The Jewish “Civil War”

 

Conflict

Interesting article in the New Republic, The Coming Jewish Civil War Over Donald Trump, by Eric Alterman. In it, Mr. Alterman says that Trump is dividing American Jews into two hostile camps: on the one hand, those who accept Trump’s leadership and interpret any criticism of Israel as antisemitic, and on the other, those who pursue progressive ends.

It is a thoughtful and disturbing piece. And you have to suspect that there’s more than a little truth in it. Already, it seems, American Jews who support Israel, and who are in no way anti-Zionist, but who disapprove of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are being demonized by what Atlerman calls “legacy” Jewish groups, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ( AIPAC).

In the long term, Alterman concludes, the partnership of the Legacy groups with Trump will be particularly destructive. Such organizations will never be able to escape the taint of corruption which comes along with their support for this benighted administration.

They’re “sick” of Musk…as are we all

Amusing article in the New Republic today, “All of Trump’s Appointees Are Sick of Elon Musk: Donald Trump’s appointees are growing frustrated with DOGE’s dangerous shenanigans” by Edith Olmsted. In it, Ms. Olmsted reports on how Trump’s Cabinet members have had it up to here with Musk and his DOGE-bros and his meddling. And they are telling their staffs to ignore his notes, directives, and diktats. 

Which is doubtlessly true and understandable. Musk is a dork with all the people skills of a cherrystone clam, and I don’t care how many great companies he is “managing,” because he seems to have no idea how to run a government. 

But the thing is: will the Cabinet be able to find enough power and courage to stand up to Musk, who paid good money for Trump and owns him body and soul. I’m guessing that will be hard. Musk says sh*t. Trump is going to say what color and round or cubical?

On the other hand, here’s a question. Just for sake of supposing…well, what would happen if Trump were no longer in the picture? Suppose for reasons of health or the 25th Amendment or whatever, he were to retire or otherwise become less involved with the running of the government?

What happens then? And would some Cabinet members, and some staffers, be looking for a little revenge?