Daily Kos

Democrats Need to Pounce on Hamas

by jbfunk

Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:36:52 PM PDT

Bush's foreign policy has failed utterly.  His policy of spreading democracy in the Middle East has failed so completley that his follies rival anything else in his administration.  Just 6 years ago, Israel and Palestine were on the verge of achieving peace.  Palastine has now elected what is considered a terrorist organization around the world.  Bush is loosing the War on Terror.  His idea of a peace process in the Middle East is an embarassment to this nation and the world.  How could he have allowed Palestine to fall to terrorists in such a dramatic way?  Not only that, but they were elected in what is considered to be one of the most successful elections in recent memory.  
Democrats must attack Bush relentlessly over this election.  Bush and the GOP cannot be allowed to spin this election to their advantage.  I am surprised at this point that Dems haven't been more public in their denoucing of Bush and the election.  The political rhetoric must start now.  How can any Republican running for office support Bush's foreign policy this fall in the election?  Bush's version of democracy elects terrorists in Palestine and threatens what is left of the fragile political stability in the entire region.  How can the Zionist Jew faction in this country continue to blindly support an administration that is so inept it allows Palestine to fall into the hands of Hamas?  Democrats must make an appeal to the pro Israeli Jewish Community in this country in light of recent events.  The Dems have to push the rhetoric on this debacle.  Forget Alito, this is the real battle waiting not just to be fought, but won in a landslide.

Hamas's landslide victory is the nail in the coffin for the GOP.  It the Dems play this well, the GOP cannot spin themselves out of this.  Middle America understands Hamas to be a terrorist organization that was elected in democratic elections that Bush supposedly supports.  The Dem's can explain this to the public is very plain words:  DOMINO THEORY.  The power keg in the Middle East is exploding as we speak.  What other countries are going to sign up for "democratic elections" after what Hamas pulled off in Palestine?

Forget about the accuracy of the question, the value it has as politcal rhetoric in middle America is invaluable to the Democrats.  The possibility of Bush's Democracy speading terrorism ought to spread enough terror in our own country to scare middle America into finally voting for Democrats again.  It's time to give Rove and the GOP a little taste of their own medicine.  The Democrats need to turn up the fear factor and get tough on terrorism.  

If the Democrats can't jump all over this they deserve to loose.  The Sunday talk shows should be devoted to this issue.  The Alito fillibuster is a real tragedy as it spins into some massive Rovian smoke screen that diverts the public from the real story, the collaspe of the Middle East on Bush's watch.    

Tags: Hamas, 2006 elections, War on Terror, Middle East, Democracy, George W. Bush, Domino Theory (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 62 comments

  •  I agree...this IS Bush's fault (none / 1)

    just more proof how insanely reckless and irresponsible it was to foolishly start a war and ignore what the consequenses would be

    UNCLE SAM wants YOU to help IMPEACH BUSH

    by RumsfeldResign on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:47:50 PM PDT

    •  It could be worse..... (none / 0)

      I mean, what if Iran had the bomb, or something?

      December 12th (2000) changed everything.

      by aravaipa on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:26:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  How? (none / 0)

      This conflict has been going on for decades. It's been a highly volatile region for a very long time.

      Is it just possible that this is just another step towards a change in dialogue? Is it possible that this really is people letting their leaders know that they are upset with domestic policies:

      Husayn Hijazi in Al-Ayyam

      "We should understand that the vote was one of protest, punishing Fatah for its internal policies; it wasn't a vote about foreign policy. Hamas - who has received the people's trust to a level beyond expectation - should understand this and clean the stables. Its ability to do this is now crucial."

      Adli Sadiq in Al-Hayat al-Jadidah

      "We can no longer bear those in Fatah who were responsible for our loss of the dearest thing we had: the people's trust in our ability to represent them. Whenever they felt weak they made exceptional efforts to corrupt or appease us. Nevertheless, we remain a rich movement with members ready to continue contributing to the quest towards freedom and independence."

      Read more quotes at the link

      Is it possible that Fatah brought this upset on themselves?

