Mighty AC Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 47 Republican Senators, including Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, sent an open letter to Iran warning leaders refrain from signing a deal that would prevent the development of nuclear weapons. The letter notes that a deal with the team lead by the US would be worthless after Obama leaves the White House because Republicans can sabotage it. Past Republican presidents have also pursued and signed nuclear deals. Current Republicans have spent the last few years scaremongering about Iran's nuclear threat, yet are hellbent on preventing a deal. These actions are clearly irresponsible and possibly treasonous, so why would the party act in this manner? Is it simply to combat anything and everything put forth by Obama? Are they risking lives and creating a dangerous situation to score political points somehow? Noam Chomsky sums up Republican thinking in this quote: “For the Republicans in Congress, there’s another interest—namely, to undermine anything that Obama, you know, the anti-Christ, might try to do. Their goal for the last years has simply been to undermine anything that Obama might do, in an effort to regain power and serve their primary constituency, which is the very wealthy and the corporate sector.” Though the letter may interfere with the signing of a deal it is encouraging to see Iran's reaction to it: “In our view, this letter has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda ploy,” Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said in a statement. “It is very interesting that while negotiations are still in progress and while no agreement has been reached, some political pressure groups are so afraid even of the prospect of an agreement that they resort to unconventional methods, unprecedented in diplomatic history.” Quote "Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities" - Voltaire
eyeball Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) so why would the party act in this manner?Because they're a bunch of economic/ideological/religious fanatics.Where's Sam Harris when you need him? Edited March 10, 2015 by eyeball Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
bush_cheney2004 Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 U.S. presidents do not ratify arms control treaties. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
TimG Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) These actions are clearly irresponsible and possibly treasonous, so why would the party act in this manner? Is it simply to combat anything and everything put forth by Obama? Are they risking lives and creating a dangerous situation to score political points somehow?You clearly know nothing about the US system: One can certainly question the timing of the letter, and it probably ought to have been addressed to President Obama rather than to the Supreme Leader of Iran as a matter of form, but what the Senators say in the letter is, as a matter of both politics and law, correct. Unless President Obama takes a treaty to the Senate and gets it ratified, he has no power to bind Congress or future Presidents to an agreement with Iran. http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/03/09/the-senators-are-right-on-iran/ The fact is Obama thinks he is entitled to use executive powers to by pass a congress that does not share his agenda does not change the US constitution. If anything, Obama shares a large part of the blame the current deadlock between congress and the president's office. A less ideological president would have been able to cut deals. Edited March 10, 2015 by TimG Quote
Mighty AC Posted March 10, 2015 Author Report Posted March 10, 2015 It seems the Republican letter may actually be a punishable offence. The Logan Act expressly prohibits unauthorized citizens from directly or indirectly corresponding with foreign governments, “with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States.” These 47 Senators all signed their names to a letter that aims to do exactly this — a crime punishable by up to three years in prison, as well as fines. It is doubtful that any of these Senators was authorized to attempt to, by Cotton’s own admission, sabotage negotiations. “The end of these negotiations isn’t an unintended consequence of congressional action. It is very much an intended consequence. A feature, not a bug, so speak,” Cotton said in January at a Heritage Action for America conference. http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/47-republicans-send-letter-to-iran-threatening-to-sabotage-nuclear-deal-get-constitution-wrong-video/ Quote "Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities" - Voltaire
bush_cheney2004 Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Good luck with that....members of Congress are the most immune from Logan Act prosecution because of their elected office and duties. We've already seen this movie before.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act#Accusations_of_violations_of_the_Act Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Michael Hardner Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 If the entire world depends on the US government to get along, then we're indeed in trouble. I don't think it does, and US politics will proceed as normal. Quote Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
eyeball Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Biblical prophecies require a bunch of stupid backward politicians. Things are proceeding according to plans. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Shady Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Actions have consequences. Obama's unprecedented insistance that congress not be included in ratifying the nuclear deal led to this letter from congress. He needs to learn he's not a dictator. And that congress has specified foreign policy oversight, including such deals he's working on. He's not a dictator. He can't unilaterally decide congress won't have a voice in the end process. Quote
