Democrats, meanwhile, will fret and act nervous, enhancing the public's perception that they are weak and losers. And of course, the perception will become reality, as the Democrats continue to drift and waver and generally look scared of the Republicans.

It's really all so predictable, isn't it?

The Democrats still can't define a clear path toward anything

The Republicans have defined a clear path, but it's the same path that got us into the mess in the first place

So you can pick the party without direction or you can pick the party headed in the wrong direction. Sadly, Obama is failing at leading. He's a good talker, but he needs to state his policy goals more firmly and get the Democrats to follow him in lock step. If he can't do that, the Democrats will continue to fail to win the confidence of the American people and the Republicans will win just because they seem to have direction, even if it's the wrong direction.

But it seems that AIPAC and its friends walk all over J Street.

This kind of delusion is only possible if one thinks of all Middle Eastern Muslim-majority nations as one undifferentiated mass. "You know, who can tell them apart? They all look alike . . . " It's also possible only if one's obsession with all things Israel has elevated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a significance it simply doesn't have to anyone but Jews and Palestinians. The rest of the world (including the Iranians) may have a horse in the race, but the stakes aren't really that high. It's absurd to think that any country will sacrifice anything of significance to solve a problem that affects it only marginally.

If MJ really wants to end the occupation, he should support BDS. BDS worked with South Africa and it might work against the Israeli equivalent of apartheid. But if MJ is unwilling to unequivocally condemn what Israel is doing and support sanctions against Israel, he's merely a silly eunuch, whining endlessly at an unnaturally high pitch.

Certainly, Israel would love it if the children of Palestinian refugees lost their refugee status under international law (as is usually the case). But the international community has recognized that this is an unusual case, in which Israel has refused to recognize its obligation to allow the refugees to return, and has therefore ruled that the descendants of the original refugees remain refugees and retain the right to return or at least be compensated for their loss. Goldberg may not like that, but the law is what it is, and the Palestinians truly are refugees under international law and Israel ultimately is responsible for their status as refugees.

They [the residents of Gaza] are only considered 'refugees' because the Arab states have refused to resettle them or build them permanent housing.

Actually, they are considered refugees because Israel has refused to let them return to their homes in territory controlled by Israel. The Arab states are not responsible for people who have become refugees because of Israeli policies.

If MJ really wants change, he must work for sanctions against Israel. Anything short of that is just embarrassing childishness.