Israeli Defense Minister: Obama Has Done More for Israel Than Any President

The right wing is lying about Obama and Israel

Charles Johnson

Middle EastJuly 2012 • Views: 26,601

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162 comments

Gretchen G.Tiger Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:37:36am

Was Romney there?

jamesfirecat Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:38:50am

That's gonna be a hard one to spin for the rightwing.

gwangung Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:39:12am

Aw, what do ISRAELIs know?

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:39:40am

re: #2 jamesfirecat

That's gonna be a hard one to spin for the rightwing.

He was lying about Israeli defense matters because Obama coerced him, just like he did with the Joint Chiefs.

There, done.

Obdicut Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:40:28am

re: #3 gwangung

Aw, what do ISRAELIs know?

I hear they're practically socialists.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:41:24am

Is this where the Romney Press Secretary tells the Israeli Defense Minister to kiss his ass and shove it?

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:42:05am

re: #5 Obdicut

I hear they're practically socialists.

Unlike Poland, that exemplar of unfettered capitalism.

"On," cries Romney. "On to Mogadishu!"

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:44:26am

re: #2 jamesfirecat

That's gonna be a hard one to spin for the rightwing.

It's also a problem for the left wing. Just yesterday Dkos had several diaries on the rec list accusing Mitt of being an Israeli puppet. The MJ Rosenberg/Code Pink wing of American liberals aren't going to like this much but that's Israel's strategy. They don't want to be a partisan issue and they'll continue to foster cooperation with whoever is in power here in America.

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:45:16am

re: #8 Killgore Trout

It's also a problem for the left wing.

But great news, I think we can all agree, for John McCain.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:45:33am

A picture is worth a thousand words.

In this case, every word being derp.

Image: romney9.jpg

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:46:42am

re: #8 Killgore Trout

It's also a problem for the left wing. Just yesterday Dkos had several diaries on the rec list accusing Mitt of being an Israeli puppet. The MJ Rosenberg/Code Pink wing of American liberals aren't going to like this much but that's Israel's strategy. They don't want to be a partisan issue and they'll continue to foster cooperation with whoever is in power here in America.

All fifty of them. I'm sure they'll vote for Romney now. Probably along with the PUMAs.

Let me fetch my fainting salts.

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:47:37am

re: #9 iossarian

But great news, I think we can all agree, for John McCain.

I assume that's a reference to the Iran issue? Yes, Obama sent fresh military assessments to Israel just a few days ago.

efuseakay Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:48:10am

Pffff... What does the Israeli Defense Minister know? Just another ObaMaoist,

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:50:48am

re: #12 Killgore Trout

I assume that's a reference to the Iran issue? Yes, Obama sent fresh military assessments to Israel just a few days ago.

No, it's a reference to desperately trying to turn any setback for Romney into some kind of equal setback for Obama, as if Ehud Barak saying that Obama is a friend to Israel is going to severely hurt Obama's chances of carrying Florida.

Gretchen G.Tiger Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:51:00am

going to try to sleep thru all this excitement.

later all

researchok Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:51:13am

In case anyone missed it, here is the Obama ad, 'Steadfast'

Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:51:44am

Lies, lies, nothing but moonbat lies!!!

Image: Ostrich_Demotivator_by_JohnDamen.jpg

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:51:57am

re: #16 researchok

In case anyone missed it, here is the Obama ad, 'Steadfast'

Romney's response, 'Changefast', has not yet hit the tubes.

Charles Johnson Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:52:18am

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

Obdicut Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:53:20am

re: #8 Killgore Trout

It's not a problem for the left-wing, unless you're doing your odd thing of calling only the most extreme fringes of the left-wing the left-wing. A majority of Democrats say they support Israel, and only a small minority are in any way anti-Israel.

Those who would be upset by this already think Obama is a bad bad man and are voting Nader/Gonzalez/Fruitbat.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:53:29am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

His best? That's really depressing.

Obdicut Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:53:59am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

I think she didn't think her title all the way through.

lawhawk Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:54:52am

It's Ehud Barak, who's done less for Israel's security than many former prime ministers. /

Seriously though, Peres and Barak have rebuked the notion that Obama has been bad for Israel. US policy hasn't changed since Obama took office, and he's continued the same policies. He hasn't forced peace talks when Palestinians have been incapable of forming a coalition government and can barely tolerate being in the same room as each other, let alone negotiating behind a unified position with Israel. That's why there's been no action on the peace process.

At the same time, the US just agreed to fund further Iron Dome systems to improve Israel's security against kassams from Gaza (7 of which were fired over the weekend at Israel but were overshadowed by the opening of the Olympics) or even from Syria/Lebanon with the civil war in Syria threatening to spill over into neighboring countries.

Then, there's Haaretz finding that Romney's position is virtually identical to the President's re: Iran. There's not a lot either can do should Iran get nuclear weapons, but their options are similarly limited short of Iran going nuclear:

Taking both men at their word, they share the same basic view, which is that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and if the only way to prevent this is a military strike, the United States must carry it out.

Romney himself underlined the agreement on this issue between him and the president in an interview with Haaretz last week when he said that “President Obama has said that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable. I feel a nuclear Iran is unacceptable. The term ‘unacceptable’ continues to have a meaning: It suggests that all options will be employed to prevent that outcome.”

The presumptive Republican presidential candidate also reiterated his position that a strike is undesirable while there may be other options. “I think I made it clear in my address in Herzliya [in January 2007] that a military option is by far the least attractive option, but it should not be ruled out. The military option should be evaluated and available if no other course is successful.”

There may be some variations in tone between the two and Romney was careful in his interview with Haaretz to conform to the tradition of not criticizing the president while on foreign soil. But in a speech last week in Reno, the Republican attacked Obama for not being tough enough in the negotiations with Iran, while failing to present an alternative coherent vision or policy of how he himself would handle the issue.

The ambiguity is supposed to signify a difference, but it really indicates that there's not much of a difference in policy perspective.

For its part, the IDF is contemplating all possibilities, and that's their job. They have to game out potential scenarios to go after Iran's nuclear program based on what they've learned about Iran, its nuclear ambitions, and threats against Israel.

