September 26, 2008 | 2:59 pm

Conservatives are piling on Palin attacks

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

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Now this is getting out of hand. Today’s choice quote on Sarah Palin is courtesy of Kathleen Parker at the conservative National Review:

“If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.”

Read the rest of her column here.

September 26, 2008 | 2:37 pm

Sarah Palin and other sexy Puritans

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Slate

I’ve avoided commenting Sarah Palin’s good looks because, frankly, I’ve been a bit repulsed by how often, and explicit, some fantasizing journalists have been. Yeah, she’s hot, but have you heard her speak?

Slate, though, has a fascinating article today that makes this topic worthy of dicussion. It’s about how Palin is the archetype for the sexy Puritan, a formidable foe of the left in the culture wars. Other pious honeys include Britney Spears before mental breakdown and “The View’s” Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Here’s how these warriors are purportedly used:

The right has understood for a long time that harsh social messages seem a lot more palatable coming from an attractive young woman than a glowering old man. What’s most striking about Palin thus far is her reluctance to engage in explicit cultural warfare, given some of the extreme positions she’s taken in the past. Her recent public statements on homosexuality and global warming are more conciliatory than one might have expected, designed to reassure socially moderate swing voters. And she’s in no position to pontificate on the benefits of abstinence-only sex education. For now, her role in the culture war is mainly symbolic. Millions of Americans clearly see her as “one of us”—a devout, working-class, “Bible-believing” Christian whose values and opinions and way of speaking reflect their own—and their exhilaration at having a kindred spirit on the GOP ticket has given the McCain campaign a jolt of populist energy.

In the weeks remaining before Nov. 4, the Obama campaign faces the challenging job of restoring clarity to the election, making people look at Palin and see not just a plucky, surprisingly hot, pro-life mom who made her way from the PTA to the governor’s office, but a “Young Earth” creationist who opposes abortion even in the case of rape or incest and thinks a natural-gas pipeline is an expression of God’s will. In the meantime, though, she remains a perfect emblem for a stealth culture war: a sexy librarian who would be more than happy to ban a few books.

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September 26, 2008 | 2:26 pm

I love the High Holy Days

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

The Jewish Channel has produced a few videos celebrating the High Holy Days and in apparent tribute to VH1. Ben Harris, who last week wrote about the anonymous sex blessing, says the above video is the best.

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September 26, 2008 | 2:49 am

Report: McCain staffers say Palin ‘clueless’

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

I don’t know Ed Schultz and I don’t know his anonymous sources within the McCain campaign, but it’s hard to imagine there aren’t at least some senior staffers who would validate this report from the radio talk-show host:

Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin. The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as “disastrous.” One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, “What are we going to do?” The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is “clueless.”

Ya think?

If you need convincing, check out this post from earlier today about Sarah Palin’s interview with Katie Couric. In it, Palin argues that being neighbors with Russia gives her foreign-policy experience. Right ...

There were also that gem of a critique from Matt Damon and the lamentations of conservative blogger Ross Douthat.

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September 26, 2008 | 2:26 am

Brains and Braun: Hebrew Hammer instills pride in the Tribe

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

This was seriously some day in my sports life.

Granted, I skipped a jog at the beach this morning because I remembered I hate running, but shortly after lunch the Dodgers won the NL West without even playing. Then, an hour ago, I was freed from the bondage of my couch so I could finally finish a story I’ve had for a WHILE, when the Oregon State Beavers completed their most improbable upset of USC. And, to boot, my favorite Jewish baseball player belted a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th to keep the Brewers in the wild card hunt and keep Mets fans’ stomachs knotted.

To be sure, Ryan Braun, who went to high school with two of my college roommates, is one of the only notable Jewish players in the league right now. The other big name being Kevin Youkilis. But Braun really is something special, and I’d go so far as to call him the second coming of Hank Greenberg. Just look at his numbers from this year:

BA: .286
HR: 36
RBI: 104

Last year, his rookie season, Braun was even better. And not only is he out there giving hope to all us scrawny Jewish kids who didn’t really chose scholarship over sports, he’s also proven to be the real deal in real life. For a refresher from the all-star game, when, thanks to an off-the-cuff remark from Reggie Jackson and a blood-thirsty sports paparazzi, he “was asked to play Abe Foxman instead of left field.”

