Boycott Israel?

[Avi]

For what it is worth RedIceRadio did a show on this recently.

How stupid. If manufacturers want observant Jews to by their products (which fall within a very narrow margin of consumables), then yes, they have to be kosher. Let me offer something intelligent on the subject:

http://www.amazon.com/Kosher-Private-Regulation-Industrial-Food/dp/0674072936/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425364301&sr=8-1&keywords=kosher+regulation

[PB the Deplorable]

I'm happy to see an indication something I'm going to eat is Kosher, I take it as a sign of at least a certain level of quality.  Same thing with Halal.

[VtaGeezer]

Oh dear. His nurses have given him the router password again.

The scary thing is that tens of millions of evangelicals and fundamentalists in the US fully embrace that primitive idiocy.

[albrecht]

I'm happy to see an indication something I'm going to eat is Kosher, I take it as a sign of at least a certain level of quality.  Same thing with Halal.

In a way it just like the modern movement of labeling things "organic" etc. The main concern is if the monitoring is actually proving some value (clean conditions) or, for the Jews and Muslims in the kosher/halal case, actually adhering to the practices (there have been some scandals in this regard.)

[Up All Night]

Full text of Netanyahus' address to Congress March 3, 2015:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/03/full-text-netanyahus-address-to-congress/

[VtaGeezer]

Full text of Netanyahus' address to Congress March 3, 2015:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/03/full-text-netanyahus-address-to-congress/

We heard the same speech from him in 2002, only then it was Saddam Hussein on the brink of developing nukes. But in '02 he wasn't so patronizing and condescending toward the USA.

[albrecht]

I posted this in Tech forum but it is also politics via Israel related. Time Warner Cable just issued an Emergency Alert System test. A huge loud buzzing and script across screen. The odd thing was the audio (on the tv) went to audio playing Rush Limbaugh's broadcast that was talking about Obama and Netanhayu's speech! I kid you not. I turned on my AM radio to 590AM KLBJ and it was playing the same Rush monologue. Very bizarre. A glitch in the Emergency Alert System or, tin-foil hat here, an ploy by Israel Mossad, since I doubt Obama would want his Emergency Alert System to be broadcasting Rush! And how would an AM radio feed come from the television (the picture was still showing the HBO show which was "Hulk"?) Bizarre.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

The scary thing is that tens of millions of evangelicals and fundamentalists in the US fully embrace that primitive idiocy.

That's because they want to save Israel now so it can be destroyed later to fulfill Biblical prophecy.  With friends like that....

It's also ironic that many of those people don't care for Jews in the U.S., but they love and admire Israelis.

[albrecht]

It's also ironic that many of those people don't care for Jews in the U.S., but they love and admire Israelis.

I'm not sure about that but it makes sense. Some of the most liberal people I know and back-in-the-day pro busing, civil rights etc lived in towns outside of Boston that even today are still 95% white and upper-income. They did not need to have their children bused or have black bused into their schools and also didn't need to live, work, or consort with blacks so it was easy to tell Alabama, or even Boston, what they should do. Or, using another example, you have billionaires and millionaire funding anti-gun campaigns.....but live in gated estates and travel with armed security everywhere they go. As if there is a great security risk in their penthouses, gated estates, private golf-course, and yachts but the "little people" have no rights to security. Or these politicians who extol the virtues of the public schools....but send their kids to Sidwell Friends and other elite private or parochial schools. Or Republican politicians from dynasties counting on your average white working-class and middle-class male to vote for them because "they are like them." Or the Democrat ones doing the same for blacks and illegals. Hypocrisy is nothing new and everywhere.

[Gd5150]

It was a great move by Republicans and Netanyahu. Israel can't afford to sit around while Obama and the Dems cook up some weak Carter/Clintonesque type peace treaty with Iran to try to build the Obama legacy.  A mistake in this area won't simply prolong the recession, or destroy the healthcare system, it will actually get a country destroyed. Now the Dems are on the record for not supporting Israel. They thought acting unpresidential and not showing up would keep them under the radar, not this time. If anything substantial happens to Israel in the next 10 years that comes from anywhere near Iran, the Democrats, Obama, and their ignore everything foreign policy own it. And if Obama actually has the balls to not cut a deal with Iran, then Netanyahu can return home with a big "mission accomplished" sign. Thats win/win, thats leadership!

[Kelt]

I guess I'll be the first to say it.

If something happens to Israel in the next ten years... or ever...  I won't give a shit.

[FightTheFuture]

Bibi was spectacular today. It was incredibly refreshing to see a true statesman and leader at the podium in front of a joint session of congress. Why, for a short time there, my mind actually drifted away from memories of previous appearances by the effeminate and apologetic Dear Leader.

