Rossputin.com Rational Thinking About Our World

Please, please, please. Let's not generalize about former president Carter and all Democrats! Just because an individual Democrat takes a controversial position doesn't mean that all Democrats take that position.

The Arab Israeli issue is an extremely complicated and hotly debated situation. Neither side is completely innocent. I view Israel as an important US ally in the region but sometimes they push the envelope do they not? Arabs, on the other hand, endorsing suicide bombing is unforgivable. I'm not endorsing Carter's book, I haven't read it and don't plan to. I did, however, read Thomas Friedman's book, "From Beirut to Jerusalem" (1989), which I thought was excellent.

I would like to make a suggestion. I think some readers should become Independents and not just Republicans (a slight chuckle here). I mean every political party can have its share of dunces so the reasonable position for an individual to take is that of an Independent. You simply pick the best from among everything available, your personal feelings and views make the decision for you. Most importantly, you don't follow in lock step every policy decision of a particular political party. Make your own informed decisions, exercise your intelligence and individuality. Sometimes you vote Republican, sometimes Democrat. It depends on the candidate and the issue. It's a much more logical position from my perspective than being affiliated with either party exclusively.

Bob,

The idea that Jews (and I'm Jewish, for the record) support Democrats out of some misplaced sympathy for the underdog is not a new idea. It becomes increasingly relevant as the Democratic Party regularly supports the Palestinians and abandons support for Israel or for Jews in general.

Even though American Jews were a huge force behind the civil rights movement, the most racist major group in America today is American Blacks.

Carter is a prominent example, but given all the other examples it is perfectly fair to generalize.

I am not arguing that support for Jews should be a primary decision in whom a voter chooses to support, but for those who consider it a very important factor, they should reconsider believing that Democrats are that party. For Israel, the Democratic Party is not quite the enemy but certainly not the friend that the GOP is.

As far as your "chuckle" about becoming Independents, I think you continue to misunderstand me and the point of my site. I vote Libertarian most of the time. I vote Republican sometimes. And I would vote Democrat if there were a Democrat candidate who wasn't a tax-raising, big-spending, econo-moron.

I don't know why you keep writing comments that imply that I or my readers always vote for one Party or find Party more important than policy or principle. I think you are trying to find something to accuse me of since you are wrong so often, and you think that saying I'm simply loyal to a Party will show that I don't actually think about the issues. But if you read my blog you will find that I am as critical of Republicans as of Democrats. It's not that Republicans are wrong as often as Democrats are wrong, but they should know better whereas we know Democrats are essentially pacifist redistributionish puppets of unions so my standards for Democrats are much lower.

Ross,

I'm glad to hear that you are Libertarian, actually. I think that is a reflection of a thoughtful person who is aware of what is going on in the world. I think that makes much more sense than being either Republican or Democrat for the reasons I mentioned. My perception, based on my experience thus far on your website, is that you are a well read and interested in a wide range of interesting topics. I had no idea whether you were Jewish or not. When I wrote my response I didn't give any thought whatsoever to whether you were Jewish or not either. It really doesn’t make a bit of difference to me. I respect you for what your ideas are. My background is that of a backyard cur. I'm half Italian and half Yugoslavian.

I'm not sure that you can make the case that the Democratic Party regularly supports the Palestinians. If we look at efforts expended at arriving at a peaceful settlement, Democrats have taken many more pains to achieve that than have Republicans. Isn't that true? Both Clinton and Carter spent considerable time and effort in trying to achieve a peaceful resolution. The Bush administration, on the other hand, has done absolutely nothing. In fact, my perception was that the elder President Bush also didn't go out of his way for Israel either.

I mentioned the book by Thomas Friedman because I realized that I just didn't understand how the Israeli Palestinian struggle began. There was so much misinformation around us that I felt this well recommended book would shed some light on the issue for me. From my reading, neither side is blameless in this ongoing struggle. Am I anti Jewish? No. Israel has to survive in a very hostile environment. I understand their position. But Israel is no angel either. Neither are the Arabs. Obviously, we could argue forever on this topic but let me assure you, I don't care if you are Jewish, Arab, black or green. The fact is there are many sides to the issues of our time. No issue is usually crystal clear, there are shades of grey. Using "spin doctors" to form public perception about issues is a common practice.

