(Marc A. Hermann / MTA)
Isn’t it odd how, often, momentous elections take place in the U.S. and Israel at about the same time?
Over the last few years, Israel has tried several times to fine-tune the direction of the country by trying to force the post-Netanyahu era, but the way things look at this juncture that was a failed effort. Here in the U.S. in 2020 we were headed in the direction of a Bernie Sanders or possibly an Elizabeth Warren presidency, which, though hard to fathom, would have been an even greater disaster than the presidency of Joe Biden.
Most important is how crucial it is to vote on Election Day so as to redirect the courses of both countries that have tried new directions that it seems we are just not ready for.
In New York it is a struggle to understand why anyone would be in favor of supporting our declining quality of life in the city. Most New Yorkers seemed pleased that circumstances allowed the state to rid itself last summer of Andrew Cuomo. We received a replacement governor in the person of Kathy Hochul, and those who have met her and dealt with her seem to like and respect her.
But the type of person she is may not be the issue—it’s her politics. It’s her failure to crack down on an inept criminal justice system in the state, of refusing to terminate the district attorneys who repeatedly turn all types of criminal offenders back onto the streets to commit more crimes, sometimes of an extremely violent nature.
It’s just stunning that Ms. Hochul is betting that a majority of the state likes things just the way they are. It is even more shocking that this is our modern-day reality. And even more surprising than that is that there’s such a suitable and competent Republican candidate running against her on November 8. If Congressman Lee Zeldin is elected governor, the business of making New York safe begins on day one in office.
Zeldin has been unequivocal about firing Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg on day one and replacing him with a prosecutor who respects and obeys our laws. Another thing that Governor Hochul will never address is this chaotic mystery of the no-cash bail law. If a person feels that he cannot afford bail after committing a crime, how about not committing the crime in the first place—that’s another way of not needing cash for bail.
On a national level, there is a great deal more at stake. As you can see from the direction that the country is going in, our system has not been constructed to function with just one political party in charge. With a Democrat president for the next two years it is extremely important that we vote to create some balance in the country, and that means focusing on our local political races with national implications. Here in Nassau County, with Congresswoman Kathleen Rice not running for reelection, we are urging voters to cast their ballot for Anthony D’Esposito. Anthony is a Republican, a Town of Hempstead Councilman, and a former New York City homicide detective. He is running against former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen. Ms. Gillen, like Ms. Hochul, is a nice person whom we met when she was running for Town supervisor. But this is not a personality contest—it’s about political philosophy and balance in our political process.
In Israel it is now abundantly clear that Naftali Bennett had some good ideas but was just not ready for primetime. So long as Israel’s enemies believe that it is worthwhile to wait for an opening that will give them the opportunity to redefine the country, moving in innovative political directions is just plain dangerous.
And on that count, that’s what makes the Biden administration so dangerous. At a time when the Arab Gulf States are willing to work with Israel, administration representatives like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides in Israel are still talking about a two-state solution and emptying out settlement communities in Judea and Samaria. Washington, DC goes into a panic when a bus arrives from Texas with 50 illegal immigrants; how do they imagine they are going to handle moving 600,000 people who currently live in those communities?
It’s fascinating that both the U.S. and Israel are practically split down the middle when it comes to what is best for each country.
Israel needs Bibi back, and it looks like that is what they are going to get. People like Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid can make important contributions to the process, but Netanyahu is what Israel needs, especially when we have a misdirected and bumbling administration in Washington. Gantz and Lapid are experienced people but they are best suited for supportive roles in government, not leadership.
It’s too bad at a time like this that we do not have a political system similar in place to Israel’s to deal with the ineptitude and wrongheaded policies of the Biden administration. And that does not take into consideration the corruption that would have long ago brought down any government in a parliamentary system of government.
The hope is that across the country we collectively come to our senses and that the end result will be the Republican Party regaining control of both the House and the Senate. The Biden administration, from the White House to the Department of Justice and down through the ranks of the FBI, needs intense oversight, and removal from office, where need be, must be through a process that is already in place and part of the law. For now our laws have been administered unfairly, and crucial departments like the DOJ and FBI have been weaponized for use against political opponents. A country cannot function with that kind of system for too long.
New York State seems to be taking signals from Washington. We have an attorney general in New York who was hoping to become governor after the embarrassing downfall of Mr. Cuomo. But that didn’t work out, so she has dedicated herself to pursuing Donald Trump through legal action. That does not serve the interest of the people. Letitia James, the New York AG, is not running this year, so we will have to deal with that next time.
One additional note about New York. A few weeks ago, it was reported that Hochul was leading Zeldin in a poll by 24 points. This week it was reported that Hochul is ahead by 4%. There is no question that as we get closer to the election, Democrat strategists will falsely report that Hochul is up by eight points or ten points and so on. Those reports will be false and just a way to communicate to potential Republican voters that it is impossible for Zeldin to win so it simply is not worth it to take time out to go vote. Don’t fall for that—they are hoping you do.
Our country, and especially New York, can be salvaged from the political junkyard it is in today. That turnaround is at your fingertips in the voting booth on November 8. Don’t forgo the opportunity. n
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B”H As expected, the publisher-editor of this screed, never having evinced a proclivity for reflection and less introspection, lashes out irresponsibly to promote his reactionary politics in not one but two nations! Not a word about sedition and insurrection, both nearly succeeding on January 6, 2021; generated by the unfit 45th President. Our democracy is on the line as this awful chief’s minions are potentially prepared in disgraced disbarred Rudy Giuliano’s word for “combat.” In similar manner, Israel faces a return of Bibi’s shenanigans, I.e., corruption, threats to free speech and press, the moral degradation of Likud lost in the wilderness since its hey day as Herut, the loosening of statism and the coming of economic freedom by Menachem Begin. My recommendation, as a moderate-progressive-liberal Republican is to defeat all Trumpists, with emphasis for the election of incumbent Governor Hochul, and Laura Gillen as the next Congresswoman in our fabulous Fourth District! Beyond our borders, let’s say no to Abbott, DeSantis, Mastriano, Oz, Rubio among too many who embarrass, shame, and threaten our wonderful, blessed America! With fraternal affection, Asher 🙏😢😩🤣
I would include each of the poor excuse of human beings in Congress who voted against the certification of the winner of the Presidency, Joe Biden.