my two sense/THE CJ POLITICAL REPORT

POTUS NEEDS TO TAKE A COURSE ON THE MIDDLE EAST

President Obama's ignorance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue knows no bounds. Here's an interesting take on how a lack of the facts get cause huge problems in an already hugely problematic place.

Posted: November 30, 2009 7:02 P.M. COMMENT

RE: THE HIGHLY IMAGINATIVE GOLDSTONE REPORT

Thanks Steve G!

Posted: November 30, 2009 3:51 P.M. COMMENT

WHY THE PALESTINIANS CAN'T HANDLE THEIR OWN STATE

Here's the reality: Gaza is a mess, a budding Afghanistan with Hamas at its helm. Is this really what we need in the West Bank? Honestly, what is the western world thinking?

Posted: November 30, 2009 1:22 P.M. COMMENT

NO MATTER WHAT ISRAEL CONCEDES IT MATTERS LITTLE

Here are two opposing views on Netanyahu's settlement freeze announcement. I am inclined to agree with Ms. Gordon's view. However, Ms. Glick raises a very important point concerning the Obama Administration's relentless bullying of Israel (Israel's newspaper Yediot Aharonot reports that Obama now wants Israel to release 1000 Fatah terrorists from prison and surrender strategically crucial Jordan Valley to Fatah. Further that it is Obama's goal to have Israel accept a Palestinian state in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Gaza and agree to ethnically cleanse all the areas of Jews.)

At what point does Israel tell President Obama to take a you know what? And why isn't Netanyahu insisting right now on some move by Obama to level his interfering hand? The Palestinians rejected the settlement freeze before it was formally implemented. Where's the response to the Palestinian grandstanding from the WH?

I am sure there are back-channel discussions with the Palestinian's on this issue and others. Nevertheless, Obama's paltry praise of Netanyahu's freeze was just that.

I for one, would be curious to know what Netanyahu has up his sleeve for the time at the end of the 10-months when the freeze produces nothing substantive from the opposition. I guess we will have to wait and see.

One thing Netanyahu did accomplish, however, in announcing the freeze was to buy time; gain 10 months of respite from Obama's bullying. Because despite what Obama might want for Fatah or otherwise, Netanyahu can now say, "The ball is in your court, everyone."

Posted: November 30, 2009 12:01 P.M. COMMENT

CHELSEA CLINTON ENGAGED

Chelsea Clinton is engaged to Mark Mezvinsky her longtime boyfriend, a nice story to begin what promises to be a nasty week in the political world what with Congress taking up health care, the president's speech on Afghanistan, the foreclosure debacle, the lack of jobs mess etc, etc. I won't link the announcement I read because it was nasty referencing the sins of both fathers. If you're interested in the salacious, go find it yourself. As for me, a little happy news in these unhappy times is welcome. Best wishes to the happy couple.

Posted: November 30, 2009 10:26 A.M. COMMENT

BREAKING: IRAN GOES NUCLEAR

State-run media says Tehran has approved a plan Sunday to build 10 industrial scale uranium enrichment facilities, a dramatic expansion of the program in defiance of U.N. demands it halt enrichment efforts.

Posted: November 29, 2009 11:28 A.M. COMMENT

THE GRAY LADY GOES ROGUE

When the NY Times excoriates a president who is a Democrat, you can only say the Gray Lady has gone rogue. But excoriate President Obama on his pathetic foreign policy maneuvers in the Middle East the Times does.

"Nine months later, the president’s promising peace initiative has unraveled. Mr. Obama’s own credibility is so diminished (his approval rating in Israel is 4 percent) that serious negotiations may be farther off than ever."

The editorial presses the president to go forward and work toward the 'two-more-state solution' (my words, not theirs).

The question remains whether the damage that has been done by Obama's ineptness can be undone. Will America's ally Israel ever trust this president again? Has he further damaged U.S. relations with the Muslim world due to his naiveté?

The one person to come out of the fiasco with an improved image is Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who the administration tried to portray as a right-wing Zionist zealot. In fact, Netanyahu with his offer to freeze settlements for 10 months has proved the most mature and reasonable of ALL the parties concerned.

Perhaps Mr. Obama ought to have a talk with Netanyahu in which he doesn't try to bully Bibi, but rather listen to his wisdom...instead of his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel who is said to be behind the president's ME policy. Emanuel's only qualification for ME advisor is that he is Jewish. Everyone knows that Rambo Emanuel knows zero about diplomacy. And diplomacy and nuance is what it takes to bring long-term enemies to agreement.

UPDATE: Tony Blair adds his two sense.

Posted: November 29, 2009 10:06 A.M. COMMENT

GOT TIME TO WATCH A VIDEO?

Alan Dershowitz and Richard Goldstone of that wonderfully imaginative Goldstone Report were set to debate the issues when all hell broke loose, with Goldstone declaring that Dershowitz had "demeaned" him and refusing to debate. Dershowitz went it alone and put on quite a show for those in attendance. (Dramatically, he placed a copy of the report at the table where Goldstone should have sat). Goldstone would have been better off to stay and argue it out with Dershowitz as you will see if you've got the time to watch the video.

Posted: November 28, 2009 9:58 A.M. COMMENT

GOT TIME TO READ?

Not only a great cover but a well-written article on Obama and his foray into foreign affairs.

obama

Posted: November 27, 2009 10:58 A.M. COMMENT

THE HEALTH CARE DEBACLE

No doubt Dr. Howard Dean has a dog in the health care fight not the least of which is Dean as the successful Chair of the DNC got Obama elected and then was ditched by Obama. However, as Gov of Vt. he has experience with health care reform legislation. And he is pointing out the follies of the current packages as presented by the House and Senate. He is calling the proposed legislation a bailout for the insurance industry. O, here we go again!

