Tag: Israel

This Crap Will Not End Well

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There has been a band of religious nuts in Israel, roughly evenly divided between Jewish and Evangilical morons, have announced (yet again) that they have bred a red heifer, which, according to them means that the 3rd temple will be rebuilt (Jews) which will lead to the end of times (Evangelicals).

This kind of sh%$ never ends well:

A Jewish group says an apparently completely red heifer has been born – the first in 2,000 years – thus fulfilling a biblical prophecy that signals the coming of the Messiah, which Christians believe will end with an apocalypse.

The birth of the potential cow of prophecy was announced by the Temple Institute, a group which says it is “dedicated to every aspect of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.” “On the 17th day of Elul, 5778, [August 28, 2018], a red heifer was born in the land of Israel,” the group wrote on its Facebook page.

The organization says that the female baby cow foreshadows the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem, heralding the arrival of the Jewish Messiah. Evangelical Christian theologians also believe the construction of the Third Temple will lead to Judgment Day.

………

The Temple Institute began its Raise a Red Heifer breeding program back in 2015 with the express goal of producing the heifer of prophecy, which would be required to meet a number of requirements, chief among which being that the calf be entirely red and “without blemish.”

**Facepalm**

גם אני#

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David Keys, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman to foreign press, is the subject of multiple accusations of sexual harassment and assault:

A total of 12 women have accused David Keyes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson to the foreign media, of inappropriate behavior toward them and other women.

One of the 12, New York State Senate candidate Julia Salazar, on Tuesday detailed her alleged 2013 sexual assault by Keyes. After that, Wall Street Journal reporter Shayndi Raice, responding to Salazar’s allegation, described an “uncomfortable” encounter with Keyes, whom she called a predator.

Ten other women have also been in contact with The Times of Israel in recent months, with allegations that include one detailed accusation of physically aggressive behavior by Keyes, claims of overly aggressive advances by him, and incidents of inappropriate behavior. The women spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Several sources, furthermore, have said that Keyes’s alleged improper behavior toward women, which took place before he was appointed Netanyahu’s spokesman in 2016, was so well-known that he was asked to stay away from certain offices that he used to frequent in New York.

………

The Times of Israel has also obtained two emails Keyes sent to women in which he apologized “for being less than gentlemanly.”

I dunno, this contemptible ratf%$# seems to be completely well suited to working for Netanyahu.

One Way to Deal With Limited Launcher Capacity

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Israel is working to sharpen its eyes in space, enlisting Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to improve the optical and radar payloads of the spy satellites serving the nation’s intelligence community.

The company is developing a new generation of satellites for even more complex missions, using nanosatellite production and electric propulsion concepts.

………

In addition to the imagery, Doron says the low weight and a unique set of reaction wheels in IAI’s satellites enable them to capture more usable images of an area of interest in every pass. Special reaction wheels also enable Israeli satellites to carry a smaller amount of hydrazine gas, usually used to enable the satellite’s maneuvers in space and to keep it at the designed altitude.

An ion thruster or drive is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft. It creates thrust by accelerating positive ions with electricity for satellites with optical and synthetic aperture payloads. The resolution will be improved, and the way the images are processed on the ground also will be enhanced with very advanced ground stations.

Reaction wheels are basically gyroscopes, and it means that there is no propellant expired to change orientation.

They are also looking at adding electric propulsion for orbital maneuverability:

To further prolong the life of full-size Israeli satellites, the division is evaluating the use of electric propulsion to replace the use of hydrazine. The system will use xenon gas to operate on thrusters, he says. According to Doron, the use of xenon will enable the satellite to orbit the Earth at a lower altitude but give it enough power to correct any loss of altitude that will be caused by greater friction with the atmosphere.

An ion thruster or drive is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft. It creates thrust by accelerating positive ions with electricity for satellites with optical and synthetic aperture payloads. The resolution will be improved, and the way the images are processed on the ground also will be enhanced with very advanced ground stations.

An ion drive provides much less thrust than a rocket or a thruster, but it’s ISP (basically fuel economy) is far greater, with about 250 seconds for a thruster, and 3000 seconds for an ion thruster, which means a lot more delta-V with a lot less propellant, which means greater maneuverability and greater time on station.

I’m Think that Politics is Trumping Normal Defense Procurement

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The IAF is is negotiating contract with Boeing for their KC-46 tanker in a non-competitive process, despite the fact that the Airbus alternative looks to be about 20% less, and a domestic conversion of surplus 767 would be about 50% less.

Assuming that Binyamin Netanyahu hasn’t found a way to profit personally from the deal, (he’s currently the target of multiple corruption investigations) it is pretty clear that politics, and not military exigencies is driving this deal:

The Israel Air Force and the Ministry of Defense are planning to procure 4-6 new planes for airborne refueling from US company Boeing without asking Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) or Airbus for a price bid or asking them to take part in a tender. These are the only three companies in the world that manufacture an air refueling aircraft or convert passenger and cargo planes to a refueling configuration.

The air force’s refueling missions are currently based on outdated Boeing passenger 707s manufactured over 50 years ago and converted to refueling configuration. These planes, called Ram by the air force, receive regular maintenance from IAI.

The IDF has been preparing for years for a huge deal to procure new planes for airborne refueling missions, but the process has been repeatedly postponed, primarily due to more urgent procurement programs. The Ministry of Defense is now saying that there is no avoiding a procurement deal because of the very advanced age of the existing refueling aircraft and the possible expansion in the volume of the air force’s refueling missions, with an emphasis on remote theaters, such as Iran.

Israel is casting eyes at Boeings new KC-46 airborne refueling aircraft, which are in use by the US air force. Sources in the sector say that these planes cost $250-300 million. An Airbus 330 converted for aerial refueling missions costs $200-250 million, while an IAI refueling aircraft based on the Boeing 767 and converted from passenger or cargo configurations costs $100-130 million, half the price of the new plane to be sold to Israel by Boeing.

………

Defense sources have found it difficult in recent days to conceal their alarm about the emerging deal between the Ministry of Defense and Boeing without a tender proceeding or transparency and without consideration of the long-term effect on IAI. Conversion of planes is done at IAI’s Bedek Aviation Group’s facilities and hundreds of its employees are involved. Defense sources warned that giving preference for a new and very expensive like that of Boeing over an “as good as new” and cheaper aircraft from IAI would deal the Israeli company a severe blow. “It is not just the money and the livelihood of many hundreds of employees,” a local industry source said. “Procurement of planes from IAI by the Israeli air force has great global marketing significance, because the IDF is regarded as an advanced, very professional, and esteemed army. If it procures a system, it validates it and gives it something like a quality standard, followed by additional deals that are usually larger.”

This really is profoundly odd.

Destroying Any Ideals Remaining in Israel

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It is not surprising that Benjamin Netanyahu’s relentless pursuit has led to a bill legalizing discrimination in Israel:

Israel is in the throes of political upheaval as the country’s ruling party seeks to pass legislation that could allow for Jewish-only communities, which critics have condemned as the end of a democratic state.

For the past half-decade, politicians have been wrangling over the details of the bill that holds constitution-like status and that Benjamin Netanyahu wants passed this month.

The proposed legislation would allow the state to “authorise a community composed of people having the same faith and nationality to maintain the exclusive character of that community”.

