Print This Post
Nov
29
For the record: no retreat on White House Hannukah card error
Filed Under George Bush, Holidays, Jewish, Judaism, Politics, Religion, Wide Open, leadership | 38 Comments
I disagree entirely with this “but look how much he’s done for us” excuse for the White House Hannukah invite snafu this year:
Now, some in the community and media are having fun, or even taking offense, with the fact that when the invitations arrived for this year’s White House Chanukah Party, they were illustrated with a scene of a horse-drawn cart delivering The White House Christmas tree.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/26/first-white-house-chrismukkah-cards-accidentally-sent/
To make this - or any President’s - gracious hospitality the subject of jest is chutzpah of the highest order.
Not only is George W. Bush the first to place a Chanukah Party on The White House calendar, but when the fact of this event is considered in the context of Jewish history - a history of centuries of persecution and exclusion - a sensible person’s only reaction can be one of gratitude for the freedom Jews enjoy in the United States of America and respect and appreciation for this nation’s president.
Ron Kampeas of the JTA agrees with the OU:
Maybe we learned too well. I’m with the Orthodox Union on the “Chrismukkah” card flap. It’s astonishingly bad manners, of a piece with an unfortunate “kick a man when he’s down” political tradition in this country (See, ironically enough, the post 2000 treatement of Al Gore.)
Whether you believe President Bush will be vindicated or that his policies were disastrous for Israel - and that’s above my pay grade - his embrace of Jewish Americans has been warm and unambiguous. (Yes, his White House, in its first term at least, snubbed those groups that were not 100 percent on board with its message - but that policy, however butt-headed, was ecumenical.)
I attended a few of the White House Hannukiyah lightings, and up close, one could appreciate how much of a kick Bush got out of the whole “house of the American people” ethos. One night, a Jewish kids’ choir could be singing the Maoz Tsur, another night Muslim Americans might be delivering Eid greetings - he genuinely seemed to enjoy the idea that the prayers could change from event to event, and still be essentially American.
Like someone might smile adoringly at something put on display for amusement?
Ugh.
This reminds me of a debate on Wide Open last year during which I too was told, in essence, “can’t you just be grateful for how much less you suffer now and leave it at that” as a way to tamp me down about current anti-Semitism and slights.
Not happening. The gaffe was completely preventable and just because there are in fact some cultures within American society who prefer to stifle their observations of slights because they think that’s good manners, Jews have learned that to do so can lead to death.
So, I’ll take my Hannukah card with a side of speaking up if you don’t mind.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:35 am November 29th, 2008 in George Bush, Holidays, Jewish, Judaism, Politics, Religion, Wide Open, leadership | 38 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
27
Chabad (Nariman) House: terrorists say they’ll release hostages if allowed talks w/India’s gov’t
Filed Under Crime, Foreign Affairs, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, Politics, Religion, intolerance | 7 Comments
A militant holed up at the Chabad headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday phoned an Indian television channel to say he was prepared to free his Israeli hostages if the government agreed to talks.
An Israeli rabbi is among at least three to eight people being held hostage by gunmen at the Chabad house, following a series of attacks in the city that killed at least 101 people, police said.
“Ask the government to talk to us and we will release the hostages,” the militant, identified by the India TV channel as Imran, said, speaking in Urdu in what sounded like a Kashmiri accent.
“Are you aware how many people have been killed in Kashmir? Are you aware how many of them have been killed in Kashmir this week?”
More on the Chabad Lubovitch movement. Chabad has never been a branch of Judaism to which I can relate, but it is 100% true that, especially in countries where there are basically no Jews, they serve as a very welcoming presence for Jews who do travel through.
The rabbi (who has American and Israeli citizenship) and his wife (Israeli) who were known to be in the house are believed to still be alive. Their toddler son was released (as well as a nanny and maid) but is in the hospital. Reports are that while he seemed to be okay, his clothes were blood-soaked.
Saying prayers for them and all the other hostages yet to be released - I’ve read that there are still many in the Taj hotel.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:51 am November 27th, 2008 in Crime, Foreign Affairs, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, Politics, Religion, intolerance | 7 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
27
Carnival of Ohio Politics Thanksgiving Edition (#143)
Filed Under Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics, Writing | 2 Comments
Many thanks (ah! something else to give thanks for) to Lisa Renee of Glass City Jungle for mixing together all the ingredients that produced this tasty edition of the Carnival of Ohio Politics Thanksgiving Edition.