Dean says that as long as the public option is part of the plan he can live with it. But I'm not so sure. The Democrats are working on the premise, these days, that as long as something is passed, it is better than nothing. Bill Clinton has said as much. But I'm not sure that theory rings true any longer. So much has been given up in this end to the insurance lobby and the Pharma lobby that there may be no going back. As the legislation stands today, I'm not sure that I would vote for it, even were the public option included.

The legislation does not take care of the people who need help with insurance other than to say that they can get it. But the price may be literally too high...for them and for those who already had insurance.

Howard Dean, you'd better start your famous screaming now, so people can be forewarned of what may be coming.

Posted: November 27, 2009 10:28 A.M. COMMENT

RUMOR OF THE DAY

Here's a Thanksgiving morsel better than Grandma's pumpkin pie: Hillary to replace Biden on ticket in 2012.

Posted: November 25, 2009 11:17 A.M. COMMENT

WHEN?

Today it has been announced that Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has made an offer for a 10-month settlement freeze in the West Bank. The freeze does not apply to East Jerusalem.

The offer was dead on arrival, immediately rejected by Palestinian officials.

When, I want to know, will the world community start addressing the Palestinians and calling them what they are...NOT partners in peace. Time after time they reject offers of peace. Yet it is Israel that is maligned by the world.

The Palestinian intransigence can no longer be brushed aside. It needs to be addressed. The Obama administration would serve the peace process by coming to terms with the truth. It takes two to build a partnership of peace. For too long there has only been one party at the bargaining table -- the Israeli's.

We will be watching to see how the Obama Admin responds to this latest Palestinian rejection.

UPDATE: The ball is in the Palestinian's court.

Posted: November 25, 2009 9:56 A.M. COMMENT

CHUTZPAH

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas was waxing ineloquent in Buenos Aires today when he came out with this little gem:

US President Barack Obama is "doing nothing right now" to restart the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

"I hope he'll take a more important role in the future," Abbas told the Argentine Daily Clarin during a visit to Buenos Aires.

The Palestinians "are waiting for the United States to put pressure on Israel so it respects international law, so it takes up the road map" towards peace, he said, according to publication's Spanish translation.

"It can do two things: put pressure on the Israelis so they reject settlements, and put pressure so they accept withdrawing to the 1967 borders."

No, Mr. Abbas, it is not the Israeli's who are standing in the way of peace. It is your intransigence. And, no, it is not true that President Obama is doing nothing to restart the stalled peace talks.

Actually, Mr. Obama is MAKING A MESS in the Middle East, imho, of course.

Posted: November 24, 2009 4:41 P.M. COMMENT

PRESIDENT MAKES DECISION ON AFGHANISTAN - FINALLY!

O, yea! After months of deliberations his war council, POTUS is said to have finally come to his decision on Afghanistan. He will hold a press conference next Tuesday night, in typical Obama splendor, all pomp little circumstance. With the announcement this morning, also came the number of troops, roughly 34,000, not quite what General McChrystal asked for... 40,000, although with NATO troops he'll get in total the amount of troops he wants.

Obama will tell the American people his aim, to get in and out (exit strategy) so not to worry that this will not be another Vietnam. He'll not be another Lyndon Johnson, Obama assuaging the Boomers still wearing their fear of all things war. And there you go. This is our 'Something for everyone' president, overly thoughtful, a man who plays politics in every aspect of his presidency, which is what the Afghanistan decision shows.

Posted: November 24, 2009 8:44 A.M. COMMENT

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE CJPR BAR

It's Friday night, sit back, pour yourselves a glass of wine and enjoy! Thanks for a great week, guys.

Posted: November 20, 2009 8:04 P.M. COMMENT

LATKES?

The White House will shrink its annual Hanukah party by half, this year, causing a stir amongst the Jewish community already suspicious of the president's policies towards Israel.

The White House is blaming tough economic times for the celebration cutback, however the WH is planning a HUGE benefit for the Prime Minister of India, larger than any state dinner given by the Bush administration.

Last week Obama cancelled an appearance before the General Assembly of North American Jewish Federations.

Posted: November 19, 2009 7:48 P.M. COMMENT

WAS IT OBAMA?

With guest Sarah Palin, Oprah Winfrey had her best ratings in two years. Now she announces she will be ending her longtime talk show on network TV in 2011 following her 25th season.

Winfrey is starting a cable network and there is speculation that she will move her show there. The cable network has has a troubles trying to get launched. Winfrey has gone through a series of producers since she announced its inception.

Winfrey's ratings have suffered since she endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. Many blame women's anger that it was they who gave Ms. Winfrey her career and she let them down in her endorsement of Obama.

Winfrey actively campaigned for the now president.

Posted: November 19, 2009 6:56 P.M. COMMENT

UPDATE: THE GILO MONSTER

While Bibi Netanyahu was sticking it to President Obama, it should be pointed out that he was also sending a very important message to the Palestinians, also not addressed by the MSM.

Netanyahu has said all along that he wants to negotiate with the Palestinians. He wants to sit down for talks without pre-conditions. Of course, we all know how Obama and Abbas have insisted on a complete halt of expansion of Israeli settlements in order to appease the Palestinians and Arab putting the oil-pressure on the U.S., a pre-condition to talks.

But Netanyahu didn't give Obama what he wanted. He gave a lot, but it wasn't enough for Abbas or Obama.

So, Bibi announced that that Israel would be expanding settlements in Gilo. The infuriated Abbas now wants to declare a Palestinian state without the Israeli's agreement.

While you can be sure that Jewish haters in the UN might sanction such a move, most won't as it would completely eradicate any notion that the world body has significance. The U.S. immediately said it would not.

