Growing signs Schumer will oppose Iran deal

[geek tragedy]

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/schumer-nuclear-iran-deal-new-york-democrat-120912.html

People who have spoken with the senior New York senator believe the pressure campaign is having an effect: They say there is a growing sense inside and outside the Capitol that Schumer will vote against the deal when the Senate considers it in September. The bigger question many have now is this: How hard will he push against it?

Schumer is one of about 15 Democratic senators who will decide the fate of President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal in Congress. The president can afford to lose no more than a dozen Democrats on the Senate floor, and as the next Democratic leader, Schumer may be the most critical of them all.

Well, duh. Schumer is a war pig and has repeatedly stabbed Obama in the back over Israel.

His vote against this was never in doubt. He always votes for war, and he has not once in his life cast a vote contrary to the wishes of AIPAC and the Israeli government.

This game he's playing is to try to get the Senate Majority/Minority leader job while voting with the Republicans for a war with Iran.

He didn't make a mistake when he voted for the Iraq war. He likes war when it means killing Muslims in the Middle East.

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. I really hope Congress doesn't fuck this up.

[geek tragedy]

2. I think there are enough patriots in the House to ensure Schumer and his ilk don't get

their way.
150+ Democrats in the House have already said they won't vote to kill the bill. The predictable coalition are the ones opposing it .
I sure as shit someone primaries this war pig Wall Streetocrat. He makes me appreciate the noble qualities of Andrew Cuomo.

This is Anthony Weiner's mentor.

[Cha]

7. And, if Schumer does.. it will forever be a smirch on his record, imv.

[6chars]

9. Patriots?

this was the kind of language used at the height of the Iraq war fervor, by the other side. The language was equally incorrect and divisive then.

[geek tragedy]

15. They do not believe we should fight a war on behalf of Israel.

The Republicans, AIPAC and Schumer disagree.

He's smart enough to know there's no second bite at the apple with this agreement-it's this agreement or war, as Joe Manchin, who represents an Obama-hating state, has recognized.

[Lee-Lee]

21. Agreement or war are the two absolute choices?

I think it's far more complicated and nuanced than that.

And if you insist it isn't, then aren't you essentially saying that we are being bullied into it? Sign this or war, give me your lunch money or I will bet you up.... Same premise.

[geek tragedy]

24. There is a third option--Iran getting a nuclear bomb within a decade. nt

[atreides1]

35. One problem

Republicans don't do complicated or nuanced...most couldn't define what those words mean!

For them it's a simple question of: If Israel is against this, then so are we!!!

[geek tragedy]

44. And Schumer is a Republican when it comes to war and peace issues. nt

[brush]

53. Pelosi has already said she has the votes to stop Shumer and the repugs. nt

[Kelvin Mace]

29. They will,

led by a Democrat.

[still_one]

3. and what if he doesn't? Bloomberg reported a few days ago he would support the deal, and the

Democrats have enough votes to prevent a veto over ride

The NY Times told us Iraq had WMDs, and that they were getting ready to file criminal charges on Hillary's email. Now they are telling us Joe Biden is running for president, and politico is telling us Schumer is voting against the deal.

Sorry, but I will wait until Biden and Schumer come out and say say they are running for VP, and voting against the deal respectively, rather than rely on here-say and rumors which the press is so fond of reporting as news before I comment

When the SC first ruled on the Constitutionality of the ACA, do you remember what they first reported? They reported that the SC ruled against the ACA. After finally reading the actual ruling they were wrong.

Naw, I'll wait until things are confirmed

[geek tragedy]

5. Bloomberg has reported no such thing.

Schumer made up his mind on this months, if not years ago. He's utterly predictable for those who know what his priorities are.

Biden isn't running--that's just the DC rumor mill.

. Schumer is a guaranteed 'no' vote. Guar-an-teed.

He is not deliberating whether to oppose the deal, but rather how hard to oppose it--he wants to lead the Democrats even though his loyalties lie elsewhere.

The goal at this point is to make sure people understand what a shitheel he is, in order to discredit his support for a war with Iran. And to disqualify him as leader of Democrats in the Senare.

In closing, fuck Chuck Schumer.

