I’m really not interested in the strategery that Zander alludes to earlier regarding Schumer and the Iran deal. What Schumer is doing is a dick move on many levels, including the timing of this- just as they were building momentum, he comes out with his idiotic op-ed and steals the thunder. Additionally, Schumer could vote yes on the deal and it would not cost him at all, while people like Manchin, who has been rock solid on this so far, are in much tougher positions.
This also isn’t the first time Schumer has pulled bullshit like this- how the hell can we have a Senate leader who is on record stating that passing the ACA was a mistake? Why do we even have Democrats if getting access to healthcare for millions of Americans is considered a fuck-up? Let’s also not forget that Schumer is Wall Streets best friend, and has consistently done everything in his power to protect them.
So there you have it- on three of the biggest issues of the last decade, Chuck Schumer has trampled people to rush to microphones to be wrong. This is who we want leading Democrats in the Senate?
The only reason he is in line to be the next leader is his fund-raising. So as far as I am concerned, the DSCC is just dead to me, as is Schumer. Not one god damned penny.
JGabriel
This New Yorker agrees. I wish we had someone viable to primary Schumer.
Josie
I agree completely. When the time comes, if he has not been successfully primaried, I will support any movement to deny him the leadership role.
p.a.
The Rethug (successful) war on unions is inspired in part to cut off $ for Dems. Wall St. has filled much of that gap. Hence Shumer as cash cow and hence Dem. obsequiousness to Wall St.
jamesbfranks
As a fellow New Yorker let me agree and I said so on his website. I urge all my fellow citizens to leave a comment at
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck
Elizabelle
Here are Schumer’s office numbers. Call one of the district offices — might be easier to get through — and express your disgust.
(FWIW: was just about to stick this info on earlier thread, and JCole has a fresh one up.)
I am going to tell his office that I will call my senators and ask that they NOT vote for Schumer for Minority Leader, should that ever come up.
John O
Sheesh, I decided right after Citizen’s United that I would never give a dime to any candidate again. It’s a rich man’s game now. My donation means shit to them, and way more to me being an old fixed income dude. So welcome to the party, I guess.
And that’s what I tell them now when they call: “Call someone with money that counts.”
Schumer is a dick, and I e-mailed him a polite version of same today. You can, too!
Turgidson
I think the chatter that he wants to vote against the deal as it survives via Obama’s veto is correct. And that’s fine.
But it doesn’t mean Schumer should get a pass for having more loyalty to Bibi’s warmongering, paranoid nonsense than his own president’s efforts to prevent both Iranian nukes and a war over them. If I was the Tsar of all the Senates, I’d have put him on a leaky rowboat to Greenland this morning for this bullshit.
chopper
@Turgidson:
i just read that according to his office he would also vote to override a veto. hope that’s wrong.
Omnes Omnibus
@Josie: He won’t be successfully prmaried, but I do think that an inability to get behind the President on this particular issue should be a major problem for his retaining a leadership position in the next Congress.
Bobby Thomson
@chopper: what do you mean “also?” That’s the vote everyone’s talking about.
In any event, Schumer blows goats and water is wet.
Paul in KY
I haven’t given anything to DSCC since a phone-caller told me that they would still be sending money to Lieberman, after he had lost the primary & went the ‘Independent’ route.
My last words to them were ‘I fuckin hate Joe Lieberman’.
I have donated to various Senate races, just not thru those dickwads.
p.a.
@Omnes Omnibus: not in the “Gentlemens’ Club” that is the US Senate. No real Dem. bombthrowers there to force something.
Drunkenhausfrau
Amen, John. So sick of this tool.
Elizabelle
Here are Schumer’s office numbers. I just called Rochester; got right through, expressed my displeasure and why, and told staffer I would be sure to call my Senators, Kaine and Warner, and request they vote against Schumer for any leadership posts.
FWIW, Syracuse went straight to voicemail.
Albany Office: Phone: (518) 431-4070
Fax: (518) 431-4076
Binghampton Office: Phone: (607) 772-6792
Fax: (607) 772-8124
Buffalo Office: Phone: (716) 846-4111
Fax: (716) 846-4113
Melville Office: Phone: (631) 753-0978
Fax: (631) 753-0997
NYC office: Phone: (212) 486-4430
Fax: (202) 228-2838
Peekskill Office: Phone: (914) 734-1532
Fax: (914) 734-1673
Rochester Office: Phone: (585) 263-5866
Fax: (585) 263-3173
Syracuse Office: Phone: (315) 423-5471
Fax: (315) 423-5185
Washington DC Office: Phone: (202) 224-6542
Fax: (202) 228-3027
srv
Schumer is from the city that lives under the specter of nuclear terrorism.
