[Peace-discuss] Uncle Noam on the BBC

[Stuart Levy]

On Thu, Nov 06, 2008 at 10:33:27AM -0600, Robert Naiman wrote:
> The Prophet was on the BBC this morning. The Prophet says: what
> matters is what people do with their disappointment when Obama fails
> to meet their expectations. He noted that there was also a burst of
> idealism around Kennedy, which fueled the activist movements of the
> 60s when Kennedy failed to meet expectations.



And just what expectations do we have of him?  
Lots of groups are going to be telling Pres. Elect Obama what
they expect him to do and not do.  We need to tell him too! and not
simply wait for him to disappoint us.

J Street PAC is doing something that seems just right I think:
saying plainly what they/we trust he will do in a petition
for which they're gathering signatures, and better, 
they're buying a full-page New York Times ad which makes
those expectations public.  (And if he's said things to AIPAC
that contradict statements he's made elsewhere, we don't need to
mention those right now.)  It reads

    http://action.jstreet.org/t/3945/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=491


      You Bring a Promise of Change to America and Hope to Israel and the Middle East

    On Tuesday, Americans - including the overwhelming majority of American Jews -
    rejected fear and smear campaigns.  They chose to support you, your values and
    your promise of far-reaching change.

    As President, you will now face daunting challenges at home and abroad -
    not least in the Middle East.  J Street salutes your commitment to diplomacy
    in the Middle East, to prioritizing comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace,
    to direct engagement with Iran and to ending the war in Iraq.

    We applaud your recognition that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
    conflict is vital to Israel's security and future well being as well as to
    regional stability.

    J Street and the vast majority of American Jews support these views.
    We are mobilized as never before to help you fulfill this important
    mandate for change.