"What do you think would happen?"

Jon Lovitz asked a really good question on Twitter last night:

More on Joe Kennedy's Ignorance about Israel

Last week, I wrote a post about how the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District, Joe Kennedy III (yes, one of those Kennedys), had taken the the unacceptable position that the capital of Israel was Tel Aviv. 

Video of Kennedy's ridiculous statement made the rounds of the blogosphere (see Moe Lane's RedState post here), but Kennedy has not attempted to clarify his words (or, more likely, his handlers haven't let any journalists close enough to ask him any real questions). The fact that delegates at the DNC were caught on video loudly booing a vote to reinstate language in the Democratic platform that affirmed Jerusalem as Israel's capital further adds to the growing criticism that the Democrats are not as supportive of Israel as they claim.

Today, Seth Mandel has an excellent, "must-read" post at Commentary regarding Kennedy's statement and some broader related issues pertaining to the MA-4 election:

Unacceptable: Kennedy says capital of Israel is Tel Aviv [VIDEO]

In a recent television debate with his Democratic primary opponents, MA-4 Congressional candidate Joe Kennedy III was asked about the capital of Israel.

Shockingly - especially for a candidate who professes to support Israel - Kennedy replied that the capital was Tel Aviv, and even confirmed his answer when the host questioned him on it:

This is what supporting Israel looks like: Romney in Jerusalem [VIDEO]

Mitt Romney gave a powerful, moving speech in Jerusalem earlier today, stating unequivocally his support for our ally, as well as his condemnation for terrorists who threaten Israel's security and Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.

Additionally, unlike the current White House administration, Romney had no problem stating very clearly that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

The speech is a must-watch:

"I'm a lifelong Democrat...but this time I'm going to vote for a Republican."

Here is a must-see ad created by the Republican Jewish Coalition, which they describe as the "first in a series of ads...highlighting the real stories of real people who give voice to the nagging doubts that many in the Jewish community feel about President Obama:"

Netanyahu on Fox News Sunday [VIDEO]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a guest on "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace yesterday:

Adam Hasner Townhall column on Israel

Florida Senate candidate Adam Hasner has written a powerful op-ed for Townhall on the topic of Israel, and how the Obama administration has failed our ally:

Townhall | Adam Hasner | A Time to Act: Defending Israel and Doing What is Just

Words Have Meaning: LeMieux's Palestinian Faux Pas

Here's your #facepalm moment of the day: George LeMieux, the once-and-would-be-future-Senator, sent an email to his supporters in which he referred to "Palestine," which is not a recognized country.

The timing is especially troublesome, coming the week of a crucial United Nations vote on the very subject of an independent Palestinian state. Supporters of Israel have stood strong and refused to accept a Palestinian state as long as they continue to engage in terrorism and deny Israel's right to exist. Referring to "Palestine," as if it were already a country with legal status, is, at best, imprudent.

The Adam Hasner campaign issued a scathing press release this afternoon, sharply criticizing LeMieux's poor choice of words:

Allen West's Weekly Video Address

Congressman Allen West has started releasing weekly video addresses. Here's the latest edition, in which West critiques Obama's so-called "jobs" bill and discusses a variety of topics including the economy, the NLRB vs. Boeing dispute, the upcoming vote at the United Nations regarding Palestine, and his support for Israel:


YouTube | AllenWestFL | West's Weekly Video Address 9/16/2011

You can help Allen West's reelection campaign for only the cost of a postage stamp, by signing a petition to put West on the ballot (link here). Until redistricting is complete, a registered voter anywhere in Florida can sign a petition for a Congressional or state legislative candidate.

AIPAC Orlando Reception and Policy Briefing

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is hosting a reception and policy briefing on September 19, 2011 here in Central Florida.

The program is titled “Showdown at the United Nations: Diplomacy or Delegitimization?” and will feature Dr. Tal Becker, the lead negotiator during the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations under the Annapolis Peace Process. Dr. Becker also served as a Senior Policy Advisor to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2006-2009, and his recent book, Terrorism at the State: Rethinking the Rules for State Responsibility, received the 2007 Guggenheim Prize for Best International Law Book. Dr. Becker's discussion will focus on the ramifications that the Palestinians’ efforts to unilaterally declare a state at the United Nations will have for Israel and for the greater Middle East. Their first real push in the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to take place the very same week as this event.

