Morning Joe went on the air in 2007. Think of all the outrage-provoking people and events that have popped up in the ensuing eight years. Yet in the memory of this Newsbuster—who's been blogging the show since its debut—rarely has Mika Brzezinski seemed more upset than she was today on the subject of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Just what is it that drives Brzezinski so batty about Bibi? Mika gave a little hint when she challenged the integrity of her guests for declining to join in her blasting of Bibi: "I just want to know what you're all afraid of. I do." Hmm. Mika apparently thinks there's something about the Israelis, or their friends in the US, that frightens American reporters and pundits from speaking their minds. What might that be?
Watch the video and see how by word, facial expression and body language Mika makes clear her utter disdain for the leader of Israel.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI [egging him on]: John Heilemann, Baker, come on.
JOHN HEILEMANN: Well --
BRZEZINSKI: Yes. Well what? Well what?
. . .
HEILEMANN: It doesn't surprise me at all that there will be bipartisan consensus among Republican statesmen of which James baker is certainly one, and Democrats on the kind of complete horror show that this relationship is now.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah: it's a horror show.
HEILEMANN: The turn of events that have occurred over the course of -- really over the course of the last few years but coming to a real peak or valley in the last month and a half.
BRZEZINSKI: What I have a problem with, what I have a problem with, and Ron Fournier, I would like to go to you, is that president Obama is taking the hits for this horror show. Do you think that's fair at this point given what we've learned?
. . .
RON FOURNIER: And why has the White House got into a position where number one it's been spied upon.
BRZEZINSKI: Wait a minute. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. [shakes head]
FOURNIER: It's being spied upon. And number two, how is it that they're not keeping congress more in the loop so they can't be used as a wedge?BRZEZINSKI: Let me try, excuse me, Ron [raises finger]. Matt Lewis, may I just ask you. Who at this point really is taking -- why is the President Obama taking the hits for this horror show given what we've learned in the "Wall Street Journal" today, given what we saw happening in congress, and given what we saw in the runup to the Israel election? Can you please help me out here? Could you please cut through the BS?
. . .
MATT LEWSI: It is very clear that the relationship with our ally Israel is not good right now and I think at least part of the blame probably does go to the White House.
BRZEZINSKI: I just want to know what you're all afraid of. I really, I do. I don't understand . . . Everybody says, John Heilemann, and I saw you stumbling, when you put it out in front, everybody says yes, but. Yes, but, but, but, but, but, but. Our relationship with Israel is what it is. It is going to remain strong and tied together by a lot of different historic reasons. But you know what? At some point you've got to call a spade a spade.
[Reading from Wall Street Journal article] "Using levers of political influence unique to Israel, Netanyahu and Dermer calculated that a lobbying campaign in congress before an announcement was made would improve the chances of killing or reshaping any deal."
MIKE BARNICLE: By the way, it's been a long time since an Israeli ambassador to the United States has worked hard to do so much damage to the relationship between the two.
BRZEZINSKI: Thank you. Okay, thank you, Mike Barnicle. You have crystallized. Thank you. Thank you.
. . .
BARNICLE: John Boehner is Speaker of the House, he's not Secretary of State and he's not president and he invites behind the scenes the head of Israel.
BRZEZINSKI: And plays into their hands! . . . Hey Matt, Matt --
HEILEMANN: It's really -- there's a perfidious element to this.
BRZEZINSKI: Does everybody have their own server? I'm just curious. I mean, you have to get your bias out of what is going on here.
. . .
LEWIS: But if you take him at his word --
BRZEZINSKI: What word?
LEWIS: -- what he is saying is his aspirational goal is for a two-state solution.
BRZEZINSKI: Really? Really?
LEWIS: If you ask him if it's possible, if it's feasible, if it's going to actually happen, he would say no.
BRZEZINSKI [waves arms in air]: I can't. I can't.
LEWIS: -- if they're going to lob bombs in Israel as they did in Gaza.BRZEZINSKI: God . . . You guys, seriously using a different set of rules, I have to say.
. . .
BARNICLE: One thing is for sure. This is a terrific piece of reporting in the Wall Street Journal.
BRZEZINSKI: I mean, it's unbelievable. And it kind of makes the Republicans look really used.
