Not if you major in modern dance...
Algebra is an onerous stumbling block for all kinds of students: disadvantaged and affluent, black and white. In New Mexico, 43 percent of white students fell below "proficient," along with 39 percent in Tennessee. Even well-endowed schools have otherwise talented students who are impeded by algebra, to say nothing of calculus and trigonometry.
California's two university systems, for instance, consider applications only from students who have taken three years of mathematics and in that way exclude many applicants who might excel in fields like art or history. Community college students face an equally prohibitive mathematics wall. A study of two-year schools found that fewer than a quarter of their entrants passed the algebra classes they were required to take.
"There are students taking these courses three, four, five times," says Barbara Bonham of Appalachian State University. While some ultimately pass, she adds, "many drop out."
Another dropout statistic should cause equal chagrin. Of all who embark on higher education, only 58 percent end up with bachelor's degrees. The main impediment to graduation: freshman math. The City University of New York, where I have taught since 1971, found that 57 percent of its students didn't pass its mandated algebra course. The depressing conclusion of a faculty report: "failing math at all levels affects retention more than any other academic factor." A national sample of transcripts found mathematics had twice as many F's and D's compared as other subjects.
Nor will just passing grades suffice. Many colleges seek to raise their status by setting a high mathematics bar. Hence, they look for 700 on the math section of the SAT, a height attained in 2009 by only 9 percent of men and 4 percent of women. And it's not just Ivy League colleges that do this: at schools like Vanderbilt, Rice and Washington University in St. Louis, applicants had best be legacies or athletes if they have scored less than 700 on their math SATs.
It's true that students in Finland, South Korea and Canada score better on mathematics tests. But it's their perseverance, not their classroom algebra, that fits them for demanding jobs.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/30/2012 00:00 ||
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#1
Wizard of Oz: Why, anybody can have a brain. That's a very mediocre commodity. Every pusillanimous creature that crawls on the Earth or slinks through slimy seas has a brain. Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have. But they have one thing you haven't got: a diploma.
So with modern accredited professional education, everyone gets a diploma! /sarc off
#3
The only reason these teachers want to avoid teaching algebra is because they don't know it themselves. They may know faddish educational theory, but not the subject matter they claim they can teach.
They should be ashamed of themselves for asking this question. As a personal note, I learned algebra from a high school textbook an uncle gave me when I was 7 years old; I don't understand why people have so much difficulty with it.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
07/30/2012 0:32 Comments ||
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#4
Algebra is neither hard to learn nor difficult to teach. It merely requires practice. Spend 15 minutes a day doing homework and anyone of normal mental ability will master the subject in a few months.
The only people who do not learn algebra are people who do not do the required work. And those people are properly called lazy, rather than otherwise talented.
It is right and appropriate for schools that appreciate learning and expect their students to do something while in attendance to set up admissions standards that exclude potential students who are lazy. It is better for the schools and better for the lazy students.
#5
OWG-NWO > akin to SPACE GOVT-ORDER. We are organizing the Planet to prepare for deep psace. exploration + colonization, ideally hopefully millenias before the Sun explodes to Red Giant phase.
The day is coming when Algebra, etc. lower-order courses won't even be taught at the University or Secondary-level, but at Middle-School or LOWER. THE MSM-NET LIKES TO REPORT ON THE ACADEMIC PRESSURES = STRESS TO SUCCEED PUT ON JAPANESE + OTHER ASIAN STUDENTS - POST-2050 OR 2080, DON'T BE SURPRISED IFF THE SYSTEMS ARE HIGHLY SIMILAR.
The "Star" in today's "Star Schools" may no longer refer to quality or qualitative achievements or conditions, but to Space-oriented curriculas + institutions.
SPACE TRAVEL, SPACE SYSTEMS-TECHS, + SPACE LIVING.
#6
Various ethnic cultural studies venues are much easier and help to solidify the students predisposition to victimization and entitlement. Accounting and physics are hard as well. I strongly recommend cultural studies, a few very basic computer science courses, and basketball.
#7
Anybody trying to figure out which of two items in the grocery store is a better buy is using algebraic methods. It's the intuitive way to find known unknowns.
