Let me be as clear as I can be. Anyone who supports Israel must vote for Romney. Obama, in complete control of foreign and military policy, will be unrestrained by electoral considerations in a second term, and will impose his vision of a Middle East settlement on the Israelis. There won’t be a thing Congress or public opinion will be able to do about it.
There are signs, tentative as they may be, that Jewish support for Obama is waning. The best sign of slippage is that Nancy Pelosi has begun demagoguing the issue, claiming Jews are being manipulated by Republicans on the issue of Israel.
Mitt Romney is in Israel. Here are some of the highlights and headlines.
Romney gave a strong speech, declaring his support for Jerusalem as Israel’s capital:
Jeffrey Goldberg claims it was “vulgar” for Romney to visit the Western Wall on the Jewish holiday commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples. I call political bullshit on Goldberg for trying to score a cheap political point himself, and so does Carl at Israel Matzav.
Carl also has a fascinating history of a prior prominent Mormon who visited the Western Wall a century ago and went on to save 200,000 Jews in Europe.
Updates:
Twitchy – Left enraged that Romney called Jerusalem capital of Israel
Daniel Pipes — Romney’s Remarkable Speech in Jerusalem
Mitt Romney, the all-but-official Republican presidential candidate, delivered a stem-winder of a speech to the Jerusalem Foundation today, packing emotional support with frank policy statements. The contrast with Obama could hardly be more dramatic. Indeed, one could go through the speech and note the many refutations of Obama. For example, the opening comment that “To step foot into Israel is to step foot into a nation that began with an ancient promise made in this land” directly contrasts with Obama’s crabbed statement in Cairo about “the aspiration for a Jewish homeland [being] rooted in a tragic history.”
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“Let me be as clear as I can be. Anyone who supports Israel must vote for Romney.”
Amain, amain….
And you could say the same thing WRT people who support America, as founded.
His visit to Israel is an absolute torment for Obama. That alone makes the visit a success.
As far as
Norma DesmondNancy Pelosi is concerned, I think she’s unhinged. She’s claiming that Prez-O-Bama has, “…been to Israel over and over again”.If anyone has read the book, “Eve of Destruction,” which covers how close Israel came to defeat in 1973, they will understand that Israel has an option where if that occurs, they will destroy Arab capitals and major cities across the middle east with nuclear weapons.
I would venture guess that this has been updated to state that a nuclear attack on Israel will assure that type of response. Given that, I’m sure the rest of the gulf states are as afraid of an Iranian nuke as is Israel.
And… Obama did NOTHING as the people of Iran rose up against the Mullahs and the SS-inspired thugs. If I recall, that was an “internal matter”.
Pelosi may be unhinged or maybe she’s so used to lying that she doesn’t know what the truth is.
The effect is the same: a deep antipathy for western civilization and a transparently asinine attempt to cover for such open contempt.
Any time N. Pelosi [Norma Desmond] is in the picture flying her damn fool crazy freak flag it is a winner for our side. The N. D. tie is a hoot.
Romney gave a strong speech, declaring his support for Jerusalem as Israel’s capital:
hmmm…we have a conundrum-
Romney stated earlier, and rightfully so, that the current administration sets foreign policy, and his is not to question that while seeking office while visiting foreign nations.
So, he supports American LAW-stating that Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel…
Yet…it is the policy of this administration to deny such claim.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/white-house-scrubs-web-site-reference-jerusalem-israel
http://www.therightscoop.com/jay-carney-refuses-to-admit-jerusalem-is-capital-of-israel/
The White House will call out Romney on principle, and end it’s deceit of the American people on it’s policy towards Israel/Jerusalem in 3…2…1…
Every candidate says Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. And every president changes his mind, and continues the policy the USA has had since 1948, that it isn’t even part of Israel. Don’t expect Romney to be any different. He’s no Palin. אל תבטחו בנדיבים, בבן אדם שאין לו תשועה
Oh, and that “law” is blatantly unconstitutional, and therefore void; the president, not Congress, sets US foreign policy. And unfortunately the State Dept is a fully-owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia.
