Rick Perry’s U.N. Overreach

22 September 2011 |permalink | email article

The Texas governor created a political firestorm Tuesday in New York by declaring that President Obama had pushed US,-Israel relations to “the precipice” via “naïve and arrogant, misguided and dangerous” policies. He went on to accuse the Obama administration’s approach to the Middle East as a “policy of appeasement” and “a dangerous insult” to Americans and Israelis alike. Unfortunately for Perry, a born-again Christian, he badly miscalculated by showing his ignorance with a reckless attack on the president.

On Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised Obama’s effort to dissuade Palestinian leaders from pushing for a United Nations vote on statehood, calling Obama’s actions as a “badge of honor” for the president. Immediately after Obama told the U.N. General Assembly that there is no shortcut” to Mideast peace, the two leaders met in a U.N. conference room to reinforce their opposition to the Palestinians’ push for U.N. recognition as a sovereign state. However, Obama was rebuffed as Palestinians pursue a U.N. seat. Still, the Netanyahu exchange is certain to enhance Obama’s reelection chances in Florida which has a large Jewish constituency. Perry’s Social Security comments have shocked Florida seniors. One key sidebar: the right-wing conservative Netanyahu has developed a growing relationship with dozens of Republican House members.

Noted, Briefly

Sara Palin has pushed back the date as to whether she will seek the Republican presidential nomination. One poll shows 71 percent of Republicans oppose her run….Conservative Michael Reagan, President Reagan’s adopted son, appears to have dropped his idea of challenging Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in 2012.

Spending Bill Torpedoed

A stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded past Sept. 30 was upended in the House on Wednesday when Democrats to offset disaster aid in the package. Caught off guard, Speaker John Boehner frantically sought to rally members of his own party, as he continues to battle rump conservatives upset with the spending levels he negotiated with President Obama. But 48 Republicans still broke ranks with Congress scheduled for recess next week. A compromise is possible but last summer’s brinksmanship politics has soured voters, and weakens Boehner’s grip on the House. 

What They Said

Former White House financial reform adviser Elizabeth Warren , challenging Sen. Scott Brown in Massachusetts, on the “class warfare” advanced by Republicans, offering a full-throated rebuttal about the benefits that the wealthy were able to obtain from society at large, and the need to give something back.

Newt Gingrich, a burnt out loser, tells the Des Moines Register he’s the smartest and most idea-driven candidate in the GOP field, and promising to lay out a “very visionary” new 21st Century Contract with America next week in Iowa.

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