Daily Archives: November 24, 2014
Shifting Sands
If I said that things were good, I would be nothing but a Pollyanna. But I do believe there are some signs here in Israel of a shift in perspective that is long overdue and should ultimately provide better policies for a stronger nation.
Of course, these shifts are generating tensions, a fairly predictable state of affairs. Nothing ever progresses smoothly, and perhaps in a democracy we cannot and should not expect that any transition would be made without resistance.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Democracy” is a buzz word right now with regard to domestic tensions, and we see this in several respects.
The first has to do with how we are responding to Arabs within our midst. And I say, without inhibitions or second thoughts, that in our situation of crisis, it may be necessary to adjust some of the parameters of what is seen as civil liberties for the Arabs. Because in some instances the flip side of Arab civil liberties is the right of Jews to not be killed or attacked.
The other day I quoted Netanyahu (although perhaps it was Erdan) who said that 99.9% of Israeli Arabs are OK. I did not belabor the fact that I didn’t believe it for a second, that only .1 % of Israeli Arabs are potentially trouble. I just made the point of how many this represents.
Well, today I encountered a poll by Stat Net that indicated that 68% of Israeli Arabs oppose terror: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187808#.VHMOOJtxnIU
Hmmm. If I am calculating correctly, that leaves over 500,000 Arabs within our midst who might in certain circumstances be predisposed to terror – whether actively or via passive support. (I am not saying we have 500,000 terrorists in our midst. I am saying there is a potential that we dare not ignore.)
I made the point recently that all Israeli Arabs are not loyal to Israel. Some have conflicting loyalties, and are pulled at by radical elements who challenge them to prove their devotion to the “Palestinian cause.” And I again contrast this situation to that of the Israeli Druse community: they made a conscious decision to be loyal Israelis and opted for conscription in the IDF.
~~~~~~~~~~
Some of the most shocking and blatant examples of Israeli Arabs who in their hearts are not loyal to Israel can be found in the Israeli parties of the Knesset. Few are worse than Haneen Zoabi. She was a passenger on the Mavi Marmara that attempted to break the blockade of Gaza, and has told Palestinian Arabs that they should “declare popular resistance.” This summer, she stated that the kidnappers of the three teenage boys were not terrorists. Speaking of the kidnappers, she said, “they are people who don’t see any way to change their reality and are forced to use these means until Israel sobers up a bit.” In response, the Knesset ethics committee suspended for six months her right to address the plenum of the Knesset. She was still a member of the Knesset, and could still vote. But she called this ruling “anti-democratic.”
Give me a break. The only place in the Middle East where Arabs have civil rights is in Israel.
~~~~~~~~~~
I am looking at all of this now in part because of the decision by the Ashkelon mayor to temporarily stop Arabs from working on construction sites near pre-schools. All sorts of epithets were thrown at him, and, under pressure, he has backed down part way now. The Arab construction workers will be permitted to continue and the children will be moved to a community center for the duration of the construction.
You might want to see Ruthie Blum’s “The Mayor of Ashkelon is not a racist,” which set this incident into context:
”’I would rather be taken to the Supreme Court than, heaven forbid, to the funeral of a kindergarten child,’ Shimoni told Channel 2 on Thursday evening. Finding himself under fire and at the wrong end of the law, Shimoni backed down on Sunday… His new decision is to leave the Arab workers at the kindergartens to complete the job of renovating the bomb shelters, while moving the children from those specific pre-schools to community centers.
”Shimoni may well find himself at the wrong end of the law. But there is nothing in his behavior that warrants being labeled a racist. Willing to face ostracism and possible indictment in order to protect the weakest sector of his city from a palpable threat, he is exhibiting leadership.”
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-mayor-of-Ashkelon-is-not-a-racist-382632
The key word here is “palpable threat.”
~~~~~~~~~~
And here’s the context:
Just last week, on PA TV (not Hamas TV), a program host intoned:
Good morning to you, good morning to your pride, and to your hands preparing to throw stones and ignite the gasoline in the Molotov cocktails, greetings from the Good Morning Jerusalem program.”
While on its Facebook page, Fatah posted a video that featured this song:
“I’m coming towards you, my enemy,
”We’re going down from every house with cleavers and knives,
”With grenades we announced a popular war.