I hope everyone else’s mixtures turn out as well and are enjoyed at least as much.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:36 am November 27th, 2008 in Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics, Writing | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
26
After 8 years, is it too much for Bush to get a Jew to review cards going to…Jews?
Filed Under George Bush, Holidays, Israel, Jewish, Judaism | 7 Comments
The president and the first lady invited leaders of America’s Jewish community for a Hanukkah reception at the White House next month - but raised more than a few eyebrows by putting a picture of a Christmas tree on the invitation.
The message reads that the couple “requests the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah reception,” written beneath an image of a Clydesdale horse hauling a Christmas fir along the snow-dappled drive to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
And, no, it is not a Hanukkah bush. A close look at the wagon reveals the message “White House Christmas Tree 2008.”
Reaction:
“It’s absolutely bizarre to receive an invite to the White House for Hanukkah in a Christmas format,” said one person who was invited. “They should have consulted with their chief of protocol before sending this out. This belongs right in the ‘Weird But True’ column.”
Jewish community leader Isaac Abraham of Brooklyn had a simpler explanation.
“It’s obvious what’s going on here: The Christmas tree is being taken out of the White House and the menorah is being brought in the back,” he quipped.
When reached for comment, Laura Bush’s spokeswoman, Sally McDonough, said the White House usually prints separate cards, but in the waning days of the presidency, there had been an oversight.
“Mrs. Bush is apologetic,” she said. “It is something that just slipped through the cracks.”
EIGHT YEARS. THERE HAS BEEN A CHANUKAH EVERY ONE OF THOSE EIGHT YEARS. YOU USE ISRAEL TO GET AT EVERY OTHER MIDDLE EAST “ENEMY.”
GET THE DAMN CARD RIGHT!
OMG.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:22 pm November 26th, 2008 in George Bush, Holidays, Israel, Jewish, Judaism | 7 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
26
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Filed Under Gender, Law, Politics, Resources, Sexism, Social Issues, Tools, Women, Youth, activism, intolerance, leadership | Leave a Comment
I could, and I will, provide links and excerpts of what the day is about and why it exists (it was yesterday and is November 25 every year), but this story from the AP about how Taliban in Pakistan threw acid on school girls pretty much does the trick.
Men riding motorbikes squirted acid from water bottles onto three groups of students and teachers walking to school. Several girls suffered burned faces and were hospitalized. One teenager couldn’t open her eyes for days after the attack, which sparked condemnation around the world.
Afghanistan’s government called the attack “un-Islamic,” while the United Nations labeled it “a hideous crime.” First lady Laura Bush decried the attackers as cowardly.
Today, the government said that 10 alleged Taliban militants have been arrested in connection with the incident and that some have confessed for participating.
Why would anyone do this? Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:43 pm November 26th, 2008 in Gender, Law, Politics, Resources, Sexism, Social Issues, Tools, Women, Youth, activism, intolerance, leadership | Please comment
Print This Post
Nov
26
This news isn’t really news in the sense of being new, especially to anyone who blogs or gets their information online. But it’s interesting to see the critical mass of date now collected that supports the notion in the title of this post. Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere serves as the basis for the analysis (and that too shows how news isn’t new - the report has been out for a while; however, to be fair, it’s a voluminous batch of information).
From MediaPost’s blog (of course) (you may have to sign up - I never do when I first click on it in my email but then when I go back to it, sometimes I have to - it’s free but worth it, I see a lot of interesting stuff at MediaPost):
Wikipedia defines the Blogosphere as the collective community of all blogs. interconnected and socially networked. While discussions in the Blogosphere have been used by the media as a gauge of public opinion, Technorati isolates the Active Blogosphere as the ecosystem of interconnected communities of bloggers and readers at the convergence of journalism and conversation.
But, says the study, as the Blogosphere grows in size and influence, the lines between what is a blog and what is a mainstream media site become less clear. Larger blogs are taking on more characteristics of mainstream sites and mainstream sites are incorporating styles and formats from the Blogosphere. In fact, 95% of the top 100 US newspapers have reporter blogs.
