I've written a few times about one of President Obama's favorite little tactics -- taking opportunities to insult and tell off people to their faces in circumstances where they can't hit back or even respond without breaking protocol or looking like a jerk. And he's damned good at it.
Well, yesterday he got to see what it was like to be on the receiving end.
In his speech on the Middle East, Obama didn't give Israel -- the only democracy in the Middle East -- much to hope for. Lots of demands on them, only vague suggestions for the Palestinians. And then Prime Minister Netanyahu -- who had been snubbed on a previous visit -- got his meeting with Obama, followed by the traditional joint appearance where the two heads of state sit there, pose for photos, and say nice platitudes about each other and pose for photos.
Not this time. Netanyahu took the opportunity to deliver an epic seven-minute lecture on Israel's history (the most common element: being attacked by her neighbors out to wipe the Jewish state (and Jews) off the face of the earth), security concerns, and some basic lessons on military strategy and vulnerability.
And for once, Obama had to be the one sitting there and taking it. He had to pretend that he wasn't being schooled, being taken to the woodshed, while Netanyahu essentially told the world that Obama was, at best, a clueless idiot who had no idea what he was talking about in the Middle East (I'm being kind here).
Now, tactically speaking, it was probably a bad move for Netanyahu in the short term. Obama is notoriously thin-skinned and vindictive, and he's surrounded himself with a lot of people who share those traits. And his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, isn't overly friendly towards Israel either.
But the Obama administration -- like an Obama promise -- comes with an expiration date. Depending on what happens in November 2012, it could be as soon as January 20, 2013. (Oh, please, please, please...) And Netanyahu knows that American Jews went overwhelmingly for Obama the last time around.
That could change next time, if enough American Jews come to the decision that Obama is no friend of Israel's -- and the world is a hell of a better place for having Israel in it.
Well, yesterday he got to see what it was like to be on the receiving end.
In his speech on the Middle East, Obama didn't give Israel -- the only democracy in the Middle East -- much to hope for. Lots of demands on them, only vague suggestions for the Palestinians. And then Prime Minister Netanyahu -- who had been snubbed on a previous visit -- got his meeting with Obama, followed by the traditional joint appearance where the two heads of state sit there, pose for photos, and say nice platitudes about each other and pose for photos.
Not this time. Netanyahu took the opportunity to deliver an epic seven-minute lecture on Israel's history (the most common element: being attacked by her neighbors out to wipe the Jewish state (and Jews) off the face of the earth), security concerns, and some basic lessons on military strategy and vulnerability.
And for once, Obama had to be the one sitting there and taking it. He had to pretend that he wasn't being schooled, being taken to the woodshed, while Netanyahu essentially told the world that Obama was, at best, a clueless idiot who had no idea what he was talking about in the Middle East (I'm being kind here).
Now, tactically speaking, it was probably a bad move for Netanyahu in the short term. Obama is notoriously thin-skinned and vindictive, and he's surrounded himself with a lot of people who share those traits. And his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, isn't overly friendly towards Israel either.
But the Obama administration -- like an Obama promise -- comes with an expiration date. Depending on what happens in November 2012, it could be as soon as January 20, 2013. (Oh, please, please, please...) And Netanyahu knows that American Jews went overwhelmingly for Obama the last time around.
That could change next time, if enough American Jews come to the decision that Obama is no friend of Israel's -- and the world is a hell of a better place for having Israel in it.
Comments (25)
Ironically, history will re... (Below threshold)1. Posted by NickDeringer | May 21, 2011 7:11 AM | Score: 36 (36 votes cast)
Ironically, history will remember Obama for the color of his skin. Netanyahu will be remembered for the content of his character.
1. Posted by NickDeringer | May 21, 2011 7:11 AM |
Score: 36 (36 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 07:11
2. Posted by pjay | May 21, 2011 7:19 AM | Score: 21 (21 votes cast)
And Netanyahu said all that with such a gracious tone of voice, unlike Obama when he has someone in that position. (It was just a shade above patronization, come to think of it.)
2. Posted by pjay | May 21, 2011 7:19 AM |
Score: 21 (21 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 07:19
3. Posted by Don L | May 21, 2011 7:22 AM | Score: 21 (23 votes cast)
It's not nice to mess around with the image of a omnipotent messiah. If I know Obama, he'll hit back hard and dirty -but then, he already did, didn't he.