So here's the bottom line: Bibi's message to Abbas is the more you delay sitting down with us for talks, the less there will be to talk about. We will grow and your dream will shrink.

Are you listening Abbas? Obama?

Posted: November 19, 2009 12:08 P.M. COMMENT

SISTERS?

sophia_loren sarah_palin_glasses

Posted: November 18, 2009 7:45 P.M. COMMENT

NETANYAHU GIVES OBAMA THE FINGER

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proved to the world Jewish community that President Barack Obama is no friend of Israel's. And the media seems to have missed what may be the most outrageous behavior of Obama's since becoming the President of the United States.

When Israel announced that it would move forward with the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem, it knew full-well what Obama's reaction would be. The president went apoplectic (see: below).

Netanyahu's announcement on Gilo was Bibi's version of giving President Obama the finger. It was also Netanyahu's way of sending the signal that he thinks that POTUS is weak and can easily be trifled with.

But, more importantly, Netanyahu was showing the world Jewish community exactly where Obama stands in terms of his support of Israel.

True, the United States has never formally accepted Jerusalem as Israel's capitol, or formally accepted the unification of the city that was made possible by the Six-Day War. As much as the U.S. routinely protested settlement-building in the West Bank, it never made an issue about expanding neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

There stood a tacit agreement between Israel and its U.S. ally that Jerusalem was off the table as a bargaining chip between Israel and the Palestinians. And that’s where Obama parts company with his predecessors.

Which is why Netanyahu did what he did after his disastrous meeting with Obama last week in which POTUS apparently told the Prime Minister of Israel that he would no longer stand with Israel on ANY issue, including Jerusalem. The U.S. was now fully-backing the Palestinians...unless (my guess, of course) Netanyahu completely stopped the expansion of all settlements in the West Bank.

Netanyahu refused to budge and the Gilo announcement was the result of the outrageous pressure Obama has consistently placed on Israel while making ZERO demands on the Palestinians since becoming president.

Regardless of where anyone stands on the issue of expansion in the West Bank or in Jerusalem, one should be concerned over Obama's bullying of a long-time ally. Obama is not a mediator in this fight; he has taken the side of Israel's enemies: The Arabs (for oil), The Palestinians (to assuage al Qaeda), and in a de facto way, The Iranians (out of fear), by giving them the gift of time.

A couple of weeks ago, NY Times writer Tom Freidman suggested that everyone should stop trying to mediate an end to the conflict between the Israeli's and Palestinians. His reason: the two parties weren't ready for a solution. I don't think this is true of the Israeli's. They have bent over backwards to make concessions to no avail.

One thing is certain, there can be no solution with the wrong mediator leading the negotiations, and that is absolutely, what we have here.

It is for this reason that if I were Netanyahu I would refuse to further conversations with Obama at the helm. But since, of course, this is unrealistic, Netanyahu instead gave the president of the United States the finger in his announcement that Israel would begin the expansion of Gilo.

After all, what could POTUS do? Have his press secretary come down on Israel? And that's exactly what Robert Gibbs did do.

But now Jews worldwide know exactly where President Obama stands. And it is not with Israel.

Posted: November 18, 2009 1:54 P.M. COMMENT

IS NETANYAHU SIDE-STEPPING OBAMA?

There are definitely two heads of state who are not drinking President Obama's Kool-Aide. One is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The other is Nicholas Sarkozy of France, who offered Obama handshake and was ignored, even dissed by the then new president.

All know there is no love lost between Obama and Netanyahu. Israel isn't dancing the hora over Obama's middle east policies. Only 4% of the Israeli population stands with Obama.

Last week Bibi was in Washington, and was treated very badly by the President, who didn't put the Israeli leader on his schedule until the last minute. There was no photo-op. Netanyahu was shuffled out of the WH through a side door, and apparently angry.

Netanyahu's next meeting was with Sarkozy in France. One can only speculate as to what went on behind closed doors. But it certainly is interesting that today Sarkozy announced that he is ready to facilitate a resumption of talks between Israel and Syria.

At the same time, Obama's White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had this to say on Israel's decision to move forward with the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem.

"We are dismayed at the Jerusalem Planning Committee’s decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem. At a time when we are working to re-launch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed. Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations. The U.S. also objects to other Israeli practices in Jerusalem related to housing, including the continuing pattern of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes. Our position is clear: the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties.

Apparently neither Netanyahu or Sarkozy intend to be pushed around by the American president. It appears Netanyahu is looking for a different negotiating partner, and Sarkozy is looking to gain world stature. It sounds like a partnership made in heaven, and represents that change Obama talked so much about. Israel's old nemesis, France, becomes its new friend. Old allies, the U.S., get pushed aside proving politics makes strange bedfellows!

And where are the Palestinians in all of this? Obama's misguided efforts are quickly dissolving into complete chaos. Now Palestinian President Abbas is threatening to declare a Palestinian State.

And, of course, that's not all. There's still the unresolved issue of the Iranians out there building on their nuclear capabilities with the help of President Obama who has given them the gift of time.

Oy vey!

Posted: November 17, 2009 3:48 P.M. COMMENT

SARAH PALIN TAKES THE A TRAIN

When a political pundit hits a homerun, it is a wonderful thing. Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen does just that in his morning post: Time for Palintology.

But I want to take what he said one step further. Yes, you can blame John McCain for the birth of Sarahdom, and the Republican Party for it's continued use of Sarah Palin. You can take issue with Palin having taken the easy way out (see: below) when she resigned from the Alaska governorship in order to fill her bank account.

But the real issue here is that celebrities like Sarah are created by us and our worship of all the wrong things in this country.

Sarah Palin may not be a genius, but let's face it, she was smart enough to know her limitations and her strengths and her families' financial needs.