Technorati tracked blogs in 81 languages in June 2008, and bloggers from 66 countries across six continents, finding that Bloggers have been at it an average of three years and are collectively creating close to one million posts every day. Blogs have representation in top-10 web site lists across all key categories, and have become integral to the media ecosystem.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:46 am November 26th, 2008 in Blogging, Business, Media, Tech | 1 Comment
Print This Post
Nov
25
Women’s Media Center reviews women appointed by Obama so far
Filed Under Barack Obama, Government, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Politics, PostWH2008, Women | 1 Comment
From my inbox (does not seem to be available at Women’s Media Center’s website, but there are a lot of tools for news and info there on sexism in the press, women in the media etc. there). Carol Jenkins is the director of the WMC.
THE APPOINTMENTS
Hillary says yes; two women walk out on stage as part of President-elect Obama’s economic team. A woman here, a woman there, soon you’re talking about real equality! Well, we have a distance to travel before that. But, for now….the naming of women and women of color.
State:
Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State – No doubt Hillary is assembling her staff as we speak-with an announcement scheduled post-Thanksgiving.
WMC Progressive Women’s Voices participant Michele Wucker gives us an idea of the job ahead for Clinton. Wucker is the Executive Director of the World Policy Institute, a leading progressive policy think tank. She concludes: “The new secretary of state will be at the center of the global effort required to calm financial markets and restore global economic growth, to promote international justice, and to find common approaches to global security challenges. No country, even a superpower, can do any of this on its own.” Read her illuminating commentary on our website.
Inner Circle:
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor — Valerie (co-chair of the Obama transition team) is packing her bags for Washington, having mentored Michelle and Barack Obama into the White House. Jarrett is an accomplished political counselor and businesswoman (real estate). Early reports suggested that the President-elect wanted her to replace him in the Senate. Instead she will be “one of the four or five people in the room with him when decisions get made,” Read The New York Times profile.
Economic Team:
Fed chair Timothy Geithner takes the top Treasury spot; his mentor, Larry Summers, will head up the National Economic Council (and avoid confirmation hearings). New to the scene:
Christina D. Romer, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors – Dr. Romer is Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has taught and researched since 1988. You can read her bio and resume on the Berkeley site and be sure to read her Encyclopedia Britannica entry on The Great Depression, an expertise of hers. Let us hope the concept remains historical.
Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council — Melody Barnes is co-director of the Agency Review Working Group for the Obama-Biden Transition Team, and served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor for the Obama campaign. A colleague of transition chair John Podesta’s at The Center for American Progress, she was a long-time aide to Senator Ted Kennedy. Her portfolio will include health reform.
Heather A. Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council — Heather Higginbottom served as Policy Director for Obama for America, overseeing all aspects of policy development. From 1999 to 2007, Higginbottom served as Senator John Kerry’s Legislative Director.
Communications:
Ellen Moran, Director of Communications — Moran is executive director of EMILY’s List, which raises funds for pro-choice women candidates. Something of a surprise-Moran was a Hillary Clinton supporter-right up to her concession and EMILY’s List worked hard for a Clinton win. This, on the heels of a Clinton State Department, will go far to convince Hillary supporters of his “inclusiveness.”
And In the White House:
Michelle Obama, First Lady — Two reporters have major stories on the Michelle factor. Allison Samuels has the cover story on Newsweek, “What Michelle Obama Means to Us”– about how she’ll change the world’s image of African-American women-and the way we see ourselves. And Rachel L. Swarns, The New York Times Washington correspondent , writes about Michelle as only the second First Lady with a career (the first and only was Hillary) — and what that means.
Desiree Rogers, Social Secretary — We know that Michelle is taking her duties as entertainer-in-chief seriously — she has picked Chicago businesswoman Desiree Rogers as her Social Secretary. Rogers, like the First Lady, has a Harvard MBA.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:30 pm November 25th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Government, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Politics, PostWH2008, Women | 1 Comment
Print This Post
Nov
25
Will Obama budget director start a new blog after success at CBO?
Filed Under Economy, Government, PostWH2008 | 3 Comments
While the U.S. may need [President-elect Barack Obama's pick for Budget Director, Peter Orszag] more in his new role, the econoblogosphere is losing an important voice. Over the last year, Orszag has been a major contributor to a broader debate, and has added a useful perspective to the debate.