It was also quite apparent that Congress was appreciative of the gravitas brought by PM Netanyahu, that is,  judging by the numerous  thunderous standing ovations. Thank God, despite the best efforts of the idiot in the White House, we as a nation, stand with Israel.

[VtaGeezer]

It was a great move by Republicans and Netanyahu. Israel can't afford to sit around while Obama and the Dems cook up some weak Carter/Clintonesque type peace treaty with Iran to try to build the Obama legacy.  A mistake in this area won't simply prolong the recession, or destroy the healthcare system, it will actually get a country destroyed. Now the Dems are on the record for not supporting Israel. They thought acting unpresidential and not showing up would keep them under the radar, not this time. If anything substantial happens to Israel in the next 10 years that comes from anywhere near Iran, the Democrats, Obama, and their ignore everything foreign policy own it. And if Obama actually has the balls to not cut a deal with Iran, then Netanyahu can return home with a big "mission accomplished" sign. Thats win/win, thats leadership!

Bibi and Boehner better get their war with Iran going quick 'cuz the honeymoon ended today.  You and the dittoheads cheer that Obama was humiliated, but no one in the ME sees it that way; they saw America humiliated. They, especially Iranians, saw the manifestation of of all the propaganda they've been fed for generations about who really controls Washington in the Arab-Israel conflict. No American President, D or R, will ever again allow the kind of open relationship with Israeli leadership that Israel has enjoyed until today.

[Avi]

In a way it just like the modern movement of labeling things "organic" etc. The main concern is if the monitoring is actually proving some value (clean conditions) or, for the Jews and Muslims in the kosher/halal case, actually adhering to the practices (there have been some scandals in this regard.)

Well, no, it isn't quite that simple, but I'd be wasting my time to go into a detailed explanation of kosher and kosher regulation on a 'boycott Israel' thread. Instead, I'm going to take the easy way out. Face it, you are all my kosher-tax bitches! Bwa-ha-ha!

[FightTheFuture]

Bibi and Boehner better get their war with Iran going quick 'cuz the honeymoon ended today.  You and the dittoheads cheer that Obama was humiliated, but no one in the ME sees it that way; they saw America humiliated. They, especially Iranians, saw the manifestation of of all the propaganda they've been fed for generations about who really controls Washington in the Arab-Israel conflict. No American President, D or R, will ever again allow the kind of open relationship with Israeli leadership that Israel has enjoyed until today.

No, it's more like the Iranians have their man in the White House. That means they are going to work tirelessly to acquire their ultimate goal of nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver them accurately. Obama is a weakling and a failure as a President. Iran sees this. Make no mistake about it. The Iranians respect power and the willingness to use that power. There are plenty of opportunities to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weaponry without engaging them in all out war. But, you cannot take the possibility of war off the table, as Obama has.

[VtaGeezer]

No, it's more like the Iranians have their man in the White House. That means they are going to work tirelessly to acquire their ultimate goal of nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver them accurately. Obama is a weakling and a failure as a President. Iran sees this. Make no mistake about it. The Iranians respect power and the willingness to use that power. There are plenty of opportunities to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weaponry without engaging them in all out war. But, you cannot take the possibility of war off the table, as Obama has.

Netanyahu offered no suggestions, no alternatives.  He wants no deal. Israel's insecurity keeps him and the hard liners in power and big cash from the USA flowing. He was the biggest cheerleader for invading Iraq; now he's crying about Iran gaining influence.  Ever heard the story about the guy on trial for murdering his parents who asked the judge for mercy because he was an orphan?  You need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid.  Today was historic; the first time in history a foreign leader was allowed to shit on the US flag in well of the US Congress...at the invitation of the Speaker.  And I bet he took a big ass check home when he left.

[FightTheFuture]

Netanyahu offered no suggestions, no alternatives.  He wants no deal. Israel's insecurity keeps him and the hard liners in power and big cash from the USA flowing. He was the biggest cheerleader for invading Iraq; now he's crying about Iran gaining influence.  Ever heard the story about the guy on trial for murdering his parents who asked the judge for mercy because he was an orphan?  You need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid.  Today was historic; the first time in history a foreign leader was allowed to shit on the US flag in well of the US Congress...at the invitation of the Speaker.  And I bet he took a big ass check home when he left.

Netanyahu is against Obama's deal. He spoke about Obama's deal. It's a horrible deal, in fact, it's not really even a deal. It's complete  acquiescence to hard-line Islamic terror. Bibi spoke of a better deal. Yes, there is a deal to be made. But the amateur at the White House, and his gals from Harvard, are utterly incapable of seeing it or completing it.

