Comments on: Primary considerations

By: Emanuel Shahaf

Emanuel Shahaf — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:22:58 +0000

I didn’t decry the primaries as unfair, slanted or undemocratic. All I said was that they provide a semblance of democracy and they benefit people with a lot of media exposure. THe words you used are your interpretations. I described facts. Your comment, as so many others is full of bluster but there is nothing of substance whatsoever. And I really do not understand the unpleasantness.

By: Emanuel Shahaf

Emanuel Shahaf — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:05:01 +0000

Mr. Goldberg – what is it with you ? I didn’t say the voters made a mistake. I said why they voted the way they did. If it’s a mistake that will depend on how the elected members of the Knesset will do. I even pointed out that based on our experience with Shelly Yechimovich (who was elected very much based on her media exposure), they might just do well. I also didn’t write anything about ignorant Labor members, I just wrote that media exosure is more important than anything else. For reasons I really can’t fathom, you seem to take a personal delight in being unpleasant in your comments which incidentally indicate that your reading comprehension is not something to write home about. Your interpretation of the numbers is similarly faulty and shows that you haven’t got the foggiest idea what primary elections are like.

By: עמנואל שחף

עמנואל שחף — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:28:17 +0000

I never made a comment as per your para. 1. And yes, absolutely, I have a very tangible interest in pursuing a strong pro-Israeli agenda. I'd like this country to prosper economically which it can't on the long run unless it resolves its issue with the Palestinians.

By: Buffy Hutchinson

Buffy Hutchinson — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:13:26 +0000

embarrasing

By: Arie's Pragmatic Politics

Arie's Pragmatic Politics — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:40:09 +0000

Two Questions:

1. Are you off the top of the list because of the comments you made in this very media that Tzahal was purposely targeting kids in Gaza (and yes I saved your posts)

2. Where does your financial interest in an islamist state fall into what is not so arguably a pro-Arab agenda?

Care to give us a TRUTHFUL answer?

By: Arie's Pragmatic Politics

Arie's Pragmatic Politics — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:39:32 +0000

Two Questions:

1. Are you off the top of the list because of the comments you made in this very media that Tzahal was purposely targeting kids in Gaza (and yes I saved your posts).

2. Where does your financial interest in an islamist state fall into what is not so arguably a pro-Arab agenda?

Care to give us a TRUTHFUL answer?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:08:14 +0000

That sounds very much, Tuvia, like a clue from the Times crossword puzzle.

By: Herbert Kaine

Herbert Kaine — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:18:35 +0000

I don't think your postings here helped your chances much, as you revealed your Israel hating ideology, which is more in line with Balad or Hezbollah than with Labor. You did mention that there are several slots reserved for women. One strategy you might try is to undergo a sex change operation. Becoming a transgender individual would garner a lot of attention and show your dedication to the Labor party.

By: Tuvia Fogel

Tuvia Fogel — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 17:23:54 +0000

You put your finger right on it, Daniel. Shahaf didn't get past them, therefore primaries only 'provide a semblance of democracy'. When the left loses a national election, that country is no longer democratic, didn't you know? Pathetic.

By: Tuvia Fogel

Tuvia Fogel — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 17:20:49 +0000

Figured the blistered caricature had bored surfers?

By: עמנואל שחף

עמנואל שחף — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:34:47 +0000

Leon, believe me, my ideas had nothing to do with this. There were people elected to the list who are more to the left and more outspoken than I am. The difference was that some people got a lot of visibility (or had it in the first place) and some didn't get any. Nobody who had a minimum of media coverage was marginalized except for Yariv Oppenheimer who gets a lot of negative fallout, not because his positions are problematic but because he is identfied with Peace Now which is a red flag for some Labor stalwarts.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:56:39 +0000

Here's a thought, Emanuel.

Why not run as an independent? Campaign as a party of one?

If the business of getting elected is, in large part, down to a question of publicity, then adopting the following platform might see you safely ensconced in the Knesset and commanding well in excess of a 600 vote following.

http://yorketowers.blogspot.com

If someone has figured out how to end this 65 year-old conflict – and virtually all others of a similiar stripe – then the fame (or notoriety) of introducing such a method into the body politic would see you set up for life.

So, if you really want to get yourself noticed – and that does seem to be a prime mover in these matters – this might be just the thing to achieve that very necessary purpose. And thereafter, who knows?

By: Ilan Toren

Ilan Toren — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:18:07 +0000

The primary system has a big fault in that there are blocks of delegates that are being managed. With only 35,000 delegates voting (less than the in the Bayit HaYehudi) the fates of candidates are decided by the Histadrut and the Arab vote contractors. By the contrast the Likud had a more democratic primary since with about twice the number of people voting the organized blocs had much less influence. On the whole the Labor elected a strongly Left list and the Likud a strong right bloc. It will be a good contest of what the Israeli public wants come elections.

By: עמנואל שחף

עמנואל שחף — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 08:53:21 +0000

David, a pleasure as always, and I still don't know why. I represented my impressions and I doubt that anybody really will take issue with my conclusions. And your conclusion, that 98% of the voters did not consider me a worthy candidate is a possible reading of the facts but not a likely one. A more likely conclusion due to the importance of media coverage, that most of the voters didn't know about me. And David, why the venom ?

By: Leor Blumenthal

Leor Blumenthal — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 08:42:38 +0000

So basically you got only a few hundred votes, not nearly enough to have a snowball's chance in the Elemental Plane of Fire of making it into the next Knesset, but the problem is some sort of Histadrut patronage mill? Seriously? Mr. Shahaf, whatever the problems of the primary systems of the major Israeli political parties (and there are many) this isn't Tammany Hall. You and your ideas are not popular with Labor party voters.