Several years ago, on a flight bound for our nation’s capital, I found myself sitting next to the House Republican candidate for the Indiana 6th district, Mike Pence. I do not remember the specific details of our conversation. What I do remember is that I was struck by his unbridled, infectious optimism and the openness with which he cherished the opportunity and responsibility of representing his constituents and his country. As our flight descended into Washington we could see the Capitol rotunda brightly illuminated against the clear darkened sky. The soon to be congressman looked at me, pointed out the window, and in an almost a giddy fashion chuckled and said: “That’s my office.”
Fast forward to 2015 where we see now Indiana Governor Mike Pence reeling from the backlash over his state’s controversial Religious Freedom law. The law is facing withering attacks from activists, politicians and major corporations who see it as providing legal protection for those who chose to discriminate against members of the LGBT community. The Governor has been adamant that he will not take steps to rescind the law: “That’s not on my agenda” he said.
Defenders of the Indiana law say it is the same as the federal statute signed into law by President Bill Clinton…the same law that is currently in force in 19 other states. Those statements simply are not true. I would suggest that supporters take the time to read those other laws for themselves before alleging such comparisons.
In an effort to clarify the legislature’s intent, Governor Pence appeared on ABC’s “This Week” with host George Stephanopoulos. To his credit Stephanopoulos bored right in to the key question…is the law discriminatory against gays and lesbian.
STEPHANOPOULOS: “And so yes or no, if a florist in Indiana refuses to serve a gay couple at their wedding, is that now legal in Indiana?”
PENCE: George, this is where this debate has gone…with misinformation…
STEPHANOPOULO: “It’s just a question sir. Question sir, Yes or no?”
The Governor refuse to answer; preferring to find cover in talking points that sited similar laws in other states and blamed the media for the misinformation.
Stephanopoulos gave the Governor another chance to respond:
STEPHANOPOULOS: “So when you say tolerance is a two way street does that mean that Christians who want to refuse service or people of any other faith who want to refuse service to gays and lesbians, that is now legal in the state of Indiana?” That’s the simple yes or no question".
Once again the governor refused to provide a direct answer. Once again he referred to his talking points.
The Mike Pence that I see in that interview is no longer the wide eyed optimist who wants to put his constituents and country first. The Mike Pence I see is a hardened politician who has one eye firmly on a run at the White House.
The civil servant who resides in the Indiana governor’s mansion today is not the same man that I met on that Washington flight so many years ago.
That’s a shame.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Is The Arab World Finally Stepping Up In its Own Defense?
There are two major news stories that have captured the headlines over the past several days: the downing of a commercial jetliner by its suicidal co-pilot and the looming deadline of the controversial US/Iran nuclear negotiations. Certainly these events are worthy of our attention. But there is another story that has surprisingly gone underreported by the fourth estate; a story that could have long term implications on the world stage.
Over the course of recent history the United States has played the role of the world’s “peacekeeper.” Nowhere is that role more evident than in the Middle East. Arab leaders have long complained publically about America’s intervention into Middle East affairs, but behind closed doors they are more than happy to have their reign secured by American arms and money.
Egypt’s Mubarak railed against American aggression yet accepted billions in US dollars to keep a lid on the region’s largest Muslim state. Afghanistan’s Karzai threatened almost daily to join hands with the Taliban while the CIA bribed him with green garbage bags full of cash. The US handed Iraq’s Maliki the reins of power along with a $125 million dollar fully trained and equipped army. Maliki responded by schmoosing with the Iranians as he showed the us the door. The Saudi Royals kiss our cheeks and gladly take our oil money and protection, yet sponsor splinter groups that fight against US interests.
The Obama administration has said repeatedly that the US will continue to work to secure peace within in the region: “But the only way that a lasting peace can be achieved is through an agreement put together by the Arab states themselves.”
For too long the United States has spent its blood and treasure to secure peace in the Middle East while Arab rulers lounge in opulence. But recently there have been signs that the regional Arab nations are starting to step up in their own defense.
Last week Saudi Arabia, concerned about the unrest along its southern border, engaged in air strikes against Iranian backed Houthi rebel strongholds in Yemen. And the Saudis have amassed over 150,000 troops along the Yemeni border. When is the last time you saw the Saudis weigh in with anything but their check book?
Egypt has stepped up as well…sending 10 warships south to the critical Yemeni coast to protect the flow of oil and commerce through the Red Sea.
Perhaps most striking of all is news that Arab League members have agreed in principle to form a joint inter-military peacekeeping force to deter the spread of Islamic extremism and Iranian power. The proposed 40,000 member standing army will be headquartered in Cairo or Riyadh.
