Entertainment

Friday, November 21st, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Has there every been so melancholy a meeting between an Israeli prime minister and an American president as the one that will take place here in Washington next week?

Friday, November 14th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

When Rep. Rahm Emanuel was named chief of staff to President elect Barack Obama, some predicted the volatile, outspoken lawmaker, former Bill Clinton aide and dead fish message sender would get himself in trouble with some kind of outrageous outburst.

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Howard Dean is calling it quits as chair of the Democratic National Committee after an election that restored his party to the White House, increased its majorities in both Houses of Congress – and solidified a Jewish vote that analysts once believed was getting soft around the edges.

Monday, November 10th, 2008

So what, exactly, does it mean that Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the son of an Israeli who served in the Irgun, has been named White House chief of staff under President-elect Barack Obama?

It means a lot, in terms of White House management and policy; the hard-charging, experienced, hyper-aggressive Emanuel will undoubtedly  keep the incoming administration organized, deal effectively with Congress and serve as an effective gatekeeper to a new president who will be besieged by those seeking influence and jobs.

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

If you believe the 7th graders in my daughter’s yeshiva class, we’re all doomed.

There is about to be a nuclear war, it seems. Iran is going to take over the world, or perhaps it will be Iraq. Israel? Forget about it.

This might be an amusing reaction to the election of Barack Obama if not for the reality that many of these pre-adolescents, if not most, are getting this stuff from their parents.

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Why have Sen. Barack Obama’s Jewish numbers surged, at least according to two polls released last week?  The pollsters don’t answer that question in detail,  but several likely explanations jump out from the numbers.

*  The economy.

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

“Am I going to have to go the Army?,”eight-year-old Jacob asked me recently as he channel-surfed past a war movie.

The question is impossible to answer with certainty. Parents who married after the War To End All Wars never anticipated that their children would be drafted to fight in the war that came after that, World War II.

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

“Am I going to have to go the Army?,”eight-year-old Jacob asked me recently as he channel-surfed past a war movie.

The question is impossible to answer with certainty. Parents who married after the War To End All Wars never anticipated that their children would be drafted to fight in the war that came after that, World War II.

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

James Besser in Washington

This week’s polls are showing Sen. Barack Obama opening up a significant lead over Sen. John McCain, but don’t start placing your bets on the November outcome.  A cascade of events and some unprecedented political factors make this the most volatile election year in recent history.

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

It started, of course, with Mideast coverage, which was upsetting enough. But now The New York Times bias in its reporting has gone too far. For those who have not yet participated in protests and boycotts, this is the time to act, before it spreads even further.

The frightening fact is that subjective words and phrases have now reached the most widely read spot of the world’s most famous newspaper: yes, the Weather Report in the top right-hand corner of Page 1, every day of the year.