Croce Plays Croce And So Much More

On Saturday night, I went to the Wilbur Theatre in Boston to see A.J. Croce pay tribute to his father Jim Croce, who died 50 years ago last month in a plane crash which took his life at the age of 30. 

The concert marked the first time I had been to the Wilbur since May 2017 when I saw The Zombies perform Odessey and Oracle.

Although the younger Croce has been a performer in his own right for more than 30 years, it was the first time I had seen him perform in person. I remember his 1996 appearance on Austin City Limits and remember his piano performing in particular.

Croce's Boston show was the second stop of his Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour which commenced on Friday in Springfield, Massachusetts. The show began with an excerpt of Jim Croce on film talking about A.J. saying, "Let's bring him out." Right on cue, A.J. hit the stage and began the show with "You Don't Mess Around With Jim". There were some technical difficulties with the bass player and backup singers getting sound at the beginning of the show, but these were resolved in short order. 

Croce reminded the audience that his Dad's professional career spanned only 18 months. Remarkable considering that his Dad's songs are still played on the radio to this very day. While playing Croce classics like "Roller Derby Queen" and "Operator", A.J. told stories about how he opened for Floyd Dixon when he was a teenager and Dixon told him the story of how Ray Charles would drive him and Sam Cooke home after they had too much to drink. Years later, Charles would confirm this story. 

A.J. reminded me of how great a piano player he is by playing an extended solo before launching into Billy Preston's "Nothing From Nothing". He also did covers of Sam Cooke's "Nothing Can Change This Love and The Faces' "Stay With Me" which he attributed to the late keyboardist Ian McLagan. In fact, "Stay With Me" was co-written by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Interestingly, A.J. told a story about Stewart putting him to bed at the height of his fame in 1978 when he was a mere lad of six years old.

A.J.'s voice is a lot huskier and raspier than his father's. It kind of reminds me of the 2000's version of Bob Dylan's voice. At heart, A.J. is a blues man and he was much more impassioned singing other people's material than that of his Dad whom he lost just a week before his 2nd birthday. The closest A.J. came to imbuing his Dad's spirit was on his song "So Much Fun", the title track of his 2022 album. Written during the pandemic, A.J. revealed he liked being alone. Although it was nice to have parties and entertain friends again, he sings, "It's so much fun to see 'em come/But man it's good to see 'em go."

Of course, A.J. was keenly aware most of the audience was there to hear his Dad's song and he obliged with favorites such as "Car Wash Blues", "These Dreams", "I Got a Name", "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and, for the encore, "Time in a Bottle".

Unfortunately, some of the audience didn't get A.J. and thought he was a name dropper. Although perhaps he might never connect with audiences in the way his Daddy did, he is an accomplished musician in his own right, a world class piano player and a great storyteller. I'm not sure what more they could ask.

So How Long Will It Be Before Pence Endorses Trump?

During a speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas on Saturday, former Vice-President Mike Pence formally ended his White House bid.

Republicans were never going to forgive the man who did what he supposed to do on January 6, 2021. This lack of forgiveness was evident as he struggled to raise cash ending up deeply in debt. Despite January 6th, Pence never truly had the heart to criticize defeated, former President Trump. As I argued shortly before he entered the race back in June, he is and always shall be a quisling and will back Trump. The fact that he was among the Republican aspirants who raised their hand during the first GOP presidential debate indicating they would support Trump's third White House bid even if he is a convicted criminal demonstrated he is a man without a conviction and a deeply religious man who didn't have a prayer.

The only question now is how long before he will endorse Trump and grovel before him.

Matthew Perry, 1969-2023

Actor Matthew Perry, best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004, passed away today of an apparent drowning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 54 and the youngest member of the cast of Friends.

Born in Western Massachusetts, Perry spent most of his childhood in Canada growing up in Ottawa where his mother worked as a press secretary for then Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Perry and current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were schoolmates. Perry once claimed that he beat up the younger Trudeau in the fifth grade though he did not remember making the comment years later. 

After showing some promise as a tennis player, he eventually moved to California to be his with father actor John Bennett Perry and pursue an acting career of his own. Some of the younger Perry's early acting credits including appearances on TV shows like Charles in Charge, Silver Spoons, Highway to Heaven and Growing Pains before becoming a household name in the mid-1990's.

During his time on Friends, Perry co-starred in several movies such as Fools Rush In with Salma Hayek and The Whole Nine Yards and The Whole Ten Yards with Bruce Willis. Perry would never replicate his success after Friends went off the air nearly 20 years ago although he would receive an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for the TV movie The Ron Clark Story. Several TV vehicles Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip, Mr. Sunshine and Go On lasted a season or less. Perry did play Felix Unger in the revival of The Odd Couple with Thomas Lennon which would air on CBS for two seasons, but it would prove to be among his final acting roles.

Sadly, Perry had a long and well-documented alcohol and drug problem which he detailed in his autobiography Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing which came out only last year. In 2019, Perry nearly died after his colon burst from overusing prescription opioids. Although he lived to tell that tale, he did not get a chance at a second act. R.I.P.

Richard Moll, 1943-2023

Actor Richard Moll, best known for his portrayal of Bull Shannon on Night Court from 1984 to 1992, passed away on October 26th. No cause of death has been released. Moll was 80.

At 6 feet, 8 inches, Moll stood out both literally and figuratively. Some of his early TV work included appearances in Welcome Back, Kotter, The Rockford Files, Bucks Rogers in the 25th Century, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley before finding fame on Night Court as the imposing yet gentle bailiff Bull Shannon. 

Much of Moll's post-Night Court work was voice acting most notably as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in various Batman animated series. Moll was not involved in the reboot of Night Court earlier this year. Back in 2013, when a reporter from TMZ asked Moll if a Night Court reunion was possible, he said bluntly, "I would run in the other direction." When pressed further, Moll replied, "I love show business. It's the people that I can't stand." Well, as Bull Shannon would have said, "Ooooooook!!!" R.I.P.

