Romney visits the wall, now he can be President

[Brian4Liberty]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/7008078.bin

JERUSALEM — Mitt Romney made a visit Sunday to the Western Wall here in the Old City of Jerusalem, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, to deliver a prayer on the solemn Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av.

In a symbolic gesture to convey his shared values with the Israeli people, Romney interrupted his day of official meetings to add a surprise stop at the historic site. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, wearing a black yarmulke on his head, walked through a crowded plaza to place his prayer in a crack in the wall at the foot of the Temple Mount.
...
There was a political dimension to Romney’s visit, too*. He was accompanied here by his national finance chairman, Spencer Zwick, and one of his biggest benefactors, New York lawyer Philip Rosen, was waiting at the wall to greet him. Others joining Romney at the wall were his older brother Scott; one of his sons, Josh; and his close friend, Bob White.

<* Lol, understatement of the century!>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-visits-jerusalems-western-wall-on-jewish-holiday/2012/07/29/gJQA5gh5HX_story.html

[PaulConventionWV]

Now Mitt's life, and by extension my life, is complete. Praise Mitt Romney!

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

You'd think Christians would frown upon wearing a Jewish garment item, but hey, what do I know.

[Zippyjuan]

The whole trip is to try to establish some "foreign policy cred". Probably also to try to see if he can get some money and votes from the Jewish lobby.

[Agorism]

He's not wearing a hat like Huckabee and McCain. What's he praying about?

[tangent4ronpaul]

Well good for Mitt Romney! He really needed to take this International trip to bolster his foreign policy experience, of which he has none. Unless you include his rather wide expertise in overseas tax havens.

Anyway, he went to London, had a huge and secret fundraiser behind closed doors and then proceeded to ask the prime minister if England was really up to the job of sponsoring the Olympics - which completely enraged the British public.

Then to Israel for another fundraiser, just like the previous one. I'm sure we can all rest assured that America will continue it's Israel first policy. Another article indicated that he told the Israelis that the US would have no problem with a Israeli first strike on Iran. Nah - that wouldn't cause any problems, would it? Just maybe WWIII...

Iran is after all in coalitions with Russia, China, parts of the middle east, etc. and much of Europe and those other countries rely on their oil. At the same time we rely a good amount on oil that is transported down a narrow streach of water that they can blockade.

I am so glad Mitt is taking this opportunity to bolster his foreign policy experience. Way to go Mitt!

-t

[KingRobbStark]

The Old Testament approves.

[seraphson]

You'd think Christians would frown upon wearing a Jewish garment item, but hey, what do I know.

Demogouging ain't easy!

[r3volution]

campaigning in any other country but this 1 should be treason .

[Sola_Fide]

You'd think Christians would frown upon wearing a Jewish garment item, but hey, what do I know.

Romney is a Mormon, not a Christian.

Christians are monotheists. Mormons are polytheists. The two can never be reconciled.

[Drex]

I don't bash on religion often or try to, but he is a mormom how can he pander to them?

[wgadget]

Hmmm. A Mormon in a yamulkeh praying for $$$$$ at the Wailing Wall. Meanwhile, the US economy perches on the brink of collapse. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Once your eyes have been opened to the truth about politics, all hope is gone. It's like learning about Santa Claus...

[James Madison]

Romney is a Mormon, not a Christian.

Christians are monotheists. Mormons are polytheists. The two can never be reconciled.

You have piqued my curiosity.

[RickyJ]

McCain did the same thing.

I bet Ron Paul would never do this. I wonder what Mormons think of this. Are they pissed that he would do this or does it not bother them?

I know many protestants think the Israel of today is the same Israel that was spoken about in the Old Testament, they couldn't be more wrong. Some still think the "Jews" are God's chosen people too. They have been greatly deceived.

[Brian4Liberty]

I wonder what Mormons think of this.

With my somewhat average understanding of Mormonism, they believe that they are "true" Jews. That came directly from a Mormon. Everything is called Zion in Utah, so who knows what to make of that.

[RonRules]

Holy fucking shit!

He did it.