      Mariachi Mama Candidate Bickering Moratorium! Signatory to the Carnacki Petition

      by kredwyn on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 10:50:46 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Sharon's Terror Child (none / 0)

    How the Likud Bloc Mid-wifed the Birth of Hamas

    by thor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:48:41 PM PDT

  •  Bush's Sin (4.00 / 2)

    By refusing to help moderate Palestinians he almost forces them to vote for Hamas. First they pushed to get rid of Arafat, but then when the did they gave no credit or help to the Palestinian Authority. Bush continued to pressure them, while at the same time calling for open elections.

    Well he got his election, and now we have a pro-terrorist Palestine to go with the pro-Iranian Iraq we've created. Bush has no feel for diplomacy, no idea when compromise is necessary. His continued our way or nothing rhetoric is going to cause more and more people to choose nothing.

    And then we'll end up supporting dictators who overthrow these governments, and start the whole dance up again.

    by DJ Adequate on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:50:01 PM PDT

  •  Hamas victory is democracy... (4.00 / 6)

    the same democracy Bush claims he wants to spread throughout the middle east.  Of course, the victory of Hamas can be attributed toward several factors...the corruption of Fatah, the widespread media announcement the week before the election that the USA was contributing toward Fatah, and the fact that Hamas...aside from its "terrorism" designation, has a side that provides for social good within the Palestinian people.

    Now that Hamas has an actual political stake in the future of the State of Palestine, could it help end their participation in terroristic activities?  They have agreed and supposedly participated in a cease fire for the last year or so.

    by LtdEdishn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:50:51 PM PDT

    •  Amen. (none / 0)

      If anyone wants to know what it is like in Palestine today, they should try talking to a Palestinian.

      I did.

      I will never support Israel again.

      Hamas represents the interests of Palestinians who are fed up with the corruption of Fatah and the Holocaust which the Jews are perpetrating on the Palestinian people.

      "Hillarious: Seizing Power at Any Cost"

      by raymundo on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:15:13 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I support Israel and a Palestinian State both.. (none / 0)

        I do believe the Holocaust happened, and when you offer statements such as you did, it only minimizes the suffering of people.  My heritage includes a purging of the Csar of Russia of Jews from the Ukraine.  My grandmother and my great grandmother made their way to the USA, my great grandfather was never heard from again.

        As a peace-monger, I find it important to recognize history, and to protect those who might suffer in the future.  People have the right to live, and to live freely.  I have found that Israel as well as the PLO and Hamas guilty of ignoring the right the live.

        With Hamas gaining power, under the democracy that Dubya claims will change the world, I actually demand that Hamas act and govern for peace in accordance with their new political dictate.

        by LtdEdishn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:52:34 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Amen. (none / 0)

      If anyone wants to know what it is like in Palestine today, they should try talking to a Palestinian.

      I did.

      I will never support Israel again.

      Hamas represents the interests of Palestinians who are fed up with the corruption of Fatah and the Holocaust which the Jews are perpetrating on the Palestinian people.

      "Hillarious: Seizing Power at Any Cost"

      by raymundo on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:16:22 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  State of Palestine? (none / 0)

      I didn't know Palestinians had a country. Big news.

      by EMRosa on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:23:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Bush asks Harper to step aside for Martin (none / 0)

      to me -- the mind numbing comments BushCo made during his press conference was the inference that el presidente urged mahmoud abbas to stay in office -- i wish, oh how i wish we had a press corps with the gumption to have asked that since canadians just chose to replace their gov't, then would he be urging Paul Martin to stay in office despite the Conservative win ...

      i don't know who i am more embarrassed by -- BushCo or Our press that lets him get away with stupid shit like this!

      Yes We Can

      by josephk on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:57:39 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Err. . . (none / 0)

        The Palestinians elected a parliament, not a president.  Abbas's position is not affected by the outcome of the vote.  Therefore he remains in his current position unless he decides to quit to avoid having to work with Hamas.

        That is what Bush was urging him not to do -- he doesn't want him to leave office early.

        John McCain, you are _not_ my friend.

        by LarryInNYC on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:03:57 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Bush forgot (none / 0)

    Elections don't equal democracy.

