Obama: First President to Receive Award from Israel

[_Kevin Graham]

Good grief, the yammering idiots on the Right are just leaping to all kinds of wild conclusions here. This isn't some "Liberal spin," it is a direct quote from the source:

The Times of Israel: Peres to give Obama Medal of Distinction

President Shimon Peres on Monday announced that he will present his American counterpart with the Presidential Medal of Distinction during his March stay in Israel.

“It will be the first time in history that a serving president of the United States of America will receive an award of this kind from the president of the State of Israel,” the President’s Residence announced in a press release Monday afternoon — which makes sense, given the fact that the award was only created last year.

Thus, this isn't "MSNBC spin" to refer to Obama as the first President to receive the medal. I didn't even quote MSNBC and I have no idea if they're even talking about it, but if they are, I'm sure they're reporting on what was said in Israel.

The point of this thread was that FOX News is continually regurgitating this myth that Obama is anti-Israel. It is a simple matter of fact that Obama becomes the first President to receive the award, and this wording comes straight from Peres himself. Right Wingers cannot debate the points of the matter because Obama's record proves he is more a friend to Israel than any President in modern times. Bcspace is bitching because he believes there as an intent to deceive people into believing this medal has a "long history," but that's just something he conjured up in his paranoid mind. There is nothing wrong with saying Obama is the first President to receive it. He is. It is a fact. But bcspace often has problems with stated facts.

Bcspace also seems to believe it is given only to Presidential candidates, therefore, naturally Obama should receive it, and no big deal. But Kissinger was the first to receive it and he is former US secretary of state, and former President Yitzhak Navon also received it. So if people are receiving the medal for past achievements, then there should be no reason to expect someone like President George Bush to be denied the medal. Unless of course, he isn't worthy of it.

Hence, the point.

Obama is the first President worthy of it. I know the folks back in the bubble want to rationalize how he could receive this when FOX News tells them Obama hates Israel, but their conniption fits on the matter are irrelevant to the facts.

And of course, just when you thought the average IQ in the room couldn't possibly get any lower, subgenius pops in with his usual bluster. There he goes, spouting out nonsense unsupported, expecting everyone to just take it for granted. For him and bcspace, Peres isn't a true Israeli President and therefore doesn't represent true Israel. Back in the Right Wing bubble, Netanyahu was the true Israeli President, and any disagreement with him means you're just a liberal and not a true Jew, American, etc. This is the way they have to frame the situation in order to make their ridiculous, paranoid presuppositions seem plausible. By dismissing the evidence any way they can. So for subgenius, only 14% of Israelis support Obama, therefore it follows that John Bolton was right when he said on FOX that Obama was the greatest enemy of Israel since 1948.

Well, let's take a look at subgenius's poll. Or let's not, since, like most of his assertions, this one doesn't come with documentation. So allow me to provide some sources of my own. And I'll be sure to use nothing from Media Matters or MSNBC:

The Jerusalem Post: Poll shows Israeli approval for Obama is up

While in 2010, fewer than half of Israeli Jews polled expressed favorable views of Obama, 54 percent of Israelis expressed a favorable view of the American president. Thirty- nine percent expressed negative views, the same percentage that say that they are discouraged by the administration’s policy in the Middle East.

Despite support for Obama, only 22% of Israeli Jews said that they are encouraged by the administration’s Middle East policies. Less than one third (23%) believe that the Netanyahu government’s policies have a positive effect upon US-Israeli relations, while 29% believe that their effect is negative.

Saban Center for Middle East Policy poll: Poll: Barack Obama rising with Jews - in Israel

In just a year, Jewish Israelis’ opinion of President Barack Obama has turned on its head, according to a new Saban Center for Middle East Policy poll.

A majority, or 54 percent, now say they have a favorable view of the U.S. president — a year ago, just 41 percent of those polled viewed Obama in a positive light.

So where is this "14% approval" rating subgenius alluded to?

Jewishjournal.com has some ideas on that:

Israelis on Obama

Israelis want Obama to be reelected as President – or do they? In the Telhami poll, Obama outperforms his four GOP rivals, Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Paul, among Israeli Jews. This sounds counterintuitive all those who believe that Israelis have special dislike for Obama. Apparently – and this had been apparent for quite some time now – they don’t.

