General Discussion

I see neither the Muslim nor Democratic Socialist label as necessarily all defining for mayor elect Mamdani. We have had all sorts of people in our nation's history that were at one time or another labeled as misfits, failures, scoundrels, womanizers and worse and yet, when tested, rose to be noble and performed honored service to their constituents and the country. Grant and Truman were failed businessmen many times over, Andrew Jackson was pulled out of a bar to lead the Americans in battle of New Orleans, with pirates in tow to help, Jack Kennedy was flawed and Catholic (!) and yet he inspired, and on and on.

I do hope, for both the city he will soon lead and the bigger global issue, that he reaches out to Jews and seeks a workable common ground. He is not wrong in noting the sad history of the Palestinian people. But that cannot, in today's world and reality, be a one sided conversation. I wish him well. All the more so if he proves a distraction and thorn in the side to Trump!