Friends, I know that many out there are thrilled that the Republicans control Congress. You were shouting for joy at times last night and have a big grin on your face and a spring in your step this morning. I understand that you’re happy. Myself, I’m a big fan of gridlock and of forcing the parties to work together to accomplish goals. I don’t like it when either party controls the Executive and Congress. Gridlock brings about moderate and centrist policies. So I’m happy that one party isn’t in that position anymore. Others among you are not happy that the Democrats will not be able to bring hope and change to America anymore. Stop the snickering, you with the grin. I know. I know. However, I’m not happy with something else that occurred last night and none of you should be either, no matter whether you consider yourself to be red or blue.
Gridlock will make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the President to advance his domestic agenda. You might like that. You might be saying, “And I’m happy!” However, what this means is that for the next two years, the President can almost solely affect foreign policy and foreign trade. Guess what he thinks are two of the primary problems facing the world? Israel-Palestinian peace and Nuclear Arms Control. Guess where much of President Obama’s attention is going to be focused over the next two years? On a tiny sliver of land in the Eastern Mediterranean.
You may say, “Yes, but the country has spoken. The country rejects the Obama Administration’s policies!” That may well be true, but look at the choices presented to President Obama at this point. The first option is that he could admit defeat and alter his policies to please the bulk of the American population, assuming that he believes that the bulk of the population disagrees with him on those issues. To alter his path could displease his own party, actually it almost certainly would. It might please those on the political right, but will any of them vote for him in 2012 if he changes his policies over the next two years? Probably not enough to matter. He may be able to win over some centrist independents by changing his policies, but he cannot count on that. To put it bluntly, changing his policies will likely not help him at all in 2012.
The President’s other options are to try to prove himself correct on foreign policy, potentially, if he is in fact correct, swaying voters to come back to his side, or he can attempt to accomplish the things that he wishes to see accomplished as long as he has the ability to do so regardless of what may or may not happen to please the bulk of the voters or even his party. In other words, he can admit, if he believes it, that his policies are unpopular and alter them while likely accomplishing little to help him in 2012 or he can forge more strongly ahead. This last option may or may not make things better for him in 2012, but might make him feel better.
I think he’s going to choose the latter option, especially if he feels that his policies are correct. He may even believe that he has nothing to lose that has not already been lost, including the 2012 Presidential election. If so, should his actions upset a few voters more than they please, it will not matter.
So not to bring you celebrants down a notch, but for those of you who are not big fans of the President’s foreign policy positions and who are cheering Republican victories in Senatorial, Congressional, and Gubernatorial elections, things might not be great for the next two years.
“Guess where much of President Obama’s attention is going to be focused over the next two years? On a tiny sliver of land in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
….and to think just because the house majority has changed makes no difference at all. I mean if things were bad for Israel under a Republican president (AND THEY WERE!!) we can not nor should not be surprised at what lies in store for Israel at this time. Matter of fact post 9-11, War on terror, worst intifada ever for Israel, things were downright awful. Millions and millions of dollars were poured down the Palestinian sink hole to make them look squeaky clean. More millions than ever before! Millions of dollars while Israel was mourning their dead. Millions spent on a U.S trained Palestinian security force who in clear view of the world marched to the Nazi Goosestep without a blink in the oval office…while the oval office never missed a chance to speak of the daily humiliation of Palestinian people. Millions spent on those who slaughtered Jews post 9-11, war on terror in all reality was nothing more then REWARD FOR TERROR. And we are upset now? Please.
For all of that Israel got a George Bush formulated Quartet for Peace made up of 3 arch enemies of Israel who to this day has not given Israel a moments peace! Eight times to ax the embassy act and Eight times to sign the renewal on the lease of the NY office of the PLO.
The embassy act was not signed to placate the Palestinian people and their enablers. The embassy act was not signed for Saudi Arabia to whom the past administration was of all things, tethered to post 9-11 like never before. As for why no representative from the Bush administration was sent to the Ceremonies of the Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem, look in the mirror and see for yourselves. When I now hear crying for Jerusalem, I laugh. Our chance was squandered when one of our own was in office. Now what can anyone expect?
We know for a fact the democratic party will not do a thing for Israel not under Obama or anyone for that matter. But to be honest here, having a house majority made up of Republicans who said ZERO, who squandered their influence and supposed friendship of Israel while Bush was calling Abbas the denier of the Shoah, a “MAN OF PEACE” spoke volumes. These same people, the very hierarchy of my Republican party allowed Bush to make bad on his campaign promise to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem. Matter of fact not once did Bush call Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel.
Well I could go on and on but why? My party still credits Bush for never directly speaking to Arafat when all along they know that was mere smoke and mirrors. G-d forbid anyone admit it though. Therein lies the rub and here lies the real truth. The Bush administration was in constant contact with the PLO and the head of the PLO was Yasser Arafat. We all know before any decision was ever made a yay or nay came from the mouth of Arafat. Period.
Now it is politically advantageous for the silent to speak when before they said nothing. In the mean time the defectors from both sides grow stronger. So this house being mostly Republican is good for Israel only in words because once their words were silent. Israel is more than political fodder when it is politically advantageous to speak up. Israel will have real friends the stronger the center becomes. In the mean time, no tears for Jerusalem. Many lost their chance to be taken seriously.
Thank you most kindly.
Meryl,
Your post somewhat echoes a post by Martin McPhillps from October 17.
This election will make Obama more, not less, dangerous
Correction. My previous comment should have been addressed to Rabbi Kaufman. My apologies.