The train of celebrity stopped at Sarah Palin's door and she jumped on. I doubt very much whether Richard Cohen, or any of us wouldn't have taken that A train. And isn't that sad. Because for all of Sarah Palin's moralizing, or any of ours, the bottom line in America is the worship of the almighty dollar. At the end of the day nothing else counts.

All aboard!

Posted: November 17, 2009 11:40 A.M. COMMENT

SARAH PALIN ALMOST TAKES OFF HER GLASSES

Prettier than a political figure ought to be, Sarah Palin all but took off her glasses in an interesting but hardly seminal interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Oddly, it was as much Winfrey's interview as Palin's. And Winfrey seemed as taken with Gov. Palin as Palin’s conservative followers are.

But don’t kid yourselves; just as Sarah Palin was on Oprah Winfrey’s stage trying to rehabilitate her image with the American public, Winfrey was there to do the same. In fact, she started off her interview asking Palin if she had felt snubbed by Winfrey during the elections and qualifying why Oprah had not interviewed Palin or Hillary Clinton during those contentious days.

Winfrey, of course, had not only endorsed then candidate Barack Obama for the post of president, but had actively campaigned for him. Winfrey stated her reason for not interviewing the other candidates saying that since she had gone public with her Obama endorsement, she didn’t feel she should interview the other candidates.

Winfrey, did, however, turn her celebrated talk show into a platform for Barack Obama. But her ratings following the election took a decided hit. Many women didn’t cotton to Winfrey forcing her political views on them and some were upset that Winfrey hadn't backed either of the women candidates.

So Winfrey and Palin chatted away on today’s show, both seeking to rehabilitate themselves with their respective audiences, tackling an array of subjects from the aforementioned Oprah snub to whether Palin felt qualified for the job of vice-president – she never questioned her ability to do the job – to her teenage daughter’s pregnancy – Palin admits she wasn’t happy about the pregnancy as if any mother would be – to the now infamous Katie Couric interview that brought down Palin in the public’s eyes – Palin thought Couric was out to get her – to her learning that the child she was carrying was a Downe Syndrome child.

It was here Winfrey failed her audience. Palin was honest in saying what a trauma it had been to learn that she was carrying a special needs child. She admitted to experiencing a moment when she understood why a woman in that position would consider taking “the easy way out.” Winfrey didn’t press Palin, rabidly anti-abortion, any further.

Too bad, as the subject of abortion is very much on American’s minds these days with the Stupak Amendment to the health care bill, the most radical anti-abortion legislation in decades.

And didn’t the viewers want at least a taste of Palin’s intellect? In the spirit of the softball interview that it was – Winfrey suddenly the champion of women political candidates after the election that had two women running for the top political tickets without the talk show host’s endorsement – didn’t throw the curve.

Instead, Mary Hart Winfrey turned the conversation to Palin’s hunk of a husband, Todd. And then moved on to the must-ask question considering all the publicity he’s been getting, to the father of her grandchild, Levi Johnston, about to bare it all in Playgirl.

Although at first she said she wouldn’t talk about Johnston, who has been on a rampage against all things Palin since he and Bristol broke-up, she apparently couldn’t help herself and took Oprah’s bait, calling Johnston, first, “Ricky Hollywood,” and then “an aspiring Porn” star. I can just imagine Trip watching that footage in his teen years. Oy!

Of course, there was the proverbial footage of Palin being ‘just a mom,’ shuttling her daughter Piper trick-or-treating followed by footage of Palin working-out, then Palin making caramel apples with her kids. Yes, Sarah, we get it. You are not a bad mommy even though your teenage daughter was sexually active in high school and bore a child out-of-wedlock. By the way, the Palin’s two youngest daughters were in the audience – as props? – as the cameras recorded the adorable girls for all the world to see.

On the subject of losing the election, Palin admitted to disappointment, particularly since the McCain campaign wouldn’t give her a voice following McCain’s concession speech. Of course, who wouldn’t be disappointed? She said she so wanted to voice her hope that at the end of the day all American’s would come together in a bi-partisan love-fest, fat chance in these times, thanks, to Palin and the rest of our current cast of politicians.

Winfrey asked why Palin had quit her job as Alaska Governor. Palin suggested that it was impossible for her to do her job as she had prior to being named McCain’s running-mate, what with "Obama’s opposition researchers" up in Alaska looking for everything they could get on Palin. Of course, there are many governors who have lost national elections in America’s history and successfully fulfilled their obligation to their states.

Palin quoted her dad to help make her case for resigning from the governorship: “She’s not retreating, she’s reloading,” she quoted her father as having said.

And then, the question that everyone was waiting for, which, of course, Palin, would never answer honestly. “Have you given any thought to running for president in 2012?”

Blessed with a gorgeous smile, Sarah used it to her best advantage, but for those glasses, we missed the twinkle in her eye.

“You don’t need a title to make a difference,” the future Oprah? said.

Palin has yet to prove she's ready for political prime-time.

Posted: November 16, 2009 6:33 P.M. COMMENT

ON THE TRIAL OF THE GITMO GANG

Trying Khalid Sheik Muhammed and his Gitmo buddies in NYC is not the optimal choice.

But there are those in the law who suggest that there was a method to the Justice Department's madness calling it a typical Obama administration show. One of my sources suggests that the trials will actually never take place in New York - that the attorney’s will ask for a change of venue (they can’t get a fair trial in NY), and most likely the change of venue will be granted.

As to where the trials should be held, or under the jurisdiction of what court or tribunal…. my sources agree that there really is no precedent since the post WW II trials.

One thing that I can say about Holder's choice. it appears insensitive to the still terrified citizens of New York City, but moreover, the survivors of the 9/11 victims. And surely it is escalates risk to the citizens of that city.

Perhaps there is no perfect solution to this, but New York City the venue for the trials? I think not.

