White House "enormous anger" at Bibi/Boehner scheme, promises "there will be a price."

[geek tragedy]

Nevertheless, hiding behind this diplomatic language was enormous anger on the part of the White House over the fact that Netanyahu has been working behind the U.S. administration's back regarding the Congress address, which led to the decision to completely ostracize the PM during his visit.

"We thought we've seen everything," a senior American official said. "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."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.638604

The White House was already pissed with the government of Israel actively lobbying members of Congress in what can only be described as shameless interference in another country's affairs.

Malfeasance on the part of both the Republican party as well as the government of Israel. If the Israelis want to treat the President as an enemy instead of a friend, that will get to be a two-way street.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. Like they WANT to use the "T" word, but if a liberal on a democratic message board can get

attacked ALL DAY long as I have, I can see why they wouldnt do it

Who are they angrier with, Boehner for this UNPRECEDENTED act of disrespect to the Oval Office or Bibi?

[lsewpershad]

100. Boycotti the sitting.

[bvar22]

2. Thom Hartmann discussed this on his show today.

He said that Boehner invited Netanyahu to speak to The House without White House of State Dept approval.
Thom could not recall something like this ever happening.

The words "treason" and "sedition" were mentioned between Thom & his callers.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. I consider the pukes to be treasonous on many different fronts.

If this can finally be the action that's concrete enough to get them hung ...out to dry, good!

[project_bluebook]

12. republicons have a long history of treasonous behavior

Nixon. reagan and now the crap pack in the House.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

14. true.

[Enthusiast]

44. Don't forget the big ones, the ones the President let slide even when their crimes were in our face—

George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice and the rest.

[project_bluebook]

68. Yes, though their deeds were more criminal then treasonous

and all of them should be brought up on charges through the world courts.

[Enthusiast]

97. They fabricated intelligence to justify a war. I call that treason.

They knowingly lied to the American people. They told the nation we were under a nuclear threat from Iraq. They could not have believed that. I call that treason.

[leftynyc]

48. That's ridiculous

Treason is giving aid and comfort to an enemy. Now I realize many here feel Israel is the enemy but outside in the real world they're a very close ally. It was a breach in protocol certainly but let's not sound as crazy as the freeking teabaggers throwing the word treason around.

[Demeter]

64. With allies like Israel, Who Needs Enemies?

[leftynyc]

73. Yawn

Thanks for making my point.

[A Simple Game]

84. I'm sure the crew of the USS Liberty understand your point. n/t

[leftynyc]

88. Well,

it's usually white supremists that bring that up but I see it's taken hold of the far left as well. Well, you are the company you keep. Toodles.

[A Simple Game]

91. Wow, someone with left in their user name is a liberal basher, I'm not really surprised.

And I am surprised you would defend an attack on one of our ships and the death and wounding of our sailors. Read up about it, the survivors say it was obviously a deliberate attack and a sustained one... oh what the hell, they made restitutions after all. What would the survivors know anyway.

So what makes Israel such a strong ally? Is it their surveillance of us? Killing all those dark complexioned Palestinians? Causing unrest in the Middle East? Must be a White Supremacists catch-22, they're Jewish, but they kill dark people, what to do?

Give me a good reason to agree they are an ally and I will. Also please explain your connection with the white supremacists and the stories they bring up, I'm sure it must be fascinating.

White Supremacists? Don't they hate the "far left" too?

Please don't think you are insulting me by calling me far left, it's a badge I have proudly worn since I was in my teens.

[Chemisse]

102. You forgot that they do us the big favor of accepting LOTS of our money every year.

And somehow wind up with the US kissing their asses.

[A Simple Game]

105. I didn't forget, I can't, I have Schumer as one of my Senators.

You know the one that took over the job of being Israel's #1 Senator after Lieberman retired.

But thanks for reminding me anyway.

[LeftishBrit]

117. Do you normally bring up things that happened in 1967 as reasons for hating other countries?

How far does it go back? Do you also hate Germany, Italy and Japan because of their far more sustained and deliberate acts in WW2? Do you hate Britain as your enemy, because it was in the American Revolution?

Should Britain hate America because of the friendly fire incidents in Iraq?

