May
27
Written by:
Dr. Ernie Moore
Thursday, May 27, 2010
WHEN THEY MEET: WHO’S STRONGEST AT HOME, BARRY OR BIBI?
The last time President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu met it was a disaster – in a way for both men; brought on by Obama, the rudeness and arrogance with which he reportedly treated the head of state of our only real ally in the Middle East. Bibi’s disaster was more in being on the receiving end of said bad manners. When a world leader is treated like a recalcitrant child it doesn’t help him at home.
But Rahm Emmanuel has carried the news to Jerusalem that Barry O wants a “do-over.”
Today we take a look at the challenges the two men face back home.
Prime Minister Netanyahu
First Bibi:
A Parliamentarian form of government – similar to England’s – often means that the leader – prime minister – has to assemble a “coalition” or team of members from the opposing parties he has defeated for the office. That in itself establishes a constant threat of backstabbing and plots to undo the man at the head, bring on new elections and another chance at the top job. It still works that way in Israel.
Then there are members of Bibi’s own Likud Party who are jockeying for a chance to unseat him. That, fortunately has quieted down since a couple of them have been given jobs they consider equal to their elevated status.
Primary on Bibi’s list of major challenges is the Palestinian Issue. Talks have supposedly begun with Mahmoud Abbas’ Arabs of the West Bank, but they are not real talks. The Israelis make a point, which is then taken to the Arabs and they sniff, dismiss and offer a different position. The messenger then reverses his path and returns to the Israelis with the Arab’s point. It is almost, but not quite a charade, but it seems to make the media, Arab leaders and the White House happy. Bibi’s no doubt just glad it is happening because he can say he’s working on peace.
The fly in the kosher ointment is actually American Jews. Liberal without even considering why – Tradition, you know. The Americans want the PM out and their guy – or gal – in. That means Ehud Barak or Tzipi Livni. Barak is the current Defense Minister and Tzipi is, well… she’s the “opposition leader” in the Knesset, which in her case means that she’s just on the job, but the job ain’t progressing so well. Even her own party members tried to hold a coup and unseat her recently.
Bibi has to do his job, fend off internal challenges, work on peace with Arabs which want his whole country to disappear, AND make nice with Obama because America is Israel’s sugar daddy, to the tune of about $4.5 billion bucks annually. That he has stood up to Obama will cheer his own party stalwarts and the Christian Evangelicals, but it is a high-pressure job and takes its toll.
When Netanyahu was first in the PM’s office in the 90s his administration was plagued by too many big mouths, poor decision making and an in-your-face manner that the media finally hated so badly that they hounded him out of office. My read, not his.
Now he has matured, has better advisors, including two from Miami, and a way of doing things that brings real gravitas to the job. He has learned to bide his time, hold his thoughts unless they are really productive and make his moves with a long view historically.
I am smiling now as I consider that he might even see himself in Obama’s youth and arrogance to some degree. Not that he likes the idea, but it could be there. Either way, Netanyahu has not publically thrown any gasoline on the rudeness-fire. (With gas at over $6/gal in Israel, what’s wrong with that?)
So it’s just a short time until they meet. A long time in politics and longer in the news.
OBAMA’S DREAM LIFE IS COLLAPSING
There is oil pumping into the gulf. A situation that even some environmentalists are coming to realize would not be a great challenge if we were boring holes in Anwar or on the shallow coastline of Alaska. And, fair or not, Obama is taking heat because the damaged well hasn’t been plugged yet. Unfair, because what can he really do? Fair because his greener guys in the administration are holding up Republican Jindal’s requests to build a berm of sand along the coast. It sounds workable, but now it is almost too late for it to make a difference.
Then too, Obama’s great Democrat Dirigible Dream has sprung a leak. Even in the corrupt Chicago.
The Washington Examiner’s Chris Stirewalt did a piece on the woes that Obama faces in the windy city and more. Here’s a part of that…
President Obama
[beginning of article]
Obama's Chicago homecoming is not so sweet
By: Chris Stirewalt
Political Editor
May 27, 2010
It's been 15 months since President Obama went home sweet home to Chicago.
And as he heads west for the Memorial Day weekend, a lot of Chicagoans are wondering why it took so long.
But as the administration tries to shake off claims that it used Chicago-style political tactics on Rep. Joe Sestak, it should be obvious why Obama hasn't been home much.
Obama moved to Chicago to establish his political base, but now the city is a political liability.
» Two of Obama's former allies, Rod Blagojevich and Antoin Rezko, ran afoul of the Justice Department.
» The state's Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, vaulted into office after Blago's impeachment, is sucking wind in his bid for a full term.
» The Democratic Senate candidate, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, is flailing in his effort to hold onto the president's former Senate seat (currently in the clutches of Roland Burris).
Giannoulis, it should be recalled, was one of those Obama intimates who assured reporters that the president would hang on to his Hyde Park lifestyle.
"There are some little things that make him enjoy life, and he's not just going to give all of that up," Giannoulias said after the 2008 election and before his own career became subprime.
But Obama seemed to give it up rather easily.
All Chicagoans have to show for having Obama in the White House is one presidential trip home, a failed bid to get the 2016 Olympics and a proposal to relocate the terrorists at Guantanamo Bay to a state prison in northern Illinois.
I've heard of people growing apart, but trying to send somebody Kahlid Sheik Mohammed is grounds for divorce….
Obama was heralded as our first president who would take his time off in the big city, hanging out at the co-ops, coffee shops and soul food joints of Hyde Park with the academics, artists and funky folks of his old neighborhood.
"The White House will be a home away from home. It is really not goodbye. Rather, Chicago will say, 'See you soon.'" Or at least that's what Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett told the Washington Post before Obama's inauguration.
But the summer wind blew Obama up to a Kennedyesque compound in Martha's Vineyard last August, and the Christmas season found the first family at a villa in Hawaii. And for quick getaways, he and his family have frequented the presidential retreat at Camp David.
The Democratic takeover of Illinois that propelled Obama into the Senate has unraveled rather badly. And turning up in Chicago invites unhappy connections.
Aside from big fish like Blago, Rezko and Giannoulias, the city is a minefield of politically unpleasant things.
One of Obama's closest friends, Dr. Eric Whitaker, is wrestling a federal subpoena for information about a community health program he administered.
And if Obama were to pop in an organic ice cream store on a Hyde Park stroll, the press pool might find him bumping into radically chic William Ayers.
And this is no time for unsavory associations.
The claims by Sestak, a congressman from Philadelphia's suburbs who bucked the White House and took on Arlen Specter in a primary battle, are gaining traction….
Most eyes are on Obama's fellow Chicagoans: chief of staff Rahm Emanuel or perhaps adviser David Axelrod.
So Chicagoans should not be offended that Obama stayed away for 15 months. After all, he brought so much of their city with him to the White House. [end]
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama_s-Chicago-homecoming-is-not-so-sweet-94943694.html
Regarding the Sestak problem… one old hand in DC said recently that the crime is often survivable, but the attempts at the cover-up sink Presidents. Watergate, Clinton’s little blue dress, etc.
So wait for June 1st and we will all see if Obama has learned any more manners, and if Bibi is in a forgiving mood. Our opinion is that it will be some kind of a hug-fest unless something really terrible happens between now and then.