It is generally understood that foreign leaders should not take trips to the US to be seen with US politicians close to elections back home, so we don't look like we are trying to influence elections, as that tends to backfire, badly.
It is also generally understood that the speaker of the house should consult the president, before inviting a head of state to speak in front of congress.
This has been the norm of decades, under both Democratic and Republican control of either branch of government.
Both of those long held conventions went right out the window, just so that congressional Republicans can score a snub on Obama.
Bibi is up for re-election in less than a month:
Netanyahu doubles down on speech to Congress
sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday doubled down on his intention to speak to a joint session of Congress next month, despite criticism from Democrats who say they will boycott the event.
Netanyahu said he fully intended to make the speech and that he will use the moment to criticize negotiations the Obama administration is holding with Iran, which he argues are endangering Israel.
"A bad deal with Iran is forming in Munich that will endanger Israel's existence," Netanyahu said at an event for his Likud Party, according to The Associated Press. "Therefore, I am determined to go to Washington and present Israel's position before the members of Congress and the American people."
Netanyahu downplayed differences between the U.S. and Israel, arguing that there have "always been essential differences between Israel and the U.S." and that "relations have remained sound."
"This will be the case this time as well," he said, according to Haaretz.
"This is not a political issue or a party issue, neither here nor there. This is an existential issue, and I approach it with the fullest responsibility."
Two more Democrats on Monday said they would skip Netanyahu's address, bringing the total number to 9. Vice President Biden is also not planning on attend and has blamed a scheduling conflict.
Some of the Democrats boycotting the event argue it is meant to undercut President Obama and that it is inappropriate for Netanyahu to be delivering the address just two weeks before Israeli elections.
They have also faulted Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for inviting Netanyahu to come, arguing it was done without the White House's knowledge and that this was a breach of protocol.
Netanyahu in a message on Twitter said he wasn't worried about protocol.
“At the time that there are people involved in protocol of politics, it’s establishing a bad agreement with Iran that will endanger the existence of Israel,” Netanyahu said on Twitter. “My duty is to do everything in order to stop it.”
------------------------------------
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefi...till-happening
Sounds like a le Boutons would have posted. You don't usually work up such hysterical spittle.
The difference is this stupid perpetually postponed 'negotiation" with Iran over their nuclear ambitions. All it does is buy them time to complete their enrichment program and build warheads for the delivery system they have already perfected. Iran is laughing their ass off at how wimpy the US under O's direction is being about this.
I was rather restrained. It is a purely partisan move that threw diplomatic and protocol norms under the bus, yes or no?
I can't answer yes/no on what someone else's motives might be.
I do know it creates a real problem for democrats having to defend Obama's disdain for Israel.
Jewish voters have historically been a dependable source of funds and votes for the Democratic party.
If in fact Pelosi and the Democrats boycott Netanyahu's visit it will certainly be interesting to see what happens.
even Abe Foxman thinks it's a bad idea.
Wishful thinking. Pelosi already said she wouldn't skip. Be surprised if more than a handful did.If in fact Pelosi and the Democrats boycott Netanyahu's visit it will certainly be interesting to see what happens.
The hopes that Jewish votes will divide over this is a GOP fantasy.
End Timers (losers) evangelicals love Israel because that's where they are all going for the Apocalypse so Christ can take them to heaven in His rocket ship or in his comet or asteroid. They want Israel to hasten the Apocalypse by nuking Iran (global warming is too damn slow), and why not nuke all Muslim countries?
Over 90% of Netanyahu's Campaign Contributions Come From the U.S.
http://www.alternet.org/world/over-90-netanyahus-campaign-contributions-come-us-video?akid=12776.187590.6WQ0EW&rd=1&src=newsletter 1031630&t=27
and probably from 1% of Jews, like Adelman.
Is it within protocol for the Secretary of State to meet with Nigerian presidential candidates?
Under the cir stances of the meeting, I'd say yes. It's not like kerry was trying to influence the election. What bag website told you to be mad about this?
(shrugs)
Ok then, don't comment on the motives.
Yes or no, it is protocol to avoid inviting foreign leaders close to elections in their home country to the US capitol?
Shocking
I will be happy to comment on the motives.
The GOP does not like the negotiations with Iran, because they think it might result in some give-away to Iran. Bibi is going to make the case that we not do anything like that.
I could be hugely cynical, and say they are actively attempting to sabotage something that might actually be successful, in order to not give Obama a foreign policy success.
Given what I see as rather craven partisanship on the part of the GOP in congress, and yes, Democrats do stupid too, I sadly can't rule out the more cynical guess at their motives. I think the GOP has gone into hysterical Obama hate mode at this point, in the run up to the 2016 elections. Everything happening in congress on both sides is going to be almost pure political theater.
Sad that when the GOP are given keys to the car, they don't see duty to country over duty to party as their priority. To be fair, I wish Democrats would do more of that, because it makes it far easier to credibly argue there is a difference between the parties to independents. Neither side is completely guiltless when it comes to this, of course, but the tea party extremists that are trying to grab the steering wheel from the establishment GOP are not going to let the GOP do that any time soon.
Darrin S in with a youtube video, and too lazy to bother typing more than a word.
Shocking.
I honestly don't know of any written protocol about elections and foreign visits.
Off the top of my head I remember the Prime Minister of Japan visiting last year and Japan had elections last year after that.
The convention is to avoid such visits in the late stages of a campaign
Show me in writing where it says that. Otherwise, talking point "conventions" can just be pulled out of the appropriate ass when needed.
Sounds to me like the dems just don't like Bibi.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...ar_weapon.html
At a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel President Obama addressed the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. According to the Supreme Leader of Iran, said Obama, "it would be contrary to their faith to obtain a nuclear weapon."
PRESIDENT OBAMA: The issues now are sufficiently narrowed and sufficiently clarified where we're at a point where they need to make a decision. We are presenting to them in a unified fashion, the P5+1 supported by a coalition of countries around the world are presenting to them a deal that allows them to have peaceful nuclear power but gives us the absolute assurance that is verifiable that they are not pursuing a nuclear weapon.
And if in fact what they claim is true, which is they have no aspiration to get a nuclear weapon, that in fact, according to their Supreme Leader, it would be contrary to their faith to obtain a nuclear weapon, if that is true, there should be the possibility of getting a deal. They should be able to get to yes. But we don't know if that's going to happen.
If President Obama were about to do such a thing, there's little doubt that many on the Right would be screaming about the patent threat that his actions would pose to the Cons ution and the continuing vitality of the Republic.
None. I'm not mad about it. I'm not mad about Netanyahu either.
conventions aren't laws, are written, aren't FORMAL protocols, so stick that up your ass.
and WTF is Bibi's urgency to make this visit a few WEEKS before his election? Iran talks been dragging on for YEARS
What was the direction under Bush? How did it differ from Obama's pertaining to the time Iran was given?
What do you RandomGuy would be saying in that scenario?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