[RonRules]

day of official meetings to add a surprise stop at the historic site.

https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS68fD-41uqQhVEVPVR8MT9HfNh2C1tcN0ZXFH7WBy93xPIxZZu9g

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

McCain did the same thing.

I bet Ron Paul would never do this. I wonder what Mormons think of this. Are they pissed that he would do this or does it not bother them?

I know many protestants think the Israel of today is the same Israel that was spoken about in the Old Testament, they couldn't be more wrong. Some still think the "Jews" are God's chosen people too. They have been greatly deceived.

If the Jews are God's Chosen people why the hell are they Christians? LOL. This is why it's so funny seeing Christians who follow the Old Testament, which is Jewish scripture since Jesus specifically told his followers that they were not to follow the Old Testament anymore.

[Malachi]

Mitt is all things to all people, Amen!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s480x480/603760_10150969686171977_1770287948_n.jpg

[RonRules]

Mitt is all things to all people, Amen!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s480x480/603760_10150969686171977_1770287948_n.jpg

Is that the Pope taking his picture at the bottom, just above his arm?

[RonRules]

There's a LOT of journalists for a supposed "surprise" event.

[PaulConventionWV]

Romney is a Mormon, not a Christian.

Christians are monotheists. Mormons are polytheists. The two can never be reconciled.

We know he's not a Christian. AED's point was that Christians are the voting bloc that Mitt is going to have to win over.

[PaulConventionWV]

If the Jews are God's Chosen people why the hell are they Christians? LOL. This is why it's so funny seeing Christians who follow the Old Testament, which is Jewish scripture since Jesus specifically told his followers that they were not to follow the Old Testament anymore.

That's not true. Show me where Jesus told his people that everything in the old testament was obsolete.

[RonRules]

This golden boy is doing everything right:

In Israel, Romney declares Jerusalem to be capital
hxx,p://www.chron.com/news/article/In-Israel-Romney-declares-Jerusalem-to-be-capital-3743971.php

JERUSALEM (AP) — Standing on Israeli soil, U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Sunday declared Jerusalem to be the capital of the Jewish state and said the United States has "a solemn duty and a moral imperative" to block Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.

"Make no mistake, the ayatollahs in Iran are testing our moral defenses. They want to know who will object and who will look the other way," he said. "We will not look away nor will our country ever look away from our passion and commitment to Israel."

The presidential election hovered over the speech. The Old City formed a made-for-television backdrop behind Romney, while some of his campaign donors listened in the audience.

Romney's declaration that Jerusalem is Israel's capital was matter-of-fact and in keeping with claims made by Israeli governments for decades, even though the United States, like other nations, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv.

He did not say if he would order the embassy moved if he wins the White House, but strongly suggested so in a CNN interview.

"My understanding is the policy of our nation has been a desire to move our embassy ultimately to the capital (Jerusalem)," he said, adding, "I would only want to do so and to select the timing in accordance with the government of Israel."

His remarks on the subject during his speech drew a standing ovation from his audience, which included Sheldon Adelson, the American businessman who has said he will donate millions to help elect Romney to the White House.

Romney's embrace of Israel was on display throughout the day when he met with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and other leaders. He also visited the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, where he was mobbed by worshippers. In addition, Romney met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. [Pics or it didn't happen!]

In his remarks, Romney steered clear of overt criticism of President Barack Obama, even though he said the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran "has only become worse" in the past five years.

In an unspoken rebuttal to Obama and other critics, Romney said, "It is sometimes said that those who are the most committed to stopping the Iranian regime from security nuclear weapons are reckless and provocative and inviting war.

"The opposite is true. We are the true peacemakers," he said.

The former Massachusetts governor also stepped back from a comment a senior aide made a short while before the speech.

"We recognize Israel's right to defend itself," he told the audience. Earlier, the aide, Dan Senor, previewed the speech for reporters, saying that "if Israel has to take action on its own, in order to stop Iran from developing the capability, the governor would respect that decision."

Israel is the second of three stops on an international trip for Romney in the weeks before he claims the Republican nomination at his party's national convention in Tampa, Fla.