They also don’t especially like Obama. Just look at the numbers Obama is getting against his rivals. 32% against Romney, 34% against Santorum, 31% against Gingrich, 34% against Paul. Does it not seem odd that it is always 31-34%, without much regard to the specific rival? Not at all: thirty-something percent is Obama’s approval rating among Jewish Israelis. Not as low as the 6% it once was believed to be, but still much lower than the number of Israelis wanting Bush to win reelection back in 2004 (see here), and still lower than the number of Israelis wanting John McCain to win against Obama back in 2008 (46%).

In fact, when Obama ran against McCain in 2008, the percentage of Israelis wanting him to win was surprisingly similar to the percentage of supporters he has in the new Telhami survey: 34%. In other words: It is reasonable to conclude that the percentage of Israeli Obama supporters hasn’t changed much in the last three years. Thirty-something percent still want him as President, while the others either have already decided that they prefer the Republican candidate or just don’t know enough to have an opinion (believe me, most Israelis on the street would not be able to answer the question “Who is Rick Santorum?”).

Consider this: Israelis who do not go for Obama against Paul see no real difference between Gingrich and Paul – does this make any sense other than concluding that these names do not at all sound familiar to most of them?

My bottom line on this topic is somewhat similar to the one I had on Iran. The new survey says something, but not quite to the extent that political spin would have it seem. Yes, Israelis’ approval of Obama is up, and there’s a significant group of Israelis who want him to be reelected. No, he is not yet “popular” in Israel – popular American presidents get to 70-80% approval among Israelis. And no, we don’t yet know that most Jewish Israelis prefer Obama. If I’d had to take a wild guess so early in the game – when we don’t even know for sure who the GOP candidate is going to be - I’d assume that more Israelis would eventually back the Republican rival over Obama than the number presented by the current poll.

Of course all of this is beside the point really. A majority of Israelis disliking Obama says nothing about whether his policies really do favor Israeli interests. I was just pointing out that subgenius is highly selective on what he reads and what he decides to believe, as it conforms to his racist premises (i.e. "[Michelle Obama is a] female Patrick Ewing" - subgenius).

[_Kevin Graham]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/heck ... itics.html

Obama receives standing ovation from a huge crowd in Israel, after responding to a heckler in the stands. I suppose subgenius and bcspace will blow this off, because in their fantasy world, the large group of Israelis were not true Israelis and the heckler in the stands was.

[_subgenius]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/heckler-interrupts-major-obama-speech-israel-162737490--politics.html

Obama receives standing ovation from a huge crowd in Israel, after responding to a heckler in the stands. I suppose subgenius and bcspace will blow this off, because in their fantasy world, the large group of Israelis were not true Israelis and the heckler in the stands was.

not a LARGE group of Israelis...in fact it was simply a small group of students...hardly an indicative slice of the nation...but hey, the actual important part is that another LARGE group heckled him....and by his own admission...he is used to that at home....face it, Obama is not effective as a leader, nor dies he merit "not being heckled"..both a compliment and a condemnation.

[_Kevin Graham]

Get your head out of your ass. There were over a thousand students and academics at the forum and they overwhelmingly supported his message with standing ovations. I know that isn't acceptable back at the bubble where you're told only 14% of Israel supports Obama, but this is simply the fact of the matter. The heckler was a lone person who was spouting God knows what, but was clearly a minority voice the same as the idiots back home. This website says the heckler was actually a supporter of Palestinians who accused Obama of being a Zionist, or in other words, too much like the Republicans.

Oh, I'm still waiting for you to address your BS lies in the other thread about a 14% approval for Obama.

I won't hold my breath.

[_subgenius]

Get your head out of your ass. There were over a thousand students and academics at the forum and they overwhelmingly supported his message with standing ovations. I know that isn't acceptable back at the bubble where you're told only 14% of Israel supports Obama, but this is simply the fact of the matter. The heckler was a lone person who was spouting God knows what, but was clearly a minority voice the same as the idiots back home. This website says the heckler was actually a supporter of Palestinians who accused Obama of being a Zionist, or in other words, too much like the Republicans.

Oh, I'm still waiting for you to address your b***s*** lies in the other thread about a 14% approval for Obama.

I won't hold my breath.

you are so poorly informed it has become amusing...you are like the FOX news of this forum.