    Can you imagine what kind of asshole he was as a student?

    sign the petition at http://www.impeachbush.org

    by DrKate on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:52:08 PM PDT

  •  Hamas could drive the peace process (none / 1)

    In the same way Sharon could potentially have been good for the peace process by conjuring up a grim image of the alternative, so could Hamas.

    by moodyx on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:52:50 PM PDT

  •  The consequences of neocon agenda (4.00 / 5)

    is coming to fruition right before our eyes:

    Militant terrorists take over Palestinian govt.

    Iran is going nuclear

    Iraq is slipping into civil war

    American troops are being accused of war crimes in Iraq (latest: kidnapping wives of wanted insurgents and holding them hostage).

    Afganistan falling into a warlord run theocracy

    Radical Islamic ideology is spreading around the globe- spurred by anti-American sentiments over Iraq war.

    Al Qaida and OBL still alive and plotting our destruction

    An unwinnable war and an ever expanding astronomic national debt

    Yeah- Hamas victory is a complete repudiation of Bush's claims for democratizing the middle east.

    He was warned that invading Iraq would destabilize the entire region- but he just wouldn't listen.

    Now we have to experience the dire consequences of a foolish and reckless foreign policy.

    Be The Media

    by wild salmon on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:52:52 PM PDT

    •  Means to Their Ends (none / 0)

      Given what they're playing for, and given that the overwhelming majority of consequences fall on us and on Enlightenment generally, they'll come out ahead with the world getting a whole lot worse than it is today.

      We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King "Beyond Vietnam"

      by Gooserock on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:12:56 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I really disagree with this diary (4.00 / 6)

    It is really important for everyone in American politics to stay away from any kind of demagoguery on this issue.  To glibly blame the whole Hamas victory on Bush is ridiculous - it is a lot more complicated than that; as has been commented above it has just as much to do with Fatah corruption and the sheer success of the Hamas ground operation in delivering social services (such as charity work and kindergartens).  

    Ok but just because we shouldn't call for Democrats to not oversimplify the issue and just blame Bush for it doesn't mean Bush is blameless either.  We shouldn't attack Bush's 'vision' of spreading democracy (it's all a ruse after all..just look under "Pakistan, Government of" to see what I mean), but we should totally attack his total unwillingness to engage in the region, to provide more aid to the Palestinains so as to bolster Abu Mazen, etc.  Those are the points we should be making.  It may not be the best politics of contrast, but I think it would be really irresponsible to play 'gotcha' politics with this issue.

    Give me liberty, or give me death!

    by salsa0000 on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:03:34 PM PDT

    •  Amen (4.00 / 2)

      HAMAS is the Palestinian branch of the Islamic Brotherhood.  The same Islamic Brotherhood that won elections in Algeria in 1992 and the same Islamic Brotherhood that assassinated Sadat in 81 and would win in Egypt if a free election were ever held there.  HAMAS didnt win because we have an idiot for a President.  HAMAS won because they a) aren't Fatah and b) deliver services in a way that Fatah cant because Fatah is too busy looting to actually provide for the Palestinians.  If I were Abu Mazen, I'd be running for France right about now...

      See you at the debate, bitches!

      by calipygian on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:25:23 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Obviously (none / 0)

      the whole situation in the Middle East is incredibly complicated with multiple strands of history that have been intertwined together going back hundreds of years in which millions of people from the region have been persecuted all over world at differnt points in history.  

      This diary is not meant to be an over simplified breakdown of Hamas's recent vicotry.  The diary is about discussing how and why the Democrats should use the events to win this year's elections through using the Bush's own rhetoric about the War on Terror against him, much like democrats and republicans did during the Cold War.  Middle America does not want to know about the intracacies of the corruption of Fatah or the obvious self destructive  path of Israel in its attempt to fight the Palistinians for control of the various territories.  If democrats can get into office though, it's gurantee they can do better than Bush has in working towards peace in the region.  Is peace in the region in the long term under a democratic administration worth some short term political rhetoric in an election year?  You tell me.  

      I take political action every day. I teach.

      by jbfunk on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:26:26 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  it's gauranteed they can do better? (none / 0)

        Really? How so?

