The problem with cash back rebates is that too many of the goods (excluding food) that are purchased with the money are at big box stores that pay dismal wages and that come from factories in China. The money does not provide the stimulus that it used to when we had an industrial economy. The Bush tax rebate pretty much proved that. All it did is help people by big screen TVs from China.

The gov should spend more and eliminate the rebates.

They were not occupied anymore. Gaza was independent and still they turned it into nothing more than a launching pad for missiles. For all the supposed "blockade" they still managed to build tunnels to bring in thousands of missiles. They could have brought in food and medicine, they could have build bomb shelters...but once the Palestinians are being professional victims. They brought this death and destruction upon themselves.

It is the Palestinians that destroy their own dignity.
Their leaders love to play "warrior king" like when Yasir Arafat was invited to address the UN for the first time and he was in "uniform" with a pistol strapped to his hip. If there are no leaders of substance rather than bravado in the Arab world they will go on being professional victims with big mouthed bully boy leaders who hide out while the children die.

Besides, name an Arab state that is not a basket case. Every single country that they rule is either run by a despot, a king or both. Even Jordan is run by a Hashomite king rather than the Palestinian majority that lives there. "Black September" was another exhibition of failed Palestinian leadership that sent the PLO into exile. Then they were the sweethearts destabilizing Lebanon in the 80s. Before being booted out to Tunisia.  Over and over they fail.

They fail at war and they fail at peace.

Arab leaders are the enemies of the Arab people, but given their religious orientation and paternalistic culture they never seem to  re-oriented themselves.

Israel left Gaza.
Hamas had a civil war and killed off the rival party.
Hamas builds tunnels to bring in weapons instead of food and medicine.
So they fire rockets into Israel.
For what reason?
Obviously a provocation.
They thought they'd wind up heroic like Hebollah if Israel struck back.
Hamas didn't think it through...and they lost. They lost in the Arab world too. They will have even less influence than before.
They are religious goofballs sacrificing their children.

For a few weeks there is dancing in the "Arab street"...and then the reality sets in that Israel isn't going to disappear and that once again Arab leadership squandered a a chance to improve the lives of their people.

Stop making excuses for the most corrupt and incompetent leaders in the world. Arab leaders are like Bush on steroids. They have always taken their people down blind alleys with faith-based delusions of glory...and usually lead them to death while they personal live luxurious insulated lives.

After 60 years the Palestinians are no closer to a state than they were in 1948, when they actually had one and went to war against Israel with all their Arab brothers and subsequently lost it. They have become professional victims. Arafat walking away from the deal Clinton was putting together in 2000 which would have been a huge step in the right direction...but once again posturing and bravado turns winning positions into human losses.

"Who says Hamas is losing?"
In war when you are dying in greater numbers than the other side you are losing. World public opinion means nothing. The world doesn't vote or have an army.

Arab leaders are sociopaths and they sacrifice their own people for illusory glory. Like most, the leader of Hamas is dictating the course of war from the safety of Damascus.

Until the arab world recognizes that they jews aren't going anywhere they will continue to delude themselves and sacrifice their children. Funny how they built tunnels to safeguard the missiles but no bomb shelters for their children.

Don't provoke wars that you are bound to lose. The blood of the children of Gaza was set flowing by irresponsible Hamas leadership. They started a war with no provision for civil defense. The leaders of Hamas make bold pronouncements about fighting to the death from their comfortable villas in Damascus. They are willing to fight to the last child.

What good do you think that the Hamas religious loonies are doing by firing rockets into Israel? Did they think that the Israelis would not hit back? They are morons who celebrate death..they cherish it and call it "martyrdom." The Arabs put their kids at risk by their own ability to face facts. Arafat walked away from a peace deal that would have meant full statehood in 2000. Arab leaders never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity...and they place their own children on the firing line. The Israeli protect their children instead of treating them as disposable units for the cause.

Actually the record is that she is NOT much of party activist at all. The record shows that she hardly ever votes or does any party activity whatsoever. Serving on boards of non-profits is essentially nothing...it a trustafarian sort of passtime.

It is odd that you think that people are being too harsh on her because her name. Her name is the only reason she is even under consideration.

Before 1967 Israel did not get weapons from the US. The Arabs made war on Israel back then to avoid there own economic problems. They still use Israel as an excuse for not dealing with there extreme lack of wealth distribution and human rights repression. American's are clueless about the middle east. You need to be tough or die.

You are an ignorant person if you think Israel's days are numbered. The US with its undereducated population has a much earlier expiration date.

I think that South Dakota and Utah had previous owners that your ancestors (or others who opine here) may have slaughtered so the good white christians could live there.

Also. If you know much about him at all, you'd know that he is not definitively not "Ron Reagan, JR!"