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Some of us think Trump is a fraud and destroyer of America
I don’t hide the fact that I am a Democrat (doesn’t mean I support every Candidate running as a D).
I also have served as Asst. Registrar of Voters in my town for decades.
The Democrat Party does not have an organized effort to get non-citizens to vote. The effort is to get those whose residency is legalized to become citizens and then if over 18 register to vote.Last November I had to have one person arrested for trying to vote illegally. It was a convicted felon, formerly registered as a REpublican before his voting rights were forfeited, who came to the polls said he was his father (same name and address) and attempted to vote a straight R ballot. I know how he filled out the ballot as it was seized as evidence by the police (before he could cast the ballot) and entered in evidence at his trial.
The CTL doors are always open for your family. My grandchildren miss your precious daughter. Perhaps she is reaching the age where a future match might be discussed.
BTW, we can prepare a kitchen for you in the guest house should you not mish on Pesach. Although your family has eaten in the compound in the past, we understand Pesach brings its own strictures.
The pool will be open and heated with separate swimming hours. Tickets for local sporting events in place. An afternoon at the Peabody natural history museum would be enjoyable and suitable Chol HaMoed activity for the children.
It is far too long (pre-Covid) since we have had the honor of hosting you. Unlike those spending thousands on vacations in rental properties that have been occupied by who knows what type of people, your only additional expense to being at home is a few gallons of gas and the tolls on the Whitestone Bridge.
@ujm
Why are they going to Orlando?Attractions to occupy the kids time
Swimming weather not in the northeast
Because the friends go.and it’s call keeping up with the (insert common Jewish family name).I have no interest in going away for Pesach, never did
@UJM
Thank you so much for your kind words and well wishes.
I have missed our repartee, and look forward to resuming it in the future.
We are proof how well (and respectfully) those from different sects and backgrounds can peacefully coexist and support each otherYou have change your words, you know speak of a valid expression. When I challenged your assertion hat we all believed Chabad is not Judaism.
BTW, not ALL Lubavitchers believe everything you claim they do.
I know some who do not espouse the Melech HaMoshiach mantra.I will not paint them with a broad brush as you do
Again, we must disagree
I posted in opposition to your sweeping statement that we all agree Chabad isn’t JudaismI explained why I believe it is merely a variation in how Judaism is practiced.
You come back with a pronouncement that the religion of those Jews known as Lubavitcher is not Judaism.
Ever since the Destruction of the First Beit HaMikdash and exile there have been variations in how Judaism is practiced and how it has evolved.
Surely the Judaism of 1938 Yemen and Vilna were far different from each other.
>>>>>>>>>€>>>>>>>>>
BTW
An anecdote:
Lubavitcher and Chabad (modern 770 movement) are not synonymous.I grew up in New Haven, CT
There was a shul named Sheveth Achim Anshei Lubavitcher. It was not composed of Chassidim, but people (and descendants) of Jews who came from the town of Lubavitz (sp?)
They davened Nusach HaAri, but did not follow the Chabad Luach. (No dropping Tachanun because some Rebbe got out of jail, etc.)In about 1950 that shul merged with a Litvish shul becoming Bikur Cholim Sheveth Achim. The Litvish got their name first, but davening Nusach HaAri continued into the 21st century
I have stayed out of this discussion until now.
Your comment that we all agree that Chabad if not Judaism troubles me.
I for one believe Chabad followers are Jewish, but some of the group have beliefs/customs that are not the same as many other Jews.
That said, how many of us rely on Chabad for a minyan or food when we travel?
How many of us eat food processed under the supervision of OK Labs?I come from Litvish/Yekkah forebears, but have a weekly Gemarah shiur with the local Chabad Rabbi. There may be Melech HaMoshiach posters on the rear wall of the shul, but never once in 30 years has this view been espoused to me.
When you live in small town America, Chabad is often the public face of observant Judaism.