On the Tish`ah Be’av timing, I don’t see the problem. Goldberg says it’s a time for prayer and reflection; Romney, unlike 0bama, is a prayerful and reflective person, so why should that pose a problem for him. (The original plan to have a dinner tonight was insensitive, but it was canceled, so no harm no foul. Or fowl, since that’s not permitted tonight.)
An Israeli newspaper is claiming [FALSELY] that Obama has shared his plan to attack Iran with Netanyahu. The Israelis are denying this FALSE claim. Obama is a liar and he has friends in Israel.
BULLETIN: THIS JUST IN: EIGHT ISRAELIS DECLARE WAR ON IRAN: STORY BELOW:
The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was
wondering who to invade when his telephone rang.
“This is Mendel Schlepper in Tel Aviv. We’re officially
declaring war on you!”
“How big is your army?” the Iranian president asked.
“There’s me, my cousin Moishe, Avi Goldberg and our pinochle
group, Max, Larry, Jacob, Ari and Joshua !”
“I have a million in my army,” said the president.
“I’ll call back!” said Mendel .
The next day, he called. “The war’s still on!” We have now a
bulldozer, and Simcha Goldberg’s tractor.”
“We have 16,000 tanks, and the Iranian army is now two million
men.”
” Oy gevalt !” said Mendel . “I’ll call back.” He phoned the next
day.
“We’re calling off the war.”
Why?” asked the president.
“Well,” said Mendel , “we’ve had a little chat, and there ‘s no
way we can feed two million prisoners.
[…] Legal Insurrection […]
Romney will show America’s support and respect for Israel, America’s BEST ALLY in the Middle East (and most of the rest of the world), by making the effort to visit the country and meeting with many relevant leaders and others – something OBOZO HAS NEVER DONE.
Mitt Romney previously met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in January of 2011.
OBOZO, like MOST d-cRAT socialists, is one of the most antisemitic politicians since the Third Reich, he’s the person who has thrown Israel under the bus every chance he’s had and he’s the person who has insulted, demeaned, disrespected, and endlessly criticized the Israeli Prime Minister. While giving the back of his hand to Israel, OBOZO has made extraordinary efforts to suck up to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hezbollah – groups that have sworn to eliminate Israel – and all Jews – from the face of the Earth.
American Jews: understand what OBOZO is and vote accordingly. Never forget the national socialists’ “Final Solution”.
Powerful speech. Especially in contrast to recent events.
Calling Jerusalem Israel’s capital (something that would’ve choked Jay Carney) and remembering the murdered Israeli Olympians (the IOC has no time, not even a minute for that) comes very naturally for Romney.
I’d almost forgotten what it was like for an American leader to treat an ally like an ally.
A second Obama term would be bad, at best, for Israel and our relationship with her.
As Aaron David Miller says in Foreign Policy,
“I’ve watched a few presidents come and go on this issue, and Obama really is different. Unlike Clinton and George W. Bush, Obama isn’t in love with the idea of Israel.”
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/07/25/warning_turbulence_ahead?page=0,0
I’d almost forgotten what it was like for an American leader to treat an ally like an ally.
————————————————————————-
So very true. So very unfortunate. Obviously the reason that Romney chose to visit England, Israel, and Poland on this trip.
Mitt needs to go on the offensive.
And Jews need to Never Forget. Sorry but Mitt Romney is far more a friend to Israel than Farakhan loving Barack Obama will ever be.
Along the same line of MicahStone.
The sane people of The United States of America, have to save our nation from the insanity of the Left and its leader #44.
Not to make light NOR break into tune, but the title of a tunes by Canadian rock group fit.
We cannot “Let It Ride”, because “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”, so we must be “Takin’ Care of Business”
No, no links to tunes. Just fact(s)
Thankfully.