As regards 'white supremacism': I don't like Israel's treatment of the Palestinians either; but you cannot reliably distinguish Israelis and Palestinians on the basis of colour. Many Israelis are much darker-skinned than some Palestinians; and a minority of Israelis - mainly those of Ethiopian origin - are black.

I am pretty far-left, by the way!

[A Simple Game]

120. Firstly I don't hate, people or things, it's a waste of energy, as a far-left you must know that.

Do I normally bring up things that happened in 1967? I do when it is relevant and especially if I was an impressionable 16 years old when it happened. Israel was a very young country when I was a teen and I paid a lot of attention to them. I was fascinated by their military prowess during the 6 day war, especially the tank warfare. I read the paper every day and watched Walter every night. Israel has a short but colorful history, especially the early years and I mean that in a mostly good way. A good place to start would be O Jerusalem by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collin, a very good read.

How far back does it go? No I don't hate Germany, Italy, or Japan but would you have me forget about the Holocaust?

Do I hate Britain because they were the enemy in the American Revolution? Try the following link and then ask yourself if I hate Britain:http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6107911

As for white supremacists you will have to ask the other poster I have no idea what that has to do with Israel attacking one of our ships, I assumed it was a diversion to cover for a lack of argument. Why do your repeat it and add to it, are you also accusing me of being a white supremacist?

Hate Israel? No, again a waste of time, but I know the history far too well to ever hate Israel. But history, if studied from neutral sources has a strange way of shining a light on the truth. And that truth is that Israel is no friend of the United States nor lately of peace, and that history I am sorry to inform you goes back a fair ways. A word to the wise, never read the history of a war written by the winner or loser.

Do you approve of Israel buying our politicians? Do you support AIPAC? Do you support Bibi going around the Administration and cutting deals with Boehner? Do you think Israel committed war crimes in Gaza? So many questions you should be asking too, we all should.

By the way are you that young that you think 1967 was ancient history, sorry it's not. In terms of history it's the blink of an eye.

[BillZBubb]

77. If only Israel would act like an ally for once.

Israel is more a liability than an ally. We give them money, weapons, diplomatic cover, etc. They give us? Tainted "intelligence" is about it.

[George II]

3. Maybe Obama can arrange to get Netanyahu's visa revoked?

[Scuba]

4. War criminals should not be allowed in the US except to stand trial.

[BeanMusical]

16. +1

[Enthusiast]

45. +2

[hifiguy]

74. i like this idea a lot.

And Netanyahoo is nothing if not a war criminal. Crimes against humanity sounds about right for the first charge.

[BillZBubb]

78. +3

[JDPriestly]

43. Netanhau has very close ties with the US. Graduated from high school in Philadelphia.

and here is more interesting information:

After his army service, Netanyahu returned to the United States in late 1972 to study architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He returned to Israel in October 1973 to serve in the Yom Kippur War for a 40-day period.[20] While there, he fought in special forces raids along the Suez Canal, as well as leading a commando team deep into Syrian territory. He then returned to the United States and eventually completed an S.B. degree[21] in architecture[22] in 1975 and earned an S.M.[21] degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1977. Concurrently, he studied political science at Harvard University.[23][24] At that time he changed his name to Benjamin Ben Nitai (Nitai, a reference to both Mount Nitai and to the eponymous Jewish sage Nittai of Arbela, was a pen name often used by his father for articles).[17][25] Years later, in an interview with the media, Netanyahu clarified that he decided to do so to make it easier for Americans to pronounce his name. This fact has been used by his political rivals to accuse him indirectly of a lack of Israeli national identity and loyalty.[26]

In 1976 Netanyahu lost his older brother Yonatan Netanyahu. Yonatan was serving as the commander of Benjamin's former unit, the Sayeret Matkal, and was killed in action during the counter-terrorism hostage-rescue mission Operation Entebbe in which his unit rescued more than 100 Israeli hostages hijacked by terrorists and flown to the Entebbe Airport in Uganda.