You know, I have spent a lot of time in that part of the world. Israel is a miniscule strip of land on the Mediterranean. And to really gain an appreciation of how tiny it is, you just have to be there. Get a sense of how life is being surrounded by enemies that are intent on eradication of you, your family, your culture, your homeland from the planet. Frankly, I believe it is incumbent upon us to work with Israel to ensure that that does not happen. Whether it means striking Iran, or tough negotiating, whatever it takes. It must be done. As BiBi said, NEVER AGAIN!

[Mind Flayer Monk]

Frankly, I believe it is incumbent upon us to work with Israel to ensure that that does not happen. Whether it means striking Iran, or tough negotiating, whatever it takes. It must be done. As BiBi said, NEVER AGAIN!

I disagree. Israel and ourselves have computer hacked Iran (flame virus) to the point we know everything about them. We even had their centrifuges spinning too fast (Stuxnet) and ruining their systems. We know exactly what they are doing and I think if they were doing something dangerous, they would be Libya part 2 right now.

[NowhereInTime]

It was a great move by Republicans and Netanyahu. Israel can't afford to sit around while Obama and the Dems cook up some weak Carter/Clintonesque type peace treaty with Iran to try to build the Obama legacy.

So, the Camp David Peace Accords were a "weak ... peace treaty"?  Your grasp of history is as poor as your grasp of politics.  How many skirmishes, incursions, or all out wars between Egypt and Israel since 1979?  I realize you are a conservative, but reality does need to be part of governing.

As for the "Obama Legacy", a peace deal limiting Iran's nuclear deployment to commercial use only would be an amazing achievement given the antipathy between our nations.  This will go to opening up Iran and having it rejoin the world community as well as secure Israel from a nuclear weapon from Iran.  (From Pakistan, however...)

Oh, and great job St. Ronnie did "avenging our humiliation" at the hand of the Ayatollah, by selling weapons to him!!!
 

A mistake in this area won't simply prolong the recession, or destroy the healthcare system

Again, more conservative boilerplate based in Neverneverland, not here in reality.  The "recession" has been 59 months of economic and employment growth...

http://www.dpcc.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=172

...in spite of conservative efforts to thwart this administration at every turn (and has far outpaced Reagan's economic recovery):

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

... it will actually get a country destroyed. Now the Dems are on the record for not supporting Israel. They thought acting unpresidential and not showing up would keep them under the radar, not this time. If anything substantial happens to Israel in the next 10 years that comes from anywhere near Iran, the Democrats, Obama, and their ignore everything foreign policy own it.

Ten years?  Is that in the Constitution, or is this another of your historical gaffes where you claim something happening today is to avenge something happening in 2018?

And if Obama actually has the balls to not cut a deal with Iran, then Netanyahu can return home with a big "mission accomplished" sign. Thats win/win, thats leadership!

That's idiocy.  Netanyahu is trying to gin up a war with Iran to eliminate them existentially.  77 million Persians aren't going to go away, not matter how much war we wage (unless, ironically, we use nuclear weapons). 

The president will put us, Israel, and the world in a better position by allowing Iran to save face and ultimately rejoin the world community. 

Every country (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) that we get to join the world leaves the list of states looking to destroy Israel.  Not to say the Wahabbis aren't supporting terror, but the idea of the 4th largest military in the world rolling tanks into Tel Aviv is off the table.

Grow up, please.

[Avi]

I'm happy to see an indication something I'm going to eat is Kosher, I take it as a sign of at least a certain level of quality.  Same thing with Halal.

Well, then.You deserve to be let in on the secret: Osem's Walnut Cake. A more divine snack has never been promulgated, especially the walnut cake that sticks to the paper liner, in a cake-like fudgy ecstasy.

[Gd5150]

So, the Camp David Peace Accords were a "weak ... peace treaty"?  Your grasp of history is as poor as your grasp of politics.  How many skirmishes, incursions, or all out wars between Egypt and Israel since 1979?  I realize you are a conservative, but reality does need to be part of governing.

As for the "Obama Legacy", a peace deal limiting Iran's nuclear deployment to commercial use only would be an amazing achievement given the antipathy between our nations.  This will go to opening up Iran and having it rejoin the world community as well as secure Israel from a nuclear weapon from Iran.  (From Pakistan, however...)

Oh, and great job St. Ronnie did "avenging our humiliation" at the hand of the Ayatollah, by selling weapons to him!!!
 
