Dem: Trade officials ‘baffling’ lawmakers ‘with bullshit’

[n2doc]

By Kevin Cirilli

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Thursday accused the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) of “baffling” Democrats “with bullshit” in an effort to advance President Obama's trade agenda.

Pocan’s remarks, which were triggered by a debate over whether the U.S. enjoys a trade surplus with free-trade partners, mark the latest escalation in a fight between liberals and the White House office over President Obama’s trade agenda.

Obama is requesting that Congress approve “fast-track” legislation that would make it easier to negotiate trade deals, and his team is negotiating two new trade agreements. He’s getting some cooperation from an otherwise antagonistic GOP on Capitol Hill but is running into opposition from the left.

Some House Democrats argue U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has not been transparent in discussing U.S. trade negotiations with prospective partners, claims that White House officials vehemently refute.

more

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/236345-dem-trade-officials-baffling-lawmakers-with-bullshit


If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.

W. C. Fields

[Octafish]

1. TPP'll level the playing field all right.

Flat, like the earth Thomas Friedman likes.

[hedda_foil]

2. When they talk about a level playing field, think of strip mining.

You don't get to the money shot by bringing the bottom of the mountain up to its peak. You level the mountain to get to the coal faster and more profitably. Oh... and you throw the waste into rivers and streams because who cares if your poisonous water kills the inhabitants. They're not your problem.

[Populist_Prole]

3. I wonder what their metrics are

Along the lines of considering fast-food preparation as "manufacturing", as some have already tried?

Or the fact of purchases from abroad from US based multinationals of items made abroad.