”I swear, you won’t escape, my enemy,
“from the revolution and the people.
”How will you escape the ring of fire,“while the crowds are blocking the way?”
This is accompanied by pictures of Arabs attacking with rocks and more in the streets.
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=13224
~~~~~~~~~~
And I raise the issue of “democracy,” as well, because of other actions that are now being taken:
“Likud Central Committee Chairman MK Danny Danon is advancing a new bill to prevent Israel from returning the bodies of dead terrorists to their families and the Palestinian Authority (PA), in an attempt to deter terrorism and prevent the glorification of terrorists at their funerals.
“…Danon explained ‘we saw what happened recently when cruel terrorists turn into heroes and their funeral processions turn into recruitment processions for the next generation of terrorists.’
“So as to prevent the current arrangement from continuing, Danon is proposing to have the bodies of terrorists buried in unknown cemeteries.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187805#.VHNO5ZtxnIV
My only question here is why we didn’t start doing this sooner. But guaranteed, someone will respond to this great idea by screaming “human rights.”
~~~~~~~~~~
With encouragement from Prime Minister Netanyahu, legislation is being drawn up to remove residency rights from Arabs who are convicted of attacks on Israeli citizens or promote Israel’s destruction.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Interior Gilad Erdan has revoked the Jerusalem residency status of Mohammed Nadi who drove a suicide bomber to the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv on June 1, 2001. That attack killed 21 teenagers and injured 132 people. Nadi served 10 years in prison as accomplice.
Said Erdan;
“a wave of terror and incitement” has swept Israel, assisted by Israeli residents who “carry out attacks, assist them, and justify them, and even incite others to commit crimes and murders.”
“These people cannot continue to enjoy a permanent status of Israeli residency, and I will use all of my power to cancel their residency and prevent them from receiving all benefits that this residency offers.”
http://www.timesofisrael.com/interior-minister-revokes-jerusalem-residency-of-terror-accomplice/
Benefits consist primarily of the right to reside in Israel, and to receive social benefits such as health insurance.
What are the odds that someone will seek to challenge this excellent move in the courts?
~~~~~~~~~~
Along with this is the stated intention to continue the demolition of homes of terrorists (although there are charges that the homes are not even fully demolished).
And wouldn’t you know; last Thursday the ambassadors from Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain registered objections about this to our government.
~~~~~~~~~~
And then there is the bill being advanced as part of basic law that speaks about Israel as a Jewish nation.
With strong support from Netanyahu, one version of this bill has been approved by the Cabinet. But, as it is causing great dissension within the coalition, other modified versions are being promoted. I am not able to describe the contents of these bills in detail, but my understanding is that while basics remain, there are some modifications regarding specifications about democracy.
Whatever modifications are made, I believe they all clearly state that Israel is a Jewish state, and somehow defines national rights (and self-determination) as belonging only to the Jewish people, with individual civil rights adhering to all citizens.
Those who objecting to the bill are Tzipi Livni (Hatenua) and and Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), both of whom threaten to leave the coalition because the bill is “anti-democratic” and “unfair to the Arabs.”
What I have found fascinating is how adamant the prime minister is about pushing this. This, too, I believe is a reflection of our times. Whether there is real risk of the coalition tearing apart because of this, or it is grandstanding, I cannot say. What Netanyahu is working on, we are told, is a version of the bill that would satisfy all. Whatever that might turn out to be.
~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps even in calling these modest steps signs of an encouraging shift in perspective, I am being a Pollyanna. For, as I read this over, I see how we seem to go two steps forward and then one step backward. We speak about national unity – oh how we need national unity! – but even here in Israel there are those who have forgotten who we are, and those who are too concerned with what the world says to take a stand.
Keep plugging then…
~~~~~~~~~~
As Jerusalem continues to take measures to protect its Jewish citizens, additional security measures have been announced:
There will be 300 guards placed at bus stations. First, at the Central Bus Station, and then along routes that have been selected as requiring the most security protection. Then, 10,000 bus drivers national-wide are being given training in the Israeli martial art of will be given Krav Maga.
