QOTD

[randy_byers]

'Second, the letter was drafted and signed with maximum haste and a total contempt for planning or serious thought of any kind. “It was kind of a very rapid process. Everybody was looking forward to getting out of town because of the snowstorm,” confessed John McCain. “Many of the 47 signatories reasoned that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s endorsement was vetting enough,” notes former Bush administration speechwriter Michael Gerson, disgustedly. “There was no caucus-wide debate about strategy; no consultation with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has studiously followed the nuclear talks (and who refused to sign).” Most people who signed on did so because they assumed somebody else had thought through the details. It was the Iraq invasion of foreign-policy maneuvers.' (Jonathan Chait, "The Republican Iran Letter Is the Perfect Neoconservative Fiasco")

Comments

[janeehawkins.livejournal.com]

Our legislative branch openly attempts to undermine executive branch negotiations with a foreign nation. Wow. This article gives us some understanding for how this happened, but .... Can't you almost hear half the world laughing at the US?

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

No "almost" about it. I hear it loud and clear.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

The news that, of merely 7 Republican senators who did not sign the thing, one of them was the bleedin' chairman of the frickin' Foreign Relations Committee, would have been useful information to have had earlier.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I've seen several stories talking about how Corker was unhappy about the letter, because he feels that it undermines his attempt to pass a bill forcing the White House to ask for Senate approval of whatever agreement is reached with Iran. The bill was co-sponsored by Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and had the support of other Democrats, and Corker feels that the Republicans' letter probably pushes Democrats away from such bi-partisan efforts. That said, it seems unlikely he would have ever gotten the 67 votes needed to override the inevitable presidential veto.

[wrdnrd]

[facepalm]

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I just hope a deal with Iran is reached and sticks. The world would be a better place.