I am not willing to agree that Chabad is not Judaism, but rather it is one variation of how Judaism is practiced.@Coffee Addict
Before Mrs. CTL A”L took ill we were snowbirds for 10 years.
I have owned in Florida for decades ( mostly used by the children and grandchildren) and my kallah also owns a home there.@AAQ
It is not about the status of my CT license, but the fact that I often referred to ‘Mrs. CTL’ A”H and her profession/abilities.
It would be too confusing and disrespectful to her memory if I made a mention of a new wife and she could be confused by a reader with the late Mrs.CTL.@Daniela
Thank you for your lovely sentiments.
With all that is going on since October 7th I have been reticent to share anything joyful of a personal nature.B”H my personal life and health are good. I have met someone and I”H we shall marry in the spring.
She will not become Mrs. CTL, as I shall move to NY and FL. My licenses are active in those states should I choose to work.
I shall rejoin the CR with a new user name when appropriate.The CTL compound and CT office are being turned over to my adult children and this septuagenarian will take a hands off approach..
I have been a delegate to 6 National Democratic conventions and 24 state conventions.
I can report that rank and file registered Democrats and most candidates neither care nor know what is in The party platform. They support candidates for office NOT a platform that is not read my the rank and file.
Frankly, as a Democrat I don’t care what Tepublicans think of the language in our party’s plata d I pay no attention to the language in their platform.
The US has two nationwide parties that are quite diverse, no one is a card carrying member as people are in other countries. There are no national newspapers that are the voice of a party.
Because I vote candidate and not party, I have split my ticket in more than 45 of the past 50 years.@Gadol
‘Where tips are not looked among all the staff’
That practice is illegal in any jurisdiction (such as CT) that has a reduced minimum wage for tipped service employees.
Back of the house personnel, hostesses, owners, managers may not share in the top pool.
Effective January 1, 2024 that dishwasher is now subject to $15.69 hour minimum wage in CT.
The tipped server receives less than $7 per hour from the employer, but if the weekly tips don’t bring the wages up to the $15.69 level, the business must pay the difference.@Gadol
Sorry, but you are way off base in your numbers for research University in the USA.
The Carnegie classification system recognizes only 108 and the 2021 study of American Universities recognized about 150.
The ‘problem/activist’ universities such as Harvard, PENN, Yale are Research Universities@AAQ
I don’t hide that I attended the Wharton School of Finance (UPENN) 50+ years ago.
I no longer donate money and was thrilled the University President was forced to resign.
That said, I didn’t change my name (I am a 5th generation American with an English name that could be any ethnicity) or appearance.
It was the Jewish faculty that was most mocking and disrespectful of orthodoxy. Non-Jewish faculty were appreciative when given a calendar at the beginning of the semester marking Yuntif days and requesting no exams be given, that I would not be in attendance and assignments handed in the following class day (long before email and personal computers), Jewish professors would say: it’s not RH or YK, too bad.
Then I would go see the Catholic University chaplain who would handle it (the reform ‘Rabbi’ who was the Jewish chaplain was worthless).I still teach at a law school and a local University. I prerecord lectures and post on line for holiday conflicts.
Being a frum Jew in a suit with beard and head covering has been much easier over the decades@Someday
There was no question my father OBM made a lot of money in the 50s and early 60s. He was a major Ba’al Tzedakah. Then his partners outvoted him on a business decision and put the company into bankruptcy. We went from living on his enormous earnings to living on the $4200 per year my mother made as a public school teacher. He got rid of his business partners and rebuilt the business over a 10 year period.@Lakewhut
His extramarital activities were hidden by compliant Secret Service and the press. During his Camelot Presidency it was not common knowledge@Menachem Shmei
That was not the prayer used in our public schools. It was the PaterNoster (Our Father in Latin) followed by Ave Maria (Hail Mary). I can remember Miss Maguire fingering her rosary beads wondering why the 30 Hewish kids (out of 36) didn’t know the words.