Daniel Treiman at the Bintel Blog offers the analysis:

There had been questions about how strongly Braun — who has been dubbed “the Hebrew Hammer” by some excited fans — identifies as Jewish. But regarding being asked by a reporter about Jackson’s remarks, Braun explained, “I think that it’s something that comes with the territory. There aren’t too many Jewish athletes at the highest level. It’s something that I certainly embrace. But there are times when people expect me to be aware of issues, like that specific example. I didn’t have any idea what he was talking about.”

Well put. Seriously, how could anyone not root for such a level-headed athlete?

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September 25, 2008 | 7:11 pm

Bill Maher, Catholic and Jewish, master of guilt

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

And we’re back. Joining me again is my guest, Bill Maher.

Now, this is Bill’s sixth appearance on The God Blog in as many weeks; I suppose the visits will stop soon after his new docu-drama, “Religulous,” is greeted at theaters by protesters Oct. 3.

Yesterday I mentioned that even Bill is prone to irrational beliefs, his having to do with medicine. And today, I offer this snippet from my feature about his new film.

This portion appears toward the end of the article:

The so-called New Atheists—bestselling authors who appeal to science, logic and intellectual elitism—typically preach only to the choir.

With his Catholic and Jewish backgrounds, Maher should feel guiltier than anyone about such heathen humor. But instead, the religious moviegoer is the only one worrying about God’s forgiveness.

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September 25, 2008 | 5:29 pm

Sarah Palin discusses foreign-policy experience

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Rod Dreher continues to be disappointed with Sarah Palin. (In other bad news from the base, Richard Cizik, VP of the National Association of Evangelicals, said John McCain “seems to be waffling on issue after issue.) His latest grievance is courtesy of Palin’s interview with Katie Couric; the video is below. He writes that Palin mechanically follows talking points and at times appears to be just babbling.

“She makes George W. Bush sound like Cicero,” Dreher writes.

Yikes.

After excerpting what he thought was the most coherent portion of the interview, Dreher offered these remarks:

I remember the morning I woke up in my college dorm room and went in to take my final exam in my Formal Logic class. I knew I was unready. Massively unready. And now I was going to be put to the ultimate test. I sat down in Dr. Sarkar’s class and resolved to wing it. Of course I failed the exam and failed the class, because I had no idea what I was talking about. I wasn’t a bad kid, or even a stupid kid. I was just badly unprepared, and in way over my head. Seeing the Palin interview on CBS, I thought of myself in Dr. Sarkar’s exam. But see, I was a college undergraduate who had the chance to take the class again, which I did, and passed (barely). I wasn’t running for vice president of the United States.

Watch the entire interview here or a portion, in which Palin explains her comment that being neighbors with Russia has given her foreign-policy experience, is after the jump:

Read more of this post

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September 25, 2008 | 2:00 pm

Sarah Silverman says Obama is ‘circum-supersized’

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Move over Obama Girl. Sarah Silverman is single and, from the descriptions she provides in this video, she more than just a big fan of Barack Obama.

I saw this video Monday night at the home of David Nevins, an executive producer of “Arrested Development” who gave me hope that the movie is still going to happen. This video was created to promote The Great Schlep, a mass journey this October of Gen-Y Jews to their bubbes’ condos in Florida.

The Schlep is a product of JewsVote.org, and it’s aimed at using the same circles of trust to combat rumors and myths about Obama that have spread so viciously. They hope, though, that this video has the same viral effect as the Obama’s-a-Muslim e-mail.

The video has potential. Most of it is new material, though you’ll recognize her comparisons between young black men and Jewish grandparents from a bit she did on Leno last year. Best line about Obama has got to be that he is “circum-supersized.” But let me offer this disclaimer: Sarah Silverman has a foul mouth, and her jokes in this video are no exception. So don’t say I didn’t warn ya ...

It should be no surprise that Silverman is supporting Obama. After all, Matt Damon can’t stand Sarah Palin, and we know what Sarah Silverman’s doing to Matt Damon.

“I was wondering what I could do to help; anybody who likes me is voting for Obama, probably,” Silverman told me. “But this was a brilliant idea—it wasn’t mine—and I’m glad they came to me.”

“I’m terrified,” she added. “I work on the road and I see that it is not all for Obama.”

I work in Los Angeles and see that. That much is true in New York, too.

If you didn’t already know the nugget about “Arrested Development,” I recommend following me on Twitter.

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September 25, 2008 | 2:22 am

Craig X, pot pastor, candidate for LA mayor

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Two years ago, Craig X Rubin started a unique church where pot was used to communicate prayers to God. Temple 420 (still around) was odd and unorthodox—mixing Christians and Jews and claiming that cannabis was the Tree of Life—and it landed Rubin in court. He avoided jail, and this month re-appeared on The God Blog. Today, Rubin sent me a note announcing his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles.

