Editorial of The New York Sun | April 8, 2012
One of the things to think about in respect the current political campaign is the impact that would be felt were the president of America and the prime minister of Israel on the same page. We were put in mind of this by Michael Barbaro’s illuminating dispatch in today’s New York Times, describing the friendship that sprang up in the late 1970s between Benjamin Netanyahu and Mitt Romney. At the time the future prime minister of Israel and the future front runner for the Republican nomination for president were both working for the same company, the Boston Consulting Group, and honing their analytical abilities in the same weekly brainstorming sessions, “absorbing,” Mr. Barbaro reports, “the same profoundly analytical view of the world.”
We will never forget how America’s relationship with Israel descended into acrimony during the latter years of Prime Clinton’s administration. That was when Secretary Albright was hectoring the new premier in Jerusalem, Mr. Netanyahu, over the so-called peace process. It wasn’t, at least not then, a problem of the Democratic Party. We also watched President Reagan’s near magical relationship with Israel fall off during the accession of George H.W. Bush as the 41st president. That was the period of feuding over loan guarantees that America was giving to enable the Jewish state to build the housing it needed, partly because so many thousands of Jews were fleeing the Soviet Union.
We didn’t see a return to relationship that was both warm and successful until the rise, here, of President Bush’s son, George W. Bush, and, in Israel, of Ariel Sharon. The two had bonded when the former defense minister of Israel gave the future American president a tour of the Samarian hills, from which the logic of Israel’s strategic choices becomes so clear. Under the leadership of George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon, the acrimony disappeared from the relations between the two governments. No doubt this was helped by the degree to which their common interests became so evident in the war on Islamist terror.
That President Obama permitted that warmth to evaporate is one of the errors of his presidency. We would not say that there has been no working relationship, but the political warmth has gone. Instead we have had a roller-coaster of ups and downs in the two administrations, even while both sides have protested that everything is in fine shape. The tension between the two has loosed a cataract of leaks on what might, or might not, be the plan for Iran. It has returned us to the days when the secretary of state — in this case Mrs. Clinton — exhibits an Albrightian disdain for the way the Israelis are handling what is left of the peace process.
We would not want to suggest that relations between any two countries, leastwise those between Israel and America, are merely a matter of personalities. Relations are ultimately governed by national interest. But neither would we want to suggest that leadership doesn’t matter. We learned this in, among other moments, the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Golda Meir’s envoy in Washington, Yitzhak Rabin, swung behind President Nixon. This helped sideline the peace plan hatched in the state department and advanced by Secretary of State Rogers. The plan was recognized as short-sighted by Henry Kissinger, who encouraged Mr. Rabin not to blame, indeed to appreciate, President Nixon. Rabin’s sagacity led to the breakthrough understanding that Republicans could be the party more sympathetic to Israel.
* * *
The rise of Mr. Romney, in any event, holds out the promises of a new, less suspicious, more analytical, more practical relationship between Jerusalem and Washington. This newspaper is not greatly enamored of the analytical process in foreign affairs. One can wrestle with questions too much, which is one of the things that may be happening now in respect of Iran. It can lead to a danger like the one we face today, which is that while everyone has been analyzing the question, Iran has been working on it’s a-bomb. Our foreign policy types may discover one day that, for all their chin pulling, Iran’s a-bomb has become a fait accompli. Our preferred method of dealing with problems relies less on analytics and more on judgment and principles. Either way, though, Americans and Israelis can be encouraged by at least the possibility that we could have, in Messrs. Romney and Netanyahu, two leaders who, at a deep level, think alike.
Sorry, I meant “ObamaCare not yet in the hole” and not “ObamaCare almost in the hole”.
Also, when I said “there is a serious issue as to who is doing those polls and WHAT serious questions are being asked” I do respect their previous successes but do wonder if they have seen the reality on the ground
Joe Hamilton’s poll results tell me that the American people are still sleeping and will probably sleepwalk with continued guilt towards a very close call or, BHO is the ultimate con-man. A lot will also depend on Romney’s VP call. However, as he has approx. 660 delegates, still ways from 1144, the GOP may decide at the Convention and that is where many in the Tea party and the Evangelicals will be very powerful. Many still want Gingrich.
With all due respect to the psychiatrist, these polls are indicative of a malaise. With $14 trillion and more to go, with ObamaCare almost in the hole, with the jobless rate still very high and with hundred of thousands living in campers or in their cars,and with G-d knows how many suicides and murders this has caused there is a serious issue as to who is doing those polls and WHAT serious questions are being asked.