Reports are that the Arab states are taking these actions because they have lost faith in the president’s commitment to the region…particularly as it pertains to the elephant in the room, Iran. Arab leaders have described the president’s Middle East policy as “flawed,” “confusing” and “disjointed.” The president’s critics here at home would agree. Who could blame them? After all the US is working with Iran in Iraq but against Iran in Yemen. It is working with Iran to stop ISIS in Syria but working against Iran to remove the Syrian regime. It is trying to keep Iran from gaining access to a nuclear bomb but by all accounts is working on an agreement that would allow Iran to keep at least part its nuclear processing infrastructure.
It appears on the surface that the Arab states are finally answering the call to take up in their own defense. Perhaps their actions are the result of the president’s “flawed, confusing and disjointed” policies. If that is the case then let’s hope for more “flawed, confusing and disjointed” communications out of the Obama White House.
Over the course of recent history the United States has played the role of the world’s “peacekeeper.” Nowhere is that role more evident than in the Middle East. Arab leaders have long complained publically about America’s intervention into Middle East affairs, but behind closed doors they are more than happy to have their reign secured by American arms and money.
Egypt’s Mubarak railed against American aggression yet accepted billions in US dollars to keep a lid on the region’s largest Muslim state. Afghanistan’s Karzai threatened almost daily to join hands with the Taliban while the CIA bribed him with green garbage bags full of cash. The US handed Iraq’s Maliki the reins of power along with a $125 million dollar fully trained and equipped army. Maliki responded by schmoosing with the Iranians as he showed the us the door. The Saudi Royals kiss our cheeks and gladly take our oil money and protection, yet sponsor splinter groups that fight against US interests.
The Obama administration has said repeatedly that the US will continue to work to secure peace within in the region: “But the only way that a lasting peace can be achieved is through an agreement put together by the Arab states themselves.”
For too long the United States has spent its blood and treasure to secure peace in the Middle East while Arab rulers lounge in opulence. But recently there have been signs that the regional Arab nations are starting to step up in their own defense.
Last week Saudi Arabia, concerned about the unrest along its southern border, engaged in air strikes against Iranian backed Houthi rebel strongholds in Yemen. And the Saudis have amassed over 150,000 troops along the Yemeni border. When is the last time you saw the Saudis weigh in with anything but their check book?
Egypt has stepped up as well…sending 10 warships south to the critical Yemeni coast to protect the flow of oil and commerce through the Red Sea.
Perhaps most striking of all is news that Arab League members have agreed in principle to form a joint inter-military peacekeeping force to deter the spread of Islamic extremism and Iranian power. The proposed 40,000 member standing army will be headquartered in Cairo or Riyadh.
Reports are that the Arab states are taking these actions because they have lost faith in the president’s commitment to the region…particularly as it pertains to the elephant in the room, Iran. Arab leaders have described the president’s Middle East policy as “flawed,” “confusing” and “disjointed.” The president’s critics here at home would agree. Who could blame them? After all the US is working with Iran in Iraq but against Iran in Yemen. It is working with Iran to stop ISIS in Syria but working against Iran to remove the Syrian regime. It is trying to keep Iran from gaining access to a nuclear bomb but by all accounts is working on an agreement that would allow Iran to keep at least part its nuclear processing infrastructure.
It appears on the surface that the Arab states are finally answering the call to take up in their own defense. Perhaps their actions are the result of the president’s “flawed, confusing and disjointed” policies. If that is the case then let’s hope for more “flawed, confusing and disjointed” communications out of the Obama White House.
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Enemy Of My Enemy Is...?
Middle East politics is complicated. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. Consider the events of this past week.
Yemen is a woebegone country that lies on the southern border of the Arabian Peninsula. It is noteworthy for two reasons: It is the new home for Al Qaeda and similar terrorist groups that once resided in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan prior to the US invasions; and its geographic location is such that whomever controls Yemen controls the flow of oil from around the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea and eventually the shores of Western Europe.
The Yemeni government was once a partner to the US in the fight against terror; allowing the US to conduct drone strikes against key terrorist strongholds within Yemen’s borders. I say “was” because the Yemeni government no longer exits. Angered by their government’s partnership with the US, Houthi rebels, armed and trained by Iran, have driven the Yemeni government from power. The rebels now control roughly one third of the country. Anarchy reigns. The Yemeni president and his ministers have fled. The violence is so bad that the US has closed its embassy and ordered all US citizens and military personnel to leave the country. Even the Special Ops forces that provided logistical support for the drone strikes have pulled out. You know it’s bad when the Seals bug out.