Reality trumps politics.
p.a.
@Paul in KY: have you? I’m scared to donate $; I signed some petitions and now I get 60 emails a day to sign this, donate to that. (I unsubscribe to many, and more keep targeting me!). I’m scared to think of the inundation if I actually give money.
Calouste
@srv: Didn’t know Schumer was born in Hiroshima.
Cacti
I think it’s more than fair to start calling Chuck a chickenhawk.
He’s always there to wave his pom poms enthusiastically for whatever war the Likud/Neocon alliance wants in the middle east…
But managed to avoid military service in the Vietnam conflict of his salad days (high school class of 1967).
Cacti
@srv:
The threat of nuclear terrorism in NYC is as real as the threat of Saddam’s WMDs.
Omnes Omnibus
If the votes to sustain a veto are there, Schumer could just choose to be absent or abstain and make a statement that he cannot vote for it, but that he will not stand in the way of a president from his party.
Hill Dweller
According to the Twitter machine, Schumer is now blaming the WH for leaking the news of his intention to vote “no”.
smintheus
Let’s not forget that Schumer was wrong on invading Iraq as well. Has he been on the right side of any of the most important issues during his tenure?
Paul in KY
@John O: There are definitely candidates you should give some money too (on Democratic side). Just not Schumer and his ilk.
japa21
@srv: Your point. Iran is not now and never would be a nuclear threat to us. And anybody with any iota of brains realizes that.
Paul in KY
@p.a.: I have a trashcan between the mailbox & the dining table. You will get spam, no question about it.
mai naem mobile
WaPo had a piece with Reid being a possible no on the deal. Also Wyden. BTW, my conservative Republican Senator Flake has said he’ll vote for the deal. He also agreed with the opening up with Cuba. As crazy as this sounds I would consider switching party registration to save this guy in a teabagger opponent primary if the Dem candidate looked like a loser. I can’t believe I just typed this.
Paul in KY
@Cacti: As someone mentioned in Zandar’s thread, he’s the Senator from Jerusalem.
Belafon
@Hill Dweller: Good for them.
Mike E
@Calouste: Fail Safe reference. Meds are wearing off for srv, now 50 year old movies are being referenced here. Sad.
Voncey
Schumer has said he’ll vote to override the President’s veto but is clearing hoping he’ll never have to take that vote. If the override fails in the House it’ll never come up for a vote in the Senate.
El Caganer
And suppose this cunning plan proves to be a little too cunning, and the veto is overridden? What happens then?
Turgidson
@chopper:
I think he has to say that in order to seem sincere in his position. And knowing his history of being wrong about these things, he probably is sincere in his stupidity.
It’s a deal he wouldn’t have negotiated as president, but he probably doesn’t want to knife the president in the back and get caught holding it, which is what would happen if he whipped the Dems into voting to override.
Spineless bullshit. As long as the deal still goes into effect, it’s just kabuki. But it shouldn’t be forgotten.
boatboy_srq
On the plus side, Schumer’s not up for a whip role: given his record the results would be embarrassing.
On the minus side, he’d do more for the party leading fundraising efforts and playing lobbyist than he is sitting in the Senate, both from maintaining cash flow and reducing the damage his ornery-for-the-sake-of-orneriness positions cause.
Least we can do is put pressure on him to revisit his behavior and on our own Senators to vote for someone else (regardless of whether he changes his mind on this issue).
Cacti
@Hill Dweller:
Good for the White House.
Preempt his treachery and put him on defense.
Valdivia
@jamesbfranks: @JGabriel: Yes, me too. And as a former NYorker I encourage all those who live in the state to call, write and make your anger felt in his office.
patrick II
I am reposting this from the original thread which was pretty much dead when I posted it earlier:
If this is kabuki, I don’t like it:
“Advocates on both sides have strong cases for their point of view that cannot simply be dismissed,” Mr. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said in a lengthy statement. “This has made evaluating the agreement a difficult and deliberate endeavor, and after deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval.”