Posted: November 16, 2009 4:54 P.M. COMMENT

OPRAH AND SARAH

Today the much anticipated-interview between Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin will air. It is interesting that just a couple of years ago, Sarah Palin would have loved to be interviewed by Oprah, but Oprah wasn't interested in interviewing the then vice-presidential candidate. Oprah was at the top of her game, her ratings sky-high, and her candidate was Barack Obama.

In my book, A YEAR IN MY PAJAMAS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, The Politics of Strange Bedfellows, I address the issue of Oprah's support of Barack Obama and that many women felt abandoned by Oprah when she chose to support Obama over the first viable woman presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.

Now Oprah's numbers are sinking. It was women, after all, who helped Oprah build her brand. So it is no surprise that women abandoned Oprah since she 'abandoned' them first. It makes sense that Oprah would return to women to regain her audience by giving them Sarah Palin.

On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how Oprah treated Sarah Palin during the interview. Let's hope it was with respect.

Still, the interview that I am waiting for is the Oprah-Hillary confrontation. If Oprah wants to fully regain her audience, the woman she needs most on her show is not Sarah Palin but Hillary Clinton. 2012?

Posted: November 16, 2009 9:54 A.M. COMMENT

HILLARY SHREWD

Hillary Clinton added legitimacy to Sarah Palin when she said that she would be happy to have coffee with the former Republican presidential nominee, which she repeated on her numerous Sunday morning talk show appearances today. On the one hand, she grants to women the idea that "we are all women in this together" meme, and she legitimizes Palin as a candidate. But legitimizing Palin might help her become a viable candidate, or at least help her to think she is. And wouldn't Hillary Clinton like to see this not-quite-ready-for POLITICAL-primetime if evah be the candidate for the Republican Party in 2012, to run against HRC, or just to run.

Posted: November 15, 2009 10:54 A.M. COMMENT

A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW

Once again, President Obama bowed to a head of state, this time he bowed before the Emperor of Japan. Last time he bowed to the Saudi Prince. obama_bows_to_saudi_prince I think the president owes the American people an explanation for this bizarre behavior. What's wrong here is there is no showing of mutual respect in the greeting from one head of state to the other, since the other didn't bow in equal respect. Therefore, Obama's bow sent the message that 'the other' is superior to the president of the United States. Is this the message POTUS really wants to be seen on the pages of world newspapers? I hope not.

UPDATE: Now the administration is saying the bow is simply the president adhering to protocol. Of course the pictures in the linked article above would dispute that explanation.

Posted: November 15, 2009 10:25 A.M. COMMENT

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE CJPR BAR

It's Friday night, sit back, pour yourselves a glass of wine and enjoy! Thanks for a great week, guys.

In celebration of NASA's announcement that water was found on the moon...

Posted: November 13, 2009 6:52 P.M. COMMENT

OOPS

Sarah Palin's new book, Going Rogue, comes out Tuesday. Say what you will about Sarah Palin, she is the talk of the nation even before the book's release. And her pocketbook is pretty full these days, too. She who laughs last laugh best?!

AP got a copy of the book. The link will take you to the AP Fact Check story. Not good. Palin is out to rehabilitate herself in the public's eye and gain legitimacy. While I think her intention with this book is more about making her likeable and viable as a personality, and less an attempt to enhance her qualifications as a political player, Palin cannot afford to run fast and furious with the facts.

So, oops, didn't anyone vet the book for "inconsistencies"?

Posted: November 13, 2009 6:46 P.M. COMMENT

ALL IS NOT ROSY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Leaks, back-stabbing, blame-game...here we go. Deep into fall here in DC, the White House takes a fall, O my! Cold outside and chilly within, the roses are fading in the White House rose garden and the bloom is off the rose inside the White House halls.

Typical -- no change here - political gamesmanship is at work in the House of Obama. The president's attorney, Greg Craig is ta-ta, taking the fall this season for the president's inability to keep his campaign promise to close Gitmo by January. Longtime advisor Bob Bauer will become the White House council and replace Craig. Craig, by the way, a longtime Clinton associate, was the first of the old Clinton clan to ditch Hillary for Obama.

Then there are the players in the Afghanistan decision. All of them backstabbing the other from Rahm Emanuel to Gen. McChrystal, Gates to Eikenberry. Forget the war in Afghanistan, there's an internal war among the White House players.

The Obama Administration is turning into Alice in Wonderland. They are painting the white roses red, no real change because a rose is a rose is a rose. And the "King" is the pacifying King of Hearts, no decision-making here.

All that's missing in the current foray, Hillary Clinton, the Queen of Hearts whose toughness has kept her unscathed? How long before Obama ousts Clinton with a shout of Off with her head?!

UPDATE: Interview with Craig

Posted: November 13, 2009 11:02 A.M. COMMENT

THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY

Guess whose health care plan covers abortion? Ready. The RNC's! Yep. It's true. And no amount of spin, will alter that fact. The Repugnican's are repugnant. Really, they're an abortion.

Posted: November 12, 2009 7:23 P.M. COMMENT

READ + WEEP

Some things speak for themselves. I think President Obama owes us an explanation on his reluctance to fix this. I'd sure like to hear your comments on this.

Posted: November 12, 2009 4:29 P.M. COMMENT

POTUS, FINE LINES, 3 A.M. + AFGHANSISTAN

I'm sure President Obama has been called worse things than a ditherer, but a ditherer isn't exactly what President Obama wants to be called either.

He's about to be called another of those worse things as well as a ditherer if he doesn't come to some conclusion sooner rather than later on what to do in Afghanistan.

Today's story that the president has rejected the current ideas on the table and is looking for an exit strategy before he reaches his decision on Afghanistan have garnered many responses from pundits. Some say, yes, Obama is a ditherer. Others disagree with that assessment and as Andrew Sullivan says "with Obama we are witness to "a relentless empiricism in pursuit of a particular objective and a willingness to let the process take its time." Sullivan praises the president's self-confidence.

In fact, what we've seen so far in Obama's presidency is an inability to make decisions. Decision-making doesn't seem part of this president's lexicon. Rather, he seems to let time make decisions for him, allowing events to play out rather than dictating how they will play out.

Fine for the day to day. But what happens if the president actually got that 3 A.M.. call Hillary Clinton talked so much about during the primaries? What if General McCrystal called with a real emergency that needed tending to immediately. Can't you just hear President Obama saying, I'll get back to you. I need to dither with my thoughts! Hm. I sense a 2012 political ad creation.

Well, there's a fine line between taking the time to make an informed decision in the matter of sending American's finest into war and dithering. This president is coming perilously close to crossing that fine line.

Posted: November 12, 2009 4:02 P.M. COMMENT

OVER-THE-TOP?

Maureen Dowd does a scathing piece on the banks and Goldman-Sachs today. Her point is what we all think: Wall Street is a bunch of scuzz. I agree. They need to be reined in. But then I read this line: "And as far as doing God’s work, I think the bankers who took government money and then gave out obscene bonuses are the same self-interested sorts Jesus threw out of the temple." Yes, over-the-top, Maureen and out-of-line.

Posted: November 11, 2009 8:16 P.M. COMMENT

ANTI-SEMITISM AND IRONY

Really, if this didn't have to do with the sad subject of anti-Semitism and only irony, it would be laughable. But I direct you to a posting at Laura Rozen's blog on Foreign Affairs at Politico in which she announces President Obama is expected to name an envoy to combat global anti-Semitism. The irony: read the comments, pregnant with anti-Semitism. The sad part is that if you asked the same commenter's if they are anti-Semitic, they would undoubtedly say no.

Posted: November 11, 2009 5:16 P.M. COMMENT

INSIDE BILL'S LUNCH WITH SENATE DEMS

Former President Bill Clinton's main message to the party: Just pass the damn health care bill. Something is better than nothing. And if you don't, the other side will write the history as they want it remembered.

I hope that he is right. Because there are some things in the current bill that are reprehensible (The Stupak Amendment). And others that will not serve the people (putting in people in jail for not signing up). Also, there is much that we don't understand as the bill is completely unreadable, trust me.

I intend to reserve judgment on whether the bill deserves to become law when I see the bottom line.

What's good for the party isn't necessarily what's good for the people

Posted: November 10, 2009 5:16 P.M. COMMENT

FLY ON THE WALL

Wouldn't I like to be a fly on the wall today when POTUS meets with Israel's PM Bibi Netanyahu. I have a new book out, A YEAR IN MY PAJAMAS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, The Politics of Strange Bedfellows. Today, there will be E-stranged bedfellows in the WH.

Obama apparently detests Netanyahu, who has bested the nubile American President from the beginning of the new attempt to restart the Mideast negotiations. Much hay has been made of the fact that although Bibi had been scheduled to be in Washington this week some time ago, the WH had not put the PM on BO's schedule 'til this am.

This all comes to pass as the NY Times reports that Iran is not interested in making any deal over its nuclear arsenal. And is upping the anti by charging 3 American detainees with espionage, which has sent Secretary of State into schisms demanding the detainees be released.

Hava negillah, as I said above, I would like to be a fly on the wall of the Oval Office today. Or part of the WH press pool so I could ask the president directly: Why is it so difficult for you to figure out your freinds versus your enemies. Of course, I ought to know better than to even consider such a question. We all know what the president does to annoying flies!

Posted: November 9, 2009 10:31 A.M. COMMENT

GOOD G-D, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS SCARY!

SCARY!

Sullivan gets some of this right, but most of it wrong. He doesn't understand the difficulty of fighting terrorists (in Gaza). Compare it to the trouble America faces when it goes up against terrorists. Big bad America looks bad against the little guys. The same with Israel going up against Gaza's "poor" Palestinians, the terrorists who have been terrorizing Israeli's for 60+ years. In Viet Nam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, the terrorists live amongst the civilians. And when our gov't goes into these places they can't win the pr war. That is why the terrorists are so difficult to defeat, and why America can't win wars anymore. Until our citizens understand the reality of what this country is truly up against, and that includes pundits like Andrew Sullivan, this country will be held hostage, as Israel refuses to be, against the lunatic terrorists out there.

Posted: November 8, 2009 10:08 P.M. COMMENT

MIDDLE EAST PEACE

Months ago I said Bibi Netanyahu would be wise to stand firm and wait out the Obama team lunacy calling for a complete halt of building in the West Bank. I asserted that the Obama Administration wasn't a good bargaining administrator, but more importantly, that the time wasn't right for making any headway on the complicated issues facing the quest for peace between the two parties. Chief among the problems is the inability of the Palestinians to reconcile their true wants vs. their true hatred of all things the Jewish State of Israel. They just don't seem able to come to terms with the reality of Israel. This is true of the entire Arab Nation.

Israel was built out of the ashes of anti-Semitism personified in the Hitler holocaust. Of course, it all began earlier. But the point is that a people made the decision to build a new and better world for themselves, and they did it. Not so the Palestinians.

Israel is under threat right now by a much greater enemy, Iran, than the rockets lobbed at the tiny nation from their other unhappy neighbors. While it is true that eventually Israel has to come to terms with a growing Palestinian population within its own borders, that problem can be dealt with in due time.

So, I was happy to read this morning that Tom Friedman agrees with me, I think he more out of frustration than anything else.

But the truth is, it takes willing partners with individual needs to come to consensus, and right now, that is not the case amongst the players.

