Israeli Liberals Want to Pull a Torricelli

Newsmax ^ | 1/26/2003 | Carl Limbacher

[Milltownmalbay]

NewsMax.com's religion editor Fr. Mike Reilly notes an eerie similarity between the coming Israeli elections and last year's U.S. Senate race in New Jersey.

"Israel's main opposition party, facing disaster in next week's election against Ariel Sharon, is considering dumping its candidate for prime minister," reported Uri Dan last week in the New York Post.

Amram Mitzna, the Labor Party candidate for Prime Minister, is under pressure to step aside in favor of elder statesman Shimon Peres. Evidently polls indicate that Peres would be a formidable opponent to Sharon, as opposed to Mitzna, who is a political lightweight.

But Mitzna, a dove who is inexperienced in national politics, declared, "I'm here to stay." Too bad a certain New Jersey Senator didn't show the same courage.

Isn't it interesting that the Israeli liberals are following their counterparts in New Jersey, where Democrats replaced a scandal-scarred Sen. Robert Torricelli because he, like Mitzna, was plummeting in the polls?

Too bad Sen. Frank Lautenberg appears to be already engaged. Then again, Walter Mondale might still be available.

[eeman]

But Mitzna, a dove who is inexperienced in national politics, declared, "I'm here to stay." Too bad a certain New Jersey Senator didn't show the same courage.,

I doubt that Mitzna has been given an offer he can't refuse, at least not yet anyway.

[John Lenin]

Isreal really needs to dump the Parliment system and adopt a more US like Republic with a strong constitution.

[kcar]

Well I certainly hope that Israeli respect for law is more venerably-based and deeply-rooted than New Jersey's!?

[NonValueAdded]

I don't think the Torricelli story is over yet. Did you hear about Lautenberg's skiing accident and his recent brain surgery (transplant???). Did anyone have a pool going on how long he would stay in office before the next switcheroo?

BTW, what is the tally of politico's and skiing accidents? Confidential to Hillary's running mate - stay off the slopes!!!

[xm177e2]

In a parliamentary system, I think they're allowed at any time to switch which MP is their PM.

[goldstategop]

The funny thing is Shimon Peres is a perennial loser and I doubt the party would do any better under his leadership than its doing under the forgotten Amram Mitzna's. It shows the doldrums the Labor Party is in when Sharon can openly end his campaign in Mitzna's "Red Haifa" stronghold but conservative Jerusalem is no go territory for the Labor Party chief.

[xm177e2]

If Peres is such a great candidate, why didn't they run him in the first place? Israelis are saying "give us anyone but Mitznah," and Labor is trying to benefit from its candidates' own undesirability.