And since we're on the subject of Israel - Egyptian President Morsi sent a letter to President Peres indicating a wish for peaceful relations for all in the region (replying to Peres' letter ahead of Ramadan).

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:55:00am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

Oh, Rubin. Well, there ya go.

Decatur Deb Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:55:09am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

Probably was Mitt at his best, bless his soul.

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:56:10am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

There's strong competition
Romney Photo Spurs Domestic Abuse Incident

researchok Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:56:25am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Incredibly obtuse article.

Interesting Times Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:57:04am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

.@jrubinblogger Your hilarious new column gives The Onion a run for its money. Well done! #ohwaitwereyouserious? #p2
— Interesting Times (@intrstngtimes) July 31, 2012

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:57:43am

re: #23 lawhawk

Well said.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 10:58:45am

Alternate titles for the Rubin piece:

Romney, as good as it gets.

Romney, its all downhill from here.

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:00:29am

re: #30 Kragar

Alternate titles for the Rubin piece:

Romney, as good as it gets.

Romney, its all downhill from here.

Romney: you only "get" him if you're cool like me

Mattand Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:01:07am

Reading Rubin's piece was like reading a Colbert Report bit, only without the laugh track and the understanding that Colbert isn't actually an arch conservative.

engineer cat Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:01:35am

The right wing is lying

funny, i noticed that too

funky chicken Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:04:51am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

I dunno. Brit Hume may be giving Rubin a run for her money.

[Link: hotair.com...]

The commenters over there seem to have descended into mass psychosis.

Talking Point Detective Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:07:06am

Wait - Barak said:

"It doesn't mean we agree on anything."

Of course, as someone who often works with non-native speakers of English, I know that we'd usually phrase what he means as

"It doesn't mean that we agree on everything."

But given how the frightwing twists things to serve their agenda, I think that they have a way of using this interview to prove that Obama hates Jews.

Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:07:12am

re: #26 Killgore Trout

There's strong competition
Romney Photo Spurs Domestic Abuse Incident

So Mitt is a homewrecker too ehh? Is nothing beneath this man?

///

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:08:59am

What the hell does an Israeli Defense Minister know about what Obama's done for Israel?

///

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:09:54am

re: #8 Killgore Trout

Good thing that Code Pink are so small as to be irrelevant, even among the left wing.

Talking Point Detective Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:10:19am

re: #8 Killgore Trout

It's also a problem for the left wing. Just yesterday Dkos had several diaries on the rec list accusing Mitt of being an Israeli puppet. The MJ Rosenberg/Code Pink wing of American liberals aren't going to like this much but that's Israel's strategy. They don't want to be a partisan issue and they'll continue to foster cooperation with whoever is in power here in America.

Yeah. "The left wing," is gonna have real trouble dealing with Barak's saying that Obama as done more than other presidents to enhance Israeli security.

Of course, they'll have to take a break from all that raping and stabbing in order to launch a defense against this damning interview.

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:11:11am

re: #30 Kragar

Alternate titles for the Rubin piece:

Romney, as good as it gets.

Romney, its all downhill from here.

That's pretty much the theme of the 2012 GOP. Heh.

Amory Blaine Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:11:47am

re: #37 Lidane

He's obviously a paid Obamao shill. Probably with the muslim brotherhood.

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:13:03am

re: #39 Talking Point Detective

Of course, they'll have to take a break from all that raping and stabbing in order to launch a defense against this damning interview.

They're probably busy at Bradley Manning rally anyways.

blueraven Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:13:12am

re: #26 Killgore Trout

There's strong competition
Romney Photo Spurs Domestic Abuse Incident

You forgot your sarc tag.

Really you are comparing WaPo Rubin with some ridiculous story from the smoking gun?
Im sure WND or Freep has some crazy shit you could post about.

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:14:49am

re: #43 blueraven

You forgot your sarc tag.

Really you are comparing WaPo Rubin with some ridiculous story from the smoking gun?
Im sure WND or Freep has some crazy shit you could post about.

Doesn't matter, made balance

blueraven Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:15:11am

re: #42 Killgore Trout

They're probably busy at Bradley Manning rally anyways.

All 20 of them?

Amory Blaine Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:15:29am

I would say the failure of the US education system "spurred" the incident more than the photo.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:17:46am

re: #46 Amory Blaine

I would say the failure of the US education system "spurred" the incident more than the photo.

I found the article quite enlightening.

I was completely unaware that amphibian filter-feeders existed.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:21:09am

I got your ridiculous story beat right here.

“conservatives generally are against boycotts”

Gainor: This is a line in the sand for everybody listening, for every American right now: what country do we want to have, do we want to have people just say ‘well I don’t like what you believe so we’re going to destroy your business’?

Parshall: Exactly. Dan let me pick up on that point because I think it’s a great one. Paradoxically, in the midst of this brouhaha with Chick-fil-A comes the announcement that Amazon.com CEO and his wife give $2.5 million to Washington state for the same-sex marriage battle going on there. I tell you what, I get an awful lot of press releases all day long and I’m still waiting, I have yet to hear a Christian group that’s saying we’re going to boycott Amazon.com because their founder and CEO has decided to make a multimillion dollar contribution to battle against something that I happen to hold dear and believe in. So this tactic, unfortunately, seems to be one sided, one the one hand I guess I can understand it, and on the other hand, it’s just not the way Christians behave in the marketplace.

Gainor: Conservatives generally are against boycotts. We’ll boycott occasionally for something that’s really extreme. But we accept that people have different values and different opinions, that’s called democracy, we tend to like that and like our Constitution and like our freedom of speech.

Parshall: I couldn’t agree more.

Liars.

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:22:43am

re: #48 Kragar

FTA:

it’s just not the way Christians behave in the marketplace

This whole supply-side Jesus thing is getting out of hand. Do the fundies not realize that comic was not meant to be taken seriously?

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:23:12am

But we accept that people have different values

Christian, Really Christian, and Other (spit).

blueraven Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:23:44am

Well if Jennifer Rubin thinks this is Romney at this best, Lord help us all if he should become POTUS.

