Trump invites GOP senators for unusual meeting with Erdoğan to 'clear the air'
Source: CNN
Washington (CNN)A small group of Republican senators who traditionally focus on foreign policy issues have been invited to the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan -- including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch.
There's been limited information given to the Hill on what this is all about, two sources familiar with the meeting told CNN. But it was made clear it was a meeting Trump wanted amid significant Capitol Hill criticism of Erdoğan personally and Turkey's recent actions in Syria. It was being framed as an opportunity to "clear the air" and have a serious and frank discussion about the real fissures in the relationship, which also includes US outrage over Turkey's purchase of Russian weapons systems, one source familiar with the meeting told CNN. But the source also acknowledged the meeting is very irregular and nobody is sure what to expect.
Risch, who has been critical of Erdoğan and Turkey's actions, is in the midst of drafting a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting the country. But lawmakers in both parties are also cognizant that Turkey is a NATO ally, and one likely to move toward Russia if the disputes with the US continue to harden. Yet the strongest Congressional critics have included some of Trump's closest congressional allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who has repeatedly warned Erdoğan about the repercussions of his actions and has drafted his own sweeping sanctions bill targeting the country.
Other Republicans expected to attend have also been sharply critical, according to one of the sources, who declined to name all attendees until the White House announced the list. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for Trump the rescind the White House invitation to Erdoğan entirely. The White House declined to do so. The meeting is closed to press and is listed as "a legislative engagement with select members of the Senate" on the President's schedule.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/13/politics/trump-erdogan-republican-senators/index.html
So is he gonna pull out Putin's folders with some kompromat on these GOP elected officials to encourage them to make these sanctions go away or something?
bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)It's clear to me that there are some Republicans with decent ethics and morals. in some ways, I can see that they having natural protective instinct for their president, and they just want this all to end.
But imagine being called into a room to kiss the ring of a dictator. Ugh.
smb
(3,452 posts)It's clear to me that there are some Republicans with decent ethics and morals.
The only way you'll ever see something as fantastical as a Republican with decent ethics and morals is if you consume a couple pounds of magic mushrooms sprinkled with LSD and washed down with a fifth of Everclear.
bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)dalton99a
(81,065 posts)mopinko
(69,806 posts)atreides1
(16,046 posts)None of them have any concept of decency, morals, or ethics.
As for "natural protective instincts" that's crap...they're only interested in playing the CYA game...and to remain in power...so they can further their agenda of racism, bigotry, and religious fanaticism...
And if given the right incentive they would kiss the ass of Lucifer...
catbyte
(34,170 posts)hold a seance because I can't think of one--active or retired. The ones with ethics and morals have left the party. It's depressing and dangerous because in order to be a healthy democracy we need at least two legitimate political parties. Right now we have one legitimate political party and one a cult of personality, and a dangerous personality at that.
IronLionZion
(45,258 posts)If they're not stopping Trump's disastrous policies, then they're still part of the problem.
atreides1
(16,046 posts)Every Republican senator attending this meeting, will either leave with a large donation to their campaigns...or copies of all the dirty little secrets about their lives or the lives of the people they love and care about!!!
In some cases they'll come away from this meeting with both a hefty donation and a dossier!!!
tanyev
(42,359 posts)econron
(152 posts)[link:
|I ran across this yesterday and almost forgot the thuggery that occurred
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,788 posts)calimary
(80,694 posts)So they won't see what's being said?
Hmmmmmmm...
BumRushDaShow
(127,303 posts)as if Erdogan doesn't know or doesn't have staff monitoring it.
Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)Swamp rats
Hotler
(11,353 posts)kimbutgar
(20,879 posts)Election?
BumRushDaShow
(127,303 posts)and I expect that Erdogan is gonna want that cleric who is living here in PA in exile.