BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

I had just dropped my children at pre-K. It was early so I decided to drive over to the grocery and pick up a few things for dinner. I was still living in Astoria, New York. My cell phone rang, a friend asked me frantically, "Barbara, where's your husband?" I answered "he's at work." She said "doesn't he work near the Trade Center?" "Yes," I said, "across the street." "My God, Barbara don't you know ?" (PAUSE) "Turn on your radio!" I hung up, turned on my car radio and heard what sounded like an elaborate joke. People talking about terrorists, a plane accident downtown. I froze. My cell rang again. It was my then-husband, "someone just flew into the Trade Center with a plane. Looks like an accident. Just want you to know I am fine." "O.K." I said, "thank goodness." My husband told me later that he literally was putting his phone back in the cradle when ...

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAROLINE THE 'CERTAIN' PICK FOR DAVE: RIVALS By FREDRIC U. DICKER DESPITE claims that he's still undecided, Gov. Paterson is "certain" to pick Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate, several unhappy contenders for the job have told friends and associates in recent days. The contenders based their conclusion on the view that Paterson, after nearly two months of indecision, would "greatly embarrass" and "entirely humiliate" Kennedy, anger her prominent political family and even offend President-elect Barack Obama by picking someone other than President John F. Kennedy's daughter. As for the governor's claim to be weighing a last-minute finalist, the contenders agree with a close Paterson friend who said, "It's clear David is just trying to play mind games with the press." Some of the contenders warned, however, that the unelected Paterson, who must face the voters next year, cou...

Is Bush the worst U.S. president ever? Historians might argue over ranking, but there's no doubt he has been an unmitigated disaster Thomas Walkom, Columnist Historians will argue over whether George W. Bush is the worst president the United States has ever endured. But that is not the point. Five years after Bush's ill-starred invasion of Iraq, three years after Hurricane Katrina and seven months into the unravelling of the U.S. financial system, the point is that the 43rd president of the United States - regardless of his ranking in the pantheon - is a unique and unmitigated disaster. Whether Bush is more of a warmonger than James Polk, who in 1846 manufactured a crisis with Mexico in order to seize what is now California, more tolerant of cronyism than poker-playing Warren Harding (1921 to 1923), or more unlucky than William Harrison (he died after catching cold at his 1841 inauguration) is interesting but irrelevant. What we do know is that this president, this "decid...

NOW WATCH MY RIGHT HAND CAREFULLY... Many right wingers and GOP Hardliners have their tighty whiteys in quite a twist over the MoveOn ad in the New York Times. Frankly, I didn't care for the ad because I don't care for things that sow hate & devisiveness. But it wasn't that bad. On the other hand I give them credit for cajhones . Anyway, I cancelled my subscription to the NYTimes years ago. But aren't there more vitally important things for us to focus on? Really now - like IRAQ? or Petraus' report? or getting some strong leadership in Israel? or getting rid of the Islamofascists leaving their dhimmitude all over our country? Noooo... the Right Wing wants us to look over at something else. They have no intention of taking responsibility for their screw ups or inability to change or listen to anyone but the drum beat of the Neocon. And the MSM? Gee... what's Britney or LiLo up to now? Only good thing I saw in the news all weekend is that O.J. is in ...

EDUCATION OR PROPAGANDA? Wait, did I read that right? Israel's EDUCATION Minister approved calling the 1948 War of Independence a "disaster for Palestinians?" What the heck is going on over there? Olmert, Peres and Tamir? There's the door, don't let it hit you on the way out! Mr. Tamir, the Arabs are expressing their feelings quite well - they're call Kassams, Honor Killings and Suicide Bombers... they don't need your help! Likud, NRP leaders call for education minister's dismissal By Or Kashti and Haaretz Staff The leaders of Likud and the National Religious Party Sunday called for the dismissal of Education Minister Yuli Tamir, shortly after Tamir announced that her ministry had approved a textbook for Israeli Arab schools that says the Arabs refer to the 1948 War of Independence as "Nakba," meaning "catastrophe" or "disaster." In an unprecedented move, the ministry has approved a geography text for third-grade children...