He flew to the Middle East from Britain, where he caused a stir by questioning whether officials there were fully prepared for the Olympic Games. A stop in Poland will complete his trip.

Four years ago, then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama also visited Israel as a candidate, part of a five-nation trip meant to establish his own foreign policy credentials.

In his speech, Romney said Syrian President Bashar Assad "desperately clings to power" in Damascus in the face of an attempted overthrow, but he did not call for his removal.

He noted that Egypt is now headed by an "Islamist president, chosen in a Democratic election. ... The international community must use its considerable influence to insure that the new government honors the peace agreement with Israel that was signed by the government of Anwar Sadat" more than three decades ago, he said.

A goal of Romney's overseas trip is to demonstrate his confidence on the world stage, but his stop in Israel also was designed to appeal to evangelical voters at home and to cut into Obama's support among Jewish voters and donors. A Gallup survey of Jewish voters released Friday showed Obama with a 68-25 edge over Romney.

Romney and other Republicans have said Obama is insufficiently supportive of Israel, noting statements the president has made about settlements and his handling of evident Iranian attempt to develop nuclear weapons.

Tehran is closer to developing nuclear weapons capability than before, Romney said. "Preventing that outcome must be our highest national security priority."

In a March speech before a pro-Israel lobby in Washington, Obama warned of "loose talk of war" that serves only to drive up oil prices. "Now is not the time to bluster," he said then. "Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in and sustain the broad international coalition we have built."

It was unlikely that the day's events would settle the issue.

Obama's former press secretary, Robert Gibbs, told ABC's "This Week" that the administration has delayed Iran's nuclear program. The president has imposed U.S. penalties against Iran and worked to tougher strictures applied by other nations. There have been numerous published reports of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli cyberattack that caused damage to Iranian equipment vital to creating weapons-grade nuclear material.

Even so, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the speech that "all the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota."

Whatever the reality, the administration has taken steps in recent days to reassure Israel of its support.

Most notably, Obama approved an increase in assistance to strengthen a missile defense system that is designed to protect Israel from rocket attacks launched from the Gaza.

Senor's comments caused a stir in the hours leading to Romney's speech, a reminder of the controversy that Romney had created a few days earlier in London.

He later clarified his comments in a written statement, saying that the candidate "believes we should employ any and all measures to dissuade the Iranian regime from its nuclear course and it is his fervent hope that diplomatic and economic measures will do so. In the final analysis, of course, no option should be excluded."

Pentagon officials have spoken publicly about the difficulty of such a strike and American officials have expressed concern about the destabilizing effect such military action could have in the region, even if carried out successfully.

[RonRules]

For those of you who don't know who Dan Senor is:
http://www.rumproast.com/images/uploads/senor_waterz.jpg

Senor is an Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

From 2001 to 2003, he was an investment professional at the Carlyle Group.

He recently declined an opportunity to run as a Republican for the United States Senate, opting instead to initiate a new think tank, the Foreign Policy Initiative, together with William Kristol and Robert Kagan. (Kagan has been described as a neoconservative foreign-policy theorist.)

Senor formally re-located to Baghdad on April 20, 2003, when he traveled with General Garner’s team in the first post-war civilian convoy, less than two weeks after the fall of Saddam Hussein, becoming one of the first American civilians to enter Baghdad.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario and Hebrew University in Jerusalem

Having the US embassy in Jerusalem would certainly make it convenient to hang out with his drinking buddies.

Good pick Mitt! (or is it the other way around?)

