Rahm the mechanic goes to Washington: the Jim Zogby dilemma

Palestinian News Network ^ | Nov 22, 2008 | Hesham Tillawi, PhD

[fightinJAG]

Every day, I am assaulted by something in the topsy-turvey world of US politics that amazes me and makes me say to myself, 'Well I guess I have seen it all now', only for it to be outdone and replaced the very next day by something even more outrageous. Politics can do that to people. Power and the opportunity to play on the 'big field' is like a drug that makes people do crazy things, things that defy reason, logic, and sometimes decency.

Take for example the most recent article by Arab American Institute’s James Zogby in his defense of President Elect Barak Obama’s decision to appoint Rahm Emmanuel as White House Chief of Staff. In his piece entitled "Rahm Emanuel and Arab Perceptions" he writes, "The emails and calls to my office were both troubled and troubling because much of the reaction was based on misinformation".

The “misinformation” in this case dealt with Rahm Emanuel, the "brilliant strategist" as Jim puts it and his many "proven" political skills which led to him being "tapped" by Obama. No more, no less. That is, as Jim calls it, "First, the facts." I just wonder if Rahm's 'proven politics' is also what dragged Obama to AIPAC's conference this past summer to deliver that infamous shameful speech, as well as the meeting afterwards with the board of AIPAC where he was accompanied by Rahm Emanuel. I don't think Rahm being born to an Israeli parent who once ran guns for the Irgun Terrorist Organization, his faith as a devout Jew or his being a staunch supporter of Israel had "nothing" to do with his appointment as the conventional wisdom would like us to believe. Of course not, it is his 'brilliancy' that got him there.

[mimaw]

James Zogby is a dem hack. He stands for nothing. He didn't give a damn that Sadamn Hussein was committing genocide against the Iraqi people. Instead he gave Bush hell for liberating them He doesn't give a damn that most of the despots in the Middle East have kept their people ignorant and poor. He only sees injustice and inequality in Republican policies. He's a pathetic POS.

[mojo114]

After reading this post and the Doug from Upland posts on the Mark Rich pardon, we have all been scammed, the joke is on us. All of this is deliberately complex, so insider shenanigans, such a bunch of crap that we would lose interest and just give up. I am trying hard to still keep up and remain confident that what is right is not wrong.
God help us all.