I think you undersell yourself a bit Michael. But Roger and you do have something of a similar experience. Perhaps that is why I have you next to each other on the bookmarks...

Those of us who are former leftists may see things more clearly than most. It is in making the transition that one's eyes become more clear. The perspective provided by the metamorphosis allows for greater vision.

"To those people [New York Jews] the New York Times is right behind the Bible — sometimes ahead of it."

This quote might come out better if it was spoken by, say, David Duke or Pat Buchannan.

RE: Hipocrite (sic)

Is anyone going to smack this idiot down or are we just choosing to ignore him? Probably best to do the latter I guess.

Just in case anyone doesn't already know and think's Hipocrite might have a point, Roger L. Simon is Jewish. He is not an anti-semite. If you knew this, Hipocrite, then you are a troll. If you didn't, well, now you know.

I knew it. I was commenting that the sentance as transcribed was disgustingly foul. Perhaps Roger mispoke, or he was mistranscribed. Or, perhaps he thinks New York Jews, like me, (who read the Torah, not the Bible, by the way) put liberalism in front of god. That's certainly what I saw in it, and it read like good ole fashioned anti-semitism of the right to me. In fact, I seem to remember an episode of the West Wing that had the evil conservative saying exactly the same thing.

As has been said about a hundred thousand times about Jews against the Occupation, you don't have to be a Gentile to be an anti-semite.

It's on Roger to explain what exactly he meant by using "them" to describe New York Jews, and implying that liberalism is a religion to "them."

Untill then, it's not clear if it's a misspeak, a misquote or just a misanthrope.

PS: Jews Against the Occupation (JATO) is a real group, and has been smeared about a million times as self-hating anti-semitic jews. I failed to capitalize Against in my post, making it seem that I was accusing the right of smearing all Jews who are against the current actions of the Israeli government as anti-semites. This, of course, would be an exageration.

So the answer is: a) You're a troll.

The New York Times recently published an op-ed by Noam Chomsky on Israel's security fence. Chomsky said more or less the same thing about it that David Duke or Pat Buchanan would have said. "Old-fashioned right anti-semitism" is just that "old-fashioned", in that it barely exists anymore. It's become a marginal phenomenon. On the left it's in full bloom, even in the pages of the New York Times.

Hipocrite,

You smeared a man who you know is a personal friend of mine, who you know is Jewish, as a Nazi. So you are banned for trolling.

You've been rude ever since you showed up here. Goodbye.

Good job, Michael. At times, the PC police seem to want to crack down on any type of stereotyping even when the stereotype is legit (does anybody deny that NY Jews tend to be liberal?) and being uttered by a member of the group in question. Sounds very much like the criticism Bill Cosby took over his comments to the NAACP last month.

I'd say that Roger and you have the best comments sections among the ultra-serious blogs (I love ASV for fun comments, although Michele is quite capable of serious stuff too). I also loved his take on John Kerry in the article; with Kerry principles come second and ambition first.

I don't see what's supposed to be so insulting about putting liberalism before God or preferring the New York Times to the Bible. I do those things, and I don't feel the least bit defensive about it.

I found Roger's blog via this blog (and this blog via Andrew Sullivan). I suspect that many others did too, so this blog definitely played a part in building Roger's audience.

MJT--

I don't think you have to worry about your readers ignoring Roger's blog. Sometimes the names are so similar I forget whose comment section I'm reading. Especially Tosk, who busily sows his acorns of discord under both oak trees. (Sigh.)

"He's like a more famous older brother."

Nice thing to say about Roger. One recommendation though, please don't start wearing a goofy looking fedora.

"I was commenting that the sentance as transcribed was disgustingly foul. Perhaps Roger mispoke, or he was mistranscribed. "

Puleeze. Lighten up. This comment has about as much antisemitic content as saying "two Jews, three opinions" or telling the joke about the guy on the desert island building 2 synagogues.

Anyway, I live in NYC and it's true, and not only that, it's true for American Jews in general. When I was growing up in Dallas, all the Jews of my parents' generation took the Sunday Times. It was a badge of being a liberal in the Bible Belt.

Your blogs are both great reads. I check them daily and I find myself agreeing with both of you on every issue.

Its compelling to read independent minded people who don't align themselves with one party, but one the issue of terrorism and foreign policy, are outright and proud of being anti-fascist and anti-terrorism.

Heh. I find myself reading both blogs, and disagreeing with both of you on some issues (and in complete agreement on others), but quite enjoying your perspectives and the conversation, regardless. It would be a very boring world if we all thought alike.

(BTW, Brainster, technically Roger isn't a NY Jew, since, well, he lives in LA. Haven't you seen his numerous posts on everything Lakers?)