As far as campaign math goes, that's a pretty good tradeoff for Obama: the Jews, the atheists, the militarists and the money-worshipping types can vote for McCain/Lieberman, everyone else for Obama.

Maybe McCain should move his campaign headquarters to Las Vegas.

FEW Jews vote the xenophobic approach. They/we just want our family and family of friends to be safe and respected.

If he can bridge communities, in a kind manner (not rancorous, not disrespectful), he will be a real public servant.

Even if it is accurate that Jews comprise the new meritocracy (which I contest, except in a few cities), they/we generally don't vote that class orientation predominantly.

On the contrary, we still vote progressive, humane.

It is true that Bush's evangelicism turned off even likud Jewish voters. I have an uncle who loved Reagon, loves Likud, but remembered the first Bush's anti-semitism, and was repulsed by Bush 2's incompetence and corruption.

But, my aunt and uncle are likely to vote for McCain. My mother will likely vote for Obama, avid Zionist and all.

She even speaks derisively of Leiberman (of whom she was so proud to be running for vice president, the first Jew to even be considered), since he pushed for the Iraq war, which she rationally understands as an utter waste.

I doubt VERY much that Phil's parents will vote for McCain.

What is his (your) evidence that Bush I was an anti-Semite? Was it simply the fact that Bush I didn't blank-check Israel's loan guarantees? Such are the myths that emerge from the fever swamp of Jewish Zionism: Question any aspect of blanket, unconditional US support for Israel, get declared an anti-Semite.

No wonder that particular epithet is quickly becoming a compliment.

If only the US government had been populated by more "anti-Semites" in the run-up to the Iraq war; maybe we wouldn't be bogged down in Iraq right now and a million or so Iraqis would still be alive.

What is George Herbert Walker Bush's anti-Semitism, of which you so casually speak? His advocacy of a (temporary) delay in loan guarantees for resettling Russian Jews in the West Bank? James Baker's comment in conversation–"Fuck the Jews. They don't vote for us anyway"?

present the evidence, or shut up.

Rosner wants to deflect, Phil, who is usually sharper with his laser scalpel, lets him deflect on this one.

It's not about Jewish votes. It's about money and public support, which runs into publicity.

That's what McCain wants – money and propaganda support. Why does nobody call it what it is?

Phil, I disagree. This country will never have "a robust debate of our Israel policy" because 'your people' are in control. And they are experts at setting the agenda. So, as long as average Americans are stupid enough to accept this control, there will be no debate. [But there WILL be plenty of pornography, war and otherwise.]