In its current state, the draft would also permit Jewish religious law to be implemented in certain cases and remove Arabic as an official language.

“In the Israeli democracy, we will continue to protect the rights of both the individual and the group, this is guaranteed. But the majority have rights too, and the majority rules,” the Israeli prime minister said this week.

A vote on the bill is expected next week, although a final draft has yet to be agreed on. The legislation has been compared to South African apartheid by Israeli parliamentarians, and several thousand Israelis protested in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

This is positively repulsive, and it another one of Netanyahu’s attempts to cling to power while new allegations of corruption erupt.

If history is any template, it is the actions of self-serving leaders in Israel, like Netanyahu, that will threaten the existence of the state far more than external threats.

About F%$#ing Time

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The Knesset has passed a new law which closes Israel’s doors to husbands who make their wives an agunah, refusing to give her a bill of divorce. The Conference of European Rabbis was behind the initiative, which has now been passed into law, barring recalcitrant husbands from seeking refuge in Israel.

If a beis din in The Diaspora has labels a man a recalcitrant husband, not only will be barred from entering the country, but he will be detained by authorities at the airport as a deterrence towards compelling him to release his wife from an unwanted marriage.

There is a peculiarity in Jewish law that a divorce has to be executed by the man, by giving a get, and if there is a civil divorce, the man is free to remarry and his children would not be a mamzer, which creates major complications for the child, while the wife’s children would be.*

As such, in many divorces, the man, either as a tactic, or just because they are an asshole, will refuse to give a get.

This problem is considered serious enough that Maimonides issued a ruling that it was acceptable to beat the husband to convince him to give the wife a get, so the move by the Israeli parliament is the least that they could have done.

It’s actually more complicated

This is Just Flat Out Racist

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Not a surprise, given that the Netanyahu government has made appeals to bigotry central to their politics, but the latest ruling refusing to recognize Ugandan Jews is particularly reprehensible:

After years of deliberations, the Israeli Interior Ministry has resolved not to grant recognition to the Jewish community of Uganda, Haaretz has learned.

Its decision was revealed in a response to the first and only request thus far by a member of the 2,000-strong Ugandan Abayudaya community, who sought to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return.

The response, obtained by Haaretz, notes that the applicant’s “conversion is not recognized for the purpose of receiving status in Israel” and that, therefore, he must leave the country by June 14 or risk deportation.

When Haaretz asked the ministry about its decision, a spokesperson said, “This is a matter of principle regarding conversions in this community – it is not about one specific applicant.”

………

The application was submitted by Kibita Yosef, who has been living on Ketura – a kibbutz affiliated with the Conservative movement – over the past year.

The response said that Yosef is entitled to challenge the decision in the High Court of Justice.

Converts are eligible to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return, regardless of what movement they are affiliated with, provided they come from recognized Jewish communities. But through its response, the ministry clarified that it does not regard the Abayudaya as a recognized Jewish community.

The Abayudaya began practicing Judaism about 100 years ago, but were only officially converted in recent years. The Jewish Agency considers them to be a recognized Jewish community, but the Interior Ministry has the final say on such matters.

………

Last December, a member of the community, who had been accepted into a program at the Conservative yeshiva in Jerusalem, was detained upon arrival at the airport and deported the following morning. The incident sparked international rage and accusations of racism.

Yet another reason why I want that corrupt hate-monger (Netanyahu) out of Israeli politics forever.

Expect the Fecal Matter Hitting the Rotary Impeller

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We now have a date certain for when the US embassy will move to Jerusalem, so I would advise you to avoid travel to Israel in mid May:

The U.S. Embassy in Israel will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israeli independence, the State Department said Friday.

The embassy, initially to be located in the current premises of the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem’s Arnona neighborhood, will expand in and near that site next year but will eventually move to new premises President Trump has said will be constructed, according to a statement issued by State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

The cost of that building is expected to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a major Republican donor, has offered to fund an unspecified part of the construction, according to an administration official who confirmed an Associated Press report.

I do believe that Jerusalem is the Israeli capital, though the final boundary between this capital is something to be negotiated between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

So on one level, I see the recognition of Jerusalem as a recognition of reality.

On another level, we know that we are going to see a LOT of unrest and disruption as a result, and I expect a spate of attacks and retaliations.

This will not be pretty.

Pass the Popcorn

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It’s taken a while, but Israeli police have finally recommended that Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted for corruption:

The Israeli police announced on Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence indicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took bribes in two separate cases and acted “against public interests.”

The two cases are the so-called Case 1000 – in which Netanyahu is suspected of accepting lavish gifts from wealthy benefactors in return for advancing their interests – and Case 2000, which alleges that Netanyahu tried to strike a deal that would have provided him with positive coverage in Israel’s second largest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, in exchange for hurting its free rival, Israel Hayom.

According to the police, in Case 1000, Netanyahu received champagne, cigars, jewelry and clothing, by demand and systematically, valued at over one million shekels (around $280,000). The gifts he received from the Israeli-American Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan increased significantly once Netanyahu was elected prime minister.

Seriously, after spending almost $3000.00 on “Ice Cream” in 2013, criminal profligacy should surprise no one.

As a supporter of Israel, I consider Netanyahu to be a bigger threat to the safety and security of the Jewish state than Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, so I pleased at this news.

Have I Mentioned that the Middle East is F%$#ed Up and Sh%$?

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First, we have an al Qaeda linked group shooting down a Russian jet with a US missile:

Syria’s former al-Qaeda affiliate claimed responsibility Saturday for the downing of a Russian warplane in northern Syria, apparently using a surface-to-air missile to target the aircraft.

 The pilot was killed after he ejected and exchanged gunfire with militants on the ground, the Russian Defense Ministry and a monitoring group said.

 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, a powerful rebel alliance that publicly split from al-Qaeda last year, said it had used a shoulder-fired weapon to down the Su-25 fighter jet as it flew low over the opposition-held town of Saraqeb.

………

It also raises questions about the source of the apparent “man-portable air-defense system,” or MANPADS, a shoulder-fired weapon for which Syria’s rebels have repeatedly pleaded from their international backers. The United States has been strongly opposed, fearing that antiaircraft weapons could fall into the hands of the country’s extremist groups.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said any allegation that the United States has provided MANPAD missiles in Syria was untrue, and she denied that U.S. equipment was used in shooting down the Russian plane.

Considering the fact that the CIA has been supporting groups that the US military has been attacking, so take that with a grain of salt.

The rather more shocking news today though is that Israel has been conducting airstrikes in the Sinai with the affirmative assent of the Egyptian government:

The jihadists in Egypt’s Northern Sinai had killed hundreds of soldiers and police officers, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, briefly seized a major town and begun setting up armed checkpoints to claim territory. In late 2015, they brought down a Russian passenger jet.

 Egypt appeared unable to stop them, so Israel, alarmed at the threat just over the border, took action.

For more than two years, unmarked Israeli drones, helicopters and jets have carried out a covert air campaign, conducting more than 100 airstrikes inside Egypt, frequently more than once a week — and all with the approval of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

 The remarkable cooperation marks a new stage in the evolution of their singularly fraught relationship. Once enemies in three wars, then antagonists in an uneasy peace, Egypt and Israel are now secret allies in a covert war against a common foe.

