The one man in America you probably don't want to work for. Having said "I like being able to fire people", Gov. Mitt Romney (played by Justin Long) is cast in the roll of The Office's Michael Scott.
This is Taglit Israeli comedy show Eretz-Nehederet premiered its 7th season (Jan. 23, 2012) with this satire of the Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. Every year tens of thousands of American, European, and South American Jews get free trips to come on a two-week guided tour of Israel. For many this is a chance to see historical sites like Masada, practice whatever Hebrew they learned, and party with Israeli soldiers.
In order to understand her identity, an Irish Catholic student at the University of Virginia had to follow her passion: a major in Jewish Studies
Editor's note: Anne Grant worked as editorial assistant for the Philadelphia Jewish Voice during the summer of 2011. She had to step down in the Fall when she returned to her studies in Virgina, but she continues to "tweet" for us. (Follow #PJVoice on twitter.) She was a great help, and we are still looking for someone to continue her work for us.
Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) during tonight's CNN debate showed again that he will lie if need be to advance his political agenda, and when it comes to the U.S.-Israel relationship, that's shameful. The stakes are simply too high. We are not talking about subjective opinions, but facts. Governor Romney, for example, said that the President castigated Israel during his speech at the United Nations in September. He did no such thing. Mr. Romney said the President made no reference to the "thousands of rockets being rained in on Israel from the Gaza Strip;" indeed, President Obama specifically cited how 'Israel's citizens have been killed by rockets fired at their houses and suicide bombs on their buses' on the world stage of the United Nations in September.
Enough is enough. The outright lies, smears and distortions of President Obama's stellar Israel record must stop.
The Lies
The Truth
Tonight Governor Romney said:
He [Obama] said nothing about thousands of rockets being rained in on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Let us be honest with ourselves: Israel is surrounded by neighbors that have waged repeated wars against it. Israel's citizens have been killed by rockets fired at their houses and suicide bombs on their buses.
Romney said:
I think he disrespected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- Bibi Netanyahu.
I think that standing your ground, taking this position of principle... I think this is a badge of honor and I want to thank you for wearing that badge of honor.
Governor Romney said tonight:
I think he has time and time again shown distance from Israel....
The National Jewish Democratic Council urged presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) to repudiate the Holocaust reference made by Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL), in which he invoked Martin Neimöller's famous poem First They Came... to shield Romney from attacks surrounding Bain Capital. NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris said:
It is absolutely unfathomable that Governor Rick Scott-who leads the state with the third largest population of Jews-would invoke the Holocaust to shield Mitt Romney from criticism over his record at Bain Capital. As we have said before, it is never acceptable to invoke the Holocaust to make a political point. This display of insensitivity towards the legacy of the Holocaust-and using Martin Neimoller's powerful words-is just the latest example of a Republican official abusing the memory of the Holocaust and inappropriately inserting this rhetoric into civic discourse. All who understand and respect the sanctity of the memory of the Holocaust must condemn Scott's tactless remark, and especially Mitt Romney, for whom Scott was stumping. Romney must make it clear that this sort of language will not be tolerated on the campaign trail. Failure to do so will make him the latest Republican to betray American Jews and the memory of those who perished by giving a free pass to this unacceptable use of this language.
The governor paraphrased a famous saying by Martin Niemoller, a German Protestant pastor....
'We shouldn't be allowing candidates to attack people in business,' he said. 'We should be saying, gosh, that's us.'
Scott then paraphrased the Niemoller saying, which he has on a plaque in his office.
'We've got to defend the freedom of the free market,' he said after paraphrasing the quote. 'If we don't defend the free market, they'll pick on somebody. Now they're picking on Bain Capital, then they'll pick on somebody else.'
Bain Capital is the private equity firm founded by Romney.
Scott later told reporters he used the Niemoller quote to say that capitalism should always be defended.
'I have the quote in my office, and the reason is I have it is, we all have to think about watch(ing) what's going on out there,' Scott said.
'Look at what's happening in our society,' he added. 'I believe the free market is good for families. And I believe we should defend the free market. When you see somebody being attacked because they believe in the American Dream, we need to go out and say, gosh I would like to live the American Dream. All of us would like to live that American Dream.'
Press secretary Lane Wright further clarified the governor's remarks.
'He's making a point, not an exact comparison,' Wright said. 'The quote illustrates a principle: Stand up for what's right. If you don't, no one else will. It would be reading too much into it to think he is comparing to the Holocaust.'
Or, in other words, 'If you're attacking capitalism, who's next?' Wright said.
