Editorial: GOP Letter To Iran Disgraces America - DetroitFreePress

[WillyT]

Editorial: GOP letter to Iran disgraces America
The Detroit Free Press Editorial Board
6:39 p.m. EDT March 9, 2015

<snip>

America looks weakest when its internal arguments spill over into its international diplomacy — something that has been rare in the nation's history.

That it is happening now is a blot on the 114th U.S. Senate; specifically, on the 47 Republican senators who signed an open letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran, a missive whose sole purpose is to end President Barack Obama's ongoing nuclear negotiations with that country.

Among the signatories of this letter are Sens. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky; Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, all three potential 2016 presidential contenders. At minimum, signing such a letter should disqualify each man from holding the high office they seek to degrade.

At worst? Well, it's unlikely that, as some have suggested, this letter rises to the level of treason or violates the Logan Act, which bars unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign powers. But it certainly betrays a deep misunderstanding of our governmental structure, and a profound and dismaying disrespect for the office of the presidency, as well as its incumbent occupant. To disagree with a sitting president is one thing, even if that disagreement is loud, even if it is raucous. A deliberate attempt to undermine a sitting president's efforts to discharge his constitutional obligations is something else entirely.

Last week, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the floor of Congress. That, too, was a politically fraught act — Netanyahu also opposes Obama's deal — but this is a step farther.

Orchestrated by Sen. Tim Cotton, R-Arkansas, this letter masquerades as...

<snip>

More: http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/03/09/iran-congress-leter/24670293/

[cyberswede]

1. "profound and dismaying disrespect for the office of the presidency" - yep

Disgusting. That anyone would think this move was acceptable is shocking, frankly.

[spanone]

5. i don't believe it's for 'the office of the presidency'. i think it's disrespect for THIS president.

[cyberswede]

10. You're probably right

Although who knows if they would have done the same with any Democratic president. Craven assholes.

[2naSalit]

11. I think it's both...

These assbites don't know what respect is and they prove it just about three times a day if not more.

[marym625]

2. K&R!

They are a disgrace. I honestly never thought, even with how horrible they are, they would ever go this far.

I hope they all go to jail

[Baitball Blogger]

3. What once made us stand out above all other nations, is no longer.

That has been apparent for sometime. The Republicans have been dragging us into the territory of a banana republic for over a decade now.

[riderinthestorm]

4. Big K&R!!!! Nt

[samsingh]

6. sedition and treachery forever - like benedict arnold

[world wide wally]

9. It's our job to make sure that no one forgets this.

Disagreement is one thing. Treason and sedition is altogether a different story.
We need to make Benedict Arnold their mascot.

[Sophiegirl]

7. It may not technically qualify as treason...

But it is most certainly sedition.

[gregcrawford]

14. Fortunately, sedition is no longer illegal...

... or most of us would be in Gitmo! I sure as hell would be. As much as I despise Cotton and the rest of the maggots that signed this little bit of juvenile flatulence, I think they have successfully skirted the threat of legal action, though not by much. And, as we saw in the treatment of that treacherous turd, General David Petraeus (see my cartoon in Good Reads: TOON: Petraeus is Reprimanded), there is a very different legal system applied to the transgressions of Washington insiders.

A tidal wave of public vilification might well serve to neutralize any further influence the signers might have, and it should be utilized to blow very big holes at the water lines that sink the hopes of those signers who once had presidential ambitions. But we must not succumb to the goldfish syndrome; we must keep the pressure on these scumbags, and make it LOUD.

[samsingh]

17. alot of people are calling it treason - the repugs call anything

we do treason

[rustbeltvoice]

12. The Republican Party is a party of sedition and fascism.

But it is not polite in America to say this in public, yet Republican congressmen that resemble congenital idiots in appearance (some with Ivy League degrees [Cotton, Cruz amongst them]) get press passes; while a nonsense scandal de jour is yapped about instead.

[ffr]

13. This is why I canvas to get Dems to vote every election. WTF are we thinking!!!

You and I know what to expect from Rebuplis. Why isn't this common knowledge to everyone, a motivational tool to get off your dead ass and vote for Democrats, any Democrat, or at least anyone who isn't a Republis. Where is the disconnect? WTF are we protesting by not voting? This is a direct result of our side finding any excuse they can not to vote.

The country deserves this.

[CrispyQ]

15. I sent a letter of disgust to my new senator who signed it.

It's gonna be a long six years.

[samsingh]

18. good for you

[HoosierCowboy]

16. Israel needs to run as far away....

....from Fundie based GOP thinking.. and quickly
Because the Fundie GOP thinking is that we must save Israel in order to convert them to Christianity, after that the ones that refuse to convert will....

[sanatanadharma]

19. Republicans tell world that USA cannot be trusted

What to make of these Republicans essentially telling the world that the USA can not be trusted and that this country may reverse any international agreement if the next elected officials are as duplicitous and unscrupulous as these 47 republiCON Jane Fonda wannabes.

[Hekate]

20. Blowback. May it reach epic proportions.

[Cosmic Dancer]

21. This is what we voted for!

The problem is that the American people will keep voting these treasonous morons into office. This seems to be what the people want, hard to understand.