The Israeli airstrikes are not that unusual, but the fact that there has been official (though not public)n approval, and not just grudging acknowledgement, of the Egyptian government.

The obvious conclusion here is that the Egyptian Government (particularly el-Sisi) is desperate, which indicates that the government is far less secure than it would like to proclaim.

Longer Range, More Payload, Superior Performance, Lower Cost, What’s Not to Love?

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The Israeli Air Force is inclined to order an advanced variant of the F-15 instead more F-35s.

Even if there are things that the F-35 can do that the F-15 can’t, you want to minimize spending on silver bullets:

The Israel Air Force is to decide in a few months between purchasing a third squadron of F-35 fighter jets or the F-15I, which, while less advanced, has other advantages.

The acquisition requires the approval of the General Staff and a ministerial committee, but the recommendation of the air force generally carries the day.

IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, who reportedly is leaning toward the F-15, is to submit a recommendation in May.

Israel and the United States agreed last year on the purchase of 50 F-35 fighters, two squadrons, from Lockheed Martin, with delivery completed by 2024.

………

Senior IAF officers, including the force’s previous commander, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, have lavished praise on its capabilities. One of its most important operational capabilities is stealth, the ability to not show up on enemy radar.

But in order employ its stealth capabilities, the F-35 must fly with its bombs inside the plane’s belly, which limits its carrying capacity. If the bombs are carried on the outside of the plane, its stealth capabilities are impaired.

The F-15, though older, has two advantages over the F-35: a longer flight range and the ability to carry larger bombs. Another factor in its favor is that it’s built on a different platform, which means the air force would have a mix of planes rather than relying on a single model.

The F-15I is also cheaper to operate than the F-35. But the plane is currently being upgraded by the manufacturer, Boeing, and its purchase price is expected to rise in any future deal. Thus it could end up costing the same as the F-35 does next time around.

I gotta figure that there are elements in the IAF who are seriously worried that some crucial features of the F-35 will go completely titsup when the sh%$ hits the fan.

My money would among the items worrying IAF planners is its the JSF’s ill-starred Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS).

Talk About Mixed Emotions

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Donald Trump just officially declared US recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel.

This has been reality for 70 years, and I am a proud member of the reality based community, but I feel slightly nausious agreeing with the inverted traffic cone at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue:

President Trump on Wednesday formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing nearly seven decades of American foreign policy and setting in motion a plan to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to the fiercely contested Holy City.

“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” Mr. Trump said from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. “This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done.”

The president cast his decision as a break with decades of failed policy on Jerusalem, which the United States, along with virtually every other nation in the world, has declined to recognize as the capital since Israel’s founding in 1948. That policy, he said, brought us “no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.”

“It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result,” Mr. Trump declared.

The failure of the conventional wisdom on this matter is clear, but I am less sanguine about Donald Trumps less-conventional stupidity in solving this, or anything.

The president said the decision to recognize Jerusalem should not be construed as the United States taking a position on whether, or how, the city might ultimately be shared. But he offered little solace to the Palestinians, making no mention of their long-held hopes for East Jerusalem to be the capital of a Palestinian state.

Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been a fact for 70 years. It’s an incontrovertible fact.

However, the disposition of EAST Jerusalem, which became Israeli territory only after the 6-Day War is NOT a fact, and IS up for negotiation.

At least one former Obama administration official also weighed in with sharp criticism. John O. Brennan, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said in a statement that Mr. Trump’s action was “reckless” and would “damage U.S. interests in the Middle East for years to come and will make the region more volatile.”

Well, now we know the position of the House of Saud, because Brennan has been the Saudi Princes’ bitch since early in his CIA career.

Jerusalem is one of the world’s most fiercely contested swaths of real estate, with each side disputing the other’s claims. Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, and most of the world considers it occupied territory. Jerusalem’s Old City has the third-holiest mosque in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism, making the city’s status a sensitive issue for Muslims and Jews alike. Jerusalem is also sacred ground to Christians.

Hence the need to clearly state, which he did, that there are still negotiations to be had on this matter.

I don’t think that this will make any difference in the long term situation, because I don’t think that ANYTHING will make a difference in the long term situation.

It will be interesting to watch the Palestinian Authority’s response.

Israel Has 2Nd Thoughts about V-22 Acquisition

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V-22s Range Advantage has a Cost

Israel seemed poised to purchase the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey, and now they have put this on hold.

I am not particularly surprised.

The V-22 is a maintenance hog, and cost a fair amount to operate.

While the Osprey is about 100 kts faster, has a longer range, it can only carry about 1/3 of the payload, even though it has 2/3 of the installed power.

Additionally, unlike a conventional helicopter, the V-22 does not have a meaningful auto-rotation capability, and its performance with external loads is pathetic.

Israel simply does not have the need for the additional capabilities offered by the tilt-rotor:

The Israeli air force has frozen its evaluation of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, with a senior defence source indicating that the tiltrotor is unable to perform some missions currently conducted using its Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopters.

In January 2014, the US Department of Defense notified Congress about its intention to sell six V-22s to Israel. This followed an evaluation conducted by air force personnel, which led to the service seeking a rapid acquisition to support special operations. The proposed purchase met with opposition from elsewhere within Israel’s defence ministry, however.

Other potential candidates to replace the Israeli air force’s aged CH-53s by around 2025 include Sikorsky’s new CH-53K and the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.

Simply put, the IDF does not have the requirements, such as amphibious landings from extreme distance, that have driven the V-22, and as such, it does not make sense.

You Are F%$#ing Kidding Me!

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It appears that Donald Trump has canceled a planned trip to Masada because they won’t let his helicopter on the site:

US President Donald Trump reportedly canceled a visit and speech at the historic Masada desert fortress after the Israel Air Force informed him he would not be allowed to land his helicopter at the UNESCO-listed archaeological site.

Trump subsequently removed Masada from his itinerary altogether, rather than taking the cable car to the top of the iconic mountain as had been suggested to him, Channel 2 reported.

He is set to deliver the major address of his Israel trip at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum instead.

He’s a f%$#ing orange stained infant.

Here is a Transcript of Charlie’s AIPAC Texts

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Except for the massaging necessary to convert the SMS texts, the only changes are to manually add the single MMS post, scroll down for Bibi’s hair dye, which was a picture of the hair disaster, and bowdlerizing some swear words.

There are some exchanges that are a bit confusing, because things get a bit temporally dislocated because of the lag between sending and receiving a message and the time to actually thumb type/Swype a response.

Charlie and I worked to clarify this as much as possible.

I have put it after the break, because it would otherwise it would push everything else off the page.

Click thru, particularly if you are reading this through Facebook.