There is a meme in the Obama Administration that unless the Israel-Palestinian issue is solved, the U.S. will be subject to a national security issue at the hands of the radical Islamists.

I'm not sure that settling the Palestinian issue would solve that problem, certainly that is true if you listen to the defiance of Hamas and Hezbollah and the other rogues of the region who will never, according to them, accept the existence of the Jewish State.

At least for now.

Posted: November 8, 2009 10:03 A.M. COMMENT

DONE!!!!!!!!!

220-215, 1 that's one, that's a single Repugnican voted for the bill. CAO (R-LA)

Posted: November 7, 2009 11:08 P.M. COMMENT

HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL

Who says reality TV is dumb? Well, the greatest reality TV show of all time, the vote on Health Care Legislation in the House is just a hoot! The Repugnicans are like a bunch of whiney little kids. Hey, where's The Nanny? Not a decent, honorable one in the lot.

Still, there's a lot wrong with this bill, but it's a good start. While we wait for the vote count here's what President Obama said on his trip to the Hill today.

Posted: November 7, 2009 11:05 P.M. COMMENT

ON OBAMA'S MIDDLE EAST POLICY

Disaster! But there are other words for the misadventures of BO in the Middle East. My favorite piece on the mess in the Middle East to date is this one by Elliot Abrams. I love the title: "Next, Locusts?"

I've been yapping about BO's misadventure for sometime. Now the failure of his approach is at critical mass. Palestinian Pres. Abbas has had it with The Obama Administration. The Israeli's give Obama a 4% approval rating.

In the meantime, as Iran moves closer to getting its nuclear weapon, the administration seems more in tune with the enemy than our friend Israel, who is not seeking to destroy 'The Infidels."

What more can I say...for now!

Posted: November 7, 2009 5:18 P.M. COMMENT

ABORTION

In order to get the votes for the health care legislation in the house, last night the Dems agreed to let the whole House vote today on an amendment that would bar insurers participating in the new government-run health care exchange from providing abortions except in the case of rape, incest or to protect the mother's health. It would also prevent people who receive federal subsidies from buying private insurance that covers abortion.

Needless to say, abortion rights backers are outraged by the move, saying it would roll back care available to many women by forcing private insurers to drop coverage.

I'm one of them. I get ill that this abortion debate continues even though the right to an abortion is the law of the land. It drives me mad that the right wingers continue to get away using the issue as a political tool rather than an ideological one. But that's the right for you, a bunch of..! I'll leave you to fill in the blank.

Meantime, as the Dems probably knew they had little chance of passing the legislation with abortion-funding in it, one wonders if Pelosi didn't put it in the bill in order to make abortion the issue rather than the entire health care bill.

ON THE OTHER HAND...

You can watch the whole shebang on C-Span today. POTUS is scheduled to speak in the Rose Garden at 2:30 P.M. following the vote.

Posted: November 7, 2009 10:56 A.M. COMMENT

TAKE FIVE

It's Friday night, sit back, take five, pour yourselves a glass of wine and enjoy! Thanks for a great week, guys.

Posted: November 6, 2009 7:03 P.M. COMMENT

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The quote of the day comes from Elizabeth Warren, the chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel who on Morning Joe said this truthful gem:

"Let's face it," Warren said, "This is sort of how we went about the rescue -- we rescued at the top and we left the bottom to kind of fend for itself -- and that's showing up in the unemployment numbers."

Today it was revealed that 10.2 percent of the American people are currently unemployed, the highest figure on unemployment since 1983.

President Obama continues to act as if he's on meds. It's a style question. It ain't what was ordered when Americans elected him president. They ordered 'A Candidate Electric' and they've got a president who appears to have shorted out.

Now is the time for the president to act presidential. The NY Times columnist Paul Krugman tweeted earlier today, "Why not a WPA?" You know we're in trouble when creativity is coming off the pages of the NY Times and not out of the White House!

Obama needs to take control of the growing discontent that stems from the abysmal economy. Mr. President, how 'bout an ELECTRIC fireside chat?

Posted: November 6, 2009 1:40 P.M. COMMENT

OBAMA + THE MIDDLE EAST

If only Obama + Co. would have listened to me. I tried to warn them that their Middle East policy was going to come back and bit them in the arse. Was I right! Even the Washington Post is questioning Obama's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Yeah! From Commentary to Politico the O Administration is being throttled for its silly peace initiatives. Now Palestinian President Abbas says he won't seek re-election. It's a fine mess you've gotten us into, Obambi.

It's time to step back and forge a new path. The Two-State Solution (actually Two-More States) is never going to work, not as long as the West Bank is what is up for grabs. When will everyone stop trying to make the impossible happen?

How 'bout taking the WB and Jerusalem (international city) off the table and getting the Arab partners and Israel together for a new solution. Is there no land the Arabs are willing to offer up for a Palestinian State in more friendly territory where there is no question of a compromise to Israel's security?

"Where" should not be the question for the Palestinian State. When should be the goal. But we're stuck on the where. And as long as we're stuck on where, the PS won't happen in a timely manner, if ever. again, not as as long as it is the West Bank that the two sides are arguing over.

I know, impossible. It will be the WB. But, I think it will never work there. So let's get creative. One thing I am certain of, with creativity the Middle East problem can be solved. Sadly, creativity of ideas in how to solve the issues is what has been sorely lacking.

Posted: November 5, 2009 4:43 P.M. COMMENT

AGGRAVATED

I am ready to explode at the stupidity of Republicans when it comes to health care reform. I am even more aggravated by their priorities.

Here is my rant:

Republicans keep avoiding discussing the quality of health care available to Americans as compared to the quality of care offered in other countries. How they can do that is beyond me! (Read NY Times Kristof piece today.)