Eric dear, you are rather a special case. ;-) But there's no reason children can't be taught the concepts of algebra alongside basic arithmetic, just as they are taught set theory.
#8
Math/science intelligence >is intelligence. Practical mechanical ability is intelligence. The rest is philosophizing and BS.
What the hell are kids who flunked math or didn't take it in high school doing applying to college anyways? Their parents and guidance counselors are letting them down. The colleges should mail back their applications and fees summarily and tell the kids to reapply when their math grades justify it. Or they should go another way in life.
The truth is, degrees in the humanities/social "sciences" aren't that hard to get. I get tired of education or humanities majors who are devoid of any real math or statistics skills preening about their "degrees" which a chimp could have gotten. They may be well spoken, good people and they may be good at being moms or at some specific task for which they were hired at some government job, but the math skill stuff separates, in the end.
When I started in the chemistry track at a top school not too many decades ago, by the end of the four basic semesters almost 70% of ostensibly "smart" people couldn't do the work, from lack of brains, lack of work ethic, or both, and dropped out to become psychology majors etc. I don't imagine kids are magically more intelligent now.
When I left for college from a highly ranked small town public high school 30 years ago only about 45% of my class actually even matriculated at a two or four year college, and a good chunk of these didn't graduate with four year degrees. That "only" 58% are graduating from one now in the era of grade inflation, incompetent professors, and matchbook cover degrees, is not surprising and I can't imagine whence cometh the "chagrin". Also, I'd be willing to bet a lot of those degrees that actually are accomplished are in BS fields which do nothing to enhance either the employment chances of the graduate nor his ability to understand the world and our civilization.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
07/30/2012 5:57 Comments ||
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#9
In high school I was subjected to an 'experimental' math program. As a result I completely bombed out when I took math courses at university, because my algebra and trigonometery was weak.
I apparently had the lowest score in the uni year one pure math test.
The upside is my grasp of statistics is pretty good.
#12
Funny in Facebook I often see some math questions such as 2 + 3 X 4. Its amazing how many people get the *wrong* number and insist it is right - just because they don't understand some basic rules (in this case MDAS - Multiply, Divide then Add, Subtract).
I guess 'woman studies', 'minority studies', etc... might not need it. And that is what they are pushing now.
#14
I'm waiting for the government to learn algebra for me.
Posted by: Matt ||
07/30/2012 8:46 Comments ||
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#15
The issue with moonbat liberal degrees is that there is no real math courses required. Math is a thought process, it is logic and understanding order and effect, algebra is the perfect tool. Without order and logic, derived from teaching math, you get people who think without reason or logic. People who embrace Hamas and cant tie them to womens rights.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
07/30/2012 9:02 Comments ||
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#20
(Rant) From 7th to 11th grade, I had one good math teacher, one so-so teacher, one football coach who had to justify his existence when football season wasn't on, didn't like teaching girls; and a four-door brass-plated bitch who ridiculed students. Shredded us. One of my history teachers, the worst teacher I had for any subject anywhere, had been a math teacher. Scuttlebutt said the school district discovered he was incompetent only after they granted him tenure, so they put him in History, where they felt he could do less damage.
I bombed Algebra three times. Took it in summer school after 11th grade, with all the burnouts. I just wanted to learn the blasted thing. Summer school teacher was happy to have a student who wanted to learn, and gave me a lot of help. Pulled off a B. Can't remember how to factor an equation, but at lease I got the mental exercise.
The Humanities (as taught by Dominican Sisters at my college thirty-odd years ago) provided excellent training in analysis, logic, research, and supporting a thesis. I suspect these skills are no longer properly taught in a lot of places.
(end rant)
#21
Hacker is a poly science retired professor. His arguments seem specious to me. It is like arguing that engineers don't need English language skills. Even in poly sci, research requires a knowledge of algebra. Algebra is a foundation for nearly every other hard science or mathematics-based area of study such as engineering. One only has to look around to realize there has been a steady dumbing down of curricula in universities with such things as PC-related areas of study.
I doubt that you would find such arguments put forth in India, Germany, Israel, Russia or other countries.
#22
I remember wondering why it was necessary. I remember asking and not getting any good answers. OK. I'm lazy. I want to know what's in it for me. They either couldn't tell me or they were too lazy themselves to bother.
