Any chance that vile turd Netanyahu and the Likud Party get trounced at the polls? I see lots of conflicting information in the analysis of the Israeli election, none of it particularly encouraging for people who’d like to see Israel achieve long-term peace rather than become an increasingly isolated apartheid state.
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Villago Delenda Est
Fine, Bibi.
No Palestinian state, no peace. Your choice, dumbshit.
Iowa Old Lady
It would be so fine if he lost. Take that, Bibi. Take that, Republicans.
WaterGirl
Israel has lost its way.
Eric U.
they used to swap back and forth between these cretins and Labor. Too bad that pattern stopped
Ruckus
@Iowa Old Lady:
Agreed.
@WaterGirl:
Not sure they weren’t assisted in this endeavor.
boatboy_srq
It’s looking good that even if Likud gets a reasonable percentage they’ll have to compromise with somebody for a governing coalition. Trouble with that is that Likud has a history of coalitions with parties further Right. Has anyone done any investigation into whether all the recent immigration (conservative Russians especially) constitutes a uniquely Israeli form of election rigging?
boatboy_srq
@WaterGirl@Ruckus: Israel’s way was misdirected by truckloads of FundiEvangelist largesse. Likud’s glaring failure is that they think all the support is to preserve their own well-being, while the FundiEvangelists are actually busy providing the cannon fodder for Armageddon.
Belafon
If I remember correctly, Likud got 28% in the last election, formed a coalition, and Bibi got to be prime minister. Likud can’t just lose; whatever constitutes their left – even if that’s a group of parties – has to win enough to be a majority.
Amir Khalid
Can anyone really say they’re surprised to hear that from Bibi? I mean, it’s what he’s always believed, isn’t it?
ETA: If this amounts to a public repudiation of the two-state solution, there may be international repercussions.
kindness
One could only hope. I support Israel but not Likud. Likud learned the wrong lessons from one of the groups in WWII.
Mike in NC
He’s the Dick Cheney of Israeli politics: in government forever and he keeps failing upward.
Cacti
That’s the closest thing you’ll ever see to an admission from an Israeli leader that Israel is an apartheid state.
Villago Delenda Est
@kindness: They fucking understudied Reinhard Heydrich.
Botsplainer
@boatboy_srq:
Conservatives ALWAYS find that an easy compromise to make because deep down, they are far more likely than not to share many of those core ideologies.
Why do you think that cosmopolitan, urbane Weimar Berlin so quickly made the switch? For every liberal, there was one angry rightist and one silently resentful center-right conservative.
Botsplainer
OMFG – ESPN is pimping Juicebox Jesus for the Eagles.
He’s been out of the league how long?
Betty Cracker
@Amir Khalid: Netanyahu was always going to kick that can down the road while creating “settlements” to make a two-state solution harder (read: impossible) to achieve. But I am somewhat surprised he’d take it off the table altogether.
Jay C
@boatboy_srq:
Israel elections are a strange-enough phenomenon even without “rigging” – the “big” parties – Likud and (today) the ZU are reckoned to be doing very well if they score as many as 24 seats (i.e. nominally 20% of the 120 total*) in the Knesset: there are, I think, eleven parties on the ballot (I think Israel mandates a minimum-support level for parties to qualify, otherwise there would probably be more) who might get seats, so some sort of coalition government is pretty much inevitable. The exact composition thereof, however is going to depend on a LOT of back-room wheeling-and-dealing and political horse-trading: Given that Netanyahu has proved an international embarrassment for Israel, “Anybody But Bibi” will probably be most political players’ first choice: but there’s no guarantee that he won’t be back.
* I say nominally, since the Arab parties (united on a joint List this time around) are expected to get about 12 or 13 seats; but I gather they are political Untouchables in Israeli politics: they get votes in the Knesset, but no one will (overtly) deal with them or put them in a Government.
catclub
It seems it is possible that Bibi can lose in the election, but if the right wing wins in general, he will end up as PM, anyway.