Event flyer with RSVP instructions after the jump:

Obama's problems with Jewish voters

Here's a video from the Miami Herald a few weeks ago interviewing South Florida Jewish residents about whether they would vote for Obama in 2012:

Miami Herald | Insights | Jewish Voters on Obama

Note that many of those who supported Obama in 2008 have lost faith in him; more specifically, they have lost faith in his administration's support for Israel. South Florida has the third highest concentration of Jews in the country, and it's clear that Middle East foreign policy issues are a priority for this group of voters.

For more on this topic:

Sunshine State Sarah | Excellent video explanation of why Israel cannot withdraw to its 1967 borders
Sunshine State Sarah | A historical perspective on why Obama is wrong about Israel
Sunshine State Sarah | Krauthammer on Israel, and a history lesson

Excellent video explanation of why Israel cannot withdraw to its 1967 borders

Last month, I wrote a post about why President Obama was completely, dangerously wrong when he stated that Israel should withdraw to its 1967 borders:

Sunshine State Sarah | A historical perspective on why Obama is wrong about Israel

In the post, I discussed several history-based reasons why I so strongly disagreed with Obama, but I did not have a lot of detail about the specific geography of Israel. I've never been there and it's not my area of expertise, so I was very pleased to find this excellent video by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, which includes some amazing computer animations of Israel's borders, mountains and bodies of water, transportation corridors, etc.:


YouTube |shaharclips | outstanding Explanation: Why Israel can't withdraw to its pre '67 borders line - Please Share

I encourage you to watch this video and share it with your friends. For more info about the JCPA, click the image below:

Marco Rubio Addresses The Republican Jewish Coalition

Marco Rubio addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition yesterday at a reception in Washington, D.C. If you're looking for a little pick-me-up "why we fight" reminder, listening to this 10 minute speech is exactly what you need. Here's the video of his speech to the group:

YouTube | SenatorMarcoRubio | Sen. Rubio Addresses The Republican Jewish Coalition

Rubio begins with some powerful remarks about the unique greatness of America, and the child of working class immigrants would not be able to become a Senator anywhere else or at any other time than during "the American Century." Much of the speech centers around what we must do to ensure we can enjoy the benefits of another American Century.

Rubio also has some cutting words for the United Nations, calling them "only good at two things: number one, condemning Israel, and number two, cashing our checks that we send."

Well said, Senator Rubio. I continue to be extremely proud that I helped elect a great leader to be my Senator.

As far as Florida's other Senator goes, Rubio had these words of praise for Adam Hasner, who also attended the RJC event:

Adam was the Majority Leader when I was the Speaker of the House and did a great job and will be a great candidate.

Exactly.

Visit Senator Rubio's official Senate page here.
Visit Adam Hasner's campaign page here.

[Cross-posted at The Minority Report and Red County]

Morning Coffee Reading for May 26, 2011

Here's your morning coffee reading for today:

• David Limbaugh's column from Monday makes some excellent points about how Republicans should remember that "the liberal media do not have the best interests of Reagan conservatives in mind" in their coverage of our current and potential 2012 Presidential candidates. A must-read:

DavidLimbaugh.com | New Column: Don't Let Liberal Establishment Choose Our Candidates

• Ashley Sewell, who blogs at TX Trendy Chick, invited me on her radio program to discuss my post about Israel. Bethany Shondark was also a guest on the show. I met both Ashley and Bethany at CPAC this year: two awesome and feisty ladies who you should be following on Twitter if you aren't already (@TXTrendyChick and @bethanyshondark)
  

TX Trendy Chick | Podcast 17: I <3 Bibi

• The Minority Report, a great conservative blog where I  sometimes contribute content, recently went through a site redesign. The new website is http://theminorityreport.co/tmr and you can read my latest TMR post here (cross-posted here on this blog earlier this week).

• Here's a little perspective on the Democrats' victory in the NY-26 Congressional race (and of course, information you're not getting in the mainstream media). One intriguing element is the presence of a "fake tea party" spoiler candidate (see my posts about the efforts of a fake tea party here in Florida here).

