John McCain in Israel

[NewsGuy]

You gotta give credit where credit is due:

[Yala]

They won't give any credit. I actually had a Jew, who could care less about being Jewish of course, tell me that he won't vote for McCain b/c he's an anti-Semite. ???

Jews are told by their parents that they must vote for Democrats and like sheep the Jews run to the polls to vote Democrat.

My parents pulled the same crap and of course as a young adult I voted for Clinton. These days I always bother my parents about being Democrats and have converted quite a few people. I am happy to report my dad will be voting for McCain. However, McCain did make a big gaff today with the whole Iran-Al Qaeda thing. I KNOW he knows better, he was prob. just jetlagged.

[NewsGuy]

Jews are told by their parents that they must vote for Democrats and like sheep the Jews run to the polls to vote Democrat.

That's true traditionally. I think that in the past decade there's been a welcome shift in Jews moving away from the Democratic party as various anti-Semites and racists like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cynthia McKinney, and others have risen to prominence there.

[Aliyah1995]

When I voted in the US elections, I did NOT hold affinity to either the Democratic or Republican party and voted back and forth. Nor do I think it is so black and white as to which one is "good for the Jews and Israel" and which one is "bad for the Jews and Israel". There are anti-semites in BOTH parties.

FWIW, I think that who is good for the Jews/Israel is just one of the MANY pieces in the election puzzle and to be honest, when push comes to shove, pretty much any president that is elected will end up pressuring Israel to make "painful concessions for peace" because of being so dependant on oil.

So the way I see it, if I was still living in America, I would vote on who is TRULY going to be the best for America in EVERY way (socially, economically, security wise, education wise, etc.). Sometimes I see this in the Democratic candiate and sometimes in the Republican candidate. This is NOT something that is etched in stone for EITHER party for eternity.

[Doxxs]

They won't give any credit. I actually had a Jew, who could care less about being Jewish of course, tell me that he won't vote for McCain b/c he's an anti-Semite. ???

Jews are told by their parents that they must vote for Democrats and like sheep the Jews run to the polls to vote Democrat.

My parents pulled the same crap and of course as a young adult I voted for Clinton. These days I always bother my parents about being Democrats and have converted quite a few people. I am happy to report my dad will be voting for McCain. However, McCain did make a big gaff today with the whole Iran-Al Qaeda thing. I KNOW he knows better, he was prob. just jetlagged.


Amen and Amen

[Yala]

Amen and Amen

:)



Aliyah1995-

When I voted in the US elections, I did NOT hold affinity to either the Democratic or Republican party and voted back and forth.

I think this is the right strategy b/c I don't think either party appeals to a moderate Jewish person.


There are anti-semites in BOTH parties.

Well of course but these days the anti-Semites in the Democrat party are organized and full-fledge anti-Israel. I know you live in Israel now so maybe you haven't seen the bitter hatred these people have for Israel. Maybe it is in response to Evangelical support of Israel or maybe it is b/c the far left have aligned with Islamofascists. I'm not sure, but whatever the case they are really haters and really vocal. People on this website can tell you how they are in Union Sq every day with signs against Israel.

There is still the Pat Buchanan wing of the Republican party that hate Jews but they are not really influential. Evangelicals carry a ton more weight.


FWIW, I think that who is good for the Jews/Israel is just one of the MANY pieces in the election puzzle and to be honest, when push comes to shove, pretty much any president that is elected will end up pressuring Israel to make "painful concessions for peace" because of being so dependant on oil.

This is one of the many reasons Israel should spend almost all of its money on finding alternative sources for oil. In fact I think it would be smarter if they took money from defense and put it towards this one thing.


So the way I see it, if I was still living in America, I would vote on who is TRULY going to be the best for America in EVERY way (socially, economically, security wise, education wise, etc.). Sometimes I see this in the Democratic candiate and sometimes in the Republican candidate. This is NOT something that is etched in stone for EITHER party for eternity.

OK, but you have to understand that when you have a President who is anti-Israel (like Carter) it is not only bad for Israel, but also bad for Jews. A president like him riles up the loons and then Jews wind up getting attacked on the subway and walking down the street. We don't want this place to turn into Europe where we have to be scared to wear a Magen David. So these are things we have to take into consideration.

I am a Republican these days in response to the vicious anti-Jew/Israel, anti-American strain in the Democratic party (check out any of their major blogs to see what I mean). I am also totally against living in a nanny-state. However, I am pro-choice, pro-gun control, for universal healthcare, etc. So I am not married to either party but will not vote for the one that is likely to get my brethren kicked around for the next 4 years. And I will certainly not vote for the one who blackmailed Israel during Oslo or the one who attended a racist, anti-Israel Church for 20 years.

