When you mean doing some necessary work behind the scenes - do you mean like getting the $$$ and POLITICAL support from the pro-war and ultra-righies at the Saban Forum next week? The Saban Forum that: "When the Saban Center talks, I listen," Harman said at a Saban Center briefing in February on U.S. strategy in Iraq....

So, support maybe from the likes of ... Avigdor Lieberman?

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at that Clinton & Lieberman meetup that I note hasn't been publicized on the Brookings Institute website.

"...Lieberman is already set for his first trip abroad as a minister. He will travel to the United States on December 8 to take part in the prestigious Saban Forum at the Saban Center For Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

Lieberman will speak about the future of the Middle East on a panel with Labor MK Ami Ayalon that will be chaired by former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. Lieberman's event is scheduled between addresses by former president Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton..."

Lieberman already set to visit US

Truly, how can we support a presidential nominee who has been so blatantly biased in the Israeli/Palestinian debate? Would it really be prudent for us to elect and present to the Arab world a person who does not believe in being 'even-handed' in negotiations? How can we expect the Arab world to trust such a person (our leader) to be a FUTURE honest broker and peace mediator?

"...Mrs Clinton also voiced support for Israel’s West Bank separation barrier, the wall-and-razor-wire obstacle denounced by Palestinians as a “land grab”, after a briefing by Israeli commanders at a vantage point overlooking its construction north of Bethlehem.

“This is not against the Palestinian people. This is against the terrorists,” she said. “The Palestinian people have to help to prevent terrorism. They have to change the attitudes about terrorism.”

She met Israel’s foreign and defence ministers, the army Chief of Staff, Israeli ambulancemen and firefighters, and there were photo-opportunities at the Wailing Wall. But there were no meetings with Palestinians, although she did visit Amman last night along with her husband at the invitation of King Abdullah of Jordan to witness the destruction wreaked by al-Qaeda suicide bombers last week. Israeli and Palestinian reactions to both women’s visits were muted..."

Israel mission helps Hillary and Condi to court Jewish vote

But, I know, I know it's all about money...

"...The Washington Post once estimated that Democratic presidential candidates ‘depend on Jewish supporters to supply as much as 60 per cent of the money’. And because Jewish voters have high turn-out rates and are concentrated in key states like California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, presidential candidates go to great lengths not to antagonise them.

The Israel Lobby
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt

If this story doesn't convince you about the need for CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM - nothing will IMO!