(Casey) AIPAC and the Push Toward War

[Ruby the Liberal]

Late last week, amid little fanfare, Senators Joseph Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, and Robert Casey introduced a resolution that would move America further down the path toward war with Iran.

The good news is that the resolution hasn't been universally embraced in the Senate. As Ron Kampeas of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports, the resolution has "provoked jitters among Democrats anxious over the specter of war." The bad news is that, as Kampeas also reports, "AIPAC is expected to make the resolution an 'ask' in three weeks when up to 10,000 activists culminate its annual conference with a day of Capitol Hill lobbying."

In standard media accounts, the resolution is being described as an attempt to move the "red line"--the line that, if crossed by Iran, could trigger a US military strike. The Obama administration has said that what's unacceptable is for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. This resolution speaks instead of a "nuclear weapons capability." In other words, Iran shouldn't be allowed to get to a point where, should it decide to produce a nuclear weapon, it would have the wherewithal to do so.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/aipac-and-the-push-toward-war/253358/

Has he always careened to the right like this and is there a primary challenge?

(Cross posted from I/P: http://www.democraticunderground.com/11345710 )

[Curmudgeoness]

1. What is wrong with Casey!

In just a few days, he has pulled a couple of serious boners. I usually liked Casey, but he has his head up his ass lately.

I have not heard of a primary challenge, and normally would not expect one. We rarely run a challenge against a sitting Senator.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Hrm.

Any way to move him a smidge back toward the left? We can't afford any seats this fall.

Reading tea leaves here, but I am not thinking that a surge to the right is what the electorate is seeking this year for down ticket races. (Unless this forces his challenger to move even further off the cliff, but even then...)