.jpg" width="350" height="471" />
Well, two years into this marriage it finally happened.  We finally got around to taking a honeymoon.  We bantered on about a number of possible places to go, and ultimately settled on Italy.  From the outset, this was due to be one of those trips that would always be remembered.  Maybe not by me, but certainly by the local folk who would talk for generations about the fat man that came through and ate his way through the country.  It would be the ultimate meeting of the minds - on one hand a people who are very hospitality oriented, who would give as much as they could offer, and on the other hand a man who would eat more than anything they ever imagined.  Anthony Bourdain has nothing on me.

This journey started at Kennedy airport, where we waited, seemingly endlessly, for our flight to board.  This was followed by our flight boarding, and our waiting, seemingly endlessly, for the flight to push back from the gate.  We then took a nice leisurely taxi around the outer grounds of Kennedy airport as we waited, seemingly endlessly, for our flight to take off (after about 40 minutes of taxiing, we got word that we were 18th in line to take off).  Once airborn, we waited, seemingly endlessly, for the Italian family sitting in front of us to realize that they did indeed need to change their infant's diaper, and that they could not, in fact wait until we arrived.  We were starting to think that perhaps the Italians lacked that sense of urgency that seems to be abundant in American individuals from the northeast.

Eventually, we landed in Rome, and took a train to the first stop on our tour - Bologna.  We expected to see a good amount of Northern Italy, and seeing as how I am in the culinary profession, it made sense to start here, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, which is one of the culinary centres of Italy.  On the train ride up, we had a series of conversations with a lovely eldery Italian couple.  They were very charming people who collected postcards.  We got off the train, and took a taxi to our hotel to check in (at this time, it was early in the afternoon).  This is where we discovered our first great terror in Italy - the drivers here are crazy.  It's bad enough that the streets here in Bologna are comparable to alleys in D.C.  The drivers here all know about traffic regulations, they just choose not to abide by them.  Now, don't get us wrong, your Rabbi has had more than his share of cardiac aromatherapy sessions in the back seat of a New York City taxi, but for some reason, it never seemed quite as terrorizing as this.

<A HREF="http://www.hotel-portasanmamolo.it" TARGET="_blank">Our hotel</A> is within the walled city of Bologna.  After a brief nap, we decided to walk around town, and see various parts of the city (we hadn't scheduled a lot of travelling for this day, since we had just arrived, and we didn't know how reliable Italian public transport would be).  It's hard to describe the environment here.  On one hand there is something incredibly small about this city that is probably older than many of its counterparts in the United States.  On the other hand, it seemed very familiar, even though this was the first time we have ever been here.

The architecture, or more accurately, the combination of architectures, is fascinating to me.  You will have a building here, that looks like it came out of the Middle Ages, sitting right next to a modern architecture building.  We stopped for an aperitif at a nice little cafe, and sat outside and drank some very nice Tocai (a white wine from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region).  From there we walked a little more, and had a traditional Bolognese dinner at a local restaurant.  Due to our travel schedule, neither one of us was really up for sitting for that long, so instead of the traditional two courses, we opted for one, followed, of course, by some gelato.  What a great way to cap off the evening.

<B><U>Primi Piatti</U>:</B>

Tagliatelli Bolognese
Tortellini in Brodo

<B><U>Wine</U>:</B>
Tocai (Friuliano)
Soave

<B><U>Gelato</U>:</B>
Chocolate Mint
Chocolate]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Happy 4th of July, Y&apos;all</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2009/07/independence_day.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2009:/blog//1.164</id>
   
   <published>2009-07-04T19:24:43Z</published>
   <updated>2009-07-04T19:27:06Z</updated>
   
   <summary></summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
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   <category term="258" label="Indepence Day" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="260" label="July 4th" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="262" label="Muppets" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="256" label="Sam the Eagle" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Arlington: The Rap</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2009/06/arlington_rap.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2009:/blog//1.163</id>
   
   <published>2009-06-14T00:44:00Z</published>
   <updated>2009-06-14T01:02:08Z</updated>
   
   <summary></summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Random Thoughts" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="252" label="Arlington" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="254" label="Rap" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Great Expectations</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/11/great_expectations.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.162</id>
   
   <published>2008-11-07T02:16:17Z</published>
   <updated>2009-03-24T09:54:36Z</updated>
   
   <summary>NO ONE should doubt the magnitude of what Barack Obama achieved this week. When the president-elect was born, in 1961, many states, and not just in the South, had laws on their books that enforced segregation, banned mixed-race unions like...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="News &amp; Current Events" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="215" label="Barack Obama" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="217" label="Democrat" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="249" label="Election" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="250" label="Politics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="247" label="President" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="209" label="Republican" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img alt="Barack the Redistributor" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/barack-obama-is-superman.jpg" width="300" height="207" />NO ONE should doubt the magnitude of what Barack Obama achieved this week. When the president-elect was born, in 1961, many states, and not just in the South, had laws on their books that enforced segregation, banned mixed-race unions like that of his parents and restricted voting rights. This week America can claim more credibly than any other western country to have at last become politically colour-blind. Other milestones along the road to civil rights have been passed amid bitterness and bloodshed. This one was marked by joy, white as well as black.

]]>
      Mr Obama lost the white vote, it is true, by 43-55%; but he won almost exactly same share of it as the last three (white) Democratic candidates; Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry. And he won heavily among younger white voters. America will now have a president with half-brothers in Kenya, old schoolmates in Indonesia and a view of the world that seems to be based on respect rather than confrontation.

That matters. Under George Bush America’s international standing has sunk to awful lows. This week Americans voted in record-smashing numbers for many reasons, but one of them was an abhorrence of how their shining city’s reputation has been tarnished. Their country will now be easier for its friends to like and harder for its foes to hate.

In its own way the election illustrates this redeeming effect. For the past eight years the debacle in Florida in 2000 has been cited (not always fairly) as an example of shabby American politics. Yet here was a clear victory delivered by millions of volunteers—and by the intelligent use of technology to ride a wave of excitement that is all too rare in most democracies. Mr Obama showed that, with the right message, a candidate with no money or machine behind him can build his own.