        Arafat is dead. Sharon is in a coma. A new generation of politicians have taken over.

        Yes, the administration screwed up royally in several different places.

        But I am not so certain that it's a gaurantee that better is to be found in trying to spin this politically to Middle America, who is more interested in the fact that Ford is dumping thousands of jobs.

        Hamas won on a ticket of change and kitchen table issues. The old guard was riddled with fraud.

        Instead of spinning...maybe the Dems should stand up and and offer a serious change...litchen table issues...and a return to clean government.

        Mariachi Mama Candidate Bickering Moratorium! Signatory to the Carnacki Petition

        by kredwyn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:43:10 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Democracy and human rights are too important (none / 0)

        I will admit that the first thing I wanted to respond with was "To hell with Middle America!"  But just like I didn't like the glib dig at Bush, I won't make a dig at a good portion of my fellow countrymen and women.  

        Basically I don't want Democrats to totally trash the notion of democracy promotion and human rights advocacy just because it makes convenient politics right now.  I don't want Democrats to play toward that isolationist strain that is so powerful in American politics - history has shown time and time again that an America that treats the rest of the world with suspicion or fails to uphold our best ideals in the arena of international relations leaves both the world and America worse for the wear.  What I want Democrats to do is really practise what Bush only preaches - I want increased funding for the State Department and U.N. humanitarian programs as a confidence-building measure.  I want the U.S. to help form security alliances in the Middle East analogous to NATO and the OSCE in Europe.  And I want the Democrats to speak forcefully on the need to defend human rights and each individuals right to liberty everywhere.  

        That's why I am afraid of demagoguery on this topic.  I am afraid that a significant part of Middle America, which already is so suspicious of international institutions like the U.N., will start to believe that Democrats are the ones to turn to to cut back on our foreign involvement or to hang their xenophobic hats on - and then we'll grow dependent on this stance and cede our party's historic commitment to defending liberty no matter where it is threatened.  I just cannot remain a Democrat if that's a road the party goes down.

        Give me liberty, or give me death!

        by salsa0000 on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:49:10 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  I disagree (4.00 / 2)

    We have no power to influence the participants on that stage, and the state of flux and ambiguity are so tremendous in that area that it is a minefield right now.  This is, to some pretty large extent, Bush's mess and its nastiness is apparent and blatant.  There is no sense in us taking our focus off Alito, and the Republican culture of corruption and disarray.

    Further, I don't think we should be indifferent to the inaccuracy of any of our statements just to score phantom political points.  That is the flip side to playing the game and caving in when we are outnumbered.  We need to be seen as being very candid and accurate in what we say, and we need to fight every lie that is told.  This will accrue Independents and those who have given up on the Democrats as a serious atlternative and see only a trunkless elephant as opposed to a real stubborn donkey.

    I really don't see the reason to take an unnecessary stand on this and split our ranks right now.

    "I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man.'" Robbie Robertson

    by NearlyNormal on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:03:45 PM PDT

    •  And I disagree with you! (none / 0)

      Republicans spin - so can we, and we should.  We need to add this to the litany of Bush screw-ups by saying - "he got the democracy he wanted..."

      This doesn't have to take our focus off anything.  But it needs to be pounded into the public consciousness that the democracy Bush is pushing for in the Middle East ain't necessarily to our advantage.

      by Gustogirl on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:11:29 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  They do it (none / 0)

        so we should? That's pretty weak. Should we get our own Abramoff too?

        Today's Special: Chickenhawk, slow-baked in its mother's basement.

        by Earl on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:24:09 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Oh goodness.. (none / 0)

        So just because this democracy isn't to our advantage we should have blocked the free and fair elections?  Just because this democracy isn't to our advantage we should trash the notion of democracy?  And why are we doing this - why are we trashing the very form of government our own nation lives by?  To score political points against a lame duck president.

        This is such an arrogant thing to say.  Who are you to pass judgement on the concept of democracy just because one election didn't work out to America's advantage?  This is exactly the kind of short-sighted, tunnel-visioned Bush hatred that even I can never espouse.  I will never trash democracy just because we can score 'gotcha' points against Republicans.

