dagblog - Comments for "McCain was a hero. Again"

McCain makes formal rebuke to

artappraiser — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 04:41:36 +0000

In reply to McCain was a hero. Again

McCain makes formal rebuke to Trump's complainin' signing statement on the Russia sanctions bill --

Trump:

[The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 02, 2017

Statement by President Donald J. Trump on the Signing of H.R. 3364]

Today, I have signed into law H.R. 3364, the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act." While I favor tough measures to punish and deter aggressive and destabilizing behavior by Iran, North Korea, and Russia, this legislation is significantly flawed.

In its haste to pass this legislation, the Congress included a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions. For instance, although I share the policy views of sections 253 and 257, those provisions purport to displace the President's exclusive constitutional authority to recognize foreign governments, including their territorial bounds, in conflict with the Supreme Court's recent decision in Zivotofsky v. Kerry.

Additionally, section 216 seeks to grant the Congress the ability to change the law outside the constitutionally required process. The bill prescribes a review period that precludes the President from taking certain actions. Certain provisions in section 216, however, conflict with the Supreme Court's decision in INS v. Chadha, because they purport to allow the Congress to extend the review period through procedures that do not satisfy the requirements for changing the law under Article I, section 7 of the Constitution. I nevertheless expect to honor the bill's extended waiting periods to ensure that the Congress will have a full opportunity to avail itself of the bill's review procedures.

Further, certain provisions, such as sections 254 and 257, purport to direct my subordinates in the executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives, in contravention of the President's exclusive constitutional authority to determine the time, scope, and objectives of international negotiations. And other provisions, such as sections 104, 107, 222, 224, 227, 228, and 234, would require me to deny certain individuals entry into the United States, without an exception for the President's responsibility to receive ambassadors under Article II, section 3 of the Constitution. My Administration will give careful and respectful consideration to the preferences expressed by the Congress in these various provisions and will implement them in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations.

Finally, my Administration particularly expects the Congress to refrain from using this flawed bill to hinder our important work with European allies to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, and from using it to hinder our efforts to address any unintended consequences it may have for American businesses, our friends, or our allies.

McCain:

[Aug 02 2017
STATEMENT BY SASC CHAIRMAN JOHN McCAIN ON PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNING INTO LAW RUSSIA, IRAN & NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS BILL. Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on President Trump signing into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, legislation that strengthens and expands sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea]:

“I welcome President Trump’s decision to sign legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The enactment of this legislation, which enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, sends a strong message to friend and foe alike that the United States will hold nations accountable for aggressive and destabilizing behavior that threatens our national interests and those of our allies and partners.

“The concerns expressed in the President’s signing statement are hardly surprising, though misplaced. The Framers of our Constitution made the Congress and the President coequal branches of government. This bill has already proven the wisdom of that choice.

“While the American people surely hope for better relations with Russia, what this legislation truly represents is their insistence that Vladimir Putin and his regime must pay a real price for attacking our democracy, violating human rights, occupying Crimea, and destabilizing Ukraine. On this critical issue of national security policy, it was the Congress that acted in the spirit of national unity to carry out the will of the American people. And that is why it is critical that the President comply with the letter and spirit of this legislation and fully implement all of its provisions. Going forward, I hope the President will be as vocal about Russia’s aggressive behavior as he was about his concerns with this legislation.”

I for one have no answer for

artappraiser — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 20:55:05 +0000

In reply to What is it about not doing

I for one have no answer for you, because as I said above, I'm not fond of the word itself, I'm not comfortable applying it to humans, just doesn't seem to apply.

But one more appropriate word did pop into my mind: savior. Not like in the Chist myth, more like: this man just saved us from a bunch of crazies dragging all of us over a cliff. Strong leader might apply, too.

What is it about not doing

PeraclesPlease — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:45:44 +0000

In reply to OPINION | McCain lifts the

What is it about not doing the stupidest, most self-destructive act possible makes you a "hero"? Low expectations

And Trump's going to continue

artappraiser — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:09:44 +0000

In reply to OPINION | McCain lifts the

And Trump's going to continue to troll them:

Trump rips Congress, brags about deal-making prowess in Russian sanctions statement

By Jonathan Easley @ The Hill - 08/02/17 11:40 AM EDT

President Trump is ripping Congress in an unusual statement criticizing the Russian sanctions bill, which he signed into law on Wednesday.

