Conference taveng::bagels

>    Is Sununu, President-Elect Bush's selection for Chief of Staff,
>    good for the Jews and Israel?  

Yesterday our Rabbi mentioned Sununu and nicknamed him "Soneinu".
As I am quite new to the US after a long absence in Israel I don't
actually know anything about Sununu, but I guess our Rabbi at least
feels that Sununu is a "sonei".

Serves us Jews right for the irrational fear of J. Jackson's being
"in control" of a Dukakis White House! Also, from the many Jews I
have spoken to during the last few election months, it seems to me
that people voted for Bush even though their "consciences" told them
that Dukakis was a more decent human being. 

Somewhere earlier in Bagels there was a long discussion of 
Nazis and other Anti-Semites in the Bush campaign. 
Is Sununu supposed to be an anti-semite too? Or is he "just"
a friend of the PLO given his Lebanese background? Or is this
all false slander about him?

-Zaitch

Gov Sununu objected to the Governors' signing of the resolution condemning
the UN resolution on the grounds that it was none of the Governors' business,
that it was a foreign policy matter and that this would set a precedent of
Governors being pressured to sign documents for any and everything.

He is also credited with being the force behind the Republican party's
condemnation of the UN resolution.

There have been no other allegation - not even a rumour - of his anti-semitism;
that is, until he was nominated to be Chief of Staff of the WH.

I am amazed that the fact that he is a Lebanese should immedaitely raise fears
of the PLO!!!!!

-parthi

PS: Could you please tell me who/what a "sonie" is? Thanks!

re .2 ---

> PS: Could you please tell me who/what a "sonie" is? Thanks!

"sonei" means "hater". 

As for the substantive points you make, I am GLAD to hear them! If you
read my .1 again you will see that I was careful not to ENDORSE the
comments I reported.

-Zaitch

.0>    Is Sununu, President-Elect Bush's selection for Chief of Staff,
.0>    good for the Jews and Israel?

We don't know yet; in fact we may never really know.  Keep in mind that
the White House Chief of Staff is unique among top-level officials, in that
he has a consituency of exactly one person.  A good Chief of Staff does
whatever is best for the President, and doesn't let his own viewpoints
interfere with that.

A prediction:  The first time that Bush makes a decision that is considered
bad for Israel and/or the Jews, there will be anonymous reports from the
White House that Sununu is responsible.  Whether or not there is any substance
to the reports, Sununu will refuse to deny them.  After all, it's good for
the President to have someone else to be blamed for an unpopular decision.

It is disappointing that a rabbi (quoted in an earlier reply) would use
a phrase like "Sununu Soneinu", unless he knows a lot more than has been
publicly revealed.  It is understandable that we Jews can be overly sensitive
in such situations, but a communal leader should show greater responsibility.

    re: .2
    
    I have to agree with Parthi on this just because Sunuunu is Lebanese
    doesn't automatically qualify him as a supporter of the PLO.  A
    very irrational act on the part of that Rabbi (so what else is new?).
    
    David 

    	I live in New Hampshire and know John Sununu, having worked
    	for his three successful gubernatorial campaigns.
    
    	He is a man of integirty, and you can believe him when he
    	says that his reason for not signing that resolution was as
    	he has since explained.  New Hampshire has a relatively high
    	percentage of Lebanese-Americans, and I can tell you that the
    	individuals that I know, are all patriotic, support Israel,
    	and feel sadness and remorse for the Anarchy that is occurring
    	in Lebanon.  Now understand, these are Lebanese Christians,
    	and there is a vast difference between what many of them
    	think vs the Radicals of the various Moslem militias.
    
    	That remark by that Rabbi, is in bad taste, and I can not
    	understand how this "supposed interpreter and instructor on
    	the word of God" can get off speaking about a person he does
    	not know, or has hardly made an effort to research.
    
    	As for those, who feel guilty about not voting for the Duke,
    	well at least there will be one New England governor in the
    	White House.  ANd one who has balanced his budgets honestly,
    	not with smoke and mirrors and TAXES.
    
    	If JOHN SUNUNU can do 1/10 for the country, what he has done
    	for New Hampshire, you will not have anything to worry about.
    
    	However, you might have one thing to ponder over.  Sununu was
    	recently quoted as saying "Jessie Jackson is the present titular
    	head of the Democratic Party!".
    
    	I think he is right... I mean left.
    
