Weiner: White House should stop 'temper tantrum' on

[cali]

New York Rep. Anthony Weiner is adding his voice to the criticism of the White House's response to an ill-timed Israeli construction decision, and in sharper terms than his colleagues.

“The appropriate response was a shake of the head – not a temper tantrum," Weiner said in a statement to be released shortly. “Israel is a sovereign nation and an ally, not a punching bag. Enough already.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0310/Weiner_White_House_should_stop_temper_tantrum_on_Israel.html?showall

[cali]

1. Characterizing the admins response

to Israel's expansionist policies and their undermining any possibility of peace, is an attempt by Weiner to make the administration appear petty and histrionic.

[WCGreen]

2. Which is exactly what Weiner appears to those outside of Brooklyn.

[Zoeisright]

3. Wow, I actually disagree with him on an issue?

Didn't think that could happen.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. I see that in many a good Jewish Democrats --

Right on all or most of the issues except when it comes to Israel. :(

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. PEP: Progressive Except for Palestine. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. Yup, that's perfect,

And it makes me very sad.

[Jefferson23]

15. There are far too many who vote in favor of the status quo regarding Israel.

It's not just Weiner, when I read this vote count at the time, I was deeply ashamed of the lot of them.

The bill, which was sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passed by a vote of 390 to 5.

"recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza"

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll010.xml

Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 14:24 EST
Both parties cheerlead still more loudly for Israel's war
By Glenn Greenwald

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/01/08/israel

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Weiner is wrong...we will just have to get used to that. n/t

[mzteris]

5. looking at how much we subsidize them

they should be a vassal state.

A Conservative Estimate of Total Direct U.S. Aid to Israel: Almost $114 Billion CRS Report RL33222: U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel (1940 something to 2008)

&&&

Table 1. Defense Budget Appropriations for U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense:
In millions...
2006... $132.866
2007... $137.894
2008... $155.572
2009... $177.237
2010... $202.434


Table 2. Migration and Refugee Assistance Funding Levels
FY2000: $60 million
FY2001: $60 million
FY2003: $60 million
FY2004: $59.6 million
FY2005: $49.7 million
FY2006: $50 million
FY2007: $40 million
FY2008: $40 million
FY2009: $30 million


Table 3. U.S. Loan Guarantees to Israel: FY2003-FY2012 (won't paste coherently - but it's a lot)

Table 4. ASHA Program Grants to Israeli Institutions, FY2000-FY2005
Fiscal year Amount
FY2000 $2.75 million
FY2001 $2.25 million
FY2002 $2.65 million
FY2003 $3.05 million
FY2004 $3.15 million
FY2005 $2.95 million
FY2006 $3.35 million
FY2007 $2.95 million
FY2008 $3.90 million
Total $27.0 million

in millions
Table A-1. Recent U.S. Aid to Israel
2007 2,500.2
2008 2,423.9
2009 2,550.0

Lots of other stuff, but you get the idea. . . Maybe we should "tempertantrum" our toys (and our $$$$) and go home, eh?

[louis-t]

7. Hmmm, I always thought it was more like $7 bil a year.

[HelenWheels]

10. Drop Israel

If Israel can't make it on their own after all these years they don't deserve to continue to be propped up by the USA.

[Jefferson23]

11. A punching bag? He must have meant to say Palestinians have been the punching bag long enough.

[bemildred]

12. Or, we could just un-elect this guy this year. nt

[oberliner]

13. You want to "un-elect" Anthony Weiner?

Pretty amazing.

[bemildred]

14. Yes, I can be really intransigent. nt

[oberliner]

17. He is probably one of the most liberal, progressive voices we have in Congress

Didn't realize you were a one-issue voter!

[bemildred]

19. Then why is he attacking Obama?

Incoherent treasonous attacks on Obama will get no support from me!!!

[oberliner]

20. There was no attack on Obama

In fact, he is working his ass off to help Obama get health care passed.

[bemildred]

22. "temper tantrum" is an attack.

Name calling is not an argument. I'm not saying he cannot attack whomever he likes whenever he feels like it, but it is an attack, not a plea for dialog.

[oberliner]

24. If you say so

Seems pretty mild - doesn't mention Obama (or anyone else).

If that's an attack - what do you make of Kucinich?

[bemildred]

25. Very well, you need to stop these temper tantrums.

Just trying to help.

[Violet_Crumble]

26. Yes, there was. Read the OP n/t

[oberliner]

28. The OP is two sentences from "Politico" about a statement that hadn't been made

And even Ben Smith's little post that somehow qualified as an OP here doesn't include any attack on Obama. Obama isn't even mentioned in the alleged statement.

[Violet_Crumble]

29. I hope yr not trying to deny Weiner said what he did...

Because there's no doubt that he said it, and what he said was an attack on the Obama administration. It's ridiculous to suggest otherwise. What next? Are you going to try to argue that AIPAC isn't attacking Obama as well?

[oberliner]

30. The statement is on his website

It is certainly not an attack on Obama, who is not mentioned in the statement.

The poster to whom I was responding claimed it was an attack on Obama, not on "the Obama administration" - an alteration you've just made.

The comment seems to be directed at Axelrod and/or Hillary.

[Violet_Crumble]

31. That's right. It's there and it's an attack on the White House...

And an attack on the White House is an attack on Obama.

Do you agree with Weiner?

[oberliner]

32. I disagree

I think it is a criticism of the way certain folks in the administration reacted - with "temper tantrums" rather than a shake of the head.

This seems to be directed at Axelrod and/or Hilary - and not Obama who did not respond in any way that could be characterized as a "temper tantrum", at least not publicly.

I don't know if I agree with Weiner or not, remains to be seen how this all plays out. I generally assume that a lot of the political theatre is not what it appears to be.

[Violet_Crumble]

33. Disagree all you want. It was an attack on the Obama administration...

Accusing anyone of having a temper tantrum is an attack on them...

Not sure why you need to wait to know whether or not you agree with what Weiner said. I would assume people who are moderates on the conflict are not so prone to with Weiner's apparent belief that the US govt is in the wrong when the extreme RW govt of Nutty gets told off for doing something wrong...

[cali]

16. you live in his district? funny, you don't seem to know a thing about it

if you think he can be "un-elected".

[bemildred]

18. Anyone can be un-elected, it happens all the time.

Especially when the economy sucks.

[cali]

21. uh, no. in reality, anyone can't be unelected

and most incumbents hold their seats. If you think that, for instance, Pat Leahy, could be "un-elected" this year in Vermont, you're smoking something potent.

[bemildred]

23. Ah, you strict determinists are so amusing.

No doubt a black man could never be elected President either, or at least we are not ready for that yet, maybe someday.

[cali]

27. you're a tad confused, my dear.

particularly as I was arguing quite early that a black man, specifically Obama could indeed be elected. but you fantasists and projectionists are just so amusing.

[bemildred]

34. I am not claiming to know the future, you are. nt

[LeftishBrit]

35. In favour of whom?

I think he's being stupid on this issue; but I assume the only possibility of replacing him would be with a Republican - who would be much much worse.