I have this theory than democracy is best served by the truth. This is not the truth, or even a close call. Diplomacy is better than war, and giving lie to such an essential building block to a peaceful way forward by such an important democratic leader performing kabuki is a betrayal of his country and democratic principles — and by doing so is giving credibility to the arguments of the neocons who want war. The republicans should not have cover for their lies and war mongering.
And if it isn’t kabuki, it is even worse. He is in thrall of Netenyahu, AIPAC and the Israeli right, who like the neocons here, see the only relationship between them and potential adversaries as total obeisance by force as necessary.
Sherparick
@japa21: It is basically we and the Israelis who have been threatening to bomb them daily for going on 13 years now because they have a nuclear program (initially started under the Shah with U.S. reactors and nuclear engineers) allowed to them under the Nonproliferation Treaty. If you want to be scared about something, remember that our “ally” the semi-Taliban state of Pakistan already has nukes.
Elizabelle
Here’s Schumer’s statement on voting no. Summary toward the end:
He flat out says (earlier in statement) we are better with the agreement for the coming ten years; the problem arises after that.
And why the hell would Iran, or any opponent, want to negotiate with us again, when carefully worked out agreements can be destroyed by rightwingers and careerists in this country?
Weak tea. Disgusted with Senator Schumer (D-Bibi and GOP land). I think his crystal ball has failed him, in the near and far term.
Trentrunner
I don’t have this view but there are PLENTY of Americans who have had enough of Israel’s bullying and then donning the Holocaust Cloak To Justify Anything when they commit war crimes and violate human rights.
I can fix our problem with the Middle East:
1. Become entirely energy independent
2. Tell Israel and everyone else in the region to fuck off.
3. Eliminate our military presence entirely
4. Repeat #2
Valdivia
@Elizabelle: Thanks for posting the numbers and calling. As important as it is to not donate any more money, it is even more important now to let his offices know we are not going to stand by while he does this.
@mai naem mobile: Since it’s WaPo, grain of salt and all, but Reid? Really? He has not said either way, but Wyden has been very negative on it. Anyone from his state been in touch? ANyone know why he’s against it?
Mike in NC
@Cacti: Would be nice to see Obama make Schumer publicly squirm. Such a useless AIPAC tool.
kindness
Schumer is to NY what DiFi is to us out here in California. In the general election I hold my nose and vote for her but God do I wish we had another Boxer instead. And what kills me is here in CA we could elect another Boxer.
I mean, I’ll take Schumer’s vote in the Senate when he wins but I won’t give him a dime to get there and I will certainly do everything I can to make sure Schumer does not get the leadership position he covets. Fuck you Chuckie,
trollhattan
O/T Speaking of idiot politicians.
taylormattd
@srv: What does that even mean? Also, my understanding is that Gillibrand is from the same state …
Sherparick
By the way, dishonesty of the neocon/Republicans/war hawk Dems from Tel Aviv position is revealed by their constant repetition of false hoods and bull shit to support their position. http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-hawkish-uses-and-abuses-of-the-green-movement-in-iran/
Cacti
In case anyone forgot…
In 2005, Senator Schumer worked overtime to drum up support for the approval of John Bolton as UN Ambassador.
He even went so far as to tell the Senate Democratic Caucus that a vote against Bolton was “a vote against Israel”.
Chuck Schumer is the Likud Senator from New York.
Cluttered Mind
I’m going to express an opinion I’m pretty sure is going to be unpopular…but I don’t think Schumer is a bad Senator or even a bad Democrat just because he’s completely and utterly in Wall Street’s pocket. Whether we like it or not, Wall Street is headquartered in New York, the financial community is extremely powerful, and they are still American citizens who deserve representation. The Senate is already an undemocratic institution by nature, and I’m fine with one of the two New York senators basically being the Senator from Wall Street. Honestly, given the power and influence they have, they’re probably more deserving of having their own Senator than half the population of North Dakota is, but half the population of North Dakota gets one and no one really complains. They deserve a voice at the table same as everyone else, and one of the two New York Senators is probably the most appropriate person for the job. The other senator, Gillibrand, is much better on liberal issues and is a nice counterweight. That said, it’d be nice if Wall Street would be happy with the Senator they already have and stop trying to buy all the others.