Nut-fruit balls are nature's perfect treat for Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for trees. These sweet and crunchy confections are also known as Sugar Plums in Europe, where they are a traditional Christmas treat. The earliest known recipes for these candies hail from Ancient Egypt. Dates, apricots, coffee, rice, lemons, sugar, and ginger did not arrive in Europe until after the Crusades. Fruit-Nut confections have been enjoyed during Tu B'Shevat since before the first century BCE. I like to celebrate Tu B'Shevat by indulging in all natural fruit and nut treats. This is my way of showcasing the abundance provided by trees.
Taxes are on the forefront of discussion this week. At his State of the Union Speech, Obama called on the 1% to pay their fair share of taxes and give back to the society which made their success possible:
Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule. If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you're earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn't get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn't go up. (Applause.) You're the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You're the ones who need relief.
Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.
By simply letting George W. Bush's tax cuts and other measures expire, the annual budget deficit could be slashed by $7.1 trillion!
Meanwhile, under pressure, Gov. Mitt Romney finally disclosed his 2010 tax return for last year showing an effective tax rate of 13.9% on $21.6 million of income (or over $33,000 per day) in 2010 and expects to pay 15.4% on $20.9 million in 2011.
When Mitt Romney's father Gov. George Romney (R-MI) ran for President he released 12 years of tax returns saying "One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show." When Mitt Romney applied for the job of Vice-President he provided John McCain with over 23 years of tax returns. (McCain passed over Mitt Romney and chose Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.) Now Mitt Romney is running for President and he expects one year of tax returns to satisfy everyone. People are especially concerned about the time he spent at Bain Capital.
According to Dealbook, David Rubenstein, founder and chairman of the Carlyle Group, defend Mitt Romney's tax rate:
Mr. Romney was just following the tax laws when he paid a rate of 13.9 percent on income of more than $21 million in 2010. "If you change the law, we'll pay the taxes," Mr. Rubenstein said to scattered applause during a debate at Davos on the future of capitalism.
Very few American households create tax forms the length of a Tom Wolfe novel.
Romney's effective tax-rate may not be all that much lower or higher than most households, it still sounds pretty low to the average person looking at what's withheld from their wages.
Although many more Americans have something in the market, almost none of them can imagine an IRA with $100 million in it. That's strange even to most rich people.
Tithing to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Romney gives a serious amount of money to his church. [$4,100,000] And although lots of people give something, a tithe is a commitment most Americans actually can't understand making. This detail makes Romney seem conspicuously religious in a way that most Americans, even most Evangelicals are not.
The big buzzy words out of this release (sure to be used by Gingrich) are "Cayman Islands" and "tax shelter" and "Swiss bank account."
The new DNC video asks "why Romney puts so much of his money in secret Swiss bank accounts and other overseas tax havens."
2/3rd or 60% of those polled thought that the low 15% rate was "unwarranted":
21% said the rate was fine
13% said they had no idea
That was for investors all over the world. Here in the U.S.:
67% said there was no justification for the lower 15% rate
27% said that the rate was fine
As Obama said on Tuesday,
We don't begrudge financial success in this country. We admire it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it's not because they envy the rich. It's because they understand that when I get tax breaks I don't need and the country can't afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference - like a senior on a fixed income; or a student trying to get through school; or a family trying to make ends meet. That's not right. Americans know it's not right. They know that this generation's success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to their country's future, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility. That's how we'll reduce our deficit. That's an America built to last.
Great news to report from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court!
Gerrymandering declared unconstitutional in Holt v. 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
Our recent article The Legislative Reapportionment Commission Strikes Back explained Pennsylvania's flawed redistricting process. Many local leaders petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court about how their communities had been diced into a number of legislative districts. The LRC countered those claims by appealing to the big picture: those splits were "necessary". Meanwhile, Amanda Holt et al and State Senator Jay Costa et al each proposed a complete redistricting map superior to the LRC's official map according to all of the relevant criteria: they split fewer communities, the districts were more compact and equal in population, etc. The LRC countered these petitions saying that they usurped the LRC's traditional authority.
Amanda Holt
In the past few citizens had the technological know how to propose redistricting maps of their own so unfair maps went unchallenged. Now private citizens like Amanda Holt can produce such maps on their personal computers. In fact, Philadelphia, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and Arizona have held redistricting contests literally inviting their citizens to help draw the lines.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed with the petitioners and rejected the LRC's gerrymander. The vote was 4-3 with Justices Castille (R), Baer (D), Todd (D) and McCaffery (D) in the majority, and Justices Saylor (R), Eakin (R) and Melvin (R) dissenting. Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille crossed party lines and joined the three democratic Associate Justices in the per curium order remanding the redistricting back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission which will have to start over again.
