Congressman Weiner, a favorite of the progressive blogosphere, accuses Obama of treating Israel like a punching bag

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Washington, DC- Following a series of stark statements by White House officials on Israel’s announcement about Jerusalem settlements during Vice President Biden’s recent trip to the country, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D- Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the House Jewish Caucus, released the following statement moments ago:

“The appropriate response was a shake of the head – not a temper tantrum”

“Israel is a sovereign nation and an ally, not a punching bag. Enough already.”

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/51450/Weiner-Has-Harsh-Words-For-Obama-%26-Co..html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Washington, DC- Following a series of stark statements by White House officials on Israel's announcement about Jerusalem settlements during Vice President Biden's recent trip to the country, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D- Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the House Jewish Caucus, released the following statement moments ago:

"The appropriate response was a shake of the head – not a temper tantrum"

"Israel is a sovereign nation and an ally, not a punching bag. Enough already."

http://www.theyeshiv...ma-%26-Co..html

What temper tantrum?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Israel is blocking the peace process and has done so for decades. As dependent as the country is on the US, our administration ought to be afforded the right to call a spade a spade - even if it's not what our dependent likes to hear - without the Jewish caucus in Congress getting their panties in a wad.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Well, Jews vote, even if it's for Pat Buchanan by mistake sometimes.

[scandal 951]

Israel is blocking the peace process and has done so for decades. As dependent as the country is on the US, our administration ought to be afforded the right to call a spade a spade - even if it's not what our dependent likes to hear - without the Jewish caucus in Congress getting their panties in a wad.

Did Israel block the peace process when there was no peace process for more than 30 years (1948-late 70s) when not one single Arab country was willing to recognize its existence and legitimacy?

Did Israel block the peace process when it entered into the Camp David accords with Egypt, returned the Sinai in exchange for a written document and some promises?

Did Israel block the peace process when it entered the Oslo accords, signed a peace agreement with Jordan, and began comprehensive talks with the Palestinians under Yassir Arafat?

Did Israel block the peace process when during the Camp David talks in 1998, Ehud Barak offered far more than any Israeli leader had previously put on the table - including far reaching concessions on territorial compromise, Jerusalem and final status talks? According to the opinion polls of the time, the Israeli public was skeptical and concerned but was willing to back an agreement if one could be reached. Instead, Arafat walked away from the process.

Did Israel block the peace process when it agreed in principle to the terms of the Bush roadmap in 2003?

Did Israel block the peace process when it evacuated Gaza, using its own troops to forcibly remove its own citizens, dragging them kicking and screaming from their homes? After decades of insisting that Israel was forcibly occupying Gaza, today not one Jewish resident lives there. What have Palestinians replaced it with - a democratic state vested in preserving individual liberties, perchance? Ah, no, a Hamas theocracy devoted to firing weaponry beyond its borders at the civilian populations of Sderot and Ashkelon.

Dude - I won't defend each and every thing that Israel does. But to claim that Israel is unilaterally responsible for lack of progress on a peace process, or that the mere removal of settlements is the only issue preventing a settlement, is naive and warped in the extreme.

When you are prepared to recognize the responsibility Palestinians must bear for their own fate, to recognize their ongoing intransigence to the basic recognition of a two-state principle and Israel's legitimacy, to condemn their use of indiscriminate terror attacks on civilian populations, then perhaps you will be in a position to speak with some credibility of Israel's shortcomings. Then, but not before. Not to me at any rate.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Israeli author, Amos Oz, was on Amanpour on Sunday. He was quite vocal about his disappointed in the recent announcement of new Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem. It was a great interview. I'll see if I can find the video.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's not all the fault of one party or the other in this conflict. Nobody is suggesting that. But there has never been more willingness in the Arab world to cooperate with Israel than now. Many Arab nations have the same interest in containing Iran that Israel has. Heck, the Saudis reportedly even offered Israel use of their airspace to fly attacks in the Iranian nuclear installations. Why Israel needs to ** this historic opportunity up with this buttheaded move to expand their settlements in Jerusalem - announcing it when the VP is in town no less - is beyond me and the rest of the sane world population.