Just across Yemen’s northern border lies Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are very concerned about maintaining the security of that border. This week the Saudi Air Force, assisted by US technical and logistical support, launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthi rebel forces and amassed 150,000 troops along the Saudi/Yemen border. The Saudis are backed by a 10 nation coalition of regional Arab countries. Egypt has sent ten warships to the Yemeni shores to protect the flow of commerce.
To summarize…in Yemen, US backed Saudi forces are fighting AGAINST Iranian backed Houthi rebels…who have overthrown the US backed Yemeni government.
Are you with me so far?
Now let’s turn to Iraq and the war against ISIS.
In Iraq, US military forces continue to attack ISIS targets from the air. The ground war against ISIS in Iraq is being conducted by the US backed Iraqi army along with Iranian backed militia. Except in the battle to retake the Iraqi city of Tikrit; where the Iranian backed militia have refuse to fight because they are pissed off at the US for conducting bombing raids in the city. The Iranians wanted to take Tikrit without US help.
To summarize…In Iraq, US backed Iraqi forces are fighting WITH Iranian backed forces against ISIS…except in Tikrit.
Are you still with me?
It’s simple…the United States is fighting WITH Iran in Iraq…and AGAINST Iran in Yemen.
My head hurts!
Leave it to the “Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart to put it all into perspective: “So after 20 years of destabilizing the region, the United States is fighting a proxy war against itself.
Perfect!
Check in with this space tomorrow where, assuming my head stops hurting, we will examine our “Fighting with Iran/Fighting against Iran” foreign policy vis a vis the ongoing nuclear talks with our enemy Iran…which are being undermined by our ally, Israel.
Yemen is a woebegone country that lies on the southern border of the Arabian Peninsula. It is noteworthy for two reasons: It is the new home for Al Qaeda and similar terrorist groups that once resided in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan prior to the US invasions; and its geographic location is such that whomever controls Yemen controls the flow of oil from around the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea and eventually the shores of Western Europe.
The Yemeni government was once a partner to the US in the fight against terror; allowing the US to conduct drone strikes against key terrorist strongholds within Yemen’s borders. I say “was” because the Yemeni government no longer exits. Angered by their government’s partnership with the US, Houthi rebels, armed and trained by Iran, have driven the Yemeni government from power. The rebels now control roughly one third of the country. Anarchy reigns. The Yemeni president and his ministers have fled. The violence is so bad that the US has closed its embassy and ordered all US citizens and military personnel to leave the country. Even the Special Ops forces that provided logistical support for the drone strikes have pulled out. You know it’s bad when the Seals bug out.
Just across Yemen’s northern border lies Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are very concerned about maintaining the security of that border. This week the Saudi Air Force, assisted by US technical and logistical support, launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthi rebel forces and amassed 150,000 troops along the Saudi/Yemen border. The Saudis are backed by a 10 nation coalition of regional Arab countries. Egypt has sent ten warships to the Yemeni shores to protect the flow of commerce.
To summarize…in Yemen, US backed Saudi forces are fighting AGAINST Iranian backed Houthi rebels…who have overthrown the US backed Yemeni government.
Are you with me so far?
Now let’s turn to Iraq and the war against ISIS.
In Iraq, US military forces continue to attack ISIS targets from the air. The ground war against ISIS in Iraq is being conducted by the US backed Iraqi army along with Iranian backed militia. Except in the battle to retake the Iraqi city of Tikrit; where the Iranian backed militia have refuse to fight because they are pissed off at the US for conducting bombing raids in the city. The Iranians wanted to take Tikrit without US help.
To summarize…In Iraq, US backed Iraqi forces are fighting WITH Iranian backed forces against ISIS…except in Tikrit.
Are you still with me?
It’s simple…the United States is fighting WITH Iran in Iraq…and AGAINST Iran in Yemen.
My head hurts!
Leave it to the “Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart to put it all into perspective: “So after 20 years of destabilizing the region, the United States is fighting a proxy war against itself.
Perfect!
Check in with this space tomorrow where, assuming my head stops hurting, we will examine our “Fighting with Iran/Fighting against Iran” foreign policy vis a vis the ongoing nuclear talks with our enemy Iran…which are being undermined by our ally, Israel.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Cruz Gets A Reality Check
I always say that when ideology runs head long into reality…reality usually prevails. Ted Cruz just got a reality check.
Ted Cruz is well known as the standard bearer for the fight against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). You will seldom see him in a public forum where he is not calling for its repeal. Two days ago he officially announced that he was running for president. In his very important first speech as an official candidate Cruz asked his audience to imagine a congress that repeals “each and every word of Obamacare.” Repealing Obamacare sits at the very core of his political principles.
Or does it?