[A Simple Game]

8. The sad thing is as a New York voter people on DU tell me I have to vote for this scumbag.

It has happened in the past but it won't happen again, I don't care what the letter is after his name. In this case and in all cases I will now only vote for what is best for my Country, my family, and myself not what is best for a party and certainly not what is best for Israel.

Schumer is little better than a traitor in my eyes. We waste money on this guy, he is one of many that would do the job for no pay.

[geek tragedy]

16. He's every bad thing ever said about Hillary, and worse. nt

[TreasonousBastard]

18. No you don't...

I believe in party unity as much as almost anyone else, but there are limits. Usually, I just leave the Governor and Senate races blank unless there's someone fun running on another line. Most people in my local Dem district think the same. It never makes a difference, but we just feel a little cleaner not voting for them.

A little off topic, but when our local Dem committee asked Cuomo for a few bucks out of his campaign war chest to help pay the bills last year, he turned us down. He's as big a scumbag as Schumer. Maybe bigger.

I voted for Gillibrand every chance I got, and I think she'd do a lot better without Schumer's shadow over her.

[A Simple Game]

41. I rate Gillibrand on the plus side. Let's hope Schumer doesn't corrupt her.

It's sad when you can fondly recall having to make a choice between Jacob Javits and a Democrat. I wish all elections were so tough to decide.

We almost had another choice like that a few years ago when Dede Scozzafava ran against Bill Owens for Representative. She quit the race when a pile of tea party crap by the name of Hoffman ran on the Conservative ticket and was going to split the Republican vote. I considered her much more liberal than Owens and was prepared to break my long time pledge to never vote for a Republican. She has since become a Democrat.

[geek tragedy]

46. Gillibrand has her roots upstate, so she should be okay.

She doesn't have the same ties to the slimy NYC Democratic machine (I live here, and the local party is incredibly corrupt on multiple levels, it's sickening)

[still_one]

55. Sorry, it was on With all due respect with Mark Halperin and John Heinemann. Those are a couple of

political analysts that are on Bloomberg, so don't tell me it wasn't on Bloomberg, it was, I saw it last week.

Whether that turns out to be accurate or not I don't know, but since YOU have an inside ticket to who votes what, I will expect you to get back to us if schumer ends up voting for the deal, you will of course let us know you were wrong, right? Guaranteed.

Actually that show has more credibility than Politico, which injects right wing talking points wherever it gets the chance.

Also, there are news sites reporting the Biden run as a done thing, and that Obama is going to approve the Keystone pipeline as a sure thing. We will see. I suspect the accuracy will be split

[geek tragedy]

57. local news has been reporting Schumer will oppose

I did check out the Halperin video, he said that people who read the tea leaves expect Schumer to support it.

The only people predicting Schumer will support it are Mondoweiss and the New York Post.

[still_one]

58. Anyway, my point was that I did not misrepresent. We will all know soon

soon enough. I believe no matter how schumer votes the Democrats will have the votes to prevent a veto over ride

[geek tragedy]

72. True that. But a big hint is that the NYC metro Congress members

are starting to come out against it. Rice, Meng, soon to be joined by Engel, and of course Steve Israel.

The black and Latino Congress members from the area will support the President, but the others will probably all vote with the Republicans with S. Maloney being the only white Hkuse member from New York to support it.

And, yes it's depressing that in this day and age race/ethnicity is almost a perfect predictor of how they will vote.

[still_one]

73. we are on the same side on this one for sure

[ericson00]

4. nobody is out for the Muslims

such hyperbole is ridiculous. And as another poster said, let's see what really happens. The press likes to stir the pot.

[geek tragedy]

6. Schumer pimped the war with Iraq.

He never met an Israeli attack on Palestinian civilians that didn't gratify him.

And he never, ever, ever disagrees in public with AIPAC and Netanyahu. Never.

Given a choice between Obama and piece, and Netanyahu and war, he will choose the latter every time.

Remember Bibi's big speech that was a slap in the face to Obama?

