Hamas War

Monday, January 17, 2011

Barak Backs Himself Into A Corner

Ehud Barak has left the Labor Party.  This may be his next exit from politics.  He was defeated after being Prime Minister and somehow bounced back, because Binyamin Netanyahu wanted a Center-Left government and appointed him Defense Minister.

Ehud Barak isn't all that popular with ordinary Israelis any more.  I can't imagine too many people voting for a breakaway party headed by him.  Like many former IDF Chiefs of Staff, he was pretty popular early on in his retirement from the army, but his reign as Prime Minister was so terrible, terrorist-terrible, that his luster was quickly tarnished.  The Labor Party itself hasn't been doing well in recent elections, and a split is the last thing it needed.

It's interesting that Barak is touting his new party/faction as Center, not Left.  That should have him fighting with Kadima and Bibi's vision of Likud for votes.

Politics is fun to watch, to observe.  I prefer it to reality TV.  It's the real thing....

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Politics is fun to watch, to observe. I prefer it to reality TV. It's the real thing.... "

Observe politics??
The real thing??
Speaks volumes of your definition of 'a genuine diamond', Mrs. Batya.

Batya said...

a, the politicians aren't any more real than an actor playing James Bond. Yes, they're genuine fakes.

Moriah said...

'Speaks volumes of your definition of 'a genuine diamond', Mrs. Batya."

Me thinks thou doth protest too much.

Anonymous said...

barak should have left public office after the intifada exploded all over him and his sycophantic suck-up activities with arafat.
that he stuck around tells me that he is dangerously arrogant. he really believes he can save the country, and without him the country would be in trouble. he even snowed the americans, convincing them how influential he was; look how that turned out.
now he destroyed labor. just leave in shame, ehud!

Batya said...

Barak has American backing. That's why he managed to return to political leadership, though it didn't help his Labor party with the voters. And he doesn't have much influence in Labor, so his leaving means he can boss his new party around until it gets stuck without enough voters to make the minimum cut... unless he joins Likud as a faction before the next elections.

Hadassa said...

Shalom!
Barak joining the Likud?! Might as well have Likud officially merge with Labor instead of just carrying out their policies.

Batya said...

Hard to believe, but that's what it looks like. Bibi just gave Barak's whole little faction expensive gifts. Next he'll give them seats if they'll agree to sit with Likud. Since they can't stay MK's next term as Labor...

Anonymous said...

Batya, tip: check out Rabbi Ginsburghs twitters (inner.org) from the past two days or so.

Batya said...

I can't remember the last time I signed in to twitter. Can you just send me some? Thanks

Anonymous said...

No need to sign in, just go to inner.org

Batya said...

thanks
but what are you referring to?