At MIT, Netanyahu graduated near the top of his class, and was recruited as a management consultant for the Boston Consulting Group in Boston, Massachusetts, working at the company between 1976 and 1978. At the Boston Consulting Group, he was a colleague of Mitt Romney. Romney remembers that Netanyahu at the time was: "[A] strong personality with a distinct point of view."[27]

In 1978, Netanyahu returned to Israel. Between 1978 and 1980 he ran the Jonathan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute,[16] a non-governmental organization devoted to the study of terrorism; the Institute held a number of international conferences focused on the discussion of international terrorism. From 1980 to 1982 he was director of marketing for Rim Industries in Jerusalem.[28] During this period Netanyahu made his first connections with several Israeli politicians, including Minister Moshe Arens, who appointed him as his Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., a position he held from 1982 until 1984.[29] Between 1984 and 1988 Netanyahu served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.[29] Netanyahu was influenced by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, with whom he formed a relationship during the 1980s. He referred to Schneerson as "the most influential man of our time."[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Netanyahu

Very intresting. Worth reading.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

86. Thank you for posting. n/t

[ChosenUnWisely]

69. The POTUS has the authority to deny him entry to the USA, just don't let his plane land in the USA

and use some of the fighter jets sitting around to escort the plane out of US airspace.

OR let him land and when he comes to US immigration the officer's just say no and send him back from whence he came, if the President does not want to use the more impressive military option.

[madokie]

5. fuck the war monger and the pile of money of ours he rode in on

bibbi the little man who has a little man complex

Whats he ever done for us anyway???

[whathehell]

92. Good question..What has he ever done for us?

Would love to see Obama bar his entry.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Look no further than AIPAC!!

[Iliyah]

8. I read that Boner/GOPers & BiBi's alliance is backfiring

GOP congress truly feels that are the government minus of course that Black guy in the "White House".

[karynnj]

70. I think this is backfiring big time

We have ALL seen the strength of AIPAC in getting a huge percent of Congressmen and Senators to sign on to resolutions and letters that reflect the Likud position on various Middle East issues.

On Iran sanctions, it has taken the combined talents and contacts of Obama, Biden and Kerry to stop any of them from passing the Senate - though in large part Reid was very important in that effort. I suspect that after this, EVERY Democrat needs to realize that this is an issue that will define who they really stand with -- Obama or Netanyahu. While it always could have been looked at like that, it was not seen as an issue where the position is 100% against their President. This rude move should make it harder - except for jerks like Menendez.

All Obama needs is enough Democrats - in one House - to stop an override of his veto. I find it hard to believe that he could not get the 34 he needs in the Senate. (They need 67 votes)

Not to mention, this could be seen as the first step to war with Iran. This when we are still sealing with the repercussions of invading Iraq. (Afghanistan is not anywhere near peaceful either.) Don't forget that Iran is bigger than Iraq - with a far grander culture.

[BlueCaliDem]

9. When did the Man of Orange become president? I must've missed that. eom

[mountain grammy]

18. He's third in line. Probably why he drinks.

[rickford66]

30. 2nd in line

The Vice President Joseph Biden
Speaker of the House John Boehner
President pro tempore of the Senate1 Patrick Leahy
Secretary of State John Kerry
Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
Attorney General Eric Holder
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker
Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez
Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro
Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx
Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson

[mountain grammy]

35. Oh you're right, I always count the president.

Even more reason to drink.

[shireen]

93. President pro tempore = Orrin Hatch

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. "shameless interference in another country's affairs. "

Can't have that, now, can we?

[libdem4life]

99. Zing...............

[spanone]

11. boehner is a total asshole for doing this. unprecedented.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/boehner-netanyahu-congress-invitation-obama

[Old Codger]

33. He was

An ass a long long time before this happened

[Baitball Blogger]

13. Neti knows where to find the warhawks.

[cheapdate]

15. "...a senior American official said." Yawn.

[another_liberal]

17. I am actually beginning to wonder if Netanyahu is losing it . . .

He must know perfectly well how this game is played.

Is he becoming senile? At least he has never displayed this level of carelessness before.

[Iliyah]

21. 2012 USA presidential election

[another_liberal]

22. I remember it . . .

Netanyahu launched "Operation Cast-Lead" shortly afterward, but that was with full White House support.