[Aliyah1995]

Yala-


Well of course but these days the anti-Semites in the Democrat party are organized and full-fledge anti-Israel. I know you live in Israel now so maybe you haven't seen the bitter hatred these people have for Israel. Maybe it is in response to Evangelical support of Israel or maybe it is b/c the far left have aligned with Islamofascists. I'm not sure, but whatever the case they are really haters and really vocal. People on this website can tell you how they are in Union Sq every day with signs against Israel.

There is still the Pat Buchanan wing of the Republican party that hate Jews but they are not really influential. Evangelicals carry a ton more weight.

I am aware of how the OVERWHELMING majority of anti-semites in the world (INCLUDING America SPECIFICALLY) are on the far-left and even treading in the "moderate" left these days. My father, who retired to Vermont, attended a conference at Middlebury College (considered the bastion of the intellectual freedom) titled "What is the definition of terrorism?" and it ended up turning into an Israel bashing fest, with some borderline anti-Jewish rhetoric (having NOTHING to do with Israel). So, no arguments from me there. It used to be that the religious right in America would be the red light for Jews, but today DAFKA those groups that claim to be concerned about "human rights" (ironically and sadly) that are the red light for more and more Jews today. I am NOT a prophet and do not know how long this trend will continue, but for now this is the way it is. That being said, examining each candidate carefully, his/her track record, as well as the prospective VP's and who he/she would appoint to go along with them for the ride is VERY important. MOST importantly, remember that talking the talk before being elected and walking the walk after being elected are two different things.



This is one of the many reasons Israel should spend almost all of its money on finding alternative sources for oil. In fact I think it would be smarter if they took money from defense and put it towards this one thing.

Not just Israel, but America too and any other nation that no longer wants to cowtow to those who hold the keys to the oil.



OK, but you have to understand that when you have a President who is anti-Israel (like Carter) it is not only bad for Israel, but also bad for Jews. A president like him riles up the loons and then Jews wind up getting attacked on the subway and walking down the street. We don't want this place to turn into Europe where we have to be scared to wear a Magen David. So these are things we have to take into consideration.

I am NOT saying not, but also remember that these candidates are all going to say what they have to say to the Jewish communities to get their vote. Sometimes it is REALLY hard to know who will be a friend of Israel/Jews and who will not until after the fact.


I am a Republican these days in response to the vicious anti-Jew/Israel, anti-American strain in the Democratic party (check out any of their major blogs to see what I mean). I am also totally against living in a nanny-state. However, I am pro-choice, pro-gun control, for universal healthcare, etc. So I am not married to either party but will not vote for the one that is likely to get my brethren kicked around for the next 4 years. And I will certainly not vote for the one who blackmailed Israel during Oslo or the one who attended a racist, anti-Israel Church for 20 years.

I don't blame you for feeling the way you do, but just don't forget that Bush is pushing the road map full force even as kassams are raining on Sderot EVERY day. Would Hillary Clinton be any better? PROBABLY NOT. Unfortunately pushing Israel to give up more land for peace and continuing with the "road map" is going to be on the agenda of ANY president who gets elected (Republican, Democrat, Indepent, or any other party), so the way I see it, as long as the candidate is not an anti-semitic loonie like Carter, but is good for America then I would vote for that Candidate.

[All For Israel]

Since gaining independence Israels very existence has been subject to dispute. I do not agree with any land deal the land was never the Palestinians to start with. I have heard it said in other places that Bush is trying to trick Israel do think this is true?

[Abital]

Well of course but these days the anti-Semites in the Democrat party are organized and full-fledge anti-Israel. I know you live in Israel now so maybe you haven't seen the bitter hatred these people have for Israel. Maybe it is in response to Evangelical support of Israel or maybe it is b/c the far left have aligned with Islamofascists. I'm not sure, but whatever the case they are really haters and really vocal. People on this website can tell you how they are in Union Sq every day with signs against Israel.

That's certainly true as evidenced by the "progressive" students being anti-Semitic/anti-Israel.

Honestly, I think people in general are much more comfortable with 'their Jews' weak and docile. I think that's a lot of the reason for the swing from pro-Israel at the beginning of the modern State to what it's become: something that needs Campus Watch (http://www.campus-watch.org/).



OK, but you have to understand that when you have a President who is anti-Israel (like Carter) it is not only bad for Israel, but also bad for Jews.

And just look at who's lauding Obama these days: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/03/carter-hints-at-supporting-obama/ - Okay, so he's only 'hinting'; yeah right.

[All For Israel]

G-d said "I will curse those who curse you and praise those who praise you"

[Abital]

Since gaining independence Israels very existence has been subject to dispute. I do not agree with any land deal the land was never the Palestinians to start with. I have heard it said in other places that Bush is trying to trick Israel do think this is true?


I agree with you: it is Israeli land. When one looks at a map of the Middle East, it disgusts me that Bush' Secretary of State praises Palestinian "peace efforts". Regarding Bush: I don't think he is trying to trick Israel; I think his (and his family's longstanding) solid ties to Saudi Arabia inform his every move in the Middle East.

With Obama's anti-Israel leaders (Malley - a Jew himself - how embarrassing; Powers - now dismissed for calling Clinton a monster; Brezinski (National Securty Advisor to president carter) who is so anti-Israel as to even blame Israel for the most recent war in Lebanon; with his church giving a lifetime achievement award to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and holding events honoring the newly-retired Pastor Wright (all the while the new younger version of Wright: Otis Moss [who stated that Wright's retirement is equivalent to a crucifixion) is just as hateful), I'd say we Jews in the USA ought to be hoping like h*ll for McCain in 2008. At least he mentioned that Joseph Lieberman would likely be made Secretary of State or Defense in a speech a while back.

[All For Israel]

Yeah they praise the peace effort in the mean time they keep tossing rockets into Israel and expect them to do nothing. Double standard do has I say not has I do but it only applies to Israel. I am very skeptical of Rice and the Bush adminstrations "Road to Peace" plan it would appear that the plan is aimed more toward rooting the Jews out than keeping them there. Its interesting to note that Israel is the only Jewish state in the world and lies at the center of the Middle East and Jerusalem lies at the center of Israel and both are the center of world attention go figure...

[Y. Shulamith]

Truth be told....I couldn't trust McCain and especially Palin.....I had no choice but to go with Obama. He is intelligent and a statesman. The man has a lot on his plate, believe, me, and he has to hit the ground running. McCain was way too old a man to hold up to the demands of the presidency and the needs of the nation as it is now. Palin is a joke and a nitwit. If Obama crosses Israel, he will get the bum's rush in the next election, so I fear not. The Republicans benign neglect didn't to a lot to help the middle east situation. At the end of the day, no one can force a peace settlement, the key players need to really want the thing to work.

[NewsGuy]

Truth be told....I couldn't trust McCain and especially Palin.....
On the contrary - How can anyone concerned with trust possibly vote for Obama?

The election is sadly over now and we're saddled with President Hussein for the next four years. Already he can't get himself to say unequivocally that Israel has a right to protect its citizens from Hamas rockets.

I can't imagine how any Jew (or any other American for that matter) could have voted for Obama. I really can't.

[Y. Shulamith]

On the contrary - How can anyone concerned with trust possibly vote for Obama?

The election is sadly over now and we're saddled with President Hussein for the next four years. Already he can't get himself to say unequivocally that Israel has a right to protect its citizens from Hamas rockets.

I can't imagine how any Jew (or any other American for that matter) could have voted for Obama. I really can't.

As an American, there was no choice. The infrastructure of the USA and the economy are a shambles under eight years of the Repugs. Obama will be on a short leash when it comes to the Middle East and the santicity of Israel and he knows it.....and Biden is there to whip him into shape, should it be necessary.....:stick:

[redcake]

You're kidding right? Who exactly has this short leash on Obama? You think Biden has any loyalty to Israel? It's pretty obvious at this point that the Obama administration will continue the Clinton "peace plan" approach which was a disaster for all involved accept maybe Arafat.

[Y. Shulamith]

Please.....Obama has his hands full with issues of an internal nature. Let's see what Hillary does.....she'll accomplish exactly what her spouse did....absolutely nothing, not in the long run. John McCain should be ashamed of himself for picking a gormless piece of shit like Palin for a running mate. How many idiocies were she, let me count the ways? No one with half a brain could vote for a pair like that, no matter what!

I could have gone with McCain, even though I am not a Republican, in general, but his pick of the idiot Palin sealed the fate with this pick of a moron for the Veep job.

[NewsGuy]

Please.....Obama has his hands full with issues of an internal nature. Let's see what Hillary does.....she'll accomplish exactly what her spouse did....absolutely nothing, not in the long run. John McCain should be ashamed of himself for picking a gormless piece of shit like Palin for a running mate. How many idiocies were she, let me count the ways? No one with half a brain could vote for a pair like that, no matter what!

