Poll regarding the 47 idiots and a response

[marym625]

I have seen some disagreement about how this letter, this unprecedented, horrific, stupid, letter, written by an idiot that doesn't understand Iranian law, international law or even US law, should be responded to.

It has been a while since I posted an "I'm curious" poll. This has me very curious.

Now, please, remember this is what you think SHOULD happen, not what WILL happen. Two entirely different things for many of us.

24 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	They should all be prosecuted
	12 (50%)
	Tom Cotton and Joni Ernst should be prosecuted
	2 (8%)
	Tom Cotton should be prosecuted
	0 (0%)
	Joni Ernst should be prosecuted
	0 (0%)
	They should all be censured
	2 (8%)
	Tom Cotton should be censured
	0 (0%)
	The democratic party should issue a unified, strongly worded condemnation
	0 (0%)
	We shouldn't do anything
	1 (4%)
	We should just make sure to keep it in the media
	6 (25%)
	I don't care
	1 (4%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[cheyanne]

1. This is a death spiral.

We need not do anything: the stunt will backfire on the Republicans. This just shows how desperate they are. The consequences of their actions are:

=alienate indepenents

=show they are incapable of governing

=give another "litmus test" for their presidential candidates: the candidates have to stand behind the letter or be considered rhinos.

Democrats can not "punish" them. Just let them swing in the wind. They are self-destructing.

[marym625]

4. evidently it has already backfired on Paul.

His libertarians are pissed.

[marym625]

5. nope

Wasn't treasonous. But it did break the Logan Act. It's still a law, old or not

[marym625]

9. True

I am really just sick of them getting away with everything. Decades now. We don't do anything because "they'll hang themselves" or "we will look bad" or whatever the cliche of the moment is.

I want these fuckers treated like the criminals they are. For once damn it!

Sorry, just so sick of them I could puke.

[marym625]

13. +1000

Who?

[marym625]

15. Yeah, I know

Or dubya and Cheney. He ran saying he would.

[marym625]

21. I know

Doesn't make me like it. Those were pretty important things. Still are.

Don't want to start a President Obama thing. He did a bunch of good things.

[marym625]

12. Sorry

That anger wasn't aimed at you. Just so frustrated

[BainsBane]

3. Prosecution depends on the law

which I know next to nothing about. I tend to think what they did probably isn't illegal, though they sure showed their behinds.

[marym625]

6. from what I have read on some law reviews

They did break the Logan Act. But it's never used to prosecute and only once was anyone indicted under it. So the consensus is it won't be used now

[Rex]

35. They didn't do shit about Iran-Contra nothing has changed.

Bush/Cheney walk away from torture and other war crimes. Ford let Nixon of the hook. Nobody will lift a finger or in the future either. Republicans get to be rogue agents of some strange Dixieland nation.

Fucked up it is.

[marym625]

37. fucked up it is

But a Democrat has sex and millions are spent to get him. .

We're doormats and they know it.

[Rex]

39. Oh yeah you KNOW IT! That blew my mind!

HOLEEE shit! All that over infidelities while in office! A criminal kangaroo court over a stained dress! Just further added to my hatred of the GOP. Watching Reagan fuck us over economically was bad enough. The stolen election of 2000 and 2004. 9/11, the suspension of the rule of law. Not one single news station reporting unless filtered through the WH. Now the assholes in Congress not doing their job and making Obama pretty much run the entire fucking country.

While they get money from Koch etc.. and plot on PNAC II. You know there will be a PNAC II.

Enron level stuff popped up and amazed me. The Clinton trial was unbelievable. A farce. Even with that, he still did better then anyone since...LBJ.

We are their pawns all we can do is vote and get active. Until the SCOTUS is overhauled, I wonder how much that even counts anymore. Seems McCorporation owns Wall Street, the SCOTUS, untold numbers of Congress critters National and State. RW Governors. The list goes on and on.

I think that is how we ended up with super criminals like Rick Scott and Scott Walker, the Bush Crime Family, Kochroaches, etc..

The list is endless.

[marym625]

41. yep.

To be fair, the investigation started long before the Lewinsky debacle, and he did loe. But to be really fair, there was nothing right about that investigation or how much was spent on it. An 8 year witch hunt

[CK_John]

8. Tom Cotton should be drummed out of the Senate.

[marym625]

10. I'm down with that

[missingfink]

16. 47 Repubs signed the letter - Which 7 did not?

I believe Corker was one of them. Who were the others?

[marym625]

19. They are

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) 
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) 
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) 
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) 
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) 
Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) 
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) 

[Kath1]

17. I like what you said.

"I want these fuckers treated like the criminals they are. For once damn it!" A lot of us would like that! Waaaaaay overdue!

