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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP scrambles in the wake of sabotage fiasco
So NOW it was just a big ole joke?
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-scrambles-the-wake-sabotage-fiasco?cid=sm_fb_maddow
GOP scrambles in the wake of sabotage fiasco
03/11/15 08:00 AMUpdated 03/11/15 08:13 AM
By Steve Benen
If the 47 Senate Republicans who tried to sabotage the international talks with Iran had a plan, its safe to say that strategy has been thrown out the window.
As the fiasco unfolded yesterday, the GOP found itself increasingly divided over the legally dubious scheme to derail American foreign policy, with even Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who refused to sign the letter, criticizing the right-wing initiative. Soon after, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) did the same.
It left some Republicans scrambling to defend the entire fiasco. The Daily Beast had this unexpected report late yesterday:
The administration has no sense of humor when it comes to how weakly they have been handling these negotiations, said a top GOP Senate aide.
Without more information about the unnamed sources, its hard to say just how many Republicans on Capitol Hill actually believe this, but its a tough sell. A group of far-right senators interfered with sensitive international diplomacy; they tried to undermine the American government; they encouraged foreign officials not to trust U.S. officials engaged in high-level talks; they brazenly ignored American laws to engage in their own freelance foreign policy; and the defense is Republicans simply wanted to be cheeky? GOP officials on Capitol Hill want the White House to have a sense of humor about sabotage?
Fred Kaplan yesterday explained, It is a useful thing when a political party reveals itself as utterly unsuited for national leadership, adding that the Republican letter was plainly stupid.
It seems a similar assessment can be applied to the Republicans explanation for their misconduct.
The secondary excuse was no better. The Huffington Post reported:
[T]hose who support the letter even some who didnt add their names deflected the blame. If it werent for Obamas failure to consult lawmakers about the negotiations, or his threatened veto of a proposed bill to give Congress the final vote on a nuclear agreement, senators wouldnt have had to speak out in the first place, they argued.
Corker actually pushed this line, as did former Gov. Jeb Bush, a leading Republican presidential hopeful.
This isnt quite as hilarious as the cheeky argument, but its nevertheless hard to take seriously. Its not uncommon for U.S. administrations to engage in sensitive diplomatic talks on their own, without much input from Congress, because under our system, presidents are principally responsible for overseeing foreign policy.
Lawmakers may not like it, and they may urge administrations to follow a different course, but it does not justify the kind of dangerous stunt 47 Senate Republicans pulled this week, which can and likely will undermine American leadership on the global stage.
Turbineguy
(37,412 posts)Yes. I can see how that could be. After all, it's only nuclear weapons (or is that nucular?)
These clowns should go back to stealing hubcaps.
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)Some Tea-Party-asshole looking to make a reputation for himself would publish sensitive details on Fox News.
Boom. Instant name-recognition for fundraising.
And Obama gets to clean the mess up.
malaise
(269,278 posts)Now it's a 'cheeky joke'.
Nothing like two words traitor and treason to scare those ReTHUG scumbags.
STFU you 'Cotton-pickin' assholes.
FSogol
(45,582 posts)procon
(15,805 posts)These clowns come from the same school of humor as that bunch of sociopaths who attended one of the GOP debates and laughed and mocked the gay soldier and the person trying to get healthcare. Maybe next time Republicans decide to go looking for a new penpal amongst America's foes, they should add the little ROTFLMAO emoticon guy... just so we can all laugh, too.
C_U_L8R
(45,035 posts)Republicans are the biggest bunch of jokers this country has ever seen.
Who would ever take them seriously?
Liberalynn
(7,549 posts)like potential nuclear war!
corkhead
(6,119 posts)this has done nothing to change that.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]
maxrandb
(15,386 posts)it was just a "media tweak" and they fell for it. Sneaky devils.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)They should be tarred and feathered, and then laughed out of the Senate. All of 'em! Fuck them for their sick, twisted stunt.