BTO, Foghat, that whole genre was really lame–in my accurate opinion.
I had to check, thought maybe those tunes were from these guys-
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-average-white-band-mn0000064454
I know, I know–
I denounce myself.
Thankfully is correct. Can’t chuckle on a serious post, however in honor of those lads from Glasgow, I just may knock back a Glendronach.
that whole genre was really lame
You mean like Mountain, Reo Speedwagon, Grand Funk Railroad and Bad Company
-accurate opinion #FAIL
enjoying me some Pat Travers band
Mmmmm Mahogany Rush!
There are a lot of reasons to vote for Romney, the best of them being that he’s not Obama. But Israel is not one of those reasons.
Just remember that when he headed the Salt Lake Olympics, he, too, refused a moment of silence–and got pretty testy about it when challenged. Romney has a lot in common with Groucho–a man of many principles. And if you don’t like those, he has others.
No way he moves the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. No way he gives Israel the green light–and diplomatic/military cover–to attack Iran. No way he stands up to the Saudis.
I believe you and think Wm is being optimistic. Romney is a man of many tongues, a lot of them false and for convenience. If he’s elected and moves our embassy to Jerusalem, as Bush promised to, then I will believe him. Until then, I will believe that the only president who will be that courageous will be Sarah Palin.
Note that the baying packs have begun their outraged howling. Drudge says the Arabs in Gaza are furious. Look for increased foreign donations for Obama.
The decision of one minutes silence is the IOC ‘s not the host city. Why -because the IOC owns the incident & must approve all non internal political statements.
Otherwise imagine Moscow & Beijing & Sarejevo & Seoul.
Blaming Romney is like blaming Sebastian Coe.
The ancient Jews lost their kingdom for the same causes that Americans may lose their nation. The time and place of his visit represents a strongly symbolic reminder of what is at stake.
It is ours to lose.
Huh?! You think Sasha and Malia will go to war with each other over the succession, and one of them will bring in Chinese troops?!
That’s the price for refusing to worship God as God. Today, many attempt to raise sin to a seat higher in the heavens that the one in which God sits. When Chick Fil A is a recipient of opprobrium because its owner expresses basic Judaeo-Christian values, we know America has a huge problem.
Um, Juba, it seems you need the same history lesson that I gave n.n.
Professor,
Thanks so much for the link to the information on Elbert Thomas.
Not long ago I ran into my Jewish neighbor outside. We usually chat about investing, but this last time he brought up politics for the first time.
A staunch liberal Democrat, he brought up some obscure event in the past about a group of Mormons trying to convert Jews and said he could thus never forgive Mormons for that nor ever vote for a Mormon.
Hopefully he won’t bring up politics again next time we meet, but if he does, and if he brings up that minor event again, I’ll ask him to look into Elbert Thomas.
It’s a shame that none of his work to rescue Jews is mentioned on his Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbert_Thomas
I have never understood why so many Jews get their panties in a knot over Mormons “baptising” our dead relatives. Whom does it harm? They believe this is effective, and gives the dead the opportunity to convert after death, now that they can see the truth. We believe that’s a lot of codswallop, and this “baptism” is just a silly ritual of no effect. So why get upset over it? Why not appreciate it as a well-intentioned gesture, and move on?
Yeah, I think that’s what he was talking about, Milhouse.
I wasn’t really listening to him at that point. I was just trying to figure out a way to steer the conversation away from politics.
I gave up trying to listen to him when he called Mark Levin a “dangerous fascist.”
You have an attitude. And with your kind of attitude, we might all get along a lot better.
I appreciate that comment because we California conservatives seem to be the only ones who can talk to liberals. I don’t know about you, but that is what keeps my anchored in reality. It is impossible to impress on die-hard Republicans that they are every bit as ignorant and misinformed as those “liberals” they love to disparage from a distance.