[Iliyah]

27. ummm no, he favored RMoney on USA soil

[another_liberal]

65. I had the wrong Gaza assault, it was "Protective edge."

There have been so many it's hard to keep them separate.

[hatrack]

63. Cast Lead was 2008 nt

.

[another_liberal]

67. Right, I had it mixed-up with "Protective Edge" . . .

Israel's brutal assaults on Gaza all seem to have had names only George W. Bush could love.

[karynnj]

108. No it wasn't with US support

[Demeter]

47. It's Arrogance, Israeli Style

one of the ugliest things you will ever see.

[Divernan]

59. Well stated.

I ran into an Israeli/former soldier in a US grad school (social work). Another classmate was a Christian Palestinian - from Nazareth. The Israeli, Etan, was best described as an intimidating bully, and he never missed a chance to ridicule, intimidate and generally verbally abuse the Palestinian. The latter never dared speak up because his parents and sister still lived in Israel, and he was afraid of retribution against them. (The Palestinian man was married to an American Jew he met when she went to Israel to work on a kibbutz. He stayed in the US and eventually became a tenured professor. They had a long and devoted marriage until he died of cancer a few years ago.)

Etan made no friends among the graduate students, including the Jewish students. You put it quite well: Arrogance, Israeli style, is one of the ugliest things you will ever see.

[Demeter]

66. Thanks for that

I based it on my own experience with a dual-citizen living in my community. A real bitch.

[BeanMusical]

19. Kick and R.

[Botany]

20. What would have happened if Nancy Pelosi had invited a leader of another country to ....

.... speak against W & Cheney's war in Iraq in front of Congress in 2007?
If this is not treason it sure is sedition.

[SHRED]

23. great point

[AwakeAtLast]

24. I totally agree

Charge them!

[tritsofme]

32. Was it sedition in 2007 for Pelosi to visit Assad in Syria, despite criticism from the White House?

I think this address is ill advised, against protocol, and actually couldn't be more counterproductive to their stated goal of passing sanctions legislation over Obama's veto, so in the end the controversy and drama surrounding the address may be the only thing that rallies enough support to sustain a veto.

But terms like "treason" and "sedition" are way off base.

[onenote]

37. +1

[Cha]

38. Check this article going with just such a similar scenario from Steve Benen, Botany..

Republicans’ Netanyahu outreach changes the game

"Imagine a hypothetical scenario. A Republican president and his team, believing they have an opportunity for a foreign-policy breakthrough, partner with U.S. allies to launch sensitive, international talks.

As the negotiations slowly continue, congressional Democrats announce that they’ve decided to try to sabotage the Republican president’s efforts. In fact, Democrats in this scenario go so far as to circumvent the executive branch and partner with a foreign government to derail the American-led diplomacy, even while the talks continue.

Try to imagine what the response to this hypothetical would be. Think about the kind of words Republicans and the Beltway media would use. Consider just how serious a scandal this would be.

And then realize that this isn’t really a hypothetical at all – it’s effectively unfolding right now, except it’s a Democratic administration in the midst of international nuclear negotiations with Iran, and it’s primarily Republicans, led by House Speaker John Boehner, who intend to undermine American foreign policy by partnering with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Max Fisher had a good overview of the story overnight:"

MOre..
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republicans-netanyahu-outreach-changes-the-game

[oberliner]

40. She did go meet with Assad against the explicit wishes of the sitting POTUS

For what that is worth.

[karynnj]

109. That is not equivalent - and it was an official Congressional trip that was approved

It was not the Bush administration, but the RW echo chamber that had a problem.


This is NOT inviting a foreign leader - whether you like him or not - to challenge the President.

[oberliner]

110. Not equivalent - but was visiting a leader of an enemy state - whereas Bibi is the leader of an ally

And Bush did have a problem with the visit and said so at the time. It certainly was undermining of the president at the time.

Look, I think it was ridiculous for Boner to do this - and for Bibi to accept. Clearly both are doing so for political reasons. And Obama has a right to be pissed. But calling it "treason" or "sedition" as some are doing here is just preposterous.

[karynnj]

112. It was not undermining the President

There is an oversight function in Congress. It was not even Jim DeMint meeting with the people who pulled off the coup in Honduras at the point when Obama was calling the coup a coup.

