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Bill Shaheen: Brokering Middle East Peace?

The Post's Anne E. Kornblut filed this dispatch for The Fix:

If Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is elected president, will she make Bill Shaheen her special envoy to the Middle East?

Doubtful. Nevertheless, Shaheen said that in exchange for his recent endorsement of Clinton's campaign -- a major "get" in New Hampshire politics -- he asked Clinton to send him over to negotiate with the Israelis and Palestinians if she wins the White House.

"I think I've got something to offer," Shaheen said in a phone interview on Monday, after he was quoted in a New Hampshire blog as saying the senator had promised him a slot on the peace team.

In the interview, he said it wasn't exactly a quid pro quo. "It wasn't a promise promise," he said, "I told her I feel strongly about it." Clinton, he said, told him: "I'm sure it's going to be a huge process."

Shaheen, the husband of former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and a second-generation Lebanese American, said he had worked alongside former President Jimmy Carter as an elections monitor in the Palestinian territories.

Does he agree with Carter's controversial characterization of the Israeli occupation as amounting to "apartheid"?

No, Shaheen said. His description of the Middle East: "I think there are people who are not being treated very nicely. They want their own freedom."

Wise words from a would-be diplomat.

-- Anne E. Kornblut

By Chris Cillizza |  March 26, 2007; 6:30 PM ET  | Category:  Eye on 2008
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Posted by: inox | April 10, 2007 9:45 AM

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Posted by: 8nexcuwxb1 | April 8, 2007 4:24 PM

US President Tim Kalemkarian, US Senate Tim Kalemkarian, US House Tim Kalemkarian: best major candidate.

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Posted by: 41oo7xn85o | March 30, 2007 10:45 AM

Blasphemy, NH Observer! How dare you criticize the brilliant political mind that found hidden charisma and dynamism and potential in candidates in whom the normal observer wouldn't have found any trace of such qualities -- candidates like John Kerry, and Jim Craig.

Early on, Bill Shaheen saw that Kerry had it within him to -- well, presumably to do something other than crash and burn by being so fundamentally incapable of relating to normal human beings that most voters actually considered him a worse choice than George W. Bush. So I guess that didn't turn out so good.

But Jim Craig, Bill's handpicked candidate for Congress in NH's 1st CD, that's a different matter. Jim charged into the race and campaigned with all the force and dynamism of a Portuguese man o' war -- not the ship, sad to say, but the jellyfish: specifically, the force and dynamism of a jellyfish on a sidewalk. In January. In Greenland. And even with the support of NH party hacks and a rare DCCC primary endorsement, Jim managed to get his patootie kicked eight ways from Sunday by an extremely underfunded grassroots candidate (who then went on to win the seat). Okay, so maybe that one didn't turn out too good, either.

But still, you have to acknowledge and respect his position as a NH elder statesman and kingmaker, because ... because ... um ... because he says so?

Posted by: NH Dem | March 30, 2007 12:40 AM

Billy Shaheen is a blustery hack who rode his wife's coat tails to this absurd reputation as a kingmaker. It's time for him to realize that nobody gives a rat's ass what he thinks.

Posted by: NH Observer | March 28, 2007 7:15 PM

Chris,

You may want to see our take of it over at Blue Hampshire here:

http://bluehampshire.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=604

and here:

http://bluehampshire.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=616

I was there and I never heard anything that smacked of a quid pro quo.

The real news of that meeting, to me, was to hear Bill's thoughts on the prosecutor purge, since he was someone with a highly partisan campaign post with Carter who subsequently became a US Attorney.

Bill said that after he was confirmed, Carter said to him, "We won't talk for four years."

How far we have fallen from that standard in BushWorld.

Posted by: Dean | March 27, 2007 7:33 PM

Judge: I have found folks like to be liked for what they are. The enemy, as I think you are referring to competetion, as in sports etc., are folks who have a close to love feeling about their opponents. This applies to the political arena as well.

