The Flashlight, Feb. 2-8, 2008
THE SEARCHLIGHT
February 2 -8, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Mary Matossian Ph.D, Editor
US: The February 5 Primary
CNN, cnn.com, PBS. 2/5 -2/7. Sen. John McCain was the clear winner in the Republican primary. With some help from the McCain campaign Mike Huckabee did well in the middle south. Mitt Romney “suspended” his campaign on 2/7, after spending $71 million, including 35 million of his own money. This enables the Republicans to unite and get ready early for the November election
There were huge turnouts for the Democratic Party, with Hilary Clinton leading by narrow margins, and Barack Obama gaining momentum. Clinton did best among women voters over 60, Latinos, and non-college graduates. Obama did best among young voters, 18-29, men, blacks, and better off and better educated voters. The personal qualities of the candidates rather than issues apparently dominated the decisions. Clinton’s theme was her experience and readiness to serve struggling workers. Obama’s theme was “Our time has come!” directed toward younger people, blacks, and college grads.
Aftermath of the Primary
CNN, cnn.com. PBS. The super-delegates to the Democratic Convention (elected officials, political bosses et al.) amount to 40% of the total, and they may play a decisive role at the Party Convention next summer. They include John Edwards, who dropped out of the campaign before the voting, and former Vice President Albert Gore, neither of whom has endorsed a candidate.
In the two days after the primary, Obama raised $7 million dollars more on the Internet, mostly from small donors, who can be asked for more. Clinton loaned $5 million of her own money to her campaign. Many of her donors are tapped out.
The voting in the next 2-3 weeks will be in states where Obama has the better chance to win: Louisiana, Md., D.C., (large black vote), Later contests will include states with a large working class (Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania) where Clinton may do better.
The World Council of Churches and Israel
Haaretz 2-3. The World Council of Churches, the main global body representing non-Roman Catholic Christians (Protestant and Orthodox), encouraged its members to sell off investments in companies profiting from Israel’s control of the West Bank and Gaza.
Frontpagemag.com 2-7. The WCC faulted Israel for the crisis in Gaza. The General Secretary, Rev. Samuel Kobia, said,
“On and a half million people are imprisoned and lack proper food and medicine; 800,000 are without an electrical supply; this is illegal collective punishment, an immoral act in violation of International Law. This cannot be tolerated any further. The siege over Gaza should end now.”
Haaretz 2-3. The United Methodist Church, with 11 million members, the largest mainstream Protestant church in the US, renewed its drive for divestment from companies doing major business in Israel. A church sponsored report declared that the creation of the State of Israel was an “original sin.”
Background: worldnetdaily.com. On July 17, 2004, the Presbyterian Church USA divested its holdings in companies doing major business with Israel.
Counterpoint.com Feb. 9, 2006. The Anglican Church divested its holdings in companies profiting from Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
The Arab World
Education
BBC 2-5. According to a World Bank study, the Arab world has not seen the same rise in literacy rates and attendance at secondary schools and universities that have been seen in Asia and Latin America. In the Arab world, 60% of the population is under 30 years. Of 300 million people, 30% are illiterate.
Egypt and the Palestinians
Reuters 2-7. The Foreign Minister of Egypt, A. A. Gheit, warned the Palestinians not to try to breach the Gaza-Egyptian border again, saying “whoever breaks the border will have his legs broken.”
February 2 -8, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Mary Matossian Ph.D, Editor
US: The February 5 Primary
CNN, cnn.com, PBS. 2/5 -2/7. Sen. John McCain was the clear winner in the Republican primary. With some help from the McCain campaign Mike Huckabee did well in the middle south. Mitt Romney “suspended” his campaign on 2/7, after spending $71 million, including 35 million of his own money. This enables the Republicans to unite and get ready early for the November election
There were huge turnouts for the Democratic Party, with Hilary Clinton leading by narrow margins, and Barack Obama gaining momentum. Clinton did best among women voters over 60, Latinos, and non-college graduates. Obama did best among young voters, 18-29, men, blacks, and better off and better educated voters. The personal qualities of the candidates rather than issues apparently dominated the decisions. Clinton’s theme was her experience and readiness to serve struggling workers. Obama’s theme was “Our time has come!” directed toward younger people, blacks, and college grads.
Aftermath of the Primary
CNN, cnn.com. PBS. The super-delegates to the Democratic Convention (elected officials, political bosses et al.) amount to 40% of the total, and they may play a decisive role at the Party Convention next summer. They include John Edwards, who dropped out of the campaign before the voting, and former Vice President Albert Gore, neither of whom has endorsed a candidate.
In the two days after the primary, Obama raised $7 million dollars more on the Internet, mostly from small donors, who can be asked for more. Clinton loaned $5 million of her own money to her campaign. Many of her donors are tapped out.
The voting in the next 2-3 weeks will be in states where Obama has the better chance to win: Louisiana, Md., D.C., (large black vote), Later contests will include states with a large working class (Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania) where Clinton may do better.
The World Council of Churches and Israel
Haaretz 2-3. The World Council of Churches, the main global body representing non-Roman Catholic Christians (Protestant and Orthodox), encouraged its members to sell off investments in companies profiting from Israel’s control of the West Bank and Gaza.
Frontpagemag.com 2-7. The WCC faulted Israel for the crisis in Gaza. The General Secretary, Rev. Samuel Kobia, said,
“On and a half million people are imprisoned and lack proper food and medicine; 800,000 are without an electrical supply; this is illegal collective punishment, an immoral act in violation of International Law. This cannot be tolerated any further. The siege over Gaza should end now.”
Haaretz 2-3. The United Methodist Church, with 11 million members, the largest mainstream Protestant church in the US, renewed its drive for divestment from companies doing major business in Israel. A church sponsored report declared that the creation of the State of Israel was an “original sin.”
Background: worldnetdaily.com. On July 17, 2004, the Presbyterian Church USA divested its holdings in companies doing major business with Israel.
Counterpoint.com Feb. 9, 2006. The Anglican Church divested its holdings in companies profiting from Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
The Arab World
Education
BBC 2-5. According to a World Bank study, the Arab world has not seen the same rise in literacy rates and attendance at secondary schools and universities that have been seen in Asia and Latin America. In the Arab world, 60% of the population is under 30 years. Of 300 million people, 30% are illiterate.
Egypt and the Palestinians
Reuters 2-7. The Foreign Minister of Egypt, A. A. Gheit, warned the Palestinians not to try to breach the Gaza-Egyptian border again, saying “whoever breaks the border will have his legs broken.”
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 8:58 AM
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