Comments on: Oy, You Can Stick a Stake Through Ross’ Heart, But He Won’t Die

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:32:05 +0000

This is what you wrote about Obama:

What has Obama accomplished besides weak posturing?

It is clear that politically you detest Obama. As far as what you claim you hope Obama does–pure disingenuousness since you don’t believe he’s capable of it.

If the job changed and Obama decided to bypass Ross and give him a useless job without any authority

You talk as if you have an inside track to knowing what Dennis Ross thinks or believes. If you don’t, then you’re blowing smoke. I didn’t say Ross was given a useless job. Protecting Obama’s right flank fr. pro Israel pressure is actually a very important job. It just wouldn’t involve making policy.

Frankly, I’m a bit confused why Ross IS working for Obama since his book deliberately contradicts almost every major tenet of Obama’s Middle East approach.

By: Grendal

Grendal — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:25:19 +0000

Hate Obama? I don’t hate Obama. I hope he brings peace to the middle east. I wish him success.
Ross was allied with Obama during the campaign. Obama asked Ross to work for him. I’m sure Ross asked, like any other person taking a new job, what the job would entail. If it wasn’t to his liking, why would he take it? Certainly not for the money. Ross has millions. If the job changed and Obama decided to bypass Ross and give him a useless job without any authority, would Ross play the fool or leave? Also I think Obama is pretty straight foward. If he didn’t want Ross he would tell him so.
Actually your original post was about Ross getting a big job. Where do we disagree?

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:44:43 +0000

But the use of verbal violence even as a joke is against halacha, and you know it.

You’re full of crap & don’t know what I know or don’t know. Yr interpretation of halacha & what I wrote is simply dead wrong. Besides, you still haven’t provided any support for yr expertise on the subject. You are the only reader who didn’t seem to understand that my post title was metaphorical & not literal. Does that tell you something? The problem is yours my friend. Yr last post on this issue. Don’t write on this again. I’m tired & bored by this.

By: bar_kochba132

bar_kochba132 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:05:36 +0000

If you read what I wrote, I stated that people do not have to agree with each other. You are entitled to say you don’t like Ross or his policies. But the use of verbal violence, even as a joke is against halacha, and you know it. You yourself have gotten quite agitated when people said similar things about you or other “progressives”. The RAMBAM speaks about how biblical and Talmudic Hebrew language does not have obscenities in it.
You did NOT say “I hoped to drive a stake through his political career”. I suggest you recheck the caption you yourself chose for this thread.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:29:51 +0000

I’ve met Ross. He’s an absolutely brilliant self assured and very proud.

Yikes, we’ve got a real hasbaranik here. Wonder who sent you.

It is idiotic to think he would allow himself to be badly treated and have a job without authority.
Obama didn’t bring in a diplomat of Ross’ stature to screw with him. Ross is brought in to run things.
If you don’t like Ross, you should be very unhappy.

On what basis do you have any authority other than yr own rightist prejudices? We’ll see how things work out. You yrself profess to detest Obama & yet you claim to know what Obama’s real motives were in hiring Ross. That’s rich.

By: Grendal

Grendal — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:51:00 +0000

I’ve met Ross. He’s an absolutely brilliant self assured and very proud. He has millions of dollars and doesn’t need a job. He takes a huge cut in pay to work for government.
It is idiotic to think he would allow himself to be badly treated and have a job without authority.
Obama didn’t bring in a diplomat of Ross’ stature to screw with him. Ross is brought in to run things.
If you don’t like Ross, you should be very unhappy.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:19:01 +0000

Gimme a break. Lashon hara is not the same as foul language. Where did you learn your halacha? Or do you know any? And jokingly saying I hoped someone would drive a stake through Dennis Ross’ political career (which was what any reasonable person would understand as my meaning), is NOT lashon hara. Sorry, but you’ll have to do better than this.

By: rfjk

rfjk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:38:37 +0000

And Ross will be subject to the same humiliating runaround he endured over at State, though the players over there are a whole lot tougher and even less enamored of this first rate loser. Only a deceitful, shameless, self promoter like Ross would put up with being jacked around when any 3rd rate clerk would have the courage & dignity to tell the boss to go f*** himself. In the history of W/H appointments I don’t believe anyone was promised so much, for so long, with so little to show for it.

You guys are agonizing over nothing.