iowa senators to Iran " Don't waste time talking to Obama. We are in charge here. Prepare to die."

[IADEMO2004]

I see Ernst's name just under McConnell near the top. Is her desk or just her signature stamp in his office? iowa should be able to better than these two.

http://go.bloomberg.com/assets/content/uploads/sites/2/150309-Cotton-Open-Letter-to-Iranian-Leaders.pdf


and the letter didn't get it exactly right yuk yuk


Josh Rogin reports that a “group of 47 Republican senators has written an open letter to Iran’s leaders warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with President Barack Obama’s administration won’t last after Obama leaves office.” Here is the letter. Its premise is that Iran’s leaders “may not fully understand our constitutional system,” and in particular may not understand the nature of the “power to make binding international agreements.” It appears from the letter that the Senators do not understand our constitutional system or the power to make binding agreements.

The letter states that “the Senate must ratify [a treaty] by a two-thirds vote.” But as the Senate’s own web page makes clear: “The Senate does not ratify treaties. Instead, the Senate takes up a resolution of ratification, by which the Senate formally gives its advice and consent, empowering the president to proceed with ratification” (my emphasis). Or, as this outstanding 2001 CRS Report on the Senate’s role in treaty-making states (at 117): “It is the President who negotiates and ultimately ratifies treaties for the United States, but only if the Senate in the intervening period gives its advice and consent.” Ratification is the formal act of the nation’s consent to be bound by the treaty on the international plane. Senate consent is a necessary but not sufficient condition of treaty ratification for the United States. As the CRS Report notes: “When a treaty to which the Senate has advised and consented … is returned to the President,” he may “simply decide not to ratify the treaty.”

http://www.lawfareblog.com/2015/03/the-error-in-the-senators-letter-to-the-leaders-of-iran/

[brush]

1. So can these repugs just sit on the ratification docs . . .

without doing anything and thereby block the president from proceeding, or can he just ignore their obstruction and proceed with ratification?

If I were him I'd call in Holder and have him bring them all up on charges of violating the Logan Act — including Boner.

[IADEMO2004]

2. Zero chance administration would ask for a treaty ratification with GOP control of senate.

Near zero chance of any agreement with Iran

Just my opinion

[brush]

3. I've heard since that Congress only advises . . .

they don't have the power to say yes or no as the president, as prescribed in the Constitution, exercises foreign policy.

So I'm thinking that he can go ahead and ignore them.

[IADEMO2004]

4. If US and Iran come to an agreement senate can do nothing and it stands or reject the agreement

If Iran put every offensive weapon to the last rifle cartridge in the Persian Gulf GOP would reject it because it wasn't quick enough.

A treaty the senate has to approve or reject.

Or the 47 senate loons can sign a letter from a freshman senator from Arkansas to try to destroy any hope of an agreement without knowing what is in the agreement.

Wife reminds me I have been wrong in the not to distant past.

[brush]

5. They don't have yay or nay power on this . . .

as it's not a unilateral agreement between the US and Iran but an international one that involves 5 other top-tier nations and the UN Security Council so the repugs loons can crow all they want but no way can do they have the power to go against 5 other nations and the UN.

And as far as them thinking they can "change it at the stroke of a pen" if a repug wins the White House, that's not going to happen either. This is really nothing but an ill advised propaganda gambit that is extraordinary in it's uninformed stupidity.

The Iranian foreign minister details all of this in his response to the open letter.

In fact, he ridicules them for their lack of knowledge on international diplomacy.

His response is well worth googling.

[IADEMO2004]

9. Only thing the GOP has less respect for than Obama is the U.N.

[47of74]

6. Since my previous letter wasn't published I sent another one in.

Basically it said the actions are criminal, that the GOP is trying to rush us into war, they should be brought up on charges, and the TH dumb fuck teabagging trolls really ought to shut the fuck up and pull the goddamn log out of their fucking eyes before spouting off about the Democrats.

[IADEMO2004]

7. GOP have lost control of their party. Lunatic Fringe have no boundaries ethics or honor.

Hope they don't burn down the whole country.

And Joni Ernst hasn't let a single crazy train leave the station without her jumping aboard.

Good luck getting published.

[47of74]

8. There are days I still want to move out of Iowa because of Ernst, Branstad, et al...

If I could've moved I'd probably be living up in the Twin Cities right now.