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ANALYSIS / Without a strong supporting cast, Livni is doomed
By Ari Shavit
Tags: Ehud Barak 

Israel urgently needs a different kind of politics. And Tzipi Livni embodied the promise of this different kind of politics. She talked about a different kind of politics, and to some extent even represented a different kind of politics. Her source of strength was her identification with this different kind of politics.

But in her first real test, Livni did not adhere to a different kind of politics. During the 35 days of grace she received from Kadima members and President Shimon Peres, she did not take a single step that reflected a different kind of politics. And that is where she failed. She did not fail because of naivete or amateurism, but because of a lack of genuine commitment to a different kind of politics.

If the prime minister of Israel were chosen by tender, Livni would not even meet the threshold conditions. She does not have the necessary resume nor any proven achievements. She has no solid experience and no inspirational vision.
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Nevertheless, many Israelis placed their trust in Livni, because they felt she was sane, judicious and honest. Many Israelis demonstrated a willingness to follow Livni, because they felt, and rightly so, that she was someone who was genuinely committed to doing the right thing.

Livni promised not to disappoint those who believed in her, but she soon did just that. During a full month of petty and exhausting coalition negotiations, she made endless tactical mistakes. But she made only one strategic mistake: Instead of trying to set up a government of change and hope, she tried to set up a government of continuity and running in place. Instead of trying to rise above our degenerate politics, she became trapped in the spiderweb of this degenerate politics. Livni ought to have known that within this web, she had no chance. Her failure this week was not surprising. It was a failure foretold.

Nevertheless, the hope Livni represents has not been lost. The vehement opposition aroused by the two veterans of the Sayeret Matkal unit who are running against her benefits the foreign minister. And Kadima's location at the center of the political map gives her a real advantage. When major media outlets once again begin dealing with Benjamin Netanyahu, as they were busy doing until recently with Ehud Barak, Livni's failure to form a government will be obscured, and perhaps even forgotten.

But Kadima's chairwoman must be honest with herself and draw far-reaching conclusions from her failure during her first bout as almost-premier. Livni must understand that if she does not surround herself with a high-quality leadership team, she will have no hope. If she does not draft a clear diplomatic program and a comprehensive economic program, she will enjoy no resurrection. Livni must translate her vague slogans into serious proposals for reforming the legal system, the system of government and the education system. If Livni proves that her "different kind of politics" is real, and not just a slogan, she still has a chance to be prime minister.

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      1.   Hope *is* lost, Israel`s getting Bibi and regional war... 04:39  |  BBSNews 27/10/08
      2.   Amateur scribe 06:12  |  Jay 27/10/08
      3.   I suspect that the Queen has launched her last gambit 06:23  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      4.   Shakedown! A lot of citizens are going to show their disgust 06:50  |  Lemmings Hotline 27/10/08
      5.   Livni 06:50  |  Dani 27/10/08
      6.   Doing the right thing or doing the right thing? 07:42  |  Kris Lazar 27/10/08
      7.   It may sound trite, but.... 07:43  |  Esther 27/10/08
      8.   Livni can recreate herself & pay her debt & redeem herself if.. 08:03  |  Akram Zekaria 27/10/08
      9.   #1michael at bad news gives more stupid b/s 09:09  |  victor hardman 27/10/08
      10.   #5: Please explain how she is uniquely "sane" 09:18  |  Global Citizen 27/10/08
      11.   the system is self-defeating 10:31  |  tobie 27/10/08
      12.   "many Israelis placed their trust in Livni". Really?! 10:42  |  redmike 27/10/08
      13.   Dead Cat Bounce. 11:26  |  Charles Smyth 27/10/08
      14.   # 9 to insult is to recognize to be wrong 12:14  |  A.M. 27/10/08
      15.   Who trusted Livni? #12 12:22  |  A.M. 27/10/08
      16.   Mark and the constructive human behaviour theory 12:34  |  Cordier 27/10/08
      17.   Where Sharon used spin, Livni is controlled by it 13:46  |  Ilan 27/10/08
      18.   AM You can always vote Meretz or Balad 13:50  |  Ilan 27/10/08
      19.   Nasrallah, Ahmadinejad, and Assad: The supporting cast is ready 16:36  |  Natallie Durson 27/10/08
      20.   #13 charles fails to understand the issues 17:26  |  victor hardman 27/10/08
      21.   Livni does not have nearly enough of the right stuff 17:45  |  ARA 27/10/08
      22.   The Media and Netanyahu 17:52  |  ARA 27/10/08
      23.   19# Natallie Durson. You could have made your story short. 00:57  |  Akram Zekaria 28/10/08
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