WHIP LIST: 53 Democrats to skip Netanyahu speech to Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to deliver one of the most controversial speeches to a joint session of Congress by a foreign leader ever, and Vice President Biden and a number of top Democrats won’t be attending.

Netanyahu is expected to criticize the White House’s negotiations on Iran's nuclear program in his March 3 speech. While Biden has cited a scheduling conflict, other Democrats are staying away from the speech to protest what they see as an attack on President Obama.

Congressional Democrats are angry that Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited Netanyahu to speak to Congress without first telling the White House. Obama has said he will not meet with Netanyahu during the visit because it will occur two weeks before Israeli elections are set to take place.

Democrats face a difficult decision on whether to attend the address. Many will want to show support for the White House but will be wary of snubbing the leader of an important U.S. ally.

Here is a list of the Democrats who are planning to skip the speech and those who are planning to go:

(See link for list, those of you in America who are interested)

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/232160-whip-list-dems-skipping-netanyahu-speech

to be frank I understand their desire to skip it, and remember I said that The speaker crossed the line, but by not appearing they look almost as foolish.

they should go, but they don't have to stand up, clap or anything else to show their disapproval. They must remember that not all of their constituents think or feel as they do.

they should abstain to teach Israel their Place
They are nothing compared to the USA
Netanyahu should be on his knees Praising the USA for paying for it to continue to exists and not holding it accountable for its Crimes against humanity

the REALITY is that if the US taxpayer stop funding the IDF (So they can have health care for example) the the IDF would crumble pretty quick as the US taxpayer cover over 80% of Israel's Military budget.

They are are shitty Vassal State they don't even give their protector the adequate finical benefit or respect.
As a member of a vassal state I can say they should suck it up. we get far less and give far more to the USA than Israel, they simply do not warrant all the special treatment they get.

I hope the ones that go turn their backs on him.

veya_victaous wrote:they should abstain to teach Israel their Place
They are nothing compared to the USA
Netanyahu should be on his knees Praising the USA for paying for it to continue to exists and not holding it accountable for its Crimes against humanity

the REALITY is that if the US taxpayer stop funding the IDF (So they can have health care for example) the the IDF would crumble pretty quick as the US taxpayer cover over 80% of Israel's Military budget.

They are are shitty Vassal State they don't even give their protector the adequate finical benefit or respect.
As a member of a vassal state I can say they should suck it up. we get far less and give far more to the USA than Israel, they simply do not warrant all the special treatment they get.

veya there are wrings on both sides. sadly due to our foreign policy decisions and those of other western nations is why we need to keep on helping Israel.

veya_victaous wrote:they should abstain to teach Israel their Place
They are nothing compared to the USA
Netanyahu should be on his knees Praising the USA for paying for it to continue to exists and not holding it accountable for its Crimes against humanity

the REALITY is that if the US taxpayer stop funding the IDF (So they can have health care for example) the the IDF would crumble pretty quick as the US taxpayer cover over 80% of Israel's Military budget.

They are are shitty Vassal State they don't even give their protector the adequate finical benefit or respect.
As a member of a vassal state I can say they should suck it up. we get far less and give far more to the USA than Israel, they simply do not warrant all the special treatment they get.

veya there are wrings on both sides. sadly due to our foreign policy decisions and those of other western nations is why we need to keep on helping Israel.

Well I have to disagree Cass, all America's dollars do is kill Palestinians and allow Israel to commit war crimes and genocide.

hey sassy

oh come on Hon, the other side as well is just as guilty. Arafat blew the chance many years ago when he wouldn't sign up. Everyone there is now paying the price.

the 2 state solution as proposed is not perfect buts its damn well better than what there is now. The political sides of Fatah and Hamas have to come together and get rid of the terrorists among their ranks. The Israelis need to stop the settlements and give non-jewish citizens full civil rights.

Sorry Cass, but the facts are completely against you. Arafat was going to sign the Oslo Accord and there are videos of Netanyahu telling people that he stopped the Oslo Accords.




Translation:


At a point in the middle of the video Netanayhu asks the camera man to stop taping, but he continues...
Netanyahu says what he really thinks for the first time:
He brags about how easy is to manipulate the USA and he proudly explains how he sabotaged the Oslo process.

Hamas were also going to sign, but the leader who was taking the papers was blown up.

Israeli peace activist: Hamas leader Jabari killed amid talks on long-term truce
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-peace-activist-hamas-leader-jabari-killed-amid-talks-on-long-term-truce.premium-1.478085

Sorry Cass, but Americans are lied to every day about what goes on in Palestine. The Head of the Israeli army in the last bombardment of Gaza said that they wanted to kill every civilian so that they could take the land.

