Senator Schumer: Stop Being a Schmuck

Schumer is up for re-election in 2016, and he seriously needs to be primaried, although off the top of my head I don’t know who might do that. Any New Yorkers reading this ought to let Chuck know we’re watching him.

Here’s the issue:

Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, one of Capitol Hill’s most influential voices in the Iran nuclear debate, is strongly endorsing passage of a law opposed by President Barack Obama that would give Congress an avenue to reject the White House-brokered framework unveiled last week.

Here’s  what I wrote Schumer:

“I am seriously disappointed that Sen. Schumer is siding with Republicans on the issue of the pending agreement with Iran. Many of us are getting very tired of our legislators putting the interests of right-wing hawks in Israel over those of the United States, and this is a good example. No end of Middle East experts are saying the agreed-upon framework poses an excellent chance of avoiding war and improving relations between Iran and the United States, and if Bibi Netanyahu doesn’t approve that is not our concern. I realize there are constitutional issues at stake here, but the President’s actions are not without precedent, and it is past time for Democrats to stand together against right-wing extremism and in favor of sanity and peace.”

While in principle I understand there is reason for concern over the reach of executive agreements, such agreements have been made many times by presidents of both parties over the past decades. To suddenly develop scruples now, while so much is at risk and while Congress has largely been taken over by drooling lunatics, shows a serious lapse in judgment, IMO.

I’m gettin’ really tired of this, Chuck.

12 thoughts on “Senator Schumer: Stop Being a Schmuck

  1. The reason Up-Chuck Schemer is such an influential voice, is that he represents not just one state, but two!
    New York and Israel.

    After Harry Reid leaves, and, providing Up-Chuck is reelected, he has his eyes on the Democratic Senate leadership position.
    If you don’t lead the Democrats now, when the POTUS and his Democratic administration have negotiated a long sought after peace treaty with Iran – one that removes sanctions, but won’t let them create a nuclear weapon – then what kind of a Democratic leader are you?
    And why should you be given Reid’s position, if you don’t support this President.

    I have to leave in a few minutes, but when I get back from the Orthopedic Surgeon’s office this afternoon, I’ll send Senator Schumer a letter, too. And it’ll be much the same as what I just wrote.
    Don’t worry.
    I’ll be nice and polite.
    I can be.
    If I have to be.
    Sometimes… 😉

  2. You mentioned Constitutional issues, and I’m not sure there *are* Constitutional issues here. (I’ve been wrong before, of course. Like last Tuesday, when I thought I’d made a mistake – oh, never mind, old joke.)

    I’ve heard of vague references – but I don’t know of any laws restricting this kind of agreement and it’s not a treaty – those are the only issues I can think off off the top of my head. So, I know there may be pragmatic issues with getting Congress on board, and I know that Congress likes to feel big and important, though with Republicans controlling it, I fear that helping them feel big and important just makes ’em too big for their britches. (I shouldn’t use such a childish metaphor for the party that’s in charge of the legislature, except… well, you know.)

    Anyway: if you had time and energy, I’d like to know if there are any real issues you know about.

  3. I keep wondering why we never hear about the other parties to these negotiations. If we’re supposed to hate the agreement because Bibi wants to blow up Iran and Israel is our ally, what about Britain, France, and Germany?

  4. At the risk of sounding like an anti-Semite.. I agree with uncledad.

    One good opinion that I heard was that Bibi shot his wad when he addressed Congress and he’s gained all the support that he’s going to gain so his continued yapping against the Iranian agreement is only working to the detriment of the ends he’s trying to achieve. Seems most Americans are more concerned about American interests than those of the hard line Israelis.
    I think there is an old expression that goes something like this: America for Americans!

  5. At the risk of sounding like a rational human being, I agree with Uncledad and Swami. From what I understand, the agreement with Iran is the child of many nations, not a case of Obama “going rogue”. I don’t care if people think I’m anti-semitic when I disagree with the actions and policies of Israel. I don’t hate Jews for being Jewish, I intensely dislike all religious fanatics. There are plenty of rational, secular ,and grounded Jewish People in The USA.
    Nobody’s talking about the deal with Cuba, I guess the potential deal with Iran overshadows everything.

  6. I agree with Uncledad, Swami and Erinyes. I recently read a book titled “Dangerous Liaisons” about the chummy relationship between Israel and the US. Can’t remember who the authors were but they were journalists. It started after WWII when the CIA wanted Israel to spy on the Soviet Union using the Jews that emigrated to Israel. Of course there were arms agreements and later on there is evidence that Israel stole nuclear secrets from us. A lot of this was done without the knowledge of the President or Congress. I sometimes wonder if the continued support from the US is because of some things the Israelis know that our government doesn’t want made public. Yes, there is a little bit of the conspiracist in me. Anyway, I’m getting tired of it. It’s time that we all recognize that there is one God, no matter what we call him/her and we are all part of that oneness and are all connected.

  7. I just checked Amazon for the authors of the above-mentioned book. They are Andrew Cockburn and Leslie Cockburn. Amazon has copies real cheap, like 14 cents.

  8. Nobody’s talking about the deal with Cuba, I guess the potential deal with Iran overshadows everything.

    Yeah, think of poor Marco Rubio. He’s got to run around and keep up a passion with constantly changing issues. It can wear a Senator out.

  9. “At the risk of sounding like an anti-Semite.. I agree with uncledad”

    Wow talk about faint praise, Thanks Swami?

  10. uncledad .. Maybe there’s hope for me as a repuglican politician. 🙂 To clarify: That wasn’t worded to imply that you are an anti- Semite. That was “merely” a safeguard against the standard verbal attack for daring to voice any objections to the harmonious and loving relationship that bonds our nation to Israel.

  11. “That wasn’t worded to imply that you are an anti- Semite.”

    Or you could use the always handy:” I apologize if anyone was offended!”

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