Romney can win the presidency. There are 3 professional political pundits who seem to never be wrong: Charlie Cook, Larry Sabato and Stuart Rothenberg. Rothenberg has Obama with a 237 to 205 lead in electoral votes based on whether a state is safe for the candidate or leaning ,leaving with 95 electoral votes remaining in “toss up” states. So Romney needs 65 of the 95 or must win one of Obama “leaning states”. 2 polls out yesterday show Romney within 4 points of Obama in Michigan and leading by 8 points in Virginia .One of the 3 pundits has Virginia as a “toss up states” and all 3 have Michigan as “safe Obama” and the most recent poll in Pennsylvania which is a safe Obama state had Romney within 3 points of Obama. But things will change and most of all it will depend on the state of the economy. Since Demo rats are much better at cheating and fraud and Obama has almost every media outlet acting as his private publicity firm Obama is slightly ahead because of his administration’s manipulating the unemployment numbers and his cheerleaders in the media almost hysterically proclaiming the US economy is improving ,while it clearly is not.Last month, even with Obama able to greatly influence the official unemployment rate it was 8.2% (in reality it is more like 12% or more). I have confidence in Romney. He is nothing like McCain. Romney won the governorship in the most democrat state in the country so he is a very good politician. Now that Santorum finally dropped out, the bashing Romney was taking in the circular firing squad has ended.The demo Rats and slimy allies in the media (the same media who always support the Sand Nazis)will make every attempt to do whatever it takes to convince the country the economy is greatly improving. Very few people will still fall for the “It’s Bush’s fault). The economic forecasters predict little improvement in the economy between now and Nov. If the economy hardly improves, Obama and his will executioners can’t totally suppress the bad news. It is clear every time people fill up their cars.Obama has more money than Romney but Romney is very good at raising money. If Romney can raise enough money,if Republicans get their head out of their rectums and vigorously support Romney, Romney uses his political skills to mercilessly attack Obama’s incompetence especially about economic issues and if the economy doesn’t improve much Romney will win. As I said all 3 pundits have the race fairly close with Obama leading. A poll today by Rasmussen, one of the top pollsters has Obama tied with Romney. So Romney can definitely win and I know ,unlike McCain he very badly wants to be president.Especially because his father was the leading Republican candidate in 1968 and should have won the nomination and the election but dropped out because he said he was brainwashed about Vietnam. I was too young to understand why he had to immediately drop out. But knowing the human mind(I’m a psychiatrist)I’ll bet Romney has added incentive because he believes his father was cheated out of the presidency. This will make Romney an even better candidate .
Earlier today, Rick Santorum contacted Mitt Romney to tell him he is suspending his campaign.
Santorum shutting down his campaign for the Republican nomination for president in 2012 marks the end of Mitt Romney’s competition. The remaining 19 Republican state primary elections will focus totally on emphasizing the numerous reasons for denying President Obama a second term. In that effort, the Republican Party will be able to speak more or less with a single and probably well-coordinated voice.
I hope Santorum can get enough donors together to help him pay off his campaign debts. I did not like what he had to say. Nor did I like his particular style of frenetic campaigning. But I thought he was a brave enough fighter. By terminating his hopeless struggle against insurmountable odds at this time, I think he greatly increases his chances of finding some honorable place in what I hope will be two Romney presidential terms, assuming he beats Obama for the first such term.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
@ ArnoldHarris:
I don’t know, Arnold. I am praying that God relieve us of the bugger; it’s up to Him.
No matter who gets elected, I believe we are in for a time of horrors. The world’s economy is on the verge of imploding, and every day we face more of a likelihood of war — eventually, a nuclear war, perhaps in only a few years. God help us.
@ ArnoldHarris:
Quite so. Without a GOP legislature — control of both houses — there will be no way of holding a GOP president’s feet to the fire.
@ BLADESKATER00:
“Authentic” as defined by whom?
“Jew” as defined by whom?
“Genuine” as defined by whom?
“Christianity” as defined by whom?
“I’m as authentic a member of the Jewish nation as anybody I know.”
Arnold, except for the fact that you are american living in Wisconsin.
And you have spent years at DeansWorld quaffing your atheism/apatheism/I don’t care
about religion stuff.
Alternatively, you were for Palin, Michelle Bachman and Herman Cain.
As Bladeskateroo says
Agreed.