24 hours after giving that speech we learned that Cruz and his family are signing up for Obamacare.
Senator Cruz’ wife has a high profile job at Goldman Sachs. The Cruz family has its health insurance through Mrs. Cruz’ employer. Mrs. Cruz has elected to take an unpaid leave of absence to work on her husband’s campaign. Her decision means that the Cruz family will not only lose her pay check but the family’s health insurance as well.
The Cruz family finds itself at the same crossroads faced by millions of Americans in the days before Obamacare. The loss of a job or some other significant event that causes a reduction in income are two of the main reasons that people lost their health insurance…and in part the reasons why the Affordable Care Act exits. Unlike many unfortunate families in the days before Obamacare, the Cruz family has some options. Senator Cruz can buy coverage, if he wants it, through his employer, the federal government. In fact he is required by law to do so.
Back in the days when the president and the Democrat controlled congress were trying to pass the ACA Republicans attempted to torpedo the bill by attaching an amendment requiring that all members of congress purchase their insurance through the federal the exchange. In essence Republicans were saying: “If Democrats think that government provided health care is such a good idea then they should be forced to buy their coverage through the program just like any other citizen. Republicans believed the amendment would scare off the Democrats and kill the bill. But Democrats believed in the legislation and passed the bill with the amendment attached.
When the story leaked that Cruz was purchasing insurance through the federal exchange the media sought him out for an explanation. He said he had no choice…that he was required by law to do so. “This is one of the good things about Obamacare" he said. "Members will be on the exchanges without subsidies just like millions of Americans…Members of congress should not be exempt.”
This is what we call “spinning.” Cruz had another option.
He could have stood on principle, paid the fine and opted out. He could have taken a stand against the hated, socialist, big government program. He could have joined over 6 million of his fellow Texans and gone without coverage. Cruz’ great state of Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured people…6 million uninsured…over 1 million of them children. Uninsured in part because Cruz and his fellow state Republicans opted out of the ACA and federal funds that came with it; denying Texans the opportunity for affordable health care. Ted Cruz could have made a principled stand and joined his fellow Texans. But he didn’t. The basic kitchen table need to protect his family took precedence. Cruz made the prudent and logical choice. Unfortunately Cruz and his Republican state legislators didn’t allow his fellow Texans the same opportunity.
Ted Cruz isn’t the first politician to see his ideology wither in the face of reality. He won’t be the last.
Ted Cruz is well known as the standard bearer for the fight against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). You will seldom see him in a public forum where he is not calling for its repeal. Two days ago he officially announced that he was running for president. In his very important first speech as an official candidate Cruz asked his audience to imagine a congress that repeals “each and every word of Obamacare.” Repealing Obamacare sits at the very core of his political principles.
Or does it?
24 hours after giving that speech we learned that Cruz and his family are signing up for Obamacare.
Senator Cruz’ wife has a high profile job at Goldman Sachs. The Cruz family has its health insurance through Mrs. Cruz’ employer. Mrs. Cruz has elected to take an unpaid leave of absence to work on her husband’s campaign. Her decision means that the Cruz family will not only lose her pay check but the family’s health insurance as well.
The Cruz family finds itself at the same crossroads faced by millions of Americans in the days before Obamacare. The loss of a job or some other significant event that causes a reduction in income are two of the main reasons that people lost their health insurance…and in part the reasons why the Affordable Care Act exits. Unlike many unfortunate families in the days before Obamacare, the Cruz family has some options. Senator Cruz can buy coverage, if he wants it, through his employer, the federal government. In fact he is required by law to do so.
Back in the days when the president and the Democrat controlled congress were trying to pass the ACA Republicans attempted to torpedo the bill by attaching an amendment requiring that all members of congress purchase their insurance through the federal the exchange. In essence Republicans were saying: “If Democrats think that government provided health care is such a good idea then they should be forced to buy their coverage through the program just like any other citizen. Republicans believed the amendment would scare off the Democrats and kill the bill. But Democrats believed in the legislation and passed the bill with the amendment attached.
When the story leaked that Cruz was purchasing insurance through the federal exchange the media sought him out for an explanation. He said he had no choice…that he was required by law to do so. “This is one of the good things about Obamacare" he said. "Members will be on the exchanges without subsidies just like millions of Americans…Members of congress should not be exempt.”
This is what we call “spinning.” Cruz had another option.
