First things first; this is due to be published on Thanksgiving Day. So if this is Thanksgiving Day and you are reading this, stop. Go do something more befitting the day. I mean, make sure your subscription is paid up, of course, and by all means come back to this tomorrow or Monday. But for now, just close this page. If you have family, friends or loved ones to be with, go be with them. If not, go watch a movie, take a walk, read something that doesn’t have “politics” in the title. I understand American-rules rugby is a big thing today. Hell, you might even take a few moments to thank your Creator. Just don’t tell the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

If you’re still with me, fine, your call. Let’s dive in.

The big news this week of course is the Israel-Hamas hostage deal. Hamas has agreed to release 50 of the women, children and babies they kidnapped on Oct. 7 (out of about 250 hostages taken total). Israel in turn has agreed to release 150 Palestinian females and teenagers they arrested on security grounds. They also agreed to a short, 4-day cease fire to allow the transfer to happen, and presumably also allow some aid into Gaza. Reportedly, the Israelis have also agreed to extend the pause in beating the crap out of Hamas by one day for every additional 10 hostages the terrorists release, ater which they will resume running Hamas to ground.

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Obviously this is welcome news, especially for the 50 innocent women and kids Hamas will, presumably, release, and for their families. Not a bad deal for the 150 Palestinian women and youngsters arrested in Israel for terror-related suspicions. Who knows, maybe their stint in Israeli jails taught them not to play stupid games. In any case, on a purely human level, this is a welcome development.

But there are inherent dangers, of course. The first and most obvious one is just how long it will take Hamas to break the ceasefire? They have been awfully consistent in that regard. They did so, after all, in launching their despicable attacks of Oct. 7. On the other hand, as noted above, they are getting absolutely pummeled by the IDF, are running out of hospitals to hide in, and are therefore rather desperate for a few days respite. Essentially, the IDF beat them into this deal, and they may just take advantage.

Which brings up another good point – the simple fact that a ceasefire is merely an opportunity for Hamas to regroup, reload, find another hospital and resume their fight. A legitimate worry, but bear in mind the Israeli high-command knows all this, and has far more information than you or I do. Israeli intelligence is deeply embarrassed and regretful for their failures on Oct. 7 (as they should be) and are in no mood to make mistakes at this juncture. Time will tell how the ceasefire and hostage deal plays out, but for now, we can all be thankful 50 innocent Israeli women and children are (if Hamas holds up their end of the deal) on their way back home.

Back here in Colorado, we saw the Israel-Hamas war spill over into the recently concluded special legislative session. One would be hard-pressed to say the session really solved any of the problems it was supposed to, but in any case the work of the legislature was at least partly overshadowed by drama of pro-Hamas protesters attempting their own little Jan. 6, 2021-style stunt via occupying the House gallery and temporarily shutting down the proceedings. The bigger news was the support they received from a small handful of far-left Democrats, at least one of which joined the mob and screamed profanities and epithets at a Jewish House member as he spoke from the well, and even at her own Democratic colleagues whom she deemed insufficiently committed to the revolution.

A great deal of credit is due to the House Majority Leadership who tried to maintain control, and to the several Democratic members who rightfully criticized the errant member’s antics. For instance, David Ortiz and I don’t agree on a whole lot, but his liberalism is not of the radically ideological variety that sees our institutions as some sort of oppressive superstructure designed to oppress the masses, and that needs to be torn down. He fought for our institutions, was seriously injured doing so, and defended them again in standing up to Ms. Epps. Well done, sir.

Okay, that’s enough. Go eat, or watch football, or something. And maybe take a moment to reflect on all there is to be grateful for in this nation, including our institutions.  

Kelly Sloan is a political and public affairs consultant and a recovering journalist based in Denver.