[RonRules]

Dan Senor – Romney’s Jewish Connector

hxx p://gestetnerupdates.com/2012/07/29/dan-senor-romneys-jewish-connector/

Allison Hoffman at Tablet writes a fascinating article. Here is the first 1/3 of it:

Romney’s visit is the brainchild of two other men: Ron Dermer, the American-born political operative who is Netanyahu’s chief strategist and speechwriter and, more importantly, Dan Senor, a Republican politico-turned-investor who is a close adviser to the Romney campaign. Senor—who is famous in pro-Israel circles as the author of the best-selling 2009 book Start-Up Nation—has taken Romney to Israel twice before, once in 2007, before the governor’s first presidential bid, and again last year. This spring, he accompanied New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who has endorsed Romney, to the prime minister’s office in Givat Ram to meet with Netanyahu and Dermer. But the current trip, coming so late in the campaign season, was planned quietly, for fear of provoking a possible last-minute visit by President Obama, who has been criticized by some Jewish groups for failing to return to Jerusalem since his inauguration. Late last month, while Senor was in Jerusalem for his niece’s bat mitzvah, he met Dermer for breakfast at the King David Hotel; a few days later, with the Romney campaign’s blessing, Dermer gave the scoop to the New York Times.

To some, Senor remains best known as the spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority, a role that made him a regular television fixture in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 Iraq invasion. In the years since, he’s reinvented himself as a cable news commentator and Israel advocate and has simultaneously amassed his own fortune working on Wall Street. He is, even among people who vehemently disagree with his politics, a popular guy who moves with equal ease in New York and Washington. He arrived in the governor’s camp with his own celebrity, and, in a sense, he offers the socially awkward candidate the thing his campaign most craves: an easy ability to make people like him. More importantly, Senor has been a vital emissary over the past six years for Romney not just to the Israelis and the American Jewish community, but to a Republican foreign-policy establishment that, even today, remains somewhat alien territory.

“Dan was hugely helpful in introducing the governor to his friends and colleagues,” said Beth Myers, Romney’s longtime aide-de-camp and a top campaign adviser. “He’s a huge validator.”

[LibertyEagle]

I just heard the foreign policy speech on CSPAN. It was HORRID. Anyone who would vote for this POS after hearing that, does not have one PATRIOTic bone in their entire body. It sickened me.

He made it abundantly clear that he planned to continue the warmongering all over the world.

[RonRules]

I just heard the foreign policy speech on CSPAN. It was HORRID. Anyone who would vote for this POS after hearing that, does not have one PATRIOTic bone in their entire body. It sickened me.

He made it abundantly clear that he planned to continue the warmongering all over the world.

Actually, maybe, just maybe we can get agreement in this very Ron Paul Forum that Obama does a better job than Romney on that point.

[LibertyEagle]

Do you have a link for this?


For those of you who don't know who Dan Senor is:
http://www.rumproast.com/images/uploads/senor_waterz.jpg

Senor is an Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

From 2001 to 2003, he was an investment professional at the Carlyle Group.

He recently declined an opportunity to run as a Republican for the United States Senate, opting instead to initiate a new think tank, the Foreign Policy Initiative, together with William Kristol and Robert Kagan. (Kagan has been described as a neoconservative foreign-policy theorist.)

Senor formally re-located to Baghdad on April 20, 2003, when he traveled with General Garner’s team in the first post-war civilian convoy, less than two weeks after the fall of Saddam Hussein, becoming one of the first American civilians to enter Baghdad.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario and Hebrew University in Jerusalem

Having the US embassy in Jerusalem would certainly make it convenient to hang out with his drinking buddies.

Good pick Mitt! (or is it the other way around?)

[LibertyEagle]

Actually, maybe, just maybe we can get agreement in this very Ron Paul Forum that Obama does a better job than Romney on that point.

BOTH stink to high heaven.

[Origanalist]

BOTH stink to high heaven.

They are aiming at different bases, but I'm not sure one is any different from the other on real action vs. rhetoric.

[Krzysztof Lesiak]

Pathetic pandering to the Zionists. Maybe now they will give him the green light to win.

[Republicanguy]

Well, the security of America is needed via securing Israel, and keeping the Arabs of the backs of America.

Such a mess. I just remembered that clip with the Congress woman selling out her state or district to the boss in the Middle East, and not forgetting her stupid voters. Sad bunch!

[dannno]

We know he's not a Christian. AED's point was that Christians are the voting bloc that Mitt is going to have to win over.

I have no idea if Mitt Romney is a "Christian" any more than George Bush..

But the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons) is a monotheistic Christian religion, and anybody who says otherwise doesn't know what the fuck they are talking about.


