The Road to Damascus
By jonlester Posted in Archived — Comments (16) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Promoted from blogs. Me, I always try to look on the bright side; this event at least gives one the vague hope that more than one Democratic Senator can now find Syria on a map. - Moe Lane
As reported by Debka and Fox News, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) leads a series of direct meetings with Bashar Assad, president of Syria, in a manner not unlike Jimmy Carter's DIY diplomacy. Following him will be no less than Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and everyone's favorite nominal Republican, Arlen Specter (PA).
It probably doesn't rise to the level of the Logan Act (and I don't know that it really applies to senators) but it does show, at best, disregard for President Bush's leadership in matters of state and, at worst, dangerously shortsighted linear thinking, even to the point of Sen. Nelson saying he's "not ready" to visit Tehran yet.
CNN and Debka add that this has happened even as President Bush has called for the release of Syrian political prisoners and an end to Syrian interference in Lebanese politics.
And I submit that this is the most egregious example in my memory of politicians identifying themselves as Democratic directly undermining the mores of democracy itself, lending moral equivalence to Syrian minority rule.
Because of the behavior of the mass of elected Democrats of late, I'd suppose that Nelson's trip to Syria was a shot at the President. Working around the President, making him appear to be less relevant, seems to be part of the strategy.
I wouldn't worry about Specter, though. I trust he's not too keen on Junior Assad and the generals.
I hope your right. Otherwise we'll need to start organizing a re-call. Shows what we get for going tactical in agreement with the Pres. instead of getting Toomey in there.
The better course would be for the Senate Minority (or Majority depending on T. Johnson's health) Leader to replace him on the Judiciary Committee. Pull his butt off the Committee and Kyl be Ranking Member or Chairman. A good result all around.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
if there were for some reason a recall for Specter in Pennsylvania for any reason, and I don't even know if there be a process for such a thing, we get a Democrat for Specter. If Rendell appoints, it's a Dem. If a general election, with Pennsylvania being a decidedly Blue State, it's a Dem.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
...I went to edit the blog because I had a word missing, then it disappeared from the front page. I'll know now to blow my promotion next time. Thanks all the same, Moe, et al.
If they needed it this gives them an excuse. We may now expect comments on how reasonable Assad is, how progress is being made, and dialogue [the escape clause for doing nothing] must continue.
It is possible you will also hear some McDermott/Bonior type comments on the comparative trustworthiness of Bush v Assad. Guess who will come out on top in the comparison?
"a man's admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him". Tocqueville
but this seems to me to constitute a violation of the Logan Act (18 U.S.C. ยง 953), which states (emphasis added):
"ANY citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, 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, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects."
Considering the separation of powers and the vesting of foreign policy in the hands of the Executive Branch (with the exception of ratification of treaties), these Senators are "citizens" who should be subject to the Act as they lack "the authority of the United States" in their communications.
"Everybody needs money! That's why they call it money!"
Top Secret Intel to the NYT, and won't pursue leaks of impending raids at Islamic charities by reporters. What in the world makes you think they'll try to enforce the Logan Act.
As I mentioned earlier - and I wasn't kidding then or now - we should bomb the snot out of Damascus. And do it when the Senators are there.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
It's worked so well for six years, say nothing while your political opponents destroy you with the most boorish and disgraceful of behavior.
and without being a lawyer, it seems to say that to me.
A choice should be made. Either someone should stand up for enforcing the letter of the law, or Jane Fonda's Hanoi visit will have become precedent for inaction.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
The executive is to simply execute the will of Congress anyhow, unless you are one of those extremist nuts that believes in that unitary executive stuff. Congress determines the foreign policy to be executed and that's been done by their ISG commission on this matter. They're just adding some extra people to help out.
... there is nothing wrong with this. The fact, as plain as the nose on your face, is that God intended for Democrats to govern America and therefore this is simply part of their proper activities.
Add to that the Constitution actually envisioned only one true branch of government, the Congress, that is supposed to perform all of the actual duties while the executive and judicial exist merely to provide personnel to carry out the wishes of Congress.
What a bunch of arrogant poltroons. I think they actually believe that they are something special, super-citizens or something.
John
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Ethnic humor is part of human nature. The Dutch tell Belgian jokes. The Belgians tell French jokes. The French tell English jokes. The English tell Irish jokes. The Irish tell Irish jokes.