Amory Blaine Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:24:01am

re: #48 Kragar

They boycott whoever Rush tells them to.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:24:48am

re: #50 erik_t

Christian, Really Christian, and Other (spit).

They have different values, and will burn in hellfire for having them, but we accept them and will do our best to save them.
///

Destro Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:25:05am

It's Netanyahu and Likud thing with Obama more than anything and it seems they hate Obama as much as the Republicans do and I can't figure out why other than it's a right wing mindset that I no longer get. Ehud Barak is a former Labor party official who left to form his own center left party so he is not beholden to the right's world view.

makeitstop Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:25:40am

I'll be honest - I was expecting Romney's trip to be lackluster at best, with maybe a gaffe thrown in for good measure.

He has exceeded my expectations. The sheer level of ineptitude is staggering.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:27:44am

Rubin on Mitt's trip

Youtube Video

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:30:02am

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

Unless they are teling Romney to pay attention to this Frankly (is Frankly an Olympic Gold medal winner?)

dragonath Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:31:31am

Just think, in four years, we'll get to see Santorum all over the world!

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:31:53am

Wingnuts on Twitter are still flogging the "Polish death camps" comment.

Those dead horses must totally stink.

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:32:52am

re: #59 Learned Mother of Zion

What dead horses? You mean that big pile of dust that used to be horses?

Amory Blaine Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:33:35am

re: #58 Fred Galt

Just think, in four years, we'll get to see Santorum all over the world!

Will it rain from the sky in the Rupture?

b_sharp Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:33:42am

Charles, I've been trying to paste some material into a page but you've grabbed the Windows shortcut key. How do I paste into the page?

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:34:13am

re: #58 Fred Galt

With any luck we'll have a bunch of hazmat suits ready before then.

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:35:03am

EAT A BUNCH OF FAIL

Obama says "Polish death camps," MSM silent. Romney asks abt Olympic headlines, MSM screams "gaffe" at grave site like Westboro protesters.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) July 31, 2012

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:36:10am

re: #64 Learned Mother of Zion

LOL Dana. It must suck having to defend Mitt Romney in an election year.

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:36:46am

I've been thinking. Were campaigns always this vapid and free of substance or serious debate or do I just remember things differently? have the candidates become so identical that we're just skipping substance and going directly to critiques of haircuts, pets and wives? I'm not a huge David Brooks fan but this is a good one...
Dullest Campaign Ever

.intellectual stagnation. This race is the latest iteration of the same debate we’ve been having since 1964.
...
American politics went through tremendous changes between 1900 and 1936, and then again between 1940 and 1976. But our big government/small government debate is back where it was a generation ago. Candidates don’t even have to rehearse the arguments anymore; they just find the gaffes that will help them pin their opponent to the standard bogyman clichés.
...
Second, lack of any hint of intellectual innovation. Candidates used to start their campaigns by giving serious policy addresses at universities and think tanks to lay out their distinct philosophies. Bill Clinton was a New Democrat. George W. Bush was a Compassionate Conservative.

But the ideological climate has ossified. Candidates know that they’d be punished for saying something unexpected...

Third, increased focus on the uninformed. Four years ago, Barack Obama gave a sophisticated major speech on race. Mitt Romney did one on religion. This year, the candidates do not feel compelled to give major speeches. The prevailing view is that anybody who would pay attention to such a speech is already committed to a candidate. It’s more efficient to focus on the undecided voters, who don’t really follow politics or the news.
...
Fourth, lack of serious policy proposals. Has there ever been a campaign with so few major plans on the table?
....
Fifth, negative passion. Both parties are driven more by hatred than by love. Both sides feel it would be a disaster for the country if the other side had power during the next four years. Neither side is propelled by much positive enthusiasm for their own side
....
Eighth, technology is making campaigns dumber. BlackBerrys and iPhones mean that campaigns can respond to their opponents minute by minute and hour by hour. The campaigns get lost in tit-for-tat minutiae that nobody outside the bubble cares about. Meanwhile, use of the Internet means that Web videos overshadow candidate speeches and appearances. Video replaces verbal. Tactics eclipse vision.

Finally, dishonesty numbs. A few years ago, newspapers and nonprofits set up fact-checking squads, rating campaign statements with Pinocchios and such. The hope was that if nonpartisan outfits exposed campaign deception, the campaigns would be too ashamed to lie so much.

This hope was naïve.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:36:48am

re: #64 Learned Mother of Zion

EAT A BUNCH OF FAIL

[Embedded content]

Except for all the press Obama got at the time when he made his comment, the MSM was completely silent.

Amory Blaine Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:37:04am

re: #64 Learned Mother of Zion

EAT A BUNCH OF FAIL

[Embedded content]

Whiny fucking victim.

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:38:29am

re: #66 Killgore Trout

I've been thinking. Were campaigns always this vapid and free of substance or serious debate or do I just remember things differently?

With rare exception, most campaigns have been vapid and substance free for ages.

David Brooks is bored because his candidate sucks. He now knows the pain the Dems dealt with in every modern election that wasn't won by Clinton and Obama.

Tumulus11 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:38:57am

60 Lidane
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:32:52am
re: #59 Learned Mother of Zion
'What dead horses? You mean that big pile of dust that used to be horses?'

. That's the same dust that gets sprinkled on lopsided things by the magical balance fairy.

dragonath Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:41:24am

GOP Lawmaker Says His Party is Too Extreme

Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) blasted the Republican Party in an interview with the Syracuse Post-Standard, saying his party is "too willing to accommodate its most extreme members."

Said Hanna: "I have to say that I'm frustrated by how much we -- I mean the Republican Party -- are willing to give deferential treatment to our extremes in this moment in history."

Killgore Trout Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:43:15am

re: #69 Lidane

David Brooks is bored because his candidate sucks.

I think he's still an Obama supporter.

Hercules Grytpype-Thynne Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:43:22am

re: #71 Fred Galt

GOP Lawmaker Says His Party is Too Extreme

RINO!

makeitstop Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:43:29am

Loesch is only borderline coherent today. All these wingnuts sound even more like resentful, pouty children than usual today.

They know these missteps are Romeny's fault and can't be blamed on Obama, and it's driving them even more nuts.