I have found that many comments posted on your site do seem to lean Republican, however. Both guest posters of late both supported the Iraq war, have they not? That is unquestionably a Republican position. Am I misrepresenting something here? Look at the posts from the last several days. A recap: (1) One More Reason for Jews to Stop supporting Democrats - Dealt with Democrat Carter's highly criticized work on Pastinian issue. (2) The Senate's Anti Bush Resolution - Berating those that choose to not continue supporting Bush's Iraq policies. (3) Gates (Not Bill) Agrees With Rusty's Article - A balanced article that reports Gate's support for Bush's Iraq policies. (4) 2006 State of the Union Speech - Overall favorable report on Bush's state of the union speech. (5) Iraq Violence Increases As Bush Prepares For State of the Union - Didn't endorse troop surge but suggested that concessions gained from the Iraq government might help to lead to some improvements in Iraq. Article didn't feel that the media was helping to get that message across to the public. (6) Another Reason Dems Want To Raise the Minimum Wage? - Expresses reservations that the minimum wage increase will really help workers. Democrats don't understand tax policy. (7) Surrender Redux - Laments our possible withdrawal from Iraq. The country doesn't have sufficient "stomach" for the war.

Ross, your own comments undermine your contention that you don't favor Republicans, not that I care. Quote Ross, "It's not that Republicans are wrong as often as Democrats are wrong, but they should know better." Does it matter Ross? The end result is ultimately all that counts, right? Republicans have had the mantle of leadership for many years now. Have they not made a mess of things? Another quote Ross, "Democrats are essentially pacifist redistributionish puppets of unions so my standards for Democrats are much lower." And another quote, "And I would vote Democrat if there were a Democrat candidate who wasn't a tax-raising, big-spending, econo-moron." Where might I get the idea there might be some bias here?

But, enough. Contrary to what you think I don't want to fight with you or anyone else for that matter. That's why people respond so as to post their own point of view. You have yours and others have theirs.

Bob,

I did not say I am Libertarian. I said I mostly vote Libertarian, but that I am "small-l" libertarian. I am registered Republican because I care about trying to be effective as much as being right.

Clinton attempts at creating a middle-east peace were based on a typical Democrat "can't we all get along" approach that completely misunderstands the nature of politics and power, especially in that part of the world. Carter is not worth spending any more time talking about. His anti-semitism is clear.

As far as the Bush Administration and Israel goes, they've been OK...mostly they've been busy with Afghanistan and Iraq.

Your attempting to pose Israel and the Palestinians as essentially equivalent in terms of "blameless" shows that you have bought into the propaganda of the UN, the Democrats, and the terrorists. There may be "many sides" to the issue, but that does not mean all sides of the conflict have equally valid positions.

My guest writers are much more Republican than I am. But they are guest writers, not me.

I didn't say I don't "lean Republican". I said I criticize both sides when they're wrong, and that Dems are wrong more often but they can't help it.

I do favor Republicans, although I don't favor them very much lately since they have abandoned the only thing they're really useful for: restraining the growth and cost of government, and preserving liberty. Yes, they have made a huge mess of things, and I have written about it frequently. But it's not as if the Dems will be any better. They CAN'T be better, because of who owns them.

I don't write news. I write opinion. I am VERY biased against the Democrats, but as I said I realize that they will never be any good so I don't have any real expectations for them to do anything right. The GOP should be better, but their behavior, esp. on gov't spending, in recent years has been a disaster, so I bash them too.

I'm not here to be neutral. Neutrality is a waste of time. I have principles and I support the politicians who support them. Those politicians are almost never in the Democratic Party except on the occasional civil liberty issue. As far as the Democrats being econo-morons, I think that doesn't state the case strongly enough. They truly are idiots when it comes to even the most basic understanding of macroeconomics and the fact that fiscal and tax policy actually cause behavioral changes within the economy.

OK, that's enough for now.