With such a great victory come unreasonably great expectations. Many of Mr Obama’s more ardent supporters will be let down—and in some cases they deserve to be. For those who voted for him with their eyes wide open to his limitations, everything now depends on how he governs. Abroad, this 21st-century president will have to grapple with the sort of great-power rivalries last seen in the 19th century. At home, he must try to unite his country, tackling its economic ills while avoiding the pitfalls of one-party rule. Rhetoric and symbolism will still be useful in this; but now is the turn of detail and dedication.

Mr Obama begins with several advantages. At 47, he is too young to have been involved in the bitter cultural wars about Vietnam. And by winning support from a big majority of independents, and even from a fair few Republicans, he makes it possible to imagine a return to a more reflective time when political opponents were not regarded as traitors and collaboration was something to be admired.

Oddly, he may be helped by the fact that, in the end, his victory was slightly disappointing. He won around 52% of the popular vote, more than Mr Bush in 2000 and 2004, but not a remarkable number; this was no Roosevelt or Reagan landslide. And though Mr Obama helped his party cement its grip on Congress, gaining around 20 seats in the House of Representatives and five in the Senate, the haul in the latter chamber falls four short of the 60 needed to break filibusters and pass controversial legislation without Republican support (though recounts may add another seat, or even two). Given how much more money Mr Obama raised, the destruction of the Republican brand under Mr Bush and the effects of the worst financial crisis for 70 years, the fact that 46% of people voted against the Democrat is a reminder of just what a conservative place America still is. Mr Obama is the first northern liberal to be elected president since John Kennedy; he must not forget how far from the political centre of the country that puts him.

Mr Obama’s victory, in fact, is almost identical in scope to that of Bill Clinton in 1992; and it took just two years for the Republicans to sweep back to power in the 1994 Gingrich revolution. Should President Obama give in to some of the wilder partisans in Congress, it is easy to imagine an ugly time ahead—and not just for the Democrats in the 2010 mid-term elections. America could fatally lapse into protectionism, or re-regulate business and finance to the point at which innovation is stifled, or “spread the wealth” (to quote the next president) to the extent that capital is prudently shifted overseas.

Mr Obama will not take office until January 20th, but he can use the next ten weeks well. A good start would be to announce that he will offer jobs to a few Republicans. Robert Gates, Mr Bush’s excellent defence secretary who has helped transform the position in Iraq, ought to be kept in the post for at least a while. Sadly, Richard Lugar has ruled himself out as secretary of state; but Chuck Hagel, senator for Nebraska, is another possibility for a defence or foreign-policy job. Mr Obama might even find a non-executive role for John McCain, with whom he agrees on many things, especially the need to tackle global warming and close Guantánamo. Another pragmatic move would be to announce that his new treasury secretary (ideally an experienced centrist such as Larry Summers or Tim Geithner) will start working closely with Hank Paulson, the current one, immediately.

Whoever he appoints, Mr Obama will be constrained by the failing economy. He should not hold back from stimulus packages to help America out of recession. But he has huge promises to keep as well. He has pledged tax cuts to 95% of families. He has proposed near-universal health care—an urgent reform, as America’s population ages and companies restrict the health insurance they offer. He proposes more spending on infrastructure, both physical and human. But if he is to tackle all or any of this, he must balance his plans with other savings or new revenues if his legacy is not to be one of profligacy and debt. He has to start deciding whom to disappoint.

Non-Americans must also brace for disappointment. America will certainly change under Mr Obama; the world of extraordinary rendition and licensed torture should thankfully soon be gone. But America will, as it must, continue to put its own interests, and those of its allies, first. Withdrawing from Iraq will be harder than Mr Obama’s supporters hope; the war in Afghanistan will demand more sacrifices from Americans and Europeans than he has yet prepared them for. The problems of the Middle East will hardly be solved overnight. Getting a climate-change bill through Congress will be hard.

The next ten weeks give Mr Obama a chance to recalibrate the rest of the world’s hopes. He could use part of his transition to tour the world, certainly listening to friends and rivals alike but also gently making clear the limits of his presidency. He needs to explain that, although his America will respect human rights and pay more heed to the advice of others, it will not be a pushover: he must avoid the fate of Jimmy Carter, a moralising president who made the superpower look weak.

Like most politicians, Mr Obama will surely fail more than he succeeds. But he is a man of great dignity, superior talents and high ideals. In choosing him, America has shown once again its unrivalled capacity to renew itself, and to surprise. 
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>I&apos;ve Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway...</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/07/last_play_at_shea.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.160</id>
   
   <published>2008-07-23T02:05:49Z</published>
   <updated>2008-10-23T05:46:23Z</updated>
   
   <summary>This past weekend, I ventured up to the Big Apple to see Billy Joel&apos;s &quot;Last Play at Shea.&quot; For those not in the know, Shea stadium is going to be torn down at the end of this year&apos;s baseball season...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
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      <![CDATA[<img alt="BJoel.jpg" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/BJoel.jpg" width="141" height="180" />This past weekend, I ventured up to the Big Apple to see Billy Joel's "Last Play at Shea."  For those not in the know, Shea stadium is going to be torn down at the end of this year's baseball season to make way for one of those new stadiums designed to look like an old stadium.  This was easily one of the best shows that I've been to in a good long while.  I have a number of observations after taking this trip that I thought I'd share with you.

First, I have no use for the state of Delaware.  There are exactly 35 people that live there, and the stretch of I-95 that runs through it is only about 18 miles long.  Yet, this is always where the delays are, and now the people who run the Delaware department of transportation have decided to put the entire stretch of highway under construction during the day.  It's obvious that they're fairly retarded.  I have no objections to construction.  Hell, I'm from the northeast, and we always joked that there were four seasons up there - almost winter, winter, still winter, and construction.  The only thing is, most states have figured out that you should do construction <I>at night</I>, when there are fewer cars on the road.  Instead it took me an hour and a half to travel 18 miles (twice - it was equally delayed on the way back).

New York City is rapidly becoming a place where it is illegal to have any kind of personal enjoyment whatsoever.  You can't smoke, you can't listen to an iPod if you're walking on the street, you cant eat any foods with trans fats in them, and now, restaurants have to post the calorie counts for everything.  When did the big apple become the peoples' republic?