I think that you will find it amusing:

Charles: Are you going to want my opinion on Mike Pence’s speech?
03/26/2017 7:46 PM
Me: Yes
03/26/2017 7:47 PM
Charles: Are you going to watch it from home?
03/26/2017 7:48 PM
Me: God no
03/26/2017 7:48 PM
Charles: Lulz
03/26/2017 7:50 PM
Charles: DC Mayor was here. She said “suport DC statehood”. I’m like yeah fam.
03/26/2017 7:56 PM
Me: Why does she want DC to be a steak? I’m thinking it’s more of a souffle.
03/26/2017 7:57 PM
Charles: fam
03/26/2017 7:58 PM
Me: Fam?
03/26/2017 7:58 PM
Charles: Bad joke fam
03/26/2017 8:00 PM
Charles: They have Stephen Harper speaking
03/26/2017 9:03 PM
Me: That must be terrifying
03/26/2017 9:04 PM
Charles: Meh. Considering Pence will be here, I’m not afraid yet.
03/26/2017 9:06 PM
Charles: He’s mostly talking foreign policy. I.e. not being scary
03/26/2017 9:09 PM
Me: It’s his soulless eyes that are terrifying
03/26/2017 9:10 PM
Charles: Lulz
03/26/2017 9:15 PM
Charles: True, Trudeau’s eyes are better.
03/26/2017 9:16 PM
Me: His are so dreamy
03/26/2017 9:16 PM
Charles: Lilian Pinkus’s voice sounds like a cross between Sarah Palin and Jennifer Granholm
03/26/2017 9:22 PM
Me: The horror.
03/26/2017 9:22 PM
Charles: HE’S HERE
03/26/2017 9:23 PM
Me: Just think of him as a cartoon villain. He already looks like one.
03/26/2017 9:24 PM
Charles: THE BOND VILLAIN OF THE HOUR
03/26/2017 9:24 PM
Charles: That was Kaine. Pence looks like a Bond villain
03/26/2017 9:24 PM
Me: You are correct, sir.
03/26/2017 9:25 PM
Me: I may use our text exchange on out blog.
03/26/2017 9:25 PM
Charles: K
03/26/2017 9:25 PM
Charles: He’s just talking about his previous support for Israel rn.
03/26/2017 9:26 PM
Charles: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you”, the bottom of his cold, lifeless heart
03/26/2017 9:27 PM
Me: Lulz
03/26/2017 9:27 PM
Charles: Oh and he condemned the vandalism of cemetaries, which I appreciate
03/26/2017 9:27 PM
Charles: A friend says: “Can he stop sucking Trump’s dick?”
03/26/2017 9:28 PM
Me: You are killing your old man here! Need oxygen
03/26/2017 9:28 PM
Charles: He’s mostly just talking up trump a saying “hey we support israel”
03/26/2017 9:29 PM
Charles: This is relatively nebulous honestly
03/26/2017 9:30 PM
Charles: Finding as many ways as possible to say he supports Israel
03/26/2017 9:30 PM
Charles: “After decades of simply talking about it”, something about the embassy, but I thought he was talking about his own speech.
03/26/2017 9:33 PM
Charles: Besides moving the embassy, nothing really of policy so far beyond “we support israel”
03/26/2017 9:34 PM
Charles: Ok, now talking about increased military spending. That is a policy point.
03/26/2017 9:35 PM
Charles: “This administration has put Iran on notice”, also a policy point I guess
03/26/2017 9:37 PM
Charles: Someone held up a Trump sign. Hun, the election is over.
03/26/2017 9:38 PM
Charles: Talking about a visit to dachau now
03/26/2017 9:38 PM
Charles: Also I should have brought a gay pride flag
03/26/2017 9:39 PM
Me: Lol
03/26/2017 9:39 PM
Charles: Ok, he just delivered an excelent line
03/26/2017 9:39 PM
Me: Do tell
03/26/2017 9:40 PM
Charles: He was talking with a holocaust survivor, the survivor was telling the story, and ended by saying, “and then, the Americans came.”
03/26/2017 9:40 PM
Charles: Speech just ended
03/26/2017 9:46 PM
Charles: So, the story his, he visited Dachau, met up with a survivor,
03/26/2017 9:47 PM
Charles: The survivor described to him everyone dying around him, one by one,
03/26/2017 9:47 PM
Charles: “And then, the Americans came”
03/26/2017 9:47 PM
Charles: Excellent line, best part of the speech.
03/26/2017 9:48 PM
Me: So, are you done for the evening?
03/26/2017 10:08 PM
Charles: Yup
03/26/2017 10:28 PM
Charles: Bibi dyed his hair
03/27/2017 9:15 AM
Me: Send a picture
03/27/2017 9:15 AM
Charles:
03/27/2017 9:17 AM
Me: Who does he think that he is fooling?
03/27/2017 9:19 AM
Charles: Lulz
03/27/2017 9:20 AM
Charles: Paul Begala is speaking
03/27/2017 9:29 AM
Me: He’s not a liberal, he just plays one on TV.
03/27/2017 9:29 AM
Charles: He says he’s a lifelong supporter of progressive politics, and he helped Bill Clinton’s campaign. One or the other, sir.
03/27/2017 9:31 AM
Me: Lulz
03/27/2017 9:31 AM
Charles: He used the term protip
03/27/2017 9:32 AM
Charles: Oh and then he praised Israel’s socialized healthcare, which I very much appreciate.
03/27/2017 9:33 AM
Charles: Can we get some of that socialized medicine over here?
03/27/2017 9:34 AM
Me: What fore protip mean?
03/27/2017 9:35 AM
Charles: He was trying to internet lingo
03/27/2017 9:35 AM
Me: So, what does it mean?
03/27/2017 9:36 AM
Charles: It means “here’s a tip from me, I have experience.”
03/27/2017 9:40 AM
Charles: They have Chaim Hertzog’s son speaking, he’s p cool.
03/27/2017 9:54 AM
Charles: Oh, forgot to tell you. Yesterday I asked a question at one of the pannels
03/27/2017 10:09 AM
Me: What was the question?
03/27/2017 10:09 AM
Charles: It was on middle east policy, and I asked the panelists, who were discussing removing Assad how they thought we should deal with the resulting power vacuum.
03/27/2017 10:11 AM
Charles: One of the panelists seemed to understand what I was getting at, the other was more hawkish.
03/27/2017 10:12 AM
Me: You should have said, “Like the disaster in Libya,” to clarify.
03/27/2017 10:35 AM
Charles: TRUE
03/27/2017 10:46 AM
Charles: Wany your help with something
03/27/2017 11:27 AM
Charles: *want
03/27/2017 11:28 AM
Me: Proceed
03/27/2017 11:28 AM
Charles: AIPAC is lobbying for sanctions on Iran for non nuclear actions, I.e. Missile tests, syria, hezbola
03/27/2017 11:30 AM
Me: Yes
03/27/2017 11:30 AM
Charles: They say these non nuclear sanctions would not violate the JCPOA
03/27/2017 11:30 AM
Charles: Someone else said the text of the JCPOA specifically precludes such sanctions (the nature of the agreement notwithstanding)
03/27/2017 11:31 AM
Charles: Can you help me find a source about this?
03/27/2017 11:32 AM
Me: It has a wiki page
03/27/2017 11:32 AM
Charles: It doesn’t have it on there
03/27/2017 11:32 AM
Me: It does mention there that Iranian sources say that the extension of sanctions would breach the deal.
03/27/2017 11:35 AM
Charles: Extension of what sanctions?
03/27/2017 11:36 AM
Me: The nuclear sanctions. There is a bulk in congress to do so.
03/27/2017 11:37 AM
Charles: Does that apply to new non-nuclear related sanctions?
03/27/2017 11:38 AM
Charles: So new non nuclear sanctions are fine?
03/27/2017 11:39 AM
Me: I’m looking.
03/27/2017 11:39 AM
Charles: Imo if they don’t violate the agreement, I’m for them.
03/27/2017 11:40 AM
Charles: https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-jcpoa-should-be-maintained-and-reinforced-with-a-broad-regional-strategy/ this source claims such sanctions are fine.
03/27/2017 11:42 AM
Me: I an fairly certain that Iran & Russia both believe that new sanctions violate the JCPOA. Look at the EU position.
03/27/2017 11:43 AM
Charles: So it’s a matter of dispute then?
03/27/2017 11:44 AM
Me: Yes, but Brookings is VERY hawkish, and not a reliable source.
03/27/2017 11:48 AM
Charles: Ok. I’m having a great deal of trouble finding very many sources.
03/27/2017 11:49 AM
Charles: Do you have a source on the EU position?
03/27/2017 11:50 AM
Me: The EU is trying to keep Trump from monkey wrenching the deal.
03/27/2017 11:51 AM
Me: https://financialtribune.com/articles/national/60708/eu-seeks-to-bolster-iran-nuclear-deal
03/27/2017 11:51 AM
Charles: I get the argument of a slippery slope, but I do think missile testing and Hezbolah funding is worthy of sanctions
03/27/2017 11:53 AM
Me: Iran will never stop finding Hezbollah. Defending the Shia community is something that they would continue even if they became a democracy.
03/27/2017 11:55 AM
Charles: Right but the point is hezbolah’s attacks on israel
03/27/2017 11:56 AM
Me: It’s like the French defending French culture and language around the world.
03/27/2017 11:57 AM
Charles: ?
03/27/2017 11:57 AM
Me: Iran defending Shiia is like the French position. It is a position held with near unanimity across the political spectrum.
03/27/2017 11:59 AM
Charles: I don’t see the equivalence
03/27/2017 11:59 AM
Me: I am saying that this is an existential position of that society
03/27/2017 12:07 PM
Charles: What about the other actions?
03/27/2017 12:11 PM
Me: The missile tests are not a violation of the MTCR, and they have a right to develop such weapons.
03/27/2017 12:13 PM
Charles: Fai6
03/27/2017 12:13 PM
Charles: *fair
03/27/2017 12:14 PM
Me: Also, they have launched civilian satellites as early as 2009.
03/27/2017 12:15 PM
Me: The U.S. position is that any weapons development by governments it deems an adversary are illegal. I call this bullsh%$.
03/27/2017 12:16 PM
Me: Also understand that many of their developments are about deterring the U.S., not threatening Israel.
03/27/2017 12:20 PM
Charles: I see
03/27/2017 12:53 PM
Charles: Btw, look up hr 1221, I find it interesting
03/27/2017 12:54 PM

