Appropriateness of the Iran letter

Typically, when keeping something a secret, the best way to do so is to not in fact discuss that things at all.

The meetings themselves aren't secret, the discussions are. So if the Senate/president is debating whether to offer something; you don't want Iran to know that is even an option before hand. Thus closed meetings (I used secret meetings as I was implying they were talking about secret stuff, poor word choice).

The GOP leadership in the Senate would get in a very, very very deep pot of hot water with their foaming-at-the-mouth base if they knew their leadership was meeting with Obama to help him do anything at all; it's not in anyone's best interest to let such things slip. That being said, it's all conjecture

The GOP leadership has met with Obama quite a few times on various discussions (like the debt ceiling). McConnel and Boehner are not very well loved within the Tea Party. It hasn't stopped them before. In this case it wouldn't even be Republicans and Obama. It should be leaders from both parties in the Senate and Obama. As not even Republicans have enough votes to concur the treaty move forward.

It seems that you've retreated away from saying that Obama is 'wrong' or 'stepping on the Senate's perogatives' by not including them in the negotiations, to saying that it's simply unwise for him to fail to do so.

Obama is wrong to push this as an executive agreement. From all that the WH has stated that seems to be their plan. If he was pushing this as a treaty he should constitutionally be seeking their support but the clause is vague enough that he is not obligated to. Though presidents who have chosen not to include the Senate have often failed horribly in getting the treaty through the Senate.

the Conservative outrage over the issue is unfounded and is frankly playing into the hands of the Democrats.

The GOPs outrage is if he tries to push this through as an executive agreement. But even if he is attempting to push for a treaty he isn't bothering to talk with Republicans on what he promising. The Senate has historically guarded its coequal power of Treaty very tightly. What is shocking is that Democrats in the Senate aren't making a fuss. I can only assume they see it as politically smart not to attack Obama as it will reflect badly on all Democrats in the next election.

And, can I say - Again. They are playing into the hands of their opponents once again. I can't believe the utter lack of coordination and strategy that has come to typify the Republican policy and political team these last several years. I believe it comes from letting emotion determine decision, always a poor move.

Well they have two options. Sit on their hands as the president just usurps powers the Senate has usually enjoyed, or bring it to public attention. With Republican landslide wins in 2014 they can't be doing everything wrong. I'm not saying they are politically smart, but Democrats seem to have been stumbling as well to have lost both houses of congress.

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