The following year I was in a Jewish Day School@Akuperma
Yes, LBJ-former head of Senate Democrats and a southerner was able to push the Civil Rights Act through and I give him credit for it.
But LBJ and Lady Bird were far from the Camelot image and inspiration of JFK and Jackie. They did not inspire the youth of America.
I met LBJ and Lady Bird in 1962 when JFK sent them to an event in New Haven. He was a boring and unpolished speaker
BTW>I have met 8 US Presidents (some before , JFK&LBJ, Clinton and one after:Truman).@Someday
You have NO idea how the tax code and brackets work!
One pays the top rate only on income above the next lower rate, not from the first dollar.@Lakewhut
I remember meeting Senator JFK when he was running for President and visited my hometown of New Haven,
I remember being kept home from school to watch his snowy inauguration Jan 20, 1961 and listening to his inspiring speech.
I remember my father’s joy when JFK cut a 91% top income tax rate.
I remember a SCOTUS decision during his brief Presidency that stopped me from being forced to say Christian prayers in a public elementary school.
I remember his Model Cities Program that knocked down the worst decrepit housing and built new.
I remember Camelot and the hope this new young President and his intelligent wife gave the American people, all extinguished by an assassin’s bullets on Nov. 22, 1963I have repeatedly explained that there is no consistent platform/ideology for National US political parties.
There are no card carrying members, no dues paying members.
All politics is local, and most voters cast their ballots based on how the race affects them directly, not national or international policy.
I have been an enrolled D for more than 50 years, a member of my Democratic Town Committee, delegate to State and National convention.
I have never voted a straight party ticket, I choose who I consider the best candidate in each race.That said, extremists in any party would not do well here in CT. I am happy that a certain member of Congress was censured this week.
In our local race this week I could in no way vote for the R candidate who wanted to lead our town. A warm and friendly man, who attended Mrs. CTL’s funeral and made a shiva call, he believes that discrimination does not exist and women should not have equal rights.
I saw him at the polls (I am Asst. Registrar of Voters) and as his party chair cringed at our friendly greeting and conversation he announced: we were friends yesterday and will be friends tomorrow. We don’t let politics invade every facet of our lives.
I don’t believe Republican or Democrat are dirty words, but there are dirty politicians in both parties.To put it in perspective I look at our past 2 Gubernatorial races between the sane two rich candidates. They self funded their campaigns (not taking state election funds): if a candidate is willing to spend $10 million dollars to chase a $200,000 job (and not take the salary), there must be an economic payback to self, family or friends.
@Jackkk
You and I are often in the same side, but
When I lived in New Haven (who last elected a Republican in 1953 and the D got rejected with 77% of vote last night) the city had a regulation that made gun permits the sole preview of the police chief.
He approved once 3 or 4 a year for a decade.
It took a challenge and court order to make the police approve legitimate permits where the applicant had made proper application and met state requirements and training.
Yes, even in a D city ownership could be prevented by regulations.And I am against gun ownership, but fair is fair in posting accurately
@Keith
We won’t agree, but that is part of the greatness of America that we can express our own opinion.
The Supreme Court has a history of overturning its own decisions.
Dred Scott
Massey v Ferguson
Roe v Wade
So I take no solace in hearing the SCOTUS has ruled.
I was a youngster in public school when the Courr ruled in O’hare that I could not be forced to recite Christian prayers. The Republicans are still trying to bring it back and I don’t trust this court packet with unqualified Yrump appointees to make correct legal decisions.
Clarence Thomas is on the take
Bryant is an ignorant fool who isn’t qualified to be a traffic court judge@Keith
I am frum
That is my personal belief and practice
I am a Liberal Democrat who is also a Fiscal Conservative. That is my ‘American Citizen’ personaI am old enough to have suffered discrimination that was legal before the Democrats passed and LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act.
I am an attorney, I also am an adjunct Professor at Law School.
I oppose private ownership of guns by ordinary citizens who are NOT law enforcement or members of the National Guard or Reserve.