As for the show itself, it was amazing.  A full string section, and guest stars including Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, Roger Daltry (from The Who), and during the encore, Paul McCartney.  The <A HREF="http://www.billyjoelfan.com/Concerts/Dates/2008/07-18.shtml" TARGET="_blank">set list</A> was amazing - lots of stuff from the 70's, and as any Billy Joel fan could tell ya, that was his best stuff.  Dana, over at <A HREF="http://clubd.blogspot.com/" TARGET="_blank">club D</A> has a good review of the show.  She caught most of it, except the part during <I>Summer, Highland Falls</I>, as she was being administered oxygen (seriously, this chick loves her some Billy Joel).]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>My Shot at the Title</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/07/my_shot_at_the.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.159</id>
   
   <published>2008-07-16T17:21:20Z</published>
   <updated>2008-10-23T05:46:22Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Pretty good coverage if you ask me......</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="News &amp; Current Events" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
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      <![CDATA[Pretty good coverage if you ask me...

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</entry>
<entry>
   <title>A Farewell to an Old Friend</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/07/a_farewell_to_a_1.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.156</id>
   
   <published>2008-07-13T04:46:59Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-11T16:22:20Z</updated>
   
   <summary> While I&apos;m catching all of you up on my life and happenings, I&apos;m afraid I must relay news of the death of Louie, my best friends&apos; English bulldog. Those of you that have either known me for a while...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Random Thoughts" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="230" label="English Bulldog" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="228" label="Louie" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="232" label="Milk-Bone" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="234" label="Smooth Criminal" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<div align="center"><img alt="LouiePorch.jpg" align="center" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/LouiePorch.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></div>

While I'm catching all of you up on my life and happenings, I'm afraid I must relay news of the death of Louie, my best friends' English bulldog.  Those of you that have either known me for a while or read this site from the beginning know that Louie (in his own distinctive way) had staked his ownership of me, and I was all too happy to oblige.  He was a great companion, and even though he wasn't actually my dog, I'm pretty sure he didn't realise it (he seemed just as comfortable with me as he did with his actual owners).  Here's to the smoothest of criminals (well, maybe not); I hope you're up there chomping away on the biggest milk-bone you've ever seen.]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>It&apos;s Been A While...</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/07/its_been_a_whil.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.155</id>
   
   <published>2008-07-13T03:15:48Z</published>
   <updated>2008-09-11T16:22:19Z</updated>
   
   <summary>It&apos;s been a while since I last posted here. Things have been busy, and to be honest, for a while this blog wasn&apos;t really working for me. I&apos;ve recently decided to start my writing again, and I think I&apos;m planning...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Random Thoughts" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="223" label="amber" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="224" label="chris" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="30" label="life direction" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="222" label="new job" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="128" label="site updates" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="226" label="Texas" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="134" label="Wedding" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[It's been a while since I last posted here.  Things have been busy, and to be honest, for a while this blog wasn't really working for me.  I've recently decided to start my writing again, and I think I'm planning on changing this blog a bit (more on that later).  In the meantime, a lot has happened since my last post, so I thought I'd update all y'all.

My last post was toward the end of March.  The biggest news I have is that in that time, I've gone from practically unemployed to overemployed.  I assisted a few friends of mine in opening a restaurant here in D.C. that focuses on comfort food, with an international flair.  Thus far, it seems to be doing pretty well.  A writeup on that venture will be coming at some point soon.  I'm also working as a professor in the culinary arts programme at <A HREF="http://www.stratford.edu/" TARGET="_blank">Stratford University</A> in Falls Church.  During my days, I work as the food service director at <A HREF="http://www.gonzaga.org/" TARGET="_blank">Gonzaga College High School</A> (a fairly exclusive Jesuit school here in D.C., with a number of famous alumni).  It's an extremely busy job, but a good one that is giving me a lot of good experience and skills.

In addition to my three jobs (yeah, I know, I'm <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Rh_o8f8hY" TARGET="_blank">almost Jamaican</A>), I've been trying to get out around town and catch up with some of my disciples around this area.  I've also managed to travel to Texas again to spend some time with the family out there, and to attend Amber & Chris's wedding (photos are in the <A HREF="../gallery/" TARGET="_blank">photo gallery</A>).

As I mentioned earlier, I'm planning on retooling this site.  The changes to the overall look and feel will not be all that huge, but there will be more of a change in the content.  I'll let all y'all know as I put things in place.  Please bear with me as I attempt to put some newer stuff out here...]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>It&apos;s Holy Season!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/03/holy_season.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.154</id>
   
   <published>2008-03-20T13:18:10Z</published>
   <updated>2008-07-13T08:32:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary>As everyone knows, there are three holy seasons in my life - the annual chase for the Stanley Cup, World Cup (every few years), but most importantly, the NCAA post-season college basketball tournament. Well, March madness starts today! As such,...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="College Hoops" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="82" label="college basketball" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="220" label="march madness" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="78" label="NCAA" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[As everyone knows, there are three holy seasons in my life - the annual chase for the Stanley Cup, World Cup (every few years), but most importantly, the NCAA post-season college basketball tournament.  Well, March madness starts today!  As such, I'm posting <a href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/pdf/08brackets.pdf">my brackets</a> (PDF).  We'll see how everything shapes up.  A few notes:

First, you'll notice that I have three number 1 seeds going to the final four.  While normally, I wouldn't put more than two there, I believe that this year the number 1 seeds are particularly strong, with one exception.

That would be Memphis.  Memphis is an extremely overrated team that plays in a weak conference.  I think they're going down fairly hard fairly early.

On that note, I have Tennessee losing to Butler in the second round.  Tennessee has shown some very worrying cracks lately that lead me to believe that they won't go very far in the tournament.

I think that Wisconsin is the dark horse this year.  They certainly will not be taking the crown, but I think they will probably knock out Georgetown, and (dare I say it?) they stand a decent shot at knocking out Kansas.

