My fellow Americans, are yououtraged at Congresswoman Pelosi?

Question

Who in the world does Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Democratic Representative from California, think she is? Is she aware that it is neither her responsibility, nor within her authority, to attempt to make foreign policy for the United States? That power lies only with the President and the Secretary of State, in that order. Am I the only one that feels she went and showed her butt to the entire world?

Answer 1

This is pretty revealing. In an interview about Nancy Pelosi's trip to Syria, a spokesperson for Mitt Romney inadvertently gave away the game on all the GOP criticism of her Syria excursion.

The moment came in this piece in a Pennsylvania local paper called the Lancaster Intelligencer Herald. The piece reports on Romney's criticism of Pelosi's trip, then goes on to ask his spokesperson whether the same criticism should be applied to the Republicans who also went to Syria. Check out the answer:

Romney spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said during an interview later in the day Romney believes the United States should have "one foreign policy" and that Pelosi's visit will "create confusion and undermine our interests abroad."

"Nancy Pelosi is different [than rank-and-file congressmen] because she is third in line to the presidency and the chief promoter of the troop withdrawal [from Iraq], which runs counter to the president's foreign policy agenda," Pompei said.

Yep -- her trip to Syria is different because she's the "chief promoter of the troop withdrawal." There you have it laid bare. This couldn't be more straightforward, really.

Look, when Pelosi took power this year there was no shortage of pundits -- and Republicans -- who kept issuing somber warnings that if she took actual steps to try to end the war she'd suffer badly as a result. Pelosi disregarded this "advice" from the punditry, and judging by the shrieks and head-banging noises coming from the office of Fred Hiatt her early successes represent a real threat to those who want to keep the war going until victory or forever, whichever comes first.

The real key, though, is that the public is supporting her efforts. This simply wasn't supposed to happen. So, in addition to republican reps doing the very same thing, the noise about the Syria trip is in a way a howl of frustration at Pelosi's preliminary successes and the public support for them. It's a last-ditch effort to paint her as a friend of the terr'ists in order to confuse the American people into losing sight of the fact that she's the one speaking for them on the war. As Romney's spokesperson makes plain, it's all about Iraq. And it's sad that the media is so willingly playing along.

Answer 2

When Presidents of the past lost popularity at home they would go "visit" foreign countries for photo ops and some "positive" press. I suppose Pelosi thinks that she is doing a "marginal" job here at home and is trying to create some positive press. I am from California, and yes, she is a Geek. Sometimes our politicians here take on this High School persona where they just say and do things that they think are "popular", but, never actually get anything accomplished. Making big bucks just being a butt head. ( Iam not outraged, more like, 'what's next?')

Answer 3

No, no, no.....this power absolutely does not lye only in Bush's hand. God forbid if that should ever happen. He very much has to answer to Congress and to us, "the people". And so far...he has been doing neither.

Nancy, you or I for that matter have every right to go where we please and talk to whomever we wish to. There are no laws restricting what she did. As far as I'm concerned, there should always be someone else from the other party whenever Bush speaks policy to a foreign government. And I don't mean someone from his cowboy administration.

So I say...."Yahoo" for Nancy. Keep up the good work. Ride Bush's tail till he's out of office for good!

Answer 4

What is wrong with you? Newt Gingrich did the same thing when he went to China without permission when Clinton was Pres. Hastert went to Colombia against US policy. And Pelosi took a delegation of Repubs with her. We need to negotiate with our enemies if there is ever to be peace. Otherwise, we will continue to misunderstand each other and wars will follow.
After Pelosi's visit, the British captives were released. Coincidence? Not likely.

Answer 5

Alright, then who in the world does Republican Reps. Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts and Robert Aderholt think they are? They met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus three days before. at least Pelosi is third in line for the Presidency.

Answer 6

Good question. When the President of the United States has been acting contrary to the best interests of the people he supposedly serves, then what's a good Speaker of the House to DO?

Answer 7

She simply backed up the present administrations policies, and the week before, as I'm sure you know, Republicans made the same trip, also her group consisted of both parties.
At least it a cute butt for such an old lady, when Cheney makes a backside view of himself the world cringes.

Answer 8

The congress must ratify all treaties. Congress is the only one that can declare war. These powers do not reside with the president. She has some authority in terms of foreign policy.

Answer 9

Do you understand the Constitution at all there bucko?
The Constitution divides the foreign policy powers between the President and Congress but not in a definitive manner. Which means speaker Pelosi is well within her rights and obligations to do so
http://fpc.state.gov/fpc/6172.htm...

Answer 10

Actually, the only power delegated to the President is that of commander of the armed forces (see constitution). The Congress is technically in charge of foreign relations. However, it has been customary in modern times for the President to share this power.