I understand the 2nd Amendment and consider the National Guard and Reserves to be the well regulated militia of our times that complies with the original intent of the Framers of the Constitution.
In 1785 they could not imagine the tykes of modern killing machines that now are called guns.
Then guns were necessary to procure food for many outside the few cities, protect against hostile natives, invaders and rebellious slaves.
This is no longer the case.For those who say they only shoot for sport at a shooting range. I say let the business owner the guns and members be allowed to use them on the premises only.
No one needs an AR-15
@Lostspark
I don’t expect to need protection in shul (besides what the KBH provides).
I don’t know if any of the 12 carry their guns into shul. I haven’t noticed any holsters or weapons to be visible.If the 12 didn’t have guns, it wouldn’t make me want one.
I was made to learn how to fire a rifle in summer camp about 60 years ago. Haven’t handled any gun since.
I don’t want to own one and don’t permit them in my home or offices.I don’t and won’t have a gun. But in discussion with the 15 regulars at my daily minyan 12 have guns (and have had them for years).
The 80 year old shul rabbi does not have a gun nor does the only other Democrat in the room.The 12 gun owners are Registered Republicans.
Not a stalker, but as Asst. Registrar of Voters I handle the voting lists regularly.@GadolHadofi
Thank you for your good wishes.
I must say the process is quite different than what I went through more than 45 years ago.
Then you were concerned about the parents, now one may be subject to approval or veto by children and grandchildren.
I am moving through this slowly, my progeny has been provided for and are not concerned about losing yerushah.
I am not looking for a replacement for Mrs. CTL, but a companion and partner for the next stage of my life.AAQ
I am not the relative of a Senator.
CT has had a number of Jewish Senators in the past 60 years and I have known all of them and been close social friends with Lieberman and Blumenthal.As for Jewish women going blonde in the USA, I must relate a current story. I have recently started ‘dating’ for the first time in more than 45 years. I went out with three different women in the past month. All three were portrayed to me in pictures as blondes. All three were wearing grey/silver wigs when we met. My grey hair and beard in my profile picture matches reality.
@AAQ
My eldest brother was completely bald at 17. He started wearing a full head wig by his 20th birthday.
On his 3rd date with his now wife, he said: I have a confession to make: this isn’t my real hair. She replied: that’s okay, I’m not really a blonde.They have been married 57 years and have matching wig stands in their dressing room.
I wish I had enough hair to grow a Pompadour.
As I tell my grandchildren when they complain about their hair, humidity, static electricity, etc.
Better a bad hair day, than a no hair day!
@Baltimore Maven????
The two friends who witnessed the event cannot admit anything. They can only relay their observations.
An admission can only be made by the person committing an action, or co-conspirators in a crime.Basic rule of law/court procedures.
@Akuperma
You’ve lived outside the USA far too long to be making comments about women wearing hats being regarded as weird and subject to harassment and discrimination.I live near and do business in, and my shul is in a predominantly Black community.
Just as from women cover their hair and dress modestly, the Black ‘Church Ladies’ all wear hats and are dressed in well tailored skirt suits or long sleeved dresses with hemlines well below the knees.No one thinks this weird and they are not harassed.
Our new Hispanic immigrants are likely to be in long sleeves and long skirts with headscarves.My mother OBM, never wore a wig, but wore hats. Then again, my father had millinery departments in his clothing stores and didn’t sell wigs.
I knew as a youngster, that if I stepped on inch over the line when it came to behavior or speech, she would pull a hat pin from her hat and I would get jabbed.
The Late Mrs. CTL was also partial to hats, often having shoes dyed to match the hat. In warm weather she found straw hats much cooler than a wig.Square are you to demand anything?
How much money do you donate to that PRIVATE university?
Are you on its BOD?
Are you a member of its Alumni Association?All you should do is respectfully request termination of the employee.
My shul does not generally offer prayers for government, Medina, etc.
Now saying three kapittel tehillim and Acheinu each daveningSquare Root
You got caught in a lie and are back pedaling.
