Colorado U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner defends signing the GOP open letter to Iran, telling the Denver Post that the controversy does not get in the way of his pledge to help promote Washington bipartisanship. This is a “prime example of where we can and should work together,” Gardner said without quite explaining how the letter would bring the sides closer. Gardner also co-sponsored a resolution welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who would go on to rip Barack Obama in a joint session of Congress. This is what high school guidance counselors refer to as a pattern. In running for office last year, Gardner said that the controversial anti-abortion “personhood” legislation he sponsored wasn’t really controversial personhood legislation aimed at outlawing abortion, that it was really just a “statement that he was pro-life,” and that’s all the explanation anyone ever got out of him about the matter.
Does the Republican letter to Iran really get at the truth? Since the 1930s, 94 percent of pacts between the United States and foreign countries have been executive agreements, and rarely have they been overturned. And if a deal is made, it might well be taken to the U.N. Security Council for approval, making it even harder to disregard. Via the New York Times.
Leslie Gelb: GOP hates Obama more than they hate a nuclear Iran. Via the Daily Beast.
Colorado Springs residents sue El Paso County Commissioners to halt development of a wind farm on the plains near Calhan. They say approval of the plan to plant more than 120 turbines on the site was “arbitrary and capricious.” Via the Gazette.
The email story is just one more in which Hillary Clinton crosses the bridge to the often-rocky past. Aren’t presidential campaigns supposed to be about the future? Via Frank Bruni at the New York Times.
Clinton said there was no security breach of her email server, but there’s no way for her to really know that. Via Vox.
Two of the racist-chanting fraternity members at the University of Oklahoma were expelled. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh doesn’t believe the expulsions are constitutional. Via the Washington Post.
The attack may look like a rush-hour assault on Washington, D.C., but the attack on Tikrit — by the Iraqi army in concert with an Iranian-led Shiite militia, but with no American airplanes in sight — could be the start of a critical campaign. Via the New Yorker.
Matt Jenkins at High Country News writes on Patricia Mulroy, chief negotiator for the state of Nevada and head of the agency that brings water to Las Vegas. She reshaped the debate with little water rights and a lot of money.
Mitch McConnell says that Loretta Lynch’s nomination for attorney general will come to the floor next week – but only, it turns out, if Democrats approve a controversial abortion rider to an uncontroversial human trafficking bill. Via the National Journal.
The Constitution prescribes death for traitors like Cory Gardner.
There are only two words for Cory Gardner’s behavior – Senatorial Malpractice. Gardner shows his ignorance of foreign policy engagement by his blatant misunderstanding of how the Government works. This is a negotiation between allies about how to proceed with Iran. And the President has the Constitutional right to participate in those discussions with other countries – our allies. The United States doesn’t even have diplomatic relations with Iran. There’s no active negotiations with Iran that could even be taking place. On top of that, all 47 of these Bozo’s could be prosecuted under the Logan Act. It’s still on the books as actual law “United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments”. This is an end run around the talks the President is having with other of our allies, and it’s totally illegal under US law – on the books right now. Only the President is authorized to participate in these negotiations with other US allies. What Cory Gardner signed on for by his act is a Federal felony punishable by 3 years in Federal Jail. Notable Republicans didn’t sign this letter – Susan Collins from Maine being one of them. This is Cory Gardner doing what he is told to do by his Republican handlers and Senior Republican leaders. Not Cory Gardner exercising any logic or common sense or knowledge of how the Government works. This is NOT Cory Gardner acting in the best interests of the people of Colorado or the Nation. This is not done in a spirit of cooperation to get things done in Congress or in the world to make things better. This IS inflammatory. It is purely partisan and people need to know just who is representing them. This is patently ridiculous behavior and please do expect this same behavior to continue for the next 6 YEARS. It’s the behavior of a lemming. Not the behavior of one having any common sense, personal responsibility, or respect for the Governmental process. Wake up and understand what people like Cory Gardner are doing to the nation and to the reputation of Colorado – we all look stupid because of it, and it represents continued Republican insanity, inconsideration for the Presidency (bordering on racism), sensationalism, outright breaking of a Federal law, and just plain stupidity. Cory Gardner is hoping you will react on your “feelings” that what he did was correct. He acted in blatant disrespect for the Government and I sincerely hope Coloradans will understand the facts and live with the truth, until we can vote Cory Gardner out ASAP. He is a disgrace to the position of Colorado Senator – already.
So THIS is running things like adults? THIS is “thoughtful” government? Gardner and every other republican signer of that STUPID letter is an absolute FOOL. And now they want to say it’s supposed to be HELPING? HOW???? “Our president is weak and can’t be trusted, DON’T make a deal with him if you know what’s good for you” is some kind of HELP???? With help like this, who on earth needs someone trying to to block you?
Every one of these republicans should be up on at least mutiny charges. We are supposedly in a time of war, and these vermin are acting directly AGAINST the needs and security of the American people. They have shown SERIOUS disrespect for the office of the president, and are working actively to weaken this country. I DO consider what they are doing to be treason, wholeheartedly.
The LACK of leadership being shown in BOTH the house and senate is apalling. We do NOT have an actual legislative branch anymore, we have usurpers, clowns and fools. Gardner is making his way up that list, and needs to be replaced for the good of this state and country. He is NOT part of the solution, like I TOLD people before the election, he is the PROBLEM. And rather than even mail in a ballot, people just ignored it and now here we are, stuck with this little PINHEAD for 6 years.
Being LAZY has consequences, Colorado. Don’t EVER do it again.