The first thing I should note is that I had an incredible time in Milwaukee. I have always loved the city, and even considered moving there once. It is neoclassical, Midwestern, cosmopolitan, and earthy at the same time. I went to a Brewers game, swam at Bradford Beach, drank a Leinenkugels shandy, and rode a scooter everywhere.
The debate itself: I found it more exciting than expected, but still sort of boring. It was nice to hear candidates talking about conservative policies, but I didn't hear much that blew my mind, though I was impressed with Gov. Doug Burgum's answer on abortion (which I happen to agree with, though it needed something more).
Trump is still the frontrunner, and remains irreplaceable -- not just because of the indictments, although they have given conservatives reason to rally around him, but also because he has an instinct for identifying the most important issues and for framing them in a powerful way. Whether he can beat Biden is another matter.
I would add this: Democrats trolled the debate with an airplane towing a sign that described the 2024 Republican primary as a race for the "extreme MAGA base." It was the first time I had seen a major American political party attack the voters on the other side, not just the politicians. Scary stuff, in the context of what's going on.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