Charles Johnson Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:44:09am

re: #62 b_sharp

Charles, I've been trying to paste some material into a page but you've grabbed the Windows shortcut key. How do I paste into the page?

Reload and you can use that key now. You can also Paste by right clicking, by the way.

Lidane Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:44:22am

re: #72 Killgore Trout

I think he's still an Obama supporter.

David Brooks has never been an Obama supporter. David Frum, possibly. But Brooks? I don't believe he's ever voted for him.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:45:25am

Bachmann: ‘We Cannot Elevate Political Correctness Over National Security’

“The concerns I have and my colleagues have are real,” Bachmann told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Monday, while touring a bridge project site. “We cannot elevate political correctness over national security.”

Exactly. We cannot ignore the concerns of insane Americans simply because they are complete fucking nutjobs.
/

Hercules Grytpype-Thynne Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:45:29am

re: #72 Killgore Trout

I think he's still an Obama supporter.

I haven't been reading Brooks lately because he turns my stomach, but I doubt this. The usual plan for his columns seems to be to trot out all the good reasons to support Democratic/liberal policies, and then somehow always manage to end up on the doctrinaire Republican/conservative side after all.

makeitstop Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:45:35am

re: #72 Killgore Trout

I think he's still an Obama supporter.

Bobo? Never.

engineer cat Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:48:23am

Dana Loesch Obama says "Polish death camps," MSM silent

dana haz a butthurted

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:49:49am

re: #80 engineer cat

Dana Loesch Obama says "Polish death camps," MSM silent

dana haz a butthurted

Conservatives are strictly against that, because of the bible.

Daniel Ballard Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:50:58am

One more Romney gaffe and the gaffers union (IATSE) will expect dues to be paid...

engineer cat Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:51:32am

it’s just not the way Christians behave in the marketplace

the money changers have permits from the temple and are practicing capitalism in a perfectly legal way, and anybody who objects to that doesn't respect the rule of law and must be some kinda collectivist

engineer cat Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:52:18am

re: #81 Kragar

Conservatives are strictly against that, because of the bible.

imma ask my second youngest wife to look into that

lawhawk Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:53:31am

re: #82 Daniel Ballard

Well, his campaign could use better stage managing.. /

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:53:32am

International Media Criticize Romney’s Mideast Trip: ‘The Republican Has Done Damage’

GERMANY: In an opinion piece for the centrist Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany’s biggest daily, Christian Wernicke wrote:

The trip to Israel may help Romney in the short term. In the long term, however, the Republican has done damage: The Middle East needs the United States as mediator. As such, the would-be president has already disqualified himself.

FRANCE: The French newspaper Le Monde noted that Romney broke with a policy upheld by successive U.S. governments for more than 60 years by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel:

(H)e delivered a speech declaring himself “very moved” to find himself Jerusalem, “the capital of Israel.”

This while the U.S. does not officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Their embassy, like those of virtually all the countries represented in Israel, is in Tel Aviv.

AUSTRIA: The Vienna-based Kurier newspaper set the stage by mentioning the harsh British reaction to Romney’s visit to London and, in harsh terms, placed his Jerusalem comments in that context:

Now the next occasion of putting his foot in his mouth: on Sunday, the Republican called Jerusalem the “capital of Israel.”

UNITED KINGDOM: In a in opinion column for the Rupert Murdoch-owned Times of London, Hugo Rifkind wrote:

Mr. Romney’s behavior in Israel is… a throwback to a time when U.S. foreign policy considered the bulk of the Middle East to be irredeemably horrible; a great morass of messy “other” with which grown-up engagement was close to impossible. As a response to the patchwork of petty tyranny that the region used to be, this made some sense. Today, it makes none at all.

Perhaps the harshest opinion came here at home, where a New York Times editorial ripped Romney for his counter-productive pandering that does “no favors” for American interests:

Despite what Mr. Romney says, all American presidents have been pro-Israel, including Mr. Obama. But that doesn’t mean subcontracting American policy to Israeli leaders or donors. [... Romney's] policies would complicate America’s ability to act as a broker in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

Romantic Heretic Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:55:29am

re: #53 Kragar

They have different values, and will burn in hellfire for having them, but we accept them and will do our best to save them.
///

I'm currently arguing with one of those over at Facebook.

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:56:05am

Romney on Gaffes: It’s the Media’s Fault

In his first comments addressing multiple gaffes during his overseas trip, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday fell back on a staple of troubled political campaigns: Blame the media.

Asked about his missteps in an interview with Fox News’ Carl Cameron before he left Poland on Tuesday, Romney accused reporters of trivializing the substance of his trip and trying to divert attention from President Obama’s stewardship of the economy.

“And I realize that there will be some in the Fourth Estate, or whichever estate, who are far more interested in finding something to write about that is unrelated to the economy, to geopolitics, to the threat of war, to the reality of conflict in Afghanistan today, to a nuclearization of Iran,” Romney said, according to a transcript of the interview that aired on Tuesday morning. “They’ll instead try and find anything else to divert from the fact that these last four years have been tough years for our country.”

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:56:46am

re: #87 Romantic Heretic

I'm currently arguing with one of those over at Facebook.

Just call them a sinner and watch the fireworks.

jaunte Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:56:49am

re: #86 Kragar

"The Middle East needs the United States as mediator. As such, the would-be president has already disqualified himself."

QFT

makeitstop Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:57:01am

re: #86 Kragar

International Media Criticize Romney’s Mideast Trip: ‘The Republican Has Done Damage’

Here comes the part where Romney switches from The Guy Who Could Restore Relations With The World to The Guy Who Sneers 'Screw Them Furriners.'

I'm so enjoying this.

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:57:26am

Hava Nagila girl leads US team to gymnastics gold medal but Reuters doesn't even mention her name, just the 3rd-place girl she beat for the finals.

WTF is up with that?

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:57:58am

re: #91 makeitstop

Here comes the part where Romney switches from The Guy Who Could Restore Relations With The World to The Guy Who Sneers 'Screw Them Furriners.'

I'm so enjoying this.

