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Kadima race in final stretch
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 17.09.08, 21:57
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1. Livni will continue the policies of Olmert
Laura ,   Israel   (09.17.08)
A tiny minority of the nations voters who make up Kadima party members will put the nation in the hands of another liar who would do anything, including selling out the country, to appease foreign, even enemy, interests. Kadima will then sit in power, in the incompetent hands of Livni, until 2010, thus circumventing desperately needed, immediate national elections. The wholly incapable Livni, with the help of a salivating left wing coalition, will fritter away whatever is left of our power. The risk to the nation is too horrific to contemplate.
2. 1# I dont think soo,but vote for her ........
Eric...... ,   Israel...   (09.17.08)
anyway .Livni has more brains than all of them put together.
3. #2 -Rubbish - It's not "brains". It's policy.
Laura ,   Israel   (09.17.08)
Livni is enormously incompetent. She is vastly way in over her head. She is a very poor communicator. She says one thing and does another. She completely misunderstood her role during the 2006 "war" with the Hizbos. Her "negotiations" with Rice and the UN were a complete fiasco. UNSCR 1701 has been a major national nightmare that came into being under her directive. Her incompetence alone has brought 40,000 enemy missiles and advanced weaponry to our borders and a continuation of the bloated UNIFIL "mandate" that is completely submissive to the Hizbos (and even advances Hizbo "policies"). But her main drawback is that she is Olmert's puppet. She will continue more of the same - and maybe worse. So no, #2, don't ever vote for this horrific excuse for a "politician".
4. The people demand General Elections NOW!
JAyyy ,   ISrael   (09.17.08)
5. Elections NOW - or we'll take to the streets!
Millie ,   Israel   (09.17.08)
ENOUGH! No Livni! No Kadima! We want elections NOW!!
6. And Olmert lied again and is not going to leave as promised!
redmike ,   Tel Aviv   (09.17.08)
Olmert promised to tender his resignation tomorrow but now says he will do it when Peres gets back from the States in two weeks time. It's clear that he has no intention of going until he's forced to. Will MKs or Mazuz do something? Mike
7. O!-western demo-crasy:15K voters deside next PM-good luck...
Bob ,   Moscow   (09.17.08)
8. turn out voters
colin   (09.17.08)
The proof of how many voters do not agree with thr kadime leftest systems.The same voting members basically telling Livni that she can go home. Kadima does not want her nor does the Israeli population Bring on the elections.
9. Israel is NOT a democracy
Jared ,   New York, USA   (09.17.08)
A handful of Kadima members get to pick the next prime minister in a country of 7 million people? Shameful. The antithesis of democracy.
10. So a minority of a minority are choosing the next PM
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, DC USA   (09.17.08)
As if we needed more evidence that Israel's system lacks legitimacy. A small minority of Kadima's membership (some 1% of Israel's populace) is now tasked with choosing the "party leader". That person will be tasked with establishing a coalition based on Kadima's plurality win (29% or so) in the last election, a mandate they can only dream of reaching in the coming election. What a system. What a mess.
11. In Israel Cream of the Crap floats to the top
Dr. Dave ,   NYC   (09.17.08)
LIvni will put the final nails in Israel's security coffin for the ayatollahs.
12. Israel = Democracy
Noah   (09.17.08)
Less than 1% of America's voting populace selected delegates to vote for their Presidential candidates. Only 30% of America's voting populace are estimated to vote in the general election in November. So according to the logic of antisemites posting nonsense, America isn't a democracy either.
13. Welcome to Kadimastan!
Zion   (09.17.08)
14. Low voter turn out because people are
Joe ,   Ohio, USA   (09.17.08)
sick to death of Kadima's policy's. If general elections were held I'm sure there'd be a stampede of voters to the polls voting someone else in.
15. Israel is an Oligarchy, not anywhere near a true democracy
Yonatan ,   Nahariya   (09.17.08)
In the USA there’s a choice, albeit repugnant choice of representation of candidates elected by popular vote for each office. Israel does not have this system, it is a holdover from an Imperialistic parliamentary system invented by the British. British rule was by Oligarchy and so Israeli rule is modeled after this system. Those who postulate of Israeli democracy are deluded and uneducated. We have a system of near tyrannical rule by political entities not adhering to any of the needs of a constituency. It is a very sad situation that such an anti-Semitic government as Britain could so easily influence a Jewish state. If you doubt my truthfulness please take a course in political science.
16. "congestion at polling stations"
Joe ,   Ohio, USA   (09.17.08)
nationwide. Livni associates expressed deep concern over the low voter turnout rate reported across the country." OK, so what is it??!! Low voter turn out that concerns Livni or the fact that Mofaz is better organized as the article later states? "Meanwhile, officials in the Mofaz camp are apparently less concerned about the low figures, as Mofaz is believed to enjoy better organizational support among large groups of voters." God I hate politicians! Why doesn't she just come out and tell the TRUTH. I want the polls open a little longer to better my chances of getting elected! Self serving lying scum buckets, all of them!!
17. The kadima members are like rats deserting
jason white ,   afula,israel   (09.17.08)
a sinking ship.
18. Only arabs would want to vote for her. Jews stay home.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (09.17.08)
19. #9 - Jared ignorant about democratic politics
Maurice ,   Montreal, Canada   (09.17.08)
In every democratic country (including Canada, Australia and theUK)) that is based on the British parlimentary system the head of a party is chosen by the REGISTERED PARTY MEMBERS only. Countrywise election is done only when there is an election to determine which party will govern. Israel uses the British parlimentary system as well. You should do your homework before you come and spill your ignorance here.