The Lewiston Shooter is Dead, But The Pain He Caused Will Endure

The man responsible for killing 18 people in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday night cannot hurt anyone else as he has taken his own life ending a 48-hour manhunt. 

Still, the pain he caused will endure for many years to come. There is the grief of the loss of family and friends and the impact it will have on Lewiston, the surrounding community and in all of Maine. 

Then there remains the question of why this man felt the need to go on a rampage. We know he had a mental illness but what, for lack of a better word, triggered him to commit such a heinous act?

There is also the question of whether Maine will tighten its gun laws. Despite the raw emotion, there's a good chance Maine might not see anything like this for 100 years.

Then again, something like this could happen in Maine again tomorrow. And if it doesn't then we can be sure it won't be long before something like this happens somewhere else in America again. 

Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips' Vanity Project Against President Biden

Minnesota Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips, who has been making noises since July about a primary challenger to President Biden, has filed paperwork and will formally announce his candidacy in Concord, New Hampshire tomorrow.

With President Biden not running in the New Hampshire primary due to differences over his desire to have South Carolina's primary go first, Phillips might have a good shot at winning in the Granite State though the DNC won't seat any of his delegates if he does.

For his part, Phillips isn't criticizing Biden's performance or policies, but rather his age:

I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country, but it's not about the past. This is an election about the future. I will not sit still. I will not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we're going to be facing an emergency next November.

If Biden is doing a spectacular job, then Dean Phillips should support him. Full stop. 

With the clear and present danger of Trumpism, President Biden has shown himself to be the only one who can hold it at bay. Phillips isn't telling us why he should be President other than he's younger than Biden. That could be said of a lot of members of Congress. That doesn't make Phillips anything special. 

Dean Phillips' presidential campaign is nothing more than a vanity project which can only help defeated, former President Trump. 

Death Toll in Lewiston, Maine Revised to 18; Suspect Remains at Large

The death toll in last night's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine has been revised from 22 dead and 50 to 60 injured to 18 dead and 13 injured. 

Notwithstanding the revision, this remains the worst mass shooting in Maine's history and also the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. this year. 

As of this writing, the suspect remains at large. Robert Card is a U.S. army reservist whose mental health declined in recent months. His social media history includes commentary about President Biden and other Democratic Party officials, gun rights and the LGBTQ persons. However, it remains to be seen what, if anything, his political views might have played in his actions. At this point, the priority is for the authorities to capture Card, preferably alive. 

Dusty Baker Retires After More Than a Quarter Century as a Big League Manager

As widely expected, Dusty Baker has stepped down as manager of the Houston Astros and is retiring from managing altogether. 

Baker's announcement comes after the Astros were eliminated in Game 7 of the ALCS by the Texas Rangers. Last year, Baker led the Astros to a World Series title. His managerial career spanned 26 seasons beginning in 1993 with the San Francisco Giants where he managed for a decade leading the team to the NL pennant in 2002 along with two NL West titles in 1997 and 2000. Baker then managed the Chicago Cubs for four seasons and faced his greatest disappointment when the team imploded five outs away from winning the NL pennant in 2003 against the Florida Marlins. 

After spending all of 2007 away from the dugout, Baker was hired to manage the Cincinnati Reds where he spent six seasons leading the team to two NL Central titles in 2010 and 2012. Baker would also lead the Washington Nationals to back-to-back NL East titles in 2016 and 2017 before he was controversially dismissed. 

It appeared that Baker's managerial career was over when the Astros came calling prior to the 2020 season. Shaken by the sign stealing scandal, the Astros had to hire a manager above reproach. Although the Astros remained baseball's most reviled team, there wasn't a hint of scandal under Baker's stewardship. They reached the post-season all four seasons winning back-to-back AL pennants in 2021 and 2022 and, as previously mentioned, last year's World Series.

Baker finishes 7th on MLB's all-time managerial win list with 2,183, only 11 wins behind Sparky Anderson. Every manager in the Top 10 is in Cooperstown except for Baker and Bruce Bochy who is about to lead the Texas Rangers into the World Series. The 74-year old Californian needs to be inducted sooner rather than later.

For good measure, Baker was a solid big-league player enjoying a 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's. Baker made his MLB debut with the Braves in 1968 at the age of 19. Mentored by Hank Aaron, Baker was on deck when Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all-time HR record on April 8, 1974. 

As a player, Baker's best season was in 1980 while a member of the Dodgers when he finished fourth in NL MVP balloting hitting .294 with 29 HR and 97 RBI. The following year Baker would earn his only World Series ring as a player as the Dodgers prevailed against the New York Yankees after failing to do so in both 1977 and 1978. Baker collected 1,981 hits for a lifetime batting average of .278 with 242 HR and 1013 RBI, two NL All-Star Team selections and a Gold Glove. 

Baker leaves not only the Astros with some awfully big shoes to fill, but also all of Major League Baseball. 

At Least 22 People Killed in Mass Shooting in Lewiston, Maine

At this hour, 22 people have been killed while between 50 and 60 people have been reported injured in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine which is about 35 miles north of Portland.

The shootings took place at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley and at Schemengees Bar and Grille.

As of this writing, the suspect remains at large. But he has been identified as a 40-year-old male named Robert Card. Lewiston residents have been advised to shelter-in-place.

On a personal note, I shuddered when I heard some of the shootings had taken place at Sparetime Recreation. When I was out of work during in New York during the COVID pandemic in 2020, I applied for a job in Lewiston and made a point of checking out the bowling alleys in the area. Under a different set of circumstances, I might have been living in Lewiston and might have been at that bowling alley. But for the Grace of G-d....