While many of his posts [at the Congressional Budget Office blog] consisted of testimony that was available elsewhere, Orszag was an active participant on the Web. He added posts on issues that interested him, such as this entry on why an X-prize for health care is a good idea.
He also used the blog to expand on ideas presented in testimony, or to correct the media when he thought it had misinterpreted his findings.
No indication as to when or if the blog will be scrubbed, so if you want to fisk it in order to figure out Orszag, you might want to peruse it sooner rather than later. Orszag’s name is already gone from the CBO site.
Oy, and he’s just turning 40 - nice birthday present/midlife “crisis” opportunity! I was just commenting today about how people should be thanking Obama for doing the thankless task of literally helping give the keys to the next generation, although when I was talking about it, I meant my generation. Orszag is techinically a millenial Gen Xer. Having been a part of efforts that involved the angst sometimes associated with handing over keys to new generations, I think the act of doing so is vastly underrated.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:48 pm November 25th, 2008 in Economy, Government, PostWH2008 | 3 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
25
Social network users too busy networking to click on ads
Filed Under Blogging, Business, Media, Tech, Tools | 7 Comments
I can’t feel sorry for the ad agencies, I just can’t. First, they wanted us to feel badly that the Motrin Moms debacle might constrain their creativity. Now, they’re lamenting that users of social networks don’t click on ads as often as users of other Internet tools:
Nearly 80% of all U.S. Web users clicked on at least one ad in the past year, compared to only 57% of online social network users. The higher click-through rate for the general Internet population also led to a higher proportion of purchases–23% to 11%.
Why the difference? “The fact that people use social networking services for communication puts them in a mindset that is less receptive to advertising than when they’re using other Web sites like Yahoo or Google,” said Karsten Weide, program director for digital media and entertainment at IDC.
He added that email and Instant Messaging services–also used primarily for communication–show similarly low ad-response rates.
But those ad agencies aren’t going to give up:
“What needs to be fixed is ad effectiveness, and the only way to fix it is to get people to do stuff on social networks other than communicate,” Weide said. That means encouraging activities that more readily lend themselves to advertising such as sharing media, consuming media, playing games and collaborating on applications.
You know, guess what? What’s old is new: if your product is good, we’re gonna talk about it - whereever we’re connecting with others. If we need something, we’re going to look for the best buy for our money, especially in this economy. In fact, I would argue, that the worse the economy gets, the less effective these ad strategies are going to be because the consumer requirement for trustworthiness is going to skyrocket: we don’t want to waste money on more than we need and we don’t want to waste time returning some bargain that fell apart.
Word. Of. Mouth.
Trust. Our. Networks.
Don’t. Pander. To. Us.
Is it really that hard to understand?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:25 am November 25th, 2008 in Blogging, Business, Media, Tech, Tools | 7 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
24
Tzipi v. Bibi
Filed Under Elections, Foreign Affairs, Israel, Politics | Leave a Comment
Today, I received this outline about the two main candidates for Israeli prime minister. The elections are in February:
Livni vs. Netanyahu: From One Election to the Next
On February 10, Israelis head to their first national election in nearly three years. With the exception of the 1977 election, this will be the only Israeli campaign in which no incumbent has run for the office of prime minister. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni leads the Kadima party, which is neck and neck with Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud party; each is expected to garner approximately 30 seats in the 120-member Israeli parliament. Since their views on the peace process differ, the election’s outcome will directly affect U.S. regional policy and the future of the Annapolis process.
Background
When Israel last went to the polls, it was unclear whether Kadima would become an established party or just fade away. Ariel Sharon created the centrist Kadima party weeks before his massive stroke in January 2006 in an attempt to break the left-right divide that has dominated Israel since the 1967 war. Two key events since Kadima’s 2006 victory — Israel’s inconclusive 2006 Lebanon war and Hamas’s 2007 takeover of Gaza — supported the prevailing wisdom suggesting that Kadima could not hope to compete as a major party, thus reverting Israel back to the Likud-Labor dichotomy. This year, however, has marked a startling turnaround. Kadima — not Labor — is vying with Likud for the top electoral spot. Two developments have driven this change: the seeming electoral collapse of the Labor party and the emergence of Livni’s leadership in place of the unpopular Ehud Olmert.