The scenarios where the Labor/Zion party win are very slim – kind of like Romney’s electoral vote path to the presidency.
Matt McIrvin
@Villago Delenda Est: That’s a win-win for him.
JPL
Tim Cotton is senator of Arkansas. I refuse to make a prediction.
The Blog Dahlia
Yeah, he’s desperate. Attempting to cock-block the Iran deal hasn’t done dick to shore up his foreign policy flank so he’s going for the easy red meat, aka eat a live Palestinian baby on TV.
Lotta meat-related metaphors there. Hm.
catclub
@Jay C:
Apparently it works both ways: Arab parties cannot be seen in alliance with Zionist parties. I think I read somewhere that in order to screw with Bibi, that might change.
Another Holocene Human
@Botsplainer: Weimar Berlin was screwed by the judiciary, old hoary heads appointed by the Kaiser who welcomed a return to right-wing politics and the suppression of democratic politics.
For all the focus on elections and the Reichstag fire/coup, the Holocaust was emboldened and facilitated by a judicial system that for most of the 3rd Reich backed up Hitler to the hilt.
Amir Khalid
@Betty Cracker:
If I’m not mistaken the US has traditionally favoured the two-state solution. If I’m right, it makes continuing to support Israel more difficult for the US — though not yet so difficult, I think, that the support would be in actual danger.
The Blog Dahlia
@catclub:
Bibi certainly doesn’t want a repeat of 2009, where he lost by-the-numbers but managed to be PM by cobbling together a shitty coalition. Not only did it keep him from getting anything accomplished (not that he isn’t more concerned with being PM than actually governing, much like our own GOP), but it made him look weak and insubstantial which really pisses off a guy like that.
At the very least that’s likely to happen again here. Winner by TKO.
mai naem mobile
@kindness: i cannot stand Bibi but comparing him to Dick (head) Cheney is just wrong. At least Bibi served in the IDF and lost his brother in either the Entebbe operation or some other hostage action.
I heard he had a money scandal recently. They spent some ungodly amount of money on the house cleaning of his two or three houses -some crazy amount like $20K/mo and another exorbitant amount on take out food -$250K or something. They specifically said take out food.not catering. All paid for by the Israeli government.
humanoid.panda
@boatboy_srq:
Actually, the Likud was always reluctant to form coalition with parties to its right, without some cover from center/ left parties: need someone to blame that Hammas/Hizbullah/Iran are not dead yet, and right wing partners are much more likely to bolt for ideological reasons.
This is basically on the same intellectual level as arguing that Obama is doing “amnesty” to get Hispanics opress Real Americans.
JPL
@Amir Khalid: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Another Holocene Human
The US and Israel both have fairly liberal judiciaries which have provided a backstop against attacks on civil rights and human rights by right wing pols, except of course in war theaters. The difference between the two countries is that in the USA the judiciary is more or less absolute (except when judges rule against executive agencies, like the US Mint, which goes on its merry way doing whatever the fuck it pleases, but whatever), whereas in Israel a lot of family law is under the control of the chief rabbinate, creating crazy situations where some couples have to go overseas to get married because their local rabbi refuses to marry them because they’re the wrong kind of Jew or they don’t like their face or whatever. The subject of divorce law is a special mess. The ultra-Orthodox communities (but don’t call them that) in New York state have similar issues but in NYS the courts ultimately have the last word and the law is evolving to sanction men for get-refusal because of the harm it causes to the ex-wife AND her children. (And they just laid down federal indictments on the get-shark-mafia, you hire these guys and for a reasonable consideration, let’s say $30,000, they put the hurting on your ex-husband/son-in-law until he grants the get.)
Villago Delenda Est
@Matt McIrvin: For him, yes.
For millions of Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, Palestinians of all religious persuasions, it’s lose. And lose big.
Another Holocene Human
@mai naem mobile: Hey, baby, glatt Kosher takeout ain’t cheap! Ya seen the prices on Kosher lettuce? Try eating Kosher and healthy. He’s PM, that’s a tough job, a lot of strain on his heart. He was doing the taxpayers a favor!