All told, I think this is Carolina's year.  Hopefully they won't fuck it up.]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>A Rabbinical Analysis of the 2008 Election, Part II</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/02/election_analysis_2008_dem.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.153</id>
   
   <published>2008-02-12T06:48:57Z</published>
   <updated>2008-07-13T08:32:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Yesterday, I posted my analysis of the 2008 election thus far from the Republican perspective. Today, I&apos;d like to focus on the Democratic perspective. Before I continue with my look at the two main candidates (curiously enough, Mike Gravel...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="News &amp; Current Events" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="205" label="2008 Election" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="215" label="Barack Obama" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="217" label="Democrat" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="218" label="Pinko Commie Liberal Hippie" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img alt="democratic party logo" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/democratlogo.jpg" width="262" height="257" />
Yesterday, I posted my analysis of the 2008 election thus far from the Republican perspective.  Today, I'd like to focus on the Democratic perspective.  Before I continue with my look at the two main candidates (curiously enough, <A HREF="http://www.gravel2008.com/" TARGET="_blank">Mike Gravel</A> is still in the race, despite the fact that he's basically polling exactly even with me, and I'm not even running), I'd like to address a main difference between the Republican and Democrat approaches to primaries.  In keeping with their general philosophy of sharing, holding hands, and singing <A HREF="http://www.upwithpeople.org/" TARGET="_blank"><I>Up With People!</I></A> songs, the Democrats tend to split the state and district delegates proportionally.  Republicans tend to be more about winning, so their primaries are winner-take-all (i.e. if a candidate wins a state, they get all the delegates from that state).  Figuring out the delegate counts involves an abacus, and a very complex formula, that closely rivals handicaping college basketball teams during the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men%27s_Division_I_Basketball_Championship" TARGET="_blank">Holy month</A> (which may explain why my previous attempt showed that the <A HREF="http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/" TARGET="_blank">Carolina Tar Heels</A> would secure the nomination).  Because math is not exactly the forte of California hippies, the San Francisco Chronicle has <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=c/a/2008/02/03/MNE1UOVB1.DTL" TARGET="_blank">an excellent article</A> that explains how this all works.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, the big news that came with Super Tuesday is that believe it or not, <A HREF="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8358.html" TARGET="_blank">Obama seems to have overtaken Hillary's delegate count</A>.  Whether or not this turns out to be true (remember, the math here is hard), I think that I have to give the man his dues and point out the obvious: Obama won super Tuesday, hands down.  I say this because Hillary Clinton has over a hundred super delegates (delegates to the convention that are not bound to a particular candidate), and is still barely ahead, if at all, in the overall delegate count.  She has all the machinery and the operatives the Democratic party has to offer, including the ultimate political juggernaut in the party, her husband.  Even with all this, Obama continues to show increasingly stronger results.  What's really telling is the margins between Clinton's and Obama's respective votes.  Clinton only won the states that she needed to survive super Tuesday (although the sheer size of New York and California obscure that fact).  The momentum has definitely shifted to favour Obama, as even in the states he did not carry, he was right behind Clinton.  Clinton won California because of <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/opinion/10rich.html?em&ex=1202878800&en=e24742716b04417f&ei=5087%0A" TARGET="_blank">a deliberate attempt</A> to stoke a disdain for Blacks among Latinos and Asian Americans.  Amongst White voters (even women) he pulled even with Clinton in California.  In most of the toss-up states (Utah, Missouri, Minnesota) Obama has won handily.  He even managed to get at least 40% of the vote in Clinton's adopted home state of New York, came in under ten points behind Clinton in New Jersey, and out-and-out won Connecticut (both of which are in New York's back yard).  All of this was done with about two weeks for Obama to campaign in states where the Clinton had name recognition and a comfortable double-digit lead for months.  He's managed to bridge the racial divide in the south, as well has win states such as Alaska, Idaho, and North Dakota, that are not exactly known for their huge Black populations.

]]>
      <![CDATA[The second main reason that Hillary Clinton is in major trouble right now is that her entire strategy going into her candidacy (her grand master plan, if you will) was to create this air of inevitability, crush Edwards, Richardson, Biden, et al on Super Tuesday and use the event as a coronation ceremony of sorts.  She's raised tens of millions of dollars since 2000, and she banked about half of that money in the general election pot, which renders that money useless in this fight, because under U.S. election laws, money declared for the general election can <B>only</B> be used in the general election.  Obama on the other hand, left nothing to chance, and placed the bulk of the money in the primaries, which can be used now. So, Clinton has unwittingly tied her own hands when it comes to <I>usable</I> money. Unfortunately, her fundraising abilities have stagnated, because she used a smaller donor pool of party big-shots who give the maximum amount of $2,400 per person. This was fine for her campaign at the time because she was expecting to be the nominee TODAY. But with Obama's rising strength and development as a candidate with an increasingly sound, somewhat liberal platform, she is returning to the money well to find that it is drying up. Obama's money scheme centered around the "drop in the bucket" philosophy, where a lot of people contribute a small amount of money (similar to a church offering) and the collective total (when combined with the big donors) is enough. While in the beginning, this seemed like an insane strategy, he has been able to inspire hundreds of thousands of people to give $1, $10, $50, or $75 at a time. Considering that each person has a legal limit of $2,400, he can now reasonably expect (and has received ) even more money at a constant pace. And with each passing success his web-site's donor list has grown, so he can now get even more money to keep his campaign running. Also, the psychological impact of Clinton not being able to keep up would be somewhat damaging to her.

Next comes the largest obstacles to Clinton: time and perception. I say time not because it is running out, but because there is so much of it. Obama swept the elections on Saturday and Sunday (he didn't just win, he thoroughly trounced her) and he's set to sweep the so-called "Potomac Primary" here in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia tomorrow, giving him a week's worth of uncontested momentum. He will then have weeks to campaign and spread his message in Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania etc. In every contest so far, the more the state in question has had time to vet Obama, and he has had to debunk misconceptions (such as having no real policy or platform) the higher his poll numbers go across the board. It's a fact. So Clinton is painted into a corner, forced to adopt a Giuliani strategy of making Texas and Ohio her make or break, last stand states, and pray that her organization can withstand the Obama momentum. And as Giuliani saw in Florida, this doesn't always pay off too well. The good news for Hillary is that she is Hillary Clinton, and there is no way the media will ignore her while Obama goes on his tear through the contests over the next several weeks.

