Megathread: Congressional Vote on the Iran Deal

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Wouldn't Schumer seriously damage his chances of becoming the new Dem leader by voting against his own caucus on such critical issue? Real Democrats certainly shouldn't let that slip.

I think it might hurt him, but if he doesn't actively try to convince other Democrats and the bill will be passed, then he will be forgiven. Other Democrats will understand that he is not to be envied, as a Jewish senator in New York, the blue state were opposition against the Iran deal might be the highest. Supporting the deal might lead to a serious primary.

Democratic Jews don't care about foreign policy nearly as much as everyone seems to think. Otherwise they'd be solid Republicans by now. Also, despite what Netanyahu wants us to believe, he does not in fact speak for all Jews.

If Schumer fears he'll be primaried, it's just further proof that Democrats need to grow a spine.

Neither do you.

But a combination of Bibi, Bennett, Herzog, Lapid, Livni, and others do speak for Jews worldwide, and they all oppose this bad Iran deal.

No. They speak for Israel. Plenty of Jews don't agree with current Israeli government or parties. And that's without some, like the Outremont Jews here in Québec, thinking Israel is illegitimate and "hereric", because Jews shouldn't return to the Holy Land until God allows them to do so.

Yes, there are crazy people in every grouping of people. Satmar Jews are the American version of that. 

A better example would be ultra-secular Jews who do not identify with Israel, but in most cases these Jews also don't strongly identify with Judaism either. Which is fine, I disagree with it strongly and on moral grounds, but one will do what one wants to do.

But, for the most part, Jews who somewhat strongly or strongly identify with the culture, religion etc...have Israel as a top 5 or top 10 issue.

Israel doesn't exist for the mere fact of existing. It exists to better Jewish life, including Diaspora Jewish life. It may not be very successful in the latter, but Israel definitely does more for Diaspora Jews then any political party has or will do.

This continuous effort to split Jews and Israel from each other is not surprising to me, because ultimately the only thing the far-left wants is 100% obedience on all issues.

Also, the Security establishment in Israel is who? Dagan, Halevy? People who are irrelevant in today's world and just want to win the love of the left?

Fine, I'll bite. What does Israel do for Jews who don't live in Israel, and may never have been to Israel and may never go anywhere near Israel?

Ensures that any country that decides their country will be better off without its Jewish population alive has a jacked-up, nuclear-capable Jewish state to deal with before they can do that.

Now, I don't think that's likely to be a problem in America any time soon, but that's one of like 5-10 countries I can confidently say that about.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Wouldn't Schumer seriously damage his chances of becoming the new Dem leader by voting against his own caucus on such critical issue? Real Democrats certainly shouldn't let that slip.

I think it might hurt him, but if he doesn't actively try to convince other Democrats and the bill will be passed, then he will be forgiven. Other Democrats will understand that he is not to be envied, as a Jewish senator in New York, the blue state were opposition against the Iran deal might be the highest. Supporting the deal might lead to a serious primary.

Democratic Jews don't care about foreign policy nearly as much as everyone seems to think. Otherwise they'd be solid Republicans by now. Also, despite what Netanyahu wants us to believe, he does not in fact speak for all Jews.

If Schumer fears he'll be primaried, it's just further proof that Democrats need to grow a spine.

Neither do you.

But a combination of Bibi, Bennett, Herzog, Lapid, Livni, and others do speak for Jews worldwide, and they all oppose this bad Iran deal.

No. They speak for Israel. Plenty of Jews don't agree with current Israeli government or parties. And that's without some, like the Outremont Jews here in Québec, thinking Israel is illegitimate and "hereric", because Jews shouldn't return to the Holy Land until God allows them to do so.

Yes, there are crazy people in every grouping of people. Satmar Jews are the American version of that. 

A better example would be ultra-secular Jews who do not identify with Israel, but in most cases these Jews also don't strongly identify with Judaism either. Which is fine, I disagree with it strongly and on moral grounds, but one will do what one wants to do.

But, for the most part, Jews who somewhat strongly or strongly identify with the culture, religion etc...have Israel as a top 5 or top 10 issue.

Israel doesn't exist for the mere fact of existing. It exists to better Jewish life, including Diaspora Jewish life. It may not be very successful in the latter, but Israel definitely does more for Diaspora Jews then any political party has or will do.

This continuous effort to split Jews and Israel from each other is not surprising to me, because ultimately the only thing the far-left wants is 100% obedience on all issues.

Also, the Security establishment in Israel is who? Dagan, Halevy? People who are irrelevant in today's world and just want to win the love of the left?