AND NOW, this 25th day of January, 2012, upon consideration of the petitions for review and briefs in these legislative redistricting appeals, and after entertaining oral argument on January 23, 2012, this court finds that the final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is contrary to law. PA. CONST. art. II, Sec. 17(d). Accordingly, the final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is REMANDED to the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission with a directive to reapportion the Commonwealth in a manner consistent with this Court's Opinion which will follow.
The 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Plan... shall remain in effect until a revised final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan having the force of law is approved.
In the meantime, we will stick with the old districts drawn in 2001.
Is the idea that voters should choose their representatives passé?
For too long, politicians have usurped the rights of citizen's to choose their representatives, instead gerrymandering their states, effectively choosing the people who are most likely to elect them. Hopefully this decision will limit the ability of politicians to choose their constituents and put the power back where it belongs — in the hands of the people.
The new calendar for nominating petitions follows the jump.
B'nai B'rith is encouraged by President Obama's State of the Union commitment to "take no options off the table" to "prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon." Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terror, has ignored international entreaties to cease its quest for nuclear weapons. B'nai B'rith commends the world powers that have united behind the United States to implement sanctions against the Tehran regime.
We also welcome the concrete support the president gave Israel when he stated unequivocally that the ties between the United States and Israel are strong:
Our iron-clad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history.
On the domestic front, the president indicated he will seek comprehensive immigration reform measures this year, will work to lessen America's dependence on foreign oil and will continue to work to ensure health care reform measures help those Americans who need it most-all issues B'nai B'rith strongly supports..
It was encouraging that the president noted the precarious situation in Syria, stating:
I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can't be reversed, and that human dignity can't be denied.
As an organization committed to human rights, B'nai B'rith paid special attention to the president's declaration of the need for global tolerance:
We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings...We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.
B'nai B'rith supports the president's call for a nationwide investment in and overhaul of our current energy policies, touting alternative energy programs instead. The nation's current dependence on foreign oil undermines our security and in some cases, forces the United States to deal with countries that may not share our commitment to democracy and freedom.
B'nai B'rith supports legislation that would help pave a smoother path to citizenship upon high school graduation for foreign-born children raised in the United States without documentation. We were pleased to see the president endorse this important measure. B'nai B'rith also supports the president's call for women to earn "equal pay for equal work."
The president's reiteration of his commitment to health care reform was also welcome:
I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women differently from men.
The Israel Program - Washington, Jan. 24 - U.S. President Obama said Tuesday he would take no options off the table to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons but added that a peaceful resolution of the crisis was still possible.
In his State of the Union Address to Congress, Obama took credit for uniting the international community in opposition to the Iranian nuclear program.
The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.
Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal. But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.
Last month, Obama signed into law new sanctions that target foreign entities that do business with the Central Bank of Iran, which the Islamic Republic uses to process payments for its oil exports. And this week, the European Union approved a ban on oil purchases from Iran due to take effect in July.
Obama only briefly mentioned Israel in his address and did not talk about the Palestinians.
Our iron-clad commitment, and I mean iron clad, to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history.
Focusing largely on domestic policy in a speech that looks ahead to November's presidential election, Obama briefly discussed the uprisings that have swept the Arab world in the past year but broke no new ground.
How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome. And while it is ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well. We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings - men and women; Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
Reinforcing Obama's words on Iran, Israel's United Nations Ambassador Ron Prosor told the Security Council on Tuesday that the sanctions recently approved by the EU and the United States should be judged by their results.
Each and every member of the United Nations, and particularly of this Council, should lie awake at night thinking about what would happen if the regime in Iran gets hold of the most dangerous weapon on earth. Only the pressure of a united international community can stop Iran from continuing its march toward nuclear weapons.
We thank President Barack Obama for the clear and positive vision he laid out this evening in his State of the Union address — an address that showcased a ringing endorsement of Jewish values.
American Jews are as concerned as all other Americans with our economy and jobs; the President's plan to ensure that America's is an "economy built to last," and the steps he's proposed regarding making taxes less regressive and ensuring shared responsibility, will ring true to the vast majority of American Jews. Similarly his direct discussion of wanting to sign comprehensive immigration reform, helping students to afford higher education and broadly prioritizing education speaks to the priorities of American Jews — and to most Americans. This President's commitment to continue keeping Americans safe through common-sense regulations — be it in the field of health, safety, on Wall Street or elsewhere — is more crucial now than ever before as well.
On two foreign policy issues of special concern to the American Jewish community — Israel and Iran — President Obama's words tonight speak volumes. The President rightly observed that
a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran's nuclear program now stands as one.