[marym625]

20. Thanks

Remember when that used to happen? At least sometimes. Watergate, McCarthy. Ah. The old days when people had courage

[Kath1]

23. Yes, I do remember.

Keep up your activism. I know I will. I know you are a strong advocate for women's rights. The issues are just too important for us to ignore. Peace, sister!

[marym625]

24. Thank you, Sister!

[Kath1]

26. You are quite welcome , sister!

Remember you from the Hobby Lobby protest in MD.

Keep it up.

[marym625]

28. ah!

I thought you must know me from somewhere else. That was a good one.

I think I know who you are. Have to eat something now but will pm you later.

[Kath1]

29. Pleae do so!

I was wearing the purple NOW shirt.

That was a good one!

[marym625]

30. Kathy!

I remember you!

[Kath1]

32. Very cool!

Things are usually very anonymous here, but we were both at that protest together!

[99Forever]

25. Is there anyone here so effin' stupid...

... that if this were the other way around, the Teathuglican Party wouldn't have already had the 47 Democratic Senators that signed a letter undermining a Republican prez in foreign policy negotiations, behind bars and in shackles?

Open your eyes people. These are not nice people you are dealing, when they smell weakness, they go for the throat. Giving it back is the ONLY effective way to defeat these assholes.

[marym625]

27. I wonder how much someone is allowed to get away with

Obviously, war crimes isn't worth of repercussions.

[Kath1]

31. The Bush Administration committed mass murder in my opinion.

It is not too late to hold them accountable if someone in Congress would just stand up and do it.

[marym625]

45. The magical, elusive, words

"If someone in Congress would just stand up and do it."

Something to be devoutly wished.

[99Forever]

44. It seems with today's brand of national Democrat...

... there is no line that can't be crossed.

However, "The Democratic Party Leaders" will indeed, deliver some sternly worded putdowns.

(Which really has The Teapublicans )

[marym625]

46. I'm sure they are scared beyond belief.

It's not unlike the police and impunity. They get away with murder and they continue to murder

[99Forever]

47. Antisocial behavior unchecked, breeds more antisocial behavior.

But the Democratic Party "Leaders" are too effen busy "reaching across the aisle" and "looking forward" to do the right thing that would turn this around.

Spineless and feckless.

[marym625]

48. Don't forget money grubbing

Weak bastards.

[99Forever]

50. I know Mary, it makes me ...

...

[marym625]

53. I don't think we ever disagree

[Rex]

36. Oh sure, there would be a group on FR defending the Democratic party to the hilt.

NOT!

Or I guess we should ask trumad what he discovered in his travels in Oz. I think they are unanimous in hating our guts and only a few here seem to want to lay down on their sword for 47 seditious bastards.

Strange world.

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. I voted "We should keep it in the media" ...

but wish there was a "President Obama should ignore them and just keep on keeping on ... his response was perfect" choice.

[marym625]

34. I loved his response

But there are a bunch of Democrats in office. It's not just about what he should do. That's not a shot. I just mean my poll is not about what the President should do.

I think Biden, Kerry, Durbin and Sanders have all spoken out well, as well. But it isn't enough. Every time we let them get away with something, they do something worse. It's time to stop just ignoring them and start going after them.

Hell, Iran told them off better than many Democrats have. That's shameful.

[Savannahmann]

38. I voted none.

I voted none because we have a bad habit of beating a dead horse until it is nothing but dust pounded into the ground. Then we've lost the public support and then we suffer in the elections.

Remember Sandy Hook? A poll said 95% supported background checks. At that point the most dangerous place to be was standing between a Democrat and a camera because everyone wanted to be on the record, every single day shouting about the poll and the 95% support. By the time the vote was held it wasn't near that anymore. We had driven it down by trampling it to death.

How about 2014? Our candidates mention the war on women if someone asked them what time it was. Another meme we had led on we bashed the voters with until they rejected the argument. Make the point and walk away.

We are already in danger of losing this one. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/03/09/voters-skeptical-on-iran-nuclear-deal-poll-finds/

75% of the people in that poll are wary about negotiating with Iran. Two years ago a majority supported negotiations. Prosecuting, Censureing, or screaming that the Republicans are traitors risks losing more public support. It's on our side now, in another week it will be on theirs unless we turn out backs on it.

[marym625]

40. I'm sorry but I disagree

First, this isn't even about the negotiations. It's about the blatant disrespect for the process, the other nations involved, the office, the President, our country, the law and the American people.

