Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

I did not have telepathic declassification on my 2022 bingo card.

Eh, that’s media spin. biden’s health is fine and he’s doing a good job.

Infrastructure week. at last.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

This blog will pay for itself.

Consistently wrong since 2002

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

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Sorry If You Were Offended!

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Netanyahu really needs to leave Israel and fulfill his natural calling- being a wingnut legislator from Texas

rime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday apologized to the Arab citizens of Israel for comments he made about their voting turnout on Election Day, which were sharply criticized as being racist and offensive to the community.

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“I know the things I said several days ago offended some of Israel’s citizens, hurt the Arab citizens,” Netanyahu told invited representatives of the Arab community at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem. “This was never my intent. I apologize for this.”

The apology was met with enthusiastic applause from the Arab representatives, several of whom embraced him after the statement.

However, the Joint (Arab) List, which swept into the Knesset with 13 seats last week, rejected Netanyahu’s overture and said it will continue to campaign on behalf of the Arab community, Channel 2 reported.

I guess I will let all the right-wingers who spent the last week explaining Bibi did nothing wrong explain why he is now apologizing.

Reader Interactions

140Comments

  1. 1.

    Keith G

    The apology was met with enthusiastic applause from the Arab representatives, several of whom embraced him after the statement.

    Don’t know what to make of that.

  3. 3.

    MattF

    What? You’re imagining it. Nobody never said nuthin’. And where’s your sense of humor? Also, it’s Obama’s fault.

  4. 4.

    max

    I will let all the right-wingers who spent the last week explaining Bibi did nothing wrong explain why he is now apologizing.

    No one will be showing the apology on Fox News.

    max
    [‘Thus, it’s not on Fox, it didn’t happen, what do they need to explain.’]

  6. 6.

    mai naem mobile

    Netanyahu comes across as a slightly better version of Mittens. He’s even got the hair part down.

  7. 7.

    srv

    Arkansas has become a real birthplace of innovation, when will you people labor for real change?

    An Arkansas lawmaker has introduced a bill that would create a “contraception incentive” for low-income women in the state’s Medicaid program, intending to offer a “breather to think about their life decisions that are affecting us as taxpayers.”

    HB 1868, sponsored by Rep. Kim Hammer (R-Benton), would create a one-time contraception incentive from the Arkansas Department of Human Services for unmarried women who has one child and who is receiving Medicaid benefits.

    To qualify, women would need to consent to have a surgically implanted contraceptive device or other similar reversible birth control device with a period of effectiveness lasting at least five years, or receive a reimbursement after providing documentation of having a long-term birth control device implanted.

  8. 8.

    scav

    The “Trust me, I’ll say anything to get elected” Dancing Walkback of the Seven Lies (or were they Truths that flashed?) is a fascinating tactic to go with when just about to ressume power after a very contested election, a necessary coalition, facing still more ongoing complex negociations with a universally increasingly distrustful set of international participants. Fascinating also to watch the crew enthusiastically co-signing this as no big deal, just politicking as usual, what’s the fuss about dears? Wonder if he’ll attempt an insinuating belly dance next.

  9. 9.

    max

    @mai naem mobile: Netanyahu comes across as a slightly better version of Mittens. He’s even got the hair part down.

    ITYM ‘substantially worse’.

    max
    [‘He’s basically committed to future ethnic cleansing.’]

  11. 11.

    MattF

    @srv: Yes, innovative. And I’m just assuming that this is just all totally and completely voluntary self-sterilization for the common good. Amirite?

  12. 12.

    WaterGirl

    “I know the things I said several days ago offended some of Israel’s citizens, hurt the Arab citizens,” Netanyahu told invited representatives of the Arab community at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem. “This was never my intent. I apologize for this.”

    I know the racist and offensive things I said several days ago offended some of Israel’s citizens and most of the citizens of the world, hurt the Arab citizens and everybody else who was fucking paying attention, Netanyahu told invited representatives of the Arab community at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem. I was really hoping no one would notice that I don’t really consider Arabs in Israel to be real citizens who should be encouraged to vote.

    Please accept my heartfelt half-assed apology.

  13. 13.

