I first read it, and then I read it over and over again, at bartcop. I am reminded of this nickname today. Why?

Well...it would appear that President Obama is pretty darned intent upon pressuring Israel to bend and actually make progress towards a two-state solution. One of the very few facts about the Bush Presidency that I approved of was this: Bush was the first President since the creation of Israel to say publicly that his policy was the incarnation of a two-state end game. No other President had the political credibility to escape the flak from Zionists, or perhaps no other President had the political courage to cross that line and potentially anger them.

But a public statement is a fur piece from action, and Bush's stated two-state goal at the end of the day. As a matter of fact, this proves that Bush may have wanted peace for Israel and Palestine, but he dropped the ball and failed, probably due to a lack of enthusiasm, and distraction by way of the Iraq Invasion.

So in comparison with what Bush accomplished--practically nothing--President Obama's choices, words, and actual arm-twisting of the most right-wing leader of Israel makes Bush look positively weak, and stupid. Bush was led around by the nose by Ariel Sharon. Sharon's actions spoke volumes against Bush's words. Sharon acted as if he could not care less what Bush wanted in Israeli-Palestinian policy, much less a two-state solution. I am convinced that, back when Sharon had a functioning brain, he considered Bush very much to be weak and stupid.

But now we have a President who's not taking any guff from anyone--Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, et al. At least, his words and actions so far, anyway...