CNN on the President's visit to Auschwitz:

Bush and his wife, Laura, appeared grim-faced after seeing inside a gas chamber and crematorium at the gloomy complex, where 1.5 million Jews and tens of thousands of others were killed during World War II. The president -- who refered to the deaths as "murders" (emphasis my own) -- placed a wreath at a brick wall where thousands of prisoners were executed.

Speaking of Stupid Things, the requisite FreeRepublic thread on the subject contains many posts that seem to think the visit was supposed to be meant as a message, either to France or Russia before the G-8 summitt, or to Abu Mazen who is accused of being, or at least having been, something of a Holocaust denier. The President Himself, obviously, has made no direct comment to that effect. Let's just leave it at that, please. Even if Bush wants to, and I really really want to think he's not, please, let's not politicize the Holocaust.
UPDATE: Well, so much for that. From NYT:

So for Mr. Bush, Auschwitz today served not only a symbolic purpose, but a diplomatic one. He arrived here today to drive home his argument — without ever quite saying so directly — that America's traditional allies made a huge historical mistake when they opposed decisive military action against Saddam Hussein....
"All the good that has come to this continent — all the progress, the prosperity, the peace — came because beyond the barbed wire there were people willing to take up arms against evil," Mr. Bush said. It was a searing indictment of modern France and Germany...
He inscribed the words "never forget" in a guest book, and alighted his motorcade to return to Krakow and make his argument that America was remembering, but much of Europe was not.

David Lee Roth, Hoping to Take Classic Rock to Promised Land (WP): Oh, come on. You always saw Van Halen as an essentially Jewish enterprise, didn't you?

Apparently the GOP works on Jewish Standard Time - about a week behind schedule. They plan on nominating Bush 61 days before the general election, but the State of Illinois requires candidates to be certified at least 67 days before an election. Therefore, argue the Libertarians, Bush's name should not be on the ballot in Illinois.

Whitney Houston, Black Hebrew? Time for another drug test...

A voice you don't hear very often from the Jewish Press letter-writing class:

Each of us who has beat the Bushian war drums ought to ask himself the following questions: Would I have advocated war if Iraq didn`t happen to be an arch-enemy of Israel? Would I have supported the war if I thought I’d be required to make any real sacrifice? Am I running out to enlist in the United States armed forces or sending my children to do so? Do I really care if 20 million Iraqis were "liberated"?
...
Zachary M. Berman

Was Jesus gay? This doctoral student seems to think so (via WND)...

I have no idea how accurate this is, but take it for what its worth (via MENW - anybody have any info on this outfit's reliability?)

The Bush administration has prepared a list of sanctions against Israel should it refuse to comply with a plan for a Palestinian state by the end of the year.
...
"It's hard to overestimate the anger within the administration toward Israel regarding the delays in the roadmap," a congressional source close to the administration said. "The White House doesn't regard the roadmap merely as foreign policy. It sees the roadmap as a major element toward the reelection of the president."

The latest in Ariel Sharon's ongoing series of language games. On Monday, he said (via CNN)

"You cannot like the word, but what is happening is an occupation -- to hold 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation. I believe that is a terrible thing for Israel and for the Palestinians."

A previous example of Sharon's adventures in linguistics (via the Toronto Star)

[Sharon] has even backpedalled from recent remarks that indicated he accepted the inevitability of dismantling outposts and some established settlements — Beit El and Shilo were specifically cited — in the territories. Sharon described these as "painful concessions."


But in an interview with the Jerusalem Post published yesterday, Sharon said those earlier statements had been misinterpreted; that these communities were not "candidates" for withdrawal, and that Jews would evermore continue to live there.


Asked directly if Jews could live in places such as Beit El and Shilo under Israeli sovereignty, Sharon responded: "Do you see a possibility of Jews living under Arab sovereignty? I'm asking you, do you see that possibility?"

Newsweek article on the alliance between right-wing Jews and The Christian Right on Israel. All the usual stuff, plus this:

Mere politics is involved, too. Conservative Christians want to shed their image of intolerance. “They’re tired of being branded anti-Semites,” says Grover Norquist, a conservative activist. GOP leaders bless the marriage, and hope to get it into a Big Tent strategy for 2004.

There is evidence that a number of major Jewish donors—longtime Democrats—are covering their bets if not switching sides, especially in New York, where the shock of 9-11 adds urgency to the war on terror and to Bush’s popularity among Jews.

Neo-Nazi youths murdered boy, 17, for looking like a Jew (via Drudge): The latest disturbing story coming out of Germany.

Apparently, Bashar Assad wonders whether al-Qaeda actually exists. (via Israpundit) This isn't going to help him if he really is next for regime change.

I just noticed this. If you'd check out Bill Clinton's bio on the White House website, you'll find snippets like:

During the administration of William Jefferson Clinton, the U.S. enjoyed more peace and economic well being than at any time in its history...


He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation in 30 years, the highest home ownership in the country's history, dropping crime rates in many places, and reduced welfare roles. He proposed the first balanced budget in decades and achieved a budget surplus.


In the world, he successfully dispatched peace keeping forces to war-torn Bosnia...

The International Solidarity Movement, the group famous for standing in front of Israeli soldiers and bulldozers in and around Palestinian refugee camps -- think Rachel Corrie -- is recruiting. From their website:

we particularly invite Jewish people to join the movement.

Already, about 25% of our activists come from Jewish backgrounds. It is much more easy for Jewish people to enter Israel and more embarrassing for the Israeli government to deport Jews, making our Jewish contingent extremely valuable to the movement. We hope to see you in Palestine.

Hasidic Rebel posts his take on the Hasidic lifestyle:

I often feel that impulse for contradiction in my life as a Chasidic Jew. I am repulsed by so much that I believe is wrong within the Chasidic community. But there is a lot that I love about it, too. I despise the tribalism, the indifference to the yearnings and aspirations, joys and sorrows of mankind as a whole. Their lack of respect for other sincere expressions of spiritual searching. The denial of the existence of good and truth among the nations.

But I also have a deep love and respect for the Chasidim's devotion to their lifestyle. I am touched by the reverence they display for their leaders. Their kindness and generosity are overwhelming, at least when benefitting their own. I love the spiritual warmth of Chasidim farbrenging together at a Shalosh Seudos meal, or a tzaddik's yahrzeit in song, storytelling, and divrei Torah. The Chasidic melodies have the power transform one to a world where only love and closeness to G-d exist.

I would only wonder if HR wants his kids to grow up to be just like he's presenting himself on his blog, openminded, but frustrated at his community's mores (not to mention living in fear of exposure), because he feels that the overall lifestyle is better than what he could find anywhere else? Or, maybe, he wouldn't mind watching his kids grow up to reject his more liberal values and settle into the Chareidi lifestyle. I really am very interested.

Bradford Pilcher provides a sneak peak to his Jewsweek article on Jewish themes in The Matrix Reloaded on his blog. Check it out.