~~~~~~~~~~
And finally, someone with his head screwed on properly, who is talking about blocking ways in which we assist the PA or provide benefits to Palestinian Arabs. The “someone” is MK Naom Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi), who chairs the Knesset Finance Committee. And he is seeking ways to block the transfer of funds from Israel to the Palestinian Authority:
“We must recognize there’s a crazy absurdness here that I don’t understand,” Slomiansky said. “A terrorist who murdered and attacked and goes into jail has his finances covered during the years in jail, for him and his family.”
Money finds its way from the PA to the families of the terrorists – while Israel passes on to the PA taxes it collect for it in accordance with agreements in the Paris Protocol and the Oslo Accords. And this continues even as the PA fails to honor its agreements and owes Israel “staggering sums” including over 1.4 billion shekels (over $360 million).
Slomiansky says that the PA collects money for electricity from its residents, even as it doesn’t pay Israel for the electricity, instead using the money for such purposes as providing “salaries” to terrorists.
“We have to defend ourselves. It’s not just a game of money anymore. We are indirectly encouraging terror against ourselves and the murder of our citizens. We must stop this,”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187803#.VHORaJtxnIV
Can we clone him?
If I said that things were good, I would be nothing but a Pollyanna. But I do believe there are some signs here in Israel of a shift in perspective that is long overdue and should ultimately provide better policies for a stronger nation.
Of course, these shifts are generating tensions, a fairly predictable state of affairs. Nothing ever progresses smoothly, and perhaps in a democracy we cannot and should not expect that any transition would be made without resistance.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Democracy” is a buzz word right now with regard to domestic tensions, and we see this in several respects.
The first has to do with how we are responding to Arabs within our midst. And I say, without inhibitions or second thoughts, that in our situation of crisis, it may be necessary to adjust some of the parameters of what is seen as civil liberties for the Arabs. Because in some instances the flip side of Arab civil liberties is the right of Jews to not be killed or attacked.
The other day I quoted Netanyahu (although perhaps it was Erdan) who said that 99.9% of Israeli Arabs are OK. I did not belabor the fact that I didn’t believe it for a second, that only .1 % of Israeli Arabs are potentially trouble. I just made the point of how many this represents.
Well, today I encountered a poll by Stat Net that indicated that 68% of Israeli Arabs oppose terror: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187808#.VHMOOJtxnIU
Hmmm. If I am calculating correctly, that leaves over 500,000 Arabs within our midst who might in certain circumstances be predisposed to terror – whether actively or via passive support. (I am not saying we have 500,000 terrorists in our midst. I am saying there is a potential that we dare not ignore.)
I made the point recently that all Israeli Arabs are not loyal to Israel. Some have conflicting loyalties, and are pulled at by radical elements who challenge them to prove their devotion to the “Palestinian cause.” And I again contrast this situation to that of the Israeli Druse community: they made a conscious decision to be loyal Israelis and opted for conscription in the IDF.
~~~~~~~~~~
Some of the most shocking and blatant examples of Israeli Arabs who in their hearts are not loyal to Israel can be found in the Israeli parties of the Knesset. Few are worse than Haneen Zoabi. She was a passenger on the Mavi Marmara that attempted to break the blockade of Gaza, and has told Palestinian Arabs that they should “declare popular resistance.” This summer, she stated that the kidnappers of the three teenage boys were not terrorists. Speaking of the kidnappers, she said, “they are people who don’t see any way to change their reality and are forced to use these means until Israel sobers up a bit.” In response, the Knesset ethics committee suspended for six months her right to address the plenum of the Knesset. She was still a member of the Knesset, and could still vote. But she called this ruling “anti-democratic.”
Give me a break. The only place in the Middle East where Arabs have civil rights is in Israel.
~~~~~~~~~~
I am looking at all of this now in part because of the decision by the Ashkelon mayor to temporarily stop Arabs from working on construction sites near pre-schools. All sorts of epithets were thrown at him, and, under pressure, he has backed down part way now. The Arab construction workers will be permitted to continue and the children will be moved to a community center for the duration of the construction.
You might want to see Ruthie Blum’s “The Mayor of Ashkelon is not a racist,” which set this incident into context:
”’I would rather be taken to the Supreme Court than, heaven forbid, to the funeral of a kindergarten child,’ Shimoni told Channel 2 on Thursday evening. Finding himself under fire and at the wrong end of the law, Shimoni backed down on Sunday… His new decision is to leave the Arab workers at the kindergartens to complete the job of renovating the bomb shelters, while moving the children from those specific pre-schools to community centers.