Here is CA, almost all new voters are registering as unaffiliated independent (aka “no preference”) while “both” once major parties are suffering from shrinkage. Those choosing to stay behind are rapidly being reduced to cults who believe they are defending the sacred secrets of their exclusive society.
I can talk very easily with liberals and conservatives who understand the issues and articulate their principles. I just have no patience nor interest with partisan hacks who value party over principles and are always telling us that it is never the right time to do the right thing.
If more people would talk to their neighbors, we might soon discover that politics is not the solution, it is the problem. By imposing a partisan litmus test on friendship, we divide ourselves into ignorant pools of fragmented impotence that gather to piss, moan and whine about those “stupid Americans” who “just don’t understand”.
I agree with Milhouse. The Jews who flip out over this stuff are, ironically, those who are least religious. The Orthodox laugh when you tell them that Mormons posthumously “converted” someone. Haha, they say.
@Luke: Your name is pretty secular, right? Ask him how he feels about Christians who believe that only born-again Christians are “saved”. He’ll go nuclear, I bet. He’ll say that they’re really anti-Semites at heart, but the only reason “they” pretend to care so much for Jews is b/c of biblical prophecies.
If he says that, ask if him it matters why someone likes him. Ask him what he’d do if the guy who finds and returns his lost dog admits he only did it for the reward. Would he give the dog back?
Oy, my people. For allegedly smart people, we sure know how to bring the dumb.
Sorry, I meant NEIGHBOR, not name, is secular.
Yep, Ms. Lite,
He is secular. And your line of questioning, although spot on, would get me in trouble!
I knew soon there was no hope of having a serious conversation with him about politics. Every conservative figure was a boogeyman to him.
It’s funny that you mention religion. He got into that, too. After his rant about Mormons he started telling me about a Jewish man in the neighborhood he’d chat with occasionally. This man then came to his door one day and invited him to some religious/social get together for Jews, and my neighbor told me how he told him never to come to his door again, trying to “force religion” on him.
He’s too uptight for me. His story reminded me of something that had happened to me in the past and I used it to lighten things up.
I told him about the time I was living in Japan and, one day when I’d just gotten out of the shower, someone started knocking on my door.
I answer the door, dripping wet, wrapped in a towel. I open it and there’s a Japanese man standing there and he says to me, “You have a grandmother in Arizona?”
Right away I figured he was from the consulate and that my grandmother had passed away.
Until he said, “Your grandmother wrote me a letter asking me to drop by and check on you.”
“My grandmother wrote you????”
It soon dawned on me that this guy was not from the consulate … he was a Jehovah’s Witness … and that my crazy, half-Jewish, Jehovah’s Witness grandmother had written him.
Maybe I sounded like my neighbor when, some time later, I told her, “Grandma, I love you, but if you ever send anybody to my door again, I’ll disown you!”
But my lighthearted story got him ranting about Jehovah’s Witnesses!
I agree with you that, ironically, as a non-Jew, I find most religious Jews to be easier to joke with. Maybe it’s because of self-confidence with who they are? Too bad there aren’t more of them living in this area.
That’s a terrific story, and perfectly illustrative of something that just occurred to me.
Just as it’s easier to keep the peace when you’re devastatingly prepared for war, it’s easier to speak about all manner of subjects with people who are comfortable with what they already believe rather than what they assume you want them to believe.
Hence, secular Jews (most Jews in this country, alas, which accounts for why they’re liberal–liberalism being the religion that they think Judaism is supposed to be) distrust others who tell them things they think they’re not supposed to hear. Their insecurity makes them closed-minded and prickly. Hands over ears: “I can’t hear you!!!”
Come to think of it, this is the “Professor” George Lakoff approach to liberals, too. He advises them in his book(s) to pay no attention to conservative arguments or even to engage them. Thus does he keep the flock from hearing anything that might make them wander off to the 40 acres over the hill.
“Just as it’s easier to keep the peace when you’re devastatingly prepared for war, it’s easier to speak about all manner of subjects with people who are comfortable with what they already believe rather than what they assume you want them to believe.”