Would also point you to:

http://www.newsfixboard.com/t8121-philip-giraldi-former-cia-officer-and-executive-director-of-the-council-for-the-national-interest-on-how-israel-manipulates-us

Not only manipulates by steals it seems

@Cass
no good reason to help Israel exists, not morally not fiscally not militarily (unless you have share in Halliburton   )
they can stand on their own two feet or be grateful to those that help them stand. at immense fiscal cost and Political cost. The USA chooses Israel over a dozen others with equal or better human rights records that would be of much higher economic value to the USA.

This Idea that they are special in anyway is faulty, USA spends more on them than ALL of Africa where there is far more genocide and humans rights abuses and human suffering caused DIRECTLY by Western influence.

it is not about supporting the other side it about supporting NEITHER and CONDEMNING BOTH.
Let nature take its course as all that is happening is prolonging regional conflict and suffering.

And Helping Your own Citizens First, there is poverty in the USA and lack of basic services largely around the race that used to be enslaved. Which put paid to any notion that Israel is Owed Anything by the US or any western gov't... until we pay reparations to Our Own for the crimes we committed against them how is it anything but hypocrisy to pay reparations to others for the crimes others committed against them.
People complain about Foreign aide spent on medicine for Africans yet are happy to give spend 10 times more giving IDF more weapons. Priorities need to be corrected

well guess we will have to disagree then! Goodnight

Cass wrote:to be frank I understand their desire to skip it, and remember I said that The speaker crossed the line, but by not appearing they look almost as foolish.

they should go, but they don't have to stand up, clap or anything else to show their disapproval. They must remember that not all of their constituents think or feel as they do.

Nonsense.  If they have other things to do, so be it.  It's not as if it's a State sanctioned event.  Netanyahu right now is at best a tourist, if not worse...a foreign agent.  The wisest thing to do is to boycott the speech to show solidarity with the President.

What Netanyahu's intentions are is clear: he wants to rally Republicans to pass a resolution preventing any accord with Iran over nuclear arms.  Since those talks are just about to bring results, he wants to throw a wrench into the works.  The timing indicates his real motive.

It is offensive to allow a foreign agent to interfere in America's foreign policy.  It's blatant lobbying.  For Boehner to set this entire thing up reveals that he (Boehner) is a representative of a foreign state.  As such, he has no business serving as a member of the House of Representatives.  Indeed, I believe they have to register by law.

Republicans are seditious traitors.

Original Quill wrote:

Cass wrote:to be frank I understand their desire to skip it, and remember I said that The speaker crossed the line, but by not appearing they look almost as foolish.

they should go, but they don't have to stand up, clap or anything else to show their disapproval. They must remember that not all of their constituents think or feel as they do.

Nonsense.  If they have other things to do, so be it.  It's not as if it's a State sanctioned event.  Netanyahu right now is at best a tourist, if not worse...a foreign agent.  The wisest thing to do is to boycott the speech to show solidarity with the President.
What Netanyahu's intentions are is clear: he wants to rally Republicans to pass a resolution preventing any accord with Iran over nuclear arms.  Since those talks are just about to bring results, he wants to throw a wrench into the works.  The timing indicates his real motive.

It is offensive to allow a foreign agent to interfere in America's foreign policy.  It's blatant lobbying.  For Boehner to set this entire thing up reveals that he (Boehner) is a representative of a foreign state.  As such, he has no business serving as a member of the House of Representatives.  Indeed, I believe they have to register by law.

Republicans are seditious traitors.

I agree about Netanyahu' s intentions. in fact I said on another thread that this was just a political vote gathering exercise by both him and Boehner.

by boycotting the speech how will that help the situation?

By showing solidarity in matters of foreign affairs the boycotters show that America speaks with one (internal) voice on our geopolitical dealings. Foreign agents stand outside and have to approach jaw-to-jaw, not try to climb up the arse-hawl.

Though...it is appropriate that that's where he meets with Republicans. Lol.

Apart from Cass, all are showing left wing intolerance.
The fact America sees Iran having such a bomb is to them a threat as much as it is to Israel.
What is relevant is how close Iran is to gaining such a weapon which at present seems a couple of years off but America does need to wrk with Iran of that I am certain.
The fact of those calling for boycotting such a leader is showing the worst intolerance possible and is being done out of again hate for Israel.

Brasidas wrote:The fact of those calling for boycotting such a leader is showing the worst intolerance possible and is being done out of again hate for Israel.

Good...gives my heart joy to hear that.