”Shimoni may well find himself at the wrong end of the law. But there is nothing in his behavior that warrants being labeled a racist. Willing to face ostracism and possible indictment in order to protect the weakest sector of his city from a palpable threat, he is exhibiting leadership.”
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-mayor-of-Ashkelon-is-not-a-racist-382632
The key word here is “palpable threat.”
~~~~~~~~~~
And here’s the context:
Just last week, on PA TV (not Hamas TV), a program host intoned:
Good morning to you, good morning to your pride, and to your hands preparing to throw stones and ignite the gasoline in the Molotov cocktails, greetings from the Good Morning Jerusalem program.”
While on its Facebook page, Fatah posted a video that featured this song:
“I’m coming towards you, my enemy,
“We’re going down from every house with cleavers and knives,
“With grenades we announced a popular war.
“I swear, you won’t escape, my enemy,
“from the revolution and the people.
“How will you escape the ring of fire,“while the crowds are blocking the way?”
This is accompanied by pictures of Arabs attacking with rocks and more in the streets.
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=13224
~~~~~~~~~~
And I raise the issue of “democracy,” as well, because of other actions that are now being taken:
“Likud Central Committee Chairman MK Danny Danon is advancing a new bill to prevent Israel from returning the bodies of dead terrorists to their families and the Palestinian Authority (PA), in an attempt to deter terrorism and prevent the glorification of terrorists at their funerals.
“…Danon explained ‘we saw what happened recently when cruel terrorists turn into heroes and their funeral processions turn into recruitment processions for the next generation of terrorists.’
“So as to prevent the current arrangement from continuing, Danon is proposing to have the bodies of terrorists buried in unknown cemeteries.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187805#.VHNO5ZtxnIV
My only question here is why we didn’t start doing this sooner. But guaranteed, someone will respond to this great idea by screaming “human rights.”
~~~~~~~~~~
With encouragement from Prime Minister Netanyahu, legislation is being drawn up to remove residency rights from Arabs who are convicted of attacks on Israeli citizens or promote Israel’s destruction.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Interior Gilad Erdan has revoked the Jerusalem residency status of Mohammed Nadi who drove a suicide bomber to the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv on June 1, 2001. That attack killed 21 teenagers and injured 132 people. Nadi served 10 years in prison as accomplice.
Said Erdan;
“a wave of terror and incitement” has swept Israel, assisted by Israeli residents who “carry out attacks, assist them, and justify them, and even incite others to commit crimes and murders.”
“These people cannot continue to enjoy a permanent status of Israeli residency, and I will use all of my power to cancel their residency and prevent them from receiving all benefits that this residency offers.”
http://www.timesofisrael.com/interior-minister-revokes-jerusalem-residency-of-terror-accomplice/
Benefits consist primarily of the right to reside in Israel, and to receive social benefits such as health insurance.
What are the odds that someone will seek to challenge this excellent move in the courts?
~~~~~~~~~~
Along with this is the stated intention to continue the demolition of homes of terrorists (although there are charges that the homes are not even fully demolished).
And wouldn’t you know; last Thursday the ambassadors from Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain registered objections about this to our government.
~~~~~~~~~~
And then there is the bill being advanced as part of basic law that speaks about Israel as a Jewish nation.
With strong support from Netanyahu, one version of this bill has been approved by the Cabinet. But, as it is causing great dissension within the coalition, other modified versions are being promoted. I am not able to describe the contents of these bills in detail, but my understanding is that while basics remain, there are some modifications regarding specifications about democracy.
Whatever modifications are made, I believe they all clearly state that Israel is a Jewish state, and somehow defines national rights (and self-determination) as belonging only to the Jewish people, with individual civil rights adhering to all citizens.
Those who objecting to the bill are Tzipi Livni (Hatenua) and and Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), both of whom threaten to leave the coalition because the bill is “anti-democratic” and “unfair to the Arabs.”