This is history repeating itself. The story ain't new and it's been recognized decades ago:

Nothing has made my job of trying to find Arab and Palestinian partners for Israel more difficult than being greeted by a new settlement every time I arrive.

[scandal 951]

Well, Jews vote, even if it's for Pat Buchanan by mistake sometimes.

What was Bush's margin in Florida? 537 votes?

How many votes do you think Gore lost in Palm Beach County due to the butterfly ballot? 6,607.

If not for the butterfly ballot, Gore would have been president from 2000-2004, possibly till 2008. History may have been radically different. 9-11 response, war in Afghanistan, the dotcom meltdown aftermath, Sarbanes Oxley, stem cell research moratorium, the Iraq war, the Bush tax cuts, .... who knows what America might have been like but for the butterfly ballot.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What was Bush's margin in Florida? 537 votes?

How many votes do you think Gore lost in Palm Beach County due to the butterfly ballot? 6,607.

If not for the butterfly ballot, Gore would have been president from 2000-2004, possibly till 2008. History may have been radically different. 9-11 response, war in Afghanistan, the dotcom meltdown aftermath, Sarbanes Oxley, stem cell research moratorium, the Iraq war, the Bush tax cuts, .... who knows what America might have been like but for the butterfly ballot.

Hey, Jeb took care of his bro. It's past. Time to move on.

[Ban Hammer 13,676]

What was Bush's margin in Florida? 537 votes?

How many votes do you think Gore lost in Palm Beach County due to the butterfly ballot? 6,607.

If not for the butterfly ballot, Gore would have been president from 2000-2004, possibly till 2008. History may have been radically different. 9-11 response, war in Afghanistan, the dotcom meltdown aftermath, Sarbanes Oxley, stem cell research moratorium, the Iraq war, the Bush tax cuts, .... who knows what America might have been like but for the butterfly ballot.

so you're saying people not bright enough to figure out a voting ballot would normally vote for gore?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hey, Jeb took care of his bro. It's past. Time to move on.

Not to mention that brother Jeb along with Kathryn Harris purged 16,000 Black voters weeks before the election.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Not to mention that brother Jeb along with Kathryn Harris purged 16,000 Black voters weeks before the election.

Again, it's time to move on. It's been time for years.

[scandal 951]

It's not all the fault of one party or the other in this conflict. Nobody is suggesting that. But there has never been more willingness in the Arab world to cooperate with Israel than now. Many Arab nations have the same interest in containing Iran that Israel has. Heck, the Saudis reportedly even offered Israel use of their airspace to fly attacks in the Iranian nuclear installations. Why Israel needs to ** this historic opportunity up with this buttheaded move to expand their settlements in Jerusalem - announcing it when the VP is in town no less - is beyond me and the rest of the sane world population.

Nobody is suggesting that??

You just did suggest that!

Israel is blocking the peace process and has done so for decades.

What's that if not saying one side is at fault?

You've got your facts wrong. Israel is prepared, and has publicly been stating its readiness, to engage in face to face talks with Abbas. This is not new, Israel stated at the time of the 2003 Roadmap that it would not longer negotiate with Arafat, but after his death it has been willing to sit down with the PA authorities provided the Roadmap framework is respected - in particular PA efforts to curb violence and terrorism.

The PA has not been willing to reciprocate. This has led to the present convoluted situation of shuttle-talks between Ramallah and Jerusalem. If the PA were willing to resume direct talks, Israel would be there.

Again - I'm not defending Israel's settlement policy. I think it's short sighted and harmful to Israeli interests. But to hold that up as the sole obstacle is to completely misunderstand the situation.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Nobody is suggesting that??

You just did suggest that!

No, I didn't. There's no exclusivity to my statement.

[scandal 951]

Again, it's time to move on. It's been time for years.

Of course. And we have moved on.

However, it's fun to speculate on how things might have been. Alternative-histories are all the rage, didn't you know?

This is an alternative history that doesn't require strange story angles to see how the flapping of a butterfly's wings could have transformed the arc of history radically.