Go Bibi!
3. Posted by Don L | May 21, 2011 7:22 AM |
Score: 21 (23 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 07:22
4. Posted by Marie | May 21, 2011 7:44 AM | Score: 28 (28 votes cast)
Obama and his arrogance has sent US/Israeli relations back 20 years. It will take a decade or more to repair the damage that our President has done to our relationship with Israel. I really enjoyed watching Obama squirm while Bibi taught him a lesson.
4. Posted by Marie | May 21, 2011 7:44 AM |
Score: 28 (28 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 07:44
5. Posted by DaveD | May 21, 2011 8:09 AM | Score: 24 (24 votes cast)
I hear that shortly after Bibi put this hurt on him, Obama retreated to the White House living quarters and pulled his Herobuilders Obama action doll out from under the bed and pretended he killed Osama again. I guess it eased the pain a little bit.
5. Posted by DaveD | May 21, 2011 8:09 AM |
Score: 24 (24 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 08:09
6. Posted by Frank | May 21, 2011 8:17 AM | Score: 24 (24 votes cast)
I agree that Obama is thin-skinned and will try to retaliate but he can't do much more (worse) than what he's been doing for the last 3 years.
I hope you're right about the incident as a wake-up call for American Jews. They need something to snap them out of their liberal voting stupor.
6. Posted by Frank | May 21, 2011 8:17 AM |
Score: 24 (24 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 08:17
7. Posted by Jay | May 21, 2011 8:52 AM | Score: 25 (25 votes cast)
One of the most satisfactory bitch-slappings I have witnessed in a long time.
7. Posted by Jay | May 21, 2011 8:52 AM |
Score: 25 (25 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 08:52
8. Posted by Gmac | May 21, 2011 9:02 AM | Score: 23 (23 votes cast)
Its nice to see the tables turned, and deservedly so.
The (P)resident is a vain, vindictive pipsqueak who grows smaller in office with each failure he creates. It was good to see this foreign policy disaster blow up in his face.
Do not forget, Hillary gets partial credit for her handiwork too and was probably told a shorter, harsher version of Netanyahu's stance than the training pants president in her phone conversation with him.
Nov. 2nd, 2012 cannot get here soon enough.
8. Posted by Gmac | May 21, 2011 9:02 AM |
Score: 23 (23 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 09:02
9. Posted by GarandFan | May 21, 2011 9:41 AM | Score: 16 (16 votes cast)
Poor Barry. President Narcissist doesn't like being lectured. After all, he knows EVERYTHING.
9. Posted by GarandFan | May 21, 2011 9:41 AM |
Score: 16 (16 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 09:41
10. Posted by Sep14 | May 21, 2011 10:35 AM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Class dismissed!
10. Posted by Sep14 | May 21, 2011 10:35 AM |
Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 10:35
11. Posted by epador | May 21, 2011 10:55 AM | Score: 14 (16 votes cast)
Sadly, folks, for a country so much larger than Israel, why we don't have a proportionally larger number of classy statesmen here to take the President (and the clueless voters who elected him) to task daily in such a fashion is why we may be headed on the path to the dissolution of the United States of America.
11. Posted by epador | May 21, 2011 10:55 AM |
Score: 14 (16 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 10:55
12. Posted by epador | May 21, 2011 10:57 AM | Score: 12 (18 votes cast)
Or to put it another way, I believe the right got spanked as well for allowing this clown of a President to get so far so poorly challenged.
12. Posted by epador | May 21, 2011 10:57 AM |
Score: 12 (18 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 10:57
13. Posted by Upset Old Guy | May 21, 2011 11:15 AM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
Epador, how many GOP office holders have demonstrated they have even half the "spine" of Chris Christie? In my estimation I have more fingers on my hands.
In addition, the race card may be hugely overplayed but Obama enjoys more immunity from criticism from his "loyal opposition" than any other president in my memory... and I can remember back to Truman.
13. Posted by Upset Old Guy | May 21, 2011 11:15 AM |
Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 11:15
14. Posted by Jason | May 21, 2011 2:35 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Jay, it's a sad fact that American Jews by and large do not equate to Israeli Jews.
