Saturday, July 22, 2017

Who Runs U.S. Foreign Policy? The U.S. President Or Congress?



New York Times: Congress Reaches Deal on Russia Sanctions, Setting Up Tough Choice for Trump

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on sweeping sanctions legislation to punish Russia for its election meddling and aggression toward its neighbors, they said Saturday, defying the White House’s argument that President Trump needs flexibility to adjust the sanctions to fit his diplomatic initiatives with Moscow.

The new legislation would sharply limit the president’s ability to suspend or terminate the sanctions — a remarkable handcuffing by a Republican-led Congress six months into Mr. Trump’s tenure. It is also the latest Russia-tinged turn for a presidency consumed by investigations into the Trump campaign’s interactions with Russian officials, including conversations between Trump advisers and Russian officials about prospective sanctions relief.

Now, Mr. Trump could soon face a decision he hoped to avoid: veto the bill — a move that would fuel accusations that he is doing the bidding of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — or sign legislation imposing sanctions his administration has opposed.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: U.S. Congressional Republicans have just knee-capped President Trump's Russian policy .... a policy that he ran on (i.e. developing better relations with Russia) during the election.

More News On The U.S. Congress Agreeing To More Russian Sanctions

Congress breaks impasse on bill to slap sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea -- Washington Post
U.S. lawmakers reach deal on Russia sanctions bill, creating limits for Trump -- Reuters
Congress reaches Russia sanctions deal -- CNN
House, Senate leaders agree on deal for increased Russia sanctions -- UPI
Democrats herald agreement on sweeping Russia sanctions bill -- Washington Post
Senators Aim To Make It Harder For Trump Administration To Ease Russia Sanctions -- NPR

16 comments:

B.Poster said...

I will read the article time permitting. It's simple really. Veto the bill. Do the right thing. Doing the right thing in the face of stiff opposition is a test of character. Does POTUS have the neccessary character? We may soon find out but from what I've observed so far there appears to be little cause for optimism.

Jay Farquharson said...

Veto proof majority, Trump can't veto the bill.

The House and Senate, both Dem's and Repug's all agree,

Trump cannot be trusted to uphold US Interest's regarding Russia.

B.Poster said...

Veto the bill anyway. So the veto is overridden as I suspect would happen. POTUS is on record as doing the right thing.

"Trump cannot be trusted to uphold US interest's regarding Russia." It is in US interests to forge better relations with Russia. Sanctions are counterproductive. It seems to be Congress who cannot be trusted to uphold US interests regarding Russia.

Jay Farquharson said...

If Trump tries to veto's the bill, it will cause a "Constitutional Crisis", that will be resolved with Trump's arrest and impeachment.

B.Poster said...

So a POTUS cannot veto a bill. As I understand it, POTUS can veto a bill. Then Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority or something to this effect and the bill becomes law.

I'm not aware how this creates a "constitutional crisis." Perhaps I need to do some research on this topic.

Sometimes men and women of good conscience face arrest and in the case of POTUS perhaps impeachment for doing the right thing. As I stated does POTUS have the character to do the right thing? Veto the bill. Then do all he can to thwart its implementation.

As the editor points out, improving relations with Russia is part of what he ran on. Many people voted for him based on this. As such, he needs to man up, do the right thing, and represent American interests.

I would also add the Russians have refrained from responding as aggressively as they could have to this stupidity on the part of the US government. Tbey are likely hoping fir some degree of sanity on DC. I do not think their patience will be unlimited.

Jay Farquharson said...

LMFAO,

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-foreign-policy-powers-congress-and-president

Jay Farquharson said...

BTW,

http://nomoremister.blogspot.ca/2017/07/dear-trump-fans-of-all-social-classes.html?m=1

Sucker.

Unknown said...

What will happen is he will veto the bill. Then the Russian collusion debacle will be proven false as it is and then there will be no reason to doubt his leadership. Trump takes the back seat to no man. Especially Putin. A PoTuS is a PoTuS in case you haven't noticed. All will be well.

B.Poster said...

Jay,

Thanks for the links. The cfr link describes the roles Congress and POTUS have regarding foreign policy. If it is Congress's role to regulate commerce, then perhaps sanctions fall under their jurisdiction and perhaps POTUS opposing them would be a "constitutional crisis."

Sanctions against a foreign country are an act of war against that country. Congress muzt first issue a formal declaration of war to implement them. This apoears to be the real "constitutional crisis." A declaration of war was not issued. Besides that sanctions are ineffective, p!ss people off, hasten the end of the dollar's role as world reserve currency, and help ensure a "hard landing" when it happens.

As Congress overrode a veto from BHO, DJT should be able to veto any bill sent to him that requires his signature. A man of good conscience will not affix his signature to a bill that runs contrary to American interests. Congress can override. If this leads to arrest and impeachment, again people of good conscience sometimes must do the right thing in face of persecution.

Very respectfully the last link is an opinion piece and overlooks the regulatory reforms DJT has implemented that have helped the US economy. Thank you for sharing it though.

JaysMolestedDogs said...

You sound almost reasonable and worth spending the time talking to when you aren't doing your childish LMFAO schtick, Jay.

Jay Farquharson said...

Mollested Dogs,

Really?

fred said...

Dear editor
how many policies did Trump run on while campaigning and policies changed after he got into office? Russia seems, oddly, one of the few consistent ones.

Unknown said...

LIBERALDEMOCRAT Senator Ted Kennedy, who molested waitresses and got caught having sex in public, tried to run foreign policy with a secret letter to the Kremlin.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1209313/Ted-Kennedy-The-Senator-Sleaze-drunk-sexual-bully--left-young-woman-die.html

Http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3219995/posts

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/edward-kennedys-brilliant-career-hit-by-bawdy-excess/news-story/d626ec69cfd6ab0e23853da8e7fc37d2

https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2007/08/03/luke_sissyfag_howell_heflin_womb_to_the_tomb/

Liberal Democrat Values in action

"As Gaviglio enters the room, the six-foot-two, 225-plus-pound Kennedy grabs the five-foot-three, 103-pound waitress and throws her on the table" GQ mag

http://www.gq.com/story/kennedy-ted-senator-profile

"Kennedy's personal life came to dominate his image. In 1989 the European paparazzi stalked him on a vacation there and photographed him having sex on a motorboat"

http://www.fampeople.com/cat-ted-kennedy_14

Unknown said...

I always wondered for someone that posts under the name IRL and is unafraid, why there is no picture of the Mrs?

B.Poster said...

Fred,

A number of policies have been changed since Trump entered office. While regrettable at times, when a campaign promise and reality collide it's generally going to be best to act in accordance to reality.

As a political novice whose team largely consists of political novices, sometimes reality was not/is not understood in advance. As such, more changes are probably to be expected.

"Russia seems, oddly, one of the few consistent ones." Perphaps you forgot about the bombing in Syria in response to a chemical weapons attack and WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO ACTUALLY CARRIED OUT THE ATTACK!! Most likely it was ISIS or some of those al qaeda/ISIS clone "rebels" many in the US government have a man crush on.

Jay Farquharson said...

LMFAO,

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson-sorkin/when-anthony-scaramucci-fell-in-love-with-donald-trump/amp