420 Comments

Bibi & AIPAC lost a lot of credibility with Dems during the trump years. Also, the young did not grow up idolizing Israelis. After the Holocaust Israelis proclaimed “never again”. But the youngsters see Israel using Nazi tactics against Palestinians. It’s a horrible situation for all.

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Pretty heavy comments. I just wanted to know if it was the grandson that brought home covid. 🙄💔

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The KKK were stuck using ropes, guns, razor, bats and bombs to murder black man, women and children. No running battles with law enforcement because they often had their support (hence the need for the FBI.) Yeah the KKK were pretty low tech, I guess that makes some people think what they did wasn’t such ‘interesting history.’

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Sure, and I won’t ask Republicans to be the front end of a horse.

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Oh, and if you’re a Republican, I apologize, I don’t mean you individually, but the signs were there for a long time. As for the Bulwark people, I think some of them are still deciding who they are (not Sarah, she knows.)

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Y'all, this is a news/commentary site founded by right/center-right people to oppose the extreme right. The appropriate response to that is "thank you" (and, of course, "respectfully disagree about xyz" as often as you like) --- not "I'm shocked and appalled, why is this not a left-wing cheer squad?" There's already enough places we can go to get left- (or any other-)wing @ss kissed; we don't need another.

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Sure this site is rare and I’m here for the commentary but when writers complain about the cost of gas it reminds me that they chipped in on the fuel that was used to set this country on fire. That’s an awkward analogy so to be clear I’m glad Charlie is making a living off of this and MSNBC and I admire that he stood against Trump but before that he was selling election lies that eventually led to Trump just like every other right wing talk show host.

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Fair enough, William -- square accounts however you like, that's your choice to make.

Just, don't ask a camel to be a cow. Especially in the middle of the desert.

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The way Charlie was speaking about this subject was idiotic and offensive. I was horrified by 10/7 and I unequivocally condemn Hamas's savage attack. At the same time, I have profound concerns about what Israel is doing on both moral and practical grounds. Charlie seems to believe anyone who questions the wisdom of Israel's bombing campaign and possible ground invasion is somehow an anti-Israeli radical. This reminds me of 9/11, and efforts by the government and supporters of invading Iraq to paint mainstream people with opposing political views as naïve or radical. But we saw who was right about Iraq, didn't we?

Certainly, people who try to justify Hamas's attack deserve enormous criticism and scorn. But most center-left people do not believe that and should not be tarred with that brush, simply for criticizing Israel's military conduct or wanting to discuss what the best path forward is at this point.

I haven't finished the pod yet; it sounded like Will might have been about to set Charlie a little bit straight on this. At least, I hope so.

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Thanks for Kristol's piece. I sent it to my sister and told her this was why she was so anxious. We won't know whether we will end up with world-saving decisions or failure.

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I suppose their heads may have just fell off. That often happens.

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The MSM smells blood in the water, what can they do now to trash Biden, to whip up a controversy to urge democrats not to vote. Just like in 2022 when the drumbeat of "punish the democrats" was all you saw. I may print out a copy of that chart you published a couple of days ago about what is happening and what the media reports and how.

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My initials from birth are MSM and it's really hurtful.to be trashed constantly AS IF I am, or agree with the Main Stream.Media.

I reapectfully request that y'all spell it out (use an autocorrect term if it helps) . Thanks!!

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All for the ratings!

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It’s an expression for someone who is no longer viable or re-electable.

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“We will remember this.”

Please tell me this does NOT mean they'll vote for Trump.

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While we should be aiding Israel without limitation in this crisis, Ilhan Omar has a point calling our aid "unconditional". When the bloodletting is finally over, we should demand that Israel stop unilaterally (and illegally) building new settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It's colonialism, plain and simple.

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That’s because of a baked in predisposition of many former republicans to still (as always) view Dems as a monolithic “they”, as opposed to a diverse group of folks mostly aligned towards opposing “them”- who currently are represented by the fascist orange man most recently from Florida

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I'm not a Netanyahu fan, AT ALL! And haven't been for several years. I also have a problem with the Holy Land concept, why we're sending so much aid to Isreal. This war could last 10 years! We're still reeling from the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan, not just monetarily. Popular Information asked: after this, airstrikes, ground invasion, what?? It's an excellent question.

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I’m late to this comment party but....

Isn’t there a huge and obvious distinction between 1) empathizing with Israelis after this terror attack and 2) wanting to send Israel lots of money and weapons?

With Ukraine, the rationale for aid is clear. Ukraine is facing an adversary with deep stockpiles of everything. The assistance from 52 nations, is thus an existential necessity.

Israel, by contrast, has Hamas outgunned. Their biggest challenges seem to be about: 1) having good intel and knowing where to hit 2) calibrating their response to degrade Hamas while minimizing blowback 3) having a future plan for a Gaza when Hamas is not in control.

Put aside symbolism. How exactly will American aid help with any of those three things?

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It is a signal to various regional actors not to pile in and expand the war.

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So Hezbollah is thinking about attacking but they see America giving Israel $10B instead of the usual, annual $4B and so they back down?

Bad actors see an American warship and so they back down? Look like they actually taking shots at our ships.

Again, other than performative symbolism, I see no tangible value (and enormous risks) to putting US personnel in the theatre. And while, sure, everyone loves money, I don’t see how 10 extra billion for Israel creates lasting security, if the billions and billions we’ve already sent hasn’t done the job.

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Imagine the alternative and its risks. A widening regional war, spike in oil prices, global recession, etc.

In the US, it would mean Biden loses in 2024, Trump returns with his impact on American democracy, NATO is destabilized, etc. etc.

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I don't know what the answers are but those seem like very good questions.

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This kind of rag article is why it took me so long to actually subscribe to The Bulwark. President Biden has handled the Israeli situation & Ukraine masterfully, rebuilding our tattered relationship with our Allies

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Even The Bulwark wets the bed sometimes.

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