for them!

They have things to do. I'm glad.

Talk about mealy-mouthed!

It's a brilliant strategy really, they're sending a message by not taking any official stance. In other words...

"YAWN, what Netanya ...who ?...Oh...ok that's nice have fun with that."

Boycott.

stupid or mendacious to check with the President before arranging a visit proves that the guy is UNIMPORTANT.

And the fact that he stuffed Bonehead under the bus ("Waaah--I thought he checked with POTUS&quot shows what a chickenshit the guy is.

Don't give him the ATTENTION that a boycott deserves. Politicians should just go get their fades refreshed, or their nails done, or pick up that drycleaning...I mean, really--everyone's busy, aren't they?

Oh the horror if Democrats should dishonor Israel so much as to boycott it's leader when he comes to Congress. But, on the other hand, simply not showing up due to "other engagements" and constituent demands, simply means attending to their jobs, sorry guy. What scares Netanyahu is getting blamed with polarizing American support for Israel along partisan lines. That is viewed as endangering Israel's national security since they depend so much on strong American support across the political spectrum. Statements like the one Pelosi just made are understood quite well inside Israel without handing our Republicans a talking point on a silver platter.

Netanyahu has another thing coming if he thinks he's going to have anyone besides maybe Ted Cruz, Jim Inhofe, and Lindsey Graham hanging on his every plattitude.

Now tying to back-step will contribute to more indifference from many Dems .

AIPAC has gotten 80+% Congress participation in past meetings. Check Youtube.

This is a shock to them. Congress is supposed to roolover. Immediately.

It is a political move by Boehner and Netanyahu which calls for a political response from Democrats.

Pelosi is not speaker and it's because the Democrats don't control the House. She was a very effective speaker for us.

and she was indeed a very effective speaker.

Why not make it official?

with the "impeachment is off the table" speech that cut a lot of reform off right at the knees.

Several elected officials are openly discussing whether or not they themselves should attention and all those that are pondering are also criticizing Boehner for using this as a political football.

Each member should do it or don't but take a stand either way.

there should be an epidemic of democratic blue flu going around.

it's more insulting to say "Love to be there, but I really need to get my sock drawer straightened out and that's the only time I have to do it."

Pelosi's smart. The operative words are bolded here:

"I don't think anybody should use the word 'boycott,'" Pelosi said in her weekly press conference. "When these heads of state come, people are here doing their work, they're trying to pass legislation, they're meeting with their constituents and the rest. It's not a high-priority item for them" (meaning Democratic legislators).

Several of you don't get it. This is Pelosi's way of letting Dems tell Bibi he's just not all that.

which may be because they both ARE idiots.

Anyway, why should the American Congressional Democrats get involved in another country's third-rate politician's electioneering? They have enough with their own Republicans! And I hope the Israeli voters see through Bibi too, and FINALLY dump him!!!

and gives Boehner more reason to display his smug orange smirk. Nancy is spot on: while the republican congress continues its do-nothing ways, the democrats have twice the work to do and weight to lift. No time for politician nonsense.

One might have to use the toilet when he's speaking. One just never knows.

Source: JOSH MARSHALL TPM

Think the Netanyahu speech lead up is going well? Now even Abe Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), one of the oldest and most respected institutions of American Jewry, is saying the speech should be canceled. Foxman has run the ADL for almost thirty years. In the American Jewish community, it does not get anymore establishment than that.

There's another element of this too. It is fair to say that over the course of his tenure Foxman has become increasingly known for speaking out against criticisms of Israel, even in cases where the criticisms are from Jews and focus on policies and actions that are the subject of political contention within Israel.

This is not meant as a criticism, or at least not raised as such in this context. And plenty of people would dispute the contention. But I raise the point because if anyone was going to suggest that Netanyahu was being unfairly treated, if anyone was going to buck the trend of criticizing this stunt or saying the speech should be canceled, it would be Foxman. His saying this makes clear that there's simply no defending it. It makes equally clear that more than anything else this stunt is damaging to the US-Israel alliance, which is the lynchpin of the country's security.

I agree with the posters on this thread who see this "no boycott" statement as a work of political finesse on Pelosi's part. This is how to deal with Bibi.

But i believe they enjoy the bullying that billions brings.

message in a perfectly dismissive manner. Just one of the many reasons I support her.

Nicely played ma'am.

Will the repukes be able to sneak in a vote on something?

But my cat needs a bath.

...who happens to be a teabagger, Hererra Buetler; but I expect a response letting me know their position on attending his political speech to OUR Congress. I'm asking all three of them NOT to attend.

This is a GREAT way for Democrats to handle the situation! Repugs would probably all stay home and make a lot of huffy statements, if the reverse were true. I doubt, more and more that this speech will happen (if "Bibi" has any sense, that is).