Every Day, Glenn Reynolds Gets Dumber (Israel Edition)
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Instapundit puts on his Middle Eastern expert hat.
Possibly Obama just hates Israel and hates Jews. That’s plausible — certainly nothing in his actions suggests otherwise, really.
Obama isn’t bending over backwards for Israel, especially after they continue to insult us with the building of settlements. So Reynolds just decides its probable that Obama hates Jews.
This is the mindset that ran the country for eight years, and almost eradicated America.
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54 Responses to “Every Day, Glenn Reynolds Gets Dumber (Israel Edition)”
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This is the way far too many Jewish Americans and Israeli Jews think. If you don’t go along with Israel 100% of the time no matter what, it’s obvious that you hate Jews.
Charges of anti-semetism have become more and more diluted because they whip it out so much purely for political gain. It’s a shame, really.
Glenn couldn’t work up the courage to go Galt so he went Geller instead.
How does he explain the fact that Jewish voters overwhelming support Obama?
Possibly Reynolds just hates Palestine and hates Muslims. That’s plausible — certainly nothing in his actions suggests otherwise, really.
Er, read the rest of Reynold’s post, rather than being a hack? It’s just who you are and what you do, I guess. Pathetic.
I read the whole post. What’s your point?
Point? You’re asking for a lot.
A commenter writes two paragraphs. Paragraph 1 says ‘A is possible.’ Paragraph 2 says ‘B is possible, and more likely.’
You really think it’s an honest way to frame what someone said by highlighting A, without noting B?
The rest of the post is speculation that this is some elaborate hoax to give cover to the US when Israel bombs Iran. Reynolds thinks his masturbatory fantasies qualify as cutting edge foreign policy analysis.
Oh, so if somebody wrote a paragraph such as:
Possibly Bush just hates blacks and Hispanics. That’s plausible — certainly nothing in his actions suggests otherwise, really.
And then in the next paragraph provides a more charitable explanation, that would be ok?
… and you think that was an honest way for Reynolds to make his point? Please. Maybe Obama expected one of our greatest partners in the world to show a little more, well, partnership than he would have from the President of Equatorial Guinea. It’s just as possible that Obama hates Israel and hates Jews as that he got mad because Netanyahu said something about his mother.
Also, I don’t think this is evidence of a guy who really hates Jews.
Yes – you couldn’t honestly say you were paraphrasing the persons position by leaving out the explanation that, by his own words, he finds more plausible. The fact that you dislike him doesn’t excuse being dishonest. Simple as that.
(And did you not realize the irony of using ‘Possibly Bush just hates blacks’ as part of your example of commentary that you presumably think is way out there?)
Mark S takes the Prize for “Swallowing anything dished out by the Obama Administration”
The One attends a Seder, and he doesn’t hate Jews ?
This administration is screwing Israel , and Oliver says that thia policy is simply opposed to “the mindset that ran the country for eight years, and almost eradicated America.”
Huh?
a) We have been great allies since the day after they after they declared their independence in 1948.
b) How in the world did being Israel’s ally almost eradicate America?
Of course, all those years being educated in Indonesia , and two decades of Rev Wright’s sermons couldn’t possibly have anything to do with it — oh, no.
“The fact that you dislike him doesn’t excuse being dishonest.”
The fact that you dislike Obama is blinding you to the fact that some people (like Oliver) would find offensive and inaccurate the claim that it is “plausible” that he “hates Jews.”
Possibly Haplo9 is mentally retarded. That’s plausible — certainly nothing in his actions suggests otherwise, really.
What is more likely, however, is that he is trying to put distance between himself and Oliver in advance of Oliver launching a nuclear attack on Frank.
PM of country X – ‘We are engaging in a policy and practice that you have explicitly stated you condemn. Oh, and thanks for the foreign aid.’
POTUS- ‘Stop doing that! The other nations in your region are alleging that we are giving you preferential treatment despite your refusal to stop these practices.’
PM – ‘You’re not the boss of us.’
POTUS – ‘Fine. I’ll give you an hour to think about it. I’ll be back.’
Ooooh, he might as well have strapped him down and waterboarded him.
Why, does Bush actually hate black people? I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.
So Prof. Libertarian-with-a-government-job wonders what’s going on with Obama and Israel and the first thing that he considers is that Obama possibly hates Jews? All innocently and everything, right? Just thinkin out loud? Mmmmmmkay……
“Indonesia”; “Rev. Wright”. So you’re dog-whistling (and comically I might add) that Obama is an America-hating Muslim? If not, then please cut the bullshit and say what you really mean. Or will it be like the punishment question for those murder-for-hire-baby-killin’ women–”Gee, I’m not really sure”. All the rhetorical gymnastics that you trolls employ are eventually gonna result in some serious injuries.