So, lets just say that hypothetically her and Obama walk into Denver fairly tied when it comes to delegates. Hillary will probably win in a brokered convention where all her savvy and connections will secure a deal for her to be the nominee. Plus her uncontested victories in Michigan (where Obama and Edwards weren't on the ballot due to sanctions by the national party against the state party) and Florida (where neither of the two others were allowed to campaign or make inroads amongst voters), will in the end be counted, again due to connections (which I think would be a complete travesty, and will cost Howard Dean what little authority he currently has).  However, a brokered convention would appear so wrong, so un-democratic that it would be the kiss of death for Hillary, who already has a perception of being cold and calculating. This would disenfranchise a good chunk of the independent, young and possibly Black voters that Obama brought with him to the convention (it's just this bloc of voters, by the way, that represents the future of the Democrats - if they're disenfranchised yet again, the repercussions will be felt for years). Couple that with the fact that a brokered convention ending up in the coronation of a Clinton would be a <B><U>gigantic</U></B> call to arms to conservative voters, and McCain would end up winning. The only way for Hillary to avoid this would be to make Obama her running mate, and quite frankly, not only does he have no incentive to do that, he has every incentive <B>not</B> to do it.  In the end, if he should get the nomination, he would do better to find someone else to be on the bottom of his ticket (maybe a White man).

Therefore, at the end of the day, Obama is holding all or most of the cards and Hillary knows it. To recap why he won super Tuesday: Clinton did everything she <I>had</I> to do, while Obama did everything he <I>wanted</I> to do. And that makes all the difference.]]>
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>A Rabbinical Analysis of the 2008 Election</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/02/election_analysis_2008_gop.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.152</id>
   
   <published>2008-02-10T04:27:57Z</published>
   <updated>2008-07-13T08:32:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Well, the 2008 presidential election, which, curiously enough, started in 2006, has entered a new phase. Instead of the 47 people that originally declared their candidacy, we&apos;ve now been whittled down to two real candidates and two fake candidates...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="News &amp; Current Events" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="205" label="2008 Election" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="213" label="Conservative" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="207" label="John McCain" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="211" label="Primary" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="209" label="Republican" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img alt="Republican Party Logo" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/Republican_Logo.jpg" width="146" height="122" />

Well, the 2008 presidential election, which, curiously enough, started in 2006, has entered a new phase.  Instead of the 47 people that originally declared their candidacy, we've now been whittled down to two real candidates and two fake candidates in each party.  There's been a lot of posturing  going on, analysing the results, so I thought I'd add my own perspective.  I'll start today with the results of the Republican party.

Now that Mitt Romney has effectively ended his campaign, the nomination has basically been handed to <A HREF="http://www.johnmccain.com/" TARGET="_blank">John McCain</A>, which is just as well, because he is the most qualified of all the Republican candidates.  McCain stands an excellent chance of winning the presidency in the fall, but first, he'll have to unite his party.  A lot of the conservative talk-show windbags have been spouting off about how McCain is not a real conservative, and is not a real Republican (practically Democrat, blah, blah, blah).  This drives me crazy.  I will be the first to say that these blubbering vaginas certainly have a right to their opinions, but they do not have a right to spread untruths over the airwaves.  So in addition to an excellent <A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-kass_final_06feb06,0,982096.column" TARGET="_blank">op-ed about the hypocrisy of McCain's critics</A>, I'd like to add some thoughts, courtesy of Michael Medved.  I think his analysis is spot-on.  

I would also like to say that I think this so-called Republican civil war is much shallower than people think.  There is something rather ridiculous about people that want to prosecute the war in Iraq, but threaten to vote for Hillary Clinton in a hissy-fit because they don't like John McCain.  These windbags are not the only ones that are sharpening their knives.  People like Dick Armey and Phil Gramm see this as an opportunity to expunge the Republican party of those that hijacked the party earlier in the decade (people like Tom DeLay and Bill Frist).  I think that Senator McCain will soon consolidate power and ranks within his party, and will put this to bed for good.  More on that later.  Now, the top six lies that people say about John McCain.

]]>
      <![CDATA[<B>LIE #1: John McCain isn’t a loyal Republican.

TRUTH: McCain has been a stalwart Reagan Republican since he first entered politics in 1981.</B>

He has never backed Democratic candidates for president or lesser posts - other than supporting his friend Joe Lieberman in his Independent campaign for US Senate in 2006. Over the years, he has campaigned tirelessly for Republican office-holders in every corner of the country - including vigorous campaigning that helped win elections for his former rival George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004. McCain has earned a lifetime rating of 83 for his Senate voting record from the American Conservative Union; his friend, Fred Thompson, won a very similar lifetime rating of 86 and appropriately dubbed himself “a consistent conservative.” While some of McCain’s harshest critics regularly talk of abandoning the GOP for some third party option (and some did so to back Pat Buchanan’s embarrassing run in 2000), McCain has never abandoned his party. On three crucial items in the Bush agenda - taking the offensive against terrorists, cutting wasteful government spending, and comprehensive immigration reform - no member of Congress has provided more loyal or significant support for the President of the United States and the leader of the Republican Party.

<B>LIE #2: McCain represents a betrayal and rejection of the Reagan coalition.

TRUTH: McCain is a consistent, passionate Reagan Republican who, like the greatest president of recent years, is unabashedly pro-life, pro-second amendment rights, pro-military, pro-peace through strength, pro-small government, pro-spending cuts, and pro-tax cuts.</B>

Many leaders of the Reagan Revolution - Jack Kemp, Senator Phil Gramm, Senator Dan Coats, General Alexander Haig, George Shultz and many more - proudly back Senator McCain. The conservative Senators who know McCain best - John Kyl, Tom Coburn, Sam Brownback, Lindsey Graham, Trent Lott - support his presidential campaign after working with him in the Senate for years and seeing his commitment to Reaganism. During the six years he served in Congress under President Reagan, McCain supported the administration as one of its most effective “foot soldiers.” Unlike many of his critics, McCain echoes the Reagan approach - not the Buchanan approach - to free trade and immigration reform.

<B>LIE #3: John McCain organized “The Gang of Fourteen” to Block the Confirmation of Conservative Judges.

