What the hell is this now?
In brief, it’s a video featuring Israelis like former Haganah Member Avraham Yakin, Ha’aretz Publisher Amos Schocken, former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin Shahak, former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Meretz Party MK and my old intro to Poli-Sci professor Naomi Chazan as well as an assortment of Israelis from a tichel wearing woman, to a grocery store guy and some old Iraqi dudes in Nachlaot (Oh my God there are Sephardic Jews in Israel?) to a tatooed beach arse in Tel Aviv. Everyone loves Obama! He’ll be good to the people and he’ll be good for Israel. Yaaay!
I am so glad that I will not be voting for either Obama or McCain. I’ve been really turned off by the partisanship, the endless repetition of talking points, the showmanship and the lack of clear ideals and real values, all sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. Certainly there has been some intelligent and sincere discourse, but that’s been the exception that proves the rule.
Look, the fact is that most politicians are douchebags. Shit, even JFK was a douchebag. OK, maybe that was a bit harsh. Their daily routine is subterfuge however. Especially during the period leading up to an election. Hair’s gotta look just so, tie’s gotta be this color, voters don’t like too much hand gesticulating during a speech, etc. etc. McCain is in fact not that different from Bush. Obama has clearly altered some of his beliefs in order to be more electable. One good thing I can say has to do with the VPs. Biden was a crusty Washington insider before being chosen as Obama’s VP and he hasn’t changed since. Palin hasn’t backed away from her crazy ideas and her integrity remains intact, although they’re not really letting her talk much are they?
Some people are investing so much into this election, it’s kind of embarrassing. What are they going to do in a year or two when they realize that nothing in fact has changed. Probably blame the other side and start all over again. Oy.
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I just had a discussion with a friend of mine who’s been a pretty consistent McCain supporter. Honestly, I think that apart from some reservations that not only I, but a lot of conservatives, have regarding Palin’s potential fitness for office, a McCain presidency would likely be far from a disaster and might be successful and something I would be happy with on a lot of levels.
The problem results from the American political system, whereby the candidates are necessarily representing their parties. In respect of that, the campaign is a release valve for Democrats to vent all their frustrations against Bush that have built up for 7 years and for the Republicans to mount a display of loyalty for their brand and for their candidate. The roots of this partisanship, however, are generally laid at the feet of the current occupant(s) of the White House and his/their chief political strategist.
This might not seem evident to observers abroad, but I was actually discussing with my friend my own feeling that I think this campaign is and will continue to be much more substantive than others – if you can believe it. The American emphasis on executive experience leaves a gap in the last several presidential elections for a contest between 2 senators, who are better given to actually debating substantive issues. Plus there’s that whole internet thing now. I actually think that in the debate last night we got the campaigns to a point where the idea of a substantive debate on the issues became more a more respectable prospect, despite the inevitable post-game analysis on which one appeared more presidential and confident or used more effective body language, etc.
Partisanship turns you off? Then the place to be is definitely Israel. But really, how can you have parties without partisanship?
I do agree with much else of your critique, and I’m going to vote for Obama with my eyes wide open.
Video isn’t showing up.
This video is full of douchebags. Itay Engel traveled to Kenya to confirm Obama isn’t a Muslim? I travel no miles, sit on my arse and watch Obama play whatever card is convenient depending on his audience. Not that I’m a McCain lover either mind you, but please explain the following:
I don’t get how Jews that support Obama can have such little regard for their own preservation or that of the state of Israel. Obama wants to have “open dialogue” with Ahmadinejad instead of condemning his actions – the actions of a man that explicitly calls for the extermination of the state of Israel? How can Jews vote for a man with so little foreign policy experience, let alone a man with little or no concern for a foreign leader who plans on using nuclear weapons to blow Israel into smithereens.
I get that “enlightened” East Coast liberal Jews from Baby Boomers on down think that Obama is da bomb because they’ve never had to grow up in a world where their own civil liberties were up for grabs or one in which their lives were in danger of being put into extinction just on the basis of being Jewish. They’ve been sheltered. But does their disdain for anything right of center really outweigh their peoples’ survival or the continued existence of the state of Israel?
So, if all you can say is that politicians are douchebags and that you aren’t going to vote…well what’s the point in even posting about this? To just share your apathy?
Karen:
“East Coast liberal Jews from Baby Boomers on down think that Obama is da bomb because they’ve never had to grow up in a world where their own civil liberties were up for grabs or one in which their lives were in danger of being put into extinction just on the basis of being Jewish. They’ve been sheltered. But does their disdain for anything right of center really outweigh their peoples’ survival or the continued existence of the state of Israel?”
