Richard Cohen, "Trump’s choice for Israeli ambassador is a danger to American lives": Echoing the New York Times's Hysteria

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In a Washington Post op-ed entitled "Trump’s choice for Israeli ambassador is a danger to American lives," Richard Cohen echoes the hysteria of The New York Times re Trump's nomination of David Friedman as America's next ambassador to Israel:

"The Senate will get a crack at Friedman. This is a nomination that must be rejected. He is a danger to peace in the Middle East, to American lives, to moderation and to civil discourse."

"Civil discourse" in the Middle East? A day doesn't go by without calls from Iran for the eradication of Israel. And then there is the Hamas covenant calling for the murder of all Jews.

Friedman poses a threat to American lives? Oh really? Just yesterday the Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated, and a semi-trailer plowed into a Berlin Christmas market in a terror attack that killed 12 and injured 48 persons. On Sunday, 10 people were killed and 34 wounded in a terror attack in Karak, Jordan. In fact, the entire Middle East is a tinderbox, having little to do with tiny Israel and having everything to do with conflicting Shiite/Sunni efforts to restore regional historic primacy.

"Moderation" means refusing to acknowledge that West Jerusalem, Israel's capital, has not been an integral part of that country since 1948? The time hasn't come to recognize that reality?

Spare me the bullshit, Dick.

New York Times Editorial, "A Dangerous Choice for Ambassador to Israel": Friedman's Appointment More Dangerous Than Obama's Neglect of Aleppo?

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In an editorial entitled "A Dangerous Choice for Ambassador to Israel," The New York Times begins (my emphasis in red):

"In appointing David Friedman as the next ambassador to Israel, Donald Trump voiced a desire to 'strive for peace in the Middle East.' Unfortunately, his chosen representative would be far more likely to provoke conflict in Israel and the occupied territories, heighten regional tensions and undermine American leadership."

Ah yes, David Friedman's appointment could undermine American leadership of the kind exhibited with respect to Aleppo. See the Times's whitewash of Obama's "benign" neglect of this horrific Syrian tragedy in its editorial on Wednesday.

Today's editorial continues (my emphasis in red):

"Mr. Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer who has represented the president-elect in matters involving Atlantic City casinos, has no diplomatic experience, unlike nearly every American ambassador who has served in this most sensitive of posts. That might not be quite so alarming if he didn’t also hold extremist views that are radically at odds with American policy and with the views of most Americans."

Okay, Friedman has no diplomatic experience, as did Thomas Pickering, ambassador to Israel from 1985 to 1988, who is now prominently listed by the National Iranian American Council as a member of its advisory board. Maybe it's to Friedman's credit that he has no prior diplomatic experience.

Friedman's extremist views? The Times writes (my emphasis in red):

"In a further sign of Mr. Friedman’s apparent zeal for confrontation rather than diplomatic finesse, he has announced that he expects to have his office in Jerusalem, rather than Tel Aviv, where the American Embassy has been for 68 years, along with the embassies of most other countries. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem, which has sites that are sacred to Muslims, Christians and Jews, as their capital. Like the crucial questions of borders, Israeli security and the fate of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, the contested status of Jerusalem should be resolved by negotiation, not by American fiat."

Excuse me, but the Palestinians are making no claims whatsoever on Western Jerusalem, except, of course, those calling for Israel's eradication. Why shouldn't America's embassy be located in Israel's capital, as in any other country? It is high time for the United States to acknowledge Israel's capital and right to exist as a sovereign nation. Sorry, but this is not something to be "resolved by negotiation" by the P5+1. Jerusalem has been Israel's capital since it declared independence in 1948, notwithstanding ingrained US State Department hostility.

More to the point, America should again take the lead on the international stage. This role was abnegated by Obama with tragic consequences, and his dereliction of responsibility will forever stain in blood whatever remains of this president's "legacy."

Maureen Dowd, "Obama Lobbies Against Obliteration by Trump": Down the Drain

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Obama Lobbies Against Obliteration by Trump," Maureen Dowd begins:

"YOU know how desperate President Obama is — as he contemplates all his accomplishments going down the drain at the hands of a man he has total contempt for — when he is willing to do something so against his nature.

He tried to persuade Donald Trump."

But in fact, Obama's accomplishments are not going down the drain at the hands of Trump. Rather, they already went down the drain at the hands of ... Obama.

Obamacare? You remember, "If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it," i.e. PolitiFact's 2013 lie of the year? Well, this lie was recently compounded by Obama's recent declaration that health care premiums are only going up for a "handful of people." Heck, even Paul Krugman is finally owning up to the fact that the Affordable Healthcare Act is in trouble.