This is the deadliest shooting in Maine's history. Given its status as a largely rural state, Maine has fairly lax gun laws but has had relatively few gun deaths. In an interview last year with Maine Public Radio, Michael Roque, an associate professor of sociology at Bates College in Lewiston was asked about this very point:

There doesn't seem to be much that would make Maine special in terms of being immune to mass public shootings. I would say that we have been lucky that mass public shootings haven't taken place.

Sadly, that luck ran out tonight. 

Padres Manager Bob Melvin Jumps Ship to San Francisco

Bob Melvin, who has spent the past two seasons at the helm of the San Diego Padres, has jumped ship to sign a three-year contract to manage the San Francisco Giants, their NL West divisional rival replacing Gabe Kapler who was fired during the final weekend of the regular season.

Melvin guided the Padres to a post-season appearance last year, but the Friars took a step back in 2023 barely finishing above .500 and barely finishing ahead of the Giants in the NL West. Although Melvin had a year left on his contract in San Diego, he was granted permission to interview with the Giants amid a difficult relationship with Padres GM A.J. Preller. 

Although Melvin has been managing in the big leagues for 20 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland A's and the Padres, managing the Giants is his dream job as Melvin was raised in and around San Francisco. Melvin also spent three seasons of his playing career as a backup catcher for the Giants between 1986-1988. 

During his 20-year managerial career, Melvin has made the post-season 8 times but has never reached a World Series. Perhaps some home cooking will change his fortunes.

Former Red Sox Reliever Breslow Named Team's Chief Baseball Officer

Former journeyman reliever Craig Breslow has been named the new Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox succeeding Chaim Bloom who was let go last month amid back-to-back last place finishes in the AL East. 

Breslow, 43, pitched on seven teams during a 12-year big league career which included two stints with the Red Sox in 2006 and a longer stay from the middle of the 2012 season through 2015 during which he earned a World Series ring in 2013.

A Yale graduate who had been accepted into NYU Medical School Breslow joined the Chicago Cubs' front office in 2018 spending the past three seasons as the team's Assistant General Manager. While I am disappointed that Kim Ng didn't get the job after she abruptly left the Miami Marlins perhaps it wasn't the best fit for her. In which case, Ng might have been wise in turning down an interview with the team.

Breslow is familiar with the Red Sox and how crazy expectations are in this town and within an organization which is known for its rapid turnover. The only question is how long a leash Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner are prepared to give him. This could be Breslow's dream job or he could end up wishing he was in medical school.

Four Thoughts on New House Speaker Mike Johnson

Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson was tabbed to be the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. Johnson succeeds Kevin McCarthy who was unceremoniously booted from the position three weeks ago. 

The House Republican Conference had nominated three others to succeed McCarthy before settling upon Johnson - House Majority Leader and fellow Louisianan Steve Scalise, Ohio's Jim Jordan and Tom Emmer of Minnesota. The MAGA extremists liked neither Scalise nor Emmer while Republican moderates thought Jordan was a bridge too far. Johnson is essentially Jim Jordan without all the gym baggage. 

Here are four thoughts I have concerning Jordan's ascendancy.

First, if President Biden is re-elected next year and if Johnson is still House Speaker then Biden's re-election will not be certified. Johnson is an election denier who played a critical role in trying to get Biden's victory in 2020 nullified.

Second, we can expect a government shutdown. Let's keep in mind that McCarthy was ousted after Democrats helped him pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open for 45 days. If Johnson makes a deal with Democrats next month, then he will be gone faster than you can say Anthony Scaramucci. Republicans want to shut down the government to cause a recession and to say that government doesn't work unless you elect Donald Trump.

Third, Johnson's first act in the Speaker's Chair was passing a resolution in support of Israel following the attacks by Hamas earlier this month. The resolution passed by a wide margin 412-10-6. Somehow, I suspect President Biden's proposal for $106 billion military aid to Israel and Ukraine won't be passed by such a wide margin, if at all, despite his call upon Speaker Johnson to see to it that it gets passed swiftly. While a majority of Republicans are sympathetic to Israel's plight, too many Republicans are Russia apologists in which case the bill could be dead on arrival.

Which brings me to my fourth point. I have a feeling that Johnson will move quickly on Marjorie Taylor Greene's resolution to censure Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib for her anti-Semitic comments and lying about Israel bombing a hospital in Gaza. At least one Democrat, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, has indicated he would support such a resolution. However, I think most Democrats will not be eager to censure Tlaib which is precisely why Johnson would want to push this forward so as to force Democrats to side with Tlaib so Republicans can say, "Democrats tolerate anti-Semitism amongst their ranks." While I believe Tlaib deserves to be censured, I also think military aid to Israel is more important. Censuring Tlaib could also have the effect of increasing her standing as it did with Greene when Democrats censured her in 2021.

I'm sure Johnson has other things up his sleeve such as a national abortion ban, a resolution against gay marriage and resuming impeachment proceedings against President Biden. I can only hope his tenure as Speaker and, for that matter, Republican control of the House is short-lived. 

D'Backs Win NLCS; Will Face Rangers in 1st World Series Since 2001

The Arizona Diamondbacks have defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in Game 7 of the NLCS to win the NL pennant and will make their first trip to the World Series since 2001. 

The D'Backs triumphed despite being down 2-0 and then 3-2 and having to play Games 6 & 7 in Philadelphia where they had been dominated. 

D'Backs second baseman Ketel Marte was named NLCS MVP. Marte went 12 for 31 (.387) with 3 RBI in the NLCS. 

As with the NLCS, the D'Backs will begin on the road when they travel to Globe Life Park to commence the World Series on Friday. 

If given the choice, I would rather see the Rangers win the World Series as they have never won a Fall Classic since their inauguration as the second incarnation as the Washington Senators in 1961. 

However, the D'Backs haven't won a World Series in 22 years and wouldn't lose sleep if they won another. I'd be happiest for D'Backs manager Torey Lovullo who I remember as a top prospect for the Detroit Tigers in the late 1980's. He bounced around with the New York Yankees, California Angels, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A's, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies. I remember seeing Lovullo play in Ottawa when he was a member of the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons when they were the Triple-AAA affiliate of the Phillies.