Legal Insurrection | The Lessons of NY-26

• I'm not sure whether this is what the White House meant by "leading from behind," or if the President is just nostalgic for a time when his poll numbers were better, but on a Tuesday visit to London's Westminster Abbey, President Obama signed the guest book with the date "24 May 2008." On the O'Reilly Factor last night, Dennis Miller had a humorous comment: "He signed 2008 but everything he signs leads to inflation. By the time he gets back to D.C., it'll read 2011."

There was also this great tweet from @esqcapades:

Can you blame Obama for wishing it's 2008, when Michelle was finally proud of her country? Instead it's 2011 & we're proud of Bibi.Wed May 25 06:38:10 via webRachel
esqcapades

Legal Insurrection | Does anybody really know what time it is, does anybody care, about time?

• Tim Pawlenty made a campaign stop in Tampa earlier this week. From what I hear from friends who attended, it was a great event and he made a very favorable impression.

St. Petersburg Times | Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty makes Tampa a first campaign stop

• Governor Rick Scott is signing the budget today at 1:00 pm at The Villages. You can watch it online here:

http://www.rickscottforflorida.com/livestream/

• An ABC News camera caught an interesting conversation between Congressman Paul Ryan and former President Bill Clinton regarding the recent New York special election and the current budget debate in Congress (hat tip: @kesgardner and Legal Insurrection):

YouTube |Bill Clinton and Paul Ryan Chumming It Up Like Old Buddies

A historical perspective on why Obama is wrong about Israel

President Obama made a very controversial statement in a speech last Thursday: that Israel should return to its pre-1967 borders as part of a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

To be fair, the President did qualify that statement by mentioning that  "land swaps" would have to be part of the deal, and he seemed to take a somewhat less aggressive stance in his speech to AIPAC yesterday, but still mentioned the 1967 borders as his reference point.

Not an effective foreign
policy strategy.

President Obama is engaging in a dangerous little dance as he attempts to shape world policy while simultaneously pretending the history of that same world didn't happen.

In my opinion, openly suggesting that Israel go back to the 1967 borders is, at best, dangerously naïve, does nothing to advance the goal of obtaining realistic peace for the region, and only emboldens Israel's enemies who would seek to push the borders further and further back until Israel disappeared from the map altogether.

Let's remember why Israel's borders changed in 1967: the Six-Day War.

Israel, at that time not even two decades into its modern existence, was facing increasing aggression from its Arab neighbors. In just six days in early June 1967, the tiny nation successfully defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria (along with numerous other allies who were fighting with them). Israel's victory was decisive, shocking the Middle East, and as a result, Israel gained control over an increased territory. Israel officially expanded its borders eastward, and retained control over a larger area that would provide a valuable buffer zone to its residents.

Israel, pre-1967, was less than nine miles wide. To retreat back to the pre-1967 borders would create additional and unnecessary military vulnerabilities, including leaving the entire land area of Israel vulnerable to the Hamas rockets, which have a range of about 10 miles.

Another noteworthy development happened last month, when Fatah, one of the major Palestinian political parties announced it had made an alliance to join with Hamas to form a government.

Hamas is, plain and simple, a terrorist organization. They do not bother to play  semantic games like the Irish Republican Army did with the Sinn Féin political party. Hamas issues their death threats against the people of Israel in their own name, they launch rockets at schoolyards in their own name, they send suicide bombers to shopping centers in their own name. 

There is no room for confusion. This is a black-and-white issue. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has declared war on Israel and is actively engaged in violence and bloodshed as I type this post here today.

In the context of this history, Obama's Thursday speech seemed to oversimplify the situation and he was accused of being out of touch with reality.  One notable critic was   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had a visit with the President the next day. Netanyahu strongly rebuked Obama, saying that the 1967 lines were "indefensible" and did not take into consideration the situation on the ground.

Here's the video of Netanyahu's meeting with Obama. There's a line he says near the end that is especially chilling:

We don't have a lot of margin for error. And...Mr. President, history will not give the Jewish people another chance.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Netanyahu is correct. What Obama is asking is for him to risk the survival of his entire nation, and he's right to take what some are calling a "defiant" tone here.

It is almost unprecedented to expect the victor of a war to return territories won in the conflict, especially when such lands are obtained from an aggressor and viewed as strategically essential territories for future defense.

In the entire history of human civilization on this planet, I'm aware of one country, just one, that was victorious in war and then voluntarily gave up conquered territory: The United States. 