This is different - and of course it has to be an ally that is used. I seriously doubt that bring the leader of Iran or NK to speak to Congress would have the same dynamics.

In fact, imagine that President Obama went to Israel and spoke at a huge crowd at a university and spoke against the explicit position of Netanyahu. (I can't get more equivalent as the opposite party can not be in power in a Parliamentary system. ) Imagine he did this to pressure the PM to reverse his position. There would be a uproar and the US would be said to be bullying them.

I agree that it is not either sedition or treason - and think it idiotic to call it that.

[oberliner]

113. The President thought he was being undermined at the time

Here's an article from NBC at the time:

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday for talks criticized by the White House as undermining American efforts to isolate the hard-line Arab country.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17920536/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/pelosi-shrugs-bushs-criticism-meets-assad/#.VMMQJ1qprzI

As to your example, I don't really think it is a fair one - since the US is a superpower and Israel is dependent on US aid and support in ways that are not the case the other way around.

Incidentally, when Obama did visit Israel he declined to address their parliament even though he was invited to do so.

That was certainly seen as a snub by the Likud leadership there at the time. And it did send a message of sorts to the party in power.

[karynnj]

114. No country, super power or not, want an influential country to directly influence its legislature

The example is non unfair and it doesn't matter that we give them so much aid.

[leftynyc]

49. Horseshit

It's not either one. Israel is an ally. It was a breach of protocol and that's all it was. I can't believe the fucking nonsense I'm reading on here - posters throwing around words like sedition and treason with apparently no idea whatsoever what either word means.

[Botany]

52. OK what would you call what Bibi and Boner are doing?

Last edited Fri Jan 23, 2015, 05:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Are they not working to undermine the President of the United States
and the result of their work might be a war.

This goes well beyind "a breach of protocol." And from where I sit
Israel is a piss poor ally and a threat to world peace. Their declaring
much of East Jerusalem as a "National Park" so they can steal even
more land crossed more than a few lines.

[leftynyc]

56. No - it doesn't go beyond

a breach of protocol. It's just a fucking speech. You're ascribing intent and you're just guessing because you don't like either side involved. Whether you think Israel is an ally or not is completely immaterial. Obviously our representatives in Congress who DO make that call feel otherwise.

[maindawg]

85. Its not just a speech

It is a very bold and disrespectful swipe at our president and that means you and I.

[leftynyc]

87. Sorry

I'm not taking it personally at all. The Israeli left has already sued to make sure it is not televised in Israel because of its proximity to the election and the Israeli public is not happy about the visit at all. It may actually wind up hurting him which would be a wonderful side effect.

[geek tragedy]

54. Israel does not behave as an ally.

They exploit and insult us, never providing anything of value in return for the enormous benefits we confer on that proto-apartheid state.

They do not share our interests, or our values.

[leftynyc]

58. Their PM insults our President

Trying to claim the entire country insults us is hyperbolic bullshit. You not thinking they share our interests is completely immaterial. Our representatives in Congress make that call and disagree with you. I'll make sure to remind you of the scientific, technical and medical advances that come from Israel the next time you want to claim they don't provide anything of value. You can start with the computer you're posting from.

[geek tragedy]

60. and when they reward his behavior by re-electing him?

Christian Zionists in Congress are not very good judges of interests.

[leftynyc]

61. Right now he's behind in the polls slightly

Why do you think he wants to come here and make noise? Christian Zionists or not - they're our elected officials and make that call. Let's not pretend that the Israeli's elected him in the first place for any other reason than they wanted more security. Every country, every time, when people feel insecure, they move right.

[geek tragedy]

62. Israel has been moving right for decades.

Last edited Fri Jan 23, 2015, 12:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Driven in no small part by the rise of the ultra-orthodox.

To the point where there is no meaningful left, just a rump Labor party and the perpetually marginalized Meretz.

Nice vicious cycle though--rightwing policies make Israel less safe, so Israelis vote for more rightwing policies.

Until they recognize that Arabs are human beings and not problems to be made to go away, they won't remove themselves from the cycle.

This coming election will be won by Likud+Habayit Hayehudi +whatever other rightwing freak show parties want to join the party.