What about those “East Coast Liberals” (or whatever pejorative term you would like to use) who put their lives and their own personal safety on the line for the sake of the continued survival of their people by serving in the IDF, and yet who support Obama? Or do we just ignore the thousands of them?
“What about those “East Coast Liberals†(or whatever pejorative term you would like to use) who put their lives and their own personal safety on the line for the sake of the continued survival of their people by serving in the IDF, and yet who support Obama? Or do we just ignore the thousands of them?”
Apparently we condemn them and the thought of rational dialogue with them.
I’m interested in knowing who started this falsehood about “open dialogue” with Ahmedinejad.
I just read an article in Time magazine by Sam Harris lamenting the decline of elitism and the rise of the everyman. While I can’t say I would mourn the downfall of elitism per se, I suppose I can understand the sentiment if we have to rely on “elites” to supply any provision of intelligence, tolerance and reasoning into the political system.
Karen,
I ask myself that question every day.
Please explain what rational dialogue with irrational people looks like.
holly woodenflames: I’m not apathetic. I can’t vote. I’m Canadian. But besides that, I like to encourage dialogue.
It’s the narcissism, stupid.
Typical of lefties around the world, these Israeli tools think their opinion is oh-so-important. They simply can’t contain themselves = they must share their Very Important opinions with The Little People.
It starts with tolerance, Alex.
If at any time it deviates away from argument and shifts focus onto the person, then it’s on even shakier ground.
If you can’t attempt to empathize with or even identify and acknowledge the concerns of the interlocutor, then it will devolve into ridicule – in which some may appreciate the humor, but chances are that most won’t. And ridicule is often a best-case scenario. For the most part, this act will consist of some effort to reinforce the implied superiority of the person speaking.
I don’t think ridicule is the worst thing as long as someone is willing to listen and respond to an actual argument at hand, assuming there is one. In that case, humor is fine, and can be an ice-breaker. But not if it masks an unwillingness to even listen to the argument.
Of course, I’m not sure that you’ll deem all this to be anything more than “fluff”, but hey – I’m just trying to answer your rhetorical question.
You can bet you won’t see any video that encourages people to vote for McCain, even though most Israelis prefer McCain over Obama. As ben David said, it’s all about narcissism. They feel it’s their obligation to reveal the “truth” to the simple minded peasants.
Ben-David: I’m a proud Liberal, Leftist, whatever. My opinion is worth no more or no less than anyone else’s. I don’t think I am atypical. It’s all about respect and I respect the right of others to have opinions that differ from mine. Are there typical lefties? Really? Are there typical righties? And are they all sweet and kind and just and rational? You don’t need to answer that.
Just try to make your point coherently without resorting to poking fun at an entire swath of people. I know you’re smart enough to do that… despite being a, you know, typical rightie.
😉
You know, you’re right. Things will be fucked for the next 2 years with either of them in office. But I still want Obama to run the clean up crew.
Obama is a behind the scenes player. Did you watch the debates ck? He’s big picture, that’s why I like him. He’s smart, makes good, sensible points, and rational on most things. (He supports production of ethanol, perhaps due to lobbyists, but shit, no one is perfect.)
And John McCain is further away from perfection. I’ve been told since I was 16 that in elections you end up voting for the person you hate less. Do I think Obama has all the right answers? No. Do I find his meteoric rise and almost Beatlemania like worship by some of my closest friends embarrassing? Kinda, but its their life, and I’m glad that my friends are getting involved in any type of cause, or extra curricular. As it stands, I’d rather have John McCain cook me some tri-tip. But I’d rather have Obama making decisions as my President.
Oh, and also: the world economy is super fucked right now, and a Black Democrat running on a platform change could be the magic screw to get things moving again. But thats mostly my cousin talking. He understands business way better than I do.
But he’s not black. He’s bi-racial. Why are you guys forgetting that this black man who can’t play basketball and can’t dance was raised by a “typical white woman”? Playing identity politics much?
Secondly, I watched the debates and I thought Barack looked terrrible, always on the spot, interrupting, uncomfortable, no valid examples of his rhetoric and I was thinking “wow. McCain really blew him away”. I turn on CNN and MSNBC: “Clearly, Obama won this one!” Geez. In. The. Tank.
Aaron, if you can see what we’ve been having around here buddy!
alex: thx for pointing out that he’s black. I haven’t forgotten that he’s mixed. i mention that he’s a black democrat BECA– USE that’s quite a difference from the typical old white man who runs government, and that Obama clearly has the upper hand in terms of affecting the average American’s mindset and faith in the economy. This country is built on credit and financial trust, which is getting thinner by the minute. I don’t believe Obama’s going to cast some spell and make all of our problems disappear, but I do think voting him in office is a positive step in a better direction.