Posted by: lylepink | March 27, 2007 11:47 AM

Shaheen will suggest more bending over backwards to support the Palestenians, much like Bill Clinton did for his time in office. This will give Palestenian terrorists a place to hide and launch attacks on Israel, as I"m sure part of Shaheen's plan involves Israel giving up more land. This is a battle that began with the descendants of Isaac and Ishmeal many many years ago and will never end. Again, much to the distain of liberal doctrine, this is something we can't control. Israel and Palestine had been at war for longer than anyone currently on this Earth has been alive and will still be at war long after we are all dead and gone. We cannot change their deepest beliefs. We cannot, regardless of liberal doctrine. Both factions believe they have a stake on that land, and are willing to die to have it. This is just a part of God's soverign word and foretold events that we can't change.We, maybe, can do things to improve the situation from time to time but we can't change their most intimate beliefs and we can't stop the war.

Posted by: reason | March 27, 2007 10:36 AM

lylepink: FWIW I think that people instinctively seek out enemies. I have listened to HRC and am impressed by her intellect and ability to grasp the issues even though I favor Obama. I am sympathetic to those who feel she is heavily 'crafted' but heck, so was Al Gore. It's hard to imagine how much better off we'd be with him in the WH right now.

We on the D side are suffering from an embarassment of riches: too many good candidate to choose from. So we differentiate on the basis of things like how the other side will react to our chosen candidate which, while a harsh reality, seems pretty silly on the face of it. Do you see any R's invoking that logic? They don't give a darn.

Posted by: Judge C. Crater | March 27, 2007 9:39 AM

For all on this blog: My strong support for Hillary is not based on issues alone. I have watched her since Bubba said he would seek the POTUS position, and read about her life going back to when she was a child. I found a remarkable person in all phases of her life. Her trying to help those in need, children, the race issue, middle class, taxes, to name some that is important to most of us. I know the comeback will go something like "The others are saying these things too, and the difference is Hillary has lived them. Common sense plays a major part as well.

Posted by: lylepink | March 27, 2007 2:06 AM

No Name Poster: I did not say Hillary was better, I did say, imo, Hillary has the best chance for the dems to take The White House in 08.

Posted by: lylepink | March 27, 2007 1:46 AM

Lyle, but WHY is Hillary better? The only answer I can imagine you giving is "funding, name recognition." She certainly has that. What she does NOT have are distinct, well-thought out (not to be taken as a synonym for "carefully polled / focus-grouped") policy positions on the issues facing America today. She has given me no reason to support her over the others as a thinking person.
And in terms of personal appeal? In the appearances I have seen on C-Span, Edwards, Obama, and Richardson ALL come across as more authentic and more connected to the issues I feel are important, whereas Hillary comes across as promoting the Hillary Fan Club, also known as the Bring Back the '90's / Remember Bill? Society. I loved the '90's too, and voted for Bill twice. I do not see either of those as a reason to support his wife.

Posted by: | March 27, 2007 1:07 AM

Lylepink.... Looks like we'll just have agree to disagree about HRC being the best Dem to retake the WH. I think she'll just energize the GOP base and give them a record-setting election-night turnout.... as has been demonstrated on this blog, her negatives are high.

FYI, I'm not a Liberal, far from it. But, I am very much against Bush and every dishonest thing he and his enablers stand for. On that I think we can agree.

http://whathappenedtomycountry.blogspot.com

Posted by: Truth Hunter | March 26, 2007 11:38 PM

Truth Hunter: You are one of the "Liberals" I was refering to and not MikeB. I have stated time and time again my reasons for supporting Hillary, among them, IMHO, "Hillary in the best the dems have to offer to take The White House in 08.". This may not be my exact wording in each and every post I've made, but it is close enough for you not to understand.

Posted by: lylepink | March 26, 2007 11:18 PM

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our
liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a
moneyed aristocracy that has set the Government at defiance.
The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored
to the people to whom it properly belongs."
Thomas Jeffeson

This says more about HRC and the maggots that support her than anything else said here or anywhere else. If a politcian takes their money from the rich and the powerful they have abandoned the people.

Posted by: | March 26, 2007 11:13 PM

More importantly: Is Jeanne Shaheen, wife of Bill, going to run for Senate against Sununu for what? She almost won last time, and but for the phone rigging scheme by the NH Republicans + Iraq War hoopla, she would be the incumbent Senator from NH. She should consider running again now that Sununu is trapped by Iraq.