    
    	JACK
    
    
    

re: < Note 587.6 by TUNER::COHEN >

    
        >>If JOHN SUNUNU can do 1/10 for the country, what he has done
    	>>for New Hampshire, 
    
    then the citizens throughout the US will be working in Mexico &/or
    for Mexican-based companies to get decent paying jobs, and nuclear
    power plants will proliferate in populated areas and ...
    
    oops, this isn't the Soapbox, but then again I forgot myself after
    .6's:
    
   	>>However, you might have one thing to ponder over.  Sununu was
    	>>recently quoted as saying "Jessie Jackson is the present titular
    	>>head of the Democratic Party!".
    
    	>>I think he is right... I mean left.
    

    	re .7
    
    	I am not familiar with the term "SOAPBOX", but I assume
    	it is a NOTES FORUM.
    
    	As to the remark, that we would be working in Mexican like
    	labor conditions, with nuclear plants proliferating.
    
    	Maybe, it bothers you that New Hampshire has had the lowest
    	unemployment rate in the USA for the last 21 months!  And it
    	does this WITHOUT any SALES or INCOME TAXES.  I like that. 
    	I like keping the money I make, instead of sending it off
    	to the bureaucrats in places like Albany or Boston, with their
    	pork-barrel projects and their JOBS for the cronies.
            
    	Certainly, with the low level of taxes, we have enjoyed a high
    	degree of prosperity.  If you take the TAX BURDEN in a place
    	like NEW YORK or TAX-ACHUSETTS, and net that out of the wages
    	paid in those states, you will see that THOSE PEOPLE are ending
    	up with the MEXIC)-like conditions you demean NH for having.
    
    	Now if you like taxes stay where you are and keep paying.  I
    	choose to have a higher standard of living in a beautiful place.
    
    	Let me tell you about Taxes and Sununu.
    	The biggest shopping mall in New Hampshire was built while Sununu
    	was governor.  Listen to how NH socked it to the Duke and TAX-land.
    	The mall was built on the NH-Mass border.  Since NH has no sales
    	taxes, all the hundreds of stores are in NH, and the parking
    	lot is in Massachusetts!!!!!!!!  It is one of the biggest jokes
    	up here, and Sununu was in on it.  I was hoping it would come
    	out during the presidential campaign, but it didn't.  I think
    	Mass. makes a great parking lot.  Lots of jobs for snow-plowers
    	and line painters.
    
    	Also you should see the lines of cars up in NH from Mass on Sundays
    	to help the state revenues with Vacationing and Liquor/Butt
    	purchases.
    
    	We in New Hampshire (under the leadership of men John Sununu)
    	are suspicious of government.  We like very little of it.  We
    	know that promises cost money, and it is easier to Promise than
    	pay. Why not let the Taxes hit the consumers instead of the
    	producers.    
    
    	As for Seabrook, I think it was/is a mistake to build it.  Mostly
    	because of the location, and Public Service is a mismanaged 
    	company.  I think it will go on line and I hope it works OK.
    	It sure is a nice place, but I would like to see the plant
    	converted to GAS or COAL.  Here is where Sununu and I disagree.
    
    	But overall, you will see he is a very completent chief-of-staff
    	as he was Governor
    
    	regards,
    	Jack
    

    As Jack's notes reveal, rational discussion with a diehard rightwing
    Dukebasher is neither possible nor worth attempting.
    
    Lest anyone from outside of the area miss it, though, Jack's slander
    of our Commonwealth as "Taxachusetts" is entirely inappropriate.
    Combined state and local tax burden in Mass. is now lower than 
    something like thirty-odd other states.  Of course people still
    kvetch, but they haven't lived in high-tax states.
    
    I think the reference to Mexico was to the fact that most of NH
    industry is owned by "south of its border" companies; ie, Digital
    is from just south of the NH border.  Cute.  Hmmm, I made tacos
    for dinner last night.  (BTW, phoney mozzarella tastes okay with
    hot sauce on it.)

    Please take this discussion (which has nothing to do with Jewish issues)
    to RAHAB::SOAPBOX (hit SELECT or KP7 to add to your notebook).

re: < Note 587.10 by NOTIME::SACKS "Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085" >

>    Please take this discussion (which has nothing to do with Jewish issues)
>    to RAHAB::SOAPBOX (hit SELECT or KP7 to add to your notebook).

	Agreed. And please, Mr. Moderator, write-lock this note. Thanx.

Shalom,

This has indeed turned into a flame war.  This topic has been write-locked.
If you really need to keep arguing the virtues of Sununu/NH and Dukakis/MA
please take it to SOAPBOX.

Dick