You have piqued my curiosity.

Well if you want to learn some of the slightly odd, random things about Mormonism (as if fitting two of all of the animals in the entire world on a single boat isn't weird enough), then go for it... but anybody who tries to tell you that Mormons worship more than one God is blowing smoke up your ass.

[sailingaway]

Sheldon Adelson or whatever his name is, of the biased and tried-to-be-bigoted NV caucus, is giving $100 million to his campaign. I believe this trip came up in that context.

[sailingaway]

I have no idea if Mitt Romney is a "Christian" any more than George Bush..

But the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons) is a monotheistic Christian religion, and anybody who says otherwise doesn't know what the fuck they are talking about.



Well if you want to learn some of the slightly odd, random things about Mormonism (as if fitting two of all of the animals in the entire world on a single boat isn't weird enough), then go for it... but anybody who tries to tell you that Mormons worship more than one God is blowing smoke up your ass.

I encourage those who want to discuss the qualities of Mormanism to repair to the Religion subforum. But note that Ron Paul has supporters of ALL religions, and of no religion, and try to keep it informational, not attacking.

[Acala]

Actually, maybe, just maybe we can get agreement in this very Ron Paul Forum that Obama does a better job than Romney on that point.

My right leg is a little stronger than my left leg so it can deliver more power. But my left leg is a little more flexible than my right leg so it has a bit more "snap" to it. Would you pefer that I use my right foot or my left foot to kick you in the crotch?

[devil21]

How is Romney raising campaign cash from Israelis?

[RonRules]

Do you have a link for this?

Wiki and Google Images.

[PaulConventionWV]

Actually, maybe, just maybe we can get agreement in this very Ron Paul Forum that Obama does a better job than Romney on that point.

A better job? Romney talks a good game (to the pro-war group) but all his talk is just that, talk. We have no way to compare him to Obama, nor do I believe Obama is doing any semblance of a good job. Strangely, though, I think that, all rhetoric aside, Obama and Romney have the same policies. They will execute roughly the same strategies in office, and I honestly don't think Obama is any better than what Romney says he is just because he's a Democrat.

[PaulConventionWV]

I have no idea if Mitt Romney is a "Christian" any more than George Bush..

But the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons) is a monotheistic Christian religion, and anybody who says otherwise doesn't know what the fuck they are talking about.



Well if you want to learn some of the slightly odd, random things about Mormonism (as if fitting two of all of the animals in the entire world on a single boat isn't weird enough), then go for it... but anybody who tries to tell you that Mormons worship more than one God is blowing smoke up your ass.

As if putting the words Jesus Christ in the title of your religion automatically made it Christian... that's just pathetic, dannno.

[tangent4ronpaul]

The news piece I saw the other day said US would be OK with a unilateral strike on Iran by Israel. Today I'm seeing more like - we'll do it for you.

Romney went to Poland today. The reason was to go back on our arms control agreements with Russia and lay the groundwork for putting a missile defense system in to protect... wait for it... wait for it... EUROPE! I am soo happy to see my tax dollars hard at work!

This will obviously piss off Russia to no end. Romney obviously wants to start a major war - the prick!

Does it make sense now why RT has given Paul and our movement such good coverage?

-t

[HOLLYWOOD]

The news piece I saw the other day said US would be OK with a unilateral strike on Iran by Israel. Today I'm seeing more like - we'll do it for you.

Romney went to Poland today. The reason was to go back on our arms control agreements with Russia and lay the groundwork for putting a missile defense system in to protect... wait for it... wait for it... EUROPE! I am soo happy to see my tax dollars hard at work!

This will obviously piss off Russia to no end. Romney obviously wants to start a major war - the prick!

Does it make sense now why RT has given Paul and our movement such good coverage?

-tThat LIVE speech from Misrael had to be the biggest pandering and sabre-rattling to date. The only thing that was missing from Mitt's speech was, "I'll defend Israel to the last dollar & drop of blood of America.... even if it starts World War III.

That's when I knew, Mitt is the Manchurian Candidate of November 2012