Obama's other "achievement" purportedly forming the basis of his legacy, his unsigned nuclear deal with Iran, is also going down the drain. The dubious value of that deal became apparent when the USS Mason came under Iranian C-802 missile fire off the Yemeni coast last month. Not to mention the ongoing cries of "Death to America!" on the streets of Tehran, and recurring violations of the terms of the deal.

Nice try, Barack. Starting on January 20, you'll have plenty of time driving your golf cart across the links to contemplate the above fiascos, and also the $20 trillion in unsustainable debt that you left your successors. Or is none of it your fault? Better still, what me worry?

Unrelated query to readers: How long do you think Hillary will remain married to Bill, now that her presidential aspirations have gone down the drain?

Paul Krugman, "The Economic Fallout": The Sky Is Falling

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I am forced to admit that for the sake of world stability, I preferred the person with the paranoid personality disorder over the world class narcissist. On the other hand, I can't help denying a perverse sense of pleasure (schadenfreude?) at witnessing the comeuppance of someone who thought she was above the law.

Shed a tear for America's would-be Evita? I don't think so. She can continue to rake in money for/from the Clinton Foundation. Or perhaps not. Now that she's no longer going to be president, why would anyone want to "donate" to this would-be philanthropic enterprise (I'm being charitable).

But more to the point, in his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The Economic Fallout," Paul Krugman would have us know:

"It really does now look like President Donald J. Trump, and markets are plunging. When might we expect them to recover?

Frankly, I find it hard to care much, even though this is my specialty. The disaster for America and the world has so many aspects that the economic ramifications are way down my list of things to fear.

Still, I guess people want an answer: If the question is when markets will recover, a first-pass answer is never."

Come on, Paul, don't be a sore loser! I suggest you make an appointment with the Donald and suggest your platinum coin idea for rescuing the American economy. What, even the Donald wouldn't buy into such a stupid idea? Well, I've got a suggestion for you: Have the US Treasury mint the coin with Donald's face etched onto it, and he just may agree.

Maureen Dowd, "The End Is Nigh": Republican vs. Democrat or Narcissist vs. Paranoid?

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The End Is Nigh," Maureen Dowd concludes:

"The problem with Donald Trump is: We don’t know which of the characters he has created he would bring to the Oval Office.

The trouble with Hillary Clinton is: We do know. Nobody gets less paranoid in the White House."

Or stated otherwise, you might think you have the choice between a Republican and a Democrat, when in fact you are voting either for someone suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder or for someone suffering from paranoia.

Yes, something is rotten in the State of the Union.

David Brooks, "The Banality of Change": A Second Clinton Will Soon Be Impeached

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In his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The Banality of Change," David Brooks tells of his encounter with a handyman from Iowa who is voting for Trump:

"Trump speaks to this man’s situation and makes him feel heard. But when you think practically about which candidate could improve his life, it’s clear that Clinton is the bigger change agent."

Road apples! In case you were wondering, David, the FBI already knows what is in Weiner's computer, and it isn't pretty. There is a good reason why Huma Abedin is no longer travelling with Hillary: Huma, Hillary's second daughter, is about to be disowned.

Or stated otherwise, if Hillary is elected, she is going to be under criminal investigation from day one. Change? During the relatively short period that she will remain in office, she will not be able to effect it.

Brooks continues:

"Many of us disagree strongly with many Clinton policies. But any sensible person can distinguish between an effective operating officer and a whirling disaster who is only about himself."

Hillary isn't only about herself, too? In fact, if she cared an iota about the welfare of the United States, she would not be running for president.

Maureen Dowd, "Move Over Bill Murray and Eddie Vedder! I’m a Cubbie": What's Still Right About America

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Do you recall how, during the Battle of the Bulge, German soldiers wearing American uniforms were said to be roaming behind Allied lines? And how American soldiers were tested with questions concerning the winners of the last World Series? Well, if anyone was to ask me who won last year's World Series, I would be summarily shot.

The Chicago Cubs? I remember Ernie Banks. And then there was Jim Hickman who left my beloved Mets and had his best season with the Cubs. As a child, I knew the names and statistics of all the players. Today, however, I don't the name of a single player.

In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Move Over Bill Murray and Eddie Vedder! I’m a Cubbie," Maureen Dowd writes:

"Americans are not feeling inspired as they watch the latest bizarre jolts with the F.B.I. in the most sour race in modern history with the two least popular candidates since polling was invented."

Yes, something is rotten in the State of the Union. God forbid, Trump, a man with a serious personality disorder should be elected. Equally bad, if Hillary should be elected, she will become the second Clinton to be impeached, leaving us with the horrific Tim Kaine.

Indeed, the 2017 election is like a bad case of athlete's foot that won't go away.

Forget the election and root for the Cubs? Why not? But even if the Cubs win game seven, it will all be soon forgotten, and we will still be left with Donald or Hillary.