TPMtv: A Chat with Eric Alterman

Your Daily Politics Video Blog: TPMtv talked to Nation columnist and blogger Eric Alterman at a panel on "Why We Need a Liberal Israel Lobby" at the 92nd St. Y in Manhattan earlier this week. Alterman explains how the Chas Freeman affair belies the concept of a 'Team Of Rivals' and why he's not optimistic the Obama Administration will knock Israel off its current track. Plus, he explains how the changing climate in journalism when it comes to Israel is a small reason for hope.

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[daderone]

why are people such as yourself so intent on trying to simplify the world into the small perspective you have of it?

otherwise thanks for making my point about those determined to polarize.

[daderone]

I was a little disappointed w/ Alterman here. I'm Jewish, pro-peace & support Israel and a 2 state solution. Hes open to his opinion but I just wish I agreed w/ his perspective. I don't, thats ok, I'm a little more optimistic & less rigid.

there are diverse opinions and perspectives and we need more voices of people who truely care instead of those determined to polarize and bring conflict and or hate into the equation.

I think most people realize how bigoted youtube can get, its sad.

[ohioguy7]

@daderone

Yes there is some bigoted stuff on youtube. But an amazing amount of factual things that are hard to find elsewhere. After right wing Israel yet again insulting a US President it is hard to be optimistic, unless we stop all aid and then maybe the reasonable people in Israel will organize better and vote out the extremists.

[ohioguy7]

Israel is strong and does not need our money.

Ask Congress why we are sending money we need here to right wing Israel ?

I did and a girl said because of World War 2 ! After easily defeating that old tune she had no response. Most people have a knee-jerk support for Israel, no matter how many kids they kill. We can change some of their minds.

[xanderkhaan]

LMAO IZREAL STARTED THE 6 DAY WAR , SUPPRISE ATTACK WAR THATS WHY THEY WON THEY TOOK PALS LAND AND PUT THEM INTO REGUEE CAMPS THEY CANT VOTE SO daderone STOP LIEING IZREAL WANTS NO CHRISTIANS EITHER

ISREAL DONT NOT WANT A 2 STATE SOLUTION AND EVERY DAY THEY BULD ILLEGAL SETTELMENTS. IT IS AN EVIL RACIST APARTHIED STATE

[tickhound]

gag

[rationalskeptic7718]

The bottom line is that muslims think that jews dropped the ball w/god's supposed promise and the jews still think they must occupy all of greater Israel to bring their mashiach while christians in our gov't support jews in their settlement activity and plan for greater Israel because once they all occupy Israel their messiah supposedly "comes back" ,,,and then all the jews get slaughters by j-zeus. A prime example of how religion poisons everything.

[daderone]

I don't think Israel is perfect but you misrepresenting things makes it hard to have a real discussion about the realities and where we go from here. This notion that one should be anti-Israel in order to be pro-peace is beyond absurd. Especially considering most of the people Israel has to deal with reject peace on its face and its often Israel who is the one reaching out to people that won't even recognize their right to exist as a nation.

I want peace, there is a lot of work to do.

[daderone]

what war? I didn't mention any war. Yes 30 years ago, when Israel was invaded in a suprise attack on Yom Kippur by Egypt and Syria, or when attacks were being launched against Israel from within Palestine? Or are you speaking of the 30 years ago when the 6 day war occured and Israel was forced to fight off Syria, Jordan and Egypt?

Thats history, your other comments r also misrepresentations. Israel contd 2 allow in humanitarian aide even while Hamas violated, rejected truce & attacked Israel.

[calgore21]

No I honestly don't care about that war. It's just, 30 years ago Palestine was roughly the same size as Israel, now, it's a few tiny scraps of land.

Israel's response to a few rockets by completely destroying Palestine was extreme.

Israel blocked global aid to Palestine for weeks.

Israel only stopped the war when their global image started to deteriorate.

[daderone]

Israel is actually quite the diverse place, I doubt you have been. There are people of many different religions and many who don't attach themselves to a religion. The world's intervention? Israel could wipe out Palestine in a matter of minutes, thats never been their goal and its repugnant for you to suggest that when last I checked they withdrew from Gaza and reaching out to their neighbors.

I don't know why u want 2 characterize things in such an immature and inaccurate fashion. hate?

[calgore21]

Israel is a bunch of religious extremists and have been colonizing Palestine's land for decades. If it wasn't for the world's intervention they'd be happy to completely wipe Palestine off the map.