By Andrew L. Jaffee

The people have spoken in the U.S. The precious gift of democracy has been savored once again. Such unimaginable freedom we have, and yet, there are those who take liberty for granted, and live (talk) the illusion that the grass is greener “over there” — wherever “there” is. But think of those who lived through the Soviet years, or those who now live in the “People’s Republic” of China. Listen to this: Some poor Chinese shmuck had a truly brilliant marketing scheme for selling condoms. He put the images of Lei Feng and Mao Zedong on the wrappers. You’ve got to hand it to him: what a savvy way to get product recognition. The guy had balls; he had to know for sure that such a marketing ploy would insult the glorious memory of the revolution! Of course the “authorities” shut his business down and “accused [the vendor] of violating advertising and product quality laws.” From Reuters:

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By Douglas Farah*

In the wake of reports that an Israeli tank strike killed 18 people in the Gaza Strip, Hamas’ military wing issued a call for Muslims around the world to attack American targets.

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

Boy, have I been burned in the past, getting my hopes up for Iraq, and then seeing Iraqis blow it. But several events of interest are worth noting today. First, the Shiite-dominated government has finally held its own members accountable for involvement in torture. Second, Saddam’s former #2 has ordered Baathist groups to cease terrorist attacks. Still hope for national reconciliation? Here are the details, first from the Washington Post:

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

Voter turnout seems to be high on this election day. When I voted at about 9 AM this morning, the election volunteers told me that about 80 people had already cast ballots, while they noted that only 5 people had done so by 9 AM in the last election. Indeed, this seems to be a nationwide phenomena — a good thing no matter what the outcome. From the Washington Post:

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

You’ve still got time to exercise your right as a citizen of a democracy and vote. If you don’t know the issues and candidates, then take a look at the following links:

http://www.dontvote.com/map.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2006/

by Daniel Pipes*

Has the United States ever engaged in a crusade against Islam? No, never. And, what’s more, one of the country’s earliest diplomatic documents rejects this very idea.

Exactly 210 years ago this week, toward the end of George Washington’s second presidential administration, a document was signed with the first of two Barbary Pirate states. Awkwardly titled the “Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796 (3 Ramada I, A. H. 1211), and at Algiers January 3, 1797 (4 Rajab, A. H. 1211),” it contains an extraordinary statement of peaceful intent toward Islam.

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by Bill Levinson

American Center for Voting Rights reports,

(E) Court Orders MoveOn.org To Cease Voter Intimidation And Harassment In Ohio

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by Michal Lando*

Author’s note: R. James Woolsey is a former Director of Central Intelligence, and is currently a vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. He has served in the U.S. government on five different occasions, holding presidential appointments in two Republican and two Democratic administrations. He is co-chairman (with former Secretary of State George Shultz) of the Committee on the Present Danger, and serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy. Mr. Woolsey addressed the Middle East Forum on October 30, 2006. The following is an account of Mr. Woolsey’s briefing, as reported in the Jerusalem Post.

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by Daniel Pipes*

Author’s note: The Jerusalem Post editors asked its columnists, “This time, only your thoughts on this historic day in which former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging.” For the other replies, see http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?
cid=1162378330240&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter. Here is mine:

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

I usually rag on the Hollywood stars, but there are exceptions, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who have “dared” to make a movie about the savage Islamist murder of reporter Daniel Pearl. Reports are now circulating that Brad and Angelina are receiving death threats because they are documenting Pearl’s execution. From the Columbus Dispatch:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have received threats on their lives from al-Qaida, The Indian Financial Express reports. The couple are shooting the film A Mighty Heart, based on the life of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was killed in Pakistan in 2002. British security experts flew to Pune, India, after being alerted by neighboring Pakistan that the couple might be targeted because of the film’s political nature.

Remember that Pearl:

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A briefing by Ron Dermer*

Ron Dermer is Israel’s Minister of Economic Affairs in the United States. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University, Ron had advised some of Israel’s most important leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu and Natan Sharansky. Additionally, Ron was a columnist for the Jerusalem Post and he co-authored a book with Natan Sharansky that was published in 2004. Mr. Dermer addressed the Middle East Forum on October 24, 2006. The event was cosponsored by the America Israel Chamber of Commerce. The following is an account of Mr. Dermer’s briefing, as reported in The Jewish Exponent.

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by Bill Levinson
This is your brain

This is your brain on MoveOn.org’s Action Forum:

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

I read a disturbing note from the Ohio Republican Party today. It claims that Democrats are using “vandalism, Internet attacks, and infiltration” to obstruct GOP efforts to participate in the electoral process. While tensions are high, and rhetoric is flying Left and Right, I wouldn’t put it past Democrats to use such tactics — especially in light of what happened during the 2004 elections. At that time, the Toledo Blade uncovered a voter registration scandal in Defiance County, Ohio. The sheriff there arrested one Chad Staton on charges that he filed 124 falsified voter registration forms. Staton allegedly filled out the forms with fabricated names, like Jeffrey Dahmer, Mary Poppins, and Janet Jackson, and fictitious addresses. Why did Mr. Staton do this? According to the Blade, he did it:

…in exchange for crack cocaine from a Toledo woman working on behalf of the NAACP’s voter registration drive.

Today, from the Ohio Republican Party:

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

Today, Hungarians commemorated their 1956 revolution against Soviet occupation. 1956 was a real revolution, and between 2,800 to 30,000 Hungarians gave their lives in the pursuit of liberty and sovereignty, two words which have lost meaning to some in the free world. It is with a sad heart, but with joyous spirit that I salute Hungary today. (Story continues below)

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by Bill Levinson

We are recommending that Democrats who want to make get-out-the-vote calls this weekend and Monday call on behalf of the Democratic Party and not MoveOn.org, given MoveOn.org’s proven record of welcoming racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, and anti-Evangelical hate speech at its Action Forum until the widening scandal forced the forum to shut down in September. This racist MoveOn.org Action Forum entry suggests that African-American soldiers are disloyal and unrealiable.

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