So Schumer is fine as a Senator, does the job his actual constituency wants him to do, and so long as he keeps winning primaries (where I’ll vote against him if someone more liberal is an option) I’ll continue happily voting for him in general elections. My problem with him is that he’s Senate Leader and head of the DSCC. There’s room in the Democrats for someone like Schumer but he should not be at the head of the Senate leadership. Someone who, as has been pointed out, is not in support of the greatest achievements of the party in recent years should not be a party leader and probably should not be chairing any committees either. DSCC will not be getting money from me either. Gillibrand is a different story next time she stands for re-election.
MomSense
If this deal is killed by our Congress and I were Iran, I would develop a nuke quick.
Turgidson
@kindness:
DiFi seems to have gotten better in the last few years. She’s been pretty effusive in her praise of the Iran deal, which surprised me a bit, and she at least cautiously seems to be drifting away from her unwavering support for everything the intelligence community does.
That said, I would also love a fire breathing liberal in her seat. And we could easily elect one especially if her term coincides with a presidential election.
D58826
What the ‘better deal’ folks don’t realize is the US is no longer the 800 pound gorilla surrounded by a bunch of hamsters. The Chinese along with India, Brazil, Russia, Singapore and a few other emerging economies are planning on building a financial structure to compete with the IMF and World Bank. Among other things they plan on crating an international exchange system that does not depend on the US dollar. China is planning on spending billions of dollars to build a 21st century version of the Silk Road to tie the Eurasian economies together. In the meantime the US Congress can only reauthorize the highway trust fund for three months. Even the long term Senate plan depends on the robbing Peter to pay Paul funding for three years.
What does this have to do with the Iran deal? Well China views Iran as an important player is this new economic structure. Iran has the oil and access to the Persian Gulf and is a major trading partner with China. Even with sanctions the Chinese are doing a couple of hundred billion dollars a year in trade with Iran. The Chinese and the Russians are working together on this new world plan so they are not about to buy into ‘crippling’ sanctions that brings the Iranian economy to its knees. As these economic plans develop there will be greater security arrangements as well. At some point in the not to distant future a US/Israeli air attack would bring Russia into the war.
I’m sure that Obama and the state/treasury/defense departments are all aware of this going on in the background even if the American Congress/public isn’t. There have been a couple of articles in ALJazerra/US and Salon going into these developments in a good bit of detail. Most of the US press is more concerned with the Kardashians.
Then again since so much of the GOP Christian base is convinced the end of the world is near maybe a major war in the middle east is just what to want.
Cluttered Mind
@Turgidson: Her position on the excesses of the intelligence community turned out to be no different than Jane Harman’s. Full support for everything up until they dared to wield their powers against her. She soured on them immediately after they snooped through her computer and then brazenly lied to her about it on the floor of the Senate. While it’s a welcome development, it’s not really something I’d consider admirable. It’s not an act of courage to turn against a bad thing only once it becomes bad for you personally, and support it when it’s only bad to other people.
Turgidson
@Cluttered Mind:
True enough. Gotta start somewhere, but you’re right that it wasn’t an epiphany on the preciousness of civil liberties that spurred her mild change in posture.
Cacti
@D58826:
It’s not even a matter of just BRICS not being on board with further sanctions. The European Union is against them also. The “better deal” is quixotic fantasy of the Neocon/Likud alliance.
schrodinger's cat
@D58826: India has always had a good relationship with Iran. India is oil hungry and has no domestic production to speak of. Plus, antipathy towards Pakistan, binds the two too.
Cluttered Mind
I never really got all the Iran hate to begin with. Let’s jump straight to the nightmare scenario and assume Iran gets nuclear weapons tomorrow and decides to use them. Their first likely target is not going to be the U.S., and it’s not going to be Israel. It’s going to be ISIS. Maybe we should spend less time demonizing Iran and more time realizing that Iran’s our best hope for containing ISIS and forming closer ties to them will be more productive in the long run than antagonizing them.
Cacti
@Cluttered Mind:
The greatest danger to US/Israeli middle east policy is that Iran got a nuke and did nothing with it, just like every other country with nukes over the past 70 years.
The US never invades nations with nuclear arsenals, and Iran having one would completely change Uncle Sam’s ability to throw his weight around in the region.
mai naem mobile
I think DiFi was bigtime po’d when the CIA spied on the committee which was bad enough but then lied.about it.
D58826
The ‘crippling sanctions’ approach has worked so well with Cuba:-)
jody in paris
my letter to my senator:
You might think that since the treaty will (might) pass, Democrats will forgive you. Some of us will never vote for you again and will encourage as many people as possible to end your career. Move to Israel and represent them there.
from a jewish constituent who knows that President Obama cares lots more about American interests and security than Netanyahu does — or you.