Students I interviewed directly following the speech, however, said that was not the case. A gaggle of undergraduates from Tel Aviv University said they’d been chosen via lottery and had “gotten lucky.” They loved Obama’s speech and had applauded wildly, but said that students sitting nearby them from Bar-Ilan University – a school associated with the national-religious movement – were still and silent during many of these statements.
...
“Some of us liked what he had to say, but not everyone – clearly the opinions were mixed, like the people of Israel,” said Ilana Levinzon

http://www.haaretz.com/news/obama-visit ... m-1.511196

[_Kevin Graham]

I watched the video footage of the students overwhelmingly supporting Obama's remarks. You're relying on a photo snap shot of the group.

Are you really being this ridiculous?

You clearly didn't read your own article, or maybe you did and hoped we wouldn't. Here is the complete article in context. It shouldn't be a mystery why you decided to ignore 90% of it:

View from the crowd: Israeli students cheer Obama's call for peace - and even for Palestinian statehood

The students who were invited to hear U.S. President Barack Obama deliver the keynote speech of his landmark visit to Israel were as diverse as the rest of the Israeli population.

President Barack Obama told over a thousand young Israelis why he thinks the Jewish state is one of the most amazing places on earth, how he understands their people’s ancient history and modern redemption, and reassured them that in their hour of need, America will be there.

The crowd went wild.

But then he went on to tell them that occupying another people was not the way forward, and to the surprise of many journalists looking on, they continued to applaud heartily.

“The Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and justice must also be recognized,” Obama said. “Put yourself in their shoes – look at the world through their eyes. It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own, and lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements of her parents every single day. It is not just when settler violence against Palestinians goes unpunished. It is not right to prevent Palestinians from farming their lands; to restrict a student’s ability to move around the West Bank; or to displace Palestinian families from their home. Neither occupation nor expulsion is the answer. Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land.”

A true clap-o-meter would probably have shown that following these comments, the applause was lighter than it had been following his words lauding Israel’s achievements or say, the unacceptability of Iran going nuclear. But still, reporters local and foreign were agog at the sight of so many young Israelis applauding a U.S. president’s calls to end the occupation and to lend their support for the creation of a Palestinian state. At one point, the enthusiasm for Palestinian justice seemed so widespread that it appeared the hall had largely been packed with the youth of Meretz, Peace Now and Breaking the Silence.

Students I interviewed directly following the speech, however, said that was not the case. A gaggle of undergraduates from Tel Aviv University said they’d been chosen via lottery and had “gotten lucky.” They loved Obama’s speech and had applauded wildly, but said that students sitting nearby them from Bar-Ilan University – a school associated with the national-religious movement – were still and silent during many of these statements.

“I saw all kind of Israelis in the audience, it wasn’t just secular people like us,” said Katya Ulanenko, a young Israeli woman with roots in the Ukraine. “I think most people were cheering because it’s refreshing to hear a leader speak so honestly. He’s speaking about things our leaders don’t dare speak about, because if our leaders would say such things, it’s seen as too pro-Palestinian and their careers will be destroyed.”

Indeed, institutions of higher learning from all over Israel were given seats to the event and distributed them lottery-style. The audience included some students from haredi professional colleges, knitted-kippa wearers, and Arab students as well as secular students and soldiers. The latter group, obvious in their uniforms, refrained from clapping along with the audience during most of these comments, save one lone soldier who stood up and ignored the stoicism of his comrades. Not a few VIPs mingled in the audience, including MK Stav Shaffir and Rabbi Michael Melchior.

“We also really liked hearing that Israel has a right to defend itself,” said Yakir Lidani, a biology student at Tel Aviv University. “For the first time, I felt he saw things from our point of view.”

Obama rolled with the punches when one member of the audience got up to heckle him. He was shouted down and seized by security so quickly that his words were unintelligible. No one seems to be sure what he said. I thought I heard the word weapons – and thought the heckler might have been making some statement on Iran. A White House pool report suggested the heckler was calling for the release of Jonathan Pollard. Earlier reports suggested the shout was "Free Palestine,” The Guardian reported.

The American president had just finished a section of the speech lauding Israeli democracy, saying it has “a spirited civil society, proud political parties, a tireless free press, and a lively public debate – lively may even be an understatement.”

After the heckler was removed, Obama made light of him. “This is part of the lively debate we talked about, this is good,” he said, evincing a bigger-than-ever round of applause, as many in the audience rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation.

“I have to say we actually arranged for that because it actually made me feel at home,” Obama joked. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable if I didn’t have at least one heckler.”

One comment seemed to split the crowd more than any other – his comments on settlement activity in the West Bank.

“Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an independent Palestine must be viable – that real borders will have to be drawn,” Obama said.