Labor’s Collapse
Labor won nineteen seats in the 2006 election, down from the forty-four under Yitzhak Rabin in 1992, and is polling a mere nine seats at present. This is a calamitous drop for Ehud Barak, who, as Rabin’s protege and the most decorated general in Israeli history, was viewed as the savior of Olmert’s government when he joined as defense minister after the disastrous Lebanon war. His growing unpopularity stems from many causes. Barak projects arrogance and aloofness, and his personal financial transactions, such as his endeavors in expensive real estate, are at variance with Labor’s socialist roots. Israelis also perceive him as focusing more on undermining Livni than building a solid, center-left coalition. For instance, when he called Livni by her formal name — Tzipora, which literally translates to “bird” — many interpreted his attitude as denigrating to the first woman with a chance at the premiership since Golda Meir (who served from 1968 to 1974). In addition, the Israeli public seems happier with Barak as a capable defense minister than as prime minister. To make matters worse, a subgroup within Labor wants to create a separate dovish bloc, which is likely to diminish the party further. Taken together, Barak’s chances do not look promising.
Livni’s Rise
Barak’s eclipse coincides with Livni’s rise. While Barak is viewed as unsupportive of peace efforts, Livni has eloquently articulated support for a two-state solution and has met with chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) on a weekly basis over the last year to hammer out details of a framework agreement. At the same time, Israelis see her as a tough negotiator, as she has been critical of some of Olmert’s concessions to the Palestinians. She has also made the case publicly that Hamas will seize upon any inactivity to discredit Palestinian moderates. Since Olmert is not running, he is able to give speech after speech articulating the benefits of creating a Palestinian state (with Israeli security backing) and the dangerous consequences of failing to do so. As of now, this has had a salutary effect for Livni, attracting droves of Labor voters to her. Her poor personal relationship with Olmert has also burnished her image as honest and uncorrupt. Her unwillingness to engage in protracted coalition bargaining with the Shas party over financial resources has increased her standing in the polls. This boost came at an opportune time in light of this week’s municipal elections, as Kadima member Haim Ramon insists that his party won a third of the municipalities. Nonetheless, these elections were probably based largely on local issues, as mayors from all parties downplayed their national affiliations. Livni may also play the “Obama card” in the upcoming election, suggesting that the Middle East peace process is linked to good relations with the United States. As such, campaign aides are likely to allege that a Likud victory will inevitably lead to a clash with Obama administration.
Netanyahu’s Electoral Chances
Netanyahu believes he has several cards to play in the election. First, he will seek to neutralize Livni’s Obama reference by emphasizing his knowledge of the United States as an asset in avoiding conflict with Washington. Critics will challenge this argument by citing Netanyahu’s rough relations during his tenure as Israeli premier with former U.S. president Bill Clinton. Second, Netanyahu recently declared that he favors a national unity government (NUG) in an attempt to cultivate the Israeli center. This NUG could take many forms, but Netanyahu will likely favor the version that enables him to lean on parties within the right and center-right. Netanyahu also favors an “economic peace” with the Palestinians but has provided few details, particularly on how economics could substitute for a political process. He is unlikely to provide more details, given his desire to woo two prominent hawks, Benny Begin and Moshe (Bogie) Yaalon, to his campaign. Israelis regard both as very honest, and Netanyahu hopes their presence will remodel Likud and remove the stain of corruption that has tainted the party in recent years. Third, Netanyahu is counting on Israeli Arabs. While constituting a fifth of the population, they historically vote for Israeli Arab parties, which traditionally stay out of coalitions, leaving the core issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict to be worked out by center-left Jewish parties. Likud thinks the Israeli Arabs will keep voting for these politically marginal parties, thereby limiting the center-left’s prospects. If Israeli Arab voters switched their allegiance to Kadima or Labor, it would alter the race’s electoral dynamics and boost Livni’s fortunes. Fourth, as finance minister under Ariel Sharon, Netanyahu slashed spending and earned a reputation as a fiscal hawk. He reduced the bloated welfare system for ultraorthodox Jews, but his significant military cuts factored into Israel’s poor performance in the 2006 Lebanon war. Netanyahu will seek to use his experience in finance to suggest he is perfectly suited to lead Israel at a time of global financial crisis. Both Netanyahu and Livni will seek to ensure that U.S. engagement with Iran is not open-ended and that the negotiations are used as a means to strike a “grand bargain” precluding — rather than deterring — an Iranian nuclear weapon.
