From the "Meaningful miscellany" file.

Stuff that I meant to expand on but haven't and probably won't, but want to share anyway…

LA Times, via Gordon...

There is a reason theocracies are found at the bottom of the world's economic and opportunity ladder. Successful public policy cannot be based purely on doctrines established before we knew the Earth orbited the sun.

John Aravosis...

If Perry is such a supporter of Israel, ask him if Jews are going to hell. Then we'll talk.

Roy Edroso…

I'm not averse to bread and circuses, but the bread is running out and our circuses really suck.

From the "Me too" file.

Doug Harlan J at Balloon Juice...

I’m tired of hearing people whose favored policies would ultimately destroy Israel describe themselves as “pro-Israel”.

Me too.

Good question…

…from Matt Yglesias.

Of course Israelis don’t want to be hit by rockets, but why shouldn’t Gaza’s civilians have electricity?

What she said.

Glenn Beck, Keep Your Grubby Paws of Yom Kippur

By Madeleine Begun Kane

Mr. Beck, you are bad to the bone,
So it’s time that you start to atone.
And stop trying to steal
Jewish holy days. Heel!
Kindly leave all my people alone.
The Bible thumpers can stow those Israeli flags, too.

You've got to admire a man…

…with perspective. Chas Freeman...

When Admiral Blair asked me to chair the NIC I responded that I understood he was “asking me to give my freedom of speech, my leisure, the greater part of my income, subject myself to the mental colonoscopy of a polygraph, and resume a daily commute to a job with long working hours and a daily ration of political abuse.” I added that I wondered “whether there wasn’t some sort of downside to this offer.”

Pity we lost him.

And this?

Turkana...

Hamas is an enemy of Israel and it may be an enemy of the United States. But one doesn't make peace with one's friends. One makes peace with one's enemies. A lot of people don't understand that. And a lot of people don't understand that there's nothing wrong with at least attempting to foster dialogue. I applaud Jimmy Carter for trying.

Yep. Me too.