What I have found fascinating is how adamant the prime minister is about pushing this. This, too, I believe is a reflection of our times. Whether there is real risk of the coalition tearing apart because of this, or it is grandstanding, I cannot say. What Netanyahu is working on, we are told, is a version of the bill that would satisfy all. Whatever that might turn out to be.
~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps even in calling these modest steps signs of an encouraging shift in perspective, I am being a Pollyanna. For, as I read this over, I see how we seem to go two steps forward and then one step backward. We speak about national unity – oh how we need national unity! – but even here in Israel there are those who have forgotten who we are, and those who are too concerned with what the world says to take a stand.
Keep plugging then…
~~~~~~~~~~
As Jerusalem continues to take measures to protect its Jewish citizens, additional security measures have been announced:
There will be 300 guards placed at bus stations. First, at the Central Bus Station, and then along routes that have been selected as requiring the most security protection. Then, 10,000 bus drivers national-wide are being given training in the Israeli martial art of will be given Krav Maga.
~~~~~~~~~~
And finally, someone with his head screwed on properly, who is talking about blocking ways in which we assist the PA or provide benefits to Palestinian Arabs. The “someone” is MK Naom Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi), who chairs the Knesset Finance Committee. And he is seeking ways to block the transfer of funds from Israel to the Palestinian Authority:
“We must recognize there’s a crazy absurdness here that I don’t understand,” Slomiansky said. “A terrorist who murdered and attacked and goes into jail has his finances covered during the years in jail, for him and his family.”
Money finds its way from the PA to the families of the terrorists – while Israel passes on to the PA taxes it collect for it in accordance with agreements in the Paris Protocol and the Oslo Accords. And this continues even as the PA fails to honor its agreements and owes Israel “staggering sums” including over 1.4 billion shekels (over $360 million).
Slomiansky says that the PA collects money for electricity from its residents, even as it doesn’t pay Israel for the electricity, instead using the money for such purposes as providing “salaries” to terrorists.
“We have to defend ourselves. It’s not just a game of money anymore. We are indirectly encouraging terror against ourselves and the murder of our citizens. We must stop this,”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187803#.VHORaJtxnIV
Can we clone him?
Credit: Miriam Alster/Flash 90
~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot say that the failure to reach an agreement with Iran today is good news Seven more months of pathetic negotiations is definitely not that. But our prime minister is happy at present because “no deal is better than a bad deal,” and it’s hard to disagree with that. Depends on what happens next, doesn’t it?
~~~~~~~~~~
So, let’s end with some really good news, twice over.
First, Yehuda Glick was released from Shaare Zedek hospital tonight. Baruch Hashem. At a press conference, he called his recovery, after he was close to death, a “miracle.”
And then he said,
“Those who are giving respect to Islam are those Muslim doctors and nurses who work at this hospital [by] helping people after they have signed the Hippocratic Oath.”
This is so lovely. As it should be. The counterweight to the ugly stuff.
Credit: Shaare Zedek Medical Center
~~~~~~~~~~
And then Yehuda said:
“It must not be a working assumption that members of the public in Israel are protected. Something has happened in Israel – a person who is active in public and law-abiding was shot because of his faith.”
The government, he warned, must “come to its senses” and provide the public with better protection. Relates directly to much of what I’ve written above.
Forum: What was your reaction to the President’s New Executive Order On Immigration?

SNL – Schoolhouse Rock – Immigration Bill
Obama Rolls the Dice on Immigration – America Comes Up Snake Eyes
Every week on Monday morning, the Council and our invited guests weigh in at the Watcher’s Forum with short takes on a major issue of the day, the culture or daily living. This week’s question: What was your reaction to the President’s New Executive Order On Immigration?
GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD: Kinda shocked at the lawlessness. I mean, if a GOP pres decided to Executive Order a Berlin Wall type barrier along the South 40 – ppl would totally freak. Methinks the GOP will NOT fall into an over reaction trap – instead they’ll use the Cruz Maneuver:
“Step number one that I have called for is the incoming majority leader should announce that if the president implements this lawless amnesty, that the Senate will not confirm any executive or judicial nominees, other than vital national security positions, for the next two years, unless and until the president ends this lawless amnesty,” Cruz told Chris Wallace on Faux News Sunday. “If the majority leader would announce that, it would impose real consequences on the president and the administration.”