Lovullo, of course, is remembered for his time in the Red Sox organization managing the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010 and as a member of the Red Sox big league coaching staff from 2013 to 2016. Earning a World Series ring in 2013, he stepped in as interim manager when John Farrell fell ill in 2015. 

Considering Lovullo is only two years removed from leading the D'Backs to 110 losses, this is a remarkable reversal of fortune. In view of Lovullo's arduous career, he is difficult to root against and so are his scrappy D'Backs.

UN Secretary-General Guterres Justifies Hamas' Barbarism Against Jews

In remarks before the UN Security Council today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres engaged in doubletalk. It started out OK:

I have condemned unequivocally the horrifying and unprecedented 7 October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel.

Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians – or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.

Then Guterres equivocated. He justified Hamas' barbarity:

It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum.

The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation. 

Nonsense.

The Palestinians and their Arab ancestors were granted a state with the 1947 UN Partition Plan which also established the State of Israel. The Jews said yes, the Arabs said no. Perhaps a UN Secretary General ought to be familiar with such a document and the respective responses to said document.

This year could have marked the 75th anniversary of a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians do not want statehood. They want dead Jews as evidenced by Hamas' actions on October 7, 2023. 

Of course, Guterres blithely ignores the fact that Israel left Hamas controlled Gaza in 2005. Some occupation.

Needless to say, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan has demanded Gutteres' resignation. 

Alas, Erdan's plea will fall on deaf ears. Even if Erdan were to resign, his successor would likely be even worse. The UN has long been a cesspool of anti-Semitism. Indeed, it could be said anti-Semitism is a prerequisite to be UN Secretary-General.

Rangers Best Astros in 7 Games to Win 1st AL Pennant Since 2011

The Texas Rangers decisively defeated the Houston Astros 11-4 in Game 7 of the ALCS to earn their first AL pennant since 2011.

Rangers' outfielder Adolis Garcia earned ALCS MVP honors hitting .429 (12 for 28) with 5 HR and an AL record 15 RBI including a four hit performance in the clincher which included 2 HR and 5 RBI. Astros pitching could not figure out Garcia resulting in the Cuban born slugger being plunked by Astros relieve Bryan Abreu in Game 5 resulting in a 2-game suspension. 

Texas won all four of its LCS games at Houston's Minute Maid Park much like when the Washington Nationals won the 2019 World Series against these same Astros. Coincidentally, Max Scherzer was tonight's Game 7 starter for the Rangers and was also the Game 7 starter for the Nats four years ago. Come to think of it, the Texas Rangers started out as the second incarnation of the Washington Senators back in 1961 after the original Senators moved to the Twin Cities to become the Minnesota Twins. 

The Rangers are seeking their first World Series title. Of course, they won back-to-back AL pennants in 2010 and 2011, coming within a strike of winning the Fall Classic in the latter series against the St. Louis Cardinals before David Freese put the Rangers' celebration on ice. The Rangers are led by Bruce Bochy who will be in his fifth World Series as a skipper. Bochy led the San Diego Padres to the NL pennant in 1998 and three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The 2010 World Series title, of course, came at the expense of the Rangers. 

The 2023 World Series opens at Globe Life Park on Friday night. The Rangers will learn who they will face tomorrow night when the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks square off in Game 7 of the NLCS. The Phillies are attempting to win back-to-back NL championships while the D'Backs, two years removed from losing 110 games, are vying for their first World Series trip since 2001. 

Thoughts on The Murder of Detroit Synagogue President Samantha Woll

Yesterday morning, Samantha Woll, who had been President of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue, was found stabbed to death outside her home. She was 40. 

Woll's death has made international headlines. In view of the surge of anti-Semitism which has taken place since Hamas attacked Israel 15 days ago, there is some thought it is a possible motive in Woll's murder.

Some have already arrived at this conclusion such as right-wing activist and two-time Republican Congressional candidate Laura Loomer who declared on X, "This is a hate crime. Likely Incited by Rashida's calls for violence against Jews and her support for HAMAS."

Of course, the Rashida in question is Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib who has a long history of anti-Semitism. Tlaib pointedly did not condemn Hamas, but rather blamed "Israeli apartheid" for the murder of civilians from Israel and aboard by Hamas. She has also repeatedly blamed Israel for bombing a hospital in Gaza despite the fact it has been conclusively demonstrated the bombing was caused by a defective rocket shot by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. For Tlaib's part, she called a Woll a friend. However, Tlaib's Democratic congressional colleague Debbie Wasserman-Schultz criticized Tlaib for "fanning the flames" of anti-Semitism (albeit not in the specific context of Woll's murder). 

Detroit Police have warned against speculation regarding Woll's murder. Without a suspect in custody and identified, we don't yet know the reason why she was slaughtered. However, given Woll's prominence in the Detroit area, anti-Semitism arising from Hamas attack against Israel cannot be discounted. Frankly, Detroit Police, Michigan State Police and the FBI would be foolish to not investigate anti-Semitism as a motive for her murder. If it is indeed the motive, is the perpetrator a stranger or an acquaintance? I pose the question because Woll had helped established the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit.

But for the sake of argument, let us suppose anti-Semitism wasn't the motive. What are the other scenarios?

A) Woll was randomly stabbed to death by a complete stranger.

B) Woll was murdered in a robbery gone bad.

C) Woll was murdered by someone she knew who was angry with her for either personal or financial reasons. 

D) Someone was hired to kill Woll for personal or financial reasons.

Although all of these scenarios are possible, my gut tells me that Samantha Woll's murder was motivated by anti-Semitism. While I am not prepared to blame Rashida Tlaib's reprehensible rhetoric at this time, it will not come as a shock to me if authorities arrest a suspect who was motivated by his or her hatred of Jews.