Villago Delenda Est
@Botsplainer: I don’t think Tebow will be able to withstand Chip’s work ethic requirements.
Elizabelle
Yes, Bibi’s announcement screams “Desperate is Me.”
However: will it work?
The Blog Dahlia
@Villago Delenda Est:
Would you say it’s “loosey-goosey”?
Villago Delenda Est
@The Blog Dahlia: Pretty much so. (note to latecomers…I corrected my spelling, from “loose” to “lose”.)
PeakVT
No Palestinian state, no Jewish Israel (eventually).
Apparently Netanyahu and his supporters (here and there) are too stupid to figure this out.
Amir Khalid
All bets are off. Bibi is going to win. Chuck Norris has endorsed him.
beltane
Chuck Norris has just cut a video for Netanyahu: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/16/1371359/-BREAKING-Chuck-Norris-endorses-Netanyahu-upending-Israel-s-election
Shit’s getting real.
Baud
I have enough difficulty understanding American voters. I’ll wait to see how the election actually turns out before not commenting on it.
Betty Cracker
@Amir Khalid: Yeah, even many otherwise admirable Democrats are absurdly servile to Israel. The ruling party has now openly thrown in its lot with the Republicans, meddled in our foreign policy and rejected a principle they once at least pretended to support. At some point treating your most powerful supporter so contemptuously has got to have negative repercussions? We’ll see. Netanyahu sure is testing the limits.
The Blog Dahlia
@Villago Delenda Est:
Its okay. For all intensive purposes its the same.
Botsplainer
@Villago Delenda Est:
Clearly, Chip is persecuting Christians on that.
Another Holocene Human
@Botsplainer: Tebow sucks. What the hell. I guess his parents’ ministry is faltering and the Christian therapy to turn straight wasn’t working out, ahurr.
(I know every Deadspin thread has these people swearing up and down that it’s open knowledge in Gainesville that Tebow was mouth-banging sorostitutes all the fucking time but I was in Gainesville for his entire tenure and not only was that NOT common knowledge, I know people who were in class with him who said stuff about him, which, combined with his general demeanor, has my gaydar pinging through the roof. Actually Tebow at UF was more like the snivelly teacher’s pet versus gross frat douche so he could be straight but too shy. It happens. Doubt it, though. IMO we would have seen a little bit of wild child behavior once he was a man and in the NFL and not in his parents’ pocket. And that did not happen.)
boatboy_srq
@humanoid.panda: So, no, in other words, because Israel would never encourage Jews to “come home,” and certainly not for political reasons. Although the earlier trend does seem to be reversing.
The Blog Dahlia
@beltane:
Love it. “Vote Bibi. I can personally promise you that if you do, when the rapture comes and all you heathens burn in fire, I will come by and end your suffering with a perfectly-placed roundhouse kick to the head.”
Ruckus
@mai naem mobile:
How each got to this point in life may be different but the results of their current thinking? Doesn’t look so different to me.
Another Holocene Human
@Botsplainer: It’s not that he lacks work ethic, it’s that his whole mindset is to suck up to authority figures rather than to become a better athlete. For Tebow, playing football is just another ministry.
Tebow is not that big by NFL standards and he’s gotten this massive pass on just not being that skilled of an arm. I’ve watched his receivers catch his terrible throws, and it’s all guts and no glory for them. If he would get better at the craft and not suck so much I wouldn’t feel so contemptuous.
Villago Delenda Est
@Another Holocene Human: You mean like Johnny Football’s (ESPN’s other boy crush) little foray into being free of In Loco Parentis at A&M?
beltane
The “special relationship” with Israel has become a little too special for my liking. Will UKIP also be soliciting the assistance of Hollywood B-listers?
Villago Delenda Est
@The Blog Dahlia: I see what you did there.
Or is it their?
Iowa Old Lady
@JPL: I hear you. I would have said Joanie Ernst didn’t have a chance in Iowa either.
