serves two important political objectives: It further deepens his foreign policy resume and helps him strengthen ties to American Jews, a group of voters and donors the GOP believes is increasingly integral to the party.

"People say things like that about our ballclub and they may be right. But them thinking it doesn't necessarily mean it's so, just like us thinking we're a good team and can beat the Celtics isn't necessarily wrong.

I'm really sorry. Next time... I promise, I really promise, I will be a better liberal. I will not in any way support any effort to bring democracy to a country ruled by an oil-backed tyranny.