Linda Rivera has a solid case that Romney should be asked very serious questions about ObamaCare, the Stimulus, Israel (he started skating around when Gingrich spoke abbout transferring the embassy to Jerusalem). Republicans need the answers NOW!
It’s not over until the fat-lady sings. In my view that fat lady could turn out in favor of Newt Gingrich. Santorum will swing a lot of people away especially the more secular Americans.
Lastly, we haven’t yet got the last word from wonderful, dear Sarah!!!
BO,
I worked for Rav Kahane from 1987 until the time of his assassination in a New York hotel in October 1090, then afterward for his successor leadership for about one year. Nor did I do any of that on a secret basis. I also have helped make up many a minyan (quorum of 10 or more Jewish men at a Shabat service) with the Lubavitchers over the years. Even without those credentials, I’m as authentic a member of the Jewish nation as anybody I know.
So what’s your prognosis this election year? Can Romney pull BHO Jr out of the White House?
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Although I want a more conservative president, such a Gingrich, I think Romney
would do a good job. At this point, – anybody
but Obama!
A couple of weeks ago , I attended a Jewish Learnin held at the Univ of MD. One of the lecture I chose was whether or not one can be jewish and not believe in god. By the time all the liberal jews who live in Maryland, DC and VIrginia finished speaking. I raised my hand and said,”I am beginning to wonder if you can be jewish and believe in g-d. ( Am jewish and have a vefy close relationship with g-d, but I am nowhere near Orthodox or conservative. I ised to be Jewish Renewal until my rabbi revealed how leftist he is, supporting the arabs and not Israel, active in J Street, etc. I had to get out, so now g-d and I have our own private relationship. I believe even a large portion of rabbis do not really , really believe in g-d. How can they lead their congregations when they do ot believe? The ansee is, I believe, that they believe in the good deeds side of judaism, but not g-d. When one is in the depths or misery and depression, they need faith, a g-d to believe in, inspiration. That is why we have had so many jews leave judaism. THey did not feel a connection to g-d. LIberals can be very good hearted, good intentioned. G-d likes that, but believing in Him is very important. Those who do not believe, from whatever religion, are missing out on a great pirpose of life.
I do believe that one can be jewish and not believe in g-d, but I feel sorry for them. What happens when chaos arrives in their lives.? I just heard about one atheist, very outspoken, who became ill. Christians helped him out. NOw he has done a complete turn around.
@ ArnoldHarris:
The latest I gathered from Yamit, Arnold, is that the only true Jews are all registered members of Herut and secret devotees of Meir Kahane. All the rest are Christians, and therefore Nazis.
Linda,
I have supported Republican presidential nominees since 1952, when, as an 18-year-old member of our high school conservative club I served as a student volunteer for the delegates for Senator Robert Taft of Ohio, at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. So you can assume that I’m an old-time fiscal and constitutional conservative.
But one thing I never have supported, and that is candidates signing written pledges as to what particular policies they will follow or oppose if they are elected to office. No candidate worth electing to public office would make any such pledge, as opposed to using his or her own common sense and integrity before making any specific policy choice.
Governor Romney has stated repeatedly that he opposes Obamacare and that he wants a health care system to be administered by the separate state governments. I take his word for that, and I need nothing more.
In any case, presidents can sign laws passed by the two houses of the Congress of the United States. But they do not have the constitutional power to repeal legislation previous passed by Congress. If the US Congress as well as the US presidency are all in Republican hands following the November 2012 national elections, we can all be certain that Obamacare will be replaced with something more in keeping with our standards of constitutional separation of the powers of the federal government as opposed to powers reserved for the several states or for the people.
Among other subjects, I took the opportunity to study US constitutional law at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, back in 1961-1962. So I think I know what I am talking about.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
We are rapidly losing our FREEDOM in America!
It is way past time that the media and Republicans start asking questions of Romney:
Romney: Will you promise in a signed, legal document to repeal Obamacare?
Romney: Will you promise in a signed, legal document to repeal the law Obama signed that will place INNOCENT Americans under ILLEGAL, INDEFINITE detention?
If Romney will not repeal these ILLEGAL laws, he is UNFIT to be a Republican candidate.
The Republican Party leadership act like Democrats and cooperate fully with Democrats. Where is the two party system we are supposed to have to represent Americans?