How about admitting you posted a lie besmirching the President and falsely accusing him of giving $6Billion to the Iranians?
Not one cent of the unfrozen, not held by the US money has yet been spent.CommonSaychel
Amil doesn’t have 6 Congress members who do anything. Each American is represented by only one member of the House of Representatives. She could not have voted for anyone not running in her district and had no association with the other 434 members of the House.
The Democrat Party died not collect dues, nor does it have card carrying members or require subscription to a specific ideology.
Parties I. Other countries have such things. Even in Israel one votes a party list. In the USA we vote for individual candidates. In my state the party lever was removed from voting machines more than 40 years ago. You must physically choose each candidate to vote.In this time of horrific attacks on Jews by Hamas, your attacking Amil Zola is even more reprehensible
Midwesterner
Fungible doesn’t turn Square Root’s lie into truth.
President Biden did not give one cent of US money to Iran.
Perhaps you’ve forgotten the concept of Piston Shivuyim.Square Root
You post lies.
Biden did not give a cent to Iran. In exchange for prisoners he released a US freeze on Iranian funds held outside the US.
The funds may only be spent for specific humanitarian purposes subject to US approval.Stop spreading lies
@UJM
Having spent an adult lifetime on OOT shul, Yeshivos and Day School Boards, it is a fact of life that the closer the institution is to Brooklyn, Queens, Monsey the less it costs to employ rabbis and teachers.
Two hours driving time seems to be the demarcation point.
This is usually based on the wife’s desire to have easy access to shopping, family and attend simchos.
An hour further away and you might have to pay 40% more to hire the same person for the same positionAs many in the CR may have noticed Amil Zola and I grew up going to different schools together.
@Chaim87
The ostentatious behavior you describe is typical of nouveau riche and wannabes.
‘Old money’ whether Jewish or nonJewish never shied off its wealth, that is gauche.
You know are spewing about Orlando, a city I never mentioned. I spoke about the Atlantic Ocean beaches and that could not be had in Pennsylvania. The comment I disputed said there was no real difference between Pennsylvania and Florida.
Anyone in the CR who had read my comments over the past 15 years knows I understand the value of a dollar and don’t waste them.@Sam Klein
You are being quite judgmental in your comments.
If I want to go to a restaurant for a steak dinner and I can afford it why should you pronounce it crazy. If I am not building a credit card balance at 30% interest it is not crazy. If I am not spending 5 times the cost of my typical at home meal and having the audacity to ask for tuition assistance it is none of your business.
Obviously you failed or did not take Geography in school. Florida is on the east coast of the USA.
There is a huge difference between Florida and Pennsylvania despite your claims. I went to Florida this year for the Yomin Noraim, the beach and Atlantic Ocean are not available and attractive in Lancaster or the Poconos.
Your complaints about people keeping up with the Joneses comes across as jealousy.
I have never accepted a penny in assistance in my life and have underwritten Yeshiva/day school costs for others. Why shouldn’t I enjoy what ai worked for?
I don’t carry month to month credit card debt at interest. I am old enough that my residence is mortgage free.Every family must budget and decide what is important to them. If you are not inside their finances you should not be passing judgment.
AAQ
You are correct the 13 colonies who formed the USA agreed to the terms of the US Constitution which included the mechanism (amendment) to change it.
In almost two and one half centuries there have been very few changes regarding voting, but they were major.
The post civil war amendment giving blacks the vote
The early 20th century amendment giving women the vote
The 20th century amendment allowing direct elect of Senators (previously chosen by state legislatures)
The Viet Nam era amendment giving 18 year olds the vote. I protested and fought for this: “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote!”As for a national healthcare system, the preamble of the Constitution which I had to learn and memorize in 7th grade begins’In order to form a more perfect Union’ this replaces the Articles of Confederation, and states the purposes of providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare….
