From antisemitic politicians to grocery-store boycotts, the Left's fixation on the Jewish state is driving away voters, dividing its coalition, and turning "activism" into self-sabotage.
In New York City, Democratic socialists have talking points that convinced a little more than one fifth of eligible voters to elect Zohran Mamdani. These include bankrupting landlords, abolishing the NYPD, emptying the jails, taxing people out of their homes (because private property is an abomination), dumbing down schools even more than they are now, making sure every child knows what a drag queen is, providing free cross-sex hormones and surgeries to every confused adolescent who wants them, and -- free, free everything for everybody.
I exaggerate not.
A little less than one fifth of us voted against Mamdani. Three fifths of voters didn't vote at all. Mamdani is about to spend $5,000,000 on a platoon of Democratic socialists to do "community outreach."
He's endorsing and pushing anti-Jew Islamists on us for any number of political positions.
If New Yorkers do not rise up with a mighty roar and throw the little shithead out in four years, then I think our city, the glorious phoenix that's risen again and again despite any number of misfortunes over our long history, will finally be dead.
Bob, it's a good article, and I understand the analysis. I just don't know that being anti-Israel hurts these people as much as we would like to think.
Maybe it hurts in some situations and helps in others.
Look at Zohran Mamdani. It didn't stop him. Look at Olivia Chow here in Toronto. It certainly didn't stop her. The reality is that for most voters, Israel and antisemitism simply are not their primary issues. I wish that weren't true, but I think it is.
I don't think the Democrats are struggling because of Israel alone. I think Israel is just one item on a very long list of positions where they have found themselves on the wrong side of the silent majority. The border. Crime. Men competing in women's sports. A growing sense that common sense has been replaced by ideology. It's almost as if they keep searching for positions that ordinary people don't agree with and then act surprised when voters push back.
So yes, I think anti-Israel activism is part of the problem. But I don't think it's the main problem. I think it's one symptom of a broader political disconnect.
Honestly, I wish support for Israel mattered more politically than it does. I wish more people cared about antisemitism and what is happening to Jews. But when I look around, I don't see much evidence that it is a deciding issue for most voters. Most people are worried about their jobs, their bills, their safety, and the cost of living.
That's why I think the Democrats' problems run much deeper than Israel. Israel is just one more example of a political movement that seems increasingly disconnected from the concerns of ordinary people.
I have a bad feeling that you are right. There has been a fundamental change in the western electorate. A combination of defeatism coupled with amnesia of the horrors of the 20th century have taken hold. And the world seems to be spiraling towards the same old nightmare.
The backlash won't be about Israel or Jews. The backlash will be about progressive wokeism, the alliance between the socialists and the Islamists. That's where we hopefully will have a backlash before we implode.
1) I hope you are right that the left is imploding.
2) I live in Maryland, the state of Senator Van Hollen whom you mention. Many people now call him Van Hamas. He recently wrote a very offensive essay in the NY Times, using the terms "genocide" and "occupation" and so forth. Here was the reaction from a local Jewish newspaper. I hope the link works.
3) You mention several times when Palestinians/Arabs have rejected a two state solution. You did not mention their refusal, despite Israel's acceptance, of the UN resolution which created Israel, and would have created a Palestinian state in 1947-48. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian authority want a one state solution, the state being Palestine, and it would be Judenrein. As we put "E Pluribus Unum" on our currency, they would put "Death to the Jews" on theirs.
4) Left wing Jews in America favor ending the "occupation." So do the Palestinians. However, the Palestinians consider Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Beersheva to be "occupied territory."
Of course, it depends upon who the Republican nominee is. The Republican party in Maryland is extremely weak. He is next up for election in 2028. Maryland elects and re-elects Senators and Congressmen and almost never replaces them. Once elected, someone stays in office as long as he wishes. I would guess that in his next election, Van Hollen will get 60% of the vote.
Ignorance abounds ... some of em don't even know what a woman is ffs! We can only try to help them learn to think for themselves as individuals on the basis of facts .... don't give up.
The implosion of the left is a matter of time. Let’s hope it’s soon. I have many left Jewish and non Jewish friends who refuse to discuss facts and history regarding Israel and just condemn the heroes who are defending our people. Both extreme views are unacceptable to me, however I have moved farther right than I ever thought possible.
Great essay, short and to the point. There still seems to be a lack of understanding of the situation by our Jewish leadership organizations. The ADL, AJC, and numerous JCRCs still are in denial that the Democrat party is not the Democrat party of the last century. They keep minimizing the fact that the party has been taken over by the most vile and radical leftist elements who are following the same playbook that the National Socialists did in Germany and the Bolsheviks did in Russia...They have found their rallying focal point and that is the Jews plain and simple. Until our major Jewish organizations recalibrate this will only get worse.
The top dem anti Israel obsessed ones all have their "As a Jews" for Palestine. Those Jews love that role. I am sure Cortez in NY has lined up a whole team of kapo advisors for her future campaigns.
How many jews in park slop voted to boycott Israeli products? How many pridefully don keffiyehs( love to see the older gals dressed in black from head to toe)?
In New York City, Democratic socialists have talking points that convinced a little more than one fifth of eligible voters to elect Zohran Mamdani. These include bankrupting landlords, abolishing the NYPD, emptying the jails, taxing people out of their homes (because private property is an abomination), dumbing down schools even more than they are now, making sure every child knows what a drag queen is, providing free cross-sex hormones and surgeries to every confused adolescent who wants them, and -- free, free everything for everybody.