20. #10 - Raymond another ignorant
Maurice ,   Montreal Canada   (09.17.08)
Please read my answer to Jared on this same question. You Americans are so ignorant about what goes on on in other places it is amzing!
21. Kadima voting
Oslo, NORWAY   (09.17.08)
Israel is in need of a STRONG leader - not a (peace) dreamer!!!
22. Maurice (19, 20) - not the whole story
NL ,   tel aviv   (09.17.08)
I will concede that the replacement of PM in Israel is similar to, say, Gordon Brown replacing Blair as Labor chairman. However, you missed a key aspect of Israel's political system, I think. This latest election is representative of bigger issues of non-representational government. In the UK, candidate lists are chosen by registered party members and the prime minister is, in fact, elected by party. But many of the MPs are elected REGIONALLY - aka, Brits have constituencies (leading to direct representation per region and, hence, accountability), something that is sorely lacking in Israel. Particularly, a party like Kadima, which is a brand new party, has relatively few registered members and they are largely those 'in the family' so to speak, such that this type of internal voting is more problematic and more indicative of the issue of lack of accountability to Israeli citizens.
23. #12 NOAH
Jared ,   New York, USA   (09.17.08)
1%? You made that up. Hilliary Clinton alone received 18 million votes in the Democratic primaries. In a country of over 300,000,000 people, her votes alone were from more than 6% of the population. Nor have I seen any figure as low as 30% in any legitimate publication. Can you cite something as evidence? But you've missed the point entirely. In Israel, the members of ONE PARTY get to pick the next leader of the country, while the members of the other parties get no say. In America, the entire country gets to vote AFTER the party members pick their candidates. So yes, America is a democracy, and no, Israel is not, because in Israel, only the members of ONE PARTY get to select the next prime minister. Get it? And where is the anti-Semitism in ANY of these posts? If you say that Israel is not a real democracy, it means that you hate Jews? I, for one, AM a Jew. Such nonsense.
24. #19 CANADIAN
Jared ,   New York, USA   (09.17.08)
I think your reflexive anti-Americanism is clouding your judgment. How am I "ignorant"? I am fully aware of how the parliamentary system works. (I'm also a big fan of Steven Harper, your prime minister.) I also have a doctoral degree in law. So basically I'm "ignorant" because you disagree with me? Oh, yes, you're a very educated man. Your baseless personal attacks aside, the parliamentary system is not democratic, not matter how much you want to kick and scream and assert otherwise. In a democracy, people choose their leaders. In the parliamentary system, sometimes people choose their leaders, and sometimes only privileged party members choose their leaders. So fine, I'll level with you. Israel (and Canada, that frigid land to the north with about as much global importance as Luxembourg) are real democracies--sometimes.
25. Livni is a fraud---buys Arab votes
jw ,   usa   (09.17.08)
http://www.carolineglick.com/e/2008/09/mrs_clean_is_a_fraud.asp
26. 19/20, Maurice - Vote contracting is undemocratic
Noa ,   Israel   (09.17.08)
85% of Kadima's members are people who were brought into the party by vote contractors. These contractor sign up people to register for a specific party, however, there's no way to ensure they actually support the party and they are generally encouraged to register ahead of primaries in favor of one candidate or another. This is largely done among the Arab/Druze sector and Russian sector. According to Caroline Glick, Livni used Deputy Foreign Minister Majallie Whbee to sign up blocs of Livni voters in the Arab and Druse sectors and hired vote contractors to sign up blocs of voters on her behalf among the Russian community. There is no reason to believe that the Russian olim or the Arabs even support Kadima. They are just as likely to vote for another party in the general election. This type of behavior occurs, and is slimily undemocratic. Perhaps it's in the letter of the law for parliamentary democracies, but it's certainly not in line with the democratic spirit.
27. Livni is better looking than Mofaz. That's a priority.
Sam ,   Canada   (09.17.08)
Gimme a call when you are in Canada, Tzipi.
28. Whos that clown voting......
Tzioni ,   NY   (09.17.08)
Oh thats our Prime Minister.
29. #24 - Jared the American
Maurice ,   Canada   (09.18.08)
So accordng to your drivel Canada, UK and Australia are not true democracies! What about how the presidential candidates are selected in the US? The US primaries only represent a small percentage of the US population. Yet one of the two winners of the primaries will go on to be the President of the US. And that is democratic? Give me a break... And regarding Canada's influence around te world which you seem to belittle I got news for you. Canada is loved and respected everywhere whereas nowdays the US is seen with contempt and hate. Just travel a bit around the world and you will see. I even met in France an American who was trying to pas as a Canadian because he feared the reaction of people.
30. #29: Maurice, Eh!
Jared ,   New York, USA   (09.18.08)
No, it is not democratic when the members of one party get to pick a candidate who AUTOMATICALLY becomes the leader of the country. In America, the country gets to VOTE after each party has chosen its candidate. Don't you get it? The country gets a choice first. This is not the case in the parliamentary system. For a man who called me ignorant of world affairs, you seem to know little of how American government works. What's that all "aboot"? And I never said Canadians weren't beloved around the world. My father's family is Canadian and they're perfectly lovely. I said that Canada's importance in world affairs is roughly equal to that of Luxembourg. But you really are nice people, eh, and I love your maple syrup and, uh....whatever else Canada gives the world.
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