Politics What did he say Really, And in what context?

 

Not reporting ALL the words is a lie

 

Obama said this.

Netanyahu said that.

Both are politicians and most politicians are not known for truthfulness, especially when bashing an opponent.

Netanyahu allegedly said before the elections that if he was re-elected there would be NO "two-state" solution to the Israel-PA conundrum.

This was reported - headlined - in most media - liberal and conservative.

UNFORTUNATELY, it was taken out of context.

In context, Netanyahu said that as long as things remain as they are then there can be no two-state solution. The partner, Abu Mazen and Friends - must meet certain apparently unrealistic conditions before two-state talks can resume. Abu Mazen must

1. Cease his government's official anti-Israel hate speeches
2. Stop honoring murders of Israelis - Jews and non-Jews alike; stop naming streets and sports venues after the killers
3. Remove inflammatory statements in textbooks used by PA students in all grades
4. Remove racists cartoons and other propaganda from PA television

So far, that's been too much to ask.

And that doesn't even include Hamas in Gaza over which Abu Mazen only thinks he has control. Nor does it include paying off the PA's electric bill, or even lifting the boycott on Israeli products.

Israel is not demanding that Abu Mazen give up his plan to make the PA "juden frei" (Hitler tried that if anyone recalls recent history; the popes also tried it a few centuries earlier. It didn't work for either.)

Netanyahu "clarified" his taken-out-of-context statement by stating there could be a two-state solution once the PA becomes a civilized partner in negotiations.

Netanyahu said that he expected Israeli Arabs to turn out in "droves" to vote for any party other than Likud. That, the liberal media exclaimed, is racist.

For the first time the several Arab parties in Israel were united and Israeli Arabs DID turn out in record numbers. But because the words came from Netanyahu's mouth the statement was racist.

Are tv talking heads racists when they report that voters of this or that party in the U.S. turned out ion "droves?" Hardly. Heck, in the U.S. people sometimes "swarm" to the polls; they "mass" at the polling place's doors to be first in line.

Are those words racists? Only in the minds of an easily offended liberal who knows his - or her - party cannot generate the same turnout.

Here, in the U.S., the (not "our," please) always-ready-to-condemn Israel president jumped on the out-of-context Netanyahu quote and ranted that the U.S. would have to rethink its relationship with Israel. RETHINK? Who is he kidding. Since taking office he has repeatedly shown disrespect for the country's prime minister and generally worked against the nation. (He hasn't done any good for America's image abroad, either, but that's a problem the U.S. can fix after the not-born-in-America* president is history.)

Truth be told, I am NOT a fan of Netanyahu; he certainly is NOT my choice for prime minister - or for any ministerial position save for perhaps hasberah (PR) to the English-speaking nations; he speaks well.

I think there is much that can be done to improve the Knesset and Israeli Arab participation, starting with integrating Israeli Arabs into the "Jewish" political parties - there certainly are enough political parties in Israel. (Interesting that they don't "flock"- is that racist?? - to the liberal parties.)

 

* Yes, I know a birth certificate was "discovered" two years AFTER he took office the first time. I also know that no one investigated, certainly not more than superficially, the voracity of the document, despite much skepticism.

Pols get theirsAnd we lose ours

Politicians continue to get our money in salary and benefits while Joe and Jane Citizen suffer.

One of the the things Obungler and company shut down with the most recent tit-for-tat spat between political foes is the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

Meanwhile, the pay checks continue to roll in for members of congress, the executive branch, and (probably) all the staffs.

What could have been sacrificed?

Six days-a-week mail delivery could be cut to 5 days-a-week. That probably should be done in any event, at least for residential customers.

Some military expenditures could be delayed; certainly payments to contractors who have projects overdue or that have gone over budget could be halted. Maybe the U.S. could forego a misadventure in the middle east – at least until we figure out which side, if any, is on OUR side.

Do we really need to patrol our border with Mexico? Any workers who cross over illegally will soon be given citizenship anyway, and apparently there is no stopping either guns or drugs. We also can reduce Customs and Immigration details at air and sea ports; terrorists pass through like water through a sieve since the spooks on one hand refuse to talk to the spooks on the other hand. Maybe FBI, CIA, NSA, and other spooks should be furloughed; they don’t seem to do their jobs anyway. 9-11 anyone? How about Benghazi?

Israel’s equivalent to the State Department went on strike and the government continued more or less normally. Maybe State could have a reduction in personnel for the duration. So it takes an extra two weeks for a passport; travelers can adjust.

Funny enough, the IRS has been shut down. Since that is one of the primary sources for picking the taxpayers’ pockets (robbing Peter the taxpayer to pay Paul the politician), it seems as if Obungler & Company is cutting off its collective nose in spite of itself. Is it the air in Washington or is it the water that leads our Dilbertian leadership in its peculiar ways?

This following the “sequester” and preceding the coming soon battle over raising the nation’s debt limit – again. Didn’t Obungler manage to do that last year? Failure, we are told, would mean the U.S. would be in default on its debts and the national credit score would be down the proverbial tube. As Americans, do we care?

Rather than raise – once again – the debt ceiling, Obungler & Company, he’s not in this alone you know, should look at where the budget can be trimmed.

Start with foreign aid. True, a lot of it has strings attached, strings that benefit the U.S. military-industrial complex so that the countries getting the aid must buy killing supplies from the likes of the Boeings, Littons, Northrop Grummans, Electric Boat, and GE-type organizations. Cancel membership in the U.N., consistently proven to be no friend of America.

Obungler closed the nations’ parks and furloughed the rangers. That was smart – like the IRS, the parks generate income and are a destination for many foreign tourists. Shortsightedness on a field of a starless night.

It seems our politicians, in all branches and of all parties, are determined that American will follow all the previous “powers” into second rate status.

The politicians' pettiness will make America a petty nation.

I’m glad I’m a geezer who knew America in a better time.