The World Around You

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The Political Wire notes rumblings that Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante will drop out of the recall race. This would position the race to be what it should have been from the beginning, Gray Davis vs. Arnold.

I don’t live in California, so my opinion doesn’t matter, but I do think using the recall in this manner is an extremely dangerous proposition. On the other hand, it sure has been fun to watch.

UPDATE: Daily Kos has some comments on this news as well.

Thomas Friedman offers the earth shattering opinion that neither the Palestinians or Israelis believe there is anyone they can talk to on the other side. He acknowledges that this isn’t really news. However,

When you actually talk to people on both sides, though, you find that they still desperately want choices — even if their leaders tell them they have none. I interviewed young fighters from Yasir Arafat’s Tanzim militia. What I remember most was when one of them, Anas Assaf, became emotional. Once was when I asked him what would happen if Israel threw out Mr. Arafat. Palestinians would turn the area into a “hell” for Israel, he shot back. The other was when he talked about his dream of going to the University of Memphis, where his uncle lived, “to study engineering.”

That is the whole story: Anas is ready to die for Yasir Arafat but wants to live for the University of Memphis. He has interests and passions, and it is possible to alter the balance between them.

It’s time for Israel to try that — yes, yet again. Israel has incredible strength. I saw that in how individual Israelis responded to the suicide bombings — by defiantly riding the same bus lines and going to the same cafes the day after they were blown up. But while individual Israelis behave with great strength, their current government behaves as if Israel is a weak little victim.

I agree. I have read too much lately about Israel having their hand forced and that they are the real victims. The victim mentality is what is bogging down the process of reaching an accord in this region. Both sides claim they are being victimized by the other, instead of offering a real alternative to their people.

It’s the leadership on both sides that are failing us. And,

I know a vast majority of Israelis want a decent, normal society, but their ideologically driven leaders are lost in space, squandering their people’s great strength rather than channeling it into creative options. And the Bush team, which should be acting as a reality check, has fallen so deep into the pocket of Ariel Sharon you can’t even find it anymore.

Bush team, reality check? It just doesn’t seem to go together does it?