U.S. Role
The outcome of the upcoming Israeli election will influence how the United States views its prospects in the Middle East. Although many wonder how the Obama administration would shape the election’s outcome, this is a moot point since there are no signs that Obama is inclined to influence the process, and the new U.S. administration takes office less than three weeks before the Israeli elections.
A Livni victory will lead to more focus on the Palestinian track, given the progress made by her and Abu Ala. On the other hand, a Netanyahu victory could put more American emphasis on the Syria track. After all, Netanyahu was willing to strike a deal with Syria while he was in office in 1998, yet Ariel Sharon vetoed the back-channel efforts that Netanyahu confidante Ronald Lauder made with Syrian leader Hafez al-Asad. If Netanyahu wins, it will be interesting to see if he picks up where he left off, this time with Hafez’s son and current Syrian president, Bashar al-Asad.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:30 pm November 24th, 2008 in Elections, Foreign Affairs, Israel, Politics | Please comment
Print This Post
Nov
24
Examples of thanks, giving: Ohio workers on the edge, Colorado farmers
Filed Under Charity, Economy, Holidays, Media, Ohio, Philanthropy, Social Issues, activism, leadership | Leave a Comment
Two stories of thanks and giving:
1. I don’t like several of the headlines of the online news stories about how one farm in Colorado opened up its fields to 40,000 people because I saw the story first on CNN this morning and it emphasized the generosity of the farmers and the gratefulness of the people who came to gather food. So when I see words like “swarm” and “frenzy” - well, let’s just say, those “filters” that the MSM has? Yeah, that let those things through. Doesn’t sound too neutral to me. Watch for yourself:
2. From my inbox, I received a press released about how, in the words of the person who sent it to me, “…despite that ASTAR employees are facing a dubious future with DHL [which is likely to be] pulling out of Ohio, the employees, who have a charity committee, have decided to go through with their holiday plans.” Somehow, I don’t think the farmers or the employees are too worried about being called socialists when they and we know how many people, especially here in Ohio, are struggling or about to be struggling.
From the presser:
ASTAR Air Cargo has kicked off its annual holiday outreach effort by donating more than 1,000 turkeys to six organizations in the Cincinnati area and Clinton County, Ohio.
“This holiday effort has been an important tradition for our company for many years,” said Martin Godly, ASTAR Air Cargo Managing Director, Operations Finance and Community Relations. “Especially in this tough economic climate, ASTAR is committed to helping these families celebrate the holidays. Being involved in the community where we and our employees live continues to be a core value of ASTAR.”
The holiday campaign is part of ASTAR’s year-long community outreach effort. Annually, ASTAR gives over $100,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to local charities in Clinton County and the Cincinnati area.
Today, ASTAR employees will hand-deliver 240 turkeys to Cincinnati-based St. Aloysius Orphanage (St. Al’s), which is a facility that helps Greater Cincinnati area children who suffer from severe emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health issues. The facility offers many programs aimed at helping children, including running a short-term group home, a K-8 school, a foster care network, and group counseling.
ASTAR employees will also deliver turkeys to the Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home in Ft. Mitchell, KY, which operates a long term residence for nearly 30 children who are emotionally and behaviorally challenged and also provides short-term residency and emergency foster care
Tomorrow, 100 turkeys will be delivered to Wilmington, OH-based Your Father’s Kitchen, which provides meals, other necessities, and a safe environment for adults and teens in need; 75 turkeys will be delivered to Community Action (Wilmington, OH), which helps impoverished residents find better jobs, housing and education; and 30 turkeys will be delivered to the Clinton County Homeless Shelter (Wilmington, OH), which provides temporary housing for families, while helping them obtain permanent housing in the community.
