Posted By Ksera on 10/10/2008 8:06 AM
This is when people who don't know anything about politics, should not post about politics.
Obama is a member of the senate foreign relations committee which has oversight on the matter. Obama was contacted directly by the Iraqi government to discuss whether or not a deal should be worked out regarding a w/d.
Obama, being the team player he is, brought along 5 REPUBLICAN members of the committee who were there and participated in the talks with Obama.
Obama told the Iraqi goverment that any agreement they made with the current administration, the following administration would not have to follow and could back out of the agreement (IE: McCain wanting to be in Iraq forever). However if Iraq wants to pursue an agreement, one should be handled through the Senate committee so the next administration would have to stick to the agreement.
Washington times is worse then fox new. To paraphrase you, this is why people who know nothing about the Constitution should not post about Constitutional powers. If you review Article II section 2 you will find that only the Executive branch (the President, via the Sec of State and the State Dep) has the power to negotiate treaties and agreements with other nations. The Senate's collective role is to approve or not approve those agreements. Regardless of Obama's delusions of grandeur, he is one of 100 Senators (1% of the Senate). Until or unless he becomes President, Obama represents the people of one state not the people of the entire US. Foreign nations do not negotiate treaties with Senate committees, and they certainly do not negotiate with individual Senators. All such agreements are negotiated between the foreign power and the executive branch. In 1799, the Logan Act was passed by Congress, it prohibits US citizens from negotiating with other nations on behalf of the US without authorization. As the executive branch is in charge of such activities, only the president can give such authorization. I bet that Bush did not give Obama any such authorization. Obama a team player? Check the Congressional quarterly, it tracks all Congressional votes. Its results show that Obama is the most partisan member of the Senate. He votes the Dem party line 97% of the time. How can he claim that he is the one to bring the parties together in compromises? He is a old time ,my way or the highway , liberal. There is nothing wrong with that, he votes his convictions. But, to pretend that he is a flexible moderate who will work with Reps is dishonest. I can understand why you are upset at Fox and the Times. Those on the left have become so comfortable with the liberal domination of the press, that any organization that dares to not toe the approved liberal party line must be very upsetting to you.I can only imagine the trauma that this causes. |