Cruz didn’t say if he regards the attorney general as a “vital national security position,” leaving open the question of whether he wants the GOP to block confirmation of Loretta Lynch, 44’s nominee to replace Attorney General Eric The Red Holder.
“The second constitutional power we’ve got is the power of the purse,” Cruz continued. “And we should fund, one at a time, the critical priorities of the federal government, but also use the power of the purse to attach riders.”
By riders, Cruz is likely referring to an appropriations bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security but stipulate that none of the funds appropriated may be used to implement 44’s recent executive orders. And, following Cruz’s thinking, if 44 vetoes that bill next year, it wouldn’t result in a government-wide shutdown because Congress will have passed bills funding other parts of government.
Cruz’s plan is very similar to the one he hoped to execute during the fight to defund the health care thing, with one crucial difference: Republicans now control the Senate, so Harry Reid, in theory, can’t block the bills that would fund the rest of government.
Also, tired of the tired refrain that somehow deporting 11 million ppl is undoable. Au Contraire mon frer!
Mass Deportation is very doable – after all – if the Germans can tote off over half that many folks and kill them – we can certainly carry off that many folks to their nation of origin and ensure they have a sack lunch on the bus.
Think of the economic boom the nation would enjoy – thousands of buses, drivers, relief drivers, petrol, safety officers, translators, sack lunch fixer uppers, paper pushers etc., etc.
Or how about fining sanctuary cities for helping craft and continue the entire sorry mess to begin with? And the sudden stoppage of the drain on municipalities resources for illiterate and semi literate unskilled workers and families as they shed the ‘shadow dwellers’ by the bus loads simply raises quality of life for citizens.
The Right Planet: So often times those of us who want a secure border and current immigration laws to be enforced are labeled as “xenophobes,” “racists,” and the like, by the rampagin’ “open borders” crowd—the implication being we’re “anti-immigrant.” Hey, I have no problem with legal immigration. I think it’s a good thing. But we have immigration laws, like most nations do, thank you very much. George Stephanopoulos asked the president, “If you can selectively enforce immigration law, what prevents another president from not enforcing tax laws?” Obama’s response? Oh, that would be wrong. And how do legal immigrants feel about Obama’s imperial decree to grant executive amnesty after they followed all the rules? You can read more about that here. Back out quiet.
JoshuaPundit: First, we have to start by understanding this. This was not about compassion, or fairness or the good of the nation. It was about politics. The president’s aim here is to create a brand new bloc of government-dependent Democrat voters. See if in one year or so there isn’t a push by the Democrats and this president to provide these people with a streamlined ‘path to citizenship’ and voting. “After all, they’re here, they’re paying taxes…”
The other reason it was done in this way is because the president hopes to provoke the Republicans into a government shutdown come December 12th and recreate what happened previously, where he deliberately shut down things that would most impact and inconvenience the American people while blaming it on the GOP while his media sycophants sing the same song. In his mind, he’s still as popular as he was back then and the midterm elections meant nothing.
I think the Republican caucus did exactly the right thing by getting out of Dodge just now. They need to plan a cohesive strategy, some of which I explored here. And they need to feel out who’s really on board and who isn’t. For instance, Senator McCain, the creature of his biggest financial backer UniVision cannot be trusted.
Lawsuits are not only useless, but take far too long. First, everything connected with the president’s new executive diktat can be defunded by congress and anyone who believes the nonsense that entities like the USCIS can’t be defunded ‘because they operate using fees rather than appropriations’ needs to click on the above link to find out exactly how ridiculous that is.
They can halt any of his nominations and appointments, saying quite frankly that since this president has shown his contempt for the incoming congress and the separation of powers, they feel under no obligation to cooperate with him on anything.
They can pass common sense legislation that forces him to use his veto pen and shows whom the real obstructionists in congress are. They can block anything he plans to do including his planned global warming $3 billion slush fund and honestly say that until he reverses himself, that’s simply how things are going to be. This can easily apply to ObamaCare also if the Supreme Court doesn’t gut it first, since the president has said he will never sign any legislation repealing or changing it in any way.
