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The impact of the moderate Republican

On Oct. 28, 1980, a beleaguered President Jimmy Carter stood on a debate stage with his Republican challenger, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Carter’s one chance to save his presidency depended on his ability to portray Reagan’s views as extreme. The best levers appeared to be Reagan’s criticisms of Social Security, but especially his vocal opposition in 1961 to a federal program to provide medical care to seniors — a plan that became law, as Medicare, in 1965.

Six degrees of Senator Joe Lieberman

It was an innocuous interview about a subject I no longer remember. A dozen years ago, I made arrangements to meet Joe Lieberman in a Manhattan office building where he had other business. The Connecticut senator, who announced this week he won’t seek re-election for a fifth term, would be able to spare 15 or 20 minutes between appointments for a taped conversation to be broadcast on the television network where I was then employed.

The spirit of Jonathan Swift, Rotbart should apologize

\” . . . Rotbart wants us to feel guilt, regret and fear; the very emotions that the conservative party and our past presidential party have been trying to make us feel for years now. I\’m happy to say that we voted for change, and the days of Jews being stuck in an uninformed past are over . . . \”

Begone, bygones! Green is the new blue and white

\” . . . It is troubling that some Orthodox rabbis have joined with the Christian right to eliminate same-sex civil marriage. Banning same-sex civil marriage is about as relevant to Orthodox Judaism as banning the sale of shellfish . . . \”

Post-election healing — kumbaya in class and at the beach

Now that the election is over and campaign exaggerations can give way to reality, in schools, and everywhere else, people are making efforts to put things back into perspective. While a lot of healing may still be needed before that sort of unity can move beyond a Saturday night at the beach, one uniting factor all agree on is that this election brought a new level of political awareness and passion across party lines and across ages.

The Democrats won for the wrong reasons

As an American, I never thought I would say that I find a new French leader, the pro-opportunity, pro-defense Mr. Sarkozy, closer to the American ideal than our own president-elect. In giving President-elect Obama the benefit of the doubt, I hope sincerely that he can grow into the job, and I can revise that assessment.

Let bygones (not) be bygones

So John McCain — while claiming that not he\’s not impugning Barack Obama\’s patriotism — impugns Barack Obama\’s patriotism, but we\’re supposed to understand that it doesn\’t really matter, because that\’s just what people do in campaigns.

Race ends with GOP slamming Obama on Israel

The latest attacks come on the heels of new polls showing that Obama significantly expanded his lead among Jewish voters since August and is now poised to match the totals recorded by previous Democratic nominees.

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More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.