Posted by: Will Jeanne Run? | March 26, 2007 10:54 PM

Lylepink, Certainly hope you're not referring to Mike B as one of the "pea-brained." He's far from it.

I guess we "nuts" are the ones who don't say things with which you agree. The way to bring more posters into Hillary's camp is to state why you support her.... policy positions. I would really like to have an "idea" exchange with you about Hillary.

http://whathappenedtomycountry.blogspot.com

Posted by: Truth Hunter | March 26, 2007 10:40 PM

Thank you Judge. We all are inaccurate at times, and I would like to see a little more accurate info and not this pea-brained lot that dominate this blog. Some good folks have left this site because of the nut cases that dominate this site, and I think it is the purpose of these "nuts" to discourage a good exchange of ideas.

Posted by: lylepink | March 26, 2007 10:30 PM

Lylepink may be one of the few posters supporting HRC, but CC has been overall fawning and more than willing to give her lots of ink.

I agree Judge, the Middle East is no place for a "it wasn't exactly a quid pro quo" member on Hillary's peace team.

We've had quite enough foreign policy amateur-hour types in the last 6+ years. We need the A team.

http://whathappenedtomycountry.blogspot.com

Posted by: Truth Hunter | March 26, 2007 10:29 PM

I'll back up lylepink's assertion that he/she is the sole torch-bearer for HRC on this blog.

" 'I think there are people who are not being treated very nicely. They want their own freedom.' Wise words from a would-be diplomat."

Wise words? Piffle. Kindergarten diplomacy considering the magnitude and scale of the problem.

Posted by: Judge C. Crater | March 26, 2007 10:04 PM

MikeB: "The point is, since the press and blogs like this give Hillary a pass or out right cheerlead for her,". Me, Myself, and I have been the only one on this blog that has supported Hillary from the start and each and every one of the "Liberals" have supported someone else, as best as I can recall, or did not come out for Hillary by word or deed. Are you gals still with us?, if so you can prove my point as accurate and in no way misleading.

Posted by: lylepink | March 26, 2007 8:46 PM

The point is, since the press and blogs like this give Hillary a pass or out right cheerlead for her, there are a number of genuine liberals and other concerned voters out here that understand that she is every bit the disaster that George W. Bush has been and we will take every opportunity to point it out. She is anti-worker, pro-NAFTA, pro-globalization, pro-H1B visa, and one of the largest recipients of multinational corporate money in this nations history. A vote for Ms. Clinton is a vote to loose your job, looose your freedoms, and will support more and even worse of what we have experienced under Bush.

Posted by: MikeB | March 26, 2007 8:25 PM

Wow, er, what was the point and relevance of this item?

Posted by: roo | March 26, 2007 7:26 PM

I guess I don't get it. How is it that Hillary gets a pass on the morning talk shows and proposes some of the most wrong headed and just plain dangerous initiative imaginable? I'm a Democrat and I can believe the softball questions she gets. Take, just for instance, her Health Care Reform initiative she talked about this morning. She proposed to collect and keep a database on the medical conditions and care of everyone in the country. Now, some of her biggest donors to date aren't just globalizeers, they are the very people who collect and keep data on people and sell it. Employers LOVE this stuff, because, if your child is sick or you or your spouse has a medcial condition or even the potential for a condition, they wont hire you. Remember, most employers are self insured these days and one of the most expensive benefits they offer is medical care. They already comb through records to see which families use the most ebenfits and use that for layoff lists. Now, Hillary is proposing to provide that and much much more before they ever extend an offer? Furthermore, consider automobile and other insurance companies and their use for this data, credit card and banks, other agencies of the government (like the FBI, which might decide you are a potential criminal or have some sort of tendancy to become one). All of this is very scary stuff and IS NOT consiracy thoery nonsense, it is stuff that is being attempted right this minute. And Hillay Clinton, under the guise of medical record reform, is proposing to give the big businesses behind her candidacy a free ride through every facit of YOUR life. It's time to dump this craven multinational corporate flunky and look for someone with the interests of the citizens of this country at heart.

Posted by: MikeB | March 26, 2007 6:50 PM

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