“Explanation:

H.R 1221 Sets up a fund promoting peaceful coexistence and person to person dialogue between individual Israelis and Palestinians.”

Charles: The three lobbying things AIPAC is doing is funding for israel aid, sanctions on iran, and fighting bds
03/27/2017 1:01 PM
Charles: I want to ask if I can lobby for hr 1221
03/27/2017 1:01 PM
Charles: I’d rather lobby for hr 1221
03/27/2017 1:01 PM
Me: Seems like an innocuous bill, but I’m sure that Trump will turn it into something corrupt.
03/27/2017 1:03 PM
Charles: Maybe also the bds thing but mostly hr 1221
03/27/2017 1:04 PM
Me: BTW, it appears that AIPAC funded attacks on J-Street by Islamaphobe nut Frank Gaffney last year.
03/27/2017 1:11 PM
Charles: I’m sorry what. Link?
03/27/2017 1:12 PM
Charles: Seriously I need to hear this
03/27/2017 1:13 PM
Me: http://lobelog.com/did-aipac-help-fund-attack-ad-by-islamophobic-group-on-j-street/
03/27/2017 1:12 PM
Me: J-street is liberal equivalent of AIPAC
03/27/2017 1:13 PM
Me: SENT LINK
03/27/2017 1:13 PM
Charles: I know about j street
03/27/2017 1:15 PM
Charles: Yes I saw, I’m reading and I’m upset
03/27/2017 1:16 PM
Me: Better to know now
03/27/2017 1:16 PM
Charles: Yes
03/27/2017 1:17 PM
Charles: Geez you are persuasive
03/27/2017 1:18 PM
Charles: Except with your pessimism on hr 1221
03/27/2017 1:18 PM
Me: Never underestimate the ability of conservatives to subvert good intentions.
03/27/2017 1:18 PM
Me: Yeah, I’m a bit of a cynic.
03/27/2017 1:19 PM
Charles: Lulz wait that’s depressing
03/27/2017 1:24 PM
Charles: To be clear, I still disagree with your assessment of hezbolah
03/27/2017 1:36 PM
Charles: But I understand why there’s probably a perception of needing to do that.
03/27/2017 1:37 PM
Me: I think that Hezbollah is primarily a terrorist organisation with a Shia political party rump.
03/27/2017 1:37 PM
Charles: So basically, the uk view?
03/27/2017 1:38 PM
Me: But Iran will always support them, because it is part of the great game being played between Sunni and Shia for over a millennium.
03/27/2017 1:39 PM
Me: I should note that Hezbollah also does a better job of provisioning services than does the central Lebanese government does.
03/27/2017 1:40 PM
Me: That fact is a major source of their power.
03/27/2017 1:41 PM
Charles: The way a lot of this conflict is framed here, it’s like saying shia islam is the problem
03/27/2017 1:45 PM
Charles: With the situation over there, I fear that vew could lead to genocide.
03/27/2017 1:45 PM
Me: Because AIPAC is close with the House of Saud these days.
03/27/2017 1:46 PM
Charles: Yeah I’m glad I’ve come here, but I prob won’t attend again.
03/27/2017 1:56 PM
Me: Why not? You are collecting valuable intelligence.
03/27/2017 1:57 PM
Charles: That’s why I’m glad I came. But I’d rather not come again.
03/27/2017 1:58 PM
Me: Also understand the value of developing social connections to assholes.
03/27/2017 1:59 PM
Charles: Outweighed by the fact that they are assholes. Although most of the people are nice.
03/27/2017 2:01 PM
Me: Also, if you want to be politically active, being friendly to jerks is required.
03/27/2017 2:03 PM
Charles: Ugh
03/27/2017 2:06 PM
Me: Welcome to reality
03/27/2017 2:06 PM
Charles: Nikki Haley is about to speak
03/27/2017 4:56 PM
Me: Oh joy
03/27/2017 4:56 PM
Charles: And here she is
03/27/2017 4:57 PM
Charles: The crowd loves her
03/27/2017 4:59 PM
Charles: She’s vastly oversimplifying the Iran deal rn
03/27/2017 5:02 PM
Me: Well she is dumb as a post
03/27/2017 5:03 PM
Charles: This is an interview btw
03/27/2017 5:03 PM
Charles: “I wanted to make sure that the United states started leading again”
03/27/2017 5:04 PM
Charles: Most of what she’s saying, besides the lran deal, I have no issue with tbh. It’s pretty inocuous.
03/27/2017 5:05 PM
Charles: K then
03/27/2017 5:06 PM
Charles: The crowd is eating this up.
03/27/2017 5:06 PM
Charles: “I don’t know who it was” who wrote the report calling Israel an apartheid state. You should prob know that hun.
03/27/2017 5:08 PM
Me: Like I Said; dumb as a post.
03/27/2017 5:09 PM
Charles: Like I think she forgot who it was.
03/27/2017 5:10 PM
Charles: But damn if the crowd doesn’t love her.
03/27/2017 5:10 PM
Me: And what does this say about the crowd m
03/27/2017 5:11 PM
Charles: I don’t like giving ovations to people like her.
03/27/2017 5:14 PM
Me:

Re: Ovations
03/27/2017 5:16 PM
Charles: OK PAUL RYAN IS HERE
03/27/2017 5:17 PM
Charles: (1/2) “what happened to that turn table thing from last year? I really liked it. Sometimes it seems like politicians talk in circles, last year with the stage w
03/27/2017 5:19 PM
Charles: (2/2) e actually had that.”
03/27/2017 5:19 PM
Charles: “thanks to all the young people here” no prob bro, now can you not try to ruin our healthcare again
03/27/2017 5:20 PM
Me: .lol
03/27/2017 5:20 PM
Charles: He’s talking about his trip to israel, talking about the cool stuff.
03/27/2017 5:20 PM
Charles: Universal healthcare was not one of the things he mentioned
03/27/2017 5:21 PM
Charles: And now talking about the strength of the US Israel relationship. I agree with that but I’ve heard heard it ad nauseum
03/27/2017 5:22 PM

#REF!

Charles: Under no uncertain terms.
03/27/2017 5:22 PM
Charles: Wow, I was wondering when someone would be candid here.
03/27/2017 5:22 PM
Charles: Now onto the iran deal
03/27/2017 5:22 PM
Charles: “an unmitigated disaster”
03/27/2017 5:23 PM
Charles: Cool story bro
03/27/2017 5:23 PM
Me: Dude, you are writing some amazing stuff here.
03/27/2017 5:24 PM
Charles: “I think it is time we rigorously enforce this deal and hold iran accountable when they violate” I thought you didn’t like the deal
03/27/2017 5:24 PM
Charles: And calling for more sanctions
03/27/2017 5:24 PM
Charles: Saying Iran is basically wholey responsible for the problems in the middle east (hun no)
03/27/2017 5:26 PM
Charles: Oh snap
03/27/2017 5:27 PM
Me: What did he just say
03/27/2017 5:28 PM

#REF!