The schools suck and it isn't going to get any better until some of these teachers' unions and educational establishment types get hit upside the head, figuratively speaking of course, as in cut the damn budgets. They're way too comfortable in their positions and see no need for change. But that's what has to change.
Some kids will learn math either because they're brilliant of because they don't question authority and just do what they're told. Most kids aren't like that. All they want is a frickin' job and when the schools don't show them how to go about getting it they lose interest.
Look at the average high school graduate. Most of them are good for absolutely nothing. They're looking at
1) at least four years of college (maybe not so bad if your daddy has big bucks but mine didn't)
2) some kind of private trade school
3) flipping hamburgers, washing cars or cleaning toilets
4) going into the military
5) making babies and going on welfare or
6) living a life of crime.
It takes way too long to get through school because you have to slog through all the crap. Cut the crap and show these kids how they can get jobs.
Why are so many young Americans too stupid to be soldiers. A fourth of potential American military recruits can't join because they are too fat. That got some media attention. But the fact that a quarter of high school graduates who tried to join failed the written exam attracted less attention. The main reason for this is that fact that most of the uneducated high school grads are minorities (mainly blacks and Hispanics) from urban schools. Those schools are failure factories controlled by teachers unions, bureaucrats who are willing to sacrifice education for jobs and more benefits. You do not want to mess with teachers unions, as they have a lot of political clout and can make life miserable for mainstream journalists and their editors. What is scarier about the failure rate of high school grads is that the armed forces entrance exam tests for skills common to most civilian jobs. Survey civilian employers, and you will find that they see the same failure rate among applicants who are high school grads.
#27
Math can be tough, especially if you have sub-par teachers. There were a few math classes I had (H.S. algebra and then Calc I in college as I recall) that I litterally had to teach myself the material and just grind out the courses with B's & C's. I remember taking H.S. physics and that was another grinder for me. Finished w/a mediocre grade, not because the instructor wasn't good but because I didn't apply myself at all -- too busy looking at the ladies & doing beer math in my head as beso alluded to.
I was a C.J. maj in college and am now a Marine officer. I would say that no matter your vocation an understanding of math up through calculus is extremely important to a well-rounded education. I would like to see our schools invest twice as much time into the math curriculum that they do now. I know I will be pushing the importance of algebra & logical thought on to my kids.
#29
Test: If one African leader of a country can piss off approximately one half of the US and two thirds of the world, calculate the odds of his name being Ogabe and not Mugabe.
#30
The US needs to have a career course that seperates out those that don't intend to go to college. We should allow folks to tranfer to trade schools after two years of high school instead of trapping them until they are 18.
You might find a lot of thugs and trouble-makers suddenly have a purpose and clean up their act rather than suffer through classes that really have no application to the rest of their life.
#31
In one of Robert Heinlein's "juvenile" stories, the teenage hero expresses surprise that not everyone knows calculus. As far a he is concerned, you should need calculus to get a driver's license.
But then, Heinlein looked down on most of humanity.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
07/30/2012 15:02 Comments ||
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#32
try explaining your RPN (reverse polish) HP calculator operations to a junior high schooler...
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/30/2012 15:08 Comments ||
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#33
Hey Laurence of the Rats and i loved RPN hp calcs in late elementary and jr high. Course we were a bit odd
Posted by: Silentbrick - Halliburton Lost Drill Bit Division ||
07/30/2012 15:39 Comments ||
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#34
The US needs to have a career course that seperates out those that don't intend to go to college. We should allow folks to tranfer to trade schools after two years of high school instead of trapping them until they are 18.
That would shut down the feeder system the universities have set up to sustain their own existence. Since they control the 'accreditation' process for 'professional educators', it will not happen.
About the only way around it, would be for business to start thinking of employees as assets rather than liabilities. Then create the equivalent of financially sponsored/subsidized 'farm team' schools to feed their labor needs.
The model is there. Who teaches kids to be the techies the military needs? The military training centers. Business can start earlier at 15 or 16. Find a friendly system [obviously one not dominated by the teachers unions] to join with.
