Congress Speaks-Up Regarding Obama – Netanyahu Rift

More than 250 members of Congress have signed on to a declaration reaffirming their commitment to “the unbreakable bond that exists between [U.S.] and the State of Israel”, in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The letter was sent in the wake of the severe recent tensions between Israel and the U.S. over the prior’s decision to construct more than 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem, a project it announced during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took advantage of his trip to the United States this week to try to mend the rift with the Obama administration, but he was greeted with cold welcome by the White House.

Netanyahu also met during his visit with members of Congress, who welcomed him with significantly more warmth.

The letter from Congress expresses its “deep concern” over the U.S.-Israel crisis, and emphasizes that lawmakers had received assurances from Netanyahu that the events leading up to the recent tensions would not be repeated.

Letter from members of Congress

Dear Secretary Clinton:

We are writing to reaffirm our commitment to the unbreakable bond that exists between our country and the State of Israel and to express to you our deep concern over recent tension. In every important relationship, there will be occasional misunderstandings and conflicts.

Chavez Mocks Clinton As Blond Condoleezza

Venezuela’s President Hugo mocked U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a “blond” version of her predecessor, and said a row with Spain over alleged links with rebel groups was over.

 

Visiting Latin America this week, Clinton said the Obama administration’s policies towards the region were helping blunt the criticism of the United States by leftist leaders like Chavez.

“To me, she’s like Condoleezza Rice … a blond Condoleezza,” said the Venezuelan, referring to former U.S. president George W. Bush’s secretary of state, with whom he exchanged frequent harsh words at long-distance.

Citing comments by Clinton in Brazil, Chavez said she was proving to be equally aggressive. “She comes to Brazil to provoke us, to try and divide us from our brothers.”

While taking a familiar pop at the United States, Chavez was more conciliatory towards Spain.

Just Call Hillary ‘Madam President’

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who last year made an abortive White House bid, said  she enjoyed her role as president…of the UN Security Council.

“I kind of like being president,” she quipped as she chaired a council meeting on sexual violence against women in armed conflict. “So this may go on a little longer than anticipated.”

Her remarks sparked laughter from her council colleagues and the US chief diplomat beamed when, after she introduced Ban Ki-moon, the UN chief replied with a smile: “Thank you Madam President.”

Clinton sat in the council chair because her country holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member body this month.

500-Pound Moose Falls From The Sky

Police said a 500-pound moose fell 18 feet to its death when it apparently leaped a guardrail on an Interstate 95 overpass and landed on Hinckley Road in Clinton, Maine. 

Officials learned of the incident when a motorist called the town office and told assistant town clerk Shirley Bailey that “a moose just fell out of the sky.”

Bailey said the driver, who was under the bridge when he spotted the falling moose, was “pretty excited about it.”

Police Chief Charles Runnels said the yearling bull probably panicked because of the noise and traffic along I-95 and began running. He said it just picked the wrong spot to jump the guardrail, falling onto a road instead of landing in a field.

A passerby with a wrecker hauled away the carcass.

Meet The World’s Most Beautiful Politicians

Four Israeli politicians placed among the 54 most beautiful women in public office in the world in an online reader poll taken by Spanish newspaper, 20 Minutos. Newly elected Member of Knesset Orli Levy was ranked in 14th place. Five slots after her comes former Knesset member and business woman Pnina Rosenblum (below) in 19th place.

In 23rd place is Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham Balila, and 31st place is MK Anastassia Michaeli (below).

The list, voted on by tens of thousands of online readers, was topped by 30-year-old Peruvian Member of Parliament Luciana Leon (below).

Immediately following in second place is Mercedes Araoz, also from Peru. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko (below) received 8th place in the poll.

In 24th place, one slot after MK Ruhama Avraham, is Alaskan governor and former Republican vice president candidate Sarah Palin (below).

Also representing the United States, Hillary Clinton (below) was ranked in 34th place. At 61, she is the oldest woman on the list.

Just two slots after Clinton is Segolene Royal (below), who ran less than two years ago against Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidency.

The youngest woman on the list is Julia Bonk (below), 23, who was elected to Saxony’s state parliament in east Germany for the first time at the age of 18. She is ranked in 22nd place in the poll.

From Africa, Angolan Isabel dos Santos (below) ranks 47th on the list.

Sealing off the list in 54th place is Afghani Malalai Joya (below), 30.