TRUTH: John McCain organized “The Gang of Fourteen” to win- not to block -the Confirmation of Conservative Judges, and his efforts succeeded in the Senate. </B>

This group of seven Republicans and Seven Democrats (representing a full 14% of the US Senate, obviously) ultimately broke the logjam that had delayed confirmation of some of the most conservative nominees of President Bush. Because of McCain’s leadership, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito won Supreme Court confirmation without filibuster from the Democrats. He also secured the previously blocked confirmations of Appellate Judges William Pryor, Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen, and Brett Kavanaugh, previously filibustered by Democrats. At the same time, McCain and his “gang” managed to protect the right to filibuster - an important tool with obvious value now that Republicans find themselves in the minority. McCain has never opposed a Republican nominee for the Supreme Court; unlike some of his prominent fellow Republicans, he actively supported the nomination of Judge Robert Bork. His disagreement with Senate Republican leader Bill Frist on the “Gang of Fourteen” issues involved questions of tactics, not the goal of securing a judiciary that honors the principles of strict construction.

<B>LIE #4: John McCain supports higher taxes.

TRUTH: John McCain has never voted for an increase in tax rates in 25 years in Congress-never - and clearly and consistently supports cutting and simplifying taxes. </B>

Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform has acknowledged that even though McCain refuses to take the “no new taxes” pledge he has kept that pledge with his voting record, throughout his service in the Senate and the House. Yes, he did vote against Bush tax cuts - but did so because no cuts in spending accompanied the cuts in taxes. Unlike some of his colleagues, he insists that tax cuts and increased revenues won’t be enough to close the deficit - there must be spending cuts as well. It’s increasingly obvious that he’s right: tax cuts without spending cuts won’t shrink the national debt or trim the size of government. He currently supports making all the Bush tax cuts permanent before their schedule expiration in 2010 to allow individuals and businesses to plan their futures without uncertainty. He also backs an immediate cut in the corporate tax rate from 35% (second highest rate in the world) to 20% (one of the lowest in the world) as a means of stimulating the economy and creating jobs. He also backs instituting new rules requiring a super majority - a three-fifths vote of both houses of Congress-- rather than simple majorities, to approve any tax increases. This would make it vastly more difficult for future Congresses (even under Democratic control) to take more money from hard-working Americans.

<B>LIE #5: McCain is an advocate of "amnesty" and "open borders."

TRUTH: As Senior Senator from Arizona, McCain has fought for years to tighten border security, stop illegal immigration, increase workplace enforcement and to resist "amnesty" for those who entered the country without authorization.</B>

McCain’s rival for the nomination, Mitt Romney, unequivocally and rightly acknowledged that his opponent’s position in no way amounts to "amnesty" or "open borders." In the Fox News debate in South Carolina on January 10, Governor Romney declared: "All of us on this stage agree… that we secure the border, we have the fence, and we have enough Border Patrol agents to secure the border; and that we have an employment verification system of some kind….We all agree that anybody who’s committed a crime should be sent home."

As Romney pointed then out: "The place of difference between us is what we do with the 12 million people who are here illegally." Romney’s answer? "Those who are here illegally today would be looked at person by person, given a specific time period by which they arrange their affairs, they stay here during that time period. When that time period is over, they go home…"

Alone among Presidential candidates, McCain has shown the courage to stand up against such simplistic sloganeering. No President will ever succeed in driving out all 12 million illegals - the greatest forced migration in all human history. Illegals represent more than 5% of America’s work force and the cost of firing and, ultimately, deporting for forcing out every one of those people would cripple the economy far worse than any recession. The immigration bills McCain supported (along with President Bush and the Senate Republican leadership of Mitch McConnell, Trent Lott and John Kyl) never granted "amnesty" or automatic citizenship for undocumented aliens. Instead, McCain’s idea of immigration reform always emphasized "earned legalization" and assimilation- not automatic privileges - in an effort to separate the immigrants who wanted to begin playing by the rules and to enter the American mainstream, from those who continued to defy those rules and have no long-term stake in the country. It’s not amnesty to charge $6,000 in fines and payment of back taxes, to require background checks and mastery of English, and to demand registry with the government and acknowledgment of wrong-doing before an immigrant received legal status. Before an illegal could become a citizen, the process required at least nine years (and in most cases fourteen) of cooperation, commitment and patience. Moreover, two crucial elements of last year’s immigration bill received almost no attention: under the bill any immigrant who attempted to enter America illegally after the passage of immigration reform would be apprehended, identified, finger-printed and biometrically recorded, and forever banned from receiving legal status to work or live in the United States. Second, the unfinished (and ultimately unsuccessful) compromise bill included a "trigger provision": no illegal immigrant would receive legal status until after Congress certified that the border had been effectively secured. McCain emphasizes this provision in his current proposals: insisting we secure the border first, before we make arrangements for future guest workers and give a chance to some (but by no means all) current illegal residents to earn legal status in the U.S.

<B>LIE #6: McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform represents a devastating assault on free speech.

TRUTH: McCain-Feingold was a piece of useless, misguided legislation but it’s done no serious damage to the country, the constitution or the conservative pro-life cause.</B>

After nearly seven years on the books, robust and impassioned discussion of political issues and candidates is more vibrant and free-wheeling than ever. The pro-life movement (with McCain’s enthusiastic support) has made substantial progress in the last seven years, changing minds and hearts and driving abortion rates to their lowest point in 29 years-unimpeded by McCain-Feingold. More people are involved in donating to candidates and causes than before the legislation, and there’s been an increase in the broadcast of campaign ads and distribution of political materials, not a reduction. Does any American - particularly those in key primary states - honestly believe we now have a shortage of political ads on TV? Those who say that McCain-Feingold took away free speech make no more sense than leftists who claim that the Patriot Act destroyed civil liberties or crushed dissent: their arguments remain utterly disconnected from the real world experience of every American. Hard-hitting, free wheeling debate is alive and well in the land of the free. McCain favored counterweights to lobbyist influence and the corrupting impact of money in politics because he saw that commercial involvement as a powerful force toward corporate welfare and government expansion-betraying the small government ideals he has always embraced.

Of course, this discussion only begins to scratch the surface when it comes to the smears and distortions against Senator McCain from some of his long-standing foes in the Republican establishment. Fortunately, the Senator himself is getting more opportunity to speak directly to the American people, above the heads of the talk radio hosts who are leading the hysterical charge against him.

