Sheldon Adelson Could Buy Bibi a Very Effective October Surprise
The Internet is abuzz today with Sheldon Adelson’s announcement that he has already donated $10 million to Mitt Romney’s SuperPAC and plans to provide limitless donations to defeat Obama.
Forbes has confirmed that billionaire Sheldon Adelson, along with his wife Miriam, has donated $10 million to the leading Super PAC supporting presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A well-placed source in the Adelson camp with direct knowledge of the casino billionaire’s thinking says that further donations will be “limitless.”
But the attention is mostly focused on the sheer numbers he’s talking about, not what it suggests that Adelson–who already spent buckets of money to try to defeat Mitt in the primary–has now promised limitless donations to defeat Obama.
This is about Likud trying to decide the American elections.
Adelson doesn’t hide the fact that this donation is about Israel as much as it is Obama’s “socialism.”
Adelson, this source continues, believes that “no price is too high” to protect the U.S. from what he sees as Obama’s “socialization” of America, as well as securing the safety of Israel. He added that Adelson, 78, considers this to be the most important election of his lifetime.
Nor is it surprising he’s doing this. More than he is for any of these American politicians, Adelson is Bibi Netanyahu’s Sugar Daddy. And Obama has been remarkably successful thus far in stymying Bibi’s goal of forcing the US to attack Iran. In addition to the sanctions regime that has brought about negotiations, in recent months, the Administration has leaked both a white paper showing that an Iran attack would do nothing but set off a regional war and news of the bases in Azerbaijan Israel would use if it unilaterally attacked Iran. David Sanger quoted Presidential briefers and Joe Biden–Bibi’s old nemesis–blaming Israel for freeing StuxNet, possibly intentionally. Leon Panetta has, on the record, told the entire world, including Iran, when Israel planned to attack. (I actually thought Panetta’s latest 60 Minutes appearance might have been an attempt to placate Israel.)
It may appear to us that the Administration continues typical American policy of capitulating to Israel. But the Obama Administration has taken surprisingly strong measures to push back against Israel.
And now Sheldon Adelson has promised to use unlimited funds to get rid of President Obama.
As much as the money concerns me, that’s not what I worry about the most. The Israelis have never been shy about running off-the-books operations to influence our policies. Indeed, they played a role in Iran-Contra, the start of which goes back to the last October Surprise plot to make sure a Democrat didn’t get reelected in 1980. And the state of affairs in Israel’s neighborhood (both Syria and Egypt would be excellent candidates, though if I were Turkey I’d be cautious, too) is such that it would be very very very easy to create an October Surprise that would make it a lot harder for Obama to get reelected.
Bibi’s Sugar Daddy just announced the world he will do anything in his power to defeat Obama. You can be sure Bibi feels the same way.
Update: Iran/Israel confusion fixed, h/t vl.
You wrote, “And Obama has been remarkably successful thus far in stymying Bibi’s goal of forcing the US to attack Israel.” Israel?!? Or Iran?
@Stewart Penketh: Thanks, fixed it.
It may appear to us that the Administration continues typical American policy of capitulating to Israel. But the Obama Administration has taken surprisingly strong measures to push back against Israel.
There is a difference between that and preventing a war that would engulf the whole Middle East.
I’m suprised I haven’t seen mention of the irony of Mitt taking “casino money” as an LDS leader.
I doubt Mormons in general are happy about that, as it strikes at the heart of the Church’s teachings. But it’s illuminating, for sure.
@OL: The Pioneers in the Republican fund raising arm apparently march on though leaders have fallen. Money just seems to have a life of its own.
Is Adelson equivalent to Murdoch?
See for yourself..(Excerpt)
“Israel Today” to set up own printing house
Until now, the free daily newspaper, owned by Sheldon Adelson, has been printed by “Haaretz”.
31 May 12 19:24, Lilach Weissman and Li-or Averbach
Sources inform ”Globes” that “Israel Today” has initiated steps to establish its own printing house. Until now, the free daily newspaper, owned by Sheldon Adelson, has been printed by “Haaretz”, and has also used “Haaretz’s” distribution network.
.