Here’s the complete list:

1 – Luciana Leon, 30, Peru
2 – Mercedes Aráoz 47, Peru
3 – Sara Latife Ruiz Chavez, 32, Mexico
4 – Mara Carfagna, 32, Italy
5 – Yuri Fujikawa, 27, Japan
6 – Anna-Maria Galojan, 26, Estonia
7 – Toireasa Ferris, 29, Ireland
8 – Yuliya Tymoshenko, 48, Ukraine
9 – Eunice Olsen, 31, Singapore
10 – Cayetana Álvarez, 34, Spain
11 – Vera Lischka, 31, Austria
12 – Alina Kabaev, 26, Russia
13 – Gabriela Cueva, 29, Mexico
14 – Orly Levy, 35, Israel
15 – Cristina Dia, 50, Mexico
16 – Tsepeli Nikolet, 28, Greece
17 – Marianne Thiem, 36, The Netherlands
18 – Carme Chacó, 37, Spain
19 – Pnina Rosenblum, 53, Israel
20 – Bibiana Aíd, 31, Spain
21 – Tanja Karpel, 38, Finland
22 – Julia Anastasia Bonk, 23, Germany
23 – Ruhama Avraham, 44, Israel
24 – Sarah Palin, 44, United States
25 – Stefania Prestigiacom, 43, Italy
26 – Sofia Larse, 36, Sweden
27 – Angelina Sondak, 32, Indonesia
28 – Cristina Fernández de Kirchne, 56, Argentina
29 – Katrín Gunnarsdótti, 43, Iceland
30 – Soraya Sáen, 37, Spain
31 – Anastasia Michael, 33, Israel
32 – Stephanie Herseth, 38, United States
33 – Mónica Lorente Ramó, 38, Spain
34 – Hillary Clinton, 61, United States
35 – Melissa Park, 42, Australia
36 – Ségolène Roya, 55, France
37 – Jiang Y, 44, China
38 – Freya Van den Bossch, 34, Belgium
39 – Nebahat Albayra, 40, The Netherlands
40 – Kirsten Gillibrand, 43, United States
41 – Eva Glawischni, 39, Austria
42 – Sabine Herol, 27, France
43 – Hillevi Larsso, 34, Sweden
44 – Hillevi Larsso, 46, Iceland
45 – Piia-Noora Kaupp, 33, Finland
46 – Sabine Bätzin, 34, German
47 – Isabel dos Santo, Angola
48 – Penny Won, 40, Australia
49 – Kate Elli, 32, Australia
50 - Melissa Lee, New Zealand
51 – Marcela Guerra Castill, Mexico
52 – Delsa Solórzano, Venezuela
53 – Natalie Rickl, 33, Sweden
54 – Malalai Joy, 31, Afghanistan

Sarah Palin Launches Her Own PAC

Sarah Palin has launched a political action committee to help support candidates for federal and state office.

According to the site homepage SarahPAC is “dedicated to building America’s future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation.”

This looks a lot like Hillary Clinton’s PAC called HillPAC.  Note that HillPAC was suspended once Hillary was confirmed as Secretary of State.

Is Sarah preparing for a Presidential run in 2012? Maybe or maybe not, but it certainly confirms that she intends to remain a player on the national political stage.

Visit SarahPAC here:
http://www.sarahpac.com/

Shame On You Chris Matthews

Like Sarah Palin or hate Sarah Palin it doesn’t matter – she’s the sitting Govenor of Alaska and should be treated with respect.  On Friday MSNBC’s Chris Matthews suggested that Palin may not have the reading or writing ability needed to complete the book she is reportedly shopping.

Matthews said “If she can read, if she can write, she’ll make some money.”  Matthews repeated his suggestion that Palin could not write the book when he said ”The question is who actually will write the Palin book.”

Maybe MSNBC should find some new writers for Chris Matthews.

After the way Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Caroline Kennedy have been treated by the press it’s a wonder that any woman is willing to run for public office.

Schumer Gets His Gal

Chuck Schumer is getting his wish.  Kirsten Gillibrand the anti-gun control, low-profile upstate congresswoman is going to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.  Liberal downstate politicos are furious, Long Islander Carolyn McCarthey is so upset that she’s promised to challenge Gillibrand in the 2010 primary.  McCarthey lost her husband in a shooting on the Long Island Railroad so gun control is a very important issue for her. 

Wonder if Gillibrand will be joining Schumer for his regular Sunday afternoon press conferences?

Hillary’s in at the State Department

The Senate confirmed Hillary Clinton as our new Secretary of State by a vote of 94 to 2 and she was sworn in last night with Bill Clinton proudly holding the bible.

Who voted against her? Republican Sens. David Vitter of Louisiana and Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

Caroline Kennedy Calls it Quits

Caroline Kennedy has dropped out of the race to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate.

“I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate,” she said in the one-sentence statement.

Looks like this was a pre-emptive withdrawal as her chances of getting the seat were not looking bright.  The New York Post, which was the first to report the withdrawal, cited an unidentified source as saying she dropped out because she learned Paterson had decided not to choose her.