Here at iSteve, we always like to keep up on the latest doings of the enterprising Diveroli-Boteach clan, but there's sad news today, brought to us by Dave Weigel: Shmuley Boteach, uncle of jailed young arms dealer Efraim Diveroli and former rabbi to Michael Jackson (don't ask), has lost by about 50 points in his attempt to unseat a Democrat Congressman in northern New Jersey.
The ninth district of New Jersey, which includes Paterson and Englewood, is definitely in North Jersey.
ReplyDeleteThat's North Jersey, not central. Top right corner, a few minutes from the George Washington Bridge to Upper Manhattan.
ReplyDeleteI caught one TV commercial for him locally. There was a billowing Israeli flag in it.
What's that saying about being "found in a bed with a dead girl or a live boy"... And has that been tested through the sabrmetrics
ReplyDeleteWhat's that saying about being "found in a bed with a dead girl or a live boy"
ReplyDeleteYou sure you're not thinking of Sen. Menendez? Though in his case, it was live girls, so he got re-elected no problem.
Wow...that's so sad.
ReplyDeletej/k
I was thinking of Michael Jackson lol, "Mendendez" who's that. Nah really, enough Court TV lol. Big Bird!
ReplyDeleteThe funniest race for my money* had to be that delightful "Brian Banks" fellow--it was the attention to detail, really: his car-dealer-style grinning photo, his corny slogan, his extensive record of petty bank fraud, the fact that he'll be repping Grosse Pointe... It really is like some by-the-numbers major studio release about "kooky corrupt politicians" except re-enacted unironically for our* enjoyment.
ReplyDelete*(obviously more since I don't live in Michigan)
Was Michael Jackson considering conversion to judaism? Or just making amends for his perceived "anti-semitism"? Am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteIt was something Michael Jacksony. I haven't brought myself to look into it further.
ReplyDeleteOy vey
ReplyDeleteYou sure you're not thinking of Sen. Menendez? Though in his case, it was live girls, so he got re-elected no problem.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone in NJ ever got to hear of that story. I mentioned it to a few pretty politically aware people here, and got blank stares in response.
Romney carried the white vote in NJ by 13 points, 56% to 43%. White's only made up 67% of voters though, when the one third of voters who were non-white voted in a block for Obama.
ReplyDeletePennsylvania - Romney carried the white vote by 15 points, 57% to 42%. Whites were 78% of the electorate there. Still lost, because the non-whites voted in a block for Obama.
Wisconsin - Romney carried the white vote by 51% to 48%, and they were 86% of the electorate. Still lost, because the non-white vote went in a block to Obama.
Ohio - Romney carried the white vote 57% to 41%, and they were 79% of voters. Still lost due to block voting by non-whites.
In Ohio in 2008 blacks made up 11% of voters. In 2012 they were 15% of voters. That looks more than a little suspicious - seeing as how the population of Ohio is 12% black.
ReplyDeleteIn Wisconsin in 2008 blacks were 5% of the electorate. In 2012, 7%. Percentage of the Wisconsin population which is black - 6.3%.
Either the black turnout in battleground states was extremely high relative to the white turnout, or there was a whole lot of ballot-stuffing going on.
I'd have definitely voted Shmuley had I lived in the right district. His opponent was a boringly common Jersey machine politician, the sort of guy who has a 50-50 shot of ending up in jail for corruption if we get a lot of Republican presidents appointing Republican US Attorneys in the next two decades. (Christie got something like 120 convictions before leaving to become gov. Obama's replacement, Fishman, has gotten zero. I guess we don't have any political corruption any more.)
ReplyDeleteBut the Dem would have gone down for something pedestrian, like pedaling influence. Shmuley had the opportunity for enormous entertainment value. I'm surprised the media did not force his election to generate better sales/ratings over the next few years.
See! Some good things came out of the election-type-thing.
ReplyDeleteDavid Frum took to opportunity to re-link to this wonderful column by his daughter, Miranda, titled, "Stop Rabbi Shmuley Boteach From Running For Congress. Please."
ReplyDelete"I don't even know the policies he stands for. I just voted for him because he's Jewish".
ReplyDeleteTruer words were never spoken. That's all politics are in America today; just an ethnic reflex.