        Give me liberty, or give me death!

        by salsa0000 on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:56:35 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  In the early 1980s... (4.00 / 8)

    a small political party that was loosely connected to the IRA began running for elections. Bobby Sands was elected as a Member of Parliament even as he was in prison dying from the hunger strike that he and his mates went on to promote POW status for prisoners involved in a long dirty war with the British government.

    Now Gerry Adams heads up one of the more influential political parties in Northern Ireland. Additionally, he was an active participant in the Stormont peace talks.

    Now I'm not saying that the leaders of Hamas are going to be able to do overnight what it took Sinn Fein 25+ years to get to. Hamas has a number of different rocks that need to be rolled uphill before they can even get to the first steps.

    I would advise that this might be a place where treading lightly might be a good idea. The amount of background and knowledge needed to effectively understand and analyze this situation covers more than using it as a political Talking Point.

    Reza Aslan had an interesting piece on it this past Tuesday.

    Mariachi Mama Candidate Bickering Moratorium! Signatory to the Carnacki Petition

    by kredwyn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:14:19 PM PDT

    •  It is a potential (none / 0)

      parallel that has interested me for a while.  The transformation of the Irish political process could be a template for the Palestinians.  Nothing substantial in the way of change seemed possible under Arafat, who lacked Adam's political skills and was so corrupt, and Abu Mazen has no real support, so that is a problem.

      Of course, part of what the ten hunger strikers achieved was a solid moral makeover of the IRA in the eyes of many who were republican but anti-IRA.  Perhaps real political moral pressure of the non-violent sort could win the same international support as well as the support of moderate Israelis (there are still plenty of them).  The Palestinians need really good leadership at this critical moment.  Maybe there will be those who will rise to the moment and turn this into an opportunity.

      Bush is a disaster but this situation was not confined to his criminal ineptness alone.  It is truly a shame that someone with Bill Clinton's ability to moderate the Irish situation is not around and in power, though.

      by KibbutzAmiad on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:47:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  It's interesting... (none / 0)

        Sands and the Hunger Strikers hit their height in the midst of a Thatcher gov't. I think that in many ways these moves from being an armed combatant to something a smidge more political start in the midst of...or in the face of...brick wall scenarios.

        The moral makeover came with a serious campaign of mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers standing on the street corners in active protest. The image of a young smiling Bobby Sands was nigh on to the beatification of the lot of them. Plus...the world was shocked when the British let one of their own MPs die on strike.

        Reza was very quick to point out that Hamas is doing things that Abu Mazan and Arafat were unable or unwilling to do. It's basic stuff...street cleaning...scholarships for college students...the kitchen table stuff that everyone else was way too busy posturing about politics to care about.

        There are going to be some serious bumps in the road. They are aware of that...and they are concerned about it.

        But I'm getting the feeling that the people wanted change...and movement.

        That's part of why Sinn Fein and PD managed to get as many seats as they did in the early elections. Bernadette Devlin was just a "lass in a mini skirt" when they voted her into Parliament.

        I have to admit...

        I'm still trying to figure out how everyone managed to be shocked and surprised about this election.

        Mariachi Mama Candidate Bickering Moratorium! Signatory to the Carnacki Petition

        by kredwyn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:25:18 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Good comment and advice (none / 0)

        We here can't even discuss this issue because there is no common agreed on reference for the factions and identities of the parties involved.
          We've been witness to this drama our whole lives, yet say Jew or Zion or Zionist and within 20 min there's be a fight that stops the whole thread. We need a Kos FAQ on how to talk about this subject. It destroys many threads, including subjects like Palestine, the WHIG group,people like Feith and Hadley...on and on.
       

      by KenBee on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:52:27 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  agree (none / 0)

      ....it would be better if all the radicals and talking heads and activist of whatever stripe out there would just be quiet for awhile.

      but no matter what this adm says in public about not recongizing Hamas I bet there is a back channel grapevine between the US and Egypt and Hamas going on or about to go on...

      Hypocrisy in anything may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it....

      by Cal45 on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:52:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  There would almost have to be... (none / 1)

        The British gov't denied for decades that there'd been any back channel talks with the IRA even as John Hume and Gerry Adams were trying to get the peace talks moving.