Yep. I think you pretty much nailed it there.
The only Christians ARE born again because to become Christian you MUST be born again in Baptism into Christ. There are no hereditary Christians.
Eh, sorry, I misread you, CLite.
Mark Levin’s takedown of the Obama administration’s refusal to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It starts out slow, but Levin goes all out nuclear on Obama and the American Jews who support him about half way through:
http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-slams-obama-over-his-refusal-to-say-jerusalem-is-the-capital-of-israel/
This is not something to attack 0bama over, since he’s just continuing the policy of every US president since 1948, including Reagan and Bush Jr. And I have no doubt that Romney will continue this unfortunate policy.
“Jeffrey Goldberg claims it was “vulgar” for Romney to visit the Western Wall on the Jewish holiday…”
No liberal has the right to use the word “vulgar.”
Quick question for Goldberg: Are you fasting today? How much prayer and reflection have you put in today? And above all, are you praying for the Temple to be rebuilt? Do you want it to be rebuilt? If any Israeli government were to propose doing so, wouldn’t you be in the front lines against it? So don’t come the raw prawn with us and pretend that Tish`a Be’av means so much to you.
Strong showing, well written speech
If Iranians didn’t get the message hearing AC/DC’s Thunderstruck while their nuke facilities were under attack…
They should have AC/DC’s Big Balls ringing in their ears right about now.
But we’ve got the biggest balls of them all !!
Just about four years to get the good professor call it exactly as it is: BULLSHIT.
It seems to me that just about every American politician that visits Israel makes a stop at the Wailing Wall. Is it any less holy any other day of the year?
Would it be “vulgar” for a Jewish politician to visit the Vatican on a Christian holy day?
The closest Catholic equivalent to Tish`a B’av is probably Holy Saturday. A visit to the Vatican with great pomp and circumstance would be inappropriate on that day. So would a fundraising dinner. But a low-key visit such as Romney made, followed by a private meal with a family friend, is perfectly fine.
These American politicians often profess to be Judaeo-Christian. The Wailing Wall is our foundation, so if they go and do not visit it strikes a wrong note and says something about their view of Western civilization and its foundation.
First of all, it’s the Western Wall, not the “Wailing Wall”. There’s a good deal more singing and dancing at it than wailing (though today would have been a good day to see some tears if you were that way inclined).
Second, your religion teaches that the Crucifixion made the Temple obsolete, and the Destruction was therefore a good thing. So the Wall is not your foundation and has nothing to do with your heritage.
Romney looks so presidential, in comparison to Obama, that I will just consider him POTUS as of right now. 🙂
That’s what I was thinking. And to have both Netanyahu and him together was even better. They’re both class acts.
Sorry, Netanyahu was a good finance minister and UN ambassador, and would make an excellent minister for foreign affairs, but as prime minister he’s a disaster.
Regardless, he’s still a class act. Now, when it comes to disaster, I can only think of O.
Obama never looks presidential in public, if he can help it. That, I think, is part of his strategy to diminish the office of POTUS and to assert himself as being greater. He’s always in shirt sleeves and tie-less. Always looking like he’s doing his own thing and not the people’s business. The only time he seems to look like he should is when he’s taking his wife out on a night on the town at the taxpayer’s expense.
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As an Israeli who has never heard Romney speak before I was very happy with his speech. I know he’s saying all the right things and hitting all the important right notes with his Israeli hosts like all Presidential candidates, but what’s wrong with that? It’s a million times better than anything Obama has done, and my, what a refreshing change!
I also liked his actual manner of speaking, never mind the words. I liked that he sounded less polished than Obama. He was thus more “real”, less actory-y. And he was miles more articulate than GWB.
As for visiting the Kotel on Tisha B’Av, I can’t see anything wrong with it at all. Thousands of religious Jews visit the Kotel on Tisha B’Av so why shouldn’t Romney. He wasn’t eating in public or doing anything to offend any religious sensibilities. I can’t see why Goldberg has gotten himself all het up about it.