President Biden Supports Israel in a Way That Neither Trump Nor Obama Ever Could

President Biden has been steadfast in his support of Israel in its hour of greatest need in his remarks last week in the White House, in Tel Aviv yesterday and tonight with a rare Oval Office address. 

The President has been consistent in calling Hamas' actions "pure unadulterated evil" while praising the courage and resilience of Israelis.

Most importantly of all, President Biden conveys a sympathy towards Israel that both former Presidents Trump and Obama were utterly incapable of expressing.

While it is true that Trump moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognized the sovereignty of the Golan Heights and ushered in the Abraham Accords, as with everything else he does, such acts are merely transactions for which he expects undivided and unquestioning loyalty in return. Trump is so grievously offended that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would follow diplomatic protocol and congratulate Joe Biden on his victory that he would publicly excoriate both Netanyahu, members of his cabinet while claiming Israel had let America down and, for good measure, praising Hezbollah. Trump thinks of himself and only himself. Basic human decency doesn't enter into the equation.

With that said, I don't think Barack Obama would have been capable of standing with Israel in the way Biden has done so. Although Biden was Obama's number two, the two Democrats have a decidedly different approach. Obama openly disdained Netanyahu and deliberately misrepresented his position on settlements. Given the fact that Bibi is back in office there is little reason to believe that an attack as heinous as this one would have thawed relations between the two leaders. Indeed, it could have all been much worse if not for Biden (who having known Netanyahu for decades) was able to bridge the gap, mend fences and essentially be the good cop. 

Of course, one could make the case that Obama's ire was directed at Bibi rather than Israel. However, even his staunchest supporters admit was at best ambivalent and disconnected where it concerned the Jewish State. It must also be remembered that when an Islamic terrorist attacked a Jewish grocery store in Paris in January 2015, Obama could not bring himself to characterize the attack as anti-Semitic instead choosing to characterize is at random even though the perpetrator explicitly stated he was targeting Jews and went on an anti-Semitic rant as he killed. President Biden, by contrast, has not had any such hesitation. Back in June, President Biden initiated a National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism.

My point about Obama is that if Hamas had attacked Israel while he was President, while I think he would have condemned the attacks I don't see him reacting with the compassion, reassurance and warmth which President Biden has conveyed. 

The long and the short of it is as horrific as Hamas' inhumanity has been, President Biden has shown himself to be the right man for the right moment.

Two Simple Reasons Why Israel Was Falsely Blamed For Launching Missile at Gaza Hospital

Yesterday came the "news" that Israel had fired a missile on a hospital in Gaza.

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib took to X to claim:

Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients) just like that. @POTUS this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate. Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many Palestinian Americans and Muslims Americans like me. We will remember where you stood.

Fellow Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar of Minnesota echoed Tlaib's claim:

Bombing a hospital is among the gravest of war crimes. The IDF reportedly blowing up one of the few places the injured and wounded can seek medical treatment and shelter during a war is horrific. @POTUS needs to push for an immediate ceasefire to end this slaughter. 

Too close to home, Harvard students who already hold Israel "entirely responsible" for Hamas beheading babies held a "die-in" and a march from Cambridge to Boston holding signs, "Stop the genocide in Gaza."

BBC reporter Jon Donnison editorialized, "It is hard to see what else this could be really given the size of the explosion other than an Israeli airstrike." 

Well, evidently Donnison has his head up his ass because it has been conclusively established that this was a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket. President Biden stated unequivocally that Israel is not responsible for this attack.

Yet there are some who refuse to let facts get in the way of an argument or a story. After departing Israel, one unidentified reporter asked President Biden on Air Force One, "Are Israelis operating within the rules of war that you talked about last week being so important?" Biden replied, "Good talking to you, all," and walked away. His answer spoke volumes about the stupidity of the reporter's question.

Then consider this headline from the Daily Mail:

Analysing Israel's 'proof' that it wasn't behind Gaza hospital bloodbath: Experts examine IDF' dossier of 'evidence' including images of misfiring rocket, lack of crater and shrapnel on roof

Proof? Evidence? Why doesn't the Daily Mail come out and echo Donnison's claim that it is hard to see what caused this other than an Israeli airstrike?

Not surprisingly Congresswoman Tlaib is undeterred despite her claim having been discredited. Despite the evidence, not only does Tlaib refuse to apologize but spoke at a rally this evening in Washington, D.C. during which she chided President Biden and accused Israel of committing genocide:

And so I’m telling you right now, President Biden, not all of America’s with you on this one. And you need to wake up and understand that! We are literally watching people commit your genocide and killing a vast majority just like this. And we still stand by and say nothing. We will remember this.

Earlier today, my mother sent me a message which Charlie Kirk wrote on X. Given his COVID denialism, election denialism and busing rioters to Capitol Hill on January 6th not to mention his suggestion that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu permitted the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas, I am loathe to give Kirk any credence. However, he does ask one pertinent question, "Why did so much of the world immediate take HAMAS's word for it?"

To this there are two very simple reasons. One, those who took Hamas word for it hate Jews. Two, those who hate Jews are willing to accept that Jews are capable and culpable of any and all misdeeds despite all evidence to the contrary. Just like Charlie Kirk hates President Biden and believes that Biden stole the election despite all evidence to the contrary.

Given that anti-Semitism is the world's oldest hatred and world's oldest conspiracy theory, this will be far from the last time Israel is falsely blamed for deliberately attacking civilians and for everything else under the sun.

Kim Ng Steps Down as Marlins GM; Is She Bound For Boston?

After three seasons, Kim Ng has stepped down as General Manager of the Miami Marlins. 

Prior to the 2021 season, Ng made history as not only the first female GM in any of the four major North American sports, but also the first Asian-American GM of any of the four major North American sports. As I said at the time, Ng should have been a MLB GM at least 15 years earlier. 

