Weather It Is (The First Rain; He's No Jack Kennedy)

Good Afternoon:

The debate over whether we had the first rain on the 19th of October (or earlier) will all be academic very soon.

The global ensemble forecast members have come into sharp agreement, and they all indicate rain overspreading the area on Thursday.  The rain is associated with low pressure developing in the "southern" jet stream traversing the Mediterranean sea.  At the same time, a ridge of high pressure will build into western Europe, which will encourage the merging of the southern and northern jet streams, spilling unseasonably cool air southward, and spinning up a potent and prolonged early winter storm.

Rain, heavy at times, will occur through Friday, and rain showers will likely persist on Shabbat.  There are some indications that the storm may linger into early next week as relatively cold air continues to filter southward.

It seems like the stormy weather is also affecting the political relationship between the United States and Israel. It is being reported today that  an "unnamed" American source said of our Prime Minister:

He’s not [Yitzhak] Rabin, he’s not [Ariel] Sharon, he’s certainly no [Menachem] Begin. He’s got no guts.”

While each had admirable qualities (especially Menachim Begin),  Menachim Begin gave away the Sinai which has turned into a terrorist haven. Yithak Rabin brought us Oslo and thousands of deaths and injuries, while Sharon removed Israeli towns from Gaza, bringing us tens of thousands of missiles and mortars.

Here is my response: Barack Obama is no George Washington. If he was, there would be no constitution to defend.  He is no Abraham Lincoln.  If he was, "his" people would still be slaves. He is no Franklin Roosevelt.  If we was, we'd all be Nazis or dead.  And, of course, he is no Jack Kennedy.  You might say he is Andrew Jackson, who wasn't good for his "word"  (he tore-up previously agreed upon treaties, dispossessing and displacing Native Americans).  He is, unfortunately, Barack Obama.

Barry Lynn