He could have stood on principle, paid the fine and opted out. He could have taken a stand against the hated, socialist, big government program. He could have joined over 6 million of his fellow Texans and gone without coverage. Cruz’ great state of Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured people…6 million uninsured…over 1 million of them children. Uninsured in part because Cruz and his fellow state Republicans opted out of the ACA and federal funds that came with it; denying Texans the opportunity for affordable health care. Ted Cruz could have made a principled stand and joined his fellow Texans. But he didn’t. The basic kitchen table need to protect his family took precedence. Cruz made the prudent and logical choice. Unfortunately Cruz and his Republican state legislators didn’t allow his fellow Texans the same opportunity.
Ted Cruz isn’t the first politician to see his ideology wither in the face of reality. He won’t be the last.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
With friends like these...
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Israeli intelligence eavesdropped on the US/Iran nuclear negotiations and shared the information with sympathetic US lawmakers in an effort to derail the sensitive talks.
According to the WSJ: “The spying operation was part of a broader campaign by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to penetrate the negotiations and then build up a case against the emerging terms of the deal.”
It is no secret that allies spy on each other. In fact it was US intelligence agencies that provided Israel with its communication gathering capabilities.
The White House discovered that the Israelis were listening in to the talks when US intelligence agencies, spying on Israel, intercepted communications between Israeli officials that carried details that could only have come from the negotiations. Apparently the eavesdropping didn’t upset the White House as much as the sharing of inside information with US officials. As one senior official told the WSJ: “It’s one thing for the US and Israel to spy on each other. It’s another thing to steal US secrets and play them back to US legislators to undermine US diplomacy.”
The WSJ reports that personal animus between the president and the Israeli Prime Minister played in integral part in the events that followed.
There is no love lost between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. So when the US began talks with Iran over their nuclear program the president intentionally kept Netanyahu out of the loop for fear of leaks. The Israelis picked up on the talks from outside sources and decided to eavesdrop on the negotiations. The Israelis knew that the eavesdropping would anger the White House but decided the stakes were worth the risk. Raising objections to a perceived unsympathetic White House would reveal the espionage. So the Israelis decided to try a different path. Israel approached US lawmakers who were sympathetic to Israel and disdainful of the president’s diplomatic efforts toward Iran. Israel shared the cache of snooped classified information with these lawmakers in an effort to solicit their help in undermining the president. Speaker Boehner invited the prime minister to lay out his case before congress and 47 US senators sent an open letter to Iranian leadership to queer the deal. Add the prime minister’s flip flopping on a two-state Palestinian solution and his blatantly inflammatory, racist rhetoric about “Israeli Arabs flocking to the polls” and you have the makings of a diplomatic train wreck.
During his address before congress, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in reference to the nuclear talks with Iran: “There is an old saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. In this case the enemy of your enemy…is your enemy!” I didn’t realize that he was talking about Israel. With friends like these…
Congratulations to reporter Adam Entous and the Wall Street Journal for breaking this important story.
According to the WSJ: “The spying operation was part of a broader campaign by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to penetrate the negotiations and then build up a case against the emerging terms of the deal.”
It is no secret that allies spy on each other. In fact it was US intelligence agencies that provided Israel with its communication gathering capabilities.
The White House discovered that the Israelis were listening in to the talks when US intelligence agencies, spying on Israel, intercepted communications between Israeli officials that carried details that could only have come from the negotiations. Apparently the eavesdropping didn’t upset the White House as much as the sharing of inside information with US officials. As one senior official told the WSJ: “It’s one thing for the US and Israel to spy on each other. It’s another thing to steal US secrets and play them back to US legislators to undermine US diplomacy.”
The WSJ reports that personal animus between the president and the Israeli Prime Minister played in integral part in the events that followed.
There is no love lost between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. So when the US began talks with Iran over their nuclear program the president intentionally kept Netanyahu out of the loop for fear of leaks. The Israelis picked up on the talks from outside sources and decided to eavesdrop on the negotiations. The Israelis knew that the eavesdropping would anger the White House but decided the stakes were worth the risk. Raising objections to a perceived unsympathetic White House would reveal the espionage. So the Israelis decided to try a different path. Israel approached US lawmakers who were sympathetic to Israel and disdainful of the president’s diplomatic efforts toward Iran. Israel shared the cache of snooped classified information with these lawmakers in an effort to solicit their help in undermining the president. Speaker Boehner invited the prime minister to lay out his case before congress and 47 US senators sent an open letter to Iranian leadership to queer the deal. Add the prime minister’s flip flopping on a two-state Palestinian solution and his blatantly inflammatory, racist rhetoric about “Israeli Arabs flocking to the polls” and you have the makings of a diplomatic train wreck.
During his address before congress, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in reference to the nuclear talks with Iran: “There is an old saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. In this case the enemy of your enemy…is your enemy!” I didn’t realize that he was talking about Israel. With friends like these…
Congratulations to reporter Adam Entous and the Wall Street Journal for breaking this important story.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Comedy & Tragedy
Two stories today…one comedy, one tragedy.