Team Romney: Americans Don’t Care About Foreign Press

Romantic Heretic Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:58:51am

re: #66 Killgore Trout

I've been thinking. Were campaigns always this vapid and free of substance or serious debate or do I just remember things differently? have the candidates become so identical that we're just skipping substance and going directly to critiques of haircuts, pets and wives? I'm not a huge David Brooks fan but this is a good one...
Dullest Campaign Ever

..

I am, yet again, going to quote George Carlin.

Now, there's one thing you might have noticed I don't complain about: politicians. Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They don't pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks. This is what we have to offer. It's what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain't going to do any good; you're just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here… like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: "The Public Sucks. Fuck Hope.

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:59:06am

re: #92 Learned Mother of Zion

Hava Nagila girl leads US team to gymnastics gold medal but Reuters doesn't even mention her name, just the 3rd-place girl she beat for the finals.

WTF is up with that?

Must be that great respect for Jewish culture and Judeo-Christian values that the right keeps insisting America always demonstrates.

dragonfire1981 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 11:59:53am

re: #88 Kragar

Romney on Gaffes: It’s the Media’s Fault

It's all about the steady diet of talking points.

It's amazing. I know many people who are prepared to vote for Romney simply because he's not Obama. A friend of mine said he can't stand Romney and doesn't trust him, but would still rather have him over Obama.

jaunte Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:00:10pm

re: #92 Learned Mother of Zion

They mention her in this one, still second-billing:
[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:00:39pm

re: #92 Learned Mother of Zion

Hava Nagila girl leads US team to gymnastics gold medal but Reuters doesn't even mention her name, just the 3rd-place girl she beat for the finals.

WTF is up with that?

Because anger and controversy (the two-per-country max) sells better than quiet competence. Don't over-think it.

dragonfire1981 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:01:07pm

re: #86 Kragar

International Media Criticize Romney’s Mideast Trip: ‘The Republican Has Done Damage’

Darned liberal mainstream media! They're EVERWHERE!!

100

dragonfire1981 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:02:08pm

Hey Charles, any possibility of us getting a shortcut button to apply wingnut tags to text?

Not that it takes too long to type out, but we already have buttons for text formatting, quotes and links, why not this too?

101

b_sharp Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:03:13pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Reload and you can use that key now. You can also Paste by right clicking, by the way.

Thanks Charles. I reloaded and added material to the page if anyone is interested.

102

engineer cat Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:03:22pm

Were campaigns always this vapid and free of substance or serious debate or do I just remember things differently?

george washington caught a lot of crap for his fancy parties - with silver punch bowls like he thought he was sum kinda aristocrat or something - so it's been going on forever. the adams campaign warned that the deist jefferson would confiscate and burn all the bibles

but for me personally i've been most dismayed by the continual increase in shameless lying by republicans since 1980 or so

103

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:04:08pm

WTF Dana? Does this even make any freaking SENSE?

Same press that writes ridiculous hit pieces on Romney amazed when his staff treats them with a modicum of the contempt they hold for him.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) July 31, 2012

104

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:05:17pm

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Right wing hack says what?

Romney, Frankly, Has Been at His Best.

Possibly the most ridiculous article you'll read today.

the comments on that are hysterical

105

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:05:30pm

re: #103 Learned Mother of Zion

WTF Dana? Does this even make any freaking SENSE?

[Embedded content]

I think she's trying to defend the "Kiss my ass" comment.

106

nines09 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:06:01pm

re: #10 Kragar

A picture is worth a thousand words.

In this case, every word being derp.

Image: romney9.jpg

"Who let the dogs out?"

107

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:06:12pm

re: #103 Learned Mother of Zion

WTF Dana? Does this even make any freaking SENSE?

[Embedded content]

you've heard of Palinese? This is Romneyese it's like palinese but uses bigger, more sophisticated sounding words.

108

makeitstop Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:08:02pm

re: #103 Learned Mother of Zion

WTF Dana? Does this even make any freaking SENSE?

[Embedded content]

Man, they are not taking Romney's failed trip well at all.

We're in for a full day of this type of grousing, at least.

109

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:08:27pm

re: #4 erik_t

He was lying about Israeli defense matters because Obama coerced him, just like he did with the Joint Chiefs.

There, done.

Sure. Peres and Barak say whatever Obama tells them, meanwhile Romney says whatever Adelson and Netanyahu tell them...

///Speak for yourself, everyone!!!

110

Charles Johnson Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:08:30pm

re: #88 Kragar

Romney says:

“They’ll instead try and find anything else to divert from the fact that these last four years have been tough years for our country.”

Wait ... the media are trying to divert people's attention away from the bad economy?

Really? Then why do I see articles and news reports about the bad economy every single day?

This is just crazy - he's not even trying to describe the real world. Nothing but red meat media-bashing for the base.

111

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:09:43pm

re: #6 Kragar

Is this where the Romney Press Secretary tells the Israeli Defense Minister to kiss his ass and shove it?

I wouldn't. Barak may look like a cuddly grandpa, but he has done some scary shit in his lifetime.

112

jaunte Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:10:15pm

Robot Romney senses that the media has not received his campaign instructions, and is stuck on a loop, repeating the command.

113

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:11:05pm

re: #8 Killgore Trout

It's also a problem for the left wing. Just yesterday Dkos had several diaries on the rec list accusing Mitt of being an Israeli puppet. The MJ Rosenberg/Code Pink wing of American liberals aren't going to like this much but that's Israel's strategy. They don't want to be a partisan issue and they'll continue to foster cooperation with whoever is in power here in America.

Yes. Mitt may be an incredibly powerful, spoiled, plutocrat, but he does what the Israelis say. Not what his campaign managers say, mind you, but everything the Israelis and Shel Adelson tell him.

///

114

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:11:58pm

re: #20 Obdicut

It's not a problem for the left-wing, unless you're doing your odd thing of calling only the most extreme fringes of the left-wing the left-wing. A majority of Democrats say they support Israel, and only a small minority are in any way anti-Israel.

Those who would be upset by this already think Obama is a bad bad man and are voting Nader/Gonzalez/Fruitbat.

They got Fruitbat on the ticket? That will get them five extra votes in Maine!

115

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:12:14pm

GOPtalkingpoint.exe has performed an illegal operation.