“Israel Today” has also begun setting up studios at its premises for broadcasting on a news website, which is now being established as part of a wider digital system. It cannot be ruled out that, in the future, Adelson will create full television broadcasts.
“Israel Today” declined to comment on the report.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – http://www.globes-online.com – on May 31, 2012
“Israel Today” to set up own printing house – Globes
Until now, the free daily newspaper, owned by Sheldon Adelson, has been printed by Haaretz… …
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=... – Cached
@OL:
Ralph Reed and his evangelicals were taking casino money FROM Jack Abramoff and Scanlon,remember?
@OL:
IOKIYAAM! When you take money from folks not in your cult, God says go for it.
@JThomason & Mary McC and Gitchee:
I know I read several entire spiels justifying how the good works it is used for in a way sanctifies the money, (sorcery, if you ask me, ha) But still. It seems most Screwtaped. As a matter of doctrine, they are supposed to avoid certain appearances and associations, if you know what I mean.
“No price” is too high for the “protection” of Israel. Hmmm, I guess that would pretty clearly include the price of harming U.S. national security. Is Romney breaking the law by accepting this money?
Justin Raimondo (http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2012/01/24/adelson-gingrich-and-the-selling-of-america/): “it is a national disgrace that Miriam Adelson – who has not renounced her Israeli citizenship – can write a $5 million check and hand it to a candidate who is beating the war drums day and night on Israel’s behalf. Political contributions from foreign sources are illegal, and that’s the way it ought to be: but what about dual citizens? Should they be allowed to influence the American political process in favor of their other allegiance – and, while we’re on the subject, why do we allow dual citizenship, anyway?
As I remember it, the folks that kept Howard Hughes spaced out with “feel good” drug IVs when he lived in Las Vegas and bought all those casinos from the mob were Mormons.
@MadDog:
And when Hughes was being attended by the Mormons, it was at the Sands,which he purchased in the’60’s.(Wasn’t Marihugh his trusted advisor?)
Didn’t CIA enlist Mormons years ago for their genealogy accumulation processes?
Same Sands Hotel as Adelson is affiliated ,no?
Howard Hughes – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Early years|Hollywood years|Aviation|RKO
Hughes’ considerable business holdings were overseen by a small panel unofficially dubbed “The Mormon Mafia” because of the many Latter-day Saints on the …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Hughes – Cached
@Gitcheegumee:
Didn’t CIA enlist Mormons years ago for their genealogy accumulation processes?
The problem is that it’s pretty much impossible to see anything less than 70 years old. Which isn’t going to help the CIA at all.
@P J Evans:@P J Evans:
Where did you get the 70 year figure,just out of curiosity?
@Gitcheegumee:
And not to put too fine a point on the discussion,per Wiki-a very brief intro :
The doctrines of the Latter Day Saint movement, commonly referred to as Mormonism, teach that its adherents are either direct descendants of the House of Israel, or are adopted into it. As such, Judaism is foundational to the history of Mormonism; the Jewish people are considered a covenant people of God, held in high esteem, and are respected in the Mormon faith system. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is consequently very philo-Semitic in its doctrine.
“But the Obama Administration has taken surprisingly strong measures to push back against Israel.”
Surprisingly being the key word. What, exactly, might those strong measures be?
Of course, “securing the safety” of “Israel” is only about making sure Israel’s right can do whatever it wants. They actively treat the Israeli left as traitors and fifth columnists—not unlike Republicans on Democrats during Bush’s first term.
Didn’t see the moderate queue after I posted, so trying again.
I have often wondered if church records, including that of things like priesthood interview notes, Bishop’s courts, LDS social services and geneology records were available to Federal Government.
Secondly, And along the lines of what I called “associations” is this, from a Bishop’s interview:
“Do you affiliate with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or do you sympathize with the precepts of any such group or individual?”
— Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Casino money itself is bad or good, but. And I do see this is not exactly fresh hay:
http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_Reid.html
Thanks all for pointing that out, I did not know of whom or how it was being justified, personally, it is very disturbing to see both the legacy and depth of it. I thought the position was that it was an “abomination” which interfaces a host of ethic quandries? I’m just not getting it.