        From what Hume's written, that took ages to do. And the whole thing was generally met with serious opposition and mistrust from every loyalist and unionist group out there...not to mention the hardliners from within the nationalist movement as well.

        The armed paramilitary groups haven't gone away. But with the IRA making its pledges, most of them are on the loyalist side.

        Progress and peace take time...with periodic outbreaks of violence when either side gets real nervous about their respective comfort zones.

        Mariachi Mama Candidate Bickering Moratorium! Signatory to the Carnacki Petition

        by kredwyn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:34:46 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  good comment (none / 1)

      I grew up through that time in Northern Ireland, and the situation in Palestine seems to be somewhat similar to that momentous yet very fragile time.
      Reading between the lines Hamas seems to have the foundations for succeeding, an 18 month ceasefire bears testament to that, party discipline seems strong and it has experience in administering social programs. It's lack of governing  experience will be a factor, and it will very likely face an internal struggle between the doves and the hawks.
      Whoever wins that will be critical to peace, as will the outside world's reaction to it's administration.

      Common sense isn't that common - Voltaire

      by obgynlover on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 09:47:47 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  The Dems need to use Hamas as a lesson to (none / 0)

    sheep-like GOP voters. Tell them even Palestinians were sick to death of the corruption in the Fatah and kicked them out. Can you ask less of yourselves? time to kick out your corrupt leaders eating out of Abrmaoff's trough, bankrupting the country for their private profit! Time to kick out the US-Fatah --> the GOP.

    by LibertyGuard on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:39:21 PM PDT

  •  Roadmap?!? (4.00 / 2)

    Would someone please tell me where Hamas is on Bush's "Roadmap"?  

    Wouldn't it be nice if every Democrat in Congress asked the same question?

    by johnnygunn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:46:08 PM PDT

    •  Honey. . . (none / 1)

      . . . I think we're lost.  Why don't you just pull up at that gas station and ask?  Now, honey, don't get upset.  No, I don't think that you. . . now, George, please just -- for God's sake look out for that truck -- if you would just ask directions, just this once.

      John McCain, you are _not_ my friend.

      by LarryInNYC on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:49:12 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  hits the right note (none / 0)

      i think you've got the right idea.

      "pouncing" on this, at least in the sense of demagoguing the issue is probably not the greatest winner politically.  we need to avoid the temptation to be proposing solutions, just like for the iraq goatrope.  because it'll be a while before we're able to implement anything we would propose, and the busheviks are sure to funk it up even more before that happens.

      but some good snark, reminding people that this is just another one of the long lines of bush-jinxed events would help to crystallize this as yet another bush failure in people's minds.  and the humor helps too, because it's the kind of thing people repeat around the water cooler.

      l'audace! l'audace! toujours l'audace!

      by zeke L on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:42:43 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  It's tricky though (none / 0)

    As far as I know, Hamas has done more for the people than Fatah did. The stories about the billions hidden away in Swiss bank accounts--really ugly. Does Hamas do the same, or will they do the saem? i don't know. But to use the Palestinian people as a wedge issue here--there's something at least a little unseemly about it, isn't there?

    Today's Special: Chickenhawk, slow-baked in its mother's basement.

    by Earl on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:49:22 PM PDT

  •  Taking care of the Palestinians won it (none / 0)

    Hamas, while they're not blowing themselves up and otherwise fighting the Israelis, provide lots of human services to the people.  And they are perceived to be honest.  They won the hearts and minds while Fatah was lining its pockets and doing squatto for the people.

    Hearts and minds.  Hearts and minds.  Something Bush et al. could never understand.  And that's why they couldn't see this happening.

    The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. Bertrand Russell

    by accumbens on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 09:34:18 PM PDT

  •  Hamas (none / 1)

    These comment articles in The Guardian may be of interest.

    Firstly by veteran journalist Jonathan Steele

    linked text

    Secondly by the veteran Jewish Labour MP and former minister Gerald Kaufman

    linked text

    Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear. William Ewart Gladstone

    by uklibdems on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 09:39:33 PM PDT

Permalink | 62 comments