Increasingly, Israel will be associated with fascism, and that's how it will play out in the United States. With Republicans and only extremely unprincipled Democrats supporting it.

[hifiguy]

75. Reminds me of the textbook definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. The Israeli electorate - particularly the ultra-orthodox part of it - is as delusional as our middle/working class Repuke voters are. Logic bounces off them like bullets off of Superman.

[dixiegrrrrl]

107. Struck me that way , too. Sedition. n/t

[LittleBlue]

25. No there won't. Bibi has been treating Obama like dogsh*t for years

And "sources" always say he's going to do something in retaliation. He never does. Even when Bibi openly threw his support behind RMoney, still waiting for the retaliation for that.

All he's going to do is approve the next gift of weapons and cash to Israel, veto the next UN resolution, and smile while Bibi spits in his face.

[Hekate]

29. Meh. You and I won't know what POTUS is planning to do until the trap is sprung, will we?

So I don't accept your take on it.

[Cha]

26. I hope to unholy hell this backfires on Bibi and his rw US gang. Looks like Mossad wishes the same.

Israeli Mossad Goes Rogue, Warns U.S. on Iran Sanctions

The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has broken ranks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling U.S. officials and lawmakers that a new Iran sanctions bill in the U.S. Congress would tank the Iran nuclear negotiations.

Already, the Barack Obama administration and some leading Republican senators are using the Israeli internal disagreement to undermine support for the bill, authored by Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Robert Menendez, which would enact new sanctions if current negotiations falter.

MOre
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-22/netanyahu-mossad-split-divides-u-s-congress-on-iran-sanctions

[Iliyah]

28. Peace maybe, I won't hold my breath

Bibi is nuts just like his counter part - GOPs. The so called "Christians" who now support Bibi and his insane political party, GAWD help these two fractions.

[JustAnotherGen]

76. I'm glad their approach has been made public

I've tried calling Menendez a few times today to express my displeasure at his approach.

[Cha]

111. Good for you calling on, Menendez, Gen!

[closeupready]

34. Good. There should be. You know, I am REALLY liking this new Obama.

Just wish it had happened years ago. If it had, we would now have retaken the House, and we would have a real supermajority in Congress.

Oh well. I still like it. K&R

[oldandhappy]

36. Slow down the money

delay delay delay

Israel does not need our money anyway, they are fine without us.

Slow down all military deliveries. R e a l l y s l o w !!!

[Deuce]

39. That would be a good starting point...

[oberliner]

41. Isn't the Congress in charge of that decision?

Pretty sure that is under their jurisdiction.

[jeff47]

94. Congress gets to decide to spend the money, the executive branch actually writes the checks. (nt)

[leftynyc]

50. Congress gives the aid

Not the President. Other than that pesky little detail, wonderful idea.

[jeff47]

95. Congress authorizes the aid. The executive branch writes the checks.

While the checks still have to be written, nothing says they have to be written before the end of the fiscal year.

[geek tragedy]

103. time to bring back impoundment? nt

[leftynyc]

115. Not going to happen

No Democrat will support that with 2016 on the horizon. He'll get slammed from both parties. I see this kind of wishful thinking on here all the time (and nothing wrong with talking about what we all WANT) but it's simply not grounded in reality. You know this.

[Hutzpa]

42. Nutty Yahoo is up to his dirty little tricks again.

Time to kick the ball into his backyard and see how he likes it.

[Demeter]

46. White House ought to remeber that they set up this fiasco

"working with the GOP" "compromise"

threatening every nation on earth and most of the individuals on it

and pandering to a blood-thirsty fascist Israeli sector.

[Surya Gayatri]

51. Slap him down--humiliate the SOB, show him for the arrogant asshat he is...

[BillZBubb]

79. That would be wonderful.

[Fred Sanders]

89. Obama won't do that, few would blame him, the usual crew, but he will not do that.

He will negotiate saving face in return for silence on the nuclear negotiations almost completed with Iran and the international community.

Not just America and Israel have a horse in that field.

[rtracey]

53. I believe

I believe every democrat in congress should not attend the address to congress. Every democrat should either not show up, or stay seated when he walks to the podium and not applaud.