What we do with Iran is a separate matter from Israel's intentions.  It's Netanyahu's tactics that are disgusting. We all agree that Iran is a bad guy.  Netanyahu goes another step and declares the American President a bad guy.  He reapeth what he soweth.

In America we are dealing with a peculiar illness having to do with the Republican racism of the right.  Along comes Netanyahu and tries to exploit that illness by doing an end-run around the American government, dealing directly with the racists.  He has no idea what harm he has done to Israel. Has it occurred to anyone that most of the boycotters are members of the Black Caucus of the House of Representatives?

By trying to exploit a wedge in American politics, Netanyahu has aligned Israel with the old white men who are on their way out.  As such, he has set Israeli-US relations back 50-years.

Original Quill wrote:

Brasidas wrote:The fact of those calling for boycotting such a leader is showing the worst intolerance possible and is being done out of again hate for Israel.

Good...gives my heart joy to hear that.

What we do with Iran is a separate matter from Israel's intentions.  You and I agree that Iran is a bad guy.  Netanyahu goes another step and declares the American President as a bad guy.  He reapeth what he soweth.

In America we are dealing with a peculiar illness having to do with the Republican racism of the right.  Along comes Netanyahu and tries to exploit that illness by doing an end-run around the American government, dealing directly with the racists.  Has it occurred to anyone that most of the boycotters are members of the Black Caucus of the House of Representatives?

By trying to exploit a wedge in American politics, Netanyahu has aligned Israel with the old white men who are on their way out.  As such, he has set Israeli-US relations back 50-years.

I think you will find it is you encouraging a wedge and being as bad as you claim the Republicans are being intolerant.
No wonder you Americans can never get anything done, you would rather spite each other than choose to agree on anything.
I find that daft really and why your country will eventually implode.
So we now understand the Democrats are as intolerant as Republicans.
Go figure.

Brasidas wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Good...gives my heart joy to hear that.

What we do with Iran is a separate matter from Israel's intentions.  You and I agree that Iran is a bad guy.  Netanyahu goes another step and declares the American President as a bad guy.  He reapeth what he soweth.

In America we are dealing with a peculiar illness having to do with the Republican racism of the right.  Along comes Netanyahu and tries to exploit that illness by doing an end-run around the American government, dealing directly with the racists.  Has it occurred to anyone that most of the boycotters are members of the Black Caucus of the House of Representatives?

By trying to exploit a wedge in American politics, Netanyahu has aligned Israel with the old white men who are on their way out.  As such, he has set Israeli-US relations back 50-years.

I think you will find it is you encouraging a wedge and being as bad as you claim the Republicans are being intolerant.
No wonder you Americans can never get anything done, you would rather spite each other than choose to agree on anything.
I find that daft really and why your country will eventually implode.
So we now understand the Democrats are as intolerant as Republicans.
Go figure.

You're jealous, didge.  America has accomplished more than any other nation on earth.  Still, you are like.......    Lol

Don't forget, if you side with with the right-wing Republicans in the US, you side with liars, kidnappers, rapists, torturers, racists and murderers.  And here you are, wanting me to get along with them?  What's wrong with you??? Tut-tut, my boy...you know absolutely nothing about American politics.

This is nearly the same mistake that Netanyahu has made.  He thinks he is playing with a mere frown in the countenance of America, when in fact he has opened a major wound.  He will have to learn, along with Israel.  Watch and learn, my boy, watch and learn.

Original Quill wrote:

Brasidas wrote:

I think you will find it is you encouraging a wedge and being as bad as you claim the Republicans are being intolerant.
No wonder you Americans can never get anything done, you would rather spite each other than choose to agree on anything.
I find that daft really and why your country will eventually implode.
So we now understand the Democrats are as intolerant as Republicans.
Go figure.

You're jealous, didge.  America has accomplished more than any other nation on earth.  Still, you are like.......    Lol

Don't forget, if you side with with the right-wing Republicans in the US, you side with liars, kidnappers, rapists, torturers, racists and murderers.  And here you are, wanting me to get along with them?  What's wrong with you???  Tut-tut, my boy...you know absolutely nothing about American politics.

This is nearly the same mistake that Netanyahu has made.  He thinks he is playing with a mere frown in the countenance of America, when in fact he has opened a major wound.  He will have to learn, along with Israel.  Watch and learn, my boy, watch and learn.

That is gobbledygook to claim it has accomplished more than any other nations ands is very subjective to say the least as what are you basing this view on for a start?
I do not side with any side as I side with what is the best thing to do for a nation, which is why such politics should be placed to one side based on what is most important. This is why things never get done is because Politicians act out of their own interest and not that of a nation.
As a nation with close ties to Israel it is insulting not to hear him out and plays into the hands of Israel's enemies by showing discord between the two. Whether you think ill of him is irrelevant as he is just one man Netanyahu. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and if you push them away they will turn to either Russia or Japan and you have then lost a major ally in the Middle east and both these super powers would not hesitate in providing support to Israel.
You need to to think more than 2 dimensionally Quill.