    PeakVT

    “This was never my intent. I apologize for this.”

    Translation: My offensive comment has served its purpose. It is now useful for me to state that the opposite is true.

  15. 15.

    Violet

    I guess I will let all the right-wingers who spent the last week explaining Bibi did nothing wrong explain why he is now apologizing.

    Ha ha. Good joke.

  16. 16.

    PeakVT

    @Keith G:

    Don’t know what to make of that.

    Proactive opp research for the next parliamentary election would be my best guess.

  19. 19.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Israel’s Dick Cheney is much more magnanimous in victory than America’s Dick Cheney.

  23. 23.

    Baud

    @WaterGirl:

    Anything you’d like to atone for?

    Only everything.

    OT: Chris Hayes just had a clip of the White House science fair. Too cute.

  28. 28.

    WaterGirl

    @raven: Cole and others here have been putting + the number of drinks they’ve had on posts since forever.

    As soon as Cole quit drinking, he added the +0 to his nym. You’ve never noticed that?

  30. 30.

    Roger Moore

    @Keith G:

    Don’t know what to make of that.

    Likud does actually have some Arab supporters, especially Druze, who count as Arab even though they aren’t Muslim. I’m guessing those are the Arabs who were on hand to accept Netanyahu’s apology.

  32. 32.

    muddy

    @mai naem mobile:

    He’s even got the hair part down.

    Yes, the part in his hair is quite far down!
    I think anyone rocking a comb-over is demonstrating in a visual manner their complete lack of judgment.

  35. 35.

    WaterGirl

    @Arclite: “It was never my intent to hurt you when I said hurtful things” is pretty close to a non-apology in my book.

  38. 38.

    Napoleon

    @Keith G:

    In the last week or so I read where the Druze actually, believe it or not, are over represented in the IAF and are a solid allies of the Jewish population in Israel (wasn’t that murderous killing spree that Sharon took into Lebanon around 25 years ago in support of the Druze?). Its not hard to believe that they represent an over represented part of the Kenesit (sp?) (cough/ Washington Generals/Uncle Tom/cough)

  45. 45.

    raven

    @Violet: Well I knew that, I’m just looking for an example that relates directly to me. Actually I’m fooling around until the girl get out here and sits down so we can watch the second season premier of Last Tango in Halifax.

  46. 46.

    Kevin

    It’s hilarious. Last week “BB is now leader of the free world”. This week, he is desperately trying to turn back the clock so Obama doesn’t crush him. Pathetic.

  48. 48.

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    That’s nice. What was his intent exactly then?

    This guy might be the most dishonest executive of any country on the planet at the moment.

  50. 50.

    Violet

    @raven: I think Baud showed you how to do it if you want. You’re still +0.

    Edit: There’s no basketball? I’m not following the tournament but it seems like it’s been hoops all the time.

  53. 53.

    Tree With Water

    “..It seems a shame,” the Walrus said,
    “To play them such a trick,
    After we’ve brought them out so far,
    And made them trot so quick!”
    The Carpenter said nothing but
    “The butter’s spread too thick!”

    “I weep for you,” the Walrus said:
    “I deeply sympathize.”
    With sobs and tears he sorted out
    Those of the largest size,
    Holding his pocket-handkerchief
    Before his streaming eyes.

    “O Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
    “You’ve had a pleasant run!
    Shall we be trotting home again?’
    But answer came there none–
    And this was scarcely odd, because
    They’d eaten every one..

  54. 54.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @raven: +0 (1994) would be my guess. But as to why you’d want to…

    My belief is that Cole was inspired to note it since folks had commented on some, er, especially assholish posts when he was +>1, But honestly, I got nothin’ in terms of concrete information.

  55. 55.

    WaterGirl

    @MomSense: every time someone links to the obama diary I kick myself for not going there every single day.

    I am going to be such a sad cookie when Obama is no longer our president.

  58. 58.

    MomSense

    @WaterGirl:

    It’s such a great site. I have to check every day even if I don’t comment. Nerdy Wonka is a genius on twitter, too.

  60. 60.

    MomSense

    @Baud:

    Some of the projects are really impressive. I think the President is enjoying himself at the fair.

