I've listened to a couple of hours of the Republicans and have to go wash my ears out with soap, but one think I'd note is that I haven't heard the I word once, Israel. I feel like I heard it a bunch at the Democratic convention. It's an issue close to Lieberman's heart, all he said was that he and McCain "traveled the world" together. Didn't mention Israel. Which proves? One, very few Republican delegates are Jews; just look at the red state percentages of Jews, Alaska .5 percent, Indiana .3, Iowa .2. Two, it's not an issue for non-Jewish Americans, they don't really care. My friend Steve F. says that U.S. policy wouldn't change if there was no Israel lobby. I say, the Israel lobby is the only interest that really cares and is at the table. Three, Conventions are about voters, not donors. Big donors to the Republican Party get their Israel-reassurance in phone calls and emails.
Another question: Why did Lieberman do it? Pique; he's obviously still angry at the Lamont thing, two years ago. Ambition, Sec'y of State. And I bet he's for an undivided Jerusalem. Just guessing–he wants to move our embassy there.