Despite the fact the Marlins earned a NL Wild Card berth this year and the team had extended its mutual option on her, Marlins owner Bruce Sherman saw fit to propose hiring a president of baseball operations who would supervise Ng. Under the circumstances, it was an offer she had to refuse.

No sooner than news broke of Ng's departure broke came speculation she could be Boston bound. Last month, the Red Sox fired Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom en route to back-to-back last place finishes in the AL East. 

Well, opportunities in baseball don't get bigger than Boston. Of course, Ng would be scrutinized in a way she's never been scrutinized before. But she has three decades worth of baseball experience under her belt and would also have a budget she couldn't have fathomed in Florida. 

I, for one, would love it if she came here. Her hire alone would make the Red Sox interesting again. Maybe even enough for me to watch some games.

My Politics Have Moved Back Leftward But I Can't Be Left-Wing Because of Israel

For most of my life I've engaged in one form of political activity or another.

From the age of 15 to about the age of 30, it would have been accurate to describe me as a democratic socialist. During most of those years, I was living in Canada and was active in the NDP at the constituency association level, as a parliamentary intern and as the convention youth organizer for the late Alexa McDonough's NDP leadership campaign in 1995.

Just days before my 29th birthday, I jettisoned my association with the NDP after the attacks of September 11, 2001. By this time, I had lived in this country for about 18 months. Over the next year or so, my politics moved to the right and by 2003 I identified as a conservative was writing for conservative online publications. Between 2009 and 2016, I was a regular contributor to The American Spectator. 

During my last year or so writing for TAS, I was very highly critical of Donald Trump. After Trump won the GOP nomination, I was told by publisher R. Emmett Tyrell to stop criticizing Trump. I refused and I resigned and began this blog. Although I contributed a few articles to National Review Online my politics gradually moved back leftward especially after the COVID pandemic. If not for the pandemic, I probably would not have voted for Joe Biden in 2020 or voted for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff during my brief tenure in Georgia. 

Although I am a registered independent, I will not cast a ballot for a Republican so long as they champion authoritarian values of Trumpism which is built on a foundation of conspiracy theories constructed out of whole cloth. I am satisfied with President Biden's tenure in the White House and will vote for him again next year. Aside from his work regarding COVID relief, vaccine distribution, infrastructure funding, enabling Medicare to negotiate to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and efforts to reduce the burden of student loan debts, I am heartened by his remarks in support of Israel during its hour of need.

However, the left-wing of the Democratic Party is viscerally hostile towards Israel particularly the likes of Democratic Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar (who claimed to show an image of dead Palestinian children who were in fact Syrian) and Cori Bush.

This is similarly true in my home and native land. Fred Hahn, the President of the Ontario branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) praised Hamas' "resistance" as Jews were being slaughtered. When Hahn was taken to task for those remarks, CUPE issued a statement which read in part:

Now we find ourselves targeted by a highly organized pro-Israel lobby that seeks to control the anti-Palestinian narrative fed to Canadians and intimidate any person or organization that fails to comply with its agenda.

In other words, CUPE is claiming it is a victim of a Jewish conspiracy.

Not to be outdone Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama issued a tweet characterizing Israel as "an apartheid regime" and that the violence against Israelis was rooted in "settler colonialism". Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles demanded Jama take down her post. Jama defied Stiles and instead issued a non-apology, apology. Stiles considered the matter closed and yet Jama's tweet remains. Stiles utterly failed to rein in anti-Semitism within her party. Such tolerance of anti-Semitism on the part of Stiles and the Ontario NDP reaffirms my decision to part ways with them more than two decades ago was the correct one.

Nevertheless, my parting ways with the GOP and conservatism is equally correct and defeated, former President Trump's unhinged public attack against Israel a few days ago reaffirms that decision. So where does that leave me?

Although my politics have moved leftward since 2016, so long as the Left views Israel with such inherent hostility and embraces anti-Semitism then I cannot identify myself as left-wing. In view of these facts, my politics are best described as centrist. Yet wherever I am on the political spectrum one thing has remained constant - my temperament. I am a raging moderate. 

Suzanne Somers, 1946-2023

Actress Suzanne Somers, best known for her portrayal of Chrissy Snow in the ABC sitcom Three's Company, passed away today one day shy of her 77th birthday. Somers died of breast cancer, a disease with which she was first diagnosed in 2000. Back in July, Somers revealed the cancer had returned. 

After uncredited roles in movies such as Bullitt and American Graffiti and guest roles in The Rockford Files and The Six Million Dollar Man, Snow became an overnight sensation in 1977 with Three's Company along with co-stars John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt. 

Somers remained with the show for its first four seasons before being fired during its fifth season in 1981 due to wanting her salary to match Ritter's. In retrospect, the only reason she wasn't paid what Ritter was paid was because she was a woman. Frankly, the show just wasn't the same after her departure as neither Jenilee Harrison nor Priscilla Barnes brought the energy she had to the show.

Somers did manage to carry on as a Las Vegas entertainer and spokeswoman for the Thighmaster. After starring in the short-lived syndicated TV series, She's The Sheriff, Somers experienced a career resurgence co-starring in the ABC (and later CBS) sitcom Step by Step with Patrick Duffy which aired from 1991 to 1998. While Step by Step was a knock off of The Brady Bunch, Somers and Duffy and several of their younger co-stars brought the show considerable charm. 

Following her breast cancer diagnosis, Somers was taken to task for her promotion of scientifically unproven hormonal therapies. Somers was also less frequently seen on TV although she did host a couple of short-lived TV talk shows including one where she reunited with Joyce DeWitt after more than 30 years. With Somers passing and John Ritter's death in 2003, DeWitt is the last surviving member of Three's Company original cast. In 2015, in one of her last credits, Somers appeared on ABC's Dancing With The Stars. R.I.P.