Just by changing the approach to health care in this country, preventative medicine being key, we will not only save lives, but also, if you are inclined to put the deficit before life, we will also save our treasury.

How do Republicans argue to save the lives of children by stopping abortions, yet so cavalierly put anti-big government arguments before American’s right to quality, affordable and most importantly accessible health care?

They continue to side with the insurance lobby. But I want to scream to them: Rest assured, the insurance companies are not at all interested in saving people’s lives…only their bottomlines. No amount of competition introduced through legislation will solve that problem.

Posted: November 5, 2009 4:25 P.M. COMMENT

SHE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS

Hillary_Clinton_state

Time's Joe Klein has a look at Mrs. Clinton.

Posted: November 5, 2009 9:21 A.M. COMMENT

POTUS WAS EERILY QUIET TODAY

But now he speaks. He'd better scream, because his fans are leaving him one by one. This is clever but then, nobody ever said that Obama wasn't clever. Slow to respond, perhaps, since becoming POTUS, but clever just the same. However, he's clever at organizing his grass roots, clever at campaigning. His problem seems to be governing. But this video isn't about governing. It's about 2012.

Posted: November 4, 2009 9:16 P.M. COMMENT

V IS FOR...

The new ABC show V didn't just premier on election day 2009 for no reason. Here's why. Check it out. This is a series that promises the hope that network TV can be audacious.

Posted: November 3, 2009 8:25 P.M. COMMENT

NUMBERS

Oh, boy! Obama's favorability-unfavorability rating in the South is 28-67, while it is 68-23 in the rest of the country.

Posted: November 2, 2009 5:39 P.M. COMMENT

HERE WE GO...

There's a nasty little piece by Ben Smith at Politico calling Hillary Clinton all but a disaster as secretary of State. My first take on the piece: Smith is a journalist looking to take the first swing at Mrs. Clinton after her year of accolades. And, as I commented on the website, Mrs. Clinton acts on behalf of the president, thanks to the voter's choice in Election 2008. The buck stops with Obama. His Middle East foreign policy wreaks of his beliefs so eloquently stated during election season, and proving so pathetic in the day to day of true governing.

Posted: November 2, 2009 5:36 P.M. COMMENT

CLINTON CALLS ISRAEL'S CONCESSIONS "UNPRECEDENTED"

On her recent trip to Israel, secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Israel's concessions to the peace negotiations on the settlements "unprecedented," clearly a sign that the Obama Administration sees the futility of its recent Middle East foreign policy. The lesson for Obama: No matter what concessions are offered to the Palestinians, they continue to remain intransigent.

Obama's game plan indicated that he was certain that if he simply bartered with the Palestinians from the position that he was the first American president to be sympathetic to the Arabs, they would give him what he wanted. He went so far as to sell Israel out and take a hard-line against America's Middle East ally for all the Jew-hating world to see. For his efforts, Obama, who still is mostly-adored world-wide, found himself hovering at at 4% approval rating in Israel...a number bound to effect his standing with American Jews. This, of course, would be intolerable as Jews give lotsa gelt (money) to Democratic candidates.

Now, Obama is changing his approach to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and yes, mostly for his own political future. But Mr. He Talks Too Much also learned a lesson in his first year in office: No matter what Israel gives, it is never enough for the Palestinians. You would think his newest friend, Bill Clinton would have told him this. Maybe he did, but Obama didn't listen, he too busy talking.

Now, of course, after Secretary Clinton made her speech, the Palestinians are accusing Mrs. Clinton of hurting the peace talks. But they shouldn't worry. Obama is changing his approach, but not necessarily what he wants. Things aren't always what they seem. Welcome to the Middle East.

A reality that Henry Siegman, a former national director of the American Jewish Congress doesn't get. In an absurd piece on the Op-ed pages of today's NY Times, Siegman, who thinks Jimmy Carter is the true Messiah and was a staunch defender of Carter's book, Peace Not Apartheid, is nearly insane in his rabid disdain for Israel.

But it is this particular sentence that is the most absurd of everything Mr. Siegman writes:

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s message that the whole world is against Israel and that Israelis are at risk of another Holocaust — a fear he invoked repeatedly during his address in September at the United Nations General Assembly in order to discredit Judge Richard Goldstone’s Gaza fact-finding report — is unfortunately still a more comforting message for too many Israelis. This pathology has been aided and abetted by American Jewish organizations whose agendas conform to the political and ideological views of Israel’s right wing."

Is this guy living on another planet? According to Mr. Siegman, the entire Arab League will never hurt a Jew; they aren't against Israel. Has Siegman never heard of the UN? Does he read world papers? Has he ventured out of major American cities and into the suburbs where anti-Semitism flourishes, if below the surface?

Siegman and other Jews recently have taken to saying that all fault for the Middle East mess is Israel's. Right-wing Israel is standing in the way of peace, they say. The settlements in the West Bank are nothing but a land grab. Israel has no right to defend herself from incoming rockets. Of course, America does, and can blow up its treasury in pursuit of one man who killed 3000 Americans, can destroy an entire country-- Iraq in self-defense, but not Israel, who lives surrounded by these bozos hell-bent on Israel's destruction.

It is not Israeli's who suffer from a pathology, no indeed. It is lunatics like Siegman who appear to have been stricken with some sort of Patty Hearst/Stockholm Syndrome defined as a psychological response sometimes seen in abducted hostages, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker. German-born Siegman escaped the Nazi's. One wonders if he isn't, and others like him, suffering from a return of psychological symptoms later in life?

There surely has to be some sort of mental diagnosis for the irrational thinking of people like Siegman and his cronies at J Street. For Jimmy Carter there is no such excuse...just a latent case of old-fashioned anti-Semetism.

Posted: November 2, 2009 11:38 A.M. COMMENT