Botsplainer
@Another Holocene Human:
I’m with you on the loud warning screams on the gaydar. He should simply embrace the fabulous inner Him, find a nice Benham brother to settle down with and get away from those who think his dorky throwing style has a place in pro football.
Chris
Last time I looked, it didn’t look good – basically, while Likud as a whole might not be doing well, Likud plus the parties that were likely to join it in a coalition were a lot closer to the 61 mark than the Zionist Union and its equivalent parties.
We’ll see. But I expect it’ll make little difference on Palestinian policy.
Chris
@Amir Khalid:
The two-state solution has basically been dead since Ariel Sharon and George Bush took over their respective countries. Everyone knows it, whether or not they admit or like it. No way will the U.S. government put the kind of required pressure on Israel to stop colonizing the West Bank, nor is the Israeli government likely to force the colonists out, so prospects for a Palestinian nation are pretty much dead. (Unless we mean Gaza. That can survive as a rump state, I suppose).
This’ll simply be admitting what’s been the reality on the ground for fifteen years.
kc
Israel won’t be that isolated; it’ll always have its loyal little buddy, the U.S.
beltane
@Chris: In retrospect, the two-state solution was assassinated alongside Rabin. Even a well-intentioned PM would not have the fortitude to halt new settlement/land theft activity let alone remove the hundreds of thousands of settlers who are already living in the West Bank. This leaves Israel with two options: apartheid and “ethnic cleansing”. Of course when Jimmy Carter wrote about this he was treated like a senile old devil.
kc
@Amir Khalid:
Such as what, I wonder?
Amir Khalid
@kc:
Yeah, what was I thinking? Israel will always have the US’ skirt to hide behind.
kc
@Another Holocene Human:
“Mouth-banging?”
Chris
@beltane:
I think it might still have been salvaged after that, but the triple whammy of the right wing taking over Israel, the right wing taking over America, and 9/11 enshrining the war on terror as the new prism through which all international relations should be viewed, all in the same year, was something it couldn’t survive.
SiubhanDuinne
@The Blog Dahlia:
From herein out, I’m going to go through all your comments with a fine toothcomb.
kc
@Amir Khalid:
Sadly, that’s likely true.
Tokyokie
@Eric U.: I believe that the process pretty much stopped when one of the cretins gunned down the Labor PM.
Chris
@Amir Khalid:
“Always” is a long time. The point is, however, that even under the most optimistic scenario in which Bibi’s visit has started a process which will eventually turn Israel into a genuine partisan issue, which in turn eventually leads to America putting real pressure on Israel… that process would take so long to complete that by the time we’re ready to pressure Israel, pretty much the entire West Bank will have disappeared.
In other words, even the best scenario I can imagine still doesn’t allow a two-state solution.
beltane
@Tokyokie: And that cretin is considered to be a national hero by at least 27% of the population.
pseudonymous in nc
@mai naem mobile:
One bit of it was Mrs Bibi ordering $8000 of garden furniture for the PM’s official residence, then swapping it out with old furniture from their private villa. Penny-pinching corruption. First Bibi denied it, then when the official investigation came up with the receipts, he said that the private villa was used for official meetings and could be furnished at public expense.
Bibi’s final rally is… something. Basically accusing Tzipi and Bougi of being in bed with IS, saying under a ZU-led government East Jerusalem would become “Hamastan B”. Red meat, frothing at the mouth.
mainmata
Good chance he has to form a coalition with the center left parties. Little chance of him actually losing.
The Blog Dahlia
@SiubhanDuinne:
Good luck. You’ll find there’s no ‘their’ their.
redshirt
@Chris: I feel the same but can’t predict a future.
Villago Delenda Est
@Another Holocene Human: The Nazis were very careful, once they came to power, to do everything within the letter of the law. The Enabling Act was dutifully renewed by the Reichstag every time it was due to expire. This was the tribute paid to the old line judiciary to help make up for the extralegal killings that took place during the Night of the Long Knives.