Indeed Iran's leaders are more isolated than ever before, and this President's leadership on isolating Iran is already achieving results. His clarion words on this core issue of our day
Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal
was a powerful statement on the world's stage. Similarly, his reminder regarding his strong leadership surrounding the U.S.-Israel relationship, in which he noted that
Our iron-clad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history,
was both important and deeply appreciated in this address.
Throughout this State of the Union, one common thread was consistent; the reflection of the policy concerns of the vast majority of American Jews. We thank and congratulate the President for this positive, proactive approach to addressing those concerns in tonight's State of the Union Address.
My family celebrated the New Year of the Dragon by having dinner at the new upscale vegan restaurant, Vedge, because I have a questionably unreasonable aversion to eating at a Chinese place on the New Year's when I think of the workers having to serve me.
I'd been waiting impatiently since Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby closed their popular five-year-old Horizons in July and took over a historic mansion that had housed the Deux Cheminees. Vacant for five years, the new building needed extensive work to turn it into the elegant place that now includes a 12-seat bar, a cozy lounge with a fireplace, two dining areas, and an open cold-kitchen bar with 16 high stools for walk-in customers.
If you're like me, it's a let-down to buy produce flown or trucked in from California, which is what are available these days in the supermarkets, even in Whole Foods, which may have the biggest selection of organic produce around. Some farmers' markets are open on Saturdays, but if you keep Shabbat, your best option is the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. It's open seven days a week, and it's indoors, so you (and the vendors) do not have to freeze in the open air.
When was the last time you've visited this market? You'll be surprised and delighted by the lively changes there. Check out the Reading Terminal Market website for fun events, including the Valentine Day's wedding of four couples in the center court at noon.
Atlanta Jewish Times proposed assassination of the President of the United States of America.
— by Annette Powers
The leadership of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) uniformly and vehemently denounces the column penned by Atlanta Jewish Times Publisher Andrew Adler. In a bizarre missive that referenced Alice in Wonderland, a Star Trek movie and fiction writer Tom Clancy, Adler laid out potential scenarios for Israel's leadership to avoid a multilateral war, including assassination of President Barack Obama.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the URJ said:
That any publication in the United States would call for the assassination of the President is despicable. That a newspaper owner could even consider publishing this irresponsible and hateful column is beyond belief. Worse still, Adler used the platform of this respected Jewish community paper to espouse such disrespectful language and ideas that have, sadly, become far too common in today's political discourse.
URJ Chairman, Steve Sacks said
Aside from the monumental misjudgment by the publisher to print such inflammatory beliefs, Adler has furthermore embarrassed not only himself but his paper, his community and the larger Jewish community. His article marked a sad day for the Jewish community in Atlanta as their once vibrant newspaper has been tainted with rhetoric that serves neither Israel's interests nor those of Atlanta's Jews.
It is not enough for the American Jewish community to only condemn this editorial in the strongest possible terms. We must reclaim the public dialogue around Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship from those who launch attacks for partisan political gain.
Video interview of Andrew Adler on Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters TV follows the jump.
Over the past several days, my personal finances have been distorted into a grotesque caricature by the mainstream media, pundits, and other people who can count. I am writing to you to set the record straight by explaining my finances in terms the American people can relate to.
Let's say you bought a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 for $5,000. A couple of years later, what do you know, you sell that same bottle for $10,000. So you just made a profit of $5,000 through your own hard work. How much of that should you pay to the government? I'd say fifteen percent.
Now let's say you have a fellow mowing the lawn at your 7,000 square foot home in La Jolla, and he turns out to be an illegal. You say, "No way, Jose" (Jose is actually his real name) and send him packing. He doesn't deserve his full paycheck, since he lied to you in Spanish, but it wouldn't be fair to give him nothing, either. So you pay him fifteen percent.
Now let's pretend the United States of America is like one big restaurant. Not a fancy restaurant, mind you, but one that only gets two Michelin stars. And let's say that you order a meal of Beluga caviar, white truffles and gold shavings, washing it down with your favorite beverage, Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982. The bill arrives and it's quite a hefty one for a working stiff who only made $375,000 last year in speaking fees. (That's right: minimum wage.) So when it comes to toting up the bill, how much should I tip the waiter, who in case you're having trouble following this metaphor is the IRS? You got it: fifteen percent.
I think I've now shown, using these real-life examples that everyone can relate to, that no one should ever pay more than fifteen percent on their taxes. If you have been paying more than that, you should get rid of your loser accountant pronto. That's another thing I have in common with regular Americans: we like firing people.
So - now that I've laid it out in simple terms that even you can understand, do you agree that you and Mitt Romney have a whale of a lot more in common than you thought? I'll bet you ten grand you do.