#35
I still have an HP48G, an HP16C I picked up at a flea market, and my trusty HP15C calculator that I have had forever. They all still work, flawlessly - the 16C will even handle 63 bit words. Those things are solid.
#37
"In high school I was subjected to an 'experimental' math program. As a result I completely bombed out when I took math courses at university, because my algebra and trigonometery was weak."
I've got one kid in middle school and one kid in high school in CA. Have to say that I just do not understand who designs the math curriculum, or why it's put together the way it is,. It makes no sense. I don't blame half of the kids for rebelling or not getting it ... the coursework is sometimes bizxarre, the teaching is mediocre, and the students get burned out. If we keep this up, no kids ni the USA are gonna want to do any math.
#38
Perserverance: slogging one's way through a difficult class to its end, hopefully with a passing grade.
Language, in this case USA Academic English, is important as well. I took a math class in University I had already had CP Prep High School, aced HS but had a miserable time at college...for both our sakes English was not his first language, and what he did speak was not Standard Academic, it makes it tough to teach and learn when verbs and nouns and adjectives keep switching places.
#42
I got a slide rule too - genuine K&E. I figure after the fall of civilization, I'll still be able to do trigonometry and fast math with 3 significant digits. Metal ends and precision slide. Got an E6-B as well, electronics and nav gizmos may fail, but the E6-B and Jeppeson paper charts will not.
Hey, slide rules pretty much got us to the moon - of course you have to understand the problem set and problem solving, and not just poke "data" into a magic box.
#44
I used my K&E until I was wealthy enough to realize that the amount it was misaligned was about the width of a <euphemism> lady's private parts </euphemism> hair, which if you have ever used a slide rule you know is too much, and once you know, you spend your money on a cheap calculator and expensive jewelery rather than a new slide rule.
Seriously though, every student would be better off by actually observing that logarithms are the (unique) operator that transforms multiplication/division into addition/subtraction. A slide rule physically displays the subtle elegance of the concept of a mathematical operator and prepares one to appreciate the mathematical operators that form the basis of the calculus.
Not that everyone needs to learn the calculus, but it is a technology that is more than three centuries old and logarithms a technology from previous century, yet somehow those are too hard and we should skip them and instead push computers into the classroom?
#45
If you do not know basic algebra you will not get an analyst job offer from the company I work for. We require not only solving the algrebric equation but we require you to create the formula to solve the business case problem. And to prevent those from getting lucky we require you top pass two different cases inorder to get a job offer. About 3 in 10 pass both cases and all have at least one degree and ~50% have an advanced degree.
At the urging of Valerie Jarrett, President Barack Obama canceled the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on three separate occasions before finally approving the May 2, 2011 Navy SEAL mission, according to an explosive new book scheduled for release August 21. The Daily Caller has seen a portion of the chapter in which the stunning revelation appears.
In Leading From Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him, Richard Miniter writes that Obama canceled the kill mission in January 2011, again in February, and a third time in March. Obamas close adviser Valerie Jarrett persuaded him to hold off each time, according to the book.
Miniter, a two-time New York Times best-selling author, cites an unnamed source with Joint Special Operations Command who had direct knowledge of the operation and its planning.
I'd guess that Valerie Jarrett doesn't really have a problem with what bin Laden set in motion, B. No doubt she considered him a hero for attacking Amerikka. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara ||
07/30/2012 22:18 Comments ||
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#4
The Won has been a puppet of Ms. Jarret's for quite some time (mid-90's when she was working for Daley). Moochell was always the 'enforcer' for the edicts given.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
07/30/2012 22:46 Comments ||
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h/t Puppy Blender
...The press almost always overlooks this, but the argument over Israel policy in the United States is not primarily about Jewish votes. The wise (as distinct from the merely smart) ones will vote against Obama because another 4 years of him means much poorer and divided USA---very bad for the Jews.
...In American politics, taking a strong pro-Israel stand is a way of communicating your commitment to American exceptionalism and to American global leadership.