  62. 62.

    Karen in GA

    @srv: My right-wing mother-in-law was going on about abortion. I told her I didn’t want the government making reproductive decisions for its citizens, period. Slippery slope and all that. “Next thing you know, some environmentalist extremist gets into the White House and starts bitching about overpopulation. If the government can say ‘citizens must have kids,’ it’s not a huge leap to ‘citizens must only have X number of kids.’ Keep the government out of it completely.”

    Shut her right up.

  64. 64.

    Roger Moore

    @raven:
    The general concept is under “Plus [insert number greater than zero here]”, which describes it as a way of showing how drunk you are. As an example, that’s why I will often jokingly refer to PsiFighter37 as PsiFighter+37, given his regular descriptions of how epically drunk he is. Cole chose “John Cole +0” as his moniker when he decided to sober up as a way of showing his ongoing sobriety.

  65. 65.

    WaterGirl

    @MomSense: Note to self: more obamadiary, less time spent talking about ted cruz and other ridiculous republican candidates.

  66. 66.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud:

    Dealing with ACTUAL children is probably a relief from his day to day interactions with THE CHILDREN in Congress.

    FTFY

  70. 70.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Roger Moore: It would certainly seem to be a contrast, since Congress members seem to be substantially more poorly socialized than the science fair children.

  72. 72.

    Mike in NC

    In a region as notoriously corrupt as the Middle East, does anybody doubt that there are a bunch of Arab/Palestinian pols on Netanyahu’s payroll?

  73. 73.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud: I got politely scolded by Amir. So I can’t do that anymore.

    It’s only fair that he said something, though – I did ask him if it was getting annoying. I just didn’t want the answer to be yes, because I think he’d be great. :-)

  74. 74.

    Thoughtful David

    @WaterGirl:
    Yes. It marks him as being incredibly cynical, way beyond the cynical of the average politician. Either he was cynically lying then about his position on the 2-state solution, or he’s cynically lying about it now in his no-pology.
    And to think he can get away with it means he also thinks everyone, Israeli and otherwise is stupid.
    The man is scum

  76. 76.

    WaterGirl

    @Thoughtful David: He thinks we’re all stupid! So insulting.

    I was so heartened to read today that the president’s chief of staff said Obama is not going to let this go. Yay for that.

    Edit: maybe the thread title should have been:
    Sorry If You Were Offended When I Was Offensive!

  79. 79.

    WaterGirl

    Where’s Omnes? I have had a Steve Goodman song running through my head since he linked to it yesterday.

    Edit: uh oh, I am apparently channeling Little Boots.

  81. 81.

    Heliopause

    “I know the things I said several days ago offended some of Israel’s citizens, hurt the Arab citizens. This was never my intent.”

    That’s the truth, his intent was not to offend Arab Israelis. His intent was to pander to the reactionaries he needed to vote for him. He could care less about Arab Israelis, or perhaps we should say that he only cares inasmuch as racist pandering is bad PR on the world stage.

    As with Obama, who keeps telling the press that Netanyahu is an asshole but has yet to take any concrete steps, these statements don’t amount to a hill of beans. Wake us when something real happens.

  83. 83.

    WaterGirl

    @Heliopause: Call me an optimist, but I think Obama will have the last laugh when it comes to Netanyahu. I can’t wait until the UN takes up the Palestinian issue and we don’t veto.

    Edit: I really think Netanyahu is going to pay for what he said about about Arab citizens and about the two-state solution, one way or the other.

    Edit 2: I have found myself wondering this week whether Obama didn’t set this up somehow – Netanyahu has given Obama exactly what he needed in order to separate us more from Israel and gain ground with countries who hate our enabling of the Palestinian situation.

  85. 85.

    Iowa Old Lady

    @Thoughtful David: The astounding thing about taking two opposite positions is that he did it a couple of days apart, with a totally straight face. That is just bizarre. How is anyone supposed to react to that? Apparently it’s again MSM standards to challenge him on it.

  87. 87.

    max

    @beltane: Mittens is a great humanitarian compared to Netanyahu.

