Torat HaLev - Leftorah

14 Cheshvan. Perhaps, thank God, the Republican travesty is all unravelling before our eyes. New revelations only add to our astonishment at the audacity of Republican mendacity. (Hey, not bad alliteration there...)

Evidence of torture by American-trained Iraqi forces ("Torture Alleged at Ministry Site," NY Times) has emerged. The Senate, even many of its Republicans, is now so frustrated with the ineptitude and deceit of the Bush administration that it voted to demand regular updating and serious change in the Iraqi campaign. Cheney did meet with oil industry executives in 2001, it turns out, despite his and their repeated denials ("Document Says Oil Chiefs Met With Cheney Task Force," Washington Post), in order to secretly set policy in line with corporate interests. Journalist and editor Bob Woodward testified this week that he, too, learned of outed CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity from a senior administration official, a full month before her name was publicized in the media, because the official "talked casually" about her, as if her identity were not strictly confidential ("Washington Post's Woodward Talks to Leak Prosecutor," NY Times). The just-ousted chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, has been found to have repeatedly broken the law in his efforts to Republicanize the organization ("Broadcast Chief Violated Laws, Inquiry Finds," NY Times). Even Time Magazine is doing its job (again, as it had reported about abuse of Koran's in U.S. detention centers for "enemy combatants"), reporting with a recent cover story about how corporations are stealing into employee retirement benefits plans, with congressional approval ("The Great Retirement Ripoff, Time 10/31/05).

This is the culture of governance Republicans have created; lies, law-breaking, defrauding the poor and defenseless -- and self-righteous poses of outrage at any hint of criticism. Bush's latest attacks against critics shows simply that nothing substantive can be found by way of defending his methods. May it all crumble, speedily in our day! May the American people's gut feeling that Bush and his cronies are dishonest and ideologues carry the day! May our national moderation and basic Enlightenment-inspired liberalism return to the fore!

On the last note, Abe Foxman at the ADL merits a big yasher koach (kudos) for having finally seen the Christian fundamentalist movement for what it is. The stealth enemy threatening American freedom and democracy isn't Muslim "terrorism," it's the unholy alliance of Christian religious fanaticism and the Republican party.

This will be my 70th post. It has been a pleasure to vent my anger at such naked Republican contempt for its own constituency. It has been a learning experience as well. I wish I had more time to devote to this most worthy cause -- truly one for the sake of heaven. More constancy on my part might have produced a wider, more loyal and more interactive readership. But I have no complaints. However, baruch hashem, my life is too full right now for me to continue posting. I may return once the current academic year is over in May (yes, for those who don't know me or who haven't figured it out yet, I teach at a university).

May the light of this month's expanding moon inspire our own moral, intellectual and spiritual expansion!

Love and blessings to all!

Jonathan