Where is the Lower Merion's Jewish shopper's Main Street on a Friday afternoon? Genuardi's kosher section, of course! It's where we greet each other, catch up, and wish each other "Shabbat Shalom!" Now, Genuardi's has been sold to Giant Supermarkets. What will this mean for our kosher section? We won't know for possibly another ninety days, until this transaction is given final approval by the Federal Trade Administration. I have conducted an informal survey of a wide cross section of the Lower Merion Jewish community about what they would like from their neighborhood supermarket kosher section. By contacting synagogues of every denomination and several Jewish neighborhood list serves, I have reached over 5,000 Genuardi's customers. The issues that are important to Genuardi's kosher customers are size, supervision, and selection of products.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ): Arizona is my home, always will be. A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that. But I know on the issues we fought for we can change things for the better. Jobs, border security, veterans. We can do so much more by working together. I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week. I'm getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country. Thank you very much."
Pennsylvania's historic gerrymander is approaching a conclusion.
Let's review the story so far.
Act One: Stacking the Deck. The Census Bureau released the data for Pennsylvania from the 2010 Census on March 11, 2011, but the Legislative Reapportionment Commission on a party-line vote delayed choosing their fifth and final member until the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Supreme Court stepped in and named Judge Stephen McEwen (R) on April 19.
Act Two: Running Out The Clock. According to a plain reading of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the LRC then had a 90-day deadline and had to prepare a preliminary plan by July 18. There would then be 60 days for "corrections" and hearings, leading to a final plan by September 17.
Any appeals to that plan would have to be filed within 30 days or by October 16. This schedule is designed to give plenty of time for potential candidates to plan before filing to run in next year's elections. However, according to the Republicans on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, Pennsylvania does not have census data until they say that Pennsylvania has census data. The LRC's first public meeting was not until August 17, and at that time, they certified their approval of the United States Census data for Pennsylvania and declared that this would start the 90-day clock. By a stroke of the pen, the Republicans bought themselves four months of time.
Act Three: Bait and Switch. Republicans on the Committee pretend to negotiate with the Democrats in good faith, and then reveal their secret, partisan redistricting plan minutes before the LRC votes along party lines. The 2011 poster child for the abuse of voters' rights to fair elections is manifested in central Pennsylvania's 15th Senatorial district shown above. Currently, the district encompasses Harrisburg and its suburbs east of the Susquehanna River, plus a small adjacent section of York County. But in an attempt to protect an embattled incumbent Senator, the LRC created a new district that eliminates troublesome Harrisburg constituents. So instead of being contained almost entirely in a compact Dauphin County region, the new 15th district snakes through Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York and Adams counties creating a 150 mile horseshoe that dismantles any sense of community.
Act Five: Our Protests Fall On Deaf Ears. December 12, the LRC issues its final redistricting plan, and eleven groups of Pennsylvanians file petitions with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenging this map.
Now, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission has responded to the various petitions.
Some of the petitions are by mayors and other locals officials whose communities have been split, packed, cracked and otherwise gerrymandered by the proposed map. The LRC argues that such local concerns should be ignored because splits are necessary in one corner of the state in order to avoid other problems elsewhere.
However, the complaints by Amanda Holt et al and Senator Jay Costa et al take a holistic approach. They both propose complete maps which satisfying the Federal and State requirements of equal population, compact districts, etc. while avoiding splits better than does the LRC map. However, the LRC does not accept this sort of map, saying that approving a map which was not created by the LRC would "invite the public at large to usurp the Commission's responsibilities and subvert its constitutional role."
The LRC argues that their plan is no more gerrymandered than previous redistricting maps, and perhaps they are correct on this point. However, computer technology is much more widespread now than it was in 1980 or 1990 or 2000. Back then the only people who could understand the arcane world of redistricting were experts with years of training and expensive equipment, so political operatives were able to get away with a lot of mischief. Now, ordinary citizens like Amanda Holt are able to work with the same data that the LRC has been working with, and if her map is better than the LRC's map according to all of the criteria mentioned in the Voting Rights Act, the United States Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution, then it should be adopted in place of the flawed plan put forward by the LRC.
Oral arguments are scheduled for this Monday, January 23 in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
Because of the delays imposed by the Republicans on the LRC, the Supreme Court will have little time to decide. Candidates will start circulating nominating petitions for the primaries the very next day: Tuesday, January 24. It would be very confusing to change the district lines once the primary is underway. (The nominating petitions are due on February 14.)
The question is whether the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will act like a partisan body and rubber stamp the gerrymander by a 4-3 party line vote, or whether they will stand up for the Pennsylvania Constitution and protect the voting rights of Pennsylvanians across the political spectrum.