Trump said in two separate statements that while he favored the policy objectives in the legislation overwhelmingly approved by Congress, he believes the new law encroaches on his power [....]

Partly because he knows their approval rating is below his....

OPINION | McCain lifts the

artappraiser — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:05:50 +0000

In reply to McCain was a hero. Again

McCain lifts the Senate

OPINION by Brent Budowsky, columnist, The Hill - 08/02/17 10:59 AM EDT

[....] McCain’s call to arms was for the Senate to return to its historic role as the great deliberative body, to rise above the partisanship and rancor that overwhelms American politics and distorts the Senate today. McCain wants to return the Senate to the regular order of committee hearings leading to a reasoned and respectful debate during which the rights of all senators would be respected, and the traditions of the Senate would be honored.

The traditional role of the Senate has been destroyed in recent years. The Senate is now virtually indistinguishable from the House of Representatives. The founding fathers would be appalled. McCain is right [....]

The evidence he is seeing in article here as well as elsewhere

Can this marriage be saved? Relationship between Trump, Senate GOP hits new skids.

@ WaPo; some excerpts

“We work for the American people. We don’t work for the president,” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said. He added, “We should do what’s good for the administration as long as that does not in any way, shape or form make it harder on the American people.”

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said that if the rules were changed as Trump wants, “it would be the end of the Republican Party. And it would be the end of the Senate.” Trump’s repeated insistence “doesn’t help,” Hatch said. “But he just doesn’t understand that.”

the 60-vote threshold as Trump has demanded would not have changed the outcome — a point McConnell was quick to bring up Tuesday.

“It’s pretty obvious that our problem on health care was not the Democrats. We didn’t have 50 Republicans,” he told reporters. He added, more forcefully, “There are not the votes in the Senate, as I’ve said repeatedly to the president and to all of you, to change the rules of the Senate.”

And here @ The Hill in "Republicans wonder: Can we govern?"

“We’re horrified by the drama coming out of the White House,” said a Republican senator who requested anonymity to comment frankly on the administration.

The lawmaker said the failure of the healthcare bill is a “wakeup call” and a “kick in the butt” for Republican senators to get organized or risk falling into what that person described as the disarray of the White House.

“We don’t want to fall into the same soup,” the lawmaker said.

Anonymous is us.

Flavius — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 03:13:25 +0000

In reply to Graham seems decent and

Anonymous is us.

For those feeling that there

artappraiser — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 18:00:43 +0000

In reply to McCain was a hero. Again

For those feeling that there are two "heroines" not being acknowledged enough, Collins got some very strong spinal support that she is more than pleased with:

[....] “It was just amazing. I’ve never had that happen in the twenty years that I’ve been privileged to serve in the Senate. So it was very encouraging and affirming, especially after arriving back home after a very difficult time,” she continued.

This is true: Susan Collins on our plane to Bangor, gets applause as she passes through Bangor airport waiting area. pic.twitter.com/a1s2QTpldd
— BLCKDGRD (@BLCKDGRD) July 28, 2017

[....]

I like that The Hill is publishing it, maybe some other Congresspersons will see it and think: gee sure beats having to hide from the town hall meeting.

Hillary did it! It was a 4

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 05:00:31 +0000

In reply to Astute. I only saw what I

Hillary did it! It was a 4 pronged attack from the evil witch. She colluded with McCain from their Senate days. Waiting in the muck like a crocodile...

Hillary colluded with the

NCD — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 00:07:54 +0000

In reply to Reading right wing news,

Hillary colluded with the Russians Trumps just met with them. So what anyway. Mueller is a Clintonite tool and has found nothing at all. They are after Trump because he is so awesomely effective.

I'll believe it all only when Rush says so, can't trust the fake media.

I agree. If Dems entire

artappraiser — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 22:59:48 +0000

In reply to Graham seems decent and

I agree. If Dems entire opposition was as reasonable and thoughtful as Graham, this country would be in great shape.