Analysis: If Islamic Theocratic Republic maintains current pace of uranium enrichment at Natanz, Fordo facilities, it can become nuclear power in two years unless stopped
This, of course, assumes the analyst is aware of all of Iran's enrichment sites, and how many centrifuges are operating at each. One most sincerely hopes they are not relying on the Americans for this information
.Iran does not have a nuclear bomb, but if it continues to enrich uranium pace at the current pace, it will become a "nuclear threshold" country within a year. According to intelligence officials, there is a possibility that between mid-2014 and the end of that year the Islamic Theocratic Republic will become a nuclear power with more than one bomb in its arsenal.
What does Iran need to make a "dirty bomb"?
To understand how Iran is advancing its nuclear program one must first understand how a nuclear warhead is produced.
The production of a nuclear warhead similar to bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima requires some 25 kilos (55 pounds) of highly-enriched natural uranium containing +90% U-235, the fissile isotope of uranium.
The most difficult stage in this process is enriching uranium to a low concentration level (LEU). One nuclear bomb requires 1,600 kilos (3,530 pounds) of low-enriched uranium that has a 3.5-5% concentration of U-235. The next stage is enriching the uranium to a 20% concentration level. Between 220 and 260 kilos (485-573 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium are required to produce weapons grade uranium, which must contain highly enriched uranium (HEU) with an isotopic concentration greater than 90% U-235. Upon reaching this stage, it takes only a few months to produce enough HEU for a number of nuclear bombs.
To date, Iran has produced some 6,600 kg (14,550 pounds) of LEU. If the enrichment process continues, it will have enough HEU to build four or five nuclear warheads.
Iran has already advanced to the next stage and has enriched 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) of LEU to a fissile concentration of 20%. Currently the Islamic Theocratic Republic possesses some 160 kg (352 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium (about 100 kg, or 220 pounds less than the amount needed for a nuclear bomb).
The Iranians have some 10,600 centrifuges in two nuclear plants in Natanz and Fordo. Between 328 and 348 of these centrifuges are already active. The Pak-made centrifuges in Natanz, which are less advanced, are mostly used to produce LEU. The centrifuges are concentrated in underground halls that are vulnerable to bombs both Israel and the US possess. But the Natanz plant also contains 164-174 advanced IR-1 Iranian --made centrifuges capable of producing 20% enriched uranium. The centrifuges in Natanz produce four kilos (nine pounds) of uranium enriched to 20% each month. The Fordo centrifuges produce about eight kilos (about 18 pounds) of uranium enriched to 20% every month.
The data indicate that Iran has significantly increased the pace of its uranium enrichment over the past four months. Currently the Islamic Theocratic Republic produces 230 kg (507 pounds) of LEU each month and 12 kg (about 26 pounds) of uranium enriched to a fissile concentration of 20%.
Most of the efforts to speed up the enrichment process are concentrated in Fordo, where Iran will eventually produce weapons grade uranium if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei gives the order to do so. In order to shorten the uranium enrichment process, Iran is developing two types of centrifuges, IR-2 and IR-4. Fortunately, Iranian engineers have run into some technical difficulties, and have yet to be able to activate the centrifuges.
Musical technical difficulties most recently, according to the Russians...
The facility in Fordo is situated inside a mountain and is protected by layers of rock. The US Air Force has yet to develop a bomb capable of penetrating the plant. It appears that the Iranians are willing to "sacrifice" the facility in Natanz in the event of an American or Israeli strike.
Should the Iranians continue to enrich uranium at the current pace, they will have some 260 kg (about 570 pounds) of uranium refined to a fissile concentration of 20% in January or February of 2013. With this amount, it would take Iran only about two months to produce weapons grade uranium for a nuclear warhead or bomb -- a "nuclear threshold" situation. Western intelligence officials have not identified any "technological bottleneck" that can prevent Iran from enriching uranium to a fissile concentration of +90%, meaning that it could theoretically become a nuclear power by mid-2014 or a few months later.
Such a nuclear "breakthrough" may result in a military confrontation with the US or other countries and put the regime in Tehran at risk. Iran believes that a reliable nuclear arsenal containing a number of nuclear warheads would prevent a military strike and even serve as a bargaining chip to lift the harsh economic sanctions imposed by the West. This is why Khamenei - before deciding on a nuclear "breakthrough" - will likely demand that Iran produce enough 20% enriched uranium for four nuclear warheads.
