The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    What, me happy with Congress?

    By Oxy Mora on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 11:50am |

    Regarding the Senate committee's unanimous vote yesterday to "condition the President's power" on negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran, I was irate before I had my coffee, on the fence during breakfast, and surprisingly I now have decided not to allow perceived insults to the President ruin my day. I'm not gloriously happy, but I'm o.k with with the unanimous vote.

    The first mental hurdle necessary in getting comfortable with where the negotiations are today is to dismiss the old saw---if only Obama had made better friends with some of the opposition and included Congressional members (spelled Democrats) more in the process he wouldn't now be having to stomach what looks like a veto proof law coming to his desk. Buying into that line of thinking is not only a downer, it defies the realities that Republicans will give you nothing and Democrats will run from you every chance they get.

    So Obama threw the agreement into the face of Congress, allowed them to foam at the mouth, particularly Senator Cottonmouth, and now has the space to continue negotiations---given that Congress will get thirty days to play games of stones after the deal is struck and during which time Obama can't lift some of the sanctions. Then Congress, may pass a bill disapproving of the agreement when the same equation comes up again---that is, will Congressional legislation be veto proof?

    Won't the thirty day moratorium on lifting sanctions kill the deal with the intractable Iranians? "Well, we got the Congress down from sixty days to thirty days, so you have to give us something in return if you want this deal." 

    As of this moment, I'm more optimistic that an agreement will succeed than I was yesterday. Now what's all this fuss about Hillary ordering a burrito?  

     

     

     

    Comments

    He is a smart man.  I have no doubt he will out maneuver them. 

    I guess she was hungry after a little snort?  Why not? She has a dedicated driver for Scooby. How many times have you done that without a driver? LOL...


    by trkingmomoe on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 1:10pm

    Thanks,trkingmomoe.

    In the meantime, we await SCOTUS' decision on ACA.


    by Oxy Mora on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 3:27pm

    When I first read about HRC stop for a burrito, the story went that she and her assistant to everything were both tipsy.  Now the story is they didn't give a tip.  Do you think the media and GOP are a little in panic mode? 


    by trkingmomoe on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 3:10am

    Was she wearing one of her awful pantsuits?

     


    by Oxy Mora on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 8:53am

    Don't look like a pants suit. The following link is a good story about the people who worked there.  

    http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/the-everyday-people-who-made-hillary-clintons-lunch-117018.html

    You be the judge on the pants suit. 


    by trkingmomoe on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 1:21pm

    She didn't leave a tip at a Chipotle's?!? OMG, what the heck is wrong with her!?!?!?!?!?! (Yes, that's sarcasm.)


    by Verified Atheist on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 2:40pm

    My swear words have certainly been getting a work out the past few weeks. By the time the election rolls around my mouth will be embarrassing sailors.


    by stillidealistic on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 2:08pm

    Thanks, Stilli. We all have to let out a little frustration once in a while.


    by Oxy Mora on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 3:29pm

    You might want to use the information found in the Creative Corner 

    HOW TO MAKE HIGH EFFICIENCY LIQUID LAUNDRY... 


    by Resistance on Fri, 04/17/2015 - 7:46am

    I think you're likely right, Oxy. It appeared a veto would be overridden, which would have looked bad to allies and foes alike, so the administration got what concessions it could and said okay. Makes Congress happy while the work continues mostly unfettered.


    by barefooted on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 3:55pm

    Thanks, barefooted. Just read the Salon article---"How neocon hotheads lost the Iran debate" so to put some more meat on the bones:

    By the time both houses vote on a bill, amendments could make it less veto proof---let's say that the Tea Partiers come up with something creative.

    The main point of the article is eventually a bill to approve the final agreement (after thirty days, assuming this interim bill is in effect) may never happen and a bill to reject the deal completely would not be veto proof---but in that case Congress still would have authority over lifting "all" of the sanctions. So still messy. 


    by Oxy Mora on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 4:13pm

    Messy? Congress?? Nah, it's Masterpiece Theater with cats.


    by barefooted on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 4:23pm

    A Clinton afterthought. Wouldn't Republicans be stupid to leave the Iran Agreement hanging by the end of the year? Assuming public sentiment favors a deal, along with the rest of the Western World, wouldn't they be granting her the high road on foreign affairs. Or no?


    by Oxy Mora on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 4:59pm

    You can bet 2016 is looming large, and it's playing into this as much as anything else. When the time comes for a real and decisive vote, the Republicans won't stand in the way. What matters is getting the Democrats on board, which will allow a large number of Republicans to still symbolically object.


    by barefooted on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 8:41pm

    Oxy - you nailed the real problem with this deal - the 30-day delay/moratorium.  The Congressional approval requirement's okay - not great - but the President can veto a refusal to authorize and overriding the veto will be very tough lifting.  But the delay makes any agreement a tougher sell to the Irani government.  Still, it couldda been worse.


    by HSG on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 5:51pm

    Thanks, Hal.


    by Oxy Mora on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 8:54am

    The Prez may just be working the negotiations with Congress.

    In other words, this reaction from Congress might have been planned all along.

    Obama can tell Iran, hell I tried!

    Our Constitution says that the Senate must ratify all treaties.

    I know there are loopholes, but damn.

    I hate the majority in our Senate, but that is what we have.

    No matter what the loopholes, the Senate ratifies treaties.


    by Richard Day on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 7:45pm

    My understanding was that this doesn't rise to the level of an actual treaty. Am I wrong?


    by stillidealistic on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 8:48pm

    No you are not wrong.

    But what is a treaty?

    I think that question is the basis for the 'loophole',

    I do believe that a chess game is at hand and not a checkers game.

    This is as interesting to me as the Cuban negotiations.

    THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

    I love the opportunity to see how this all plays out,

    THE SENATE IS THERE.

    Right or wrong, the Senate is there.

    Let us see what happens.

     


    by Richard Day on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 9:05pm

    Thanks for your comments, Mr. Day.

     


    by Oxy Mora on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 9:05am

    Well, there are all kinds of things this means politically but from an advise and consent role that Congress is supposed to carry out when there is enough of a proposal to talk about, this move from the Executive is right on time.

    I hope they are suitably shocked.


    by moat on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 9:55pm

    As an afterthought, ADVISE & CONSENT.

    I will go with that even though I now hate Congress.

    There have to be rules.

    And certain treaties and certain pacts that look like treaties, rule the globe and US.

     


    by Richard Day on Sat, 04/18/2015 - 12:34am

    Obama keeps on insisting on bipartisanship up to his last day in office, but never thinks it's what wis making his tenure in office so lackluster and disappointing.

     

    If Congress runs him thru the wringer a couple of times, it's because he's allowed them to do so   ... all in the name of bipartisanship ... which got him nothing for the past 6 and 1/2 years that can't be torn asunder if republicans ever get enough power to topple everything Obama accomplished ... which hasn't been much.


    by Beetlejuice on Thu, 04/23/2015 - 1:36pm

    Cotton has succeeded in invoking a senate procedure which McConnel may have to allow, the effect being to enshrine enough amendments in the bi-partisan legislation to force Democrats to vote against it.

    Give the Harvard hick the benefit of the doubt. Good move.


    by Oxy Mora on Thu, 04/30/2015 - 7:53pm