Again, more conservative boilerplate based in Neverneverland, not here in reality.  The "recession" has been 59 months of economic and employment growth...

http://www.dpcc.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=172

...in spite of conservative efforts to thwart this administration at every turn (and has far outpaced Reagan's economic recovery):

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

Ten years?  Is that in the Constitution, or is this another of your historical gaffes where you claim something happening today is to avenge something happening in 2018?

That's idiocy.  Netanyahu is trying to gin up a war with Iran to eliminate them existentially.  77 million Persians aren't going to go away, not matter how much war we wage (unless, ironically, we use nuclear weapons). 

The president will put us, Israel, and the world in a better position by allowing Iran to save face and ultimately rejoin the world community. 

Every country (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) that we get to join the world leaves the list of states looking to destroy Israel.  Not to say the Wahabbis aren't supporting terror, but the idea of the 4th largest military in the world rolling tanks into Tel Aviv is off the table.

Grow up, please.

Obama meeting with Iran is no more than a classic Democrat photo opp in the tradition of Clinton and Carter. Who could forget the wonderful Carter/North Korea deal? Remember that? Probably not. As typical of Carter, he gave away the farm, and once he left, North Korea told us to f off and continued to make nukes and delivery systems.

And who can forget this wonderful Clinton photo opp. That would be Israel and Palestine. That peace deal lasted all the 5 seconds.  But the photo was used for a decade to represent Clinton and is "statesmanship".
[attachimg=1]

Yes turning our backs on the Iranian government and burying our heads in the sand while they continue the march to building nukes would be classic left-wing Democrat foreign policy. But hey as long as it gives Obama a photo opp to show his "statesmanship" whats the worst thing that could happen?

Everyone knows recession is over, right? Afterall members of the media have been telling us that since the day Obama was inaugurated. Who cares that there are 25 million less jobs. A national healthcare system in chaos. A housing market being swallowed up by conglomerates. Ask anyone with a job, or on unemployment, they'll tell you how great the economy is.

"Not only have small businesses not bounced back from the recession, but as reported in USA Today, many households have not yet rebounded from the downturn. According to the Federal Government's Report on the Economic Well-Being of US Households, 34 percent of families are worse off or much more worse off financially than they had been five years earlier."

"Annually, 400,000 new businesses are being born nationwide, while 470,000 are dying each year across the country. Up until the recession began, startups outpaced business failures by 100,000 per year. "

- 2014 USA Today, Huffington Post (That would be 6 years into Obama's presidency)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/is-the-recession-really-o_b_5678614.html

[Quick Karl]

a peace deal limiting Iran's nuclear deployment to commercial use only would be an amazing achievement given the antipathy between our nations.  This will go to opening up Iran and having it rejoin the world community as well as secure Israel from a nuclear weapon from Iran.

I'm not sure if I should laugh, or be stunned...

[NowhereInTime]

I'm not sure if I should laugh, or be stunned...

I'm not sure you comprehend it, Falkie.  Truth is, when you step back to evaluate it, what is the other option, an Israeli attack? 

[NowhereInTime]

Obama meeting with Iran is no more than a classic Democrat photo opp in the tradition of Clinton and Carter. Who could forget the wonderful Carter/North Korea deal? Remember that? Probably not.

Well, thanks for presuming facts not in evidence (yet again) but I do remember President Carter serving as an ad-hoc Secretary of State re: North Korea.  If you read his reflection of the meetings, you will realize this wasn't just a "nuclear deal" and had higher stakes:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kim/interviews/carter.html

You will also President Carter's distaste for North Korea's leadership and how little he actually trusted them. 

As typical of Carter, he gave away the farm, and once he left, North Korea told us to f off and continued to make nukes and delivery systems.

What farm?  North Korea was given a legitimate opportunity to grow up and join the world community, like Iran is now, and, in truly conservative fashion, threw a temper tantrum when things didn't go exactly their way.

By the by, NK's great patron, China, is fed up with NK's spolied brat act, too.  A wonderful interview by Charlie Rose of former Australia PM Kevin Rudd details that (among many other Asia issues):

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-03-05/australia-pm-kevin-rudd-kevin-rudd

And who can forget this wonderful Clinton photo opp. That would be Israel and Palestine. That peace deal lasted all the 5 seconds.  But the photo was used for a decade to represent Clinton and is "statesmanship".
[attachimg=1]

This is pure conservative folly.  The Camp David summit was an honest attempt to broker peace as any before or since.  The problem stems as much from Israel having no real desire to recognize Palestine (see: Netanyahu and the West Bank) as it does with Palestine demanding full right of return, which is a legitimate concern for Israeli security.  The inability, by either side, to solve the question of the possession of Jerusalem will always doom this process. 

You'd rather take a cheap shot at a try for peace than do the hard work that is foreign policy.  Typical useless conservative fraud.

Yes turning our backs on the Iranian government and burying our heads in the sand...

As opposed to burying them up our asses and starting wars?

... while they continue the march to building nukes would be classic left-wing Democrat foreign policy. But hey as long as it gives Obama a photo opp to show his "statesmanship" whats the worst thing that could happen?

Right now?  Bibi tries to start a preemptive war to show off his chutzpah and it backfires when we will not commit ground forces.  The rest of the world has faith in this deal, including China and Russia, so why is it the most resistance and negativity comes from conservative Americans? 

Why do you hate America?!?

Everyone knows recession is over, right?

Has been for some time.  In case you missed this morning's labor report:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/03/06/jobs-report-march-2015/24488143/

Afterall members of the media have been telling us that since the day Obama was inaugurated.

You can site not one source who said that.  Not one.

Who cares that there are 25 million less jobs.

Maybe if you and your fellow pigs would bring them back from India, Mexico, Indonesia, China, Vietnam...

A national healthcare system in chaos.

Only because conservative crybabies are suing (again) to get their way.  Conservative trial lawyers and activist judges are the true burden on the American people. 

Why do you hate Americans so much?!?

A housing market being swallowed up by conglomerates.

Thanks to the free market free for all of Flip This House, Flip That House, and how many get rich real estate flipping schemes.

Ask anyone with a job, or on unemployment, they'll tell you how great the economy is.

Yes, you're right.  Wage growth was only .01% this past quarter.  Thanks to you and your corporation cocksuck party, we can't even get a fair minimum wage or an estate tax on cash horders to push wages back into the economy.  Greedy pigfuckers. 

Why do you hate middle class Americans so much ?!?

[Up All Night]

Hal Lindsey Reports:

http://www.hallindsey.com/videos/hal-lindsey-report-362015/415/

[VtaGeezer]

Hal Lindsey Reports:

It's a testament to the power of ignorance that people still pay attention and money to that Bible-thumping flim-flam artist. How come all these guys come from TX or OK? 

[WildCard]

Get a sense of how life is being surrounded by enemies that are intent on eradication of you, your family, your culture, your homeland from the planet.

“Israel is a country surrounded by enemies, but the enemies do not scare me,” he said. “I am scared of our leadership, by the absence of vision and the loss of a path, the loss of determination. By the hesitance and the impasse."

“Benjamin Netanyahu has served as prime minister for six years straight - six years in which he has not led a single genuine process of change to the face of the region or the creation of a better future.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11457725/Former-Mossad-chief-hits-out-at-Benjamin-Netanyahu.html

As BiBi said, NEVER AGAIN!

Oh, For Fucks Sake! Remember the Alamo!

[WildCard]

So, the Camp David Peace Accords were a "weak ... peace treaty"?  Your grasp of history is as poor as your grasp of politics.  How many skirmishes, incursions, or all out wars between Egypt and Israel since 1979?  I realize you are a conservative, but reality does need to be part of governing.

As for the "Obama Legacy", a peace deal limiting Iran's nuclear deployment to commercial use only would be an amazing achievement given the antipathy between our nations.  This will go to opening up Iran and having it rejoin the world community as well as secure Israel from a nuclear weapon from Iran.  (From Pakistan, however...)

Oh, and great job St. Ronnie did "avenging our humiliation" at the hand of the Ayatollah, by selling weapons to him!!!

LMAO! Slice 'Em & Dice 'Em!

[Gd5150]

Well Obama loses again. It's been a tough 6mos. After pressing hard for Netanyahu's opponent, wah wahhhh. Those Iran talks will be more pointless than ever now. So much for a Clintonesque photo opp of Obama and Iranian mullahs declaring "Obama gives the world peace" while allowing Iran to proceed with building nukes. Guess there won't be a 2nd Nobel Prize. Oh well there's always Obamacare and the 20 million full time jobs lost that can be added to the Obama legacy.

[Up All Night]

Netanyahu poised for third straight term as Israel PM after chief rival concedes

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/03/18/netanyahu-party-garners-most-votes-in-israeli-election-as-scramble-for-power/

According to official results reported in Israeli media early Wednesday, Likud had won at least 29 seats in the 120-member Knesset, five more than Herzog's centrist Zionist Union. No other party had more than 14 seats, and a party or coalition must have at least 61 seats to form a government. A key bloc that could sew up Netanyahu's premiership is Kulanu, another centrist party lead by former government minister Moshe Kahlon that was projected to earn 10 seats in the latest figures.