It is also very reasonable to assume that Tehran is secretly developing nuclear warheads which can be mounted on ballistic missiles already in its possession and on more accurate long-range missiles that are most likely being developed. Iran already possesses missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) that are capable of reaching Eastern Europe.
According to the Pentagon, in 2015 Iran will have missiles that can also pose a direct threat to the US.
#3
Iff it follows through wid its desired
"Japan/Egypt" nuclear model, IRAN INTENDS ONLY TO OBE NUCWEAPS-CAPABLE, NOT DE FACTO NUCWEAPS-ARMED. Unless the US-Allies can prove that Iran poses clear-n-present danger to World Trade in its threat to close off the Persian GUlf + Strait of Hormuz, or that Iran is intentionally passing on dangerous Nuctechs , etc. to Radical Islamist Militant-Terror Groups for [Nuke-WMDS based] TerrOps, THE US-ISRAEL WILL HAVE NO BASIS TO LAUNCH AIR ATTACK(S) ANDOR GROUND CAMPAIGN AGZ IRAN.
This leaves the SHIA-VS-SUNNI REGIONAL RIVALRY, i.e. Shia Iran versus Sunni Saudi Aabia,etal. IDEO + MILPOL STRUGGLE FOR POST-MODERN/COLD WAR LEADERSHIP OF THE MUSLIM WORLD + DESIRED OWG "CALIPHATE".
Iran = MAHAN-IST like Rising China = will do everything it can to ensure that its ally Baby Assad keeps power in Syria. Ditto as per Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran desires to setup a LT naval or military presence in the eastern Mediterranean + beyond - IFF NOT BY BABY ASSAD IN THE EASTERN MED, IT WILL DO SO IN THE ARABIAN GULF + INDIAN OCEAN VEE PRO-IRAN ENCLAVES = STATES? ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA [GCC].
And once again Virgina, we learn why God, Nostradamus, Guam Taotamonas, + Madonna came up wid BASE-TOO-FAR QATAR.
The B.O. regime has distinguished itself by innumerable calculated insults and slights designed to show "daylight" between the US and Israel.
In June, Republican presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney ...former governor of Massachussetts, currently the presumptive Publican nominee for president. He is the son of the former governor of Michigan, George Romney, who himself ran for president after saving American Motors from failure, though not permanently. Romney's charisma is best defined as soporific, which is probably why he is leading the Publican field. On the plus side, he isn't President B.O... told an audience of Christian conservatives that he would do the "opposite" of what US President Barack Obama We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us... has done in terms of Israel. "I think, by and large, you can just look at the things the president has done and do the opposite." Romney explained that his "overarching" message was that "I would not want to show a dime's worth of distance between ourselves and our allies like Israel. If we have disagreements, we can talk about them behind closed doors. But to the world, you show that we're locked arm-in-arm." Did anyone not understand what Romney meant?
Apparently, Obama's surrogates refuse to grasp the plain meaning. Obama's team has seized on an odd strategy--to take Romney's figure of speech literally, and have one editorial after another suggest that an "opposite" approach therefore means completely abandoning Israel.
I can hardly wait for them to discover that Romney also said that President B.O. "threw Israel under the bus." Is this really what Obama's supporters are reduced to? Perhaps, in the face of Obama's dismal handling of America's Israel relationship, regional diplomacy and the entire Middle East, semantics are all they have left.
The B.O. regime has distinguished itself by innumerable calculated insults and slights designed to show "daylight" between Obama's America and Israel. I ask those defenders of Obama's Israel record: would you have a problem with the "opposite" of the following partial list of incidents?
--Obama's speech, sandbagging Netanyahu on the eve of his Washington visit, calling on Israel to retreat to the 1949 Armistice line as a starting point for negotiations?
--Obama tearing up American commitments to Israel to support retention of major settlement blocs in any peace negotiation?
--Defense Secretary Robert Gates calling Israel "an ungrateful ally"?
--Shoving PM Netanyahu out the White House back door, without so much as feeding him dinner, issuing a joint statement or allowing a photo-op?
--Obama, over an open mike, agreeing with French President Sarkozy's statement that "I cannot bear Netanyahu, he's a liar", helpfully adding, "You're fed up, but I have to deal with him every day"?
