European leaders got a good look at the glaring difference between the Republicans and the Democrats this week at the Munich Security Conference, which has been held annually since 1963. Even with all the issues Europe has with President Trump, they were greatly impressed and, by their own admission, relieved to hear our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, speak. I watched the entire speech, and it was impressive to say the least. Rubio spoke frankly about the need for Europe to build up its strength and protect its Western culture, but he did it in a professional and diplomatic manner. Indeed, the moderator told him during the short q and a that followed that they were relieved to hear his words. Rubio assured them that they have an everlasting friend in the United States.
For some strange reason I can't fathom, California Governor Gavin Newsom was in Munich after having embarrassed himself at the January 19-23 Davos, Switzerland World Economic Forum. Has he actually been in Europe all this time, forgetting that he has a state to run back home, or did he saddle the California taxpayers with two trips to Europe? On second thought, as a resident of California, I guess it's a good thing if he's been absent so long. The latest scheme is to saddle us with a 6-cent mileage tax on our cars, while gas is back up to over $5 a gallon.
Then there was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. What in the world was she doing in Munich? Maybe she was auditioning for a barmaid job at the next Oktoberfest. I don't know if they actually let her into the main assembly, but she did appear at some town hall/panel in which she totally embarrassed herself. When asked what the US would do if China attacked Taiwan, she sat there silently for what seemed an eternity before stumbling around and saying essentially nothing. Kamala Harris and Miss Teen South Carolina would have been proud. Too bad they didn't ask her where Taiwan was.
Speaking of geography, when the subject of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro came up, she wowed her audience by saying that Venezuela was below the Equator! Who knew?
Not only that, but she also accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians, apparently unaware that she was sitting in the very city where Nazism was born. The offensive irony could not have been lost on her German audience. No doubt the Germans and their European partners are wondering why she was in Munich in the first place and why this woman is considered a possible presidential candidate.
Rubio, on the other hand, clearly demonstrated who the American adult was, not Ocasio-Cortez, not Newsom, but Rubio. I am sure many in the room walked away hoping that Rubio is the next president of the United States. Can you imagine a debate between Rubio and either Newsom or Ocasio-Cortez?
"gas is back up to over $5 a gallon"
ReplyDeleteWhere? It's about $4 around me in the East Bay.
"Not only that, but she also accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians, apparently unaware that she was sitting in the very city where Nazism was born. The offensive irony could not have been lost on her German audience"
The irony of this statement is that you're conflating Jewish people and the state of Israel as though they're one and the same thing. The accusation of genocide is not some fringe opinion. It's the findings of multiple civil rights organizations - including B’Tselem, an Israeli organization.
I believe that you're sincere in wanting to defend and protect Jewish people from anti-Semitism, but you do them no favors when you act like the government represents all Jewish people (or even all Israelis, for that matter).
Argue AOC's statements on its own terms (and explain why Doctors without Borders, Amnesty International, and at least another dozen organizations are wrong). Or do something really crazy and examine what the actual case is and be willing to adjust your opinion.
Lance, Gas is around 5 dollars a gallon in SoCal. If it's 4 where you are, good for you.
ReplyDeleteAs for AOC and your comment, I do not conflate the Jewish people with Israel. I have met too many who support the Palestinian cause. I am not familiar with the Israeli organization you mention, but I know Israel also has its dissidents. I have met a couple of them.
I also believe that Doctors Without Borders (for all the good they do) has a political agenda as does Amnesty International. No doubt, as you say, many organizations have the same opinion, but I do not. A lot of people have heard the genocide charges thrown out so many times they think it must be true. In all the decades of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the Palestinian population has basically tripled. That doesn't sound like any genocide has been going on.
It is unfortunate that many Palestinian civilians have died during the fighting between Israel and the PLO-Hamas, Hizbollah and others, but the main reason is that Hamas uses its civilians as human shields. Israel is not rounding up millions of Palestinians and marching them off to death camps, gassing them or shooting them in groups and burying them in ditches.
As you know, I am a student of the Holocaust and the 3rd Reich. I appreciate and respect your own personal perspective in that area, but I disagree.
As for AOC, if you want to debate her merits and qualifications, be my guest.