Academia, Bizarre, Media, Politics

Rubin and Tribe Under Fire for Using the Massacre in Israel for Bizarre Attacks on Political Figures

In academia, one of the most common criticisms in research and discussions is that correlation does not mean causation. It refers to the logical fallacy for some who draw a cause-and-effect relationship between two events. The logical fallacy is captured in the Latin phrase cum hoc ergo propter hoc (‘with this, therefore because of this’). With the horrific attacks on Israel this week, some well-known commentators have been criticized for using the killing of hundreds by Hamas as a criticism of conservative figures or Republicans in general. That includes the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin who appeared to blame the GOP for inviting the attack and Professor Laurence Tribe who suggested (and later retracted) that the war was actually a “wag-the-dog” operation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to distract from corruption allegations.

Rubin (who goes by the moniker “Jennifer Truthful, Not Neutral Rubin”) immediately attempted to use the attack as another attack on Republicans: “How about this: With US House in chaos and US military promotions on hold, Hamas struck. Republicans’ weakness invites terror.”

Putting aside the effort to use this tragedy as a political cudgel domestically, Rubin ignores the fact that the motion to vacate the chair succeeded due to a unanimous Democratic vote and just eight dissenting Republicans. The Democrats wanted to vacate the chair even though McCarthy was being criticized by the dissenters for working with them and they will now likely receive a far more strident speaker.

Rubin has also called for expelling Republican members, who voted against certifying the 2020 election. She further declared that “we have to collectively, in essence, burn down the Republican Party. We have to level them because if there are survivors, if there are people who weather this storm, they will do it again.”

The Washington Post has repeatedly failed to take down or correct columns containing false claims by Rubin. Instead, it has run her calls to end impartiality and neutrality in journalism.

Now Rubin is suggesting that Hamas decided to launch this massive attack because there is an acting Speaker in the House until next week. It appears that Hamas was just waiting for the motion to vacate to pass.

Laurence Tribe immediately used the massacre to attack Netanyahu. Citing the Washington Post, Tribe wrote “Is Netanyahu wagging the dog of war to take attention away from his own war on the independent judiciary? Can anyone put that past him?”

The response was fast and furious. It was even too much for figures like Keith Olbermann who condemned Tribe stating, “Well this is a moronic and indefensible POV.”

What was striking is that the media finally called out Tribe, who has regularly posted bizarre legal theories and personal attacks against conservative figures, including attacking Bill Barr (erroneously) over his faith. On MSNBC and other outlets, Tribe regularly makes profane or personal attacks against those who hold opposing views of constitutional interpretation, including myself. These attacks include false assertions that had to be later corrected.

These controversies highlight the need to restore an element of maturity and civility to commentary. The “everything-goes” mentality has now taken hold of major media outlets, which regularly feature trash talking and sensational claims. If the target of these attacks is a conservative or Republican, there is a sense of license to remove the safeties in public engagements.

Once again, it is possible to restore a modicum of civility and accuracy in our public discourse. All it takes is for people of good faith to turn away from the rage and return reason in our commentary.

 

602 thoughts on “Rubin and Tribe Under Fire for Using the Massacre in Israel for Bizarre Attacks on Political Figures”

  1. It is an open secret that the Biden administration, like Obama before it, has within it high level policy people who hate Israel and have a loyalty to Iran. For those who say the $6 billion released to Iran could not be used to fund the terrorists attacks, you obviously have never balanced a personal budget. If someone gives you $1,000 to buy groceries and medicine and pay rent, that frees up the $1,000 you had reserved for those expenses so you can go spend the $1,000 as you wish. It is dangerous for Americans to be told (and believe) that the $6 billion has not and will not allow the largest state sponsor of terror to continue its campaign to destroy Israel on an even larger scale. If the Iranian sponsored terrorists succeed in threatening Israel’s survival, we can expect a response with all that Israel has, up to and including nuclear weapons. People whose parents and grandparents have witnessed or died in the holocaust will not go quietly into the night.

    1. The $6 billion has NOT been “released to Iran.” It is held by Qatar, and none of it has been spent, and none of the funds themselves will go to Iran.

      1. “Anonymous”, no the money hasn’t been spent (yet), but it has freed SIX BILLION DOLLARS that Iran knows is “in the mail”.

        I guess “Anonymous” still thinks allowing IRAN to have SIX BILLION DOLLARS is a god thing??? This is a typical Biden voter.

          2. And your proof of that is what???? Of course that gift from obama/biden freed up funds that Iran will use in its pernicious desire to destroy a singular people. Honestly, Iran and its cult against Israel constantly reminds me of the same Persian obsession held by Xerxes to destroy Ancient Greek culture. A sick obsession based on flawed ideology but enabled by thuggish totalitarianism that eventually bled out that Culture. Hopefully we can stop our prog/left ideologues from assisting this current iteration of Ancient Persia from doing the same by stopping the flow of American taxpayer dollars to aid this vile regime.

        4. There are limits on what it can be used [for] . . .”

          Doesn’t that show you haven’t understood the point they were making? And has Iran ever obeyed the US in how it spends its money? If you think they’re trustworthy, then you’re extremely naive.

          Qatar is still controlling its disbursement . . .

          But it’s available for withdrawal by request from the Iranian government. So, no.

        5. Is Qatar a person who’s name we should know? Naive or dumb, hard to say which. Tell us EXACTLY where the money is going.

      2. You miss the point. The funds are available to be spent on permitted purposes. That frees up other moneys that would otherwise have been used for those purposes. Those other moneys can now be used to pursue Iran’s foreign policy objectives, including funding Hamas, Hezbollah, etc. An additional $6b is now available for those objectives, thanks to Biden’s deal.

        1. You’re assuming that Iran WOULD spend money on humanitarian ends. Your evidence for this?

        2. Daniel,
          The fact he continues to miss the point that has been spelled out by several people in several different ways clearly demonstrates his lack of critical thinking skills.
          The sad part, he will continue to make his same shallow thinking comments.

          1. No, actually, I haven’t missed it. I questioned whether it’s accurate. Do you understand the difference? How about you answer the question I asked Daniel: what’s your evidence that Iran WOULD spend money on humanitarian ends? Do you understand why that matters to the argument?

      3. “none of the funds themselves will go to Iran.”

        You were doing so good reciting the party line until you just “made sh!t up.

        Of course, iran released the hostages because we pledged $6B to “someone else”.

    2. Honestlawyermostly,
      Well said.
      I am looking for the second and third order effects of this.
      I have 3/4 a tank full of gas.
      I think it might be a good idea to go and top it off.

  3. Miss Jennifer, Ruben, perhaps one of the most radical leftist journalist currently on the scene, is touted as a conservative writer by the Washington Post. That would be 4 Pinocchios

  4. Simon Rosenberg: “Reminder that Republicans, at this moment, are holding up the appointment of 300 senior Pentagon officials and the next Ambassador to Israel. We also lack a Republican Speaker of the House to pass additional support for Israel. All of these things might be useful right now.”

    1. I am sure that promoting a few woke generals is the reason that Iran backed HAMAS attacked yesterday. I am sure it has nothing to do with Afghanistan, Ukraine, Biden’s support of Hamas (they resumed giving Hamas money) and Biden’s support of Iran. Why not just blame DeSantis and “Don’t Say Gay” and supposedly banned books.

      1. He didn’t say that it’s why Hamas attacked. He said that it would be good to have those 300 senior Pentagon officials, an Ambassador to Israel, and a Speaker of the House. It’s pretty bizarre that you cannot agree that it would be good to have those 300 senior Pentagon officials, an Ambassador to Israel, and a Speaker of the House.

        1. 300 more morons??? How are there EVEN 300 “senior pentagon officials, much leas that many up for promotion? Too many chiefs and not enough Indians as my pappy used to say..

          1. And in true woke lefty uninformed repeatspeak, this idiot thinks that there are 300 empty desks at the pentagon, just because the 2 star tranny hasnt been promoted to 3 star.

            Cant make this stuff up, yet they do.

  5. Could these people be any dumber?
    Really think an attack of this size and scale was planned and coordinated over night or after McCarthy was voted out?
    Idiots!

  6. Well, at least you show your lack of ability to add and engage in concrete thinking with humility.

    1. “Well, at least you show your lack of ability to add and engage in concrete thinking with humility.”

      Said the toad

      Irony, its a funny thing.

  7. The Biden and Tribe effect: Successful plagiarists have a lasting impact on sycophant’s views no matter whether it be the Senate, the WH or Harvard.

    Rubin is a mere dolt searching for an issue, any issue.

        1. It says that I like to stay informed, about facts and about what people are being fed, whether factual or not, and about what websites are providing information that’s valuable and what websites are providing JUNK for MORONS to argue about as a distraction from more-important issues — you MORON.

          1. Huh thats a new way of saying “seeing what the magats are saying to each other”. Say it again and again. Who knows maybe someone who doesnt know you are a pinhead will believe it.

      2. Maybe, but the difference is that Ruben and the Tribe simply want political power via war and propaganda, while Turley simply posts opinions. But, yeah, you’re closer than you normally are.

  8. I condemn Rubin’s and Tribe’s responses.

    I also condemn the responses by Republicans like J.D. Vance who lied that “our tax dollars funded this,” Trump who lied that “American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration,” Tim Scott who lied that “The truth is though, Joe Biden funded these attacks on Israel… We didn’t just invite this aggression, we paid for it,” … and more.

    I am totally unsurprised that JT condemns the former and is entirely silent about the latter.

    1. “I am totally unsurprised that JT condemns the former and is entirely silent about the latter.”

      I am *not* surprised that you draw a moral equivalence between those who excuse Iran’s attack on Israel, and those who (right or wrong) comment on the source of Iran’s funding.

      1. Liar. I did not do what you accuse me of.

        Neither Rubin nor Tribe excused Hamas’s attack on Israel. And you cannot even bring yourself to say that the quoted Republicans are wrong.

        1. Ok those republicans were wrong. The money came from biden, and his refusal to enforce sanctions on iran, allowing them to sell more oil in the hopes that it would drive oil prices down. the oil prices that rose thanks to his diarrhea of the pen his first 8 hours in office.

        2. “I did not do what you accuse me of.”

          Except that you did, and continue to do so — via your countless deflections.

    2. ‘ Vance who lied that “our tax dollars funded this,” Trump who lied that “American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the “

      You must have problems figuring out your entries in your checkbook. You don’t seem able to follow the money. Money is fungible. Do you know what that word means?

      It means any additional funds provided to Iran will be used for whatever they desire. In Iran’s case they desire to support terrorists, create a deliverable nuclear weapon and stay in power. If you can’t understand that you don’t belong in this discussion.

  11. This, as well as its companion post of today are examples of how the educational establishment, from pre-school to postbaccalaureate studies and beyond are turning the human brain and the mind it encompasses, into mush. In the law, it constitutes an existential threat to our Constitutional Republic and the public’s good and welfare. In medicine, an existential threat to health and wellbeing. So on, and so on , and so on.

  12. Both Rubin and Tribe are good at displaying their ignorance in general but particularly on this topic

    Ignorance? Nope.

    We have been 2 1/2 years listening to to Democrats tell the people the border is closed to illegals and all under control. The media totally supporting the lie.
    We want more than 4 years listening to Democrats refuse to acknowldge we are in the middle of a crime wave, because of the success of Democrats getting elected and implementing their policies.

    The are aware of all the lies. But they know they have to destroy america

  14. So glad that no Republicans took advantage of the situation and blamed Biden. Several administrations both Democratic and Republican have participated in the build-up to this crisis along with Israelis. I think the speaker crisis has little to to with the situation but Turley’s continued blaming of Democrats for eight Republicans holding their Party hostage is just sad. Who put forward the motion to vacate? Who changed the rules to allow one person to make the motion. Democrats aren’t responsible for babysitting Republicans. McCarthy lied to Democrats (and Republicans) and he blamed Democrats for bailing him out of the last debt crisis.

    1. Enigma, do you have any thoughts on HAMAs or Iran, two political entities that Biden has actually given funding to? It is our money supporting killers and rapists and it is people like you that won’t acknowledge known truths.

        1. Yes Biden has given money to Hamas, stop lying. Trump stopped payments to Hamas and Biden restarted it. STOP LYING.

      2. “It is our money supporting killers and rapists”

        Please give me an example of US funding Hamas or Iran. It’s the “our money” you have dead wrong.

        1. Money goes to Iran. Iran funds Hezbollah and Hamas.

          When the drunk on the street asks you for money to buy lunch, You give him some and are foolish enough to believe he is buying lunch instead of liquor.

    2. “Democrats aren’t responsible for babysitting Republicans doing whats best for the country”

      What they did was not a passive act, you dunderhead.

    3. Trump created peace in the Middle East. Biden is responsible for the shift from peace to war.

  15. The arms (Afghanistan) and financing ($6,000,000,000.00 to Iran) for this attack came from Biden, Blinken, Milley, and Nuland. As a bonus, they’d drained Israel’s armory for their Ukraine war.

    1. And drained the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to get Fetterman elected to the Senate. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to make that claim.

    2. Liar.

      None of that $6B has been spent, so no, the financing did NOT come from Biden, Blinken, Milley, and Nuland.

      Nor has Israel’s armory been drained.

      1. “None of that $6B has been spent . . .”

        Is there no limit to your apologies for evil?!

        Even if what you say is true about the $6 billion to Iran’s dictators (which I doubt), the fact is this:

        There’s a million dollars waiting for me. Great. Now I can spend the money I currently have on whatever I want.

        Money is fungible (which you know). That means that you are lying by omission, to cover for Biden’s financial support of Iran’s invasion of Israel.

        1. No: the money is not going to go to Iran. That’s not what the agreement is. As for the humanitarian aid that will eventually go to Iran, why do you assume that Iran would otherwise be spending money on that humanitarian aid? Your argument falls apart without that assumption.

          I’m not lying by omission. You’re lying by claiming that.
          Biden did not provide “financial support of Iran’s invasion of Israel.” You’re lying by claiming that.

          You’re intelligent enough to know better, but clearly not honest enough. Work on your morals.

            1. Right now it’s sitting in the bank in Qatar. Eventually it will go to humanitarian aid, wherever Qatar purchases it with US approval. Which is not going to be Iran.

          2. “. . . why do you assume that Iran would otherwise be . . .”

            Because dictatorships lie for a living.

      2. He also said the $6B isnt going to Iran.

        So they released the hostages so we’d give $6B to the Red Cross.

        Tomato.

  16. “How about this:”

    Flush with $6 billion from the Biden administration, Iran uses its terrorists, Hamas, to attack and invade Israel.

    1. Iran doesn’t have the $6B. Qatar has it, none has been released, and when it is released, it can only buy humanitarian aid like food and medicine.

      1. “Iran doesn’t have the $6B.”

        Since that is money in the bank, and money is fungible — your repetition, ad nauseam, is a wicked diversion from Iran’s and Biden’s evil actions.

        1. The money is in the bank in Qatar. It will not go to a bank in Iran. Iran will not have control over how it is spent. Yes, money is fungible when you have money. But Iran doesn’t have the money. As for the assumption that using this money — for humanitarian aid that is sent to Iran (and which can only be spent with an OK from the US, which is not going to OK it if it’s not spent on humanitarian aid) — saves Iran money that it can then spend on other things, THAT is only true if Iran would otherwise be spending money on humanitarian aid. There is no evidence that Iran spends money on humanitarian aid, so no, it’s not fungible that way EITHER.

          1. Such a dum dum. The ayatollah didnt give up hostages for money to some nebulous food and humanitarian aid unless its aid THEY WERE supplying. Why would they? So naive or just dumb.
            Are you tired of wagging your tongue? Try the slippers. Its the slippers! The spell doesnt work without it!!

      2. “. . . it can only buy humanitarian aid like food and medicine.”

        Only an apologist could pretend to be that naive.

      3. LOL. I bet you believe that because say, CO, is using pot money for education that their education budget will increase by the amount of the pot tax allocated to education. LOL.

        Is there no limit to your blind fealty, your cuckold, your Stockholm Syndrone? Are you vicky nuland’s slave?

    2. Giving Iran access to $6B in funds set aside for humanitarian aid, enables Iran to not spend $6B out of their existing budget for the people and instead in support of Hamas.

      1. When has Iran ever spent its own money on humanitarian aid?

        If you want to buy 100 things and have enough to buy 50 of them, and I give you one of the fifty, that lets you spend that money on another one of the 100. But if I give you something that’s not among the 100, you can still only buy the initial 50.

        It all boils down to whether Iran would otherwise be spending its money on humanitarian aid. And I’ve seen no evidence that it would. So this does not save them money to spend on something else.

        1. So now u know what iran spends money on.
          If they dont care about aid, why the f would they trade the hostages for aid? Never mind, its like talking to a tomato

  17. Tribe is a leftist shill, I’m amazed anyone gives him credibility on anything.

  18. “All it takes is for people of good faith”

    I think we’ve discovered the problem.

    1. I think the idea of “The Benign King” model of government and foreign policy needs to be re-insinuated into our public discourse as the model we weigh government actions against. I think we might blow the place up, though, before it is seriously considered in any practical way.

  19. My comment is about Tribe publishing what had to be his own opinions that were not factual and having to withdraw it.
    To me, that is the hallmark of a second rate intellect if I would call him an intellectual at all. How, with all the prestige he is given, could this ever happen and I would doubt it’s the first time or that anything he has ever written about or opined on has any more veracity than this banished writing.

  20. Both Rubin and Tribe are good at displaying their ignorance in general but particularly on this topic

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