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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

vicarious vicarious from NC, USA Since: Feb, 2013
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
Ultimatum Disasturbator from Second Star to the left (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Disasturbator
#275078: Mar 21st 2019 at 12:02:59 PM

That's unsurprising since Wats App is genuinely considered 'secure' forgetting of course that they're owned by Facebook

Edited by Ultimatum on Mar 21st 2019 at 7:06:43 PM

New theme music also a box
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#275079: Mar 21st 2019 at 12:21:52 PM

Sure if they want the wrath of the Israel lobby,I'm aghast at how such a lobby attempted to get laws passed to criminalise criticism of their state

Yeah no, the "Israel lobby" does not have intrinsic power, it relies on a large part of the American public supporting Israel. Once unconditional support for Israel becomes more and more partisan it's going to become more viable for the Democratic Party to criticize or censure Israel.

Furthermore the "Israel Lobby" didn't pass anything, it was pro-Israel politicians who answered to pro-Israel constituencies that did that. Lobbying plays a role but this common view of reducing everything around Israel to lobbying makes me rather uncomfortable.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Mar 21st 2019 at 12:25:44 PM

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
Ultimatum Disasturbator from Second Star to the left (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Disasturbator
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#275081: Mar 21st 2019 at 12:25:58 PM

It's fine, I just wanted to point that out smile

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#275082: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:04:08 PM

Once unconditional support for Israel becomes more and more partisan
You mean it's not already? How far is it along that track, then?

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#275083: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:08:17 PM

A judge has ruled against Scott Walker and the Republican legislature of Wisconsin that had stripped much of the power of the new Democratic governor.

Said governor is using his restored powers to pull out of the anti health care lawsuit and cancel all the last minute appointees Walker made.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#275084: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:09:11 PM

Meanwhile the American ambassador is really p... off the German Government

They are incorrect, though, technically they could expel them. But why bother? The replacement won't be any better. In any case, this guy is basically having a "good" time in Germany on the US taxpayers dime acting like an a-hole without getting any actual work done.

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#275085: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:12:38 PM

[up][up]I wish Walker all the best with his delousing.

[up]The fruit baskets are going to have to be so big, they'll need delivering by train haulage. :/

Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#275086: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:13:08 PM

Pew: Republicans and Democrats Grow Even Further Apart in Views of Israel, Palestinians

The partisan divide in Middle East sympathies, for Israel or the Palestinians, is now wider than at any point since 1978. Currently, 79% of Republicans say they sympathize more with Israel than the Palestinians, compared with just 27% of Democrats.

...

Democrats are divided in views of the Middle East conflict: Currently, 27% of Democrats say they sympathize more with Israel, while 25% say they sympathize more with the Palestinians; another 23% say they sympathize with neither or both sides and one-quarter (25%) say they don’t know.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#275088: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:15:08 PM

So actual good news from Wisconsin for a change. Are the Republicans fighting it, or is there nothing they can do?

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#275090: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:19:15 PM

They have promised to appeal, but that's about all they can do for now.

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#275091: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:25:55 PM

Man, forget fruit baskets. Remember how France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the US way back in the day? We're basically gonna have to ship out a Statue of "We Promise We Won't Fuck Up This Badly Again" to all our allies.

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#275092: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:32:56 PM

So according to the article linked to by Soban here, support for Israel has become a partisan issue already.

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#275093: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:36:45 PM

Kinda, but non-support for Israel is not the same thing as supporting the other actors in the area. Flawed as it is, Israel is leagues beyond it's neighbors or likely successor governments if it disappeared.

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#275094: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:45:59 PM

Literally no one here has said Israel should disappear. I’m pretty sure prevailing opinion is that Netanyahu is awful and the Israeli government/military needs to stop screwing over/killing Palestinians and minorities, possibly a two state solution.

Edited by wisewillow on Mar 21st 2019 at 4:46:23 AM

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#275095: Mar 21st 2019 at 1:47:50 PM

I'm in favor of the two-state solution and that's as much as I'll say on the subject.

TobiasDrake Queen of Good Things, Honest (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
Queen of Good Things, Honest
#275096: Mar 21st 2019 at 2:10:20 PM

Regarding Kushner and Ivanka's use of f*cking WhatsApp for official government business, this is my favorite part of the story. Not from the link above but the New York Times article on the topic:

Mr. Lowell could not say if Mr. Kushner had communicated classified information on the messaging service, Whats App, telling lawmakers that was “above my pay grade.” He argued that because Mr. Kushner took screenshots of the communications and sent them to his official White House account or the National Security Council, his client was not in violation of federal records laws.

Like. At what point while you're filling up an email folder with screenshots of your WhatsApp messages do you stop and go, "Maybe this isn't how I'm supposed to internet."

My Tumblr. Currently liveblogging Haruhi Suzumiya and revisiting Danganronpa V3.
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#275097: Mar 21st 2019 at 2:12:14 PM

[up]Apparently not after weeks if doing it. tongue

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#275098: Mar 21st 2019 at 2:20:33 PM

I feel like the two state solution is the only sensible one and we were on our way there until reactionary politicians fucked it up.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
DeMarquis Since: Feb, 2010
#275099: Mar 21st 2019 at 2:46:18 PM

"On our way there" is the arguable part.

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#275100: Mar 21st 2019 at 3:56:50 PM

Not to drag the subject but Israel had been illegally occupying half of Jerusalem for decades by the time Trump got into office.

"On the way" seems like a very rose-tinted view of the situation back then.


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