COMEDY…LET THE CLOWN SHOW BEGIN – Its official…Ted Cruz is running for president. The junior senator from Texas tweeted his official announcement shortly after mid-night: “I am running for president. I hope to earn your support.” Cruz will make an appearance today at Jerry Fallwell’s Liberty University where he is expected to make his first official campaign speech. Cruz becomes the first Republican hopeful to officially enter the fray.
Senator Cruz is the undisputed head of the Tea Party and the heartthrob of the far right. He is also the embodiment of all that is wrong with Washington. Cruz craves the media spotlight and never disappoints; a clever quip or a controversial phrase always at the ready. But while he is long on partisan rhetoric he is woefully short on substance.
Cruz is the guy who tied up the senate for 21 hours while he read the children’s classic “Green Eggs and Ham.” Cruz’ story was that he was engaging in this filibuster to delay a vote on Obamacare. The truth is that the Senate had already scheduled a vote on the matter for the following day. There was no possibility for postponing the vote. The session had already adjourned. Cruz’ speech was just a speech…a sideshow…a faux filibuster that offered nothing in the way of a substantive alternative.
Cruz is also the guy who orchestrated clandestine meetings with House Republicans where he lobbied them to shut down the government rather than pass a funding bill that included Obamacare. Republicans bought into his hair brained scheme and shut down the government for 17 days. 800,000 government workers were furloughed…Standard and Poor's reduced the country’s credit rating…and our GDP took a $25 billion hit. Responding to the political carnage, Cruz said that he knew all along the scheme wouldn’t work but he applauded House Republicans for their courage. What a guy!
Cruz’ decision to deliver his first campaign address at Liberty University is telling. Liberty bills itself as the world’s largest Christian university. While the rest of his party is trying to distance itself from divisive social issues, Cruz’ jumps in the deep end. Number one on his list…abortion rights. Abortion rights may play well with the base but it won’t win you many independents. Doesn’t matter. Playing to the base wins primaries. Cruz will worry about the rest later. Besides…all Liberty students are required to attend the speech so the event will look good for the cameras. Form always trumps substance with Cruz.
Cruz is the first clown to throw his hat into the ring. More funny guys to follow.
TRAGEDY – Two months ago we listened to the president as he spoke about the “successful” military operations in Yemen. Two days ago the US evacuated its remaining personnel due to the deteriorating security situation. Included among the evacuated were about 100 Navy Seals and Green Berets. You know it has all gone to hell if the Seals and Green Berets are bugging out.
Yemen now joins Libya and Syria as failed states within the region; torn apart by a centuries old war between Sunni and Shiite. ISIS sews seeds of terror. Iranian backed militia expand Iran's influence. Moderate Sunni’s, critical in the war against ISIS, remain on the sidelines; hedging their bets on who the winner might be. The Iraq that we see on the map may today cease to exist. Jordan is teetering. There is the very real possibility that the Saudi Kingdom, home to Islam’s two most holy places, may be next. The relationship between the US and its one real partner in the region, Israel, is the worst that it has been in decades.
Fourteen years ago the US engaged in an unnecessary war to avenge the attacks on 9/11. The resulting conflagration destroyed Iraq and left a power vacuum that radical groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS were quick to fill. The violence and political upheaval has spread throughout the region. Secular differences etched in stone thousands of years ago remain. Who are we to change the world?
Dick Cheney says that it could all have been prevented had President Obama defied Iraq’s elected leadership and left a 5,000 troop residual force in country. Dick Cheney is a war criminal trying his best to re-write history.
The lesson here is that America’s presence in the region does not quell the violence…it exacerbates it.
COMEDY…LET THE CLOWN SHOW BEGIN – Its official…Ted Cruz is running for president. The junior senator from Texas tweeted his official announcement shortly after mid-night: “I am running for president. I hope to earn your support.” Cruz will make an appearance today at Jerry Fallwell’s Liberty University where he is expected to make his first official campaign speech. Cruz becomes the first Republican hopeful to officially enter the fray.
Senator Cruz is the undisputed head of the Tea Party and the heartthrob of the far right. He is also the embodiment of all that is wrong with Washington. Cruz craves the media spotlight and never disappoints; a clever quip or a controversial phrase always at the ready. But while he is long on partisan rhetoric he is woefully short on substance.
Cruz is the guy who tied up the senate for 21 hours while he read the children’s classic “Green Eggs and Ham.” Cruz’ story was that he was engaging in this filibuster to delay a vote on Obamacare. The truth is that the Senate had already scheduled a vote on the matter for the following day. There was no possibility for postponing the vote. The session had already adjourned. Cruz’ speech was just a speech…a sideshow…a faux filibuster that offered nothing in the way of a substantive alternative.