The major objections that Heydrich heard at the Wannsee conference was not what was to be done (shipping the Jews east for “resettlement”), but that the legal requirements for a written Führer order were not being meticulously followed…because Hitler didn’t want a paper trail leading back to him for so monstrous an undertaking. Same objections were voiced from insurance firms when they were ordered not to pay the claims of Jews for the damage that they suffered as a result of Kristallnacht
Tokyokie
@beltane: Probably the same percentage of Americans who think Tim McVeigh is a hero.
Villago Delenda Est
@Tokyokie: Or think that James Earl Ray was a hero.
Cervantes
@beltane:
Or perhaps somewhat before that.
Here is part of an interview Rabin gave Time:
That was in 1993.
Another example? Here is part of a speech Rabin delivered to the Knesset:
That was in 1995. (I am quoting from the official translation.)
As previously discussed, it’s possible to imagine that Netanyahu is destroying Israel whereas Rabin would have saved it — provided we ignore the record of both words and deeds.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Thanks so much for the link to the text of the gridiron speech on one of the weekend threads. It was so funny, I even read it twice!
Villago Delenda Est
@Cervantes: On the other hand, Rabin’s thoughts might have evolved away from such hard lines, which is why he was assassinated…he couldn’t be trusted to hold the hard line.
Baud
@WaterGirl: You’re welcome! I thought it was hilarious. Obama seems more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a while.
Cervantes
@Villago Delenda Est:
That speech he gave the Knesset was delivered on October 5, 1995 — exactly a month before he was killed.
We can imagine any subsequent evolution of his views that we want — but that, then, is what we are doing — imagining.
beltane
@Cervantes: And if Rabin was assassinated for merely agreeing to go through the motions of negotiating, one can imagine the fate that would befall any Israeli leader who actually did take concrete actions against the settlers. The only way a two-state solution could be implemented would be a draconian actions taken by another nation or group of nations.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Is there anything he’s not good at? And it’s not just his writers, he’s got great timing and he can joke around and riff off the host.
My favorite ever video (that wasn’t a serious speech) was Obama with Conan O’Brien from before he was president. I tried to find it a few years ago, but maybe someone else will be able to find it.
Oh my gosh, I just found it. Looks like they posted it again in the fall of 2014.
So awesome.
JGabriel
@catclub:
They did it once before, to help Rabin in the 90’s. So it’s possible they might do it again to screw with Bibi.
Baud
@WaterGirl: He really did have an extra spring in his step before he was elected. Tough job, being president.
Villago Delenda Est
@Cervantes: Whether or not Rabin actually had any change of heart (and I doubt that) it’s obvious that he wasn’t hard core enough for some Israelis.
So he was killed.
WaterGirl
@Baud: He really did. We are so lucky to have him.
That video was from ’06. I was in the front row for a speech when he was a senator before his famous speech at the DNC, before anyone was talking about him as president, but I was sure he would be president one day. I just didn’t know if it would be in my lifetime.
Then I met him when I was volunteering for him in Iowa in late ’07. He is truly an amazing man up close, stunningly powerful and gorgeous, with an easy smile. Oh so charming and funny, and humble.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Is Walker, Texas Ranger a cult hit in Israel?
and… OT: I guess I understand why C list celebrites and flashes-in-the-pan and has-beens do reality TeeVee, but I really don’t understand this
Baud
@WaterGirl:
Cool. I’ve never met a president or even a candidate.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Me neither, except for him. I don’t see how anyone could meet him in person and think he is cold or not funny or doesn’t connect with people.
I wouldn’t trade all my time volunteering for him for anything. I truly love the man, in spite of him making some decisions I don’t agree with. I really do not understand all the hate.
Kropadope
@Baud: I met Deval Patrick at an event after his reelection. He was very personable and funny. I could see him running some day.
beltane
@WaterGirl: In 2008 I took my then 12 year old son out of school to see candidate Obama in New Hampshire. Aside from being gracious and full of charisma, Obama also projected a kind of power that you can’t detect on television.