Fine, I'll bite. What does Israel do for Jews who don't live in Israel, and may never have been to Israel and may never go anywhere near Israel?

Ensures that any country that decides their country will be better off without its Jewish population alive has a jacked-up, nuclear-capable Jewish state to deal with before they can do that.

Now, I don't think that's likely to be a problem in America any time soon, but that's one of like 5-10 countries I can confidently say that about.

Illegal nuclear weapons I might add, just like India, North Korea and Pakistan.

Israel may have gotten the bomb before China, a good thirty years before any of those countries.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Illegal nuclear weapons I might add, just like India, North Korea and Pakistan.

Israel, India, and Pakistan never signed the NPT so the only thing that might be illegal about their nukes is if they stole some of the materials in them.

And Israel likely had their nukes ten years before the NPT anyway, which was my point in the previous post.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Which of the Senators supporting the deal will not vote for the filibuster?

I'd be surprised if Warner, Tester, Heitkamp, and Manchin went along with Reid on this.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Ugh, f**king Cardin, now filibuster is probably out of reach. In Maryland, a primary challenge might be worth a try.

Good luck trying to primary someone based on their opposition to a deal that the vast majority of the public opposes, especially when he's not even helping to kill the deal.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Now it goes to court, as Obama didn't comply with the terms of the original legislation and refused to release the full text of the deal.

And if Israel is compelled to take out Iran's facilities to stop them from getting a bomb, we'll find out exactly what Obama secretly promised Iran.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Also, before this is over, McConnell needs to invoke the nuclear option much like Reid did and bar the filibuster for treaties and international agreements. It's unlikely to ever play much of a role, because future Presidents will respect the concept of submitting treaties as legally required.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Does this mean it doesn't go to the House?  If it doesn't that means that Representatives like Walter Jones probably won't have to worry about a primary challenger making this a central issue against him.

I assume the House is going to vote on it anyway, especially as debate is continuing in the Senate.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Pope Endorses The Iran Deal

This Pope continues to be awesome! He also calls for the removal of all nuclear weapons from the Middle East (aka Israel).

If there's one source Israel doesn't take orders from, it's the Roman Catholic Church.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Pope Endorses The Iran Deal

This Pope continues to be awesome! He also calls for the removal of all nuclear weapons from the Middle East (aka Israel).

If there's one source Israel doesn't take orders from, it's the Roman Catholic Church.

Then it's a good thing Israel can't do anything to stop the deal.

Not the deal, per se, but if it gets to zero hour, it'll likely be on them alone to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear state a la North Korea.

Regardless, this isn't about the deal. This is about the man in charge of the institution responsible for most of the pre-WW2 attempts at wiping out the Jews telling the world's Jewish state that they need to disarm.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Pope Endorses The Iran Deal

This Pope continues to be awesome! He also calls for the removal of all nuclear weapons from the Middle East (aka Israel).

If there's one source Israel doesn't take orders from, it's the Roman Catholic Church.

Then it's a good thing Israel can't do anything to stop the deal.

Not the deal, per se, but if it gets to zero hour, it'll likely be on them alone to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear state a la North Korea.

Regardless, this isn't about the deal. This is about the man in charge of the institution responsible for most of the pre-WW2 attempts at wiping out the Jews telling the world's Jewish state that they need to disarm.

No this is about the most badass Pope ever continuing to be badass.

Also I wished someone would have stopped Israel from gaining nuclear weapons. Seems extremely hypocritical that they get a free pass.

I guarantee you Israel would not exist today if the surrounding states - and other countries as well - didn't have something to genuinely fear.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Only leftists, and Libertarian Republicans truly believe Israel having access to nuclear weapons is much more dangerous then Iran having access to them.

Politicus' comments represent what I think about this perfectly.

What? I'm part of the bolded group and I don't think that.

There really is no monolithic group as "libertarian Republicans".

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Pope Endorses The Iran Deal

This Pope continues to be awesome! He also calls for the removal of all nuclear weapons from the Middle East (aka Israel).

If there's one source Israel doesn't take orders from, it's the Roman Catholic Church.

Then it's a good thing Israel can't do anything to stop the deal.

Not the deal, per se, but if it gets to zero hour, it'll likely be on them alone to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear state a la North Korea.

Regardless, this isn't about the deal. This is about the man in charge of the institution responsible for most of the pre-WW2 attempts at wiping out the Jews telling the world's Jewish state that they need to disarm.

Let me guess, you also think Kennedy should've nuked Moscow during the Cuban Missile Crisis

How is that comparable? Moscow had nuclear weapons and there was MAD to be concerned with.

The last time to prevent that is drawing very near.