I personally would extend the defunding to the president’s discretionary funds. No more lavish fundraisers and vacations on the public’s dime, severe cuts in his and the First Lady’s personal staff… no more personal chefs, masseuses, hair stylists and ‘assistants.’ No more pricey state dinners and parties featuring Hollywood entertainers, no more greens fees for his golf games. Let the president pay for these himself, if he likes.
And most important of all, the very first thing the new House and Senate need to do is pool their resources and hire a special prosecutor and staff to collect evidence so the House can prepare articles of impeachment.
I think a lot of people get confused and think that impeachment is a legal remedy because it has a legal process. It is actually a political remedy, and only works when a president has gone so far off the rails as to be unpopular enough with the American people that it can succeed. I think the president (whose approval ratings I think are at least 5-10% exaggerated in his favor) is at that point now, and that will become even more obvious if the articles are prepared properly and the American people get a good summation of everything this lawless, would-be autocrat has done to disgrace his office.
At that point, even many Democrats are likely to urge him to resign to save themselves, dangling a pre-arranged pardon okayed by soon to be interim President Biden as an incentive.
Once he’s gone, Congress can simply reverse what he’s done. And a far better solution to illegal migration can be formulated, one that protects the borders and deports people here illegally whom do not benefit America in the 21st century while importing other immigrants who do.
Laura Rambeau Lee, Right Reason: President Obama knows once the newly elected Republican led Senate and House members convene in 2015 they will not pass a comprehensive immigration bill he would sign, which is why he issued this executive order. This action defies the powers granted to the executive branch in our Constitution. Even President Obama acknowledged on many occasions he did not have the power to act unilaterally on this issue.
The President is correct in saying that rounding up and deporting millions of illegal immigrants in this country is not practical. He said that by issuing this executive order he was being fair and just. The Republicans should appeal to the immigrants who have waited for years to come here legally, and to every American citizen whose hard earned tax money will be used to pay for this illegal “amnesty.” Is the President being fair and just to them?
I would love to see the Republicans put forth a bill building on this executive order to enforce and enhance border security, assure criminals who are caught are deported immediately, and those given permission to stay under this executive order should never be permitted to become American citizens unless they leave the country and apply through the proper legal channels to do so.
The goal of the left in granting amnesty to illegal immigrants is to create a new voting block of millions of voters who will vote for Democrat candidates. The Republicans can stop this by not allowing them to become citizens. Let them work here legally, out of the shadows, and take advantage of the opportunities available to them. They should not be rewarded for their crimes by being given a special path to citizenship. I believe this is fair and just, not just to the illegal immigrants, but to those of us who are American citizens by birth or who went through the proper legal channels to become American citizens.
The President will not sign such a law, but the Republicans can show the American people that the purpose of this executive order is to gain millions of new Democrat voters and has nothing to do with compassion.
Well, there you have it!
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Is Obama Deliberately Using the “ISIS Crisis” to Forge an Alliance With Iran?
By: Trevor Loudon
New Zeal
The world communist press has been pushing an American/Iranian “rapprochement” for some time now.

Communist Party of Britain paper
Navid Shomali, secretary of Iran’s communist Tudeh Party’s international department, recently wrote:
The Tudeh Party of Iran supports any lowering of tension between the U.S. and Iran. It has called for years for all disputes to be resolved by negotiation in accordance with international law.
Savvy commentators like Washington DC based Michael Ledeen have been warning of President Obama’s plans for nothing less than a full fledged US/Iran alliance.
Now comes further indication of the President’s intentions, from one of the Communist Party USA‘s best friends in Congress, Washington State Rep. Jim McDermott. Long tied to the Washington Communist Party, identities such as Pat Stell and the late Will Parry, McDermott is a very reliable guide to communist thinking and strategy.
I’ve always said that if you want to know what long time Communist Party “friend” Barack Obama will do tomorrow – read the communist press today.
In a recent speech on the floor of Congress, published in full, in the Communist Party’s Peoples World, Rep. McDermott lays out the communist agenda, selling points towards a US/Iranian detente and an eventual formal alliance.
Mr. Speaker:
I rise this morning on what could be the eve of a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran, as U.S., European, and Iranian negotiators head back to Vienna for a final round of talks.