I exaggerate not.
A little less than one fifth of us voted against Mamdani. Three fifths of voters didn't vote at all. Mamdani is about to spend $5,000,000 on a platoon of Democratic socialists to do "community outreach."
He's endorsing and pushing anti-Jew Islamists on us for any number of political positions.
If New Yorkers do not rise up with a mighty roar and throw the little shithead out in four years, then I think our city, the glorious phoenix that's risen again and again despite any number of misfortunes over our long history, will finally be dead.
Bob, it's a good article, and I understand the analysis. I just don't know that being anti-Israel hurts these people as much as we would like to think.
Maybe it hurts in some situations and helps in others.
Look at Zohran Mamdani. It didn't stop him. Look at Olivia Chow here in Toronto. It certainly didn't stop her. The reality is that for most voters, Israel and antisemitism simply are not their primary issues. I wish that weren't true, but I think it is.
I don't think the Democrats are struggling because of Israel alone. I think Israel is just one item on a very long list of positions where they have found themselves on the wrong side of the silent majority. The border. Crime. Men competing in women's sports. A growing sense that common sense has been replaced by ideology. It's almost as if they keep searching for positions that ordinary people don't agree with and then act surprised when voters push back.
So yes, I think anti-Israel activism is part of the problem. But I don't think it's the main problem. I think it's one symptom of a broader political disconnect.
Honestly, I wish support for Israel mattered more politically than it does. I wish more people cared about antisemitism and what is happening to Jews. But when I look around, I don't see much evidence that it is a deciding issue for most voters. Most people are worried about their jobs, their bills, their safety, and the cost of living.
That's why I think the Democrats' problems run much deeper than Israel. Israel is just one more example of a political movement that seems increasingly disconnected from the concerns of ordinary people.
I have a bad feeling that you are right. There has been a fundamental change in the western electorate. A combination of defeatism coupled with amnesia of the horrors of the 20th century have taken hold. And the world seems to be spiraling towards the same old nightmare.
Let's hope there'll be a backlash. ECB.
The backlash won't be about Israel or Jews. The backlash will be about progressive wokeism, the alliance between the socialists and the Islamists. That's where we hopefully will have a backlash before we implode.
But can there be backlash in big blue cities where jew hatred is huge and rising and in control of govt and media? I wouldn't be betting on it
It may take longer, but my guess, my hope is that it'll happen.
Lets hope ( the hope) springs soon!
1) I hope you are right that the left is imploding.
2) I live in Maryland, the state of Senator Van Hollen whom you mention. Many people now call him Van Hamas. He recently wrote a very offensive essay in the NY Times, using the terms "genocide" and "occupation" and so forth. Here was the reaction from a local Jewish newspaper. I hope the link works.
https://www.jewishtimes.com/the-moral-simplicity-of-chris-van-hollen/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSFmZ1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsbjROQkdGZzBXWHNZdFNOc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkDhHs0SqVxYI9Er_UdsgvVRR3PnMXTr3HfUISO2EY_-Y6_T5uT-tMTXtFHl_aem_ZyR32zzeTCPY0SlvQhmewA
3) You mention several times when Palestinians/Arabs have rejected a two state solution. You did not mention their refusal, despite Israel's acceptance, of the UN resolution which created Israel, and would have created a Palestinian state in 1947-48. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian authority want a one state solution, the state being Palestine, and it would be Judenrein. As we put "E Pluribus Unum" on our currency, they would put "Death to the Jews" on theirs.
4) Left wing Jews in America favor ending the "occupation." So do the Palestinians. However, the Palestinians consider Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Beersheva to be "occupied territory."
What margin would the Maryland Mans amigo win by today
Of course, it depends upon who the Republican nominee is. The Republican party in Maryland is extremely weak. He is next up for election in 2028. Maryland elects and re-elects Senators and Congressmen and almost never replaces them. Once elected, someone stays in office as long as he wishes. I would guess that in his next election, Van Hollen will get 60% of the vote.
Ignorance abounds ... some of em don't even know what a woman is ffs! We can only try to help them learn to think for themselves as individuals on the basis of facts .... don't give up.
The implosion of the left is a matter of time. Let’s hope it’s soon. I have many left Jewish and non Jewish friends who refuse to discuss facts and history regarding Israel and just condemn the heroes who are defending our people. Both extreme views are unacceptable to me, however I have moved farther right than I ever thought possible.
Great essay, short and to the point. There still seems to be a lack of understanding of the situation by our Jewish leadership organizations. The ADL, AJC, and numerous JCRCs still are in denial that the Democrat party is not the Democrat party of the last century. They keep minimizing the fact that the party has been taken over by the most vile and radical leftist elements who are following the same playbook that the National Socialists did in Germany and the Bolsheviks did in Russia...They have found their rallying focal point and that is the Jews plain and simple. Until our major Jewish organizations recalibrate this will only get worse.
Dont hold your breath. Leftism trumps Judaism for many
I won't. They are beyond redemption and incapable of change. In many ways they are like the Jewish councils in Europe in the 1930s.
The top dem anti Israel obsessed ones all have their "As a Jews" for Palestine. Those Jews love that role. I am sure Cortez in NY has lined up a whole team of kapo advisors for her future campaigns.
How many jews in park slop voted to boycott Israeli products? How many pridefully don keffiyehs( love to see the older gals dressed in black from head to toe)?