Trump Does Damage Control After Attack on Israel & Praise of Hezbollah

Defeated, former President Donald Trump did something he rarely does - damage control.

Most of what Trump says is done without consequence. 

However, Trump has had to walk back comments he made regarding Israel during a speech on Wednesday in Florida. Instead of offering Israel unconditional support as President Biden has done, Trump not only attacked Israel, but praised Hezbollah as "smart". Trump claimed Israel let him down when informed they would not be participating in the strike against Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020 and then stating he was upset with Prime Minister Netanyahu for taking credit for the hit. Netanyahu did no such thing as Israel was never involved in the U.S. mission against Soleimani. For bad measure, Trump also referred to Israeli Defense Minister Gallant as a "jerk".

Trump was taken to task for his remarks by GOP presidential rivals Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Chris Christie and has also been rebuked by Israeli cabinet minister Shlomo Karhi, a Likud Party MK, who stated in an Israeli TV interview that it was “shameful that a man like that, a former US president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel’s fighters and its citizens.” Indeed, let us not forget, Israel had what was tantamount to its 9/11 or Pearl Harbor and Trump sees fit to criticize them while they are down. Sure, Netanyahu and his government must answer for their failures to anticipate and prepare for this attack, but Netanyahu and his government must answer to Israelis, not to Donald Trump.

In an effort towards damage control, Trump took to TruthSocial on Friday to claim #IStandWithIsrael and #IStandWithBibi. But I'm afraid the damage is done and cannot be undone. The damage doesn't concern winning the GOP nomination. The Republican presidential race is a waste of time. However, Trump has ceded his pro-Israel credentials to President Biden who was won wide praise within Israel across the political spectrum and among some American conservatives normally critical of the President. This is what will damage Trump in both the short term and the long term.

Of course, Trump's criticism of Israel and Netanyahu in particular is motivated by the fact that Netanyahu had the temerity to follow diplomatic protocol and congratulate Biden on his election victory rather than indulge in his election denial fantasies. Mind you, Trump hasn't held any other world leader to this standard. The fact that Trump still holds this grudge nearly three years after the election demonstrates yet again why Joe Biden should continue to be President of the United States and why Donald Trump shouldn't.

Mark Goddard, 1936-2023

 

Actor Mark Goddard, best known for his portrayal of Major Don West in the 1960's TV sci-fi series Lost in Space, passed away on October 10th of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 87.

Prior to Lost in Space, Goddard was a familiar face on TV in the 1960s as part of the cast of both Johnny Ringo and The Detectives. But it was as the no-nonsense Major West where Goddard made his mark on TV as the member of the Jupiter 2 who wouldn't put up with Dr. Smith's shenanigans. 

In the late 1980's, Goddard would return to his native Massachusetts where he would complete his Masters in Education at Bridgewater State University becoming a special ed teacher. Goddard would occasionally make appearances at the conventions to discuss the enduring popularity of Lost in Space. 

Now Major West has taken his permanent place among the stars. R.I.P.

Phillies Advance to NLCS to Face D'Backs While Astros & Rangers Gear Up For Battle of Texas in ALCS

I hadn't planned to write about the 2023 postseason until the World Series. But with all the hell which has broken out with Hamas invasion of Israel and all of the cruel commentary which has followed, I'm going to talk a little baseball even though I haven't been watching it.

For the second year in a row, the Philadelphia Phillies have bested the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS as they defeated the Braves 3-1 tonight in Game 4. The Phillies now have a chance to win back-to-back NL pennants as they will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS starting on Monday night. The D'Backs swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card and then in a monumental upset also swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Not bad for a team which lost 110 games two years ago.

Meanwhile, the ALCS will be a battle of Texas as the defending World Series champion Houston Astros host the Texas Rangers starting on Sunday. The Astros have reached their seventh consecutive ALCS having bested the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS after earning a bye in the Wild Card round despite having the same record as the Rangers who had to sweep both the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card and the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS. 

Not only is the Astros vs. Rangers a battle of Texas, but it is also a battle of future Hall of Fame managers. Astros manager Dusty Baker is 7th on MLB's all-time managerial list win with 2,183 while Rangers' manager Bruce Bochy is 10th at 2,093. 

It is entirely possible we could have an Astros-Phillies rematch of a year ago. As I noted earlier this month, it would mark the first time the same two teams have faced off in the World Series in consecutive seasons since the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers met in both the 1977 and 1978 World Series. Baker was an outfielder with the Dodgers and was on the losing end of both World Series. If the Astros prevailed (be it against the Phillies or the Diamondbacks) it would mark the first time a team has won a World Series in consecutive years since the Yankees won three consecutive World Series from 1998-2000.

Frankly, I would prefer to see anyone but Houston win. I know we're six years removed from the Astros cheating scandal but there are still members of that 2017 team in uniform such as Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander and Lance McCullers, Jr. Earlier this month, the PBS program Frontline aired the documentary The Astros Edge recounting how the scandal came about. While Dusty Baker is no A.J. Hinch the scandal will always be a part of the team's legacy.

I'd be happy if the Phillies, D'Backs or Rangers went all the way. The Phillies won their last World Series in 2008 and if they were to win this year it would only be their third in franchise history which goes back to 1883. The D'Backs won their lone World Series title in 2001 while the Rangers have never won a World Series title going back to their days as the second incarnation of the Washington Senators beginning in 1961. 

One other observation. The Astros, Rangers and Phillies each had 90-win seasons while the D'Backs won 84 games. Should the D'Backs win the World Series the only team in MLB history which won the World Series with fewer wins is the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals with 83. Yet two years earlier, the Cardinals won the NL pennant with 105 wins and would be swept in the World Series by the Boston Red Sox. The three teams which had 100 plus win seasons (Orioles, Dodgers and Braves) have all been eliminated. An argument could be made that the current playoff format is watering down baseball. On the other hand, there was a time when a team could win 100 games and not make the post-season. Just ask Dusty Baker who managed the San Francisco Giants to a 103-win campaign during his first season as a big-league manager in 1993 and did not play October baseball. As the late Joe Garagiola said, "Baseball is a funny game."