I could have gone with McCain, even though I am not a Republican, in general, but his pick of the idiot Palin sealed the fate with this pick of a moron for the Veep job.
With what does Obama have his hands full? He's swimming in Hawaii and shopping for a new dog.

I never understood the deep hatred of Palin. What has she done wrong? Was she too professional? Too successful? Too attractive?

[Yala]

More like she was too dumb and knew nothing about the world. You guys know how I feel about Obama but McCain made a mistake with Palin. I still think the media was extremely harsh on her and that actually has made her more popular.

If anyone thinks Joe Biden is pro-Israel then you are kidding yourselves. Hilary is also not pro-Israel. Anyone can google what happened with Hilary and Suha Arafat. So what if she became pro-Israel when she was running for the NY senate seat?

[Y. Shulamith]

With what does Obama have his hands full? He's swimming in Hawaii and shopping for a new dog.

I never understood the deep hatred of Palin. What has she done wrong? Was she too professional? Too successful? Too attractive?


So? Bush was on vacation for a month and neglected to read papers warning him about 9/11...ka-boom.....for the USA.

Obama hasn't even been inaugurated yet.....he can do what he pleases, but he won't be the nit-wit that Bushie was.

Palin's a nitwit, plain and simple and belongs in Alaska, not the White House. She is a backward-bliss ninny of the worst kind. I can't stand her winking, her idiotic ideas about women and reproductive rights, among many, many other things. She isn't in the ball park, in her backward way of thinking and her family is a disgrace, along with her husband's politics as a seccestionist (sp?), and, she had to go to 4 different colleges before she could even get a degree. She is certifiably stupid.

The elections are a done deal gang...the people have spoken...time to march on.....

[redcake]

The Palin hate is absurd....and since you're relating this to policy dealing with Israel, I would have loved to see Palin over there dealing with the PA rather then that head trauma case Biden. Oh right, he met Golda Meir once. Woopee.
Palin was a Governor, with one of the highest security clearances in the nation, and experience sitting in multiple elected offices. The irrational hatred for her and her supposed lack of intelligence is just a result of a media dead set on slandering her. McCain's mistake was not knowing how to trust her to speak for herself. You can't blame her for why you voted Obama.

Obama promised the moon AND the stars.... he's not busy, he's just in trouble before he's even taken office.

[Y. Shulamith]

To each their own......I could not, and would NOT vote for the likes of Palin...no way, not for the sake of anything or anyone. McCain is way too old to risk a low-grade moron, the likes of Palin, from become president. This woman is/was a dangerous disaster waiting to happen. I am sorry, but those are my convictions and that's the way it stood. I regret nothing. Palin's record as regards to Jews and Israel were less than stellar, anyway. She is mean-spirited and out for her own self-aggrandizement and a cancer to the political system of these here United States.

McCain is a man who was a has-been before he was a never-was.

[Yala]

The Palin hate is absurd....and since you're relating this to policy dealing with Israel, I would have loved to see Palin over there dealing with the PA rather then that head trauma case Biden. Oh right, he met Golda Meir once. Woopee.
Palin was a Governor, with one of the highest security clearances in the nation, and experience sitting in multiple elected offices. The irrational hatred for her and her supposed lack of intelligence is just a result of a media dead set on slandering her. McCain's mistake was not knowing how to trust her to speak for herself. You can't blame her for why you voted Obama.

Oh come on now. When interviewed about terrorists her answers were so simplistic and it was obvious she didn't know anything about the Middle East. I don't even think she's been out of the country. That wouldn't have been a deal breaker if she actually knew about the world, but it was obvious she didn't.

I agree the media set her up to fail, but she exceeded beyond their wildest dreams.

I like the lady, I really do, but I don't think she can go any farther than Alaska. She is where she should be.

McCain on the other hand understood exactly what was going on. He said he would be Hamas' worst nightmare.


Obama promised the moon AND the stars.... he's not busy, he's just in trouble before he's even taken office.

The media has already announced that they won't mess with him. They actually admitted it. So people won't really know what he promised or not, b/c the media will cover for him.

