Do you think Pelosi's world traveling is a waste of money and a over stepping of her power?

Question

Last I checked international affairs were up to the president and the executive branch. But Pelosi is traveling the world and acting like she has some kind of power outside the U.S. As the house speaker she still doesnt have the right to be going around undermining foreign policy which she doesnt even make. Besides its a waste of our tax dollars for us to be paying for her traveling adventures. I think she over stepping her authority and spitting on the constitution. What do you think?

I think any congressman or senator from either party who pulls stunts like Pelosi is going against what they should, and are over stepping their power and spitting on the constituion.

Answer 1

She should want to pay for it if she really believes in what she is doing.

The problem is, she wouldn't know global warming is if it hit her in the head, but like any liberal, she knows a big government anti-capitalist power grab when she sees it!

Answer 2

Check out the constitution. Notice the Powers of the Congress were spelled out and defined first. Not the executive as one would think. Many other nations give by right and tradition a complete head to the executive in inter. matters. But the US was founded on different principles.

See Foreign Affairs article of Nov/Dec 2006 "When Congress checks out" The making of sound U.S. foreign policy depends on a vigorous, deliberative, and often combative process that involves both the executive and the legislative branches. The country's Founding Fathers gave each branch both exclusive and overlapping powers in the realm of foreign policy, according to each one's comparative advantage -- inviting them, as the constitutional scholar Edwin Corwin has put it, "to struggle for the privilege of directing American foreign policy."

To say that International Affairs is the purvey of the executive defies our historical and constitutional system. Opinions may differ as to what extent Congress and its members may participate but it is and always has been a historical precedent.

During Revolutionary times it was the legislative body that directed foreign affairs at the federal level, even though individual states often pursued their own foreign alliances and despite the weak Articles of Confederation, Pres number 1 G. Washington was not the leader in foreign policy making.

The role of the executive has strengthened over time. But many foreign governments today know that if they want treaties ratified and monies allocated to international endeavors they must appeal to the Senate, or Congress. Or at the very least wait for ratification before a treaty is truly binding.

Ms. Pelosi is by a Constitutional amendment third in line for the Presidency. Two spots ahead of Ms. Rice.

So I say she has every historical, constitutional right and precedent to actively participate in foreign affairs, as would any Speaker of the House.

As for a waste of taxes, there is plenty of blame to go around in both the executive and legislative branches.

Answer 3

I think that she is trying to mend some fences within the world. These are the same fences that Bush and the executive branch have allowed to break. I think that if someone takes it upon themselves to try and save face in the world where we need it saved, more power to them.

And by the way - I own my own business, and I have been in management for many years before that. You want to know the sentence that most bosses hate to hear? "That's not my job." I LOVE the staff that will step outside their job description and make my life a little easier by doing things above and beyond the call. It makes me look better, and it uses the strengths of someone that might otherwise be overlooked. Anyone that doesn't like that to happen is petty and a controlling person.

I think what is pissing off the Republicans and the executive branch is that she is making them all look bad because she is able to do these things rather easily. I would think that Bushco would be too busy destroying other countries to have time to worry about foreign policy.

Answer 4

Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House, and she is therefore in charge of the House. Because of that, she is in charge of helping to formulate policy and control government funding to certain projects. She has the right to go around traveling and doing research to determine how government money and policy can best be spent, formulated, and enforced.

As far as a waste of tax money....George Bush's war in Iraq has wasted plenty of American dollars that we certainly won't reap the benefits from, unless of course you consider the hatred of the rest of the world a reward.

Answer 5

Did you ask these questions about the repubs when Clinton was in office? They made an art of traveling on taxpayers money trying to undermine Clinton. At least Pelosi is trying to build GOOD relations with the world as opposed to Bush wanting to kill everyone and tell them how to run their countries.

Answer 6

Do you think it is necessary to provide a plane for Laura Bush to go to Paris, to hear a literacy program. Why does she have a right to spend so much money on Government Aircraft, she could stay at home and look at her husband that is the only literacy she needs to study. Do you realize how much Bush and family waste on Air Force One, every weekend. He goes picks up Laura's mother , let her catch a plane and send someone to pick her up at the Airport. He waste more money just visiting than any President I have ever seen or heard about, he is a complete moron .

Answer 7

No more than any other member of congress flying over seas. It seems like the right loves to hammer democrats every time they leave the country while completely ignoring trips made by republicans.
As for her authority according to the constitution, she is in no way, shape of form over stepping it.

Answer 8

No.
As speaker of the house she is third in line to the presidency.
If Bush died today and Cheney tomorrow, she would become the President of the United States and Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces.
It is actually possible for this to happen.
I seriously doubt it will, but her position is one of power.

Answer 9

Comrade Pelosi thinks she is the president and yes she is over stepping her bounds in a big way, so did Kruschev and eventually they all fall. And so will Comrade Pelosi.

Answer 10

yeah..thats the biggest problem in the current administration...


at least pelosi puts a literate, intelligent face on america abroad and counters the "undermining" of american respect and credibility in progress for the last 6+ years