The problem is not that we "beat" Sandy Hook to death. The problem is the press and the money spent by places like the NRA. The problem is we lost our base due to funding, money spent on the GOP, the press (which is owned by GOP backers) and weak candidates

When Senator Obama ran in 2008 we were excited because he spoke the words we needed to hear. He spoke for taking down the oligarchy, going after war criminals, stricter gun control, etc and the greater majority of the vote went to him.

It's not that we beat a dead horse, it's that we don't stand our ground. We don't have candidates that excite. That don't go to our roots.

[TheKentuckian]

42. I just don't believe they acted illegally in this case and find it weird this is the thing

the look forward, off the table, truth and reconciliation chorus is actually out for blood on.

This isn't even the worst shenanigans involving Iran. I think the dirty tricks on the hostage situation was closer to treason and Iran - Contra far greater disregard for the rule of law.

Here it is salting negotiations on a non binding agreement and now people want 47 sitting Senators arrested with some calling for hangings for treason.
Willfully damaging the full faith and credit of the US and reducing our bond status with there crazy shut down hostage taking was far worse but the same folks weren't nearly as hot with wrath.

Don't get me wrong, they are being insanely irresponsible and stupid here. Completely disrespectful and possibly dangerous but it is relatively low grade stuff compared to what gets a pass and can be called "a policy difference".

Torture we can get past but a fool ass letter is worth a push to the wall?

Keep it in the media, call them out, talk about undermining our national security, and stop making excuses to do nothing no matter how heinous the criminality unless it is a personal affront then anything goes.

Of course I'd be happy as hell if the 47 were hauled off but I admit I'm not so comfortable with this why because in a different circumstance I'd feel it is perfectly legitimate to salt a toxic effort by a hypothetical President and wish Reagan and Bush had been given way, way less deference and think the world and America would be far better for it.

[marym625]

43. I agree with everything you said except the legality

I don't believe it was legal.

As i said, I agree with everything you said. I have not understood the lack of outrage, the lack of action, the lack of anything of substance, the lack of backbone, for decades. I honestly see nothing but money being the reason. We had very few Democrats over the years that have reacted with the degree of outrage, with the legalities, that they should have. The Whitewater investigation was when I knew we would allow the Republicans to get away with anything

I am just happy there is finally the kind of outrage at the dirty tricks that there should be. Not since Watergate has their bullshit been called out in any meaningful way. So I will take the outrage and I will do my best to keep it at as high a level as possible. I will call for investigation and whatever the hell else can possibly be done.

What will happen? Absolutely nothing. It will die down before Monday most likely. Something will happen to take the "news" off it and the masses will just let it go. We'll bring it up in 2016 and no one will give a shit, just like always.

We built this. Only we can fix it. But I believe in my heart that the "let them bury themselves and do nothing" mentality will win out, we'll be accused of beating it to death and that causing low voter turnout and the oligarchy will continue to grow and the Republic will continue to die.

[KingCharlemagne]

49. While technically a violation of the Logan Act, the letter and its 47 signatories have

committed an offense against the Constitution's principle of 'co-equal branches' and 'separation of powers.' As such, their offense is akin to the CIA staffers who spied on Feinstein's Select Senate Committee (probably also technically a violation of some obscure statute, but that's by-the-by).

Even if many Americans do not understand the principles of 'co-equal branches' and 'separation of powers,' it is vital to keep this in the media, in the hopes that enough will come to understand this to see the grave offense committed by the 47, an offense that, imo, transcends the petty confines of criminal statute (the Logan Act) and undermines the constitutional foundations of the Republic.

Lofty words, I know, but that's why the stakes are so high. The Constitution entrusts foreign policy to the Executive Branch, not the Legislative. And it does so for a reason (although my memory of the specific historical precedents has grown dim).

[marym625]

54. +1

Although, if I understand it correctly, it would eventually have to go before Congress, the agreement if reached.

But you are correct, to the best of my understanding.

Thanks KingC.

[vi5]

51. Unfortunately as with anything...

Unless we have an opposition party who will really take them to the mat on this, it will slowly fade from view until the next outrage and nothing will be done and they won't be held accountable.

Meanwhile the Democratic party and the president continue to covet their dry powder above all else.

[marym625]

55. I think the "eventually" will be very soon

[Chemisse]

52. I'd like to see Cotton prosecuted

For taking foreign money and then using his senatorial powers to do the bidding of that foreign government.

Then the other 46 will look like fools for blindly following a lawbreaker. (Oh wait, there was a snowstorm coming. That makes it alright!) At the same time, it would publicize the way we fund our elections in this country and the effect of that on what is done in Washington.

[marym625]

56. That's a good angle

Just an aside, we keep saying 47 but someone signed it the next day. Having a brain fart about who.