Brasidas wrote:That is gobbledygook to claim it has accomplished more than any other nations ands is very subjective to say the least as what are you basing this view on for a start?
I do not side with any side as I side with what is the best thing to do for a nation, which is why such politics should be placed to one side based on what is most important. This is why things never get done is because Politicians act out of their own interest and not that of a nation.
As a nation with close ties to Israel it is insulting not to hear him out and plays into the hands of Israel's enemies by showing discord between the two. Whether you think ill of him is irrelevant as he is just one man Netanyahu. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and if you push them away they will turn to either Russia or Japan and you have then lost a major ally in the Middle east and both these super powers would not hesitate in providing support to Israel.
You need to to think more than 2 dimensionally Quill.

Me?  I need do nothing.  These are the prevailing conditions.  You, however, would be wise to consider them, didge.  You would be wise to figure out the tactics...to figure out the chessboard.  You won't have any more luck than me.  The die is cast.

Netanyahu stepped into quicksand, over which he has no control.  If he wins the upcoming election in Israel, how can the Left of the US ever again trust Israel?  Netanyahu has traded that away.  It is a recipe for disaster for Israel.

The key to support for Israel from the US has been the former's ability to stay out of politics, and maintain an alliance with both the Left and the Right in America.  The war-hawks of America want to promote war regardless of cause--and Israel is a cause--and the American Jew is typically Left to far-Left, having founded the American Civil Liberties Union.  Ergo: Israel has had both feet securely placed on both sides, with the remarkable results you have seen.

In walks Netanyahu and sits right down with those who would destroy everything the American Civil Liberties Union stand for, and proceeds to party with kidnappers, liars, rapists, torturers, racists and murderers.  He walked into that knowing who they were.  Israel has no choice but to walk with him.  Israel has taken its stand.

The problem is, the old, white men are about to die.  The Republican Party is about to die.  Not only are they 75+ years old, but in substantial states like Texas, Florida and California, Hispanic voters are about to, or have already taken over as the majority; Hispanics are the very demographic that Republicans are at war with over such things as Immigration and voter suppression.  Republicans as a party are about to die.  

The country has moved far beyond Republicans.  So the choice that Netanyahu has made for Israel should he indeed win reelection, is to lose not just the Left of America...but worse, to lose the Jews of America.  

Imagine an Israel asking for FA-18s from America, and having absolutely no support from their own people in America.  Disaster!

Original Quill wrote:

Brasidas wrote:That is gobbledygook to claim it has accomplished more than any other nations ands is very subjective to say the least as what are you basing this view on for a start?
I do not side with any side as I side with what is the best thing to do for a nation, which is why such politics should be placed to one side based on what is most important. This is why things never get done is because Politicians act out of their own interest and not that of a nation.
As a nation with close ties to Israel it is insulting not to hear him out and plays into the hands of Israel's enemies by showing discord between the two. Whether you think ill of him is irrelevant as he is just one man Netanyahu. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and if you push them away they will turn to either Russia or Japan and you have then lost a major ally in the Middle east and both these super powers would not hesitate in providing support to Israel.
You need to to think more than 2 dimensionally Quill.

Me?  I need do nothing.  These are the prevailing conditions.  You would be wise to consider them, didge.  You won't have any more luck.

Netanyahu stepped into quicksand, which he has no control over.  If he wins the upcoming election in Israel, how can the left of the US ever again trust Israel?  Netanyahu has traded that away.  It is a recipe for disaster for that country.

The key to support for Israel from the US has been the former's ability to stay out of politics, and maintain an alliance with both the left and the right in America.  The war-hawks of America want to promote war regardless of cause--and Israel is a cause--and the American Jew is typically left to far-left, having founded the American Civil Liberties Union.  Ergo: Israel has had both feet securely placed on both sides, with the results you have seen.

In walks Netanyahu and sits right down with those who would destroy everything the American Civil Liberties Union stand for, and proceeds to party with kidnappers, liars, rapists, torturers, racists and murderers.  He walked into that knowing who they were.  Israel has taken its stand.

The problem is, the old, white men are about to die.  Not only are they 75+ years old, but in substantial states like Texas and California, Hispanic voters are, or have taken over as the majority; Hispanics are the very demographic that Republicans are at war with over such things as Immigration and voter suppression.  Republicans as a party are about to die.  

