I’m going to have to dissent a bit from my friends here on Contentions as to the meaning of today’s drama on the Gaza-Egypt border. (I just returned from a wedding here in Jerusalem and have not had a chance to read all that much news, so my apologies for this being a very quick take.)
We westerners are accustomed to viewing chaos and violence — such as blowing up border fences — as bad things. But before reacting this way, think for a moment about the interplay between Israel, Egypt, and Gaza since Hamas took power in Gaza a little over half a year ago. What we have seen is a subtle and consistent attempt from the Egyptians not just to avoid having Gaza become their problem, but to ensure that the radical energies emanating from Gaza would always be sent in one direction: Israel.
This is why the Egyptians have been so complicit in allowing smuggling tunnels under the border fence, probably one of the reasons why they’ve recently become more friendly toward Iran (and by extension Iran’s nearby client, Hamas). When Israel asked Egypt to do a better job of policing the Sinai to prevent weapons smuggling, the Egyptians replied that they would like to do more, but cannot because the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt limits the number of soldiers that Egypt can station in the Sinai. In other words, Egypt simultaneously said to Israel: not only will we not help you suppress Hamas, but if you want us to even consider doing so, the price will be a renegotiation of our 30-year-old peace treaty to allow us a greater military presence on your border.
So Egypt has been trying to play a delicate game: keep Hamas in the game by allowing them to bring in weapons, cash, and terrorists, but not so conspicuously that it causes a serious American or Israeli backlash.
But today, Hamas just blew the border fence down. Suddenly, some of the pressure that has built up in Gaza over the past several months has been released, and it didn’t go toward Israel — it went into Egypt, and now the Egyptians are faced with a calamitous situation.
Egypt has been hoisted with its own petard, and it is really quite enjoyable to see from a strategic perspective. Hamas probably blew up the border fence with explosives that Egypt allowed it to smuggle into Gaza. Heh.
Lady Caroline has limbs. Leg up, indeed.
May one refer to her as The Schlossberg?
Lame. Obviously, Caroline’s most recent political experience involves her stumping for Obama and serving on the committee that vetted his VP candidates. That’s great experience. And in what world don’t connections count? As a direct result of this experience, Caroline Kennedy knows many of the players in Democratic politics and has built a personal relationship with Obama, which is a huge plus. Who in their right mind, hoping for a Senator with maximum access and influence, wouldn’t count Caroline’s relationship with Obama as an asset? It is hardly her only qualification, but it is a significant one. And if you weren’t so consumed with Kennedy Derangement Syndrome, you’d recognize it. Contrary to your silly assertion, stating the obvious about Caroline — that she is close to Obama — is no insult to Obama. In fact, it has little to do with her actual interaction with him. What’s important, when Caroline is working for New York, is that the people she is dealing with know she has the president’s ear and his trust, and that’s plenty good reason to be on her good sied. It gives her added influence. See, if you neocons learned a little about securing and wielding soft power, you might not be so dependent on war and such total failures in world affairs.
Furthermore, please name a governor who is angling only for what’s fair for his or her state? The job is to get the best deal possible. Kennedy has the right stuff to be a powerhouse: She’s liberal, smart, well educated, well connected, capable of raising gads of cash, has huge name recognition and commands considerable goodwill out of the gate. Oh, and she can take that fundraising prowess to any race in the nation. Plenty of reason for you to be running scared.
Has Princess Caroline been spending time in Washington and Chicago that we didn’t know about? How is it that she acquired this friendship with Obama? She only endorsed Obama in 2008, IIRC. Did she spend time with him on the stump?
This friendship argument sounds like the rest of her qualifications–empty.
Jennifer Rubin is being too kind. The term for this type of politics is ‘cronyism.’ It is precisely the accusation that was leveled against the Bush Administration.
Pray tell, what will Sweet Caroline say to a Western Senator intent on adding language to some legislation that moves money from New York to somewhere else— “Don’t do that or I’m going to tell Barry on you?” Has she actually ever read a piece of legislation in the first place?
This is New York. New York Senators actually matter. Homeland Security, Finance, immigration…
Yeesh.
Bart’s clients include Blago and Jesus.
The argument is at its core insulting to the President-elect.
I think, rather, that it’s at its core realistic about the President-elect.
#3
“Caroline Kennedy knows many of the players in Democratic politics and has built a personal relationship with Obama, which is a huge plus.” Indeed, and so hasn’t Blago.
I thought Democrats didn’t like money in politics. Isn’t that why we have campaign finance reform? Isn’t that a big Dem agenda item? In light of this it sounds a little odd that defenders of Princess Caroline would use the argument that she can raise lots of cash. According to the Dems, money = corruption, more money = more corruption. Ask Blago. If money corrupted Bush, then Obama, who raised twice the amount of Bush, must be twice as corrupt. The logic is pretty straightforward. Just imagine all the corruption that another spoiled Kennedy debutante can raise.
Isn’t there supposed to be a ‘separation of powers” in government? Why should a senator be all buddy-buddy with the president? This weirdly orchestrated attempt to get a grip on incumbency is about as undemocratic as it gets. And lets not forget Biden’s attempt to pass his seat on to his son. The political oligarchy probably feels that if a non-entity like Obama can somehow end up with the big salami, they deserve some of the side dishes.
Her father wasn’t all that great a president, the truth be known. And Teddy — well.
9
“Isn’t there supposed to be a ’separation of powers” in government?”– chuck martel
You mean as in creating the perception of impropriety — like if a sitting vice president (Cheney) with cases before the Supreme Court went duck hunting with one of the justices (Scalia)? It looks sleazy, but it’s not unconstitutional. It’s not like the executive branch ignoring a law enacted by Congress and bypassing the judiciary branch to wiretap Americans on its own authority, without warrant or oversight.
Bart has done about the best job anyone could in explaining the case for Caroline Kennedy’s appointment. It is logical, clear and unemotional. There’s no citation of bloodlines, Camelot, heritage, any of that mystique, which I think most people agree should have no bearing on the governor’s decision.
The fact that Bart’s argument is completely unpersuasive illustrates the problem for Gov. Patterson. Caroline Kennedy should be one of two New Yorkers chosen to represent NY in the Senate because she is friends with Barack Obama? The mind reels at the thought of a Democratic partisan and a New Yorker reduced to making the case for cronyism, in order to overlook a critical lack of experience, lack of seasoning, lack of having paid any dues, absence of any showing that she knows anything about the state or the federal government, as well as the plethora of other qualified candidates who are not only liberal, but have fought for their principles their entire careers. Some of them are also friends of Obama’s, or could buddy up to him without too much trouble, seeing as how he’ll need their votes once in awhile.
Bart opened his post with the word “Lame.” Was that a preview of coming attractions, Bart? Because your argument could not possibly be lamer.
YOU KNOW
http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/420249/Caroline_Kennedy_Interview
Has anyone bothered to ask her if she is going to run for elected office in the future if she doesn’t get this appointment? I doubt if Her Ladyship has the desire to go the full 12 rounds that the electoral process has become. She is someone who arrives late to the party, looks around, and if she can’t be the center of attention, leaves. My prediction: If she does not get this gift, she will take her bat and ball and go home, never to play again.