Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > May > 20
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Israelis are Nazi appeasers?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
President Bush goes before the Israeli Knesset and condemns anyone who wants to talk with Hamas and other groups, comparing them to those who appeased the Nazis. It’s a “foolish delusion” to talk with such people, Bush said, “as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along.”
But according to a new poll, 64 percent of Israelis support direct negotiation with Hamas, including 48 percent of those in the hard-core Likud party.
So according to the president, Israel is a nation of Nazi appeasers…. who knew?
Johnny’s not marching home again…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When Sen. Johnny Isakson announced he would try to stay in Washington and would not return home to run for governor in 2010, it was bad news for Georgia and even worse news for the Georgia Republican Party.
I disagree with Isakson on a lot of issues, but I know from covering him in his time at the state Legislature that he’s not a party hack. He also has earned a level of personal and professional respect that would allow him to lead.
Given political realities, our next governor is likely to be Republican. For Georgia’s sake, that governor has to be someone with the intellect, standing and character to make progress on critical areas such as transportation. Isakson could have been that kind of governor. Sonny “Go Fish Georgia” Perdue has proved he doesn’t fit that description, nor do any of the other Republicans elbowing each other to succeed him.
Again, that’s bad news for Georgia. But for Georgia Republicans who have already been embarrassed by the behavior of party leaders under the Gold Dome, it’s even worse. Another failed governor and more childish feuding will accelerate the rejuvenation of the Georgia Democrats.
But of course, they have problems of their own…..
Hillary’s expiration date
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By staying in the race long after it was apparent she had lost, Hillary Clinton has won a lot of grudging admiration as a fighter, voiced even by some who otherwise despise her. But when do tenacity and drive cross the line into stubbornness, foolishness or even obsession?
I think that line is in sight. Clinton has clearly become the third horse in a two-horse race, drawing little attention and becoming increasingly irrelevant as John McCain and Barack Obama focus their attention exclusively on each other.
And at some point, a cause for admiration can become a reason for ridicule, especially when the excuses for staying in become more and more flimsy. With primaries today in Kentucky and Oregon, the expiration date for her campaign is looming.