“This is the way far too many Jewish Americans and Israeli Jews think. If you don’t go along with Israel 100% of the time no matter what, it’s obvious that you hate Jews.”
This is simply not true. I am a jew and a democrat and I do not think that criticism of Israel is akin to anti-semitism. And the majority of jews I know think as I do.
However, sometime the choice of words in excercising criticism is unfortunate. On another thread a poster called Israel a “rogue” nation, which is just plain old silly. And smacks of bias, or perhaps anti-semitism.
I support Obama’s tought stance on Bibi – the settlements cannot be allowed to be built if we are really going to talk about peace. And Hamas must change its charter if we are really going to talk about peace. Obama showed incredible strength (and also patience) with both Netanjahu and Medvedev. This is to his credit. But also do not forget that Israel is a staunch ally of ours, as is also Germany, Great Britain, France (yes, God love those Baguette eaters)Canada and Australia.
But the next time that innocent israeli civilians, including children, are killed in a terror attack (and certainly this will happen again), I can only hope posters here will have the guts to speak out against it. For it has gotten ugly in Israel and in the PA both.
Most jews believe very strongly in the progressive movement. Some are more centrist. Very, very few are conservative. It is in our best interest as a party to allow ourselves to have differences without defaming any one group. No one has done that here, today, but I give this as food for thought.
It’s pretty amazing how leaning away from the Likud Party and towards the policies of the party Ariel Sharon started is now being labelled “anti-Israel” and, to Glenn Reynolds, Jew-hating. I’m sure that would surprise Tzipi Livni.
I’m sure that Obama could not possibly think that stopping settlements would be not only in Israel’s best interests, but also in Americas. Petraus might even agree– or is he a probable Jew-Hater now, too?
Also, per Mark’s comment, do you know who also hosted the first Presidential Seder in the White House? Hitler.
So Israel has been our staunch ally. That and a nickel will get you five pennies.
Bibi not only allowed the settlements in East Jerusalem to go forward, he called two of Obama’s top advisers “self-hating Jews,” and his brother-in-law called the President an “anti-Semite.” And the right-wingers are in a lather because Obama excused himself from Bibi’s presence to go eat dinner. Sheesh.
I understand that a lot of people, Jews and Gentiles alike, are upset over what they perceive as Obama’s coolness toward Israel. All I can say is, compared with Bush’s blind devotion, coolness can be refreshing.
Put the shovel down. It’s for your own good.
Tell you what. Why don’t you read Glenn Greenwald and come back and tell us what he got wrong?
and two decades of Rev Wright’s sermons couldn’t possibly have anything to do with it
Do you believe that two decades of drug and alcohol use prepared George W. Bush to be president?
Hmm, Luv, sounds sorta familiar.
Conservatives don’t like the socialistic tendencies of this far-left president, so therefore according to OW and the rest of his lemmings here, we’re racists who only oppose him because we don’t like black people.
Strange how you guys think one way and do another.
Conservatives don’t like
the socialistic tendencies of this far-left president, so therefore according to OW and the rest of his lemmings here, we’re racists who only oppose him because we don’t likeblack people.Fixed for ya.
Rev Wright? Oh mah gawd, are there still people harping and bitching about this? OH well, no one ever accused wingnuts of being ‘with it’.
Next thing you know, you’ll start railing about that fancy electric lightbulb.
Creepy lurker.
Mark I loved your comments, and for what it’s worth I totally agree.
Also, the issue progressives have is with Israel and it’s policies towards Palestine and building additional settlements in the area that is being negotiated as the capital of Palestine with the fruition of the “Two State Solution.”, and not against “Jews”.
I also have a bone to pick that when progressives have a legitimate criticism against Israel, the rallying cry from the right is, “They hate Jews!” No, we do not “hate” jews, or Israeli people, we are critical of Israel’s policies. I personally am concerned that Israel is fostering its own home grown type of Apartheid and it’s against the Arabs in the region whether it is the Arab Jew, or Arab Muslim. I realize that my response to YOU is preaching to the choir, but many on the political right that comment on this blog probably negate or aren’t aware that to make a blanketed statement that “Obama hates Jews,” is ignorant on so many levels. Would they say that Obama hates the Iraqi Jew, or the Palestine Jew, the South African Jew, and the Sephardim Jew or just the Ashkenazi Jew? I know so many Mizrahi Jews who are just as disturbed by Israel’s policies as the Arab Muslim and their agenda for the region is not in conflict.
I wonder sometimes if people like Reynolds are just ignorant or refuse to acknowledge that Judaism is a religion and not a “race,” and in doing so it is indeed racist. Will I ever live to see the day? After all, I am still relatively young.
