Seriously – some of you want to accuse Nancy Pelosi of “treason” for the ratification of the START treaty?
The U.S. House has no say in the ratification of treaties. None.
Article II, Section 2 – Civilian Powers of the President
“He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur;”…
This was one of the serious points of dispute among the “Founding Fathers” who wrote the Constitution. The anti-Federalists didn’t think the Senate (intended to be functionally similar to the House of Lords in England) in consultation with the President should have the ability to ratify treaties without the consent of the People’s House – and those treaties would then be above the powers of Congress to alter in the future.
It would only a few years until the Jay Treaty with England would provoke Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and others to join with the Anti-Federalists to kick George Washington out of office.
My poll question yesterday was triggered by Jim Quinn of Quinn and Rose accusing Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and anyone who supported the START treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons of Treason, which is assisting an enemy during a time of war.
You can’t say you “I Love the Constitution” and then claim that the people following the Constitution’s process are violating the Constitution because you have a difference of opinion about the policy.
This was the same convaluted thinking that Ronald Reagan needed to “Protect Democracy” in Nicauragua by disregarding the law passed by the Democratic Congress (and he signed!) that prohibited US Government aid (Oliver North) from aiding terrorist groups wanting to overthrow the government of Daniel Ortega by force.
Changing policies means winning elections and fighting in the courts, not sputtering hyperbolic rhetoric based on ignorance of the things you purport to love.
If I could make a few points here.
“not sputtering hyperbolic rhetoric based on ignorance of the things you purport to love.”
Calm down Big Guy. You are right, but sometimes people get carried away in their passion in fighting stupid, robotic, Progressive ideological policy, like this Start treaty. There is a LOT of frustration out there, and a prevailing deja vu moment for us who lived thru the Carter Disaster, er, Administration.
“You can’t say you “I Love the Constitution” and then claim that the people following the Constitution’s process are violating the Constitution because you have a difference of opinion about the policy.”
Right again. And when they scream “treason” they are only voicing their frustration with an Administration that routinely ignores the Constitution (in addition to their election promises to the American public).
“Ronald Reagan needed to “Protect Democracy” in Nicauragua by disregarding the law passed by the Democratic Congress (and he signed!)”.
No President is perfect. Hey Ronnie, use the veto. Not using the veto because it may be overridden is just plain dumb.
Lastly, when you started out with “Seriously – some of you want to accuse Nancy Pelosi of “treason” for the ratification of the START treaty?”, I thought you were going to make the point that there were SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO CHARGE THEM WITH.