Goldberg got himself het up about it because he’s looking for any excuse to attack Romney. It’s as simple as that. I wonder whether he’d even heard of Tish`a B’av before this.
Daniel Pipes loved Romney’s speech.. Glad to know I’m in good company. 🙂
Hmmm It’s US law that recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
It is another law that Obama studiously chooses to ignore.
This could be a trend.
Sorry, USAn foreign policy is set by the president, not by Congress. That “law” is blatantly unconstitutional, and therefore not a law; it’s just an expression of Congress’s opinion, or rather that of the Congress that passed it.
Not to worry…the left has a new discussion point to detract from Romney’s visit.
The Wimp Factor.(See Memorandum)
Id pay cash money to see Romney in response to a reporter asking about his being a wimp…to simply slap the clown across the head and say…any other questions?
Dovid Efune: No Better Time for Mitt Romney to Visit Israel than Tish`a B’Av
“Liked”!
FYI Maggie at “Maggies Notebook” has a transcript.
She transcripts a number of speeches, including Netanyahu’s Congress speech last year, and notably, Obama’s “Contiguous Borders” speech.
I like transcripts as compared to audio or video players because they allow better analysis as eliminate any ‘soothing hypnotic speaking”
Mark Levin has said Romney is on a Roll and going into particular detail about the White House and State Dept “Capital of Israel” story.
@IsraeliPM is the official twitter handle of the office of the “PM of Israel” – I follow, and retweeted several Romney visit tweets.
Lord …who knew that calling the capital of Israel the capital Israel would whip the liberals into such a frenzy but it does highlight the fantasy world the liberals live in and where they insist that we all engage in the same and live in the world not as it is but as they wish it were and get almighty pissed off when we don’t play along with their idiocy…can someone tell me how long Jerusalem has been their capital
[…] sanctions haven’t slowed Iran’s nuclear bomb program down one bit. Meanwhile, the head of Israel met with Mitt Romney, who looks so presidential that I have decided to consider him POTUS as of right now. It is hard to […]
Great post – great speech. I am definitely voting for Romney now. And I know he will probably waffle on the Jerusalem thing, etc., etc., but if you cannot see the vast, stark, complete differences between Romney and Obama you are simply not looking.
Unforunately just when the technology for archeology is barnstorming it could be the entire land might close down.
There are many legends that need to be readdressed through evidence. But it is a dangerous time for honesty & therefore knowledge.
That is my take. I am not sure Israel can survive & we may see a second exodus.
I’m sorry, but that’s nonsense. Israel isn’t going anywhere. The Israeli historian and national archivist Yaacov Lozowick addressed this exact point in his article from 3 years ago, which he revisited yesterday and found nothing had changed: The end of Israel?
Sorry . I am not that stupid o visit an unknown israeli site.
Feel free to summarize .
You can read the same article at CiFWatch who cross-posted it – a site which is often linked to by the Professor so you need have no worries, though Lozowick’s site is malware-free.
As to burying my head in the sand, I live in Israel and I’m pretty sure you don’t. My husband, brothers and sons served and still serve in the army and we have been through more than one war in our time here, not to mention survived several terrorist attacks. My daughter used to live on the border with Lebanon and suffered what they are undergoing now in Sderot. I definitely see the reality here and am in no way ignoring reality.
As you know, the facts as seen on the ground are never the same as those seen from 10,000 miles away.
That’s not to say there won’t be war G-d forbid, or casualties, but I do not believe in the slightest that Israel will be destroyed. We are here to stay. Don’t let yourself be put off by the enemy’s propaganda.
Annein pt -I would prefer it did not happen but somebody somewhere is doing some modeling.
If you put your head in the sand then you die.
last time i checked, christianity descended from judiasm.
christians and jews have a common history. romney has every right to go the wall.
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