Schumer was a cheerleader for it, bashing Democrats who chose Obama over Netanyahu.

http://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Senior-US-Senator-Schumer-calls-on-fellow-Democrats-to-attend-Netanyahu-speech-391621#article=6020NzI5RTNDRDA3NjM2RDRERTE0N0JFMTE4NEJBMzhDOTA=

And, of course, he loved the speech from his ideological soulmate:

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/03/8563335/schumer-gillibrand-give-high-marks-netanyahu-speech

[ericson00]

12. they sell organs and drink children's blood, you didn't know?

[geek tragedy]

17. Oh please.

Why is Schumer voting against this? Why has everyone thought he would vote against this?

Schumer has delusions of messianic grandeur, a man who has literally claimed that god chose him to protect Israel.

Schumer has a habit of stabbing Obama in the back in order to defend Netanyahu.

Even worse when Bush was President:

http://washingtonnote.com/has_chuck_schum/

This is the 2nd time I know of that Schumer has publicly crossed the line when it came to zealously blaming his own government and colleagues in delicate matters of US-Israel-Palestine policy.
During the third of three major efforts of the George W. Bush administration to get the recess appointed US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton confirmed in the US Senate, Senator Schumer launched a passionate personal campaign to help Bolton succeed.
Schumer called many Democratic Senate colleagues and bluntly said, “A vote against John Bolton is a vote against Israel.”
Senator Christopher Dodd finally challenged Schumer’s advocacy for Bolton and this statement in a meeting of the weekly Democratic Senate Caucus at the time — and put an end to Schumer’s campaign.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. Shumer is a DOMA yes voter, so I loathe him. However, I personally would not extend the editorial

psychic characterizations of him. 'Gratified' means 'to satisfy a desire, to take pleasure'. You are saying not that he supported military actions, but that he wanted them for his own enjoyment. There is no reason to do so, the support of the actions is in itself the wrong. I can agree with you that he has been wrong in supporting some military actions, but I have no fucking idea of he lusted after that violence and got off on it, which is your assertion.
It's a bit off to one side, in the area of verbiage I do not care for.

[geek tragedy]

31. your critique of my comments is fair.

But, as a constitutent of his since 1999 who has seen him explicitly endorse "economically strangling" the Palestinians,

http://www.taylormarsh.com/2010/06/schumer-strangling-palestinians-economically-makes-sense/

I can't say they exaggerate just how Manichean and dismissive of the humanity of Arabs he is.

[GoneFishin]

22. Straight to the hyperbolic strawman, huh? So you got nothing then.

[FourScore]

10. Schumer is Jewish first, American second. He ALWAYS votes in Isreal's best interest.

I dare you to find a single vote when he didn't.

[ericson00]

13. if you replaced the word "Jewish" with "black" in that sentence,

I would probably get likened to Limbaugh.

[grossproffit]

20. +1 This type of rhetoric has become commonplace here.

Sickening to see on a Democratic website.

[geek tragedy]

23. what's sickening is to see so-called Democrats lining up for a war with Iran

after having enabled Bush's war in Iraq.

[Bluenorthwest]

26. I think both things are sickening and I can make a strong case that they are both sickening.

nt

[geek tragedy]

38. It seems to me there's some incoherence in the discourse, however.

For one, if someone accused Huckabee or Santorum or Ted Cruz or Jeb Bush of putting their fundamentalist faith ahead of what's good for the United States, no one here would bat an eye.

For another, AIPAC is lobbying against this bill. So this is explicitly about Israel.

The news media coverage is all about whether Schumer will choose his relationship with his party over his relationship with Israel. it's never portrayed as "Chuck Schumer, a noted foreign policy wonk, is focused keenly on whether the deal is good for the United States."

It's always "will Schumer vote with Israel or with Obama and his party?" And the fact that he's Jewish gets mentioned in every single story? Is everyone anti-Semitic?

Schumer himself has said:

"You know, my name .... comes from the word shomer, guardian, watcher. My ancestors were guardians of the ghetto wall in Chortkov. And I believe Hashem [Orthodox for God] actually gave me that name. One of my roles, very important in the United States senate, is to be a shomer -- to be a or the shomer Yisrael. And I will continue to be that with every bone in my body ..."

That's his words. He said that!