~~Abort~~, retry, fail?

You can't abort because the GOP won't let you.

116

dragonfire1981 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:12:25pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

Romney says:

Wait ... the media are trying to divert people's attention away from the bad economy?

Really? Then why do I see articles and news reports about the bad economy every single day?

This is just crazy - he's not even trying to describe the real world. Nothing but red meat media-bashing for the base.

He doesn't UNDERSTAND the real world.

117

Daniel Ballard Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:12:32pm

re: #110 Charles Johnson

My read on that is they are stuck on convincing an increasingly reluctant "choir". This at the very moment they need to be able to assume those votes are theirs to keep and spend this time through the election the swing votes. At this rate it might be November 1st before they can start that huge job of getting swing votes in say Ohio.

118

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:12:48pm

re: #114 SanFranciscoZionist

They got Fruitbat on the ticket? That will get them five extra votes in Maine!

MJ Rosenberg will probably vote for fruitbat.

119

dragonfire1981 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:12:57pm

re: #115 Kragar

GOPtalkingpoint.exe has performed an illegal operation.

~~Abort~~, retry, fail?

You can't abort because the GOP won't let you.

How about: Retry, Fail, EPIC Fail

120

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:13:15pm

re: #26 Killgore Trout

There's strong competition
Romney Photo Spurs Domestic Abuse Incident

I'm starting to worry about Facebook. It does not seem to create good relationships between people.

121

dragonfire1981 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:14:07pm

re: #120 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm starting to worry about Facebook. It does not seem to create good relationships between people.

I am told it sometimes creates good relationships between married people (who are not married to those they are having the good relationship with).

122

lawhawk Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:14:12pm

re: #98 erik_t

Naw, it's a NBC news embargo. /

Seriously though, there was no reason to exclude Raisman's name from reporting on the team event. In fact, she's the women's team captain and had the final scoring opportunity (last to go on the floor) as ESPN's reporting indicated.

Media outlets seem to be looking for an angle, and theirs appears to be focusing on the fact that Wieber lost out b/c of a rule that allows only top 2 from each country to perform in the all-arounds - not on those who actually made it through to the finals. Controversy sells apparently, and the same extends to the swimming pool where there seems to be more ink devoted to Phelps losing to Lochte and then Lochte losing to the French (twice) than the successes elsewhere (Hey Missy Franklin from Aurora CO for instance). The US is doing quite well, even if the pre-Games narratives aren't holding up nearly as well as the networks had hoped for.

Yet, there's still time for Phelps or Lochte to add to their impressive career tallies.

Oh, and there's a pair of Israelis, one of whom might make some history of their own in wind surfing by becoming the first to win at successive games.

123

funky chicken Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:14:19pm

re: #107 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

you've heard of Palinese? This is Romneyese it's like palinese but uses bigger, more sophisticated sounding words.

kiss my ass and shove it? LOL, well, maybe.

124

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:15:39pm

re: #80 engineer cat

Dana Loesch Obama says "Polish death camps," MSM silent

dana haz a butthurted

The press is supposed to bring up a parallel gaffe of Obama's every time a Republican screws up. If they don't, it means they're partisan.

125

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:15:43pm

re: #112 jaunte

Robot Romney senses that the media has not received his campaign instructions, and is stuck on a loop, repeating the command.

Romney code in full:

do:
  x = choose(random) from all_possible_statements
  say(x)
  y = get(audience_reaction)
  if (y == bad) 
    retract(x, style=unconvincingly)

until: 
  presidency == true OR death

126

dragonath Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:16:37pm

re: #106 nines09

Are they using beefeater hats as microphone covers now?

127

Interesting Times Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:16:38pm

Because you haven't had sufficient reason to use Brain Bleach™ today:

Limbaugh proudly announces: "I am pretty much the head of the republican party. I breastfeed them."
— Stop Rush Limbaugh (@StopRush) July 31, 2012

128

Romantic Heretic Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:17:51pm

Romney is beginning to remind me of Joe Clark who was Prime Minister for a very short time.

Before he was Prime Minister he was leader of the now defunct Progressive Conservatives. It seemed likely the he was going to be Prime Minister soon. However one of the complaints was that he had little foreign policy experience.

So his staff arranged a world tour for him.

In the words of a Canadian pundit, "Joe Clark was supposed to learn about the world. Instead the world learned about Joe Clark."

The world is learning about Mitt Romney.

129

dragonath Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:18:02pm

re: #127 Interesting Times

Because you haven't had sufficient reason to use Brain Bleach™ today:

[Embedded content]

Rancid pizza grease.

130

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:18:08pm

re: #127 Interesting Times

Because you haven't had sufficient reason to use Brain Bleach™ today:

[Embedded content]

Youtube Video

131

makeitstop Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:18:45pm

Limbaugh proudly announces: "I am pretty much the head of the republican party. I breastfeed them."

Republicans vociferously denied this when a Democrat said it.

Will we get any denials this time? I kinda doubt it.

132

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:18:58pm

re: #103 Learned Mother of Zion

WTF Dana? Does this even make any freaking SENSE?

[Embedded content]

Sure. In Wingnut World, it's more important to tell people exactly what you think of them than to achieve any actual objectives.

Like, if the President had any gumption at all, he'd tell the Pakistanis right to their faces that they're a bunch of stupid Muslim tribal barbarians whose country sucks because they suck, instead of all this diplomatic crap.

We are seeing this modeled by Mitt, who treats the press badly because he thinks they treat him badly, not caring that they will probably report on this, and make him look dumb.

133

iossarian Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:19:41pm

re: #131 makeitstop

Republicans vociferously denied this when a Democrat said it.

Will we get any denials this time? I kinda doubt it.

Maybe he was being ironic. With Rush it's hard to tell and I'm certainly not going to waste my time listening to the racist fuck to find out.

134

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:20:16pm

re: #118 Learned Mother of Zion

MJ Rosenberg will probably vote for fruitbat.

MJ Rosenberg may BE Fruitbat.

135

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:21:00pm

re: #127 Interesting Times

Because you haven't had sufficient reason to use Brain Bleach™ today:

[Embedded content]

Thank you Rush. That was the image I needed.