President Barack Obama's Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro participated in an extensive interview with Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper in which he emphasized that the President is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
It should be clear that the United States treats the Iranian threat just as Israel does. It is an existential threat to you and to other countries in the region and in the Persian Gulf, and to our interests and our forces in the area, and, potentially, this threat applies to us as well. We see eye to eye with you the gravity of the situation and the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President said he would prevent Iran from acquiring them, and he means it.... The goal has not been achieved. Iran continues to violate gravely its international commitments, and since achieving the shared goal is so important, then it should be clear that all options are open. Furthermore, we are examining all options actively and making the necessary plans to ensure that the options exist, and I'm not ruling out any resolute measure in this area....
Can you imagine saving the lives of 669 strangers and not talking about it for 50 years -- that is, until your wife finds the scrapbook you've made in the chaotic prelude to the outbreak of World War II? That's the true story of Nicholas Winton, a young British stockbroker who spent his Christmas holiday in Czechoslovakia when Jewish refugees started fleeing the regions bordering Germany. His compassion for their desperate plight propelled him to single-handedly mobilize a rescue mission to save their children. His international appeals to governments were ignored by all but his own and Sweden. England agreed to issue him visas as long as he could find families to take in the children, as well as pay 50 pounds per child. Once war broke out, he changed course to serve his own country and never spoke about it again.
(We received a number of comments doubting this story published shortly after the Iowa Caucus, but the Iowa Republican Party has revised its vote total and now shows Sen. Rick Santorum ahead of Gov. Mitt Romney by 34 votes. - promoted by Publisher)
Iowa Republican Caucuses 2012
Romney
30,015
24.55%
Santorum
30,007
24.54%
Paul
26,219
21.45%
Gingrich
16,251
13.29%
Perry
12,604
10.31%
Romney
30,015
24.55%
Bachmann
6,073
4.97%
Other
1,086
0.89%
Total
122,255
100%
Governor Mitt Romney?
Late Tuesday night I went to bed not knowing who won the 2012 Iowa Caucus. The race between Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) was just too close to call.
About 200 miles from Des Moines, the Republican chair of Clinton County was fast asleep as state officials waited for the final votes in the caucuses. As it turns out, the final votes were needed from the second ward, second precinct, the 2-2 in Clinton County.
With Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney in a dead heat, the votes were crucial from that precinct. So before midnight, the Romney campaign picked up the phone and called Edith Pfeffer to get those numbers. Republican leaders in Des Moines did not have those results, apparently because of some computer trouble.
This has a narrow result. Romney actually had more votes four years ago (30,021 votes or 25.19% of the caucus) when he was defeated by Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) in the 2008 Republican Iowa Caucuses.
Senantor Rick Santorum?
There was a 53-person caucus in Moulton, Iowa, which may have a 20 vote discrepancy. The state won't certify for another week and a half, and they will look into it. Here's the info:
Edward True, 28, of Moulton, said he helped count the votes and jotted the results down on a piece of paper to post to his Facebook page. He said when he checked to make sure the Republican Party of Iowa got the count right, he said he was shocked to find they hadn't.
"When Mitt Romney won Iowa by eight votes and I've got a 20-vote discrepancy here, that right there says Rick Santorum won Iowa," True said. "Not Mitt Romney."True said at his 53-person caucus at the Garrett Memorial Library, Romney received two votes. According to the Iowa Republican Party's website, True's precinct cast 22 votes for Romney.
The state's response is that Edward True is not an official, and he had no right to go public with this information. However, with the race so tight, this would actually give Santorum a twelve vote lead, and bragging rights going into next Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.
Congressman Ron Paul?
Business Insider notes that although Ron Paul finished third in the Iowa caucuses, he may end up being the winner anyway.
That's because Paul's massive organizational push in Iowa focused on both winning votes, and also on making sure that Paul supporters stuck around after the vote to make sure they were selected as county delegates -- the first step towards being elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
The Presidential Preferencee Straw Poll reported on the television is the first event at the caucus. However that is just for show. What matters are the delegates to the Republican National Convention (in August), and those are chosen by the delegates to the five District Conventions (in May) selected at the 99 County Conventions (in March). Each Caucus selects participants to advance and represent the caucus and their candidate at the county level.
[The] caucuses I saw on TV ... were totally deserted by the time the votes were read, meaning that anyone who stayed could have an outsized effect. And the Paul folks did this in 2008 also, so much that the GOP had to cancel the Nevada statewide convention and just award the delegates to McCain.