Charles: Honey no that is one step removed from all out war.
03/27/2017 5:28 PM
Me: What?
03/27/2017 5:28 PM
Me: If he called for a blockade, that is technically an act of war.
03/27/2017 5:28 PM
Charles: Also talking about stopping iranian airlines from delivering weapons. Hope that doesn’t involve shooting another one down?
03/27/2017 5:29 PM
Charles: He proposed putting the iranian revolutionary guard on the list o
03/27/2017 5:30 PM
Charles: of terrorist groups
03/27/2017 5:31 PM
Me: It does, and without a Security Council mandate, it is illegal.
03/27/2017 5:30 PM
Charles: …oh sh%$
03/27/2017 5:32 PM
Charles: Ok now he’s talking about BDS
03/27/2017 5:32 PM
Charles: Same speil, I’ve heard it ad nauseum, I agree with it but I’m tired of hearing it
03/27/2017 5:33 PM
Charles: Ok, I don’t know if he was proposing a blockade, but he said we needed to work to stop the airlines from delivering weapons
03/27/2017 5:33 PM
Charles: And saying israel shouldn’t negotiate with hamas. I understand the sentiment, but it’s problematic to peace talks.
03/27/2017 5:33 PM
Charles: Because he just said they should negotiate when the unity government includes hamas
03/27/2017 5:34 PM
Charles: Is that proposing a blockade?
03/27/2017 5:34 PM
Me: It’s awfully close
03/27/2017 5:34 PM
Charles: And now he’s talking the vandalism and bomb threats.
03/27/2017 5:35 PM
Charles: “These attacks on Jewish Americans are vile and they are disgusting.”
03/27/2017 5:35 PM
Charles: And summarizing
03/27/2017 5:35 PM
Me: Yeah, but the bomb threats were made by an Israeli.
03/27/2017 5:36 PM
Charles: I want to go back to the hotel
03/27/2017 5:36 PM
Charles: He’s done. Bye Mr. Smurfeyes
03/27/2017 5:37 PM
Me: Charlie Pierce calls him the “Zombie eyed granny starver”
03/27/2017 5:38 PM
Charles: And now we have McCarthy and whatshisname
03/27/2017 5:39 PM
Me: Joe McCarthy is dead
03/27/2017 5:39 PM
Charles: The minority whip
03/27/2017 5:39 PM
Charles: It’s another interview
03/27/2017 5:39 PM
Charles: Not that McCarthy, Kevin
03/27/2017 5:40 PM
Me: D’oh!
03/27/2017 5:41 PM
Charles: “We’ll debate a lot, but we’re still friends”
03/27/2017 5:42 PM
Charles: You know, I’ve heard a lot of politicians say that over the past two days and idk if I believe it
03/27/2017 5:41 PM
Charles: Steny Hoyer is the other guy
03/27/2017 5:42 PM
Charles: They’re the cosponsors of the iran sanctions.
03/27/2017 5:42 PM
Me: Hoyer is f%$#ing useless
03/27/2017 5:43 PM
Me: I get the sense that your texting me is preserving a modicum of your sanity.
03/27/2017 5:42 PM
Charles: Dad, why else whould I be texting you at a time like this?
03/27/2017 5:44 PM
Me: Glad that I can be of assistance.
03/27/2017 5:44 PM
Charles: I’m not even paying attention atm
03/27/2017 5:45 PM
Charles: I wanna go home
03/27/2017 5:45 PM
Charles: No other country has spent more (on rockets) without trying to develop a nuclear weapon”
03/27/2017 5:46 PM
Charles: Well I mean yes but alot of that spending was space exploration hun
03/27/2017 5:46 PM
Charles: I wanna go home
03/27/2017 5:46 PM
Me: That which does not kill you makes you stronger.
03/27/2017 5:46 PM
Charles: I don’t even care about meeting congresspeople, they suck anyway.
03/27/2017 5:47 PM
Me: Ironic that I am quoting the Nazi’s favorite philosopher.
03/27/2017 5:47 PM
Me: In the words of Gold 5, “Stay on target.”
03/27/2017 5:48 PM
Me: Of course Gold 5 got shot down.
03/27/2017 5:49 PM
Charles: The person who said the spending thing was mccarthy btw
03/27/2017 5:58 PM
Charles: Here’s Grace Nepolitano
03/27/2017 5:59 PM
Me: Is this Janet’s kid?
03/27/2017 5:59 PM
Charles: Did you send me the “joe mccarthy is dead” txt twice?
03/27/2017 6:00 PM
Charles: Idk but she’s off stage now
03/27/2017 6:00 PM
Me: I don’t think so
03/27/2017 6:00 PM
Charles: Our texts are getting mixed up
03/27/2017 6:01 PM
Charles: Gold 5?
03/27/2017 6:02 PM
Me: Star Wars, the original.
03/27/2017 6:03 PM
Charles: You need to be more specific about what you mean
03/27/2017 6:05 PM
Charles: Lior is asking me for origami help.
03/27/2017 6:04 PM
Me: Lior?
03/27/2017 6:04 PM
Charles: One of the shinshinim (israeli student here for a year) on the trip with us.
03/27/2017 6:06 PM
Me: You said that you were helping Lior with orgami.. Who s are they?
03/27/2017 6:06 PM
Charles: Lior is one of the shinshinim
03/27/2017 6:07 PM
Charles: Did you not get the text?
03/27/2017 6:08 PM
Me: What is a shinshinim?
03/27/2017 6:07 PM
Charles: I just said
03/27/2017 6:07 PM
Me: A girl or a guy?
03/27/2017 6:08 PM
Me: Latency issues
03/27/2017 6:08 PM
Charles: She’s a high schol graduate here in the us for a year
03/27/2017 6:10 PM
Me: I will try not to squee, but she likes you.
03/27/2017 6:10 PM
Charles: OH IT’S TIM KAINE
03/27/2017 6:06 PM
Charles: PLAY YOUR HARMONICA
03/27/2017 6:06 PM
Charles: Also all Tim Kaine did was introduce a dance program. I am disappoint.
03/27/2017 6:11 PM
Me: If Tim Kaine was dancing, I’m glassy that I didn’t see it.
03/27/2017 6:11 PM
Charles: He didn’t dance. He just introduced a video about a dance program.
03/27/2017 6:12 PM
Charles: Take me home. Please.
03/27/2017 6:13 PM
Charles: Tell Uncle Steve I wish I was at J-Street too.
03/27/2017 7:03 PM
Me: .ok
03/27/2017 7:04 PM
Charles: So, the iranian revolutionary guard is basically iran’s military?
03/27/2017 8:33 PM
Me: It’s also a major political force as well as a major economic player in the local economy.
03/27/2017 8:34 PM
Me: It is at best a small portion of Iran’s military.
03/27/2017 8:34 PM
Charles: Ok
03/27/2017 8:35 PM
Charles: If it was declared a terrorist group, what do ou think the fallout would be?
03/27/2017 8:35 PM
Me: It would get ugly really fast.
03/27/2017 8:36 PM
Charles: Ugly as in possible war?
03/27/2017 8:52 PM
Me: Ugly as in as in blowing up the nuclear agreement with the EU telling us to go Cheney themselves. It is worse than a Crime. It is a mistake.
03/27/2017 8:55 PM
Charles: Oh and this is an existing proposal by Trump.
03/27/2017 8:57 PM
Me: Actually, I think that it is more from the congressional hawks than Trump.
03/27/2017 8:58 PM
Charles: Either way it was an existing proposal
03/27/2017 9:03 PM
Me: It’s been floating around for some time.
03/27/2017 9:04 PM
Me: I talked with Natalie, and she said that your should exchange numbers with Lior. I agree.
03/27/2017 11:05 PM
Charles: Are you f%$#ing serious. Stop
03/27/2017 11:06 PM
Me: I asked Nat first.
03/27/2017 11:06 PM
Charles: Besides we’ve all been shipping her with the other person from israel.
03/27/2017 11:09 PM
Me: I’m taking being a texting buddy
03/27/2017 11:09 PM
Me: How you doing otherwise?
03/27/2017 11:07 PM
Me: It’s just for texting.
03/27/2017 11:07 PM
Charles: I’m doing fine. Ready to go home tomorrow
03/27/2017 11:07 PM
Me: I tot it was Wednesday
03/27/2017 11:07 PM
Charles: No, I’m home tomorrow afternoon
03/27/2017 11:08 PM
Me: Last night, I went upstairs to shout at you to go to bed.
03/27/2017 11:09 PM
Charles: Lulz
03/27/2017 11:10 PM
Me: Should I do this tonight too?
03/27/2017 11:10 PM
Charles: Go ahead
03/27/2017 11:11 PM
Charles: Mitch McConnel is speaking now
03/28/2017 8:12 AM
Charles: I’ve never seen this species of turtle up close
03/28/2017 8:13 AM
Charles: “And of course, thanks to all the Kentuckian’s here with us” 7 people cheer.
03/28/2017 8:13 AM
Me: Lol
03/28/2017 8:14 AM
Charles: And we begin with the standard Iran deal spiel.
03/28/2017 8:14 AM
Charles: He’s talking about obama because potatos
03/28/2017 8:15 AM
Me: Potatoes?
03/28/2017 8:15 AM
Charles: Criticizing trying to close gitmo because screw due process
03/28/2017 8:15 AM
Charles: Potatos as in I don’t know
03/28/2017 8:15 AM
Charles: Criticizing leaving Irag and Afganistan because I don’t know tbh
03/28/2017 8:16 AM
Me: Tbh?
03/28/2017 8:16 AM
Charles: To be honest
03/28/2017 8:17 AM
Charles: Now talking about shia fighter like shia is equivalent to a terrorist group
03/28/2017 8:17 AM