136

erik_t Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:22:14pm

re: #122 lawhawk

Pretty much. The two most heavily-covered stories, by far, are failures of Phelps and of whatshername who could have been the third US gymnast in the finals. I couldn't name a single American gold-winner.

137

Kragar Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:22:51pm

re: #135 SanFranciscoZionist

Thank you Rush. That was the image I needed.

At least you didn't imagine him in a peekaboo bra, shaking his boobs as he gave Boehner a lap dance.

until now...

138

Sheila Broflovski Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:23:27pm

re: #134 SanFranciscoZionist

MJ Rosenberg may BE Fruitbat.

He already has ding and moon wrapped up.

139

funky chicken Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:26:00pm

re: #127 Interesting Times

Because you haven't had sufficient reason to use Brain Bleach™ today:

[Embedded content]

Probably hoping to create a distraction from Romney's horrible week. Hopefully most people ignore him.

140

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:27:09pm

re: #139 funky chicken

Probably hoping to create a distraction from Romney's horrible week. Hopefully most people ignore him.

I'm not sure there's much to do except shudder and try to forget. It's not that I exactly object to his saying it, I just wish I hadn't heard it.

141

Eventual Carrion Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:27:41pm

re: #77 Kragar

Bachmann: ‘We Cannot Elevate Political Correctness Over National Security’

Exactly. We cannot ignore the concerns of insane Americans simply because they are complete fucking nutjobs.
/

I know what that whack fucking batshit insane bitch is saying. We shouldn't have to hold back what we think in the quest for political correctness. We should be able to tell ignorant, religious fundy dumbfucks exactly what we feel about them and their plans to destroy America's founding values. But that would make them feel like they were being picked on if we talked to them as they want to talk to others. Oh, and Bachmann, fuck off bitch.

142

funky chicken Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:29:56pm

re: #136 erik_t

Pretty much. The two most heavily-covered stories, by far, are failures of Phelps and of whatshername who could have been the third US gymnast in the finals. I couldn't name a single American gold-winner.

I really wish people wouldn't focus only on the gold medals. Getting a silver or bronze at the Olympics is a big deal too. Our synchronized diving women won the silver with a great performance and deserve more attention. The archery silver was completely unexpected. etc. There are interesting stories out there, but all I seem to hear about is basketball players talking trash (LeBron and Kobe) and Phelps and Lochte (but not about how they were part of the relay team that took silver when they weren't a lock for any medal at all, etc).

143

Mostly sane, most of the time. Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:32:50pm

re: #120 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm starting to worry about Facebook. It does not seem to create good relationships between people.

Republican, Democrats, voting for Obama, voting for Mitt, we can all agree...

She needs to dump his ugly butt.

144

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:33:51pm

re: #143 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Republican, Democrats, voting for Obama, voting for Mitt, we can all agree...

She needs to dump his ugly butt.

Yes, I think the nation can unite behind what a friend of mine used to tell women who asked for relationship advice: "Dump the bum. You can do better."

145

CuriousLurker Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:35:13pm

OT mini-rant:

Last night I found a full version of The Passion of the Christ on YouTube. Having never seen it as I had little interest in the subject, my curiosity nonetheless got the better of me. I clicked, scrubbed forward a bit, and found myself watching a scene where Jesus (a.s.) had been brought in front of a group of Jews (Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin?) and was being interrogated & beaten.

Holy crap, the Jews in that scene were positively diabolical! I know there had been complaints of anti-Semitism when the movie came out, and it is a Mel Gibson movie, but still...actaully seeing it acted out on screen was...sheesh...I had no idea it was that bad. I didn't even finish watching the scene, let alone the whole movie. O_o.

146

b_sharp Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:43:44pm

re: #120 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm starting to worry about Facebook. It does not seem to create good relationships between people.

Because it allows people to say what they believe with no up close and personal cultural moderators.

147

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:44:24pm

re: #145 CuriousLurker

OT mini-rant:

Last night I found a full version of The Passion of the Christ on YouTube. Having never seen it as I had little interest in the subject, my curiosity nonetheless got the better of me. I clicked, scrubbed forward a bit, and found myself watching a scene where Jesus (a.s.) had been brought in front of a group of Jews (Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin?) and was being interrogated & beaten.

Holy crap, the Jews in that scene were positively diabolical! I know there had been complaints of anti-Semitism when the movie came out, and it is a Mel Gibson movie, but still...actaully seeing it acted out on screen was...sheesh...I had no idea it was that bad. I didn't even finish watching the scene, let alone the whole movie. O_o.

When it first came out, I had a kid in my student teaching class who went off on my master teacher, mumbling about how 'the Jews killed my Jesus'. (I don't think he realized I was Jewish.)

I mentioned this to one of the Jesuits who ran my teaching credential program that evening. He said, "Passion of the Christ?" I nodded. He said "Yeah, I won't go see it. Father O'Malley went, and he says it's even worse than people have been saying."

My only temptation to see it is that it is probably the only major motion picture that will be made in Aramaic in my lifetime, and I'd kind of like to see how much I can understand.

148

Mostly sane, most of the time. Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:45:17pm

re: #145 CuriousLurker

OT mini-rant:

Last night I found a full version of The Passion of the Christ on YouTube. Having never seen it as I had little interest in the subject, my curiosity nonetheless got the better of me. I clicked, scrubbed forward a bit, and found myself watching a scene where Jesus (a.s.) had been brought in front of a group of Jews (Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin?) and was being interrogated & beaten.

Holy crap, the Jews in that scene were positively diabolical! I know there had been complaints of anti-Semitism when the movie came out, and it is a Mel Gibson movie, but still...actaully seeing it acted out on screen was...sheesh...I had no idea it was that bad. I didn't even finish watching the scene, let alone the whole movie. O_o.

It's Jews depicted by a prominent anti-Semite. What did you expect?

On a totally different note: This article arrived in a magazine in my mailbox last week:

[Link: magazine.byu.edu...]

149

b_sharp Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:46:29pm

re: #128 Romantic Heretic

Romney is beginning to remind me of Joe Clark who was Prime Minister for a very short time.