14. Posted by Jason | May 21, 2011 2:35 PM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 14:35
15. Posted by Chico | May 21, 2011 3:39 PM | Score: -22 (24 votes cast)
Jay, it's a sad fact that American Jews by and large do not equate to Israeli Jews.
Yes, American Jews are Americans and put America first, while Israeli Jews put Israel first, like you, JT and other nutbar Americans do.
15. Posted by Chico | May 21, 2011 3:39 PM |
Score: -22 (24 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 15:39
16. Posted by epador | May 21, 2011 3:48 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
UOG, that was indeed my point.
16. Posted by epador | May 21, 2011 3:48 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 15:48
17. Posted by retired military | May 21, 2011 3:54 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
OT. Funny, I havent seen chico and his new bud JOhn whatever his name was post since the bin laden raid week. Did they get banned and I missed it? or did they crawl back to whatever hole they crawled out of? They wont be missed.
17. Posted by retired military | May 21, 2011 3:54 PM |
Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 15:54
18. Posted by retired military | May 21, 2011 3:55 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Dman
I look up after I hit submit only to see Chico posting above. Oh well. So much for hope and change.
18. Posted by retired military | May 21, 2011 3:55 PM |
Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 15:55
19. Posted by Eric | May 21, 2011 8:23 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
I think this explains why George Mitchell recently quit. He must have known that this was Obama's plan and quit because of it.
19. Posted by Eric | May 21, 2011 8:23 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 20:23
20. Posted by Donna | May 21, 2011 9:47 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
One good thing to come out of this mess, is that Obama managed to take down his bin Laden bump in approval ratings with this...at least I would think that would have happened. Did it?
20. Posted by Donna | May 21, 2011 9:47 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 21:47
21. Posted by Samantha | May 21, 2011 10:32 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Donna, his Bin Laden approval bump was gone long before this.
21. Posted by Samantha | May 21, 2011 10:32 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on May 21, 2011 22:32
22. Posted by Patricia | May 22, 2011 7:56 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Bibi and Bobo - wow, Class next to classless....
Thank God - yes - for Netanyahu. For all you folks who voted for O, get ready for another change soon, because it's coming!
22. Posted by Patricia | May 22, 2011 7:56 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on May 22, 2011 07:56
23. Posted by Brian_R_Allen
| May 22, 2011 8:07 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
.... Netanyahu knows that American Jews went overwhelmingly for Obama the last time around ....
Next time America's Jews, some of them, in New York and in Florida, twice, (they're very naughty!) will vote with the 80-odd per cent of We, The People, who are Christian and/or study Shoresh and/or are Zionists and who love both the Jews -- and Israel!
We, The (Sovereign American) People -- and not the moronic marijuana-mumbling mobbed-up Mussolini-modeled modified Marxist murtadd-Muslim maggot momentarily be-manuring our House -- are America.
And neither Our America nor our trusted servants are any time soon surrendering Israel to the barbarian islamanazis.
23. Posted by Brian_R_Allen
| May 22, 2011 8:07 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on May 22, 2011 08:07
24. Posted by Jeff | May 22, 2011 8:56 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Chico ...
when you think as you do that there may be times to throw Israel to the wolves "for the good of America" you are showing that liberals are fair weather allies ...
Its always about power with you folks, 24/7 ... never about for the good of the country or the world ... just keeping Dems in power ...
sad really ...
24. Posted by Jeff | May 22, 2011 8:56 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on May 22, 2011 08:56
25. Posted by Oldpuppymax | May 22, 2011 4:15 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Unfortunately you are guilty of a very common mistake...the belief that American Jews give a rats behind about Israel. American Jews are LEFTISTS FIRST AND ALWAYS, Jews only when convenient, profitable or absolutely necessary. From Chuckie Schumer to Mikey Bloomberg, they couldn't care less about the problems or continued existence of Israel. Some 70% of Jews voted for Hussein in the last election and about the same number will vote for him in 2012. They will donate to his campaign and make believe he is a friend of Israel. WHY?? Because he is a good, fellow, America hating leftist, that's why. His dedication to the destruction of THIS country is the only important thing. And American Jews adore him for it.
25. Posted by Oldpuppymax | May 22, 2011 4:15 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on May 22, 2011 16:15