PROBABLY NOT A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A THIN-SKINNED SECRETARY OF STATE:

Democrats restive over White House, Israel feud (BEN SMITH, 3/17/10, Politico)

Pro-Israel Democrats, who had largely held their tongues during the weekend, began to make their voices heard Monday night and Tuesday, saying that the White House had overreacted to the Israeli announcement and that the administration was taking the matter — which American officials have described as an “insult” and an “affront” — too personally.

“It was personal, and I think it shouldn’t be personal. It’s clear to me that [Netanyahu] was blindsided as well” by the announcement, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO. “The timing was wrong, and it should have been criticized, but that should have been it.”

“Two days later we see this upswing in criticism, almost as if we wanted to grab onto the issue and use it,” he said.

“The appropriate response was a shake of the head — not a temper tantrum,” said another New York Democrat, Rep. Anthony Weiner. “Israel is a sovereign nation and an ally, not a punching bag. Enough already.”