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The White House is melting down over Netanyahu’s visit

The White House is melting down over Netanyahu’s visit

Could have electoral consequences

House Speaker John Boehner didn’t consult the White House before inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before a joint session of Congress—and the White House is not happy about it.

From the Times of Israel:

“We thought we’ve seen everything,” [Haaretz] quoted an unnamed senior US official as saying. “But Bibi managed to surprise even us.

“There are things you simply don’t do. He spat in our face publicly and that’s no way to behave. Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price,” he said.

Officials in Washington said that the “chickenshit” epithet — with which an anonymous administration official branded Netanyahu several months ago — was mild compared to the language used in the White House when news of Netanyahu’s planned speech came in.

Normally, the President and Cabinet choose not to meet with world leaders on the eve of an election, so the fact that Netanyahu and Obama will not meet isn’t a particular scandal. The White House’s reaction is typical of this administration, and it doesn’t shock me; what’s shocking about all this is the fact that the White House allowed this type of insanely heated rhetoric to leak into the media.

And when I say “shocking,” I mean “typical and disgusting.”

Of course, Democrats claim that their ire has nothing to do with Netanyahu and everything to do with the future of Israel’s elections and the Iranian nuclear talks.

“If that’s the purpose of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit two weeks before his own election, right in the midst of our negotiations, I just don’t think it’s appropriate and helpful,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday at her weekly news conference. The speech, Pelosi suggested, could give Netanyahu a political boost in elections a few weeks later and inflame international talks aimed at stopping Iran’s nuclear program.

For Netanyahu, though, this is a way to strengthen his base going into a tough election, and ensure that his ties with the U.S. remain unsullied by a less-than-helpful Obama administration:

While that may not swing undecided voters, it is the sort of primetime appearance that can shore up the base and help Netanyahu, currently neck-and-neck with his center-left rivals in most polls, pip the opposition on the day.

It also allows the prime minister, a staunch advocate of a tougher line against Iran, to beat that drum before a receptive audience and parade his credentials as a global security hawk, a message that plays well domestically.

Add the opportunity to sweeten his already close ties with the Republican leadership before next year’s U.S. presidential election, and the bonus of an AIPAC gathering, and it looks like a very worthwhile trip.

Even the fact he will not meet Obama could play in his favor. While it is a snub, past meetings between the two have been frosty and made Netanyahu look awkward or defensive. With less than two years of Obama’s presidency remaining, Netanyahu is hardly banking on rapprochement.

It may sound cavalier, but at this point, at least for Netanyahu, this is a win-win. If he wins re-election, it’s not Obama and his officials that he needs on his side.

Netanyahu will address Congress in early March.

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Comments

People talk about impeachment, but the 25th amendment is where people should be looking to deal with this dysfunctional president.

It’s all about Barack, 24/7/365.

The Democrats in congress and a few Republicans are fully invested in this dingbat so the 25th is a nonstarter.

    Neo in reply to OldNuc. | January 23, 2015 at 3:27 pm

    Some of them might complain if Barack Obama were to “capsize and sink”

    NC Mountain Girl in reply to OldNuc. | January 23, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    I seem to recall the 25th Amendment has to be invoked by the VP and members of the cabinet. That makes the issue how much of a snake is Joe Biden and can he get some senior cabinet appointees to agree?

      I wouldn’t put it past Biden. He’s lusted after the oval orifice for the past 20+ years.

      He’s now past the point where, if elected twice, he could serve 10 effing years.

      Up to that time, everybody figured ‘BO’ made a smart move by having ol’ foot in the mouth as his veep.

      Now, I’d say ‘BO’ has to figure that Biden may begin having some ideas.

Alternate Headline: The administration who went to Germany to rally and campaign global support in the EU before his own election is critiquing BB for doing his job.

Boehner invited Netanyahu without informing Obama?
Obama granted amnesty to 5 million illegals without informing Congress.
We’re even (not hardly!).

Henry Hawkins | January 23, 2015 at 3:30 pm

70% of polled Israelis have ‘no confidence in Obama’s ability or willingness to safeguard our national security’. Obama has done the best thing he could for *anybody* running for office, let alone Netanyahu – he has refused to be seen with him. Obama has completely ceded the stage to Netanyahu and the GOP who invited him. Brilliant politician, this guy. Bibi plays him like a fiddle.

Breach of protocol? Not the way we normally do things? Mr. Obama has transformed ‘protocols’ and redefined ‘normal’ politics and has no right to complain once he’s on the receiving end of tactics similar to his own.

My only hope is that Bibi finds a good spot in the proceedings, ideally during his speech to joint congress, to somehow bring up ducks, especially lame ones. I’d piss my pants laughing if a reporter asked him to comment on his concerns over President Obama’s absence and Bibi simply looked into the camera lens and said, “Quack! Quack!”

Wanna bet, when Boehner asked Netanyahu to speak, he said “Not if I have to meet with Obama!”.

I am so glad there are SOME adults in leadership positions in SOME nations with common cause with the U.S.

The world is more dangerous by the day…

pablo panadero | January 23, 2015 at 3:53 pm

Tickets to sit in the gallery will be at a premium for this speech. There will undoubtedly be OFA hecklers sitting up there. Time to get some facial recognition software and identify them prior to their outburst, so in real time (during the speech) Fox News and other networks (you really think MSNBC will identify them?) can place their name and organization on the screen.

Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price,” he said.
____________________________

LOL. What is Obama going to do? Take the Palestinians’ side in every dispute with Israel? Oh wait . . . he already does. Maybe Barry will twiddle his thumbs and allow Iran to finish making their nuclear bombs? Oh wait . . . he’s already doing that. Then maybe Barry will have his vicious little White House aides anonymously drop some snarky insults about Bibi to the U.S. media.
Oh wait . . . he already did that.

My guess is that Netanyahu already knows exactly how much longer Obama has in office, and like the rest of us, he’s praying for the time to pass quickly so we can finally be rid of this feckless, immature, anti-Semitic weasel.

If I was advising the president I would tell him to go play some golf while the prime minister of Israel gives his speech to the members of congress. In fact, I would even recommend a play date and see if Nancy Pelosi would join him for 18 holes.

    Gremlin1974 in reply to natdj. | January 24, 2015 at 12:15 am

    I expect the Democrats in congress to stage some kind of grand walkout. Which will be funny cause then we will be able to see just how few of them their really are.

Midwest Rhino | January 23, 2015 at 4:16 pm

Wasn’t Obama recently considering sanctions on Israel?

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2014/1208/Is-Obama-considering-sanctions-on-Israel-video

I don’t understand all the implications of the settlements issue, but do understand Obama was resettleing 100,000 Central American illegals around America last summer, while refusing to even inform the governors what bus stations he was dropping them at. And he keeps the door open for any and all that want to come, seeming to prefer the illegal route. We need to sanction Obama.

If Bibi is like me, he has a Windows Gadget on his desktop counting down the days until 12:00 PM, 1/20/17. Which is 727 days, 19hours, and 35 minutes away. In case you were wondering.

    WTell in reply to Daryle. | January 23, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    I like your picture. Daryle.

    Also, BHO apparently feels nothing holds him back for the next two years. His antipathy towards Israel, Netanyahu, and other allies will become a greater influence on his foreign policy over this time. Congress must do everything it can to stand by liberal democracies and our allies, including showing up the president and arguing for responsible policy directly to American citizens.

With Obama it’s all “what’s wrong with YOU!?” – instead of getting the drift of “maybe it’s me”.

And the whole over-arching pettiness of “we have a year and a half and there WILL be a price” – Are. You. Serious!?

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to LSBeene. | January 24, 2015 at 3:17 am

    Who ever imagined that the people of this once great nation would ever elect such a person as obola; not once, but twice?

      The elections were fraudulent. Obama’s people know more than a dozen ways to steal elections…and they used them all.

      That’s why despicable Holder fought tooth and claw to prevent photo voter IDs.

      B4$+4rds.

      Sadly, I think you hit the nail on the head, JRT. I gnash my teeth and wail but, at the end of the day, I have to face the painful reality that the numbers are in favor of the other side. We lost the academy a loooong time ago, and we are now left with legions of native-born idiots being heavily reinforced with the importation of legions of foreign-born ones. The result: every election comes down to “OOOO, looky, free stuff for me!”

      As for the situation in the post, I think it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Part of me says, “Good on you, Boehner. Way to present the illusion of a spine.” On the other hand, given the Republicans’ extraordinary ability to wrest defeat from the jaws of victory, I fear the outcome.

        JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Anonamom. | January 24, 2015 at 3:21 pm

        That’s right. Considering the fiasco we now face from a macro perspective, the left’s hijacking of education unimpeded was their first big move and certainly their most successful to date.

      Not be be a smart arse, but George Orwell got pretty close.

    Not A Member of Any Organized Political in reply to LSBeene. | January 24, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    Obama is one of those things that will never believe it is him – even when presented with literal tons of proof that it is him.

    He’ll still be arguing with God on judgement day as he’s being cast into the deepest, hottest realm of…. well you get the idea.

Freddie Sykes | January 23, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Please stop the whining: you are embarassing yourself most of all.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is a member of the legislative branch. He is not the president of Israel. What could be more natural than for the leader of the House of representatives to issue an invite to the leader of the Knesset?

Rory Cooper @rorycooper

White House officials who once called Netanyahu a “coward” and a “chickensh*t prime minister” complain about “protocol.”

3:36 PM – 21 Jan 2015

Obama’s a Muslim….’nough said.

Obama is a bleedin’ amateur and his “senior US officials” have about as much class as a plaid coat. This highly personal, petty bitching makes our country sound third-rate. What are we doing, letting twelve-year-old girls do our diplomatic briefing?

“and that there will be a price,”

This is my favorite line. So I wonder will the “price” be more than what amounts to this administrations complete abandonment of our alliance with Israel?

I’ll bet that whoever is running against Netanyahu will get a presidential visit, with handshake and foreign policy praise.

    Be seen/photographed with the boat-anchor-in-chief, who couldn’t even do anything to save his domestic Democrats in the last U.S. election? Not a chance.

    However, it WOULD be funny for the White House to do the invite, and then watch the excuses pile up on why no one could find time to visit…

    Uncle Samuel in reply to georgfelis. | January 24, 2015 at 10:02 am

    I predict the petty petulant one will attempt something more nefarious to spite Netanyhu that will blow up in his smug little face.

      Gremlin1974 in reply to Uncle Samuel. | January 24, 2015 at 12:07 pm

      He will either announce the sanctions against Israel he has been wanting, or announce more aid for palistine. He won’t set foot in Israel proper, the Secret Service would never allow it.