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Nice things in America, which would do us well By Yossi Sarid Tags: Barack Obama  We do not always need to look toward America to set an example. It has 70 faces and some should best be suppressed. America is not here and it would be better to take less from it, the New World, and more from the Old Continent. But the primaries actually reveal America's beautiful faces, which would do us well, too: First, it is becoming apparent that big money is not always the answer for everything. Affluent candidates, the favored offspring of the wealthy, are not the ones who are always winning. There are more and more cases indicating that candidates without deep pockets, who collect their contributions from small change, still have a fair chance. And this is very nice and encouraging: The right to decide is not only reserved for the wealthy. We wish the same to be true for you - America is saying to the entire democratic world, and to Israel, too. Secondly, not only the celebrities have succeeded. Some of the candidates were unknown until a short time ago, and they are making a name for themselves. They come out of nowhere and proceed to the White House against all the odds and contrary to the misleading opinion polls. And this is not the first time. We can still remember the emergence of Jimmy Carter. No one knew his name when he embarked on the long journey from Plains, Georgia. Everyone wondered then: Jimmy who? America also gives an opportunity to new faces, not only to worn-out figures whom the public has come to loathe. Here in Israel, meanwhile, there is nothing new under the sun, which is tanning the same people who all have wrinkles and blotches on their faces from the prolonged tanning. Advertisement Yet people of serious demeanor insist: What about "experience"? And there is a ready response: We have already had experience with those who have experience, with George Bush there and with Ehud Barak, Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Olmert here. And with such experienced leaders, perhaps it would be best to give a shot to the rookies: It was "Jimmy who?," in fact, who forged peace between Israel and Egypt. He did not merely drop by for last-minute farewell visits, bogging us down in one giant traffic jam - from Annapolis to Jerusalem and Ramallah. Nice things are happening now in America. While the election campaign is only just beginning and the fate of the candidates has yet to be determined, it has nonetheless been demonstrated: Timely opposition to war, and not merely in the shape of pitiable wisdom after the fact, is not a necessary and sufficient condition for defeat at the ballot box. Obama, for example, did not wait for the degeneration of the war in Iraq to reject it in principle. Therefore, it is not necessary to spring to attention and sing the national anthem the moment a Bush or an Olmert decides to wage a forbidden war. It is definitely possible to exercise responsible and independent judgment, and the general public is likely to absorb and ultimately reward this. It is not yet clear whether Obama's candidacy will come to full fruition, even though it has already produced early fruits. But the alarm bells are already ringing in Jerusalem: "Israel is worried about Obama." The media reports: "Senior government officials in Israel fear his meteoric rise." And the main reasons for this concern, it is reported, are Obama's support for dialogue with Iran and his weak connections with the Jewish lobby in Washington. Don't worry. Anyone who is elected in America will maintain the friendship with Israel and treat it as an ally. But it would be a welcome change for the friendship not to be a blind one, and for the alliance not to lead to a mishap. It is worthwhile conducting talks with Iran, just as much as it is worthwhile conducting talks with Syria, just as it was worthwhile talking with Libya and North Korea. And it is not worthwhile dancing like a trained bear on every issue according to the tune of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or the evangelical pastors. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iranian rhetoric Iranian boats threaten, so the U.S. candidates step up rhetoric. A new citizen Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship   1.   How foolish It is about the Arab and Islamic worlds not the U.S. 10:26  |  Shalom Freedman 13/01/08   2.   There is a gradual awakening in America 10:29  |  Natallie Durson 13/01/08   3.   Sarid believes in land for terror camps 10:43  |  Ken Jurist 13/01/08   4.   We are lucky there is an AIPAC not so lucky there`s a Yosi Sarid 11:05  |  josef cohen 13/01/08   5.   Was Sarid chosen to head Meretz for his lousy writing style? 11:24  |  Rowan Berkeley 13/01/08   6.   #2 more of nutullie and absolute garbage 11:35  |  v hardman 13/01/08   7.   It was Jimmy Carter that brought those Islamic fanatic?s to Iran 11:42  |  e.m Jordan is Pales 13/01/08   8.   Well done Yossi 11:44  |  Daphna 13/01/08   9.   yossi sarid represents all that is good in israel 11:46  |  yirmiyahu 13/01/08   10.   Yossi Sarid is No Longer Relevent 11:49  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 13/01/08   11.   Re:Natalie Durson,President Bush is good Chess player 11:56  |  e.m Jordan is Pales 13/01/08   12.   AMERICANS DESIRE TO RECONCILIATE WITH THE WORLD? 11:59  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   13.   Dream ticket for Democrats 12:46  |  Clickfool 13/01/08   14.   The ebbing Zionist tide 12:51  |  Clickfool 13/01/08   15.   YOU`RE PARTIALLY RIGHT YOSSI 13:30  |  B`Galil 13/01/08   16.   I PRAY FOR OBAMA 13:45  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   17.   One Fine Day 14:16  |  The Other Alan 13/01/08   18.   #42 boris the clucking fool and more rose manure 14:20  |  v hardman 13/01/08   19.   Obama 14:35  |  Marcel Fuhrer 13/01/08   20.   hello 14:43  |  jalal 13/01/08   21.   clickfool you must be an arab 14:54  |  brighton rock 13/01/08   22.   USA and Israel - natalie Durson 14:59  |  ari 13/01/08   23.   Indrajaya - instead of prayer, how about a contribution? 15:06  |  dana 13/01/08   24.   IF elected, Obama will turn around America 360* 15:17  |  AliciaYasmeen 13/01/08   25.   For V.Hardman # 18 15:18  |  Clickfool 13/01/08   26.   Sarid:Nice things in America. ....... 15:26  |  Sam Popack 13/01/08   27.   For Natallie # 2 15:26  |  Clickfool 13/01/08   28.   # 22 Avi 15:53  |  Natallie Durson 13/01/08   29.   I hope you get to know our candidates 16:05  |  Ethel 13/01/08   30.   clickfool let us say from your view we are rather bad 16:09  |  brighton rock 13/01/08   31.   jimmy carter? 16:10  |  robert caswell 13/01/08   32.   Ignorance of our candidates 16:15  |  Ethel 13/01/08   33.   ms durson knows all--- 16:22  |  robert caswell 13/01/08   34.   For Brighton Rock # 30 16:28  |  Clickfool 13/01/08   35.   Ah, Ethel, nice suggestion but. . . 16:33  |  Mark Lincoln 13/01/08   36.   Needed: Direct elections in Israel 16:38  |  Tosefta 13/01/08   37.   american candidates 16:43  |  robert caswell 13/01/08   38.   Irelevent 16:47  |  Mike 13/01/08   39.   Ron Paul, who? Kucinich, who? 16:48  |  Ethel 13/01/08   40.   clickfool 181 borders are dead resolution 242 supercedes it 16:50  |  josef cohen 13/01/08   41.   Clickfool--why Clinton? 16:50  |  Steve 13/01/08   42.   #15, B`Galil, Reagan lowered taxes, and ballooned the deficit 16:52  |  newageblues 13/01/08   43.   clicky...one thing is for sure 16:59  |  Lynn 13/01/08   44.   # 12 Indy...majority of Americans 17:08  |  Lynn 13/01/08   45.   Marcel Fuhrer re: Obama 17:09  |  CHGODMK 13/01/08   46.   Anti-Fox News 17:17  |  Ethel 13/01/08   47.   Click @ 14, for this very reason, I am so sad that Newt is no 17:18  |  Virginia 13/01/08   48.   socailism is dead mike 17:24  |  robert caswell 13/01/08   49.   # 44, LYNN 17:27  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   50.   Liberals and intellectuals do not win 17:32  |  Ethel 13/01/08   51.   #3 Ken Jurist 17:36  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/01/08   52.   #7 Really 17:39  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/01/08   53.   Oh dear I agree with Tosefta 17:49  |  Jasmine Murphy 13/01/08   54.   # 47, VIRGINIA 17:50  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   55.   # 49 Indy ....while I appreciate you knowing 17:59  |  Lynn 13/01/08   56.   The Great Divide..Obama President.? 18:05  |  Stephen. 13/01/08   57.   Jasmine Murphy....no two democracies are 18:11  |  Lynn 13/01/08   58.   # 47 Virginia....far right, or far left 18:13  |  Lynn 13/01/08   59.   Stephen -- Obama? 18:14  |  Steve 13/01/08   60.   Steve of Minneapolis...the key word is centrist 18:15  |  Lynn 13/01/08   61.   Re #53, proportional representation vs. direct election 18:19  |  newageblues 13/01/08   62.   No. 58 Lynn 18:21  |  Steve 13/01/08   63.   Stephen of Geneva......Obama may be 18:23  |  Lynn 13/01/08   64.   Centrist on what? 18:25  |  Steve 13/01/08   65.   # 52 Chris Linthwaite.....Carter forced the Shah 18:29  |  Lynn 13/01/08   66.   # 64, STEVE 18:33  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   67.   # 62 Steve of MN ....58 times Pelosi and 18:34  |  Lynn 13/01/08   68.   This Jackass Is CNN`s Favorite Israeli 18:36  |  Tod Zuckerman 13/01/08   69.   #24..don`t you mean 180deg? 18:37  |  jake 13/01/08   70.   Yossi Sarid 18:38  |  Ron 13/01/08   71.   #7, e.m., it was Eisenhower who destroyed Iran`s democracy 18:41  |  newageblues 13/01/08   72.   To #24 19:18  |  Gordon 13/01/08   73.   #19 Marcel Fuhrer 19:25  |  Boycott 13/01/08   74.   good article 19:26  |  bill 13/01/08   75.   # 54 Indy, Wonder no more my friend... 19:27  |  Virginia 13/01/08   76.   Lynn, I am not "far right" or "far left". I am far Zion, because 19:30  |  Virginia 13/01/08   77.   # 76, VIRGINIA (BACK TO THE REAL VIRGY) 19:50  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   78.   Let`s find some differences (Jasmine Murphy #53) 19:59  |  Tosefta 13/01/08   79.   To that Indy 77, I have to say yes and no. He Himself will live 20:17  |  among us 13/01/08   80.   Obama and AIPAC 20:18  |  Gert Hiens 13/01/08   81.   Yossi sarid is a failed politician looking for meaning... 20:32  |  Ron 13/01/08   82.   Indy, I Love you too. What do you think my chances will be to 20:37  |  Virgy 13/01/08   83.   to robert caswell 20:49  |  Realist 13/01/08   84.   # 82, VIRGINIA 20:59  |  indrajaya 13/01/08   85.   Perhaps God allowed it because many were doing the same thing 21:00  |  Selah 13/01/08   86.   Sarid forgets It was Jimmy Who who brought Khomeini to powe 21:03  |  Larry Smith 13/01/08   87.   Hey Clickfool #14, you are a prophet now? 21:06  |  Amos 13/01/08   88.   Larry Smith ....yes indeed 21:15  |  Lynn 13/01/08   89.   ron you wrong yossi sarid 21:18  |  yaheskel 13/01/08   90.   I predict the really disappointed person 21:43  |  Ethel 13/01/08   91.   #7 e.m Jordan is Palestaine... and Jimmy Carter created Al Qaeida 23:14  |  Max Zinger.P.Chimist 13/01/08   92.   Dana re: donations for Bama 23:55  |  American in NY 13/01/08   93.   #2, Natallie 23:57  |  Nathan 13/01/08   94.   shame 00:26  |  donnie 14/01/08   95.   #14 clickfool 00:29  |  leo 14/01/08   96.   #28 Durson 00:37  |  leo 14/01/08   97.   #24 00:43  |  al 14/01/08   98.   #91,You mean Ronald Reagan, by your own logic 01:09  |  newageblues 14/01/08   99.   Oh sure, let`s wax poetic over Jimmy Carter. 02:30  |  JB 14/01/08   100.   Umayin! 02:57  |  Dov 14/01/08   101.   Sarid is a weenie 03:05  |  Daoud 14/01/08   102.   Obama`s the one 03:32  |  US Observer 14/01/08   103.   Re:newageblues# 71 03:55  |  e.m Jodan is Pales 14/01/08   104.   Yossi Sarid 04:07  |  Connie 14/01/08   105.   Ethlel in Chicago 04:14  |  Mark Lincoln 14/01/08   106.   No Max, you are totally wrong 04:19  |  Mark Lincoln 14/01/08   107.   bin Laden party ties 04:24  |  Mark Lincoln 14/01/08   108.   The curious memories of the rabid right 04:28  |  Mark Lincoln 14/01/08   109.   #3, Ken Jurist... 04:32  |  Silvienne 14/01/08   110.   #44, Lynn to Indy... 04:35  |  Silvienne 14/01/08   111.   Nice things 04:37  |  Realist 14/01/08   112.   Nice 04:44  |  Shmuelshachor 14/01/08   113.   american in ny # 92 04:52  |  george 14/01/08   114.   Yossi Sarid 05:06  |  ciubuc 14/01/08   115.   Jimmy Carter just held Sadat`s coat 05:07  |  DJStahl 14/01/08   116.   The Difference Between Obama and Hillary is 06:39  |  Laguna Geno 14/01/08   117.   Sarid is afraid of RON PAUL not Obama 07:12  |  Dror 14/01/08   118.   No way, DJ Stahl, Carter worked hard at Camp David 07:48  |  newageblues 14/01/08   119.   Talking with Iran 09:09  |  Dan 14/01/08   120.   Talikng with Iran NOT the answer 09:49  |  Dror 14/01/08   121.   unfounded Obama bashing - Marcel Fhurer 10:35  |  S. Charles 14/01/08   122.   Nice Things in America 10:42  |  Kaelinda 14/01/08   123.   The difference between Obama and Hillary 10:47  |  Kaelinda 14/01/08   124.   Obama`s the one 10:50  |  Kaelinda 14/01/08   125.   American in NY #92 to dana 12:31  |  S 14/01/08   126.   S 3 125 Greetings from the snow country 15:04  |  American in NY 14/01/08   127.   George 15:07  |  American in NY 14/01/08   128.   Kaelinda # 122 Military ballots 15:17  |  American in NY 14/01/08   129.   S more trivia 17:01  |  American in NY 14/01/08   130.   Kucinich is liked by the Green Party 17:25  |  Ethel 14/01/08   131.   Jimmy Obama 19:21  |  Ron Fleischer 14/01/08   132.   Re #118 Carter? 21:12  |  DJStahl 14/01/08   133.   Third parties and UFOs 21:24  |  DJStahl 14/01/08

Today Online Sources: Barak and settlers reach deal on outpost evacuations Responses: 150 Haaretz probe: Shin Bet count of civilian deaths in Gaza is low Responses: 132 PM says he opposes IDF Gaza onslaught for time being Responses: 85 Zvi Bar'el: The Arabs should stop whining Responses: 82 AJ Congress slams 'Ms'. for rejecting ad on top Israeli women Responses: 43 More Headlines 20:05 PM says he opposes IDF Gaza onslaught for now 20:26 Israel foils bid to take explosive material into Gaza on aid truck 19:33 PM: All options legitimate to block Iran from nuclearizing 21:13 Knesset plenum votes to revive Religious Affairs Ministry, 51-27 19:40 Democrats woo Jewish, minority vote as primaries heat up 18:04 Peres: Chance for talks will be lost if we wait till all sides ready 19:46 Damascus slams Arab leaders for allowing Bush's 'criticism of Syria' 21:33 Jerusalem's assistant special-education teachers to hold strike 18:59 Two Palestinians indicted for murder of W. Bank settler Ido Zoldan 20:58 University heads' meet on canceling semester ends without result Previous Editions Select Day 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec

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