Baud
@WaterGirl: I never understood that criticism either. The hate has really been eye opening.
@Kropadope: He seems like someone we should see more of.
Roger Moore
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I might pay money to see Romney get pummeled, especially if I knew the money was going to a good cause.
WaterGirl
I was trying to wait for a new thread, but that might not be for hours…
Does anyone have any experience with a kitty eating the entire skin from a chicken breast all in one piece? I give the kitties cooked chicken one meal a day and I pulled the rest of the chicken off the bone and put it in the fridge, but the puppy asked to go out and I STUPIDLY left the bones of the chicken breast and the skin on the counter while I put the dogs out.
I came back to one kitty with the bones from the chicken breast having out of her mouth and the other kitty with the huge piece of skin, trying to suck it down in one piece. I had to go for the kitty with the sharp chicken bones first, and by the time I got that away from her, mr. bear had sucked down the humongous piece of skin.
The vet says to just keep a close eye on him, but I’m kind of worried. Do we think that the skin will pass through him because it’s slippery and greasy? Or do I need to worry because it’s so huge and could cause an obstruction?
Kropadope
@Roger Moore:
Romney getting pummeled is a good cause.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Heh. Hadn’t considered that angle… I do think it’s really weird. I could see if he had boxed at Hah-vahd or something, but I’ve never seen the sport associated with Willard.
@WaterGirl: my half a cent: I think if there was real danger the vet would have had you bring him in. Another half cent: Resist teh urge to google.
WaterGirl
@beltane:
Absolutely! I had this sense of being in the presence of a primal power and I was in awe.
You can’t get that on TV, but surely the senators and the people in Washington who meet him can feel it. Only a weak hideous person would see that and feel threatened, a normal person would recognize the greatness and respect it.
It appears that there are a whole lot of ugly people in our country, and it’s been a real eye opener for me, especially starting with it’s okay to kill a young black man who is out to buy a package of skittles.
Baud
@WaterGirl:
I blame Amir.
Roger Moore
@WaterGirl:
I would expect the skin to get digested nicely. Cats eat animal skins all the time in the wild. If he didn’t choke on it getting it down, I don’t think it’s going to cause any problems once it’s safely in his stomach.
WaterGirl
@Roger Moore: That makes me feel better!
Roger Moore
@Baud:
And I blame Obama.
WaterGirl
@Baud: I blame Amir, too!
But he doesn’t seem to be having any of it. I also blame the other front pagers who aren’t at least scheduling some open threads in advance. If you just don’t have threads up then activity goes down and then people don’t check in as much and the next thing you know, well, let’s just say it’s not pretty.
Kropadope
@WaterGirl: Blog death-spiral?
WaterGirl
@Kropadope: Don’t say it out loud!!
Ruckus
@WaterGirl:
OK, that was hilarious. There are reasons people like this guy.
Baud
@WaterGirl: Yep. I’ve noticed how slow it’s been. Maybe the era of the blogs is coming to an end.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@WaterGirl: I only tell Cole how to run his blog in personal, all cap emails, but it has occured to me that all the front pagers are east of the Mississipi, IIANM. Gives the blog a time zone bias.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Better not be. I would be inconsolable if Balloon Juice wasn’t here.
Kropadope
@Baud: they just have busy lives. Shit, if they let me I’d pop up an essay I had lying around. It’s something to talk about at least. I have Pomeranians too, I understand the commentariat lurves animal photos.
Baud
@WaterGirl:
Nothing gold can stay.
@Kropadope:
Bloggers aren’t supposed to have lives, dammit!
WaterGirl
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: But that’s always been true, and this problem is more recent.
I understand Cole – it’s tough to get anything done with puppies – but at least schedule some open threads, for pete’s sake!
Baud
New thread by Cole.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Reading that makes me sad. Hoping you are not being serious, but I suspect you are.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@efgoldman: Of course, for a long time I couldn’t believe that Caribou Barbie or Sam Brownback represented the same political party as Leverett Saltonstall, Jacob Javits, or Ed Brooke.
