What A Bunch Of Wuses

Posted: Wed, 03/06/2013 - 21:50 | Political Insider

The annual Gaza Marathon organized by UNRWA, the UN agency that perpetuates refugee status for Palestinians, was cancelled after Hamas banned women from competing.

The reason given was respect for local Islamic customs, but can that the real motive? Women -- more modestly dressed than the men -- were allowed to compete in the two previous runnings of the event, and 266 of this year's 551 registered local runners were women.

Separate But Unequal

Posted: Mon, 03/04/2013 - 14:58 | Political Insider

In the same week that the President of the United States and Congressional leaders unveiled a statue of Rosa Parks in the U.S. Capitol honoring the woman who refused to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama, Israel inaugurated its latest version of segregated busing.

Defenders called it a security measure, critics called it racism.

No Upset Seen for Osina in Queens Council Race

Posted: Thu, 02/28/2013 - 15:36 | Political Insider

Thoughts of an upset win by Pesach Osina in the special City Council election in southeastern Queens appear to have been dashed with the announcement by the Board of Elections that his opponent, Donovan Richards, has widened his lead from 26 to 80 votes.

AIPAC To Hill: Don't Touch Israel Aid

Posted: Wed, 02/27/2013 - 19:38 | Political Insider

At a time when sequestration is about to take a big bite out of the Pentagon budget, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) will be sending thousands of its citizen lobbyists to Capitol Hill next week to make sure Israel is exempted from any spending cuts.

This could prove a very risky strategy at a time when millions of Americans will be feeling the bite of the sequestration debacle, from the defense budget to the school lunch program.

But not aid to Israel, which will be untouched if AIPAC gets its way.

Hagel Confirmed As Secretary Of Defense

Posted: Tue, 02/26/2013 - 19:08 | Political Insider

The U.S. Senate confirmed Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense, largely along party lines.

The Senate voted 58-41 to confirm Hageln on Tuesday afternoon, with 54 senators in the Democratic caucus joining four Republicans in voting for him.

The Democratic-led Senate had sought to confirm President Obama's nominee earlier this month, and the Armed Services Committee approved him in a 14-11 vote on Feb. 12.

Special Council Race Sees Apparent Upset By Jewish Candidate In Queens

Posted: Mon, 02/25/2013 - 15:27 | Political Insider

Jews vote.

That axiom was never truer than in Tuesday’s little noticed special election for city council in southeast Queens. An Orthodox Jewish candidate running in a field that featured seven black candidates may have emerged the surprise winner.