I meant that last comment to read:
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
BS,
“Authentic Jew”, as I define it, is that I am a loyal member of the Jewish nation, and that I never have been attracted to any religion other than to the God of the Jewish nation. In any case, I got to be Jew because I was born as one, 78 years ago.
As for the Christians, why shouldn’t I regard the Mormons as one them? They not only claim belief in Jesus as their savior, but the official name of their church organization is — and always has been — the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”.
I also read enough of their history — including their settlement of what is now the State of Utah in the 1840s, to be fully aware that 19th century Americans — nearly all Protestant Christians of one sect or another — persecuted the early Mormons in more or less the same ways that Europeans for many centuries had persecuted the Jews who lived among them. In fact, the early Mormons considered themselves a sort of western hemisphere manifestation of our Jewish nation. They certainly made the Salt Lake desert area bloom in exactly the same way the Jews made the Land of Israel bloom more than 100 years ago.
In any case, I surely will be a lot happier to have an American Mormon successful businessman and former governor as president of the United States, to replace our current African-Indonesian Moslem for south-side Chicago ward heeler and pal of one of the nastiest packs of anarchists who ever beset this country. And I’m writing that from the standpoint of what’s good for the USA, not just in terms of possible support for the State of Israel. But I have noticed that the least competent of US presidents — James Earl Carter and Barack Hussein Obama Jr. (Or maybe his real name is “Barry Soetaro”. Who knows without an authentic birth certificate?)
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
@ ArnoldHarris:
The author shows his profound level of ignorance–Mormonism is NOT Christianity anymore than Islam is–the author needs to fact check before he writes.
A person can’t just say they are something and be that thing–they each have to meet the qualifications first!
Like the “typical authentic Jew” the author is typically ignorant of genuine Christianity; in addition they are also often ignorant of what it means to be an authentic Jew!
Mitt Romney IS NOT a genuine friend of Israel–although I would expect things to be at least somewhat better with him!
@ Andy Lewis:
I agree
Left-leaning American prosemites (what few of us are still left) now have our marching orders: Vote Romney for Pres, vote Dem for congresspeople.
Relative to USA-wide politics, I follow Republican Party presidential nomination doings quite closely. After the most recent round of state primary elections in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia, it has become mathematically all but impossible for Rick Santorum to stop Mitt Romney from winning the Republican nomination to face Obama in November 2012. In any case, Romney is the only Republican candidate who can beat Obama by attracting broad support from independent and moderate voters.
About 62% of the American Jewish electorate indicated in a recent poll that they will support Obama. By now, everybody on Israpundit knows all about the political idiocy of this generation of American Jews supporting a president who obviously has been hardwired with Israel’s national enemies since his childhood. I ignore people such as that, Jews or otherwise. My friends are limited to people who support the national rights of the Jewish nation, be they Jews, Christians or of no particular religious or ethnic background, and most people on the political right wing in this country are staunchly pro-Israel.
Another interesting political development in this country is the strong possibility of Republican majority control of both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives. With backing such as that, Romney, if elected, would be able to clean house around this country in terms of domestic policy, and put America’s finances back to the level of stability that is needed to initiate an extended new policy of business and industrial growth and prosperity. If so, Romney would certainly be a two-term president, and have enough time to reinforce the conservative majority on the US Supreme Court. And if all this takes place, America and not the UNO will control our foreign policy.
If Romney replaces Obama as chief of state in this country, I think the political atmosphere around Washington will be a lot more friendly to Israel. Most importantly, domestic rather than foreign policy will capture the time and attention the new president.
In addition, hard-core and experienced foreign policy advisers such as John Bolton will have a lot more say-so in a Republican administration. Netanyahu is not likely to be leaned on continually by such a US administration. The USA and Canada both are tapping recently-discovered fossil energy resources, and folks around here will soon be far less dependent on supplies from Arab sources. As a matter of fact, the huge new energy reserves predicted for Israel will in itself create a new and welcome foreign policy thrust that will not be to the disadvantage of Israel.
As for having a Mormon president, so what? I know and do business with lots of these people, in Utah, no less. They all are as honest, hard-working, friendly, and with generally durable family-life stability, such as I would hope for from any neighbor. I don’t want to pick fights with my Baptist and Evangelical friends over the finer points of their theology, but as an authentic Jew, I have no reason to imagine that members of the Latter Day Saints faith are no less Christian than any of the rest of them.
In any case, what we are all about on this blogsite is what’s good for Israel and the Jewish nation. And a President Mitt Romney would fit that quite nicely.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI