Amercans have run out of patience with the continual waste of lives and enormous sums of money spent to support the military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us against. One of the reasons Biden/Harris lost to Trump was their continued support for massive military aid to Israel and their unwillingness to condemn the war in Gaza.
Biden, like Hillary Cliinton, had a history of supporting wars. Both voted in support of Bush's war in Iraq which killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The Democrats need a candidate who, like JFK, has the courage to take on the entrenched military establishment, to de-escalate military conflicts, and to work to reduce the looming threat of nuclear war.
As Mark Leibovich observed in a recent piece in The Atlantic about the fecklessness of the Democratic Party: Democrats are in a position to rise, IF THEY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO OUT OF THEIR OWN WAY. Also noted there: the progressive notion that to win you just need to turn out more progressive voters. Please.
As recent polling shows, Trump’s approval rating is plummeting because he is governing only from his right wing, MAGA base. He has abandoned the coalition of independents and disaffected Hispanics and Blacks that made up the coalition that garnered 77 million votes to beat Kamala Harris.
It’s a cautionary tale for Democrats, which we ignore at our peril.
There will always be some minor issues in the middle that we will differ on. But they also need a voice. And these issues will not be so minor to those who are harmed by cruel laws or attitudes. I lived on the border in Laredo for six years and worked with Bracero Mexican workers in Texas in 1954. We need worker and they are good decent people. This invaders talk is trash talk. I know trans people who really think they are male or female despite the bodies they came in, The notion that men will pretend to be women to sneak a peek in a rest room is stupid. Nobody does that. So we agree on most issues but have some thoughts for those who are small minority but still deserve our kindness. "In all things be kind."
I agree entirely that the word genocide should only apply when the intent is to eradicate a race or tribe. However, you soften the outrageous actions of a murderous Israeli government and its overwhelmingly powerful armed forces even in the face of repeated war crimes. It’s intent may not be to eradicate Palestinians, but it is to expel Palestinians from both Gaza and in due course from the West Bank, and it is doing so with the complicity of this US administration. My country is not the US, but like the US it has a large Jewish community many of whom are survivors of the WW2 holocaust or their offspring, and increasingly they seek to distance themselves from what this Israeli government is doing. There is a rising tide of revolt everywhere against Netanyahu and his extremist cohorts and it is feeding an antisemitic narrative that they rightly fear. That man has much to answer for, and increasingly so does the US many of whose leaders are close to or financed by an Israel lobby actively encouraging the idea that any criticism of Israël is antisemitic.
I think what Jonathan is getting at is that Trump and Co. are in power now because of voter’s ideas about the Democratic Party. People had the idea that they had to “punish” the party because of Israel/Gaza. (little has changed with that war, and now Trump appears to want to relocate the Palestinians). Foolish sayings like “defund the police” are obviously unrealistic, but put people off and again caused them to vote for MAGA or not vote at all. “Abolish Ice” may cause something similar.
Best to pay attention to the events in your own country, which the whole world is watching now. I feel for you.
I'm not running for anything and never will (I'm 84!) but I guess I'm one of those progressives who leads with my chin. I used to be all for Israel, but since the genocide/not genocide I am so disgusted with our government continuing to send money and weapons to Israel, and many of the things that mostly Netanyahu has been doing. I would completely quit sending them anything if I had my way. As I have seen mentioned on several platforms Israel had national health care, America has not. They are in many ways ahead of our country since they are more socialistic. We need to take care of Americans before we send money and weapons to enable Israel to continue to hammer Palestinians, I believe. And my current sign that I carry at protests says "Defund ICE". ICE is built on unfettered cop wantabes, and they are allowed to do such hideous depredations over and over and over, that we really should not try to just correct a few things-it needs to be totally destroyed and a viable system created where we don't use contract security who make their profit by feeding their prisoners crap food, often don't provide clean water, move people all over the country so their families and legal reps can't locate them, and deny them medical services. So "Defund ICE" resonates with me. Anyway, I always enjoy your column and I get what you are saying about Progressives using unpopular buzz words etc. but I am so furious at all the abuses that are taking place that I am ready to vote for the most radical person who will oppose this regime.
As one old coot (or goat or whatever you prefer) to another I feel compelled to tell you that you are wrong in continuing to rationalize your inability to accept the validity of many progressive understandings and representations of the issues.
Ugh! No mention of Mejia’s breaking glass ceilings as the first woman Latina candidate to represent this NJ district. No mention of her support from prominent Latina civic leaders.
You sound so out of touch when you repeat the old bromides that Democrats will lose winnable elections if they nominate progressives. Don’t say abolish ICE - sat that to the millions of protestors who wrote this on their protest signs. Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza - and you backup your case by consulting the dictionary. Rather Americans are reading the eye witness accounts and crying over the images of death.
Column was coming together nicely until you decided to defend genocide.
It's one (reasonable) thing to point out that words like genocide lose elections, another to pretend it's not happening because although schools, hospitals, churches, mosques and other areas of civilian shelter were/are repeatedly bombed - Israel didn't mean to kill anyone but Hamas.
1500 dead Israelis at the hands of Hamas = genocide.
BUT
70,000 and counting dead Palestinians - just a whoopsie by the ME's most powerful military and y'know, Hamas, human shields, etc.
The burning of families alive in refugee tents continue
But don't SAY that because, Israel doesn't MEAN to wipe out the population.
How about ethnic cleansing as a term?
It is clearly underway in the occupied territories and has been ongoing for decades.
Is that wording ok?
And ultimately - if this is the morality of Democrats - God help the Palestinian and e next round of people who reside on lands coveted by powerful elites.
Actually, ethnic cleansing is an accurate description of what Israel is doing in large swaths of the West Bank. If settlers are allowed back into Gaza, it will apply there, too.
And the entire destruction of homes, schools, communities, hospitals, infrastructure, etc etc etc into the bargain. A country and a people pretty much destroyed.
And all of it live streamed to millions the world over.
I know I repeat myself but - the destruction, the obvious power imbalance (aka the slaughterer by a fully armed army, navy and air force against civilians) goes on and on as we type.
Jonathan, Thank you for this balanced, thoughtful and therefore thought provoking “meditation”. Extrapolating from the reactive comments registered above way too many folks still can’t see the absolute need for thoughtful balance. For this we all suffer. … Re. your, “Let’s hope this opens a long-delayed conversation about AIPAC inside the Democratic Party.” Yes, let’s hope and “pray” that it does. … Civic dialogue over religion - all religion(s) - has been and remains a highly charged third rail in America. This is unfortunate to say the least as it may well lead to our ultimate undoing. Sooner than later. I am vexed and heartbroken. Especially so in this country, our country which was created with the separation of church and state a fundamental tenet and for all the unimpeachably correct historical reasons. … I enjoy very much your weekly convos with Prof Z.
I am semi-reliably advised that Joe Hathaway, the Republican candidate, was a Christie supporter and is not a MAGA extremist. The district is sufficiently purple that a would-be Squad member probably can’t get much above her percentage of the primary vote. I don’t think AIPAC is playing g four-dimensions chess (and I agree with Jon’s son) but don’t sleep on this race.
Your pettifogging about what technically is “genocide” is beside the point and won’t cut it. The only difference is that Israel won’t admit what they’re doing.
Likewise “abolish ICE” is now an utterly mainstream position, easily qualified by calls for fair immigration enforcement.
Amercans have run out of patience with the continual waste of lives and enormous sums of money spent to support the military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us against. One of the reasons Biden/Harris lost to Trump was their continued support for massive military aid to Israel and their unwillingness to condemn the war in Gaza.
Biden, like Hillary Cliinton, had a history of supporting wars. Both voted in support of Bush's war in Iraq which killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The Democrats need a candidate who, like JFK, has the courage to take on the entrenched military establishment, to de-escalate military conflicts, and to work to reduce the looming threat of nuclear war.
You go Jon!
As Mark Leibovich observed in a recent piece in The Atlantic about the fecklessness of the Democratic Party: Democrats are in a position to rise, IF THEY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO OUT OF THEIR OWN WAY. Also noted there: the progressive notion that to win you just need to turn out more progressive voters. Please.
As recent polling shows, Trump’s approval rating is plummeting because he is governing only from his right wing, MAGA base. He has abandoned the coalition of independents and disaffected Hispanics and Blacks that made up the coalition that garnered 77 million votes to beat Kamala Harris.
It’s a cautionary tale for Democrats, which we ignore at our peril.
There will always be some minor issues in the middle that we will differ on. But they also need a voice. And these issues will not be so minor to those who are harmed by cruel laws or attitudes. I lived on the border in Laredo for six years and worked with Bracero Mexican workers in Texas in 1954. We need worker and they are good decent people. This invaders talk is trash talk. I know trans people who really think they are male or female despite the bodies they came in, The notion that men will pretend to be women to sneak a peek in a rest room is stupid. Nobody does that. So we agree on most issues but have some thoughts for those who are small minority but still deserve our kindness. "In all things be kind."
"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people, living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one"
John may be gone but his voice resonates today.
I agree entirely that the word genocide should only apply when the intent is to eradicate a race or tribe. However, you soften the outrageous actions of a murderous Israeli government and its overwhelmingly powerful armed forces even in the face of repeated war crimes. It’s intent may not be to eradicate Palestinians, but it is to expel Palestinians from both Gaza and in due course from the West Bank, and it is doing so with the complicity of this US administration. My country is not the US, but like the US it has a large Jewish community many of whom are survivors of the WW2 holocaust or their offspring, and increasingly they seek to distance themselves from what this Israeli government is doing. There is a rising tide of revolt everywhere against Netanyahu and his extremist cohorts and it is feeding an antisemitic narrative that they rightly fear. That man has much to answer for, and increasingly so does the US many of whose leaders are close to or financed by an Israel lobby actively encouraging the idea that any criticism of Israël is antisemitic.
I do not agree. It's time democrats stop catering to all the elites and the old guard. It is time for massive reform in government.
It is time for reform, but you don't get reform with candidates with stupid slogans that put off a majority of the voters.
It is some BS to say that Israel's intent was not to kill Palestinians, only Hamas
I think what Jonathan is getting at is that Trump and Co. are in power now because of voter’s ideas about the Democratic Party. People had the idea that they had to “punish” the party because of Israel/Gaza. (little has changed with that war, and now Trump appears to want to relocate the Palestinians). Foolish sayings like “defund the police” are obviously unrealistic, but put people off and again caused them to vote for MAGA or not vote at all. “Abolish Ice” may cause something similar.
Best to pay attention to the events in your own country, which the whole world is watching now. I feel for you.
I'm not running for anything and never will (I'm 84!) but I guess I'm one of those progressives who leads with my chin. I used to be all for Israel, but since the genocide/not genocide I am so disgusted with our government continuing to send money and weapons to Israel, and many of the things that mostly Netanyahu has been doing. I would completely quit sending them anything if I had my way. As I have seen mentioned on several platforms Israel had national health care, America has not. They are in many ways ahead of our country since they are more socialistic. We need to take care of Americans before we send money and weapons to enable Israel to continue to hammer Palestinians, I believe. And my current sign that I carry at protests says "Defund ICE". ICE is built on unfettered cop wantabes, and they are allowed to do such hideous depredations over and over and over, that we really should not try to just correct a few things-it needs to be totally destroyed and a viable system created where we don't use contract security who make their profit by feeding their prisoners crap food, often don't provide clean water, move people all over the country so their families and legal reps can't locate them, and deny them medical services. So "Defund ICE" resonates with me. Anyway, I always enjoy your column and I get what you are saying about Progressives using unpopular buzz words etc. but I am so furious at all the abuses that are taking place that I am ready to vote for the most radical person who will oppose this regime.
As one old coot (or goat or whatever you prefer) to another I feel compelled to tell you that you are wrong in continuing to rationalize your inability to accept the validity of many progressive understandings and representations of the issues.
Ugh! No mention of Mejia’s breaking glass ceilings as the first woman Latina candidate to represent this NJ district. No mention of her support from prominent Latina civic leaders.
You sound so out of touch when you repeat the old bromides that Democrats will lose winnable elections if they nominate progressives. Don’t say abolish ICE - sat that to the millions of protestors who wrote this on their protest signs. Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza - and you backup your case by consulting the dictionary. Rather Americans are reading the eye witness accounts and crying over the images of death.
Column was coming together nicely until you decided to defend genocide.
It's one (reasonable) thing to point out that words like genocide lose elections, another to pretend it's not happening because although schools, hospitals, churches, mosques and other areas of civilian shelter were/are repeatedly bombed - Israel didn't mean to kill anyone but Hamas.
1500 dead Israelis at the hands of Hamas = genocide.
BUT
70,000 and counting dead Palestinians - just a whoopsie by the ME's most powerful military and y'know, Hamas, human shields, etc.
The burning of families alive in refugee tents continue
But don't SAY that because, Israel doesn't MEAN to wipe out the population.
How about ethnic cleansing as a term?
It is clearly underway in the occupied territories and has been ongoing for decades.
Is that wording ok?
And ultimately - if this is the morality of Democrats - God help the Palestinian and e next round of people who reside on lands coveted by powerful elites.
Actually, ethnic cleansing is an accurate description of what Israel is doing in large swaths of the West Bank. If settlers are allowed back into Gaza, it will apply there, too.
And the entire destruction of homes, schools, communities, hospitals, infrastructure, etc etc etc into the bargain. A country and a people pretty much destroyed.
And all of it live streamed to millions the world over.
I know I repeat myself but - the destruction, the obvious power imbalance (aka the slaughterer by a fully armed army, navy and air force against civilians) goes on and on as we type.
And all people seem to think about is 'politics', and the defense of the indefensible. Even some so-called progressives.
Jonathan, Thank you for this balanced, thoughtful and therefore thought provoking “meditation”. Extrapolating from the reactive comments registered above way too many folks still can’t see the absolute need for thoughtful balance. For this we all suffer. … Re. your, “Let’s hope this opens a long-delayed conversation about AIPAC inside the Democratic Party.” Yes, let’s hope and “pray” that it does. … Civic dialogue over religion - all religion(s) - has been and remains a highly charged third rail in America. This is unfortunate to say the least as it may well lead to our ultimate undoing. Sooner than later. I am vexed and heartbroken. Especially so in this country, our country which was created with the separation of church and state a fundamental tenet and for all the unimpeachably correct historical reasons. … I enjoy very much your weekly convos with Prof Z.
Thank you so much. This is the best analysis that I’ve read about AIPAC’s interference! Thank you for posting Senator Ossoff’s speech.
I am semi-reliably advised that Joe Hathaway, the Republican candidate, was a Christie supporter and is not a MAGA extremist. The district is sufficiently purple that a would-be Squad member probably can’t get much above her percentage of the primary vote. I don’t think AIPAC is playing g four-dimensions chess (and I agree with Jon’s son) but don’t sleep on this race.
Your pettifogging about what technically is “genocide” is beside the point and won’t cut it. The only difference is that Israel won’t admit what they’re doing.
Likewise “abolish ICE” is now an utterly mainstream position, easily qualified by calls for fair immigration enforcement.