--The administration dressing-down Israel in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as The Woman to Call at 3 a.m. and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Daniel Webster ... 's publicized 43-minute telephone harangue of PM Netanyahu for announcing construction--specifically exempted from any building freeze--in a Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem?
--Senior advisor David Axelrod ...a Chicago-based political hack, political adviser to Barack B.O. Obama since 2004. Following the 2008 election, he was appointed as Senior Advisor to Obama and we all see how well that worked out.... televised proclamation that President B.O. considered housing approvals in Jerusalem "an affront, an insult...and very, very destructive"?
--Vice President Biden's castigating Israel for endangering American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by building homes in Jerusalem?
--New Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ...current SecDef, previously Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997 and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993.... 's chastising Israel to "get back to the damn [negotiating] table?
--Obama freezing-out Israel, of all countries, from two high-level American-sponsored counter-terrorism conferences?
THE "OPPOSITE" of Obama's quiescent silence would be helpful, too. Obama, reputedly a gifted orator, never found the words to unequivocally condemn non-stop anti-Israel incitement by the Paleostinian leadership in violation of every agreement from Oslo to the Roadmap; or official Paleostinian glorification of terrorists, including celebrating the grisly murder of the Fogels and their sleeping little boys and baby girl; or Paleostinians refusing to negotiate at the same "damn table" as the Israelis; or rapprochement between the Paleostinian Authority and Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,, which considers it a religious obligation to destroy Israel; or Paleostinians threatening another intifada; or the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem--whose salary comes from American taxpayers--urging Arabs to "fight and kill the Jews;" or Paleostinians raining literally hundreds of rockets from Gazoo on the million Israeli civilians living within range.
Obama's defenders cite intelligence coordination with Israel and the cooperative development of the Iron Dome rocket shield as evidence of Obama's Israel commitment. Those, however, were joint US-Israel defense and intelligence projects initiated by the Bush administration, just part of a decades-long bipartisan partnership with Israel. I'll give Obama credit for not cancelling them like he did other American commitments to Israel, but that doesn't exactly merit the pro-Israel vote.
More importantly, all that "daylight" Obama created between America and Israel has stripped Israel diplomatically, exposing it to an onslaught by a world that does not wish the Jewish State well. Without America's once-reliable protection, it is open season on Israel. Whether the issue is Israeli security, illusory sovereignty, academic and economic boycotts, or the developing Islamist noose encircling Israel's borders, Obama has left Israel twisting in the wind and dangerously isolated. And most importantly of all, Obama's focus on Israeli settlements as the root of all regional problems has been shown to be dangerously foolish. As the administration obsesses over Jerusalem housing starts scheduled for 2014, the Moslem Brüderbund takes over Egypt and Tunisia, a re-armed Hezbollah runs Leb, and we've been caught flat-footed by the Syrian massacres, without a clue as to what comes next or who will control the Syrian chemical and biological weapons stockpiles.
Oh, and a country called Iran has now enriched enough uranium for five nuclear bombs, as Obama continues "engagement"--non-stop talking and watering down Congressional sanctions.
Is that a record worth repeating, or is it time for the "opposite?"
The writer is an American attorney and political commentator living in Israel. He serves as Counsel to Republicans Abroad Israel.
#2
Maybe if Israel was on our side more often, this sort of thing wouldn't be popular.
The evil Juice---refusing to sacrifice their vital national interests when such is demanded by some brilliant theory of America's foremost political thinkers.
p.s. Did you know that "gromky" means loud mouth in Russian?
#3
His record is not worth keeping and the logical conclusion is that he is not worth re-electing. Take take the Senate and boot the current "Choom Gang" out of office.
#4
Lucky for Bammy he's in politics. By his performance he would've been fired in the private sector a while ago. Honestly, if the guy had any shred of decency he would acknowledge his utter failure and step down. Except that for what you and I call "failure" he calls a step in the right direction.
Op-ed: Obama, who has repeatedly broken promises and sided with Islam, will do even more damage as second-term president
"We must never force Israel to the negotiating table," presidential hopeful Barack Obama I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar, we talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick... told an AIPAC conference in June 2008, and to those who were still not convinced of his commitment to the Jewish state, he added that "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided."