After World War II, America not only agreed to allow Germany and Japan to retain their independence, but also supported a significant portion of their rebuilding through the Marshall Plan and related programs.

Note, however, that we didn't call up Hitler in 1943 and try to "negotiate" peace.  We fought on land, sea, and air until the German military could take no more. We did not stop fighting until Hitler had committed suicide and the Germans had officially and formally surrendered.

We carpet-bombed German cities - including civilian areas. In this modern age where we send attorneys to the front lines and futilely attempt to fight politically correct wars, it can be difficult to appreciate what this really means. Photographs can only capture a small piece:

Berlin, May 1945 - View of Unter den Linden and the Brandenburg Gate

Film gives a fuller perspective. There's a great movie with Jean Arthur,  Marlene Dietrich, and John Lund called A Foreign Affair that takes place in Berlin right after World War II. The opening scenes include several aerial shots taken from airplanes flying over the city, showing a Berlin that had nearly been leveled by Allied bombs.

Here's a clip from the beginning of the movie. Note especially the sections at 1:40 and 3:35.


YouTube | A Foreign Affair 1/12 (!948)

Likewise, after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, we didn't sit down at a table with Emperor Hirohito and try to draw up a contract for peace. We didn't whine and wish upon a star for them to not bomb us any more. We flew across the Pacific Ocean and bombed them. A lot.

Of course, the circumstances under which we obtained Japan's surrender are well-known. What is less remembered is that, before we dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, the United States had intensely firebombed sixty-seven Japanese cites for six months. resulting in an estimated 500,000 Japanese deaths (the two nuclear attacks killed less than half that).

Appeasement doesn't work. This does.

We did not back down until the Japanese agreed to unconditionally surrender  on our terms.

After the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, President Truman gave a radio address in which he announced that America had used this weapon for the first time in world history, and vowed that we would "continue to use [the bomb] until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war."  We even had plans to drop another atomic bomb on a Japanese city in August 1945, and then three more per month after that, until they surrendered.

My point is that, regarding this unprecedented and historically unique voluntary grant of territory by a victor after a war, the United States ceded control only after a complete and total defeat and surrender of Germany and Japan's fighting forces, and not a minute before. 

Today, Israel is being asked to negotiate with a Palestinian government that has openly and proudly allied itself with Hamas, which, I repeat again for emphasis, is a terrorist organization.

Israel is being asked to retreat to indefensible borders without any real reassurances that the attacks will cease. Worse, Israel is being asked to make this retreat while the violence is still happening.

Israel is being asked to surrender territory that it rightfully won in war, in the hope that it will appease the bloodthirsty killers who deny Israel even has a right to exist.

Appeasement didn't work when Neville Chamberlin tried it with Adolf Hitler. It won't work with Hamas either. The only way to "appease" Hamas would be for the people of Israel to stand at the border and slit their own throats. That's a brutally graphic metaphor, I know, but we're talking about a group that believes bombing school buses full of children is a valid negotiating tactic. 

I am thankful that the people of Israel have a leader like Netanyahu who is grounded in reality and fully dedicated to the preservation of their nation. It breaks my heart to say that I fear our President does not share his views.

Peace will come to the Middle East when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.

- Golda Meir

If Palestine were to lay down their guns tomorrow, there would be no war. If Israel were to lay down theirs, there would be no Israel.

- Benjamin Netanyahu

[Cross-posted at RedState, RedCounty, and The Minority Report]

Morning Coffee Reading for May 23, 2011

Here's your morning coffee reading for today:

• In case you missed the news over the weekend, Herman Cain is in the race for President, Tim Pawlenty will officially announce he's getting in today, and Mitch Daniels is out.

• Abel Harding at the Florida Times-Union had an interesting blog post yesterday about the spread of fake Twitter accounts parodying political figures, notably in the Florida Republican Senate primary. IMHO, several of these accounts cross the line from being funny to being ugly and abusive. There's no way to completely prevent someone from creating one of these accounts, so I guess the next best thing is to spread the word and hopefully people become aware the fake accounts are out there, and know not to attribute any of the nonsense to the real candidates.

