‘The truth-telling needs its champions’
Who’s the Democrats’ apparent sacrificial lamb this year against the seemingly unbeatable Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County? He’s a political nobody from the Shenandoah Valley, a guy named Andy Schmookler. Here’s a Labor Day speech he gave, in which he takes no prisoners.
September 4, 2012 - 6:30 PM
i heard andy speak once, and he’s got a lot of moxie. i don’t agree with virtually anything he said, but, that’s ok. he’s taking on a very formidable foe, and he’s going into it with every fiber of his being. that said, 2 questions i have, now, which i didn’t have at the time i heard andy speak:
what are the reasons why the dems…:
1. …have removed from their new political platform the historical reference to “Jerusalem being the capital of Isreal”?, and
2. …have removed ALL references to God from thir new political platform?
…assuming that andy will not be responding, perhaps some other sage lib can do so?
oops, spelled Israel wrong. sorry.
Isn’t tel aviv the capital of Israel?
No, Tel Aviv is not.
Marked, I’d say there’s some debate about that.
#1 Frank, you hadn’t heard that the Dems intend to remove all religion from America — except Islam, of course?
How is there debate Kristen? Because the American Democratic party won’t acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel? Does that mean if some political party in Afghanistan decides not to acknowledge Washington D.C. as the capital of the US, then it isn’t the capital of the US?
#1 Anyway, Frank, this is just another silly Rethug meme. As one Dem official said:
“The platform includes an entire plank on the importance of faith based organizations and the tremendous work that they do. Further, the language we use to talk about faith and religion is exactly the same vocabulary as 2008. I would also note that the platform mentions: ‘faith’ 11 times; ‘religion’ or ‘religious’ 9 times; ‘church’ 2 times (one is a quote); and, ‘clergy’ 1 time.”
The 2008 plank has the word God exactly one time and that wasn’t about religion.
Dusts hands off.
Chuck, I have to confess that I completely DON’T GET why the putative capital of some other country is anywhere in EITHER party’s platforms. Who cares?
gdad, all i’m asking for is for the democrat party explain to the people whose votes they want in November, why the word “God” was removed from their platform, when it was there in prior years. In case you didn’t know it, there was no objection to the use of the word in democtrat platforms in prior democrat conventions, and perhaps it would be enlightening to learn the “why” behind it’s removal now…..regardless of the use of the word “faith”.
also, since the folks in Israel are quite nervous these days about a bunch of things, one of which was obama’s public statement that Israel should begin its negotiations with the Palestinians from the borders which existed before one of the wars…i think maybe it was the 1967 “six day” war. gdad, in case you didn’t realize it then, maybe you do now, that is, that remark took Israel by surprise…and you don’t do that to your “friends”. well, maybe YOU would, but I wouldn’t.
that said, gdad, why do you think that the democrats removed FROM THEIR PLATFORM the reference to “Jerusalem being the capital of Israel”? It was there in 2008, so….where’d it go, and why? again, is this how we treat friends…, now?
gdad, you and folks like you can and will joke and carry on over stuff like this, but, i don’t think this is a joking matter. i’d really like to know the thinking behind removing those things from the platform. and, for you folks who don’t know the capital city of a country that’s the bedrock of democracy in the middle east, and our long-time “friend”, well, that’s an indictment of your pitiful learning abilities, pitiful attention spans, and/or lousy teaching.
Kristen, it’s a bait-and-switch meant to distract from the original post. (Come to think of it, that’s really all Rethuglicans know to do, if the ones here represent the genus.)
“Who cares?”
The Evangelicals.
Frank..
I hate to alarm you..
but the word God is being replaced by Allah..
I know thats what you want to believe..
so go ahead and run with it,,
Tell someone you saw it on the interwebs..
The Right needs an Isaac. Phasers set to ignore.
BTW, linkee no workee.
Thanks Art. Oops. Fixed.
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2012/09/democratic-2012-platform-provisions-on.html
As reported by Raw Story, the Democratic Party released it 2012 Platform (full text) on Monday night. It includes a number of provisions on the role of faith in America and on issues that have been of particular concern to religious groups. The Platform section titled “Strengthening the American Community” includes the following:….
For that matter, have you noticed the word God doesn’t appear in the Constitution either but it was in the Constitution of the Confederacy? Fat lot of good God did them!
