Soccer Dad

so I guess you'll just ignore the fact that Hamas controls Gaza and Hezbolla controls southern Lebanon and that this happened on GWB's watch? Has McCain proposed anything different? Has Palin even been to Israel (you don't need to answer that, of course she hasn't)?

If you want to change the topic from the gaffes about the Middle East made during the debate by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the parallel poor judgment he has shown on the issues--to the mistakes made by the outgoing Bush administration, that is fine by me.

As for me, I am more concerned about the weak and inexperienced duo of Obama and Biden, while you are clearly more concerned with the past and blaming it on Bush, though you will have to explain to me how Hezbollah's control of southern Lebanon is Bush's fault.

As far as McCain goes and how he is different from Obama, I've written 2 posts: Obama And McCain Differ On More Than Just Jerusalem and
McCain vs Obama On Israel: Worldviews Apart on the distinct differences between the 2 candidates.

If you are more interested in comparing McCain to Bush, are you asking me if McCain would do the same or do you have proof of a similarity?

As far as Palin not being to Israel--you are of course correct. No doubt if she had traveled to the Middle East, she would have as good a grasp of the geography as Biden showed in last night's debate.

so I guess you'll just ignore the fact that Hamas controls Gaza and Hezbolla controls southern Lebanon and that this happened on GWB's watch? Has McCain proposed anything different?

I don't know if McCain agreed with Bush about those elections in Gaza--but Biden did, back in May 2005:

What events are creating this critical mass the president is talking about? There's January's free elections in Iraq and Palestine, March's free municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, Egyptian President Mubarak's commitment to allow competitive elections for president, and the Lebanese people's demands for Syrian withdrawal and for free parliamentary elections.

I believe an enlightened American foreign policy, along with a little luck and a lot of perseverance, can help ensure that these developments will be remembered as seminal moments in a historic chain of events leading to a new era in the region. But it's important not just politically, but also for the sake of sound policy, for us to remember accurately and honestly what happened and why.

Gee, DJ, do you really want to vote for Obama and Biden and risk the continuation of Bush's policies?

You didn't actually do much writing in those posts, you merely linked to what others wrote.....
Anyways, there was little to nothing in either post about the specific differences between the two candidates. We heard about their "world view", but nothing specific. There is also nothing in there about how McCain would be any different than Bush as it relates to this (or any other topic). The idea that Repubs are inherently better for Israel than Dems is a theory which has been proven to not be true over the past 8 years. Hamas controls Gaza and Hezbollah is strong and will probably attack Israel again. What has Bush done about this? Nothing. Condi complains about settlements as much as anyone. Can you tell me how things will be different under McCain?

Please give me specific about how McCain will treat Israel differently than Obama.

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Specifics? Like when Obama claimed he supported an undivided Jerusalem--and then backtracked?

Michael Oren and Ettinger both point out that Obama explicitly said that he sees the Israel-Palestine conflict as central to peace in the Middle East. Oren quotes McCain as explicitly saying that there is no such connection.

McCain sees a conflict between Western democracies and Islamists; Obama sees the conflict as being with a radical Islamic minority. This may explain why McCain was quick to condemn Carter's attempt to negotiate with Hamas, while it took Obama 5 days to do so.

You pooh-pooh the idea of comparing worldviews in favor of statements--as we have seen from Obama, as in his speech to AIPAC--statements can be retracted.

McCain's support of the surge--which he proposed before Bush ever came around to the idea--as well as his condemnation of the Russian invasion reveal a worldview that is less likely to pressure Israel for concessions. Obama's support for talk and negotiation along with his belief that the Israel/Palestine conflict is key to the Middle East does not bode well--especially given the advisors he has surrounded himself with.