John Cole
@Cluttered Mind: I’d agree with you if he was the Senator for the borough of Manhattan. He’s not.
Germy Shoemangler
@Elizabelle: I called as well, but I don’t expect him to change his mind.
He admitted he would not be swayed by “pressure” (except for AIPAC I suppose)
Cacti
@John Cole:
Cole, I’m going to have a rare moment of agreement with you.
Even his own New York counterpart, Senator Gillibrand, came to a different conclusion about what her constituents wanted.
Schumer is bucking the majority of New Yorkers to advance the interests of a foreign nation.
Peale
@D58826: You see, though, sanctions did work. They helped keep Cuba poorer than it would otherwise be and for the most part, have kept lousy American tourists off their beaches. Win/Win I suppose. Now, what they failed to do, which is what the Neocons and war Squawks want, is to give the US a chance to negotiate from “A Position of Strength”, which I believe is accomplished when The Emperor of Iran comes aboard the USS Missouri and surrenders unconditionally to General McDuck and lets us peacefully reform their country after thoroughly destroying it. I think that’s the major complaint here…that the Iranians are negotiating and at least some of their people are still eating.
schrodinger's cat
Speaking of the Iran deal, Bobo’s op-ed about the deal in NYT this morning is a master class in lying and insinuation.
patroclus
Well, I disagree with John about the political games here – basically, the way Obama forced Corker into structuring this just to get a vote by Congress, it’s all a game and the target is 146 House votes and/or 34 Senate votes. Which will sustain the expected veto and allow the world to proceed with a negotiated deal. This allows the Schumer’s of the world to vote with Likud without any real harm.
On the other hand, this is a really important war-and-peace issue and, like the Iraq war, is something that is going to be remembered. Our democracy would be far better if our representatives actually voted the right way rather than what is in their perceived political self-interest. But history is replete with examples of Congress taking much-closer-than-they-should be votes on important issues (Sam Rayburn would do this all the time – getting only the votes that he needed). As long as Obama gets 146 and/or 34, I’m okay.
But Schumer just ruled out ever being President as far as my vote is important and I don’t want him in any high leadership positions ever.
scott (the other one)
@kindness:
Yeah, but Boxer’s not exactly the kind of senator I wish she were, either, given how safe her seat is. I like her, don’t get me wrong, but she’s not the kind of leader a senator from California could and should be. I mean, she’s no Elizabeth Warren. And even granting that Warren’s somewhat sui generis, and that all senators have their flaws, I’d take a Gillibrand or Sheldon Brown or maybe one of the senators from Connecticut or, of course, Bernie Sanders over Boxer.
Germy Shoemangler
@Cacti: Schumer: Veterans should take a pay cut but congress should not:
http://www.dcclothesline.com/2013/12/17/schumer-veterans-should-take-a-pay-cut-but-congress-should-not/
patroclus
@D58826: That’s an interesting theory, but your inclusion of Brazil makes your case less strong.
MazeDancer
The NY Times finally has a comment thread up on Schumer’s betrayal.
The Times didn’t have a comment thread up last night or this morning.
Tried to reach Schumer’s office, not a chance. So yesterday, sent an email. Didn’t even get back an auto-reply until today. Worst auto-reply ever. No salutation. Sort of spammy looking form.
Hope he gets primaried.
My GOP Congressional Representative’s nice staffer spent lots of time explaining how thoughtful, diplomacy supporting, and peace-oriented his boss is. Wouldn’t commit either way to how Rep’s vote would go. Rep is in a toss-up district with plenty of Dem’s so who knows what he’ll do.
Cacti
@scott (the other one):
Schumer’s warmongering and subservience to AIPAC is well known.
What is especially bothersome is that a majority of his Dem Senate colleagues want him as minority leader in spite of it. Even liberal Senators like Warren supported him.
It’s an indictment of the clubby nature of the Senate.
xinark
Delurking again to say: thanks, BJ commentariat, as you actually got a lurker to make some calls, social anxiety be damned.
Called offices for both Schumer and Gillibrand, expressing disappointment in one and gratitude for the other. Not sure what it says when I had to bounce around, for about an hour, between three different regional offices for Schumer to get someone on the line…
Minor thing: the staffers for Gillibrand’s office always seem nicer than Schumer’s. This is the third time calling both (once for the ACA fight, once for something I can’t begin to recall), and every time, Gillibrand’s staff just tend to be more pleasant. Wonder why that is?