Frank,
“The platform includes an entire plank on the importance of faith based organizations and the tremendous work that they do. Further, the language we use to talk about faith and religion is exactly the same vocabulary as 2008. I would also note that the platform mentions: ‘faith’ 11 times; ‘religion’ or ‘religious’ 9 times; ‘church’ 2 times (one is a quote); and, ‘clergy’ 1 time.”
Jeez.
Whoa, Schmookler does lay the truth out there. Wish we could get rid of “term limits” Goodlatte.
pirengle, maybe they need a plank in their platforms about what people in Iceland eat for breakfast. That’s also really, really important.
Frank, you have no credibility and slamming people for perceived wrongs is a lot harder from the wrong side of history as the right wing is!
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/democrats-shift-language-on-israel-remove-god-given-from-platform/
You right wingers are the most reactionary and inflammatory people on the planet, you seem to be Hamas light IMO!
Art Hill:
12.”“Who cares?”
The Evangelicals.”
Only because a Sunday school teacher told them they’re supposed to.
If they need to throw a Jerusalem plank in the platform to appease the Evangelicals, how do they plan on bringing them around to vote for a Mormon.
Frank, buddy, here’s the problem when you blindly follow the RNC talking points script — it doesn’t have all the facts. Here’s how the Democrats proposed abandoning Israel (hat tip to Sandi Saunders for posting this from the OFFICIAL Dem platform). I betting you haven’t the foggiest this even exists, Frank:
“The Middle East. President Obama and the Democratic Party maintain an unshakable commitment to Israel’s security. A strong and secure Israel is vital to the United States not simply because we share strategic interests, but also because we share common values. For this reason, despite budgetary constraints, the President has worked with Congress to increase security assistance to Israel every single year since taking office, providing nearly $10 billion in the past three years. The administration has also worked to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. And we have deepened defense cooperation—including funding the Iron Dome system—to help Israel address its most pressing threats, including the growing danger posed by rockets and missiles emanating from the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. The President’s consistent support for Israel’s right to defend itself and his steadfast opposition to any attempt to delegitimize Israel on the world stage are further evidence of our enduring commitment to Israel’s security.
It is precisely because of this commitment that President Obama and the Democratic Party seek peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian accord, producing two states for two peoples, would contribute to regional stability and help sustain Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state. At the same time, the President has made clear that there will be no lasting peace unless Israel’s security concerns are met. President Obama will continue to press Arab states to reach out to Israel. We will continue to support Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, which have been pillars of peace and stability in the region for many years. And even as the President and the Democratic Party continue to encourage all parties to be resolute in the pursuit of peace, we will insist that any Palestinian partner must recognize Israel’s right to exist, reject violence, and adhere to existing agreements.”
http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform
Wow, just flushing Israel down the toilet, eh, Frank?
The video of Schmookler’s speech made it to the Daily Kos.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/03/1127428/-Video-A-Real-Democrat-Gives-One-of-the-Best-Most-Kick-A-Political-Speeches-I-ve-Ever-Seen
From the CIA World Factbook:
Capital:
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Friday in April; ends the Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv.
From US Department of State page on Israel:
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 20,330 sq. km.1 (7,850 sq. mi.); about the size of New Jersey.
Cities: Capital–Jerusalem.
Why is this even a topic? We don’t get to determine what city another country holds as its capital, just like Canada can’t proclaim Buffalo our national capital simply because it has the best chicken wings.
I mean, really? This is just a stupid argument to say otherwise.
hey, while watching the democrat convention earlier, i watched and listened to the voice vote for the delegates to consider putting the word “god”, and words to the effect that “Jerusalem is the Capital of Isreal.” While I wasn’t there, the sound from my tv (a sony…a pretty good one, although certainly not the latest and greatest) was in my opinion clearly in favor of keeping those words OUT of the party platform….yet the convention chairman inexplicably said the “yeas” have it…and this process was repeated another two times. finally, those words were “put back in” the party platform. good, in my opinion.
However, how do we think this extraordinary show of internal democrat party politics will play with the Israelis and Palestinians? Now i know why Hillary was as far away from this foreign affairs debacle as she could get….she knew what was coming.
Let’s see, Frank was 150 miles away, but watched it on a pretty good Sony TV. The convention chairman was there (but probably doesn’t have a Sony TV).
Obviously, Frank is a better judge of which way the crowd went!
Frank, are you demanding they take it back out?
