Discussion for article #233048
But he was adamant that Israel not become a partisan wedge issue, as
some are worried it is becoming in the wake of the speech flap.
I think itâs far too late for that.
Whatâs the problem? JUST DONâT GO!
Geez, you guys. Itâs indecision like that this that cost you the Senate.
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Donald Sterling must be running the Likud party (and just like he ran the Clippers).
Like it or not, an incredible precedent has been set here and it is not the one the Speaker had in mind. This is the first time that members of Congress have been willing to openly defy AIPAC and the Israel lobby on pretty much anythingâŚand seemingly with impunity. The last Congressman to try even mild criticism was evicted from office after a coordinated campaign and funding for his opponent in the next election. The biggest casualty of this affair may be the aura of invincibility around the Israeli lobby.
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By acting serene, above the fray, and refusing to get hyperbolic or personal, Obama is winning the narrative here and isolating the extremists.
As Josh Marshall said, itâs too bad that Bibi allowed himself to get boxed in on this ill-advised misadventure; if he cancels, he might look weak and that could hurt his re-election chances. If he goes through with the speech, it might not have the intended impact and could complicate or even hurt US-Israel relations.
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If anything will get the US-Israel relationship back on a strong non-partisan footing, it would be the resounding defeat of netanyahu. All pro-Israel Americans should do what they can to bring about this result.
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Around that Israeli lobby. As Iâve done before around here, let me take this opportunity to pimp for J Street, the liberal counterweight to AIPAC. Theyâve been around for a few years, and have been gaining visibility on the Hill. The more support they can show, the more influence theyâll have. And this would seem to be a particularly opportune time to shore them up as a way to allow Dems to realize that supporting Israel doesnât have to mean toeing the AIPAC/Bibi/hard-right line.(To the contrary, Iâd argue.) So to everyone here, and especially to my fellow Jews, look up J Street, get on their email list, send them money if you can, and do your part to free us all from AIPACâs grip. (BTW, no professional affiliation to J Street, just a grateful supporter.)
Oh, and if you havenât yet, call your nearest Israeli consulate and demand that Netanyahu cancel the speech. Tell them turning Israel into a partisan Republican game is no way to help Israel among American Jews, the overwhelming majority of whom are Democrats who voted for Obama. Not to mention the damage done to Israelâs interests here overall by becoming a partisan issue. The consuls have been reporting their concern back home based on calls theyâve already gotten; keep up the pressure. Let 'em hear from liberal American Jews for a change.
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Agree, we cannot allow the right wing to continue to claim a supposed monopoly on support of Israel. Encouraging a more hostile, belligerent foreign policy stance will not only isolate Israel diplomatically, it could actually undermine Israelâs security â as would allowing the Iran negotiations to be undermined.
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this. and itâs about time.
He WILL cancel: heâs in the process of doing so. Itâs like there was one âactivateâ switch but 146 switches to turn them off, and Bibi-Boehner determined to slo-switch them in case some event occurs â which unexpected and/or incomplete-project sparked events have a well-known propensity for doing. Near to the end of the slo-switching, somethingâs going to come up, I think at Bibiâs end, which will result in one of those âdue to unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstancesâ, and, PFFffttt ⌠the air will escape from this totally avoidable stupid bubble.
Itâs possible, if Bibi can somehow find political cover to cancel while at the same time saving face.