Letters to the Editor
karrsic
Published Letters: 466 Editor's Choice: 6
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OT: When it rains, it pours
[Read the article: New poll reveals how unrepresentative neocon Jewish groups are]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]House Democratic leaders agreed to meet President Bush's bottom-line spending limit...dropping their demands...
Democratic leadership aides concede that the Senate will probably add those funds
The agreement signaled that congressional Democrats are ready to give in to many of the White House's demands
a political victory for the president, who has refused to compromise on the spending measures.
The White House issued a fresh veto threat, reiterating Bush's opposition to any tax increases to pay for an AMT fix.
The threat virtually assured that the Senate will not muster the 60 votes needed to break a threatened Republican filibuster.
It moved Congress further toward shattering a Democratic pledge
The new version of the bill meets a key White House demand by stripping out a requirement
But the White House also is threatening to veto that legislation.
Bush also may veto the spending package, even though Democrats shaved $22 billion from federal domestic programs to meet his demands
Tony Fratto emphasized last night, "The White House is not part of any deal, full stop."
The veto threats in the face of Democratic compromises left party lawmakers in disbelief.
Democratic leaders tried to put the best face on their surrender on domestic spending levels
Senate Republicans will seek to add as much as $70 billion in war funding to the bill, without strings on the withdrawal of troops from Iraq attached
Pelosi indicated...Democrats are ready to make the concessions needed to avoid a veto.
"This is a negotiation about a bill that will be signed by the president," she said.
Incredibly, the right wing versions of these bills keep tax breaks on the rich in lieu of tax breaks for the middle class, are anti-environment and pro oil and energy companies, and of course pro-war and anti-veteran.
Despicable.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/12/AR2007121201791.html?nav%3Drss_em%26shttp://www.http://www.washingtonpost.com:80/ac2/wp-dyn?node=admin/registration/register&sub=AR
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@emfinge
[Read the article: New poll reveals how unrepresentative neocon Jewish groups are]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The obvious point is that that's not what you said:
But when you say in your lead that AIPAC and others like it are so right-wing they only represent a small minority of American Jews, and then cite a poll finding in which almost half of American Jews are, if anything, to the right of AIPAC
Even if that is what you meant to say, it's still a dubious claim not supported by the poll. If anyone's cherry-picking, it's you.
Glenn makes 3 central points, the first 2 of which you do not deny. The 3rd point:
most American Jews oppose U.S. military action in the Middle East -- including both in Iraq and against Iran.
is explicitly backed up by the polling numbers. Including the fact more Jewish Americans support a Palestinian State than don't. The "don't" number being the one you refer to as "almost a majority."
The assertions you make are unsupported. You conclude that those who oppose a Palestinian State are allied with AIPAC who you say, doesn't hold an official position. This is based on what? You say they are even "arguably" to the right of AIPAC. If so, please show the arguments. You are arguing that AIPAC is more optimistic about the prospects for peace?
Finally, pessimism over the prospects for peace is hardly a political stance.
The numbers on the Israel reflect the "position on the ground" today and not the ongoing political activities that affect the region. When it comes to the political activities of AIPAC, they arguably do not reflect the views of a majority of Jewish Americans. Glenn has persuasively made that argument.
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re:Public financing of elections
[Read the article: Democrats show Beltway "strength," avoid being depicted as weak]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm all for it, but we need to work on the messaging. "public financing of elections" sounds an awful lot like "increased taxes" and "big government" etc. IMO, it's a phrase that evokes the wrong image for most Americans.
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@Dirigo, Ondelette
[Read the article: Democrats show Beltway "strength," avoid being depicted as weak]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Goldberg/UMass event was last night, unless you are talking about something else?
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probably doesn't need to be said again
[Read the article: Harry Reid's FISA games]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]but it is so incredibly astounding that what occurred just this week -- the across the board capitulation to war-mongering, avarice, and abandonment of the rule of law -- happened against the backdrop of a President, who if legally elected at all was so anointed on the slimmest of margins, without a mandate, and with an obligation to serve all citizens, not just those that agree with him.
Yet there he is: the least popular President in the history of the country, commanding undying fealty from his own party members, whose principles he has abandoned; and frail acquiescence from those elected to counter him.
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@Bamage
[Read the article: Harry Reid's FISA games]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]unfortunately, no, not in a browser.
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Huckabee strikes at Bush
[Read the article: Harry Reid's FISA games]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Interesting gambit.
“Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons on my watch,” Mr. Huckabee wrote. “But before I look parents in the eye to explain why I put their son’s or daughter’s life at risk, I want to do everything possible to avoid conflict. We have substantive issues to discuss with Tehran.”
Clearly trying to grab a few RP votes. Sounds an awful like Obama/Dems position. Interesting to see how MSM and beltway pundits react.
Could open door to Dems being more aggressive if other repubs or MSM respond positively?
well I can hope.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/us/politics/15cnd-campaign.html?ex=1355374800&en=8753bd3bc15ec20f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss