The Winner Lost, The Loser Won

By Shmuel Sackett

A donor of ours called me last week. He asked, "Shmuel, can you please explain exactly what happened in these elections?"

I said, "Sure, it's really quite simple. The winner really lost and the loser really won. But the loser who won - might still lose -because the winner who lost can re
ally be the winner after all and not the loser. SIMPLE!"

When you think about it, this election "logic" is used all the time. On election night, BOTH Tzippy Livni and Bibi Netanyahu gave victory speeches. If you find that hard to believe consider this:
After the Lebanon II war, BOTH Olmert and Nassralah gave victory speeches.
After the recent "Cast Lead" war (excuse me, Cast Lead CAMPAIGN) BOTH Israel and Hamas gave victory speeches.

In short, here in Israel we are used to both sides winning.
Nobody loses - every body goes home happy.
What's wrong with THAT?


Actually, in all seriousness, Moshe Feiglin had the best comment of the night. After looking at the election results he said, "The Right-Wing won but Likud lost." Nothing more needs to be said. The nation went to the right (even though I am NOT convinced that Lieberman is "right") but Bibi - in his desire to grab the "Center" - drove away HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of voters for Likud. He completely ignored the mood of the Israeli people. He completely ignored his own party. He read the political map in Israel completely wrong.


Consider this: A poll taken last week by the Jerusalem Post shows that 30% of Jews in Israel consider themselves "Right", 13% "Center-Right", 24% "Center", 13% "Center-Left" and 6% "Left" (the rest are "undecided"). What did Bibi do during these elections? He virtually IGNORED the 43% (Right and Center-Right) and focused all his energy on the 24% (Center). This was the SAME group that Tzippy Livni was going after!


The ace that he had in his hand - MOSHE FEIGLIN - could have given him a LANDSLIDE VICTORY. All this nonsense about who really won would have never been discussed! It would have been a clear, large victory for Likud.


While people already know this, they can easily forget it and therefore, it is our job to keep reminding them of this point. The 100,000 members of Likud must know that Bibi LOST the elections and damaged Likud. Moshe wrote an article, which appeared in last week's Makor Rishon newspaper that calls Bibi, "The Shimon Peres of Likud". As you recall, Peres lost every election he ever ran and became known in Israel as "The LOSER". Moshe has started pointing out that this is the THIRD election that Bibi LOST for Likud (to Barak in 1999, to Sharon in 2006 and now in 2009) and that the members of Likud have to stop their "love-affair" with this perennial loser.


We must continue to strengthen ourselves, sign up new members and show the Likudnik's that a real, strong and viable alternative is available. His name is Moshe Feiglin and he will Likud to VICTORY!


Stay tuned folks. ALL political commentators in Israel (and I am not exaggerating - I really mean ALL of them!) are saying that new elections will be held in ONE year! This means another round of Likud primaries for BOTH the Chairman and Knesset slate plus general elections will be held VERY soon. Of course, we will be at the forefront of those battles.


Therefore, cancel your vacations and retirement plans. We need you to get to work and make this dream a reality!