Luv didn’t say “all”, or even “most,” Luv said “far too many” (how many would be “far too many”, by the way?). I understand your sentiment (unsourced and anecdotal doesn’t help Luv’s cause) and the rest of the comment is fine, but there it is.
This is simply not true. I am a jew and a democrat and I do not think that criticism of Israel is akin to anti-semitism. And the majority of jews I know think as I do.
Amen. Unfortunatly, there are some Jews who DO think this way, and one is too many.
The most infuriating part is those who equate condemning Israel’s actions with anti-semitism couldn’t give 2 shits about the Jewish people. The Religious Right only cares about having the rest of the world die when they do, and the neocons see it as a means of establishing a western presence in the Middle East.
and Oliver doesn’t give us any evidence that Glenn’s hypothesis is wrong
Random poo flinging isn’t deserving of a response.
In my experience, Jewish Americans run a very wide gamut regarding the details of U.S. policy towards Israel – just as Jewish Israelis themselves do. I don’t think that Instapated should be considered reflective of Jewish American public opinion. Indeed, to the Israeli peace movement, Obama looks like a bit of a hawk.
Frank, how are we “screwing” Israel? Do you have evidence of one act where Obama shows he “hates” Israel? Obama is to the economic and foreign policy RIGHT of a large segment of the Israeli electorate, though definitely to the left of perennial bullshit artist Netanyahu. A wingnut Israeli politician and a liberal American president are having a disagreement; yawn. If your friendship cannot stand one honest argument, it was not a strong friendship anyway.
Never change, Frank; we would all have to re-aim the same old darts that you make us throw.
Clever Burn.
Drone.
Try to stop obsessing, fafaroo.
Remember your 12 Steps.
Repeat your serenity prayer a few times.
One day at a time.
What part of my statement was not true? That there aren’t any Arab Jews? That Israeli Zionism is not equivalent to racism against the Arab both Muslim and Jewish?
And, where did I say ALL people who are Jewish are critical of those that criticize Israel? I agreed with Mark.
Read Ella Shohat, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies @ NYU:
“REFLECTIONS OF THE ARAB JEW”
‘REJECTING THE ARAB JEW”
“UNTHINKING EUROCENTRISM”
‘TABOO MEMORIES, Diasporic Voices”
You can start there.
I was responding to Mark Rosenthal. The blockquote should have tipped you off.
DOW is approaching 11,000 under this “Socialist” president Dennis the Little Bitch.
Has Obama proposed an executive order cutting off funding for Israel? No? Then I guess he doesn’t “hate” Israel.
Oops!! I apologize Indeed, it didn’t tip me off becuse I thought you were responding to my response. Forgive me sweetie????
Really creepy lurker.
“…and Oliver doesn’t give us any evidence that Glenn’s hypothesis is wrong.” And inverse liberal hasn’t given us any evidence that Reynolds’ hypothesis is right, either.
“Has Obama shown that he doesn’t hate Israel and the Jews? Great, please shows us where Oliver.
Has Oliver shown that he hates Israel and Jews? Great, please show us where, il. (And by the way, using “the Jews,” instead of “Jews,” which would have worked just as well in your sentence, comes off as a bit anti-semitic in and of itself).
Yikes, should have been “Has Obama shown that he hates Israel and Jews. Great, please shown us where, il.
If it’s such a great economy, Jaim, why are you still afraid to come back here?
Confront your fears and meet them head on.
It’s part of growing up.
Shorter fafaroo: “I miss you when you don’t post here, Dennis. There’s no one else for me to talk to.”
Obama finally generates some bipartisanship:
“327 members of the U.S. House of Representatives — three quarters of that body — have signed a letter expressing concern about “the highly publicized tensions” in US-Israeli relations.”
Uh…shorter?
“Obama finally generates some bipartisanship:”
Uh, the stimulus bill was bipartisan (Anh Kao, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe, all Republicans, voted for it), you research-averse dolt.
The problem with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not that one side is “wrong” and one side is “right.” Israel’s rhetoric might be a bit more placating to the West, but their actions speak louder than words. The cognitive dissonance for many of us, I believe, comes about from the fact that Israel acts with impunity, while the Palestinians pay for each and every transgression with blockades, bombings, travel and work restrictions, curfews, the destruction of their homes and farms, and the like.
Excellent point. I would add that people who keep saying that Israel is being asked “to give up something for nothing” don’t realize or care that the Palestinians are not occupying any Israeli land and so have nothing to give back.
(You’re not the same person as Quaker in a Basement, are you?)
nope. Contrary to popular assumptions, Quakers aren’t exactly extinct. There’s quite a few of us around.