Germy Shoemangler
@p.a.:
Mrs. Shoemangler gave some money about seven years ago. Since then we receive about twenty emails a day. Wasserman-Schultz, Joe Biden, Obama, Michelle, DLC, etc. We also got phone calls until we yanked our landline.
But here’s the problem. The scammers did a simple online search, and got our number. I remember a smarmy-sounding guy called asking for a donation for Obama. While the mrs. was on the phone with him, I googled his phone # (thank you call I.D.) and found a ton of complaints; it was a scam outfit selling bogus insurance and other bullshit. He kept asking her for her credit card number. She told him she’d mail a check. He insisted on the card number. She handed me the phone and told him to fuck himself.
So the scumbags are targeting kind souls who want to contribute to good causes. Be careful.
Germy Shoemangler
@xinark:
The rot starts at the head of the fish, and then molders down to the tail.
Tree With Water
Whatever promises Warren bought that Schumer made to gain her endorsement no longer cut it, if they ever did. I initially gave her a pass, but it only took a week before Shumer said-or-did something so at odds with the best interests of the party’s rank and file that I withdrew it. I can’t even recall the reason why, but whatever it was, I remember it as typical of the man. For the good of the party and its long term interests, Warren should now immediately withdraw her endorsement of Schumer. It would be the boldest move she has made to date, and would, moreover, be one that would send a shiver up-and-down the spine of both Wall Street and the fascist party of Israel.
D58826
@patroclus: Actually no because one of the parties in these talks is referred to as the BRICs – BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. So while Brazil is not physically close to Iran it does have common interests
Cacti
@Tree With Water:
Not that little old me matters to her, but Senator Warren would gain some huge respect from me if she announced that she was withdrawing her backing from Schumer and putting it behind Dick Durbin or Patty Murray.
bystander
@smintheus: Schumer voted for DOMA when he was in the House. As I point out at every opportunity.
I’ve written repeatedly but worth nothing. I think I’ll email his cousin Amy and ask why she would divulge she’s related to that POS.
Cacti
I know I’ve been rough on Bernie Sanders to date, but as he’s the only sitting US Senator in the race for the Dem nomination, I’m very curious to hear his opinion whether Schumer still ought to be the next Senate minority leader.
He’s already on board for the Iran deal.
Elizabelle
@xinark: Well done with making the calls. Interesting re the office vibe.
Cervantes
@smintheus:
Define “most important.” He’s 100% pro-choice, for example.
(I don’t like him personally, not only because of his AIPAC-inflected positions.)
boatboy_srq
@trollhattan: Better bi and playing in public with hustlers than adulterous (with a fellow Teahadi colleague no less)? When did that happen? Wow. The Stupid burns hotter than usual with this one.
JGabriel
@Paul in KY:
That’s unfair to all the Israelis who didn’t vote for Bibi. Instead, Schumer should be known as the Senator from Likud.
smintheus
@bystander: I didn’t know that. That’s pretty low even by Schumer’s low standards.
janeform
@bystander: Surely Amy could work up something to shame him.
And let’s not forget Mukasey. And torture.
D58826
The thing is no matter what the Congress does the deal will happen. It was negotiated under the auspices of the Security Council and they have already approved it. The other countries involved will remove their sanctions and begin doing business with Iran. The only ones left out will be American businesses. The Iranian hardliners will use the rejection as an issue to undercut the moderates and reformers in the Iranian government. Any hope of a moderation in Iranian behavior will come to an end. The GOP might be happy that they destroyed Obama’s legacy foreign policy issue but they will also send a message to the world that the word of the US president is worthless. President Trump might have a hard time convincing our allies that he can deliver on his promises. It also sends the message that American foreign policy is dictated by Israel. That image is not going to help the US in dealing with the Muslim world in general and the middle east in particular.
Tree With Water
@JGabriel: That’s right; which is why in my remark upthread I took care to cite the “fascist party of Israel”, to differentiate them from the people of Israel, all inclusive.
Mandalay
@schrodinger’s cat:
You lost me there – Pakistan is one of Iran’s closest allies.
Mandalay
@bystander:
And Diane Feinstein was one of the few senators who voted against it. I don’t point that out at every opportunity, but since I am more than willing to put the boot in on her performance on security issues, it is only fair to mention that she does have some redeeming qualities.