The country has moved far beyond Republicans.  So the choice that Netanyahu has made for Israel should he indeed win reelection, is to lose not just the left of America...but worse, to lose the Jews of America.  

Imagine an Israel asking for FA-18s from America, and having absolutely no support from their own people in America.  Disaster!

So you have nothing to back up what America has done to be considered great as again you fail to state the boundaries as to what you consitute this is, so your view can be easily dimissed as to being of any standing.
OMG as to your views of one Israeli leader as if he can no destroy American standing when it is hated by most of the Middle East is again short sighted on your part, because of its interference in many conflicts.
The country has moved back to Replublican support of which I do not back because the Democrats have failed to understand the American public which has lost loads of respect for them, hence why you are seeing their support grow and I have no doubt a Republican will be the next President which is not good news for you really, but it will happen.

Second if Israel gains instead Russia as an ally, then there is nothing to prevent Israel taking a stratgey that this country itself uses, one of not now needing to care what the western world thinks, it now has Russia at its back and can easily annex both Gaza and Palestine and would no doubt influence them to invade Syria to control this region. Russia then has a strong ally in the region and does not have to spill any blood doing so and creates the US with fewer friends in the Middle East and they will be again to afraid to act if Russia backs them. You really need to start thinbking outside the Box, Israel would move to someone who they know will jump at the chance of their support being as Russia has limited allies.

Brasidas wrote:So you have nothing to back up what America has done to be considered great as again you fail to state the boundaries as to what you consitute this is, so your view can be easily dimissed as to being of any standing.

WTF cares about that?  The issue is Israel, and the time is right now.

Brasidas wrote:OMG as to your views of one Israeli leader as if he can no destroy American standing when it is hated by most of the Middle East is again short sighted on your part, because of its interference in many conflicts.
The country has moved back to Replublican support of which I do not back because the Democrats have failed to understand the American public which has lost loads of respect for them, hence why you are seeing their support grow and I have no doubt a Republican will be the next President which is not good news for you really, but it will happen.

What you are seeing are the results of an off-year election.  Didge, if you want to understand American politics, read Gerald M Pomper, Elections in America;: Control and influence in democratic politics.  The off-year election is always conservative, because only old, white people go out and vote.  My god man, these are studied results...not just your whim.  

Old, white people, the core of the Republican Party, are dying off and are no longer the majority.  Not only are they old, but they are about to lose the grip.  Ask yourself, why are the Republicans trying to forestall an Immigration policy?  Why are they trying to send nearly 5-million people away, despite having been here for 20+ years?  BECAUSE THEY ARE ABOUT TO LOSE IT ALL!!  Those are Hispanic voters that Republicans will have to let vote if they pass an Immigration Bill.  And there are 20-million more waiting at the gate.  Republicans are a dying political party.

Brasidas wrote:Second if Israel gains instead Russia as an ally, then there is nothing to prevent Israel taking a stratgey that this country itself uses, one of not now needing to care what the western world thinks, it now has Russia at its back and can easily annex both Gaza and Palestine and would no doubt influence them to invade Syria to control this region. Russia then has a strong ally in the region and does not have to spill any blood doing so and creates the US with fewer friends in the Middle East and they will be again to afraid to act if Russia backs them. You really need to start thinbking outside the Box, Israel would move to someone who they know will jump at the chance of their support being as Russia has limited allies.

Jesus...Russia is a paper tiger.  How many times do we have to prove that?  We'll stoke up the Star Wars Defense and see how long Russia lasts this time...they'll be broke in six weeks.  Russia is a Mafia organization, not a country.

If Israel takes up with Russia there will be perpetual war in the Middle East, with Putin hiding over there behind Greenland.  Haha...I've always said that this whole thing has to end with Israel and Iran having a final war.  Mix up some daiquiris and grab a lawn chair.

I do not need to understand American politics to understand American people and how the Democrats have fucked up big time. Again I am no supporter of the Republicans either. Its not my fault you cannot see that or how infleuntial the Jews are in the US, sadly it seems you are going to have to learn the hard.

As to Russia and Israel being in bed together then Israel is unleashed with no problems as to what it odoes, it has freee reign because the West again fearing the Russians as is happenning now in Ukraine and the West will do noything. Iran would less likely to intervene if Russia is on Israel side, as it has Saudi to worry about. Israel would takje the strategic decision to annex both the west bank and Gaza and remove the populations to neighbouring countries, as this would neutralize the threat of Hamas and then Lebannon the threat thhere and gain a more secure country for Israel. I would hate to see this happen, but this is what would happen if the US pushed Israel into a courner.