Post-election schadenfraude

First of all, a shout out to Jeff for creating this blog, which I am confident will have a happy and interesting life, given our start in Facebook over the election season. Jeff is a terrific sparring partner, and we should have a lot of fun.

I am going to begin substantive discussions with some relatively old news: the appointment of Pres.-Elect Obama's Chief of Staff. Well, let me take a few steps back to this very revealing exchange involving one of my favorite defenders of our faith, Michael Goldfarb:



Ah yes, such words of wisdom, I am so glad that Mr. Goldfarb was there warning us about the anti-semites with whom Obama would be consorting come his (gasp) election. And, wouldn't you know it, Pres.-Elect Obama, first thing he does, is go out and pick noted Jew-hater Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff:

Rahm Israel Emanuel (Hebrew: רם ישראל עמנואל‎) was born in Chicago, Illinois. His first name, Rahm, means "high" or "lofty" in Hebrew,[ while his last name, Emanuel, means "God is with us." According to his father, his son is the namesake of Rahamim, a Lehi paramilitary group combatant who was killed. Rahm’s surname was adopted by his family in 1933, after Rahm’s paternal uncle, Emanuel Auerbach, was killed in a skirmish with Arabs in Jerusalem...

Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation is quoted as saying: "It's a very involved Jewish family"; "Amy was one of the teachers for a class for children during the High Holidays two years ago." Emanuel has said of his Judaism: "I am proud of my heritage and treasure the values it has taught me." Emanuel's family lives on the North Side of Chicago, in the North Center neighborhood...

According to The Nation, Emanuel is "seen as a strong Israel partisan.” In June 2007, Emanuel condemned an outbreak of Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip and criticized Arab countries for not applying the same kind of pressure on the Palestinians as they have on Israel. At a 2003 pro-Israel rally in Chicago, Emanuel told the marchers Israel was ready for peace but would not get there until Palestinians "turn away from the path of terror."

OK, you see, Goldfarb had it nailed. Wicked nasty anti-Semites already clogging the Obama administration. I will be looking to Michael for more stunning wisdom in the weeks and months to come.