[gordianot]

55. It would be so easy when you have as few friends as Israel can muster.

Not a good idea to mess with a country whose chief executive controls diplomacy.Next time sanctions get aimed at Israel abstain, cut a few purse strings, arrest a few espionage agents you normally ignore, look for illegal influence aimed at American politicians. So many quiet ways to do this.

[BillZBubb]

82. Agreed. There is a fertile field to plow, if Obama wants to do a little farming.

First step should be to stop vetoing everything in the UN that Israel doesn't like.

[Dustlawyer]

57. How dare this piece of shit sneak in here to incite another war! That is what he is doing!

Give Peace a Chance!

[hollowdweller]

71. Very interesting take on the whole situation here

https://consortiumnews.com/2015/01/22/congress-seeks-netanyahus-direction/

[JustAnotherGen]

81. Good find!

The scheduling of Netanyahu’s speech caught the White House off-guard, since the Israeli prime minister had apparently not bothered to clear his trip with the administration. The Boehner-Netanyahu arrangement demonstrates a mutual contempt for this President’s authority to conduct American foreign policy as prescribed by the U.S. Constitution.

In the past when Netanyahu has spoken to Congress, Republicans and Democrats have competed to show their devotion by quickly and frequently leaping to their feet to applaud almost every word out of the Israeli prime minister’s mouth. By addressing a joint session for a third time, Netanyahu would become only the second foreign leader to do so, joining British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who never used the platform to demean the policies of a sitting U.S. president.

Besides this extraordinary recognition of another country’s leader as the true definer of U.S. foreign policy, Boehner’s move reflects an ignorance of what is actually occurring on the ground in the Middle East. Boehner doesn’t seem to realize that Netanyahu has developed what amounts to a de facto alliance with extremist Sunni forces in the region.

Not only is Israel now collaborating behind the scenes with Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabist leadership but Israel has begun taking sides militarily in support of the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the Syrian civil war. A source familiar with U.S. intelligence information on Syria said Israel has a “non-aggression pact” with Nusra forces that control territory adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

I agree with this author.

Just from a 'security' risk alone.

How much is this little trip going to cost the U.S. tax Payers? Didn't one of our weakest populations just get a pay cut (the disabled)?


I support the Israel, Palestinian, and Iranian children. . . I do not support this man whose actions put those little people at risk.

[hifiguy]

72. A perfect storm of two brass-plated assholes - Bibi

and Captain Bourbonator - meeting. What utterly disrespectful chumps they both are.

I hope the POTUS thinks up an appropriately humiliating dressing down for both these punks.

[MFM008]

80. look up sedition

If this was a democratic congress they would be screaming like scorched cats.

[1bigdude]

83. Racism, plain and simple. NT

[LeftishBrit]

96. I think Bibi's trying to pander to the Israeli equivalent of teabaggers, in order to get re-elected

He has an election coming up, much sooner that the Americans do.

But I think it will backfire on him. Biting the hand that feeds you is rarely regarded as good diplomacy; and I am sure that many Israelis will be thoroughly exasperated with him.

[geek tragedy]

98. Bibi is the Israeli equivalent of a Teabagger.

This is more like the part of the tea party that knows how to eat with a knife and fork pandering to the more feral wing.

My bet is that he allies himself with the more explicitly fascist parties in Israel and wins re-election by a fairly comfortable margin.

[workinclasszero]

101. Republicans are traitors

Not to mention evil POS.

They sell out the constitution they claim to love so damn easy, don't they?

[lpbk2713]

104. Boner and his pals are trying to provoke Obama down to their level.

But I wouldn't blame him for getting a little pissed. They have been trying to provoke him for six years.

[KG]

116. i'm sure a sternly worded letter will forwarded with the next arms shipment

[Calista241]

118. I thinks it's revenge for the immigration thing.

Boehner is going to ruin Obama's chance to make an significant impact on the Iran / MIddle East relationships.

And all the Dems will pay the AIPAC piper if they don't support a sanctions bill. Obama is never going to run for office again. I think he may very well have his veto overridden.

[quadrature]

119. 24 more months of this ...

2nd terms, are always difficult.