Thus a national health plan, or food stamps, WIC are all in the Federal Government’s purview and powers not reserved to the states.This argument/explanation would be based o. The concept of original intent.
Sorry if it sounds like a lecture, but I still teach 2 law school courses each year.
@CoffeeAddict
Don’t have a high opinion of RFK Jr period.
The family name no longer means muchIf Trump is the nominee (likely, but the convention is almost a year away), I would expect him to try for the magic Electoral College win number.
That said, his supporters are entrenched, but many non-Trumpers who voted against Clinton will not vote for him again.
I live in a town that last gave a majority to a Democrat for President in 1964. It went Trump by a substantial margin in 2016, it flipped for Biden in 2020.
I see internal party polling and reports showing this to be happening in many places,
His actions, lies, possible sedition, indictments empowers his base, but turn off many others.
Again all is analysis and speculation based on my experience. No one can predict what may happen in the next 13 months before the election.@AAQ
I am not suspicious of Trump’s 2016 victory, I referenced a loss of popular vote and a win in The Electoral College.I have explained in another comment why I want the Electoral College abolished. I know how and why it was incorporated into the Constitution in order to merge 13 separate colonies into one new country.
The EC as constituted is contrary to the one man one vote bedrock of a democracy
@AAQ
I live in CT, but went to law school in MA. I hold a license and have an office there as well. My sister and family live there.
When Romney was Governor of MA he put a health care plan in place. It was the model for ACA. Obama may have been President when ACA was adopted, but it wasn’t his idea. I am a Democrat but give credit where it is due and recognize Romneycare.@DrPepper
I never said I don’t believe your insure costs went up x percent. I admitted to not having knowledge of costs under the ACA in states other than CT.I am not here to defend or endorse the President. I am participating in this thread to answer the OP’s question. I won’t be sidetracked.
No JFK would not be a Republican, just as Nelson Rockefeller or Senator Keating would not be Dems. In their time you could be a centrist or conservative Dem or a Liberal Republican and work effectively in your party. I don’t like extremism, period.
I am socially liberal, but that doesn’t mean I am far left, and it is not inconsistent with being fiscally conservative.
Unlike many in the CR, I oppose school vouchers (very socialist and also elitist).BTW> when JFK took office the top tax rate was over 90% and there was a Federal Excise tax on jewelry (including costume), alcohol and other luxury goods.
There was a high tax on corporate profits of more than $25,000 per year. All brought to us by the Eisenhower administration.
As my father said when he wrote a large check to the IRS each year. You have to make it to pay it and B”H I made it.As for your A or B insurance scenario I prefer C: a national health plan, single payer and the same for all as they have in many countries.
I pay loads of taxes each year and share my father’s attitude.
@Chaim87
The basis for my predictions is more than 50 years actively involved in politics (including holding public office). My parents and grandparents were active in politics as well.
I have learned to read, observe, digest and analyze.In 2016 It was my opinion that the country was deeply divided and it would be close. Clinton won the popular vote ( including mine) but Trump’s election strategy allowed him to take the Electoral College majority and become President.
I have called for abolishing the Electoral College for more than 49 years. Because all states are guaranteed one member of the House and two Senators, it makes the vote of a resident of Wyoming equal to 2 in California. The system based on Slaves being 3/5ths of a free man continued to make sure we don’t have one person one vote in the USA.
I have no belief that Trump will be convicted of any particular crime in any particular court in time to make him ineligible to be in the 2024 ballot in some states (which preclude felons).I make no secret of my disdain for Trump and his actions, beliefs, etc. But, I do not think it a good idea to try, convict and imprison former heads of state as we have seen in other countries. It can lead to major civil unrest, coups or revolution.
Do I think Trump broke many laws yes. Do I think Nixon was a crook? Yes. Do I think Ford did the correct thing by pardoning Nixon upon his resignation so the country could move on? Yes
And to stay current, I think the Senator from NJ who takes money/bribes and the Supreme Court Justice who does the same thing should both resign and they and their wives should be fully prosecuted