Cruz is also the guy who orchestrated clandestine meetings with House Republicans where he lobbied them to shut down the government rather than pass a funding bill that included Obamacare. Republicans bought into his hair brained scheme and shut down the government for 17 days. 800,000 government workers were furloughed…Standard and Poor's reduced the country’s credit rating…and our GDP took a $25 billion hit. Responding to the political carnage, Cruz said that he knew all along the scheme wouldn’t work but he applauded House Republicans for their courage. What a guy!
Cruz’ decision to deliver his first campaign address at Liberty University is telling. Liberty bills itself as the world’s largest Christian university. While the rest of his party is trying to distance itself from divisive social issues, Cruz’ jumps in the deep end. Number one on his list…abortion rights. Abortion rights may play well with the base but it won’t win you many independents. Doesn’t matter. Playing to the base wins primaries. Cruz will worry about the rest later. Besides…all Liberty students are required to attend the speech so the event will look good for the cameras. Form always trumps substance with Cruz.
Cruz is the first clown to throw his hat into the ring. More funny guys to follow.
TRAGEDY – Two months ago we listened to the president as he spoke about the “successful” military operations in Yemen. Two days ago the US evacuated its remaining personnel due to the deteriorating security situation. Included among the evacuated were about 100 Navy Seals and Green Berets. You know it has all gone to hell if the Seals and Green Berets are bugging out.
Yemen now joins Libya and Syria as failed states within the region; torn apart by a centuries old war between Sunni and Shiite. ISIS sews seeds of terror. Iranian backed militia expand Iran's influence. Moderate Sunni’s, critical in the war against ISIS, remain on the sidelines; hedging their bets on who the winner might be. The Iraq that we see on the map may today cease to exist. Jordan is teetering. There is the very real possibility that the Saudi Kingdom, home to Islam’s two most holy places, may be next. The relationship between the US and its one real partner in the region, Israel, is the worst that it has been in decades.
Fourteen years ago the US engaged in an unnecessary war to avenge the attacks on 9/11. The resulting conflagration destroyed Iraq and left a power vacuum that radical groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS were quick to fill. The violence and political upheaval has spread throughout the region. Secular differences etched in stone thousands of years ago remain. Who are we to change the world?
Dick Cheney says that it could all have been prevented had President Obama defied Iraq’s elected leadership and left a 5,000 troop residual force in country. Dick Cheney is a war criminal trying his best to re-write history.
The lesson here is that America’s presence in the region does not quell the violence…it exacerbates it.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Birds Of A Feather
“He was for it before he was against it…and against it before he was for it.”
With those words columnist and best-selling author Mark Halperin summed up Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brazenly political tactics in the days immediately surrounding his re-election.
In 2009 Beebe Netanyahu said that he supported a peaceful two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2015, the day before voters were to decide if he deserved to be re-elected their prime minister, Netanyahu, desperately seeking support from the hardliners, promised that if elected he would never agree to a two state solution. Minutes after the votes were tallied a victorious Netanyahu told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that he was supportive of a two state solution if conditions improve.
To say that the White House is pissed off by Netanyahu’s politically motivated flip flopping would be a gross understatement. Relations between the White House and the Israeli government could be called “strained.” The personal relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu is toxic. They can barely stand each other. So it comes as no surprise that the White House announced
that given Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks it would be re-evaluating the entire Middle East peace process.
“Steps that the United States has taken at the United Nations had been predicated on the idea that a two state solution is the best outcome, “said spokesman Josh Earnest. “Now our ally in these talks is no longer committed to that solution. That means we need to re-evaluate our position in this matter, and that is what we will do moving forward.
As expected, right wing conservatives here at home came out in unfettered support of the Israeli Prime Minister. Even more moderate conservatives questioned the White House response: “Look I totally understand that the White House has every reason to be pissed off at Netanyahu,” said highly respected conservative morning show host Joe Scarborough. “ But what do they have to gain by taking this very public stance. Wouldn’t it be better to express their anger off the record behind closed doors? After all this is our closest most important ally in the region.”
This makes my teeth hurt.
The Republican led United States Congress makes the unprecedented decision to invite the Israeli Prime Minister to address a joint session of the United States Congress, the world’s most powerful body, for the sole purpose of publically criticizing United States' President. Then 47 United States Senators write an open letter to the leadership of Iran, a nation they refer to as our “greatest enemy,” for the sole purpose of undermining the credibility and authority of the United States’ President. Then these same Republicans criticize the White House for daring to publically object to the self- serving political tactics of Israel’s leader. Better, they say, to air such disagreements quietly behind closed doors. Really!