Jacksonville.com | PolitiJax Blog | Fake Twitter accounts raise eyebrows, create confusion in Florida Senate primary

• The St. Petersburg Times and POLITICO are teaming up to cover the 2012 elections. They'll be sharing content in both their respective print and online editions. This new arrangement is partially due to the 2012 Republican Convention being in Tampa.

St. Petersburg Times | The Buzz Blog | Times, POLITICO team up for 2012 coverage

• Gene Simmons from the band KISS had some harsh words for President Obama over the weekend. Simmons, whose real name is Chaim Witz, was born in Israel and let's just say he strongly disagrees with Obama's suggestion that Israel go back to its 1967 borders. Added bonus: he discusses the United Nations as well (Spoiler: he doesn't like them, either). Video of Simmons' interview is included with the article (warning - NSFW language):

Real Clear Politics | KISS' Gene Simmons: Obama "Has No F***ing Idea What The World Is Like"

• Here's Erick Erickson, making a lot of sense, as usual, in a brief post about the current crop of Republican Presidential candidates: "I can live with the field and I hope you can too."

RedState | Off to the races with the horses we have

•  George Soros-funded Media Matters apparently started a campaign to target companies that advertise on the Fox News Channel (keeping with their usual theme of "free speech for me but not for thee"). One thing they didn't count on was a corporation that had a backbone. Travel website Orbitz responded to the call for a boycott from "DropFox.com" with force and confidence. Well done, Orbitz. The boundaries of free speech should not be set by bullies.

Big Journalism | Travel Giant Orbitz Stands Up To Soros "Smear Campaign"

Jon Voight Rips Obama In Open Letter

The Cool Conservative of the Day is Jon Voight, for oh so many reasons...

Wow, oh wow.  This is one heck of a kick-in-the-teeth type of letter.  Actor Jon Voight has written an open letter to the President, slamming him for his betrayal of Israel and handling of the Arizona immigration debate.

"Your destruction of this country may never be remedied, and we may never recover..."

Read the whole letter.  It's only three paragraphs and well worth your time:

Jon Voight Rips Obama In Open Letter

I met Voight in 2008, at the Orange County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, where he was there to support Rudy Giuliani.  Voight is a great and very thoughtful speaker, and deeply troubled about the direction in which our country is headed.

    

Voight was on the Huckabee Show a few months ago, and had this to say:

Jon Voight on Huckabee

Voight has also been outspoken in support of a number of Republican candidates, our military and veterans, Israel, and in support of the tea party movement.  


Jon Voight, we're proud to have you on our side.  Keep fighting the good fight.

"This Is How You Stand With Israel"

There are some fair criticisms of George W. Bush, but one thing he definitely understood is the importance of our friendship with Israel.  Here's a great post from TheHotJoints with a look back:

TheHotJoints | Video | This Is How You Stand With Israel

Krauthammer on Israel, and a history lesson

An excellent, viciously logical, very compelling article by Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post:

Krauthammer: Those troublesome Jews

The whole point of this relentless international campaign is to deprive Israel of any legitimate form of self-defense.  Why, just last week, the Obama administration joined the jackals, and reversed four decades of U.S. practice, by signing onto a consensus document that singles out Israel's possession of nuclear weapons -- thus de-legitimizing Israel's very last line of defense: deterrence. 

The world is tired of these troublesome Jews, 6 million -- that number again -- hard by the Mediterranean, refusing every invitation to national suicide.  For which they are relentlessly demonized, ghettoized and constrained from defending themselves, even as the more committed anti-Zionists -- Iranian in particular -- openly prepare a more final solution.

Whoa.  Those are heavy, heavy words.  What do you think?  Is Krauthammer a drama queen for bringing up the Holocaust?  Or has the way the international community treats Israel gotten so insane, that the only way to make sense of the situation is to compare it to last century's organized attempt to wipe out the Jewish people?

That's a funny way of defining "Peace Activist"

Earlier today, one of those infamous "international incidents" occurred when violence broke out between members of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and several boats that were attempting to break through the Gaza blockade. 

The UN, international community, and most pathetically of all, President Obama, immediately condemned the IDF for being so darn mean to those poor, unfortunate peace activists on the boats.  

"Peace activists?"  Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME?

Only in the wild, wacky, WTF-are-you-thinking world of the liberal media can a group of well-armed pro-Hamas thugs on a boat be called any name with the word "peace" in it.