A guy
Maybe schumer actually understands that getting a deal with Iran is more important to Americas security than the failed legacy of a president
Jparente
@jamesbfranks: I just emailed Chuck Schumer. Thanks for the heads up.
Cacti
@A guy:
But Schumer doesn’t want a deal with Iran, and knows that if this one is scuttled, the US has no economic leverage over Iran if China, Russia, and the European Union resume trade with them.
Schumer’s preferred outcome leaves the US isolated from the rest of the P5.
blueskies
@Trentrunner:
Pretty much Obama’s plan, AFAIC. I don’t know about step #2. Definitely at least a stab at step #3.
RaflW
David “Nonsense” Brooks on NPR ATC this afternoon said, basically, all the alternatives to the Iran deal are dreadful, but he still opposes the deal.
So he just comes out and says he’s got absolutely bupkis, but hey Obama sucks, yet the ATC host says nothing.
Facepalm.
MazeDancer
NY Times editorial “Bad Decision by Senator Schumer” pretty much lays it out there, sparing no WTF aspects, for example:
Between the news article and the editorial there are now a good thousand comments, and climbing fast. Easily 75% are anti-Chuck. With a good many “I’m a Jewish New Yorker and I am angry the Senator is listening to BiBi” kind of comments. And lots of calls to primary the non-Democratic wimpy traitor.
If he tries to run for any party leadership, that means every Democrat in America with a Democratic Senator gets to make a lot of phone calls. That’ll be big.
Tree With Water
@Mandalay: Dianne does live in San Francisco, you know. Had she voted in favor of that holy roller, busybody sex bill, every restaurant in the city would piss in her soup every time she sat down to sup- and she knows it. Besides, Dianne has a beautiful side. It’s just not attuned to her political self, or not very often, anyway.
BBA
The Jewish establishment – the UJA, the ADL, the AJC, the other AJC, any synagogue board, etc. – agrees with Netanyahu on everything. They’re a bunch of alterkockers who are completely out of touch with the experiences and views of younger Jews. And they’re who people like Schumer talk to to gauge the feelings of the Jewish community.
Cervantes
@schrodinger’s cat:
If that’s your perception, can you elaborate?
I remember in the ’60s the Shah — and perhaps as important, his so-called Empress — going on a charm offensive in India. I’m not sure it worked, and anyway, it was before your time, was it not?
Patrick
@MazeDancer:
Can anyone ever imagine the Republican senate majority leader (Mitch McConnell for example) doing this to a Republican President? Schumer’s move reminds me of Dick Gephardt back in 2002 when he stood by Bush in the Rose Garden to announce his support for the idiotic Iraq war. Schumer should not be majority leader.
AnonPhenom
@srv:
I live in that city, and most of my fellow NYers are amused at how quickly suburbanites will shit the bed over the most far fetched fear-mongering.
Oh well, they are the people of the ‘white flight’ …
rikyrah
you’re on the money, Cole.
Can we get animal pics soon?
RaflW
@MazeDancer:
Yes, seriously, this. He will feel free to grandstand, and to undermine whoever is the next Democratic president. And if, FSM forfend, we have a GOP president, I wouldn’t trust Schumer one iota.
Tree With Water
Schumer is a lost cause. Instead of wasting time with him, democrats should lean on Elizabeth Warren to withdraw her support for Schumer to lead their senate colleagues. Let there be fireworks..
Full metal Wingnut
@Cacti: You could argue Russia. But they’ll be targeting places like Minot first. It won’t be the Iranians.
Full metal Wingnut
@Hill Dweller: Backstabber complains he was stabbed in the back. Pot, meet kettle.
Joseph Nobles
Sanders said he had two calls before making up his mind from leaning towards to support: Obama and Schumer. Obama cleared some questions he had, and he reported being satisfied with the Schumer call as well. I think he’s supporting Schumer for Minority Leader as well as supporting Obama’s veto.
Spanky
@D58826:
You hit the nail on the head. According to their “prophets” Iran and Russia are Gog and Magog who make war on Israel from the prophecy.
Paul in KY
@Cluttered Mind: I think he’s more in Israel’s pocket than Wall Streets.
Paul in KY
@JGabriel: We had a Telk Aviver say that he was more with the settler loons down in Jerusalem. Can change to Likud.