Before he was Prime Minister he was leader of the now defunct Progressive Conservatives. It seemed likely the he was going to be Prime Minister soon. However one of the complaints was that he had little foreign policy experience.

So his staff arranged a world tour for him.

In the words of a Canadian pundit, "Joe Clark was supposed to learn about the world. Instead the world learned about Joe Clark."

The world is learning about Mitt Romney.

Joe who?

150

b_sharp Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:48:20pm

re: #137 Kragar

At least you didn't imagine him in a peekaboo bra, shaking his boobs as he gave Boehner a lap dance.

until now...

I'm having trouble with severe stomach pains and headache as it is, and you go and add this to it?

Thanks man.

151

CuriousLurker Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:50:27pm

re: #147 SanFranciscoZionist

Ugh, I can't imagine taking a kid to see that movie.

Regarding the Aramaic, I was kinda surprised that I was able to make out a couple of words as they were the same as/similar to Arabic.

152

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:51:02pm

re: #149 b_sharp

Joe who?

Old Joe Clark, the preacher's son
Preached all over the plain
The only text he ever knew
Was high low jack and the game

Fare thee well Old Joe Clark
Fare thee well I'm bound
Fare thee well Old Joe Clark
Goodbye Betsy Brown

153

SanFranciscoZionist Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:52:13pm

re: #151 CuriousLurker

Ugh, I can't imagine taking a kid to see that movie.

Regarding the Aramaic, I was kinda surprised that I was able to make out a couple of words as they were the same as/similar to Arabic.

He was sixteen or so, but still...

Yeah, there are a lot of cognates between all the surviving Semitic languages. It's pretty cool.

154

CuriousLurker Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:57:52pm

re: #148 Mostly sane, most of the time.

It's Jews depicted by a prominent anti-Semite. What did you expect?

On a totally different note: This article arrived in a magazine in my mailbox last week:

[Link: magazine.byu.edu...]

Yeah, I know, it was just that actually seeing it with my own eyes instead of just hearing about it made a big difference.

Thanks for the info on the art exhibit at the BYU museum. Nice to see!

Since we're on the topic of religion, I've been on the lookout for you. A few days ago OhNoZombies! was asking for a book on Mormons. I wanted to let you know so that maybe you can recommend something next time you see him/her.

155

Destro Tue, Jul 31, 2012 1:04:45pm

re: #102 engineer cat

Were campaigns always this vapid and free of substance or serious debate or do I just remember things differently?

george washington caught a lot of crap for his fancy parties - with silver punch bowls like he thought he was sum kinda aristocrat or something - so it's been going on forever. the adams campaign warned that the deist jefferson would confiscate and burn all the bibles

but for me personally i've been most dismayed by the continual increase in shameless lying by republicans since 1980 or so

Republicans only started to lie about their policies and reality by 1982-83 when they realized their tax cutting did not generate revenue. Up until that time they actually believed in their own bullshit until reality proved them wrong but by then they could not take back their 'morning in America' BS rhetoric.

156

ReamWorks SKG Tue, Jul 31, 2012 1:07:28pm

I'm Jewish, and a big supporter of Israel. I spend several weeks in Israel each year.

While Obama certainly isn't perfect, he's never done anything nearly as egregious and embarrassing as Romney's trip to Israel. It even, irrationally, made me sick seeing him sticking on a yarmulke and touching our Wall.

He's doing the cheapest, most blatant form of pandering I've ever seen.

157

Mostly sane, most of the time. Tue, Jul 31, 2012 1:10:16pm

re: #154 CuriousLurker

Yeah, I know, it was just that actually seeing it with my own eyes instead of just hearing about it made a big difference.

Thanks for the info on the art exhibit at the BYU museum. Nice to see!

Since we're on the topic of religion, I've been on the lookout for you. A few days ago OhNoZombies! was asking for a book on Mormons. I wanted to let you know so that maybe you can recommend something next time you see him/her.

There's a non-LDS scholar of the LDS church who is respected by both sides. I'll try to remember her name.

158

CuriousLurker Tue, Jul 31, 2012 1:17:32pm

re: #157 Mostly sane, most of the time.

There's a non-LDS scholar of the LDS church who is respected by both sides. I'll try to remember her name.

Sounds like a good option. I only noted the comment because ONZ seemed perturbed. I know only too well how much bad/biased info is out there WRT religions not considered mainstream. The world doesn't need more misunderstanding.

159

JRCMYP Tue, Jul 31, 2012 3:35:43pm

re: #46 Amory Blaine

I would say the failure of the US education system "spurred" the incident more than the photo.

Or perhaps some Jim Beam.

160

JRCMYP Tue, Jul 31, 2012 3:39:13pm

re: #48 Kragar

I got your ridiculous story beat right here.

“conservatives generally are against boycotts”

Liars.

Er...the Million Moms or whoever number they really are have decided to boycott Amazon (and JC Penney).
Million Moms say so long to Amazon

161

Patricia Kayden Tue, Jul 31, 2012 4:46:25pm

re: #55 makeitstop

I'll be honest - I was expecting Romney's trip to be lackluster at best, with maybe a gaffe thrown in for good measure.

He has exceeded my expectations. The sheer level of ineptitude is staggering.

Ha! But let's been honest, it's been a lot of fun to point and laugh at him. The most fun so far. Romney is so prone to gaffes, that I think he'll continue to be his own worst enemy.

Obama needs to run some ads featuring Mr. Barak to counter any claims from Romney that he's bad for Israel.

162

labman57 Tue, Jul 31, 2012 5:45:20pm

Well, the right wing pundits are going to be working overtime finding ways to spin this story. So what explanations might these bloviators dream up?

1) Wow, this guy is a traitorous coward. He's probably a mole working for Islamic terrorists. Because every patriotic American knows that Obama hates Israel almost as much as he hates America.

2) Obviously, he didn't really mean it. Obama probably threatened to withhold all future aid to Israel unless one of its top officials made these public remarks. Hell, Barack probably provided him with a script.

3) It's "Opposite Day", everyone!

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Israeli Defense Minister: Obama Has Done More for Israel Than Any President

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