Gene Lyons: Netanyahu and his friends sucker-punch selves

[flpoljunkie]

WEDNESDAY, JUN 1, 2011

Netanyahu and his friends sucker-punch selves
The far-right Israeli leader and his far-right American allies tried to turn Americans against Obama -- and failed

BY GENE LYONS

It’s a mistake for a political party to believe its own propaganda. The right has depicted President Obama as a leader easily pushed around.

So why has the president been outflanking his conservative detractors so regularly of late? Partly because Obama’s a political counterpuncher: He waits for his overconfident opponent to make a mistake, and then strikes decisively.

Rep. Paul Ryan, for example, still doesn’t know what hit him. There Ryan was, the man with a plan, the star of GOP talk shows. Except he was tricked into going first. He revealed this absurd scheme to slash taxes on millionaires and privatize Medicare -- handing out vouchers so Alzheimer’s patients could shop for health-insurance bargains.

The next thing you know, Ryan was crying that Obama was a big meanie for denouncing the plan to his face. Republicans got tied into knots over Newt Gingrich labeling it "right-wing social engineering." Adding to their pain: Gingrich said it on "Meet the Press" (but he now says anybody quoting what he actually said is a liar).

more...

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/01/lyons_netanyahu_obama/index.html

[Whisp]

1. K&R

[CakeGrrl]

2. Good points.

Unfortunately, a lot of people lack the patience to appreciate that strategy. It's interpreted as passivity and weakness, no matter the long-term benefit.

[Harmony Blue]

3. Patience indeed is the best way to beat

overconfident bullies. Obama is cool as a cucumber, but when he counter punches he hits like a load of bricks. I just wish he didn't give up so much ground to set up his counter punches, but I suppose they are that more effective this way.

[The Unawriter]

4. Netanyahu is a thug

Israel deserves Better than Bibi.