Charles: “shia proxies” you mean shia muslims?
03/28/2017 8:18 AM
Charles: Iran, blah blah blah
03/28/2017 8:18 AM
Charles: Saying Withdrawing from Iraq caused Al Quada to become Isis (wrong)
03/28/2017 8:19 AM
Charles: Coughed once
03/28/2017 8:19 AM
Charles: Talking about standing with israel.
03/28/2017 8:20 AM
Me: The core of Daesh were Sunni tribesmen trained by Petraeus during the surge.
03/28/2017 8:21 AM
Charles: Oh rlly?
03/28/2017 8:22 AM
Charles: I will say this is much more substantive than the other speeches. So there’s that
03/28/2017 8:22 AM
Me: Yes. That’s why they could use captured complex military equipment supplied by the U.S. so quickly. We trained them.
03/28/2017 8:23 AM
Charles: Man we are f%$ing dumb
03/28/2017 8:24 AM
Me: We are a blind stupid giant
03/28/2017 8:25 AM
Charles: “We must use all elements, all elements of our power” does that include was becuase I don’t like that
03/28/2017 8:25 AM
Charles: OH HE SAID VIS A VIS
03/28/2017 8:25 AM
Charles: You know he’s smart when he uses big words
03/28/2017 8:26 AM
Me: Yes, that includes direct military force
03/28/2017 8:26 AM
Charles: Ok he’s in no uncertain terms proposing military action. Like direct action
03/28/2017 8:26 AM
Me: Vis is a small word
03/28/2017 8:27 AM
Charles: It’s a smart word (sarcasm)
03/28/2017 8:27 AM
Charles: You know, maybe I don’t like turtles all that much.
03/28/2017 8:28 AM
Charles: This one’s kinda gung ho nuts
03/28/2017 8:28 AM
Me: Your grandmother lived turtles
03/28/2017 8:28 AM
Me: Loved
03/28/2017 8:28 AM
Charles: And he’s done
03/28/2017 8:29 AM
Charles: The turtle returns to the shell
03/28/2017 8:30 AM
Me: At one point we had 12 turtles, 3 cats, and 2 iguanas
03/28/2017 8:30 AM
Charles: Chuck Schumer is speaking
03/28/2017 8:31 AM
Me: I can smell the hhypocrisy all the way out here in Baltimore
03/28/2017 8:32 AM
Charles: A woman told him that he was the bravest me#ber of congress because he wore a yarmulka
03/28/2017 8:32 AM
Charles: He said thank you, but this is not a yarmulka
03/28/2017 8:32 AM
Me: He wears a hair piece then?
03/28/2017 8:33 AM
Charles: No, he was pointing to his bald spot
03/28/2017 8:34 AM
Charles: He mentioned his highschool and more people cheered than the number from kentucky
03/28/2017 8:35 AM
Charles: Ok most of this is about how israel is great. I’m down with that, but not much policy
03/28/2017 8:36 AM
Charles: Talk of antisemitism in Europe
03/28/2017 8:38 AM
Charles: And of antisemitic vandalism and neo-nazi violence
03/28/2017 8:39 AM
Charles: And bomb threats
03/28/2017 8:39 AM
Me: How about the antisemitism of the alt right?
03/28/2017 8:39 AM
Charles: “regardless of the culprit’s religion or nationality”
03/28/2017 8:40 AM
Charles: He specifically said far right, so close enough I guess
03/28/2017 8:40 AM
Charles: He’s focusing on the combat of antisemitism, I like this
03/28/2017 8:41 AM
Charles: And now on the antisemitism of BDS
03/28/2017 8:43 AM
Charles: I’m enjoying this one tbh
03/28/2017 8:45 AM
Charles: “we must support sanctions against iran’s ICBM program” I mean they did launch satelites.
03/28/2017 8:51 AM
Charles: Ok, he’s done now. I enjoyed most of that
03/28/2017 8:54 AM
Charles: And now, Nancy Pelosi
03/28/2017 8:54 AM
Charles: “We love you Nancy” someone yelled
03/28/2017 8:55 AM
Me: Gawd
03/28/2017 8:55 AM
Charles: More people from san diego than kentucky, poor turtle
03/28/2017 8:56 AM
Me: Pelosi it’s a Baltimore native
03/28/2017 8:56 AM
Charles: I know.
03/28/2017 8:57 AM
Me: Daughter of Tommy Dellisandro
03/28/2017 8:57 AM
Charles: She’s naming different places to get cheers
03/28/2017 8:58 AM
Me: Lame
03/28/2017 8:58 AM
Charles: “Anybody here from california” many cheers
03/28/2017 8:59 AM
Charles: “My native state of maryland” ayyy fam
03/28/2017 8:59 AM
Charles: Meh
03/28/2017 8:59 AM
Charles: This speech isn’t very engaging.
03/28/2017 8:59 AM
Charles: “Let’s here it for my grandchildren”
03/28/2017 9:00 AM
Charles: Talking aboout the power of immigrants, cool.
03/28/2017 9:02 AM
Charles: She h
03/28/2017 9:05 AM
Charles: I’m honestly kinda bored. I agree with much of what she’s saying, but the presentation is boring.
03/28/2017 9:06 AM
Me: Welcome to the Democratic party
03/28/2017 9:07 AM
Charles: And she’s done
03/28/2017 9:14 AM
Charles: Ugh can we go lobbying yet, I want to see dutch ruppersburger
03/28/2017 9:16 AM
Charles: Should I speak up if I disagree with something?
03/28/2017 11:21 AM
Me: Yes
03/28/2017 11:22 AM
Me: What is the issue
03/28/2017 11:23 AM
Charles: The UN does have resolutions against Iran’s ballistic missiles btw
03/28/2017 11:24 AM
Charles: But I still am wary of sanctions atm
03/28/2017 11:25 AM
Me: The U.N. security council, or the general assembly?
03/28/2017 11:26 AM
Charles: Council
03/28/2017 11:26 AM
Me: The people who want immediate sanctions are interested primarily in creating a causus belli
03/28/2017 11:27 AM
Charles: Causus belli?
03/28/2017 11:28 AM
Me: Justification for war
03/28/2017 11:28 AM
Charles: Geez
03/28/2017 11:29 AM
Me: There are elements of the U.S. government who have been trying to get into a shooting war with Iran for decades.
03/28/2017 11:31 AM
Me: SecDef Mattis is one of them.
03/28/2017 11:32 AM
Charles: If I want to speak to someone in my own capacity, how do I do that?
03/28/2017 11:34 AM
Charles: Well I spoke to sarbanes, got nervous and forgot to mention hr1221. But I mentioned the csb to him so hey that was cool.
03/28/2017 11:47 AM
Me: Csb?
03/28/2017 11:48 AM
Charles: Chemical saftety board. Dad ffs I’ve been on and on about it.
03/28/2017 11:49 AM
Me: I was thinking Israel, Sorry
03/28/2017 11:50 AM
Charles: Well sarbanes seems to be against eliminiating the csb so that’s good.
03/28/2017 11:57 AM
Charles: I took the last slice of chocolate cake from the congressional cafeteria
03/28/2017 12:06 PM
Me: Good for you.
03/28/2017 12:06 PM
Me: Short form: Updated U.N. resolution adopted w/JCPOA probably not violated. Language was “shall not” is now “is called upon not to”. Euro accept this
03/28/2017 12:49 PM
Me: http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/02/03/513229839/did-irans-ballistic-missile-test-violate-a-u-n-resolution
03/28/2017 12:49 PM
Charles: I see.
03/28/2017 12:49 PM
Me: The U.S. is alone in this interpretation of missile tests
03/28/2017 12:50 PM
Charles: I actually already read that link
03/28/2017 12:50 PM
Charles: DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER ASKED ABOUT MY HAT
03/28/2017 1:45 PM
Charles: HOLY WHAT TODAY IS THE STRANGEST DAY
03/28/2017 1:46 PM
Charles: Oh and I did remember to tell him about hr 1221
03/28/2017 1:47 PM
Me: What weirdness happened this time?
03/28/2017 1:51 PM
Charles: He asked about my hat
03/28/2017 1:52 PM
Me: The duct tape blindfold?
03/28/2017 1:53 PM
Me: Who is he?
03/28/2017 1:53 PM
Charles: Dutch Ruppersberger is our representative
03/28/2017 1:54 PM
Me: He will remember your hat, though.
03/28/2017 1:55 PM
Charles: I hope so. Today is a good day.
03/28/2017 1:56 PM
Me: Better than yesterday?
03/28/2017 2:01 PM
Charles: Yes
03/28/2017 2:02 PM
Me: Make any new friends m
03/28/2017 2:02 PM
Charles: Does our rep count?
03/28/2017 2:03 PM
Me: Nope. You are a constituent, not a friend.
03/28/2017 2:03 PM
Me: I was actually wondering about other attendees.
03/28/2017 2:04 PM
Me: Text me when you’re headed home.
03/28/2017 2:52 PM
Charles: Ok, will be heading out soon
03/28/2017 2:55 PM

Charlie is at the AIPAC Conference

2 Comments

My son was one of two teens at our synagogue who were given to the opportunity to go the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) conference.

We dropped him off at the bus at 7:00am this morning

We’ve had some text  message exchanges, and they have been a complete hoot.  (We share our pinko proclivities)

I would appreciate hints on how to best extract an archive of Android text messages to a usable format, please respond.