Well, this has been sliced, diced, and thrashed to death in the last news cycle. Even Chris "da wiener" Matthews got a chance to look good, and he didn't have to use his signature nervous laugh... "aaharrraugh, aaharrraugh, aaharrraugh..."

One distinction needs to be drawn and I don't see anybody doing it. I understand WHY nobody wants to clarify this. It's not politically expedient.

However, it needs to be pointed out that Hamas is the legally elected government of the Palestinians who have been pushed onto the West Bank. The fact is that Israel has not recognized Hamas and Hamas has not recognized Israel. What I would like to see clarified is under what circumstances does this legally elected government get a seat at the table? Does anyone think that the solution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict will happen without negotiating with Hamas? If you do, then you live in a neocon fantasy world where might makes right and you are either with the Jews or you're against them.

Making this point is way beyond the attention span of the American voter, particularly the flag-waving ignoramus who has been brainwashed and fear-mongered to a high state of paranoia by the Bush Administration lie factory. That's why you won't hear Obama talk about it... it's not politically feasible to try to explain that position to the electorate. But dammit, it needs to be addressed or we're in for another 60 years of terrorism and war in the region and beyond.

-Wexler

I'm not sure I see the connection between his concern with the appearance of propriety (fairly common in alcoholics and their codependents) and his utter disregard for anything of which he disapproves. There's an elephant standing in the Oval Office and it isn't the symbol of the Repugnicant party.

How can we possibly try to work on peace between these to warring nations during a presidential campaign? On many internet sites and forums, the Jews are being blamed for 9/11. Nobody dares to put the blame where it lies so blaming Israel is just an extension of the old antiSemitism what was started by Evangelicals and organizations like the John Birch Society after WW2.

Bringing this mess into the campaign is a deadly mess. I am shocked at how many Conservative sites are against Israel and so few voices ever show up to call them on their bigotry. I can only hope that the "Rapture" meaning the destruction of the Jews unless they convert to Jesus, will not be used in our election. But the GOP will not stop until they rule the Christian Empire. My step- granddaughter flew to Israel last year without telling her father in a protest against what the GOP is trying to do. Yes, my son-on-law is Jewish but is also a firm Republican.

Bush wants all nations in a war against other nations and the American people must recognize that this is a movement directly from the Republican National Committee and the AEI.

You post was a good one and I say "Bravo" and "Boo-ha" (this is an expression I picked up from Jim Cramer - CNBC)

Nobody says it better than Joe! This was posted this morning on Huffington Post. I hope Joe is Secretary of State in the Obama administration.

Joe Biden Slams Bush For Obama Appeasement Comments

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee absolutely tore into President George W. Bush for his comments from Israel, which appeared to take a swipe at Obama.

Bush said this morning, “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement."

An exasperated Biden skewered Bush over that in a conference call with reporters, calling the comments “pure politics,” “blatant,” “beneath the presidency,” “truly disgraceful,” “outrageous,” “disturbing,” “ridiculous hypocrisy” and “long-distance Swiftboating.” He even said Bush “oughta get a life.”

“For this president to go on the attack against Barack Obama,” Biden said. “It cannot go unanswered.” [Possible veep audition?]

Why is Bush still president? He has repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people. He has caused the death of many American soldiers and countless Iraqis. He has a history of cocaine use and alcohol addiction. He was AWOL from his unit during the Vietnam era. He has violated the Constitution for which he is sworn to uphold. All of Congress knows this and yet they do nothing and the American public lets it all just slide. The rest of the "free world" laughs at us in derision. It is unlikely that we will ever regain our former position and prestige in the world. And yet, the shrub is still president. Go figure.

While everyone is busy calling Mr. Bush on the style and circumstances of his "appeasement" remarks, and rightly so, nobody seems to be paying attention to the content. What "content" you say? OK, there isn't much, but it is significant. Bush is defining "appeasement" as merely talking to people and trying to get them to see things your way. That is not appeasement.

Appeasement is when you grant unwise concessions to a bully to maintain the peace. If it works, you buy a little time to get ready for the bully's next move. And of course there will be a next move. If it doesn't work, the bully takes your concessions and smashes you in the face anyway. That's the worst case scenario.

The American senator quoted by the President was not in a position to grant any concessions to Hitler, so while the senator may have been deluded, he was not by definition an appeaser. The British did appease -- or try to appease -- Hitler, but they were militarily weak and had little choice but to play for time.

The point is, mere jawboning with an opponent is not appeasement. You have to offer something to the other side to avoid getting hammered by them. Then that's appeasement.

Mitch Gann

Pursue the Bush administration beyond January 20 until they are brought to justice.

Direct Democracy

Maybe Bush and the Israeli parliament don't know that Bush's grandfather was much more close to Hitler than Obama is to Iran. All Obama has ever done is talk about talking. Bush's grandfather actually helped finance Hitler and then he and a bunch of his cronies wanted to overthrow the US government in 1933 or thereabouts. This is crazy. Of course, this country has been crazy for the last eight years. Reality and truth mean nothing anymore.

I did like it when Chris Matthews (of all people) took down a right-wing radio jock, Kevin James, for his ignorance on what appeasement actually is.