So, he himself has put it out there that he views his job in the US Senate to protect Israel at all costs, due to his Jewish heritage (again, he said this explicitly) and the fact that the Jewish supreme being chose him to do so.

So if he does what he says he believes god has chosen him to do--use his status as a US Senator to support Israel at all costs--why is it so outrageous for people to observe that he made the choice he said he was making?

We're not talking about all Jews, and we're not talking about Jewish politicians, Jews as a group etc.

We're talking about one guy who has explicitly made it clear--by his own words-- he has conflicting loyalties whenever his own government disagrees with Israel. (his record in such disagreements is to side against his own government, fwiw).

To put it another way, why is Chuck Schumer a John Bolton clone when it comes to the Middle East?

[FourScore]

64. This is an excellent post. Thank you explaining it so articulately, geek tragedy. n/t

[FourScore]

65. I don't mean "Jewish" in the racial sense, I mean it as religion.

As geek tragedy has so articulately pointed out, no one would bat an eye if I said "Christian".

I remember when they asked John Kennedy if being Catholic would create a conflict of interest for him. If push came to shove, who would he stand by, the Church or America? He answered America.

No one has ever asked that of Chuck Schumer. I think it's clear where he stands though.

I did not mean to offend by calling him "Jewish". I'm not sure what else to call it when speaking of that particular religious orientation.

[FourScore]

77. And if I replaced the word Christian with Jewish, what would I get likened to then?

I MEANT THE WORD IN THE SENSE OF RELIGION. NOT RACE!!!

[ericson00]

80. Jewry is an ethnoreligious group

this is well known. And they're not the only ethnoreligious group, so this isn't like "ooo the jooz, think they're 'chosen people.'"

[FourScore]

82. I know Jewish people who call themselves Jewish. They mean their religion.

I know 2 black families, one is a close friend, they converted to Judaism years ago, before I ever met them - they call themselves Jewish.

There is an ethnoreligious group, but I'm not talking about that.

I'm talking purely about Schumer's RELIGION. so how am I supposed to name his religion, if I can't say Jewish?

[nadinbrzezinski]

85. This is the slur

Schumer is Jewish first, American second. He ALWAYS votes in Isreal's best interest.

You have been told this by a few,. Your post was alerted because some of us get it, not me, I do not alert, or play jury.

You are telling a JEW, who's father survived the holocaust essentially that you do not believe me when I tell you this is a well known antisemitic slur with a long history. Well my friend. what you posted was an antisemitic slur. A well known one. It is time to stop defending it, or be thought as something else. And yes, I do not care if you alert. I am sure a jury will likely hide this, while a jury let the actual slur stay.

I am glad they did, at least we can attempt education... and when I mean my passport, I mean I fear we may be on the way to ANOTHER genocide, since the language that precedes one is starting to become NORMALIZED. Have an excellent day.

[dsc]

33. 4 to 3 leave

just wow. Imagine for a moment someone wrote Obama is black first, American second. He always acts in Africa's best interest. Literally unimaginable that a post with those words would last a second. Yet the post I am responding to is apparently A OK. I guess next we will see posts about baby's blood in matzo.

[grossproffit]

42. It's sickening and it's getting worse.

You summed up my feelings.

[geek tragedy]

45. "Huckabee obeys what his imaginary sky patriarch tells him

rather than what's good for the American people."

I bet that one would get a 0-7 LEAVE IT vote.

It's not like Schumer has been subtle in cloaking his foreign policy votes in religious rhetoric, anointing himself a protector of the Jewish people and Israel.

"You know, my name .... comes from the word shomer, guardian, watcher. My ancestors were guardians of the ghetto wall in Chortkov. And I believe Hashem [Orthodox for God] actually gave me that name. One of my roles, very important in the United States senate, is to be a shomer -- to be a or the shomer Yisrael. And I will continue to be that with every bone in my body ..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/schumer-im-on-a-mission-f_b_560091.html

On foreign policy, he's to Judaism what Huckabee and Santorum are to Christianity on abortion and same-sex marriage.

[dsc]

47. there is a difference here and you well know it

People choose to be funamentalist Christians, they don't choose to be Jewish.