    Yup. Although to be fair, if Mittens were actually Prez, I’m sure he would invade Iran and everything and suddenly, oof, so much for humanitarianism. They’d premise the entire idea of invading on humanitarianism anyways.

    @WaterGirl: Edit: uh oh, I am apparently channeling Little Boots.

    And good Lord, please don’t spaz.

    max
    [‘Please.’]

  89. 89.

    Viva BrisVegas

    @Thoughtful David:

    Either he was cynically lying then about his position on the 2-state solution, or he’s cynically lying about it now in his no-pology.

    I think Bibi has succinctly defined his position on Palestine. It’s whatever will get him through to the next news cycle.

    The man is scum

    Goes without saying.

  95. 95.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Tree With Water: There’s a small (very small) group here, two guys actually, who harvest oysters for some of the local restaurants and market them under the name “Walrus and Carpenter.” Nice, hard-working guys, and good oysters. Every oyster harvester has some kind of brand name or location ID.

  96. 96.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud: Search for “inspirational” and you’ll find the short video sandwiched between 2 big photos of the president with the girl scouts.

    I had to go through 3 times before I found it.

  98. 98.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @Baud:

    Thanks for the heads-up. But I’m really getting used to the desktop version on my phone. Really like comment numbers, for some reason.

  102. 102.

    Roger Moore

    @WaterGirl:

    I have found myself wondering this week whether Obama didn’t set this up somehow

    He only set it up in the sense of positioning himself to follow his own way no matter what Netanyahu did. The problem with getting too close to Israel- or any other country, for that matter- is that it makes it harder to back away from them when they do something we don’t like. By making his position clear from the beginning, Obama separated himself enough that he can completely abandon Netanyahu now that he’s really screwed up. Even better, he’s made it clear that the matter is one of policy and principle rather than personality.

  108. 108.

    coin operated

    @srv: Y’know…I don’t have a real problem with this. I’ve always advocated for state-sponsored contraception as a matter of public policy…health care costs being one of the many reasons.

    Yeah…he has an R next to his name…doesn’t mean it’s not good policy. Would have to see the fine print for final determination.

    coin operated +2…and counting. Edited to compensate for +2

  111. 111.

    WaterGirl

    @Roger Moore: He essentially made Obama look like a fool for working so hard on a solution the I/P issue. A solution just isn’t possible when one party is a lying bastard.

    I don’t think there’s a happy ending in store for you when set Obama up to look like a fool. The president will have the last laugh, I am sure of it. Slow and steady, but I’ll bet it happens.

  112. 112.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud: Henry has doubled in size – he was 4.5 pounds when he got here 4 months ago, and he’s about 9 now. He’s about the same size as my 9 pound kitties, except that his hair is bigger.

  116. 116.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud: They estimated 12-15 when my friend got him, but I won’t be surprised if he’s more like 15-18. He may end up half the size of Tucker, who fluctuates between 38-40.

  118. 118.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    From Politico, so no link, but…

    It’s not just Democrats and White House officials who’ve got problems with Benjamin Netanyahu.
    Blasting “diplomatic missteps and political gamesmanship,” former Secretary of State James Baker laid in hard to the Israeli prime minister on Monday evening, criticizing him for an insufficient commitment to peace and an absolutist opposition to the Iran nuclear talks.

    I’d love to have a bug on Jeb’s phone tomorrow: “Crikey, Dad, it’s already deuced hard, this whole redeeming the family name thing, without your cronies popping off and getting the hoi polloi riled up…”

  121. 121.

    another Holocene human

    Whoever was condescendingly defending Kerry’s record at State on the back of Cuba will be sorry to find out that Big O “froze out” state bc of institutional intransigence and engaged in months of secret talks that Kerry didn’t even know about. He then brought Kerry in when it looked like it would be successful.

    Eat crow, haters.

  122. 122.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    The astounding thing about taking two opposite positions is that he did it a couple of days apart, with a totally straight face. That is just bizarre. How is anyone supposed to react to that?

    For his next trick, he’s going to kill his parents and seek clemency as an orphan.

  124. 124.

    ms_canadada

    @Baud: He’s not my president, but I love his family and the manner in which they rise above all the crap flung at them.

