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August 28, 2008

Steve Lipman: A Comeback for the 'Jewish Jordan'

Jeffrey Weiss: Researcher reports 'intriguing' diabetes breakthrough

August 27, 2008

Rabbi Zecharya Greenwald: Removing the perfectionist's mask

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Nunn: Summer harvest linguine

JWisdom:: The Missing Link in Spiritual Life by Rabbi David Aaron

August 26, 2008

Yaffa Ganz: Grandma gets lessons in staying cool

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: The Dems' 'soft' jihadist

JWisdom:: Today: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Plague of indifference

August 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: A friend is bearing a silly grudge from a supposed wrong. What recourse do I have?

Daniel Pipes: Barack Obama through Muslim Eyes

JWisdom:: The knowledge you need to overcome your insecurities by Malka Schulman

August 22, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: Life's essential ingredient

Caroline B. Glick: Dominos anyone?

JWisdom:: Actually, Do Sweat the Small Stuff! by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 21, 2008

Today in Biblical History by Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Popularization of Kabbalah: 20 Menachem-Av 1558 CE

Jonathan Rosenblum: Lessons from the Beyond

JWisdom: : The Olympian within is rooting for you -- yes, you! –- to go for the gold

August 20, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Misleading Platform Platitudes

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Chicken Salad with Asian Dressing

JWisdom: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: America's Defense of the Jews --- Until WWII by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

August 19, 2008

Dennis Prager: If the Almighty doesn't exist

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Obama's Islamist problem has nothing to do with his upbringing

JWisdom: Think your life is messed up? by Rabbi David Aaron

August 18, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Business with Friends

Diana West: Roars About Russia, Bare Whispers About Islam

JWisdom: Relationship agony: The real cause by Malka Schulman

August 15, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: To love the Divine

Caroline B. Glick: Georgia, Israel, and the nature of man

JWisdom: The Truly Righteous Don't Demand Entitlements by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 14, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Confessions of broken spirit

Libby Lazewnik: The Numbers Game

JWisdom: Six Questions You'll Be Asked in Heaven? - Uh - Let's Just Take One for Now! by Gavriel Aryeh Sanders

August 13, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Georgia should be on their minds

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Go Greek: Pair flavorful lamb kebabs with a hearty salad

JWisdom: Human hybrids aren't science fiction by Rabbi David Aaron

August 12, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bless us

Daniel Pipes: The West's Islamist Infiltrators

JWisdom: From Sadness to Gladness: The Route from Tisha b'Av to Rosh Hashana by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

August 11, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: A Jewish view on fair pricing

Caroline B. Glick: Ignoring failure in Gaza

JWisdom: 'Communication' Is Not The Answer! by Malka Schulman

August 7, 2008

Rabbi David Gutterman: A Continuing Story With a Sustaining Goal

Rabbi Berel Wein: Mourning and morning

JWisdom: Yes, we are still in exile by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 6, 2008

David Ashenfelter: Government made military engineer's life a living hell because of his faith, Defense Department report documents

Jonathan Tobin: Speak the Truth; Defeat the Lies

JWisdom: Jewish Spirituality: Fusion or Confusion? by Rabbi David Aaron

August 5, 2008

Chris Leppek: Church/state wall beginning to crumble?

Paul Greenberg: Exit Olmert (no encore, please)

JWisdom: Serenity: Make the commitment by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin (Read by Gavriel Sanders)

August 4, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Am I taking advantage of another's psychological quirk?

Andrew Silow-Carroll: A black and a Jew walk into the White House…

JWisdom: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: Edward R. Morrow visits the ‘living dead’ by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

August 1, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: We have the power to alter another's destiny — use it well

Caroline B. Glick: Why Olmert — finally — did it

JWisdom: Life By The (Book of) Numbers by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 31, 2008

This Week in Biblical History by Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Ezra the Scribe returns from exile

Joan Verdon: Demure is in demand: More brides seek 'modest' gowns

JWisdom: You don't have to be ‘compatible’ to have a stable, happy relationship by Malka Shulman

July 30, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Does Israel need 'tough love'?