I believe Rubin has filed with the clerk’s office; here’s his campaign website.

Previously, Rubin told me he was a Reagan Republican, albeit one who opposes the war on drugs. His mayoral campaign platform consists of building a water desalination plant in the Pacific; bringing back the car manufacturing and aerospace companies that left in the early ‘90s; and getting the feds off California’s back (namely when it comes to their intermittent raids and harassment of medical marijuana facilities).

Craig X will officially announce his candidacy at the LA Press Club on Monday evening, an hour before the end of the Jewish year. He said that’s not coincidental.

“This is the Day of Judgment in my culture and at this time in the history of the City of Los Angeles,” Rubin said in a statement. “Working together we can make the City of Angels a heavenly place to live.”

No wonder L.A.‘s current mayor is in San Antonio seeking re-election cash. Look out, Antonio.

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September 24, 2008 | 6:30 pm

Even Bill Maher can be irrational

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Photo: Tim Palen

My feature/review of Bill Maher’s new film, “Religulous,” is off to the printer and will appear in tomorrow’s Jewish Journal. It’s a decent piece and, if nothing else, includes the pretty cool, ultra-pious photo seen here (now my desktop background). In short, I liked the movie because it was entertaining but, as I’ve said before, didn’t find myself spending long dark nights wrestling with the irrationality of what I believe.

Speaking of irrational, my friend Mollie at GeReligion had an excellent op-ed Friday in the Wall Street Journal, in which she identified the danger with the New Atheist movement—it should be noted that Maher considers himself an antecedent to Sam Harris et al and prefers the designation of “ethicist”—and points out that even Bill Maher, who preaches the “doctrine of I-don’t-know,” is prone to irrational behavior.

Take it away, Mollie:

“You can’t be a rational person six days of the week and put on a suit and make rational decisions and go to work and, on one day of the week, go to a building and think you’re drinking the blood of a 2,000-year-old space god,” comedian and atheist Bill Maher said earlier this year on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.”

Anti-religionists such as Mr. Maher bring to mind the assertion of G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown character that all atheists, secularists, humanists and rationalists are susceptible to superstition: “It’s the first effect of not believing in God that you lose your common sense, and can’t see things as they are.”

You can read the rest of the column, which also discusses Richard Dawkins and Matt Damon’s dissing of Sarah Palin, here.

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September 24, 2008 | 3:32 pm

Link dump: God and the U.S. economic crisis

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

"No End in Sight"

The U.S. economy has stalled—and that’s better than what it was doing last week—as it awaits word of a $700 billion government bailout. California’s economy is bad and getting worse. Where is God in all this?

Everywhere—at least when it comes to new stories with religious angles. Here is a sampling:

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, says Karl Marx was correct in condemning capitalism;

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the crazy Iranian president, blames Wall Street’s financial suffering on our immoral military economy;

Chuck Colson wants you to have faith in the financial markets and use this chance to spread the gospel;

But during times like these, even Masters of the Universe need God’s help;

And that’s why Aish HaTorah, a Jewish outreach organization, is offering its prayers—and for a lot less than its Torah study sessions;

What about that ungodly CEO compensation that catalyzed the crisis? Andrea Useem explains just what evangelicals think about rewarding avarice;

As for the following video, that’s The Fundermentalist talking about how the downturn will hurt Jewish start-ups.

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September 24, 2008 | 1:57 pm

Video game promotes exterminating Muslims

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

This post from Islamophobia Watch will make your stomach turn:

A computer game in which players control an American soldier sent to “wipe out the Muslim race” has been condemned as offensive and tasteless by a British Muslim group. The goal of Muslim Massacre, which can be downloaded for free on the internet, is to “ensure that no Muslim man or woman is left alive”, according to the game’s creator.

The game’s creator, a freelance programmer known as Sigvatr, described the game on the SomethingAwful.com website as “fun and funny”. In a “How you can help” section, he writes to visitors: “Don’t whinge about how offensive and ‘edgy’ this is.”

And we wonder why the war on terror is perceived as a war on Islam. Reminds me of when Iowa Jane Republican spoke on NPR last year about how she was so proud of the troops who had died in Iraq “because they are the ones keeping us free and the ones keeping those Muslims out of our country.”

In other right-wing European news, a “Stop Islam” rally flopped in Germany over the weekend.

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