[Y. Shulamith]

The Republican party screwed things up for themselves (no one can screw things up for yourself better than yourself, sometimes)...instead of letting McCain pick Tom Ridge or Mitt Romney for a running mate, they made him pick a low-grade moron like Palin and totally underestimated the American public's stomach for such an idiotic pick like Palin. They didn't take the pulse of the USA correctly or they wouldn't have allowed Palin to become McCain's running mate. McCain wasn't on a rocket to the moon when he picked her, and after she was picked, it was one goofball mistake after the other. She was an embarassment. He had no possibility of winning and lost all of his credibility, even with an individual like me, who would possibly have voted for him, HAD it not been for the incredible stupidity of picking Palin as a running mate. That just did it in for me.

[redcake]

A lot of people were energized by the Palin pick, and she drew record crowds for a Republican candidate.

McCain refused to go after Obama on several key issues for fear of public opinion. It was his choice not to pull the rug out from under Obama. When things get worse in the Mid-East under an Obama administration, you can curse Palin and Bush and anyone you want, but you still voted Obama....and it sounds like you knew better.

[Y. Shulamith]

I live in a very blue state for presidential elections....my vote wouldn't have mattered one iota. That being said, rather than NOT vote, I voted for the lesser of two evils, which is still evil....eh?

Fear the worst and hope for the best!

[Y. Shulamith]

A lot of people were energized by the Palin pick, and she drew record crowds for a Republican candidate.

McCain refused to go after Obama on several key issues for fear of public opinion. It was his choice not to pull the rug out from under Obama. When things get worse in the Mid-East under an Obama administration, you can curse Palin and Bush and anyone you want, but you still voted Obama....and it sounds like you knew better.

I wasn't energized by the Palin pick, not one scintilla...as I says, I was very dismayed.:tdown:

[Yala]

A lot of people were energized by the Palin pick, and she drew record crowds for a Republican candidate.


Exactly the opposite here. Mitt Romney is also pretty dumb but Tom Ridge would've been a good choice. I agree though that McCain cost himself the election by ignoring Rev. Wright.

[NewsGuy]

For me the lesser of the evils would have been McCain.

I'm not bothered by Palin at all. She wouldn't have been my first choice, but she wasn't a deal-breaker either.

Regardless of who McCain would have chosen for VP, the outcome of the election would have been the same, since very few people really voted on the basis of skills or qualifications. Obama was elected mostly by Blacks, Leftists, and corrupt union leaders, not to mention by massive voter fraud.

Palin's nomination didn't really matter in the end one way or the other.

[Mosche]

Palin's nomination didn't really matter in the end one way or the other.

You are spot on there! I really think that anyone nominated by the Democrats would have one.

[Y. Shulamith]

It mattered a lot to women, were very concerned about reproductive rights and other issues besides the goings on in Israel...although very concerned for Israel, there were some other important issues that Palin could have influenced, had McCain been elected. We don't need here, to have evangelicals energized and put women's reproductive rights at risk.

We don't need government in the bedroom or deciding reproductive rights for women!

[Y. Shulamith]

I just read this a few minutes ago.....

Alaska GOP-ers have frosty reaction to Palin pick

It will be fascinating to see the Alaska Republican delegation front and center at this week’s Republican National Convention now that Alaska governor Sarah Palin will be on the ticket.

This is a state party whose establishment faction, to put it mildly, isn’t too enamored with their reform-minded governor.

This is a state party whose chairman, Randy Ruedrich, has been feuding with Palin for years. Palin exposed Ruedrich for ethical violations in 2004 when both served on the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission — and their relationship has been frosty ever since.

Ruedrich declined to comment at the historic nature of having an Alaskan on the national ticket for the first time in the state’s history.

And this is a governor who bucked the establishment in endorsing her lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell, over Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who has represented the state in Congress for more than three decades.

The legislative leadership of the Alaska Republican Party isn’t enamored with Palin’s selection, either, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

State Senate President Lyda Green said she thought it was a joke when someone called her at 6 a.m. to tell her the news.

"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" said Green, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla. "Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"

Green, who has feuded with Palin, brought up the big oil tax increase Palin pushed through last year. She also pointed to the award of a $500 million state subsidy to a Canadian firm to pursue a natural gas pipeline that's far from guaranteed.

House Speaker John Harris, a Republican from Valdez, was also astonished at the news. He didn't want to get into the issue of her qualifications.

"She's old enough," Harris said. "She's a U.S. citizen."

It's striking to see the state's Democratic congressional nominee effusively praising Palin, while the leading Alaska Republicans are shunning her.

Taking on the GOP establishment is a central part of her appeal — and a major reason why McCain picked her — but her frosty relationship with much of her own statewide party will make for some interesting Alaska delegation breakfasts next week.


By Josh Kraushaar 06:51 PM
comments (136) | post comment | permalink