I don’t he looked terrible at all. I think his problem is that he’s TOO smart and TOO nice, and he’s hesitant in looking like a blathering idiot, much like his opponent. He’s calm and cool compared to McCain, and people saw that. And that’s his problem. Perhaps he’s afraid of looking vulnerable or maniacal because of the Wright fiasco or Angry Black Man stereotype, but shit, its time to wear that channeled frustration on his face and show some balls.
McCain does an excellent job of that, but whats great is that when he lets his mouth run, he turns into a buffoon with less logical abilities than a snail. That scene about Ahmenidijad? Chock full of classic Republican fear mongering. That’s why I can’t stand McCain. He uses old school soundbyte tactics, repeating stupid, wrong statements to reach dimwitted Americans.
Sometimes I wish it was all up to california and new york…
“He’s calm and cool compared to McCain, and people saw that.”
I completely disagree. I saw a guy who was put on the spot, had no answers, felt uncomfortable, tried to interrupt, or begged the moderator to silence his opponent. I saw an under-experienced semi-shooter who looked like a child next to a grown man who actually understood the world and how the government works.
It looked like a fresh out of college hotshot with all of the answers being explained to by the CEO of a large company, why he couldn’t swap out SAP for some new cool Web 2.0 Open Source software in two weeks, and ended up looking like he’s not ready.
An objective person would be able to compare the answers on each question and overall would believe McCain appeared much more knowledgeable, realistic, and pragmatic. On the other hand, someone entrenched in liberal idealism and raised as a lifelong Democrat, would never admit that their guy lost, no matter what. Hence, CNN and MSNBC.
“Sometimes I wish it was all up to california and new york…”
So the people who in between don’t count? That my friend, is elitism case and point. The people in the heartland of this country – while you and other “city-slickers” may discount them and their value – were as responsible for the growth and greatness of this country as any yuppie, cafe drinking, green loving, programmer, lawyer, actor, or clothing designer. In some ways, even more.
But you have to love the Democrats. They’re such uniters! 🙂
It’s extrtemely disturbing for me to see Israelis and Jews posting supporting messages for Obama. How naive? If Obama gets elected it ‘s the beginning of the end of the state of Israel. Why would anyone who was nurtured in the church of the biggest Jew Hater in the U.S.A. in this generation, Farrakaan be pro Israel. Are you guys dreaming? Just because he is such a good orator. Who do you think are his biggest supporters? Zbigniew Bezezinski is his advisor on the middle east. What else do you need?Zogbi is his pollster. When did a black person do anything for a Jew? If he gets elected anti-semitism will grow in the U.S.McCain will help stabalize the middle east, he is a military man who will not harm Israel. He will protect Israel. Pls. do what’s good for Israel.
A vote or McCain is a vote for Sarah Pailin who belongs to a church that believes that all the Jewish bankers need to be replaced by Christians.
Self hating jews can vote for McCain Pailn.
And don’t forget the Jews who apparently have no problem being told that blown-up Israelis were punished for not declaring Jesus to be their personal savior, Chaim.
Zbigniew is not his advisor (receiving an answer from someone because you decided to ask them a question one time does not make them your “advisor”) and I’m assuming Zogby continues to poll for the sake of his own not-so-credible polling business. Seriously though, you have problems with his (alleged) pollster?
Well, we can always rely on the hate by division contingent to air its voice with statements like this:
“When did a black person do anything for a Jew?”
Very classy, Sara. Very classy. You keep it up, girl!
Ignoring the 8 calamitous years of Bush administration ( unless you think they were good..) and somehow thinking that another follow-on Republican administration (McCain /Palin) would be a new and effective broom is naïve and/or self deceiving.
Judging just the last several weeks, and comparing how Obama conducts himself and his campaign to the shoot-from-the-hip, zigzag, and a Palin led scare tactics campaign, should give any reasonable and responsible individual enough reasons why a vote for Obama is good for America, the world and Israel.
When looking at facts and not emotions or prejudices we should choose a competent A-team (Obama) that have a better chance of cleaning up the mess, then a third level, immature amateurs (McCain/Palin) whose rhetoric’s and deeds attempts to target the dumb & dumber, thinking they can still fool us all ..
Tüm sanal sunucular e5 i?lemcili cihazlar alt?nda sanalla?t?r?lmaktad?r.