On the night of his primary victory in South Carolina, for instance, McCain gave a concise, eloquent summary of his conservative philosophy:
<BLOCKQUOTE>
"I seek the nomination of our Party, because I am as confident today as I was when I first entered public life as a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution that the principles of the Republican Party - our confidence in the good sense and resourcefulness of free people - are always in America’s best interests. In war and peace, in good times and challenging ones, we have always known that the first responsibility of government is to keep this country safe from its enemies, and the American people free of a heavy-handed government that spends too much of their money, and tries to do for them what they are better able to do for themselves. We want government to do its job, not your job;; to do it better and to do it with less of your money; to defend our nation’s security wisely and effectively, because the cost of our defense is so dear to us; to respect our values because they are the true source of our strength; to enforce the rule of law that is the first defense of freedom; to keep the promises it makes ot us and not make promises it will not keep. We believe government should do only those things we cannot do individually, and then get out of the way so that the most industrious, ingenious, and enterprising people in the world can do what they have always done: build an even greater country than the one they inherited."
</BLOCKQUOTE>
McCain’s critics have every right to prefer other candidates, or to reject his increasingly powerful bid to unite the party and defeat the Democrats in November.

They are wrong, however, to lie about his policies, his principles, his record, and his character. Instead of the endless concentration on distorted reasons to dislike McCain, the complainers should concentrate on the basis for admiring the candidates they do support. The Republican Party would benefit from an open, honest debate about the virtues of the various candidates that make them worthy of support, rather than incessant and self-destructive focus on alleged vices of the front-running candidate that make him worthy of contempt.

Again and again in his 25 years in politics, John McCain has risked his career to provide straight talk to the American people. Those who claim to cherish the integrity of the conservative movement owe it to their party and their country to talk straight about all of the excellent candidates remaining in this race. 

The original posting of this article can be read at <A HREF="http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/blog/g/817ee854-0a2e-4a71-bb6e-38e1b2b48388" TARGET="_blank">Michael Medved's town hall blog</A>.  Tomorrow, I'll post my analysis of the Democratic race.

<I><U>Update</U>: The New York Times has a great <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/opinion/19buckley.html?ex=1361163600&en=922b7ae39d5e8b7f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all" TARGET="_blank">op-ed piece</A> by Christopher Buckley about McCain, and how the rest of these so-called conservative bitches should just shut their mouths...</I>]]>
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>A Russian Dinner: Cedar Smoked Salmon &amp; Cinnamon Chipotle Spiced Greens</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2008/01/russian_style_dinner.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2008:/blog//1.151</id>
   
   <published>2008-01-11T17:00:26Z</published>
   <updated>2008-07-13T08:32:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary> For the record, there is nothing remotely Russian about these recipes. I call it &quot;Russian&quot; because these twists on some old stock favourites in my repertoire were inspired by two Russian friends of mine (more on that later). So...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Recipes" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="195" label="Cedar Plank Salmon" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="199" label="Cooking" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="197" label="Grilling" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="189" label="Recipe" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="201" label="Swiss Chard" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="203" label="Tofu" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img alt="Cedar Plank Salmon" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/CedarPlankSalmon.jpg" width="380" height="280" />
For the record, there is nothing remotely Russian about these recipes.  I call it "Russian" because these twists on some old stock favourites in my repertoire were inspired by two Russian friends of mine (more on that later).  So before all of the culinary readers write in, keep that in mind.  :-)

This past week, the weather here in our nation's capital has been unseasonably warm (given that it's January).  As such, I determined that a little bit of grilling would be in order.  Since the lovely market down the street from me had a sale on salmon, I bought a couple fillets, and I decided to cedar smoke them.  Apart from this, I had no idea what I was going to make, or what kind of glaze to use for the salmon.  Here's where my Russian friends come in.

<A HREF="http://www.cooking-shopping-crafts-etc.blogspot.com/" TARGET="_blank">My friend Olga</A> has many talents.  She's an amazing salsa dancer, she has excellent taste in fashion (especially shoes), and she's a very crafty person.  One of her "unsung" talents, however, is that this girl can open her refrigerator, look at a number of items in it that are seemingly unconnected, and concoct a meal (and a good one at that).  This kind of improvisation was the inspiration for the side dish I made.  

I opened up my fridge, and saw I had some extra firm tofu, some <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Chard" TARGET="_blank">Swiss chard</A>, half of an onion, and some white wine.  I also had some leftover cinnamon-chipotle rub that I had made for some steaks not too long ago, and some fresh garlic.  After cutting, washing, and spin-drying the swiss chard (stems and leaves), rubbing the tofu, and searing it on the grill, and dicing up the onion and garlic, I was in business.  I heated some olive oil and sautéed the onion and garlic.  I cubed up the seared tofu, and added it to the pan with the swiss chard.  After sautéing for a minute or so, I added some more of the leftover rub (which contained both salt and pepper for seasoning), and some of the white wine, and lowered the heat and covered it.  Meanwhile, I went to tend to the salmon.

Olga has a <A HREF="http://cia007girl.blogspot.com/" TARGET="_blank">twin sister Anna</A> that I'm also pretty friendly with.  Despite our both having started our professional lives as economists, we've both managed to wander into the culinary arena.  I was in pretty constant contact with her while I was in culinary school, and now she's in culinary school up at the <A HREF="http://www.ciachef.edu" TARGET="_blank">Culinary Institute of America</A>.  In addition to sharing a lot of the crafty talents that Olga has, Anna has been one of the quiet inspirations behind some of the winning items I've put on menus recently.  She has a particular gift (even if she may not know it) for balancing flavour profiles in order to create combinations that really engage the palette.  Remember that watermelon & feta cheese salad I served at my wedding?  Guess who turned me on to that?

In a saucepan, I mixed some maple syrup, with some grapefruit juice, roasted garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and a wee bit of olive oil.  I brought it to a boil, then reduced it to a simmer, and let it reduce for a while, until it reached a glaze consistency.  Some of this would be used as a basting liquid, and some of it would be for the finished product.