To say nothing of Abraham Lincoln.
Steve Clemons, who strikes me as pretty credible, said given Israel’s parliamentary system and parties, it’s unlikely that BiBii will be ousted, but he seems to be getting squirrely. I wonder if that’s gonna cost him votes. I wonder if his party is sick of him.
Roger Moore
@Baud:
If they didn’t have lives, where would the funny stories about their families and pictures of pets come from?
Baud
@Roger Moore: You telling me that shit’s real?!?!?!
WaterGirl
@Baud: I knew when you wouldn’t post photos of your dogs that your dogs are imaginary. :-)
Baud
@WaterGirl:
I’m rubbing their imaginary tummies right now.
catclub
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: TPM has a good explainer up on the difficulties for Bibi (himself) and Herzog in forming a government. Herzog’s are things like getting Arab parties to ally with a party called zionist/Union, or getting Ultra-religious to ally with Yesh Atid – which wants to do away with various privileges of the ultra-religious. Tricky.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Do they imaginarily curl up with you at night?
WaterGirl
@catclub: Maybe they need to go with redbirds and bluebirds, like the old reading groups in school. Like no one ever caught on to that!
Baud
@WaterGirl: Curl up suggests they don’t hog my bed space for themselves.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Aha! They are real. then. I have found you out.
Steeplejack
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
But Anne Laurie is a chronic night owl.
J R in WV
@WaterGirl:
As a long-time cat person, the only time we had a digestive tract blockage was with an elderly large (19 lbs) cat who ate an entire rabbit one night, all but the fuzz on its butt. He spent some time getting flushed at the vets, but the lavage did the trick.
We fed him metamucil on each meal for the next several years, which kept him regular. He didn’t take down another rabbit, either, so the 3 days at the vet getting flushed and all must have impressed him somewhat.
Ralph was a great cat, was in charge of all he surveyed his entire life. White with orange/red spots, stunning in the sunlight. A couple of years after he died, another white tom with red spots adopted me at the neighborhood hardware store. We named him Rufus for the red spots. Another great cat. Not quite as big as Ralph, but pretty hefty.
So don’t worry about your kittty just because a piece of chicken skin, their digestive tract is built for heavier use than that!
Debbie
@Iowa Old Lady:
From your lips to God’s ears.
WaterGirl
@J R in WV: Thanks for sharing about ralph and rufus! My guy is 9 pounds and the chicken skin seemed huge, but i take consolation in your statement that kitties are built for worse than that.
Amazing that you found two different cats white with red spots – or maybe they found you?
thanks again
Elie
@JPL:
No — I think he is right… Not in what will be SAID by the media and such… but the reality of our strategic interests will pull us in that direction. THAT (in my opinion), is what has Netanyahu and other right wingers scared. They can’t control it anymore.
Elie
@WaterGirl:
“Israel has lost its way”
Sometimes you have to get lost before you can truly find yourself. Israel has been on a path that will kill its moral and spiritual identify. They followed corporatism and its hubris and got themselves good and lost. Their people are waking up to them and this will lead to turmoil — even if Bibi wins the election this time. Israelis are not stupid and the press of economic and regional strategic imperatives will lead to “adjustments” —
JoyfulA
@J R in WV: I had a large orange cat who farmed rabbits. She’d go out on her rounds checking rabbits’ nests daily. When a nestful of bunnies got to teenage size, she’d bring one home to the deck to eat—everything but whatever that green organ is—gallbladder?. This would go on daily until the nest was empty, and then she’d be checking possible nest sites again.
She was a cat of many talents.
brantl
I reeally hope this sinks that asshole. I hope this is the final litmus test for this asshole. I hope that every Israeli voter says in their head, “I know that it’s going to be hard to establish a Palestinian State, both logistically and politically, but what other choice is there?”
Ryan
I fear this is the Israeli version of PPACA; he’s riling the base.