Prime Minister Netanyahu has proven throughout his career that he will do or say anything that is in his own best interests. He tapped into the Republicans’ unabashed distain for President Obama to further his own political ambition and he used the United States Congress as a political prop to further his election chances. He disavowed a long standing agreement with our country to court the hardliners that he desperately needed to win re-election; only to reaffirm his previous agreement with the US once his re-election was safely won. Netanyahu and his government have lied to us, spied on us and undermined our policies. These are the reasons that many Washington insiders call him a liar. Yet the Republicans continue to curry favor with him...even to the extent of diminishing the president.
As I watched Netanyahu over these past few days I was reminded of the Republican candidates in the recent presidential races; engaging in all manner of inflammatory hyperbole to win the party’s nomination only to shift to the more pragmatic middle in hopes of winning the general. Crazy talk may play well with the wacko birds who inhabit the base but it typically gets you in trouble with those who have a brain. I guess that is why conservatives flock to the Israeli prime minister. They use the same playbook.
There is no doubt that Israel is our most important ally in the region. Netanyahu seems to be taking that relationship for granted. Not a wise move. Israel needs us far more than we need them.
Poking the bear may have brought the prime minister a short term victory back home…but it may have cost him and his country in the long run.
With those words columnist and best-selling author Mark Halperin summed up Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brazenly political tactics in the days immediately surrounding his re-election.
In 2009 Beebe Netanyahu said that he supported a peaceful two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2015, the day before voters were to decide if he deserved to be re-elected their prime minister, Netanyahu, desperately seeking support from the hardliners, promised that if elected he would never agree to a two state solution. Minutes after the votes were tallied a victorious Netanyahu told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that he was supportive of a two state solution if conditions improve.
To say that the White House is pissed off by Netanyahu’s politically motivated flip flopping would be a gross understatement. Relations between the White House and the Israeli government could be called “strained.” The personal relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu is toxic. They can barely stand each other. So it comes as no surprise that the White House announced
that given Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks it would be re-evaluating the entire Middle East peace process.
“Steps that the United States has taken at the United Nations had been predicated on the idea that a two state solution is the best outcome, “said spokesman Josh Earnest. “Now our ally in these talks is no longer committed to that solution. That means we need to re-evaluate our position in this matter, and that is what we will do moving forward.
As expected, right wing conservatives here at home came out in unfettered support of the Israeli Prime Minister. Even more moderate conservatives questioned the White House response: “Look I totally understand that the White House has every reason to be pissed off at Netanyahu,” said highly respected conservative morning show host Joe Scarborough. “ But what do they have to gain by taking this very public stance. Wouldn’t it be better to express their anger off the record behind closed doors? After all this is our closest most important ally in the region.”
This makes my teeth hurt.
The Republican led United States Congress makes the unprecedented decision to invite the Israeli Prime Minister to address a joint session of the United States Congress, the world’s most powerful body, for the sole purpose of publically criticizing United States' President. Then 47 United States Senators write an open letter to the leadership of Iran, a nation they refer to as our “greatest enemy,” for the sole purpose of undermining the credibility and authority of the United States’ President. Then these same Republicans criticize the White House for daring to publically object to the self- serving political tactics of Israel’s leader. Better, they say, to air such disagreements quietly behind closed doors. Really!
Prime Minister Netanyahu has proven throughout his career that he will do or say anything that is in his own best interests. He tapped into the Republicans’ unabashed distain for President Obama to further his own political ambition and he used the United States Congress as a political prop to further his election chances. He disavowed a long standing agreement with our country to court the hardliners that he desperately needed to win re-election; only to reaffirm his previous agreement with the US once his re-election was safely won. Netanyahu and his government have lied to us, spied on us and undermined our policies. These are the reasons that many Washington insiders call him a liar. Yet the Republicans continue to curry favor with him...even to the extent of diminishing the president.
As I watched Netanyahu over these past few days I was reminded of the Republican candidates in the recent presidential races; engaging in all manner of inflammatory hyperbole to win the party’s nomination only to shift to the more pragmatic middle in hopes of winning the general. Crazy talk may play well with the wacko birds who inhabit the base but it typically gets you in trouble with those who have a brain. I guess that is why conservatives flock to the Israeli prime minister. They use the same playbook.
There is no doubt that Israel is our most important ally in the region. Netanyahu seems to be taking that relationship for granted. Not a wise move. Israel needs us far more than we need them.
Poking the bear may have brought the prime minister a short term victory back home…but it may have cost him and his country in the long run.
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