How they loved the president’s words – until they became specific. Say you want peace and everyone applauds. Stop building settlements – some clapped and some booed, creating a moment of cacophony in the room.

“Some of us liked what he had to say, but not everyone – clearly the opinions were mixed, like the people of Israel,” said Ilana Levinzon as she left the Jerusalem International Convention Center, where the speech was held. “It shows how hard it is to get us to agree to anything.”

So what we can take away from this is that FOX News's claim, which you mimicked uncritically, is total BS. Israel doesn't consider Obama its greatest enemy since 1948. Israelis randomly selected attended his speech and by the admission of your own source, the vast majority of them supported his message. The only exceptions were from the minority fringe when Obama was talking about a couple of specifics. Ultimately, you're left with crazy assertions unsupported. I'm still waiting for you to back up your claim that Obama has a 14% approval rating in Israel.

Can we expect to see this anytime soon?

[_cinepro]

I watched the video footage of the students overwhelmingly supporting Obama's remarks. You're relying on a photo snap shot of the group.

Both Michael Medved and Dennis Prager (conservative Jewish talk show hosts) had nothing but good things to say about Obama's trip to Israel. Dennis Prager was especially ebullient about the speech to the students. His only criticism is that Obama wouldn't (or couldn't) give a similar speech to the Palestinians.

[_moksha]

Well, Obama hasn't earned any praise from Salt Lake City or God's Wrath, Arkansas.

[_ludwigm]

Obama received the help of a tow truck.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/20/world ... -limousine

Jerusalem (CNN) -- The official limousine awaiting President Barack Obama's arrival in Israel malfunctioned after its driver refueled it using gasoline rather than diesel fuel, an official said Wednesday.

The limo failed to start, and required towing in Jerusalem at 10 a.m. local time. Obama, who landed in Tel Aviv around noon, was not in the country at the time the limo was towed. A second presidential limo was brought to transport Obama."We experienced mechanical trouble with one of the cars," Edwin Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service, told a pool reporter traveling with Obama. "We don't know the cause."

Ok, accepted. We don't know.
We don't teach it.

Using gas instead of diesel could cause major damage to the pistons, wrist pins and connecting rods, which would be destroyed if the fuel is ignited at the wrong time.

Gasoline is also less viscous than diesel, which acts as a lubricant for the fuel pump and fuel delivery systems. Those parts could also be destroyed if gasoline is pumped into a diesel engine.

READ: Israeli minister: It's clear that chemical weapons were used in Syria

Up to now, I've thought that gasoline is to use for diesel engines.
From now on, I know nothing.

Stupid English speakers call benzine as gas.
For us, benzine is a liquid, gas is one of the another phases of matter. A gaseous one.

At our filling stations one can fuel up:
- benzine (85, 95 and 93-95 octane ones for different benzine engines)
- gasoline for diesel engines
- gaseous fuel


The expression its driver refueled it using gasoline rather than diesel fuel doesn't make sense for me (yes, I am stupid!)
For me, gasoline is for diesel engines (=diesel fuel).

by the way kerosene (H: kerozin), widely used to power jet engines of aircraft (jet fuel) and some rocket engines, is a variation of gasoline.
I've used kerosene for oil heating, it was very cheap, because all of soviet soldiers/officers have stolen it.
One of my friends has used kerosene in his diesel-engined car, for the same reason.


... as far as it is translated correctly ...

[_Droopy]

In the meantime, reality, in all its stubbornness, continues to intrude upon Kevin's isolated, hermetically sealed internal thought-world:

http://frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfiel ... ist-idiot/

Purely polemical, admittedly, but dripping with fundamental truths. While all this was transpiring, we have as well the spectacle of the people Obama always seems to be found in bed with making their real views known to the world at large. Its interesting, especially because of the degree to which Obama's intellectual and political background had been either sanitized to Orwellian proportions or summarily ignored, that the primary window into Obama's mind and soul has, for the most part, been through those he chooses as members of his cabinet and for administrative posts within the bureaucracy.

For example:

http://frontpagemag.com/2013/matthew-va ... eid-state/

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013 ... ing-Israel

http://frontpagemag.com/2013/joseph-kle ... firmation/

Meanwhile, the Left's favorite celebutard philosopher-at-large weighs in with his own atavistic anti-Semitic collective libel:

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-shepp ... government

And, of course:

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/indi ... indid=2406


Here's what we would have to call the "gist" of the problem:

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/view ... asp?id=852