Batfink's Beep -- 02-01-06

Clarity again

February 1, 2006

Dems cheer doing nothing on Social Security reform

It had to be one of the most surreal moments of any State of the Union address. Last night, President Bush pointed out that his proposals to reform Social Security had not been acted on by the Congress in the past year. Every Democrat immediately leapt out of his seat and cheered ecstatically.

Now, I understand that the beseiged and minority Democrats have to take their victories where they can find them, but this is certainly a first. If there had ever been a standing ovation for refusing to act in the interest of the American people at such an event, nobody seems to remember it. By the same token, it is hard to imagine a more politically self-defeating spectacle, and that's from the party that just finished staging a filibuster of a magnificently well-qualified Supreme Court nominee that they knew would fail going in, purely as a pander to their moneyed special interest groups.

If this is the way the Democrats plan to fight for the middle in an election year, I really don't think there is much for the GOP to worry about.

Hamas tries to back-door a deal to get their guy into Gaza

Here's one you probably didn't see: Hamas has apparently tried to get Egypt to plead with Israel to let their current big cheese Khaled Meshaal, a notorious terrorist (natch) responsible for dozens of bombings and attacks on Israel, into Gaza safely. As you may remember, Israel had had enough with Hamas several months back, and started openly targeting Hamas leaders for assassination, which effort eventually bagged "spiritual leader" Ahmed Yassin, and soon thereafter, leader Abdel-Aziz Rantisi. This put the fear of God into Hamas, and they started hiding their leaders to avoid having them treated like they treat Israeli civilians.

But now, Meshaal, the current highest ranking Hamas member, who has been hiding out in Syria, wants in on the action in forming the newly elected Hamas government in Gaza, so he is looking for a promise that Israel will not try to kill him if he shows his face in public.

This is yet another promising aspect of the recent overwhelming election by the Palestinians of Hamas to lead their virtual country. As I suggested in earlier articles, electoral success is forcing Hamas to do their business out in the open, without hiding in the foreign capitols of terrorist-coddling neighbors, without hiding their identities behind headscarves, and without the cover of a 'diplomatic wing' a la Sinn Fein/IRA. And if they cause any trouble, there is now a seat of government to target.

If Israel knows what's good for them (and I think they do) they will insist that Meshaal and his group renounce terrorism and recognize Israel's right to exist before any safe passage is granted. After all, he is wanted for murdering Israeli civilians by the score. The very least he ought to have to do to call off the dogs is to publically promise not to do it any more.

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