As president, Obama said the "Jerusalem promise" made by Obama the candidate was a mistake, although all signs indicate that it was not a blunder, but a blatant lie. Because a lie is created when there is no correlation between what one believes in and plans to carry out and what he writes, declares or promises.
Of course, Obama is not the first to make false promises to Israel or the US Jewish community. In 1957 Secretary of State John Foster Dulles said the US would consider the closure of the straits of Tiran by Egypt warranted Israeli military action. In 1975 President Gerald Ford said Washington would support Israel's continued illusory sovereignty over the Golan Heights in the framework of negotiations with Syria. And there was Bill Clinton, who promised to release Jonathan Pollard in exchange for Israel's agreement to sign the Wye Accord. So, a number of American leaders have abided by the rule that promises should only be kept when it is convenient to do so.
Now, with the 2012 elections looming, when the Jewish vote and Jewish funding are as crucial as ever and Republican hopeful Willard Mitt Romney ...former governor of Massachussetts, currently the presumptive Publican nominee for president. He is the son of the former governor of Michigan, George Romney, who himself ran for president after saving American Motors from failure, though not permanently. Romney's charisma is best defined as soporific, which is probably why he is leading the Publican field. On the plus side, he isn't President B.O... is visiting Israel, Obama is once again stressing his "unshakeable commitment" to Israel. Earlier this week the president signed a bill calling for enhanced cooperation with Israel and announced the release of $70 million in approved funding for Israel's short-range rocket shield known as "Iron Dome."
But we mustn't forget that at the beginning of his term Obama declared that in terms of numbers the US was "one of the largest Mohammedan countries in the world," and, speaking to the Turkish parliament, Obama conveyed his "deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world - including in my own country." The American president bowed before King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands Abdullah ... Fifth out of 37 sons of King Abdulaziz to ascend to the throne. He is, after his half-brothers Bandar and Musa'id, the third eldest of the living sons of Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. Abdullah's mother is from the Rashid clan, longtime rivals of the Saud. He has 6 sons and 15 daughters and about $20 billion. His youngest son is just seven years old... and spoke of the monarch's wisdom and generosity. He also visited Egypt, where he praised the "holy Koran," which "tells us, 'Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.'"
In light of these statements, it is easy to understand why Obama chose to condemn the "disaster" of expanding a balcony in Gilo and the authorization of additional construction in Ramat Shlomo, just as it easy to explain his considerable efforts to force Israel to cede all its territorial assets -- including those in the heart of its capital. These declarations can also explain his decision to "shred" George W. Bush's promise to Ariel Sharon regarding the settlement blocs.
In general, Obama is becoming more Paleostinian than the Paleostinians by demanding that Israel halt all construction beyond the Green Line as a precondition for renewing peace talks.
Obama has also refused to fulfill the US' obligations as a superpower, such as not permitting insane thugs like Ahmadinejad to do whatever they please in the nuclear and any other field. The American leader also abandoned important allies such as Mubarak.
But as someone whose character was molded in radical liberal hotbeds such as Columbia University ...contributed $547,852 to the 2008 Obama campaign. Is there a reason universities are among the top financiers of political campaigns? And where do they get all that money they piss away buying politicians? and Harvard, and whose political doctrine was shaped at the left wing of the Democratic Party, Obama - who also learned of the "false assumptions" underlying Western attitudes toward the Middle East from Edward Said - is merely realizing his destiny.
More than Israel, the US and the West need Romney in the White House, they need Obama out. Because as a second-term president, he may become an immortal hero of the Chinese, Russians, Islamists and the rest of those who "support" Israel and the West.
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More than Israel, the US and the West need Romney in the White House, they need Obama out. Because as a second-term president, he may become an immortal hero of the Chinese, Russians, Islamists and the rest of those who "support" Israel and the West.
Ouch! Hero of the Chinese, Russians, and Islamists? That ought to be enough to disqualify him from a 2nd term. The Pubs ought to use the clip of Obama and Putin--"I'll have more flexibility after the election" in one of their ads. It seems the Pubs don't want to upset anyone in this campaign. Oh, that also happened last time. Take off the friggin gloves. They had better realize they are dealing with gangsters.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Hillary Clinton
King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands Abdullah