[geek tragedy]

49. It's a choice to claim that Hashem has chosen one to support

Israel in the United States Senate, just like it's a choice to demonize as anti-Israel people who opposed John Bolton.

If people let their religious beliefs affect their policy choices in irrational ways, that is fair game.

And I daresay that Schumer's adoption of Bush-Cheneyism in foreign policy is irrational.

Certainly his being an ideological clone of John Bolton makes him unfit to be leader of the Senate Democrats, if it allows him to be a Democrat at all.

Note, btw, that no other Jewish Democrat has thus far made noises about opposing this. Adam Schiff came out in support of it today, as did Sander Levin last week.

Thus far, it's Schumer and the usual suspects from the NYC metro area (Meng, Israel, Engel).

[FourScore]

63. I am meaning the word strictly in the religious sense.

geek tragedy has summed it up better than I ever could. The comparison of Christian fundamentalists is very appropriate in this case.

[FourScore]

66. Please see post 65 for a clarification of my meaning. Thanks. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

68. Thanks for calling it for what it is by the way

[FourScore]

74. If I were to say a person is a Christian first and an American second, what would you call that?

Because in that light is exactly how I meant it.

I don't mean the term racially, and you know that. I wasn't even thinking racially. I know too many people who are not Jewish by race who practice the Jewish religion. I call those people Jewish also. Is that wrong?

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. This slur, which is what it is, goes back to the trial of Captain Dreyfuss

perhaps this will help to understand why it is one.

Could you be critical of Shummer without going there? Yes. There is no need.

And the fact that the jury left it alone, is just the cherry on top.

[FourScore]

78. Let me ask you then, if I am referring to a person as Buddhist or Christian or Muslim or Jewish,

why is one a slur, but none of the others?

I think the jury let it stand because no slur was intended. I am speaking of his RELIGION!

[nadinbrzezinski]

79. I recomend a long history of antisemitism

I will start you with this

http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/education-outreach/Brief-History-on-Anti-Semitism-A.pdf

By the way, are you calling a Buddhist member of congress more loyal to Nepal? Or a Catholic to the Vatican? Oh wait, that was done with Kennedy. And it was just as disgusting.

I wish I were surprised that we are having this "discussion" barely 70 years after the last time we had a genocide and this slur was in common use in both the United States and Germany. Suffice it to say, you are making sure I am positive of why I need to exit stage whatever. Things that at one time were not kosher, pun intended, are now allowed. I expected this by the way. So it is far from shocking.

[FourScore]

81. It's only disgusting if there is no reason for the accusation, but Schumer ALWAYS sides with Isreal.

Show me one time when he didn't. Just once. He's my senator. I know how he votes.

If I have offended you by using the word "Jewish" to describe his religion, and clearly I have offended you, I apologize. That was not my intent.

Perhaps I am ignorant to the sensitivities of this word. I will read the link and try to understand.

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. I am sure you can disagree without going there

if you can't, even after it is pointed to you that this is a well trodden antisemitic slur, well then.

And whenever this is used with ANY Jew in government it will bring the same things from people who know the meaning of the words. FYI, there are CHRISTIANS who also vote the same way, and none says they are more loyal to Israel than the United States. NOR is AIPAC the only group lobbying for other countries. We have people doing it for the King of Saudi Arabia for example.. Japan has a nice operation, Hell, almost any friendly government has them.

It probably should not be done, but governments lobby each other regularly, and spy on each other regularly. It is kind of the way it is.

Myself, I am indeed exiting stage whatever, because I am tired of racism, antisemitism, and a few other things, And quite honestly, I am not surprised that any of this is rearing it's ugly head. It will get far worst. So time to check my passport. I might have to leave in a jiffy.

[FourScore]

84. Safe travels!

[dsc]

86. what if he is siding with this constituents?

I would imagine each and every one of the votes you describe as siding with Israel is also siding with his constituents which is how Democracy is supposed to work.

[geek tragedy]

88. He is (D-NY) not (D-Borough Park and Kew Gardens)

Come on over to Crown Heights and see how many people support him knifing Obama in order to side with a foreign power that's occupying and oppressing an indigenous people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. lovely antisemitic slur

no matter how many excuses you bring.