  125. 125.

    jl

    @Thoughtful David:

    ” Yes. It marks him as being incredibly cynical, way beyond the cynical of the average politician. Either he was cynically lying then about his position on the 2-state solution, or he’s cynically lying about it now in his no-pology.
    And to think he can get away with it means he also thinks everyone, Israeli and otherwise is stupid. ”

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    ” The astounding thing about taking two opposite positions is that he did it a couple of days apart, with a totally straight face. That is just bizarre. How is anyone supposed to react to that? ”

    And I think that shows the mindset of US politicians and hack news anchors/pundits (like Schieffer this Sunday) who were complaining about how mean and bitter and unsportsmanlike for Obama not to just say “Oh, OK, it’s all good” when Netanyahu had to start backtracking right after the election.

    They are complete cynics who just don’t give a crap, or obviously have adopted a Netanyahu IS the true Israel, and nobody else has a say, and he is right by definition. Or they simply have to jab at Obama even when he acts as any normal person, or good leader, would and should when faced with such hypocrisy.

    I think Netanyahu has no permanent policies or beliefs other than what is best for him right now. I didn’t save the link, but I read that Netanyahu was developing contingency plans for doing something he had sworn he would never do. I think it is the recent series of TPM posts documenting what a big liar Netanyahu has been on Iran, on two-state solution, and other major policies.

  127. 127.

    jl

    @PeakVT: “Look, I had to save my ass in the election, OK? You know I’ll say effing anything… Yeesh… give me a break, please”.

  128. 128.

    RaflW

    I can’t read the paywalled article, but WSJ is now reporting that Israel spied on the US/major powers negotiations with Iran on the GOP-loathed nuclear deal.

    Not surprising, really, and the US has a checkered history on ally-peeping, but it’s just a perfectly timed disclosure to add a dollop of F.U. to the whole US-Israel relations cluster that is under way.

  131. 131.

    Elie

    @WaterGirl:

    I don’t think to this day that people realize that Obama really does not have mercy on those who fuck him too bad. He was not “nice” to Romney or McCain. He WILL, however, try to separate Israel from Netanyahu for purpose of getting some traction on the situation. He is going to fuck Netanyahu everyway and anyway he can — but he will remain careful not to screw up the Israeli ability to participate in the negotiations that they will necessarily have to have about dismantling those settlements as they work for a two state solution. Netanyahu can plan on a slo-mo butt fuck from this administration. And whoever else helped from the republicans. Also. Let me add, that a lot of other countries will not be “welcoming” Mr. N either.

    Obama has been consistently blessed in the quality of his enemies..

  132. 132.

    Elie

    @efgoldman:

    Disagree there. I will say that dismantling them will become an increasing necessity as Israel undergoes pariah state transformation, doncha think? This is not just the US — I think that there will be a stampede to put the screws to this bullshit and only the US (currently the Obama administration), stands between them and some serious sanctions starting up. I think October is the time that such an initiative is due to come up. What, — Israel is going to build some more? Under this administration? They gonna pay for all this shit… maybe slowly at first, but the reckoning is going to be harsh and internal first…

    Bibi opened this whole thing up and he is seeing the very real danger now that he is off of his republican Sheldon Adelson hypnosis…

  133. 133.

    El Caganer

    Well, Texas was ready to make the deal – Louie Gohmert and a high draft choice – but the Israelis are balking.

  134. 134.

    Citizen Alan

    Slightly off topic, but when other people hear Mitt Romney described as “a humanitarian,” do they secretly wonder if it is meant as a euphemism for “cannibal” (a la vegetarian//humanitarian)? Just me? Never mind then.

  135. 135.

    fuckwit

    @efgoldman: “facts on the ground”, a technique replicated well by right-wing pols here in the US of A, most notably the Neocons and the Cheney administration. You simply either sneakily or brazenly don’t ask for permission and create facts on the ground, which become impossible to change, and then you win by default.

  139. 139.

    pluege

    Netanyahu really needs to leave Israel and fulfill his natural calling- being a wingnut legislator from Texas

    is that before or after being a spokesmodel on fux nuz for how great it is slaughtering people?

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