Shady Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 You clearly know nothing about the US system: http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/03/09/the-senators-are-right-on-iran/ The fact is Obama thinks he is entitled to use executive powers to by pass a congress that does not share his agenda does not change the US constitution. If anything, Obama shares a large part of the blame the current deadlock between congress and the president's office. A less ideological president would have been able to cut deals. Exactly. He's specifically insisted that congress not have any say, which is unprecedented, and unconstitutional. The Obamabots don't care. Quote
eyeball Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 No Congress has determined that only God will have final the final word, come hell or the launch codes. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
On Guard for Thee Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 The letter itself is just a bunch of pretentious claptrap, and ironic that it seeks to instruct Iran on how the US government works when one of their, namely John MCcain, has recently demonstrated he doesnt even know who runs Iran. They did not have the required authority to write such a letter so I say lets get the Logan act in high gear. Quote
Shady Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 The letter itself is just a bunch of pretentious claptrap, and ironic that it seeks to instruct Iran on how the US government works when one of their, namely John MCcain, has recently demonstrated he doesnt even know who runs Iran. They did not have the required authority to write such a letter so I say lets get the Logan act in high gear.Ted Kennedy seemed to have the right to write the Soviets in 1983. Quote
On Guard for Thee Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Ted Kennedy seemed to have the right to write the Soviets in 1983. What makes you think he had any more right than these senators have... Quote
eyeball Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Kennedy wasn't a moron. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Shady Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 What makes you think he had any more right than these senators have... Well he did. So what's the problem? Or is it just a big deal when a Republican does it? Quote
eyeball Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 It's clearly stupider when a Republican does it. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
On Guard for Thee Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Well he did. So what's the problem? Or is it just a big deal when a Republican does it? Whatever he did, it looks like he got away with it, he died 6 years ago in any event. So not much can be done now. We clearly have evidence on these GOP dolts, the letter is available on the net. Quote
Shady Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Whatever he did, it looks like he got away with it, he died 6 years ago in any event. So not much can be done now. We clearly have evidence on these GOP dolts, the letter is available on the net. I don't understand what the issue is then? Other than an imperial president thinking he's a king. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 I don't understand what the issue is then? Other than an imperial president thinking he's a king. Right...there is no issue. Politics as usual....why did anyone expect anything different ? Kids !! Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
GostHacked Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 I don't understand what the issue is then? Other than an imperial president thinking he's a king. Quote
On Guard for Thee Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 I don't understand what the issue is then? Other than an imperial president thinking he's a king. The issue has to do with 47 senators breaking the law, have you not been paying attention. Quote
On Guard for Thee Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 Right...there is no issue. Politics as usual....why did anyone expect anything different ? Kids !! What, no CBC BS today... Quote
Black Dog Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 You clearly know nothing about the US system: http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/03/09/the-senators-are-right-on-iran/ The fact is Obama thinks he is entitled to use executive powers to by pass a congress that does not share his agenda does not change the US constitution. If anything, Obama shares a large part of the blame the current deadlock between congress and the president's office. A less ideological president would have been able to cut deals. What a crock of shit. The GOP made it clear from Day One they had no interest in compromise or dealing with this president. Their agenda has been entirely one of obstruction and undermining. Quote
Shady Posted March 10, 2015 Report Posted March 10, 2015 What a crock of shit. The GOP made it clear from Day One they had no interest in compromise or dealing with this president. Their agenda has been entirely one of obstruction and undermining. Stick to the issue at hand. His unconstitutional power grab of an Iranian deal without ratification of congress. Congress has explicit foreign policy oversignt, and treaty approval. Insisting on purposely leaving out congress is the precursor to this letter. Actions have consequences. There's bi-partisan agreement in congress regarding a nuclear deal with Iran. Imperial president Obama refuses to acknowledge that fact. He has no authority to do so. Just another example of him shitting on the constitution yet again. Quote
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