[FourScore]

75. I meant to put post 74 here. n/t

[kelliekat44]

14. My question is: Has Sanders voted any differently than Schumer on these same issues? nt

[TreasonousBastard]

19. I don't know, but voting records aren't...

always the best ways to find out how they really feel or would act in another scenario.

"Safe" votes are often thrown out for favors, local consumprion, etc.

[mucifer]

37. Why? Because he's Jewish? Bernie is supporting the Iran Deal:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/247815-sanders-iran-deal-a-victory-for-diplomacy

[Iggo]

54. Yeah, why? Because he's Jewish?

[NightWatcher]

27. New Rule: You can either represent Israel or the US in Congress, not both

[BillZBubb]

28. Schumer usually takes the Israeli position on matters like this.

But he hasn't said he'd oppose the agreement yet.

[geek tragedy]

32. He hasn't said he'll oppose it, but he's already decided.

He's the ideological soulmate of John Bolton.

[summerschild]

30. I am sick of war.

And I am sick of Schumer and the Israelis.

[hobbit709]

34. Like several other so-called Democrats, his $pon$or$ have spoken.

[fredamae]

36. Ummm, who seriously believed

schumer would Ever back this deal?
I was already worried about his "senior arm twisting" skills from the get-go.

[geek tragedy]

39. hopefully this will cost him his shot at being the Senate leader.

he's really really really awful, and certainly in no position to talk to any other members about party loyalty and discipline.

[fredamae]

50. I doubt it will

The "congressional game is rigged" and they (dem leadership/third way/corporate wing) will never give up their power, imo.

But, that said---I do have the same hope.

[geek tragedy]

51. we'll see how Obama reacts to Schumer's treason, that could play a role nt

[fredamae]

56. Good point! Will do n/t

[PoliticAverse]

40. Pelosi says she has the votes in the House, so what Schumer does is no longer that important. n/t

[geek tragedy]

43. no, but he could make it easier for the next president to repudiate the deal.

it's also a very sickening display of embracing Bush/Cheneyism while spitting in Obama's face, from the guy who's going to be the Democrats' Senate leader.

If we can't change his mind on this (and we can't) the next best thing is to make sure his opinion influences no one else, and that he suffers as much political damage as possible for his malfeasance.

[JEB]

48. Israel has nukes. Why no disarming talk?

The debates on Mid East policy seem slanted and unfair. Shumer contributes to the unfair slant.

[oldandhappy]

52. my email is on the way

[Pisces]

59. Shumer is the right arm of AIPAC. He takes his marching orders from them. It is a sad state of

affairs that we have people so brainwashed for war.

[hifiguy]

87. +1

AIPAC has more representation in Congress than the actual American People on some issues.

[DefenseLawyer]

60. If you don't support the President you can't be Majority/Minority Leader

That seems simple enough to me. If his fellow Senators explain it to him in those terms, my guess is the problem is solved. Unfortunately we rarely see that kind of hardball played by Democrats in the Senate.

[geek tragedy]

61. I already miss Harry Reid. nt

[StevieM]

69. I support the Iran deal and am disappointed that Schumer may vote no. But I disagree with your

Last edited Mon Aug 3, 2015, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)

position that you cannot be majority/minority leader if you disagree with Obama.

Obviously, the Caucus isn't usually going to pick someone who doesn't share core Democratic values. So they wouldn't pick a leader who voted against Obamacare, or eliminating the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. I am amazed that they tolerated Harry Reid, who is anti-choice.

I don't see a vote against this deal as a disqualifier. Nobody is going to agree with Obama, or any Democratic president, all of the time, even on major issues.

[DefenseLawyer]

70. That's not my position. I was inarticulate.

My point is not that the Leader can't ever disagree with the President; rather it is that in this case, the fact that he covets the position would be leverage for the Caucus to get him to fall in line. If enough Senate Democrats were willing to play hardball, that is.

[StevieM]

71. OK, I see what you are saying.

I just can't imagine that they would ever do that, given that they actually picked a party leader who isn't pro-choice. If they would allow Harry Reid to be Majority Leader then I don't think they would deny the job to Schumer.

[cpwm17]

62. +1000 nt