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Having long ago stopped thinking like a Democratic voter, I doubt that my impressions of tonight’s debate have much value except perhaps as a rever

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Obambi was reported to be ‘pro-Palestinian’ when he was in Chicago.  I didn’t see (or hear) the debate, but consider:

The Republicans may have a chance here to pull large numbers of Jews who traditionally vote Democratic into the Republican column, once they realize that Obambi is anti-Israel.

It’ll be up to Sen. McCain to make the case.  Obambi will pretend to be pro-Israel for the general election, so it’s time to start marshalling the facts that prove otherwise.  Now.

/Mr Lynn

For historic reasons a majority of Jews vote Democratic.  Obama is no friend of Israel and will lose a lot of those votes.  It could influence the outcome in states like Florida and New Jersey.

Couldn’t have said it better myself (from Digby)

Can someone please explain to me how that can possibly happen until something is done about the reprehensible political press? From tax returns to Farrakhan to footage shown by “mistake” to the endless, trivial, gotcha bullshit, this debate spectacle tonight was a classic demonstration of what people really hate about politics. It isn’t actually the candidates who can at least on occasion be substantive and serious. The problem is Tim Russert and all his petty, shallow acolytes who spend all their time reading Drudge and breathlessly reporting every tabloid tidbit and sexy rumor and seeking out minor inconsistencies from years past in lieu of doing any real work.

Judging by their silly questions tonight, Russert and Williams obviously know nothing about health care policy, Iraq, Islamic terrorism, economics, global trade or any other subject that requires more than five minutes study to come up with some gotcha question or a stupid Jack Bauer fantasy. It’s embarrassing.

Obama was also less than fully convincing in his show of support for Israel. He spoke of a special relationship but, perhaps more revealingly, described Israel as “one of our most important allies in the region.” I wish someone had asked him which allies in that region he thinks are comparably important.

Everyone knows it’s politically correct in this country for national politicians to prostrate themselves before the altar of Israel, but how many genuflections does it take before the Zionists among us are satisfied?  Apparently for Paul and Mr Lynn, never enough.

Obama is running for president of the United States, not of Israel.  This is a position that would put him on an international stage and require him to deal with sovereign heads of numerous nations around the world.  He knows, I’m sure, that a major sore point for most leaders concerned with creating peace in the Middle East is America’s longstanding, one-sided favoritism toward Israel.  If he plans to take a more even-handed approach—and I’m not sure that he does—he should be applauded for it, not condemned.

Come on be truthful here.

You left out a piece of this debate, in which Obama when called to task by Clinton to more forcefully reject Farrakan, Obama did so, with a denouncement and a rejection.

Please don’t create the false impression you are trying to that Obama doesn’t support Israel.

Mr Lynn - 27 February 2008 09:57 AM

It’ll be up to Sen. McCain to make the case [that Obambi is pro-Palestian].  Obambi will pretend to be pro-Israel for the general election, so it’s time to start marshalling the facts that prove otherwise.  Now.

/Mr Lynn

I think we both know how this will play out, Mr. Lynn. 

Now that the nomination is in hand, McCain will put away his street fighter alter ego, which he saves for his conservative “friends,” and will instead fall all over himself to point out how much respect he has for “Senator Obama,” and will thereby legitimize, not delegitimize, Obambi’s hard left positions on Palistine v Israel (and many other important issues). The public will conclude that there isn’t that much policy difference between the two, and will contrast the two candidates instead on the superficial stuff like age v. youth, charm v. none, etc, all of which favor Obambi over the old timer.

Check the blog posts re McCain’s pc dressing down yesterday of a McCain supporter who, in the course of speaking on behalf of McCain at a rally, referred to “Barack Hussein Obama.” (Senator McCain thinks it unfair to mention Obambi’s middle name.) Arguably not a big deal, except that it shows McCain putting on the kid gloves, not the tin foil and brass knuckles.

Paul Mirengoff says:

Obama was also less than fully convincing in his show of support for Israel. He spoke of a special relationship but, perhaps more revealingly, described Israel as “one of our most important allies in the region.” I wish someone had asked him which allies in that region he thinks are comparably important.

Um, how about starting with Saudi Arabia, the biggest oil producer in the world?  Or Kuwait and Qatar, which host US military bases.  Or Turkey, the link between Europe and the ME.  To be sure, Israel has given us advances in computer science and other technology, and has done America’s dirty work in getting rid of various threats in the region, but is it so farfetched to say that some of these other countries are “comparably important” ?

As a retired police officer with over 25 years “on the job”, the vast majority of which was dealing with con artists, people involved in bank fraud, etc. I’ve acquired a certain degree of knowledge about people who are con artists.  1. They are articulate. 2. They promise results unachieveable. 3. They prey upon the gullible. 4. They appeal to people who believe they can get something of value for nothing.

Mr. Obama is a con artist. He has all the attributes.  I also believe that all politicians are to some degree con artists, but Mr. Obama is far and away the best I’ve seen yet. Like all other con situations, when the con artist is gone, his victims are still holding the bag and nothing else.