Next week, 700 turkeys will be delivered to the Be Concerned Northern Kentucky Soup Kitchen in Covington, KY. Be Concerned provides food, clothing and other assistance to more than 1,000 families in the area on a continuing basis including a soup kitchen that collects and distributes food to families.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:57 pm November 24th, 2008 in Charity, Economy, Holidays, Media, Ohio, Philanthropy, Social Issues, activism, leadership | Please comment
Print This Post
Nov
24
Obama names three women to top economic posts
Filed Under Barack Obama, Economy, Government, Politics, PostWH2008 | 16 Comments
Here they are, from First Read:
Christina D. Romer, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors
Christina Romer is the Class of 1957 Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has taught and researched since 1988. Prior to joining the faculty at Berkeley, Romer was an assistant professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Romer is co-director of the Program in Monetary Economics at the National Bureau of Economic Research and has been a visiting scholar at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Melody Barnes is co-director of the Agency Review Working Group for the Obama-Biden Transition Team, and served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor to Obama for America. Barnes previously served as Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress and as chief counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee from December 1995 until March 2003.Heather A. Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy CouncilHeather Higginbottom served as Policy Director for Obama for America, overseeing all aspects of policy development. From 1999 to 2007, Higginbottom served as Senator John Kerry’s Legislative Director. She also served as the Deputy National Policy Director for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign for the primary and general elections. After the 2004 election, Higginbottom founded and served as Executive Director of the American Security Project, a national security think tank. She started her career as an advocate at the national non-profit organization Communities in Schools.
The names of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary and Lawrence Summers as Director of the National Economic Council were leaked last week:
Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury
Timothy Geithner currently serves as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he has played a key role in formulating the nation’s monetary policy. He joined the Department of the Treasury in 1988 and has served three presidents. From 1999 to 2001, he served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs. Following that post he served as director of the Policy Development and Review Department at the International Monetary Fund until 2003. Geithner is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Council
Lawrence Summers is currently the Charles W. Eliot University Professor at Harvard University. Summers served as 71st Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 and as president of Harvard from 2001 to 2006. Before being appointed Secretary, Summers served as Deputy and Under Secretary of the Treasury and as the World Bank’s top economist. Summers has taught economics at Harvard and MIT, and is a recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the American economist under 40 judged to have made the most significant contribution to economics. Summers played a key advisory role during the 2008 presidential campaign.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:46 pm November 24th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Economy, Government, Politics, PostWH2008 | 16 Comments
Print This Post
Nov
23
How Boehner lives to die another day as House Minority Leader
Filed Under Congress, Government, Ohio, Politics, PostWH2008, Republicans, conservatives, leadership | 1 Comment
From the first that I heard of how Ohio Congressman John Boehner (OH-8) was going to live to die another day as House Minority Leader, I’ve been wondering, “huh?” but I chalked it up to just being a left of center blogger who finds Boehner’s perpetual tan and tears really…unique.
However, now, there’s a column in The Daily Beast that affirms my reaction as not so odd. From “Circular Firing Squad: The Republican Suicide Watch”:
The party is wounded, perhaps even mortally. It is certainly bleeding money and talent. Arizona’s John Shadegg openly opines to the media that donors won’t give “another penny.” Yet Boehner’s best idea to help the party is to help himself by bullying his way to reelection. Resignation was in order, but instead he demanded another two years without paying a penalty for his clumsiness over the last three years and his colossal, unforgivable, and damning failure to stop Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson’s Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) lie the week of September 29.
Is Boehner a dullard and quitter like Marshal Pétain? Or is he a vain crow like Charles de Gaulle? Or is he the worst of both, a defeatist with a devious ego?
At 59, a nine-term representative from the suddenly blue team suburbs between Cincinnati and Dayton, Boehner has no future worth debating. Not a fighter like the underestimated Dick Nixon, not a loudmouth like the predictable Newt Gingrich, not a tactician like the ambitious Mike Pence, Boehner inherited the Republican majority from the disgraced Texan Tom DeLay, who sold the party cheaply to gamblers, grifters, and Russian gangsters. Boehner did nothing effectively or worth noting as he led the power-drunken rabble to defeat in the 2006 cycle. Since then, he has manufactured excuses like pine cushions. It’s DeLay’s fault, and why doesn’t he go away? It’s Roy Blunt’s fault, and we inherited the dope, anyway. It’s Dick Cheney and the Bush whackos. It’s Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Jack Murtha, and the Dem whackos. It’s the war. No, it’s not the war, we’re winning the war, aren’t we? And then along came a genuine crisis that was not outside his reach, Paulson’s TARP. What did Boehner do? He believed Paulson’s lie that the $700 billion TARP was a miracle to save the nation. And then he let Paulson lie to the House that without TARP there would be rioting in the major cities. B