Anyway, I have always liked cedar smoking salmon.  It produces a light kiss of smoke that perfectly complements the salmon, whereas most smoked fish dishes have an element of burning building.  I've used this recipe with much success over the years, and I've managed to pass this on to various people, including a certain <A HREF="http://aging-disgracefully.com/blog/archives/2006/03/cedar_plank_sal.html" TARGET="_blank">disgracefully-aging gentleman</A>.  Basically, I soak a <A HREF="http://www.nwplank.com/Our-Products.html" TARGET="_blank">cedar plank</A> in either water or wine for at least an hour (you really want the liquid to penetrate it so it smoulders and smokes, instead of having a dry fire in your grill which, needless to say, will destroy your fish).  Once the grill is good and hot (whether you're using charcoal, or propane with propane accessories), you want to put the plank directly over the coals or the burner.  When the wood just starts to smoke, put the fish on the plank skin side down, and let it cook for about 10 minutes per inch of thickness, or about 9-12 minutes per pound.  

When salmon is correctly cooked, it should be creamy in the middle - often people think that this is undercooked, but that would be mistaken.  Baste with the glaze every now and then, but resist the temptation to keep opening the grill.  The smoke has to work its magic.  You'll want to take the fish off (plank and all) when it registers a temperature of about 135 degrees (it will continue cooking when you take it off, so let it rest for a few minutes with some foil on top).  I serve it right off the plank, as the skin sticks to the plank, so people take what they want, and the skin remains.  Pour some of the remaining glaze over the top, and you're ready to go.

To further toast my Russian friends, I paired this meal with an extra-chilled vodka grapefruit martini, as I was in the mood for a cocktail.  If you're in the mood for wine, a chilled glass of either Sauvignon Blanc or Gewürztraminer.]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2007/11/pb_brownies.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2007:/blog//1.150</id>
   
   <published>2007-11-08T18:32:07Z</published>
   <updated>2008-07-13T08:32:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary>November is Peanut Butter Lovers&apos; Month, so I thought I&apos;d post a recipe to celebrate. Since very few of you are into a cream of peanut butter soup, I thought that a good dessert recipe is in order. Enjoy! Ingredients...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Recipes" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="188" label="Brownies" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="193" label="Chocolate" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="191" label="Dessert" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="186" label="Peanut Butter" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="189" label="Recipe" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img alt="Peanut Butter Brownies" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/pbbrownies.jpg" width="222" height="136" />November is Peanut Butter Lovers' Month, so I thought I'd post a recipe to celebrate.  Since very few of you are into a cream of peanut butter soup, I thought that a good dessert recipe is in order.  Enjoy!

<B><U>Ingredients</U></B>
3 oz (¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp) Unsweetend (Baker's) Chocolate, finely chopped
8 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, cut into chunks
1 Cup Sugar
½ Tsp Baking Soda
¼ Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
⅔ Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Large Eggs
⅓ Cup Peanut Butter (at room temperature)

<B><U>Instructions</U></B>

1. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Coat an 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray or shortening.

3. Melt the chocolate and butter in a small bowl in the microwave or in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir the mixture occasionally to combine. Once melted, let the mixture cool for several minutes.

4. Whisk the sugar, baking soda, salt, eggs, and vanilla together in a medium bowl until combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the chocolate/butter mixture until smooth. Stir in the flour until no streaks of flour remain (be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl). Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

5. Drop the peanut butter in small dollops over the batter. Without touching the bottom of the pan, run a paring knife through the batter to create swirls.

6. Bake until a toothpick inserted halfway between the edge and the center of the pan comes out clean, 22 to 27 minutes.

7.  Let the brownies sit in the pan (outside of the oven) for about 10 minutes.  Turn out brownie block onto a wire rack to cool completely.  When cooled completely, cut into 2 inch squares and enjoy!
]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Why Think When You Can Scream?</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/archives/2007/11/why_think_when.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rottenrabbi.com,2007:/blog//1.149</id>
   
   <published>2007-11-07T05:39:44Z</published>
   <updated>2008-07-13T08:32:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary> Yesterday I witnessed something extremely bizarre. As some of you know, I&apos;ve recently started working at a local brewery here in our nation&apos;s capital for some side income. Yesterday, there was a fairly large party that came in for...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>The Good Rabbi</name>
      <uri>http://www.rottenrabbi.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Random Thoughts" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="182" label="confused" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="184" label="hardball" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="98" label="pinko commie liberal hippie" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="183" label="shrill" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/">
      <![CDATA[<img alt="confused man" align="right" src="http://www.rottenrabbi.com/blog/images/confused.jpg" width="256" height="288" />
Yesterday I witnessed something extremely bizarre.  As some of you know, I've recently started working at a local brewery here in our nation's capital for some side income.  Yesterday, there was a fairly large party that came in for dinner and drinks.  During the course of their sojourn there, they would occasionally break into a large cheer while looking up at one of the several televisions on the floor.  Since I was working, and couldn't see the tv's I assumed that they we're cheering for a team, and watching a sports game (most likely football), as that's what's normally on those tv's.  I had the occasion to go out on the floor, and to my utter astonishment, those idiots were watching <I><A HREF="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/" TARGET="_blank">Hardball with Chris Matthews</A></I>.

Setting aside the fact that Chris Matthews is a moron who plays a journalist on tv (really, the man is a complete fraud - check out his bio sometime), who <I>cheers</I> for one of these televised screaming matches?  What a bunch of pinko commie liberal hippies.  I guess I'm just not the Washington type.  Really, all these clowns I run into around town (especially Democrats) all think they're saving the world, and none of them realise just how intellectually vapid they are.  I mean seriously, there is absolutely zero thought and intellectual realism in their arguments.  The Republicans can be just as bad too.  They defend ideologies and policies that are so damn low on the totem pole (given all the problems we face), but still think I'm wrong to advocate a more intellectual approach.  I actually think things through, and while my reactions to things may not be the most popular (or popular at all, for that matter), they are always the right response (in terms of what is best course of action).  

People like Chris Matthews just foster a climate where people compete not for who has the best ideas, but simply who can scream the loudest.  This type of environment leads to a world where we substitute shrillness for intellectualism.  We either need to collectively start thinking again, or I guess I just have to get out of this town, as it just simply isn't me...]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>

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