With so much of the region in turmoil right now, it seems hard to imagine that we could be on the verge of arguably the most important diplomatic achievement in the Middle East in recent U.S. history.
The leadership of President Obama, the tenacity of the U.S. negotiators, and the sincerity of President Rouhani and his team have set the stage for a landmark agreement that would turn the page on decades of distrust, dissension and cynicism.
Here is what a nuclear deal would mean:
* A profound reduction in the decades-long tension between Iran, the U.S. and our allies that had set us on a path to war.
* A contained Iranian nuclear program with verifiable internationally-accepted limits.
* Meaningful sanctions relief that bolsters Iran’s flagging economy and allows U.S. businesses access to a potentially vibrant market.
* An opening for a broader understanding between the U.S. and Iran, as well as an opportunity to court Iran as an ally in the fight against ISIS.
Here is the bait which will be used to lure the American public onto a viciously barbed hook.
Michael Ledeen maintains that Obama has wanted an alliance with Iran since the beginning of his first term of office. Obama would know that it would take something pretty dramatic to get the American public to swallow such a repugnant policy reversal.
To accept Iran, the public would have to be conditioned to fear something even worse.
It is known that Obama knew about ISIS for months and did nothing until they gathered so much strength and committed so many atrocities that he could no longer ignore them.
Now with horrific mass killings and brutal filmed beheadings, much of the American public believes that a ragtag army of Islamist extremists is public enemy number one. Not to diminish the threat from ISIS in any way, but what about Russia and its 8,500 nukes, China with its rapidly growing political, economic and military power, and an almost nuclear capable Iran? The focus is now all on ISIS – a threat that the president was at least negligent in allowing to grow.
Did the President deliberately allow ISIS to get out of hand in order to gull the American public into accepting an alliance with their former sworn enemy, Iran?
Is Obama deliberately exploiting the “Isis Crisis” in order to create the unholiest of unholy alliances?
Was ISIS allowed to grow unchecked, so that Obama could hold out his hand in friendship to a sworn enemy of liberty and American values? To a nation that still plans to annihilate America’s only real real friend in the Middle East, Israel?
I suspect that President Obama does not plan to let the “Isis Crisis” go to waste.
Weekly Featured Profile – Stephen L. Paulmier
Stephen L. Paulmier is Editor of the Hawaiian cultural magazine; The Hammer, active in the Hawaiian Friends of the Soviet People and Editor, of Ideological Fightback magazine, the journal of the Stalinist Communist Party USA spinoff National Council of Communists, USA.
He is originally from from Germantown, Pennsylvania and studied art at Springfield College.
In 2002, Stephen Paulmier was a printer, a member of the Graphics Communications International Union and a reader of the Communist Party’s People’s World in Philadelphia. He wrote an article in People’s World on taking his family to meet jailed “Cuban 5” spy René Gonzalez at the Federal Correctional Institute McKean in Bradford, PA.
- We had learned about the circumstances leading to his imprisonment last summer while we were participating in the Pastors for Peace caravan to end the blockade of Cuba. My sons and I had the honor of hearing Ricardo Alarcon, the president of the Cuban National Assembly, describe the events that led to the brutal and unjust arrest and imprisonment of the five anti-terrorists.
June 13, 2002: Oscar Redondo Toledo, an Intelligence Officer serving under diplomatic cover at the Cuban Interests Section, was the featured speaker at a meeting in Philadelphia. Other speakers that night were Pamela Martin of the Philadelphia-Cardenas Sister Cities Project and Stephen Paulmier of the “Free the Five” Committee. While posted to the Interests Section, Redondo handled the “Sister City” program between Havana and Mobile, Alabama.
In early November, 2002, the US declared Redondo and another Cuban spy-diplomat Persona Non Grata. Both officers were First Secretaries at the Cuban Interests Section. According to the Washington Post, the expulsion retaliated for the 16-year career of Cuban spy Ana Montes, who was sentenced in October of 2002.
After moving to Hawaii, Stephen Paulmier was active in the Democratic Party – contributing to policy formation, from his position as Treasurer, Democratic Party Caucus 1st District, Precint 2.
As of May, 2014, Stephen L. Paulmier served on the Board of the U.S. Friends of the Soviet People, a network aiming to support communist parties in the former Soviet Bloc.
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