By Steve Clemons

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c

Wow. The U.S. lost a whopping vote at the United Nations on bringing rationality back to America’s Latin America portfolio and finally ending the last refuge of the Cold War. 187 nations voted against the United States. Israel and Palau voted with the U.S. Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.

Increasing numbers of national security leaders of the likes of Brent Scowcroft and George Shultz have said that the US embargo of Cuba makes no sense and harms American interests.

As I reported last night at the J Street Gala Dinner at which former US Senator Chuck Hagel was giving a keynote address, the President has now announced officiall that former Senators Hagel and David Boren will co-chair the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

Tevi Troy has called out three political icons in a Politico essay — Bill Maher, Farrakhan and Glenn Beck — for irresponsible commentary about the swine flu virus and public health, and I applaud Troy for doing so.

Tomorrow, the New America Foundation is giving back up support for a large conference in the US Senate organized by the RAND Corporation focused on American policy options toward Afghanistan.

General Jim Jones, President Obama’s National Security Advisor, addresses J Street’s first national conference from Isaac Luria on Vimeo. National Security Adviser Jim Jones emphasizes the importance of getting beyond the status quo in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Senator Chuck Hagel has a great sense of humor, and he loves Halloween. Two years ago, just before Halloween, Hagel showed up at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing chaired by then Committee Chairman Joe Biden in a “Joe Biden mask” urging those there to vote for him.

Former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel gave an outstanding speech outlining the imperative of American leadership in the Israel-Palestine dispute at the J Street Annual Conference Gala Dinner last night.

On the 17th of October this year, I interviewed Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in his offices in Damascus, Syria on a wide range of topics. I did the interview as part of a launch effort for a new political blog, The Palestine Note, which is releasing the interview today.