Ron Paul's campaign had a better ground game than Romney and Santorum, and they actually read the rule book, they'll probably end up winning the lion's share of Iowa's delegates despite coming in third in the beauty contest.
Tonight's caucus successfully brought our supporters together, and we're overwhelmed that more than 25,000 Iowans turned out to talk about the President's record and vision for an economy that restores security for the middle class. We not only saw how excited Iowans are to support President Obama, but to also work for his reelection. The Iowa caucus was a great opportunity to test our campaign organization and expand our volunteer base as we move toward November. In a strong show of support, more than 7,500 Iowans tonight pledged to volunteer for the campaign over the course of the next year, underscoring their commitment to continuing the change the country has seen under President Obama's leadership.
It is a long-standing tradition for Presidential candidates to make their income tax return history public. To the right is Franklin D. Roosevelt's tax return for 1913, the first year the United States assessed an income tax having passed the 16th amendment, two decade before he become President. This tradition is important since it gives the public the transparency it needs to understand possible conflicts of interest their chief executive might have.
Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) has resisted calls to do so, but even his supporters have urged him to reconsider. Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) spoke on Morning Joe this morning:
"I've released all of my tax returns...and I released them every year after I filed them, right after I filed them, to the public of New Jersey so they can see everything. And I think that's the right way to go and that's what I would tell Gov. Romney to do."
Mitt Romney may not have a job right now (as he famously pointed out to a group of unemployed Floridians, but he does have plenty of income from his stake in Bain Capital and his other investments amounting to $190 million to $250 million. The politically embarrassing thing is that his investment income is only taxed at 15% while the tax rate for wages goes up to 35%.
"It's probably closer to the 15 percent rate than anything. My income comes overwhelmingly from some investments made in the past, rather than ordinary income or earned annual income." - Mitt Romney
In addition, having no "earned income" the millionaire Romney probably pays no Social Security and Medicare payroll tax whatsoever while "Joe Schmoe" probably pays an additional 15% if he is self-employed or 7.5% if he is employed with his employer making up the difference.
Warren Buffett recently deplored how unfair our tax system is when millionaires pay a lower tax rate than ordinary Americans. A Spectrem Group survey shows that 68% of millionaires agree. Being the poster child for the inequity in our tax system is certain a political liability for Romney. Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) has proposed a flat 15% tax, but Romney's tax plan maintains the current disparity against earned income and in favor passive investment income.
At Monday's Debate, Romney was pressed on this tax issue. He still would not commit but suggested that he might release his 2011 tax return once he becomes the Republican nominee.
Kelly Evans (Wall Street Journal economics correspondent): Governor Romney, Speaker Gingrich, Senator Santorum — and now vocally tonight Governor Perry — are calling for you to release your tax records. The Obama campaign is asking for the same thing. Governor, will you release your income tax records?
Mitt Romney: You know, I looked at what has been done in campaigns in the past with Senator McCain and President George W. Bush and others. They have tended to release tax records in April or tax season. I hadn't planned on releasing tax records because the law requires us to release all of our assets, all the things we own. That I have already released. It's a pretty full disclosure. But, you know, if that's been the tradition and I'm not opposed to doing that, time will tell. But I anticipate that most likely I am going to get asked to do that around the April time period and I'll keep that open.
Evans: Governor, you will plan then to release your income tax records around April?
Romney: I think I've heard enough from folks saying, look, let's see your tax records. I have nothing in them that suggests there's any problem and I'm happy to do so. I sort of feel like we are showing a lot of exposure at this point. And if I become our nominee, and what's happened in history is people have released them in about April of the coming year and that's probably what I would do.
Why not release them immediately?
Why not release the entire record and not just the upcoming return which is due in April?
Mitt Romney's father Gov. George Romney (R-MI) ran against Richard Nixon for the Republican Nomination in 1968. He released a full 12 years of income tax records almost a year before the election. Why doesn't his son do the same?
Does Romney fear that there is something in his tax return which would jeopardize his chances in the Republican primary? Is that why he wants to wait until his victory is fait accompli?
Is Romney, concerned with anti-Mormon bigotry, worried that detailed records of his tithing to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might derail his campaign?
Tax analysts say Romney may have good reason to be reluctant to release his returns.
His vast fortune is invested in dozens of funds linked to Bain Capital LLC, the powerhouse private equity firm he co-founded and led for 15 years. Several Bain funds have offshore connections and take advantage of tax breaks used only by the U.S. financial elite.
His tax returns could shed light on how Romney and Bain use offshore strategies to avoid taxes, said Daniel Berman, a former U.S. Treasury deputy international tax counsel and now director of tax at Boston University's graduate tax program. Bain funds in which Romney is invested are scattered from Delaware to the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, Ireland and Hong Kong, according to a Reuters analysis of securities filings.
