I've been to many Republican conventions, but this is the first one at which it feels that victory is likely. It's an unusual feeling and worth savoring, because it is rare. In fact, I'm not sure we'll ever see a political week like this ever again.
Take the following recent sequence of events:
- Biden's debate collapse
- Calls by Democrats for Biden to drop out
- Trump survives attempted assassination after being shot
- Federal judge dismisses documents case against Trump
- Polls in swing states, and even some blue states, favor Trump
- Biden, trying to show stamina, comes down with COVID (I wish him well)
There is a profound sense of optimism in Milwaukee, as well as a feeling that the party is becoming more diverse while also coming together. And the theme of faith has also been consistent throughout the convention.
It feels like victory.
Highlights from the stage thus far: undoubtedly the Gold Star families of the 13 service members killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal; Peter Navarro, right out of prison, defiant against "lawfare"; Amber Rose on her political conversion; the Jewish religious student and the parents of an American-Israeli hostage.
JD Vance was solid, and took an interesting line: America is not just an "idea," as President Joe Biden likes to say; it is also a nation, a land, a people. I think that is the essence of "America First" populism, and it was refreshing to hear. His wife, Usha, is impressive, charming, authentic, and appropriately demure.
And President Donald Trump has yet to address the gathering. Tonight. Wow.
This week's show will be slightly different from the norm: we'll focus on clips and topics, rather than guests -- and that, hopefully, will mean more input from the callers (unless you are all watching football on opening weekend).
Topics:
- The state of the economy
- The fight against crime
- The midterm election fight
- The struggle for peace between Russia and Ukraine
- The airstrike on the Venezuelan drug cartel
- The attempt to sink Kennedy
- The war in Gaza
- The case against Harvard
- The Trump presidency
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's Torah portion includes several laws about conduct in civic and personal life, the common theme of which is boundaries -- setting bounds to what one may do at home, at work, and even in the battlefield.
One noteworthy passage concerns Amalek, the evil nation that attacked the Children of Israel as they made their Exodus from slavery to freedom. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 commands Jews to obliterate Amalek's memory.
The South African government accused Israel of genocide on the basis of a story about Amalek in the Book of Samuel, in which King Saul was commanded to wipe out the entire evil Amalekite nation.
Because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quoted this week's portion -- "Remember what Amalek did to you" (25:17), the South African government claimed he was commanding soldiers to commit genocide.
It was an absurd and malevolent misreading of the Bible and of Jewish tradition. The commandment, as observed by Jews today, is to remember the evil of Amalek and fight ...