I'm still not planning on watching the post-season. However, considering what is going on in Israel I have enjoyed writing this post about baseball. I wish I had the same joy in writing about Israel.

President Biden: Hamas' Purpose Is To Kill Jews

 

Last night, President Biden spoke clearly, concisely and unambiguously about Hamas' attack against Israel.

With Vice-President Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken standing on either side of him, Biden told the world exactly for what Hamas stands. "The bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas — a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews.," said President Biden. 

The President was far from finished:

The brutality of Hamas — this bloodthirstiness — brings to mind the worst — the worst rampages of ISIS.
 
This is terrorism.
 
But sadly, for the Jewish people, it’s not new.
 
This attack has brought to the surface painful memories and the scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and genocide of the Jewish people.
 
So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel.  We stand with Israel.  And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.
 
There is no justification for terrorism.  There is no excuse.
 
Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination.  Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.
 
They use Palestinian civilians as human shields. 
 
Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard to who pays the price.
 
The loss of innocent life is heartbreaking.
 
Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond — indeed has a duty to respond — to these vicious attacks.

President Biden also offered a word of warning:

Let me say again — to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don’t.  Don’t. 

Our hearts may be broken, but our resolve is clear. 

In times such as these, I am heartened that Joe Biden is President and I hope Americans will give him another term in just under 13 months from now.

While I am grateful for President Biden's remarks, I am all too aware of the discord in the Democratic Party when it comes to Israel. For every Ritchie Torres who stands with Israel there is a Rashida Tlaib or a Cori Bush who stand with Hamas.

Israel will prevail, but allies like President Biden won't be around forever. And so long as Republicans are in the grip of Trumpism, it will leave Democrats to stand with Israel and declare the Hamas of the world to be evil. Yet it remains to be seen if this will come to pass. Should Israel reach its centennial in 2048 we will know the answer to that question.

If Harvard Students Condone The Murder of Jews in Israel Then They Will Condone The Murder of Jews in America

As one can imagine I am greatly disturbed by the statement put out by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Group concerning Hamas campaign of kidnapping, rape and murder in Israel against civilians - Jew and non-Jew alike. Their position is made utterly clear in their statement's first sentence:

We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence. 

In holding Israel solely responsible for Hamas' acts of evil, they approve Hamas's violent barbarity by absolving it of any acts of kidnapping, rape and murder committed in the past 72 hours while also absolving Hamas of any such future acts. 

In holding Israel solely responsible for Hamas' acts of evil, they demonstrate they do not consider Jews to be worthy of human dignity and have no sympathy towards those who were killed just for being Jews or for those non-Jews visiting the Jewish state. 

In holding Israel solely responsible for Hamas' acts of evil, they have the temerity to demand the Harvard community "to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians" at the very moment Hamas is doing everything it can to annihilate Jews in Israel.

Now whether this is representative of the majority of Harvard students, faculty and staff isn't exactly clear. But the fact the Harvard President Claudine Gay could not bring herself to condemn Hamas much less the acts of these student organizations only embolden their behavior.

I'm certainly not surprised Israel would be subject to such vitriol at Harvard given the Harvard Crimson's April 2022 editorial in support of the BDS Movement. The Crimson is now giving the signatories in the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Group anonymity "following concerns of threats and retaliation against individual students." Too bad they don't seem willing to afford the same consideration to Israeli Jews. With this in mind here are the student groups who signed this statement. If they don't like it, then they shouldn't have signed it in the first place:

African American Resistance Organization
Bengali Association of Students at Harvard College
Harvard Act on a Dream
Harvard Arab Medical and Dental Student Association
Harvard Chan Muslim Student Association
Harvard Chan Students for Health Equity and Justice in Palestine
Harvard College Pakistan Student Association
Harvard Divinity School Muslim Association
Harvard Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association
Harvard Graduate School of Education Islamic Society
Harvard Graduate Students for Palestine
Harvard Islamic Society
Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine
Harvard Divinity School Students for Justice in Palestine
Harvard Jews for Liberation
Harvard Kennedy School Bangladesh Caucus
Harvard Kennedy School Muslim Caucus
Harvard Kennedy School Muslim Women's Caucus
Harvard Kennedy School Palestine Caucus
Harvard Muslim Law School Association
Harvard Pakistan Forum
Harvard Prison Divest Coalition
Harvard South Asian Law Students Association
Harvard South Asians for Forward-Thinking Advocacy and Research
Harvard TPS Coalition
Harvard Undergraduate Arab Women's Collective
Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo
Harvard Undergraduate Muslim Women's Medical Alliance
Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Students Association
Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee
Middle East and North African Graduate School of Design Student Society
Neighbor Program Cambridge
Sikhs and Companions of Harvard Undergraduates Society of Arab Students

I am listing these organizations names because I live about 15 minutes away from Harvard Yard. Members of these organizations might very well be my neighbors and people I see when I commute on the MBTA Red Line. 

If these people are fine with Hamas slaughtering Israeli Jews, then it is not a stretch to think they would welcome the killing of American Jews up to and including Jews who live right here in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is worth remembering the BDS affiliated Boston Mapping Project published the addresses of Jewish organizations and home addresses of individual Jews in the hope of disrupting and dismantling them.

Since I was a teenager, I have had a foreboding sense of doom that Jews would be sent back to concentration camps within my lifetime. While anti-Semitism has always been among us, given the reaction of a small segment of people in my community to the events of the past 72 hours, I have come to the conclusion that a critical mass of my fellow Americans would warmly approve of Hamas style killing of Jews in this country. Perhaps some of them would do the killing themselves. 

This is not a comforting thought on which to try to sleep. Yet this is now the world to which I must awake.