With these tax shelters in place is his tax rate really even 15%? Accordingly, John Marshall suggests the Romney is working on unwinding some of these tax shelters for his 2011 Tax Return so that his tax rate will not be so embarrassingly low.
Time's Adam Sorensen believes this the "the perfect campaign issue" for Democrats:
It lies at the intersection of the personal, professional and political identities they plan to foist on Romney in the general election: the privilege they hope will make it hard for voters to relate to Romney, the erstwhile career in private equity that they hop will taint him as a economic predator rather than a turnaround artist, and the regressive tax policies they hope can drive a wedge between the Republican party and the middle class.
Chris Clizza at the Washington Post's The Fix contrasts Romney and Obama:
The political problem for Romney in all of this is not that he's wealthy. (President Obama is quite wealthy in his own right thanks to the success of his books.) It's that the way Romney talks about money can make him seem drastically out of touch with average people -- an issue that is exacerbated by the fact that he is running for president in a time of incredible economic hardship... Being rich isn't the problem. Being unaware that lots and lots of other people aren't (and what that means in real terms) is.
Video comparing the tax cut of the top 1% to the total income of the bottom 99% after the jump.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a tyrannical bill that would severely limit what's possible on the internet. Today, many websites have blacked out for the first time ever as a protest to oppose the bill.
Email and tweet at your friends, tell them to tell everyone about the strike. When the day comes, , tweet like crazy (#SOPASTRIKE), and call Congress. A special website has been created to connect you with your Senator.
What do April 15th and the Shevat 15th have in common? Both are tax days! Two thousand years ago, the 15th of Shevat was when the twelve Hebrew tribes paid tithes to the Levites in Jerusalem. Tu B'Shevat, the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat, is described in the Mishnah as the New Year for Trees. During the times of the Temple, fruit tithes would be calculated beginning on Tu B'Shevat. Fruit that grew on trees after the fifteenth day of Shevat was counted for the tithes that were due the following year. These tithes supported the Levites, helped feed the poor, and paid for Tu B'Shevat festivities in Jerusalem.
Following the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, the Jews were exiled from Israel, and tithes were no longer paid. The Jews in the Diaspora preserved the memory of Tu B'Shevat by remembering their connection to the Land of Israel. In the Jewish communities of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, and Kurdistan, Tu B'Shevat developed into the "day of eating the seven species." The seven species are the seven fruits and grains that are listed in the Torah as special products of the Land of Israel. In the 16th century Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the famous mystic of Safed, and his students collaborated to create the Tu B'Shevat Seder. The observance of Tu B'Shevat has undergone many permutations
since that time.
How can you and your family enjoy this ancient holiday in present day Philadelphia?
Some hands-on ideas to bring your families the warming spirit of Tu B'Shevat this winter follow the jump.
Bruce Ticker has written a new book American Vision. He has given us permission to publish this work as a weekly series. Last week we published the prologue. Here is Part 1.
"Children are not like roads. They will not remain static over the next few years and they will not get the chance to redo these school years when the economy gets better."
- Debra Fuchs-Ertman, Scarborough, Maine
William Paterson's distinguished career as New Jersey's governor and senator, and subsequently as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, is a tad tarnished by his service as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The framers of the Constitution are habitually hailed as visionaries. Not altogether true. Paterson balked at the Virginia Plan for proportional representation in Congress. He predicted that the most populous states would dominate the agenda in Congress. Proportional representation would leave New Jersey and the other small states on the margins of power.
Paterson ultimately accepted the Connecticut Compromise that affords each state equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House.
With 8.7 million people, New Jersey is today America's 11th most populous state, ranking immediately above Virginia. These days it seems as if the least populous states dominate the agenda, leaving the larger states - New Jersey among them - on the margins of power. Moral of this story? New Jersey and you, congested together.
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By simply letting George W. Bush's tax cuts and other measures expire, the annual budget deficit could be slashed by $7.1 trillion!
Great news to report from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court!
AND NOW, this 25th day of January, 2012, upon consideration of the petitions for review and briefs in these legislative redistricting appeals, and after entertaining oral argument on January 23, 2012, this court finds that the 
The Israel Program - Washington, Jan. 24 - U.S. President Obama said Tuesday he would take no options off the table to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons but added that a peaceful resolution of the crisis was still possible.
— by Marc R. Stanley and David A. Harris
— by Hannah Lee
— David Streeter
Mitt Romney's father Gov. George Romney (R-MI) ran against Richard Nixon for the Republican Nomination in 1968. He released a 