Ref. #24 – “the President has worked with Congress to increase security assistance to Israel every single year since taking office, providing nearly $10 billion in the past three years”. And, how about all the billions prior to this pres’s term? (who I voted for & will vote for again)
That’s about 3 1/3 billion per year that our pres and CONgress have given out of USA funds (40 cents on each dollar reported borrowed) for the care of another country (and a terrorist one in my view). When, pray tell, will our CONgress (dems & reps) begin to work together to care for all of our citizens? Probably never, unless they are forced to receive the same benefits they feel our vets, seniors, children, disabled, homeless, drug free, etc deserve.
Why was this an issue at the DNC convention at all? I’m with Scott regarding this point, as I humbly believe many others of US are.
And as for the “flushing Israel down the toilet”, gdad, Israel shouldn’t get any better than it expects for Palestine.
Respectfully submitted as my 3 cents worth. — Flo
@28 – Saw it on MSNBC this morning. The nays were clearly louder than the yays.
So, they were AGAINST Israel and God being part of the platform, until they were FOR it, of course. Flip-flop, flip-flop. Combine that with having to downsize from 65,000 people to 20,000, and it’s been one big circus down there. Good times.
No, bright smiles, they were against Democrats caving in to the ridiculous right wing talking points you all parrot all day long! It is not the verbiage we ever had any problem with, it is you parrots!
Flo, you have a very valid point, all this foreign aid and troops all over the world is very costly to American taxpayers. Let’s take care of our own and get our own house in order!
Oh sweet Sandi dearest,
Are you actually blaming the Dems flip-flopping all over themselves and booing each other at the DNC regarding Israel/God on Republicans?? Lol. That’s a good one.
#84 Well, matt, I’M certainly blaming the flip flopping. The whole God/ Jerusalem thing was empty and ridiculous. and the Dems shouldn’t have caved on it. And the fact that they did was what was being booed.
As for changing the speech venue, the Dems had 80,000 people ask for tickets/credentials. Now show us where Rmoney filled a stadium with 65,000 people. Oh, wait, he didn’t? Imagine that!!
Hey gdad,
“Now show us where Rmoney filled a stadium with 65,000 people.”–neither did ya boy.
“…the Dems had 80,000 people ask for tickets/credentials.”–if this is true, then why cancel the event over a little 30% chance of rain, thus greatly pissing off 60,000 voters who are now shut out? Hmmm, the DNC went from, supposedly, 80,000 to 20,000. OUCH.
gdad, at least you were honest about the flip-flopping. Kudos to you.
Foreign aid and diplomacy together comprise around 1 percent of the federal budget, or $56 billion in President Obama’s 2013 budget request.
That money goes toward global poverty alleviation, including a contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, as well as peacekeeping operations conducted by the United Nations and general U.S. diplomatic activities around the world.
That $56 billion does not include foreign military assistance, which is estimated at an additional $14 billion in fiscal 2013. Foreign military assistance is the money we spend to train foreign armies and help them acquire weapons.
Expenditures in Iraq & Afghanistan are not included in those numbers. Instead they are part of the Defense Department budget.
Calling Democrats flip flops is rich, considering that 99.9% of what Romney is now against, he was once for.
You guys make it sound as if you think flip-flopping is a bad thing. Mitt flip-flops more than a fish that jumped into the boat.
breaking news!!! Gotta watch Debbie Wasserman-Shults’ video on Real Clear Politics! She says that takin out “God” and “Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel” from the democrat party platform was an “oversight….”. Seriously? I’m not making this up! …not lying about anything! …actually, I did anticipate that they’d go down that road, eventually. This is too much!
Where’s Hillary when they REALLY need her?
The people who will vote for Willard “Weathervane” Romney mocking anyone for flip-flopping is pretty sad stuff.
sandi, if you were referring to my post, I wasn’t calling the dems “flip floppers”, although, since you brought it up, that is what they did. My point was, they don’t know what they’re flipping to or flopping from! if it’s was all a “technical difficulty”, per Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, then please explain what all those BOOS were about yesterday when the vote was announced!
I know! Let’s ask dano! Hey dano, what were all those BOOS about yesterday, when the DNC was moving to put “God” and “Jerusalem …” back in their party platform?
##6 Obama most certainly did in 2008 and would have yesterday. However, it’s right wingers who are making not filling a stadium sound like some sort of carnal sin. I was merely pointing out that if that’s so, Romney is equally guilty.