The Kosher Gourmet by Gail Borelli: Pickling captures the fleeting tastes of summer's fruits and vegetables

JWisdom: Serenity: It's Really Up to YOU! by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin (Read by Gavriel Sanders)

July 29, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Good things happen

Dick Morris: How Israel's race could shift ours

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Equal but Not Jewish or Jewish but Not Human?

July 28, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: How and when to lie

Steven Emerson: More Perils of Interfaith Dialogue

JWisdom:: A TripTik for Your Spiritual Journey by Rabbi Dovid Gross

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Nov. 13, 2007 / 3 Kislev 5768

How Kucinich could win — no, really!

By Lloyd Garver


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | In one of the 2007 presidential debates — and I mean one of the 2,007 debates that they've held so far, not debates held in the year 2007 — Tim Russert asked Democratic hopeful Dennis Kucinich if, as Shirley MacLaine reported in a recent book, he has ever seen a UFO. The candidate answered, "I did."


Almost immediately, Kucinich was mocked by Republicans and others, and had his intelligence and mental health called into question. There was a similar response when three of the Republican candidates at another debate claimed they did not believe in evolution. My point is that everybody has beliefs that somebody else considers crazy.


So at least for the duration of this column, let's not look at these things as the opinions of "nuts" and "wackos." Let's look at them as "minority opinions." And remember, just because only a minority believes in something doesn't mean that they're wrong.


As far as the UFO issue is concerned, before Republicans laugh too loudly, they should remember that Ronald Reagan claimed to have seen UFOs twice. And despite his aides' advice, like Kucinich, Reagan was not afraid to admit that he had seen them.


All of this got me thinking. Hardly anyone believes that Kucinich has a chance of getting the Democratic nomination, let alone winning the presidency. But I think there is a way he could win. He should make more of his "close encounter," and try to get all the people who say they believe in UFOs to vote for him.


About 34 percent of Americans believe in UFOs. If Kucinich could just get all of the registered voters of that group to vote for him, he'd have a great start.


But why stop there? If I were advising Kucinich, I'd tell him to go after all the people who have been called "crazy," "irrational," or just plain "silly" because of their beliefs.


After all, another 34 percent of Americans believe in ghosts, 13 percent believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, while about 7.5 percent believe that an article of clothing will bring them good luck. Six percent believe the moon landing was faked, 20 percent think the Sun revolves around the Earth, 27 percent believe they have been reincarnated and were another person in a previous life, and 19 percent believe there's at least a good chance that Elvis is still alive.


So people with "minority opinions" make up a demographic that is generally ignored by most candidates. And it's not a small demographic. I'm going to add up all the percentages of people with these beliefs. OK, it comes to a total of 160.5 percent of the American people. Wait, that can't be right. Even though I'm used to election results not making arithmetical sense, I know that 160.5 percent is a bit high. I guess the reason for this large number is that some people with minority beliefs belong to more than one category. I'll bet a lot of people who have lucky shirts also believe Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, and some who believe in ghosts probably also believe that they have been reincarnated, etc.


However, if 160.5 percent of the vote is out of the question (assuming you're someone who believes in math), let's face it: the number of Americans with "minority beliefs" (or "crazies," as many people called them until now) is a pretty high number. If you don't fall into one of these categories yourself, don't at least a few of the people that you know have some of these minority beliefs? Or maybe they believe in things I didn't include here.


This might be the only way for Kucinich to win: round up the voters who are mocked for their beliefs. Since I'm not someone who's among those who claim to be able to see into the future, I can't guarantee that this would make him president. But if all of the "minority believers" were organized as Kucinich's campaign workers, it certainly would be fun to go to one of his rallies.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. Comment by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.

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