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| "If you turn a little more to the right I can stab you in the back a little deeper." |
By his inviting a foreign leader to address Congress, John Boehner deliberately dealt in foreign policy and thus violated the "Logan Act", thus usurping the powers of the presidency of the United States.
In so doing, Boehner also deliberately violated the "separation of powers" clause in the US Constitution. By law, he must now be tried by Congress, and forced to resign.
Under the "Logan Act" of 1799, (1 Stat. 613, 30 January 1799, currently codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953) Executive power to engage in Foreign Policy is ONLY vested in the President of the United States of America.
The Logan Act (1 Stat. 613, 30 January 1799, currently codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953) specifically forbids any unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.
The Act is intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments.
It was passed in 1799 and last amended in 1994. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.
I don't usually have a lot of confidence in the ability of petitions to inspire real change, however considering that the rabid Republican base wants Boehner out anyhow, well you never know.
What I think we can all agree on is that John Boehner sucks at his job, and inviting Netanyahu to speak to the Congress and sabotage the President's progress with Iran, was completely unconscionable.
And as it turns out, possibly illegal.
Anyhow I signed the petition.
I signed the petition, too. It is time that Boehner finds out that his treasonous actions have consequences.
ReplyDeleteHow many times has he violated the public drunkeness act?? He should be investigated for fraud involving his buying stock in oil companies, knowing which votes were about to come up. enriching himself. THIS is the best the gop has to represent them? What a hjoke. I signed that petition also, too.
ReplyDeletebuying stock in oil companies
Delete-------------------
When I read he has stock in the tar sands companies that want keystone built it all became clear-traitor. It would be interesting to see which other members of Congress that were pushing keystone own stock.
I did too. Boehner needs to know that Americans are not the GOP. We are nit happy with his attempts to make the President look bad. We are not happy that the House is on paid leave (or paid fund-raising jaunts) more days than they are in DC. We are not happy that they refuse to pass one damn bill for Americans, but are more than happy to deny us a living wage, healthcare, and safe roads. Please proceed, Mr. Speaker. Right into court.
ReplyDeleteI signed the petition yesterday.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
The only thing in the act, as stated here, is whether he is an 'unauthorized citizen' or as the 'Speaker of the House', his position falls outside of that description. I wonder if there is precedent?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter.
DeleteONLY the President. That's what the Logan Act says.
Not the President and the Speaker of the House.
It's about time Congress got a slap upside the head to reinforce that they are NOT the President and he has the power to do stuff that they do NOT. They are trying to take all of his authority and diminish or nullify the powers he has.
He has the power to make National Parks too. I'd be parkifying a lot of land to protect it from oil exploration and fracking if *I* were President.
Time for Congress to do their jobs and stop trying to do the President's job. Perhaps then they'd actually *do* something. Anything. This is the most unaccomplished Congress because they spend all their time trying to *be* the President and at the same time undo what he's done.
I signed the petition but I think it'll end up the same place as the arrest and prosecution of the Cliven Bundy militia...nowhere
ReplyDeleteDid you say Boner would have to go before Congress?
ReplyDeleteOh, well than we have plenty of time, as they're still hashing-up another vote to snuff the Affordable Care Act For the 100th time.
Thanks for the connection to the petition. I signed it and forwarded it to friends. It would be nice to be rid of this lousy Speaker while the President is still on the job.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, what good will it do? Absolutely none. John Boehner will NEVER be held accountable. These petitions - and I have signed my share - are simply fund-raising efforts by organizations like MoveOn. They have no effect on anything. Yes, I'm feeling very cynical this morning.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one reason why Mr. Boehner was elected by the male republican members of the US House of Representatives. It was the only way they are able to say, "I've got a Bo(eh)ner!"
ReplyDeleteFlaccid Republicans!
I signed the petition.
ReplyDelete@8:10, sitting back and not doing anything never helps.
I heard an interview about the elephants being freed from the circus, and the interviewer asked one of the lawyers representing the animal welfare group what changed the public opinion, and they answered that it was a lot of things- petitions, protests, letters to representatives, boycotts.
It gave me hope.
This is the Republican Speaker of the House we're talking about. Republicans don't give a shit about petitions. And neither does the Obama administration's DOJ. It only goes after Democrats and whistleblowers (like Don Siegelman and Chelsea Manning) treats Republicans with kid gloves. Obama's DOJ looks forward, not back, where Republicans are concerned. So who else has any power to hold Boehner accountable? No one.
DeleteThe Republicans did it before. I think it was Nixon during his campaign for President. Had made a deal with Vietnam, or N. Korea, I forget which, to undermine the President and not make any peace deals until after the election. Yeah, it was pretty much treasonous, but they got away with it, and most of America never had a clue.
ReplyDeleteReagan-HW Bush did that with the Iranian hostages that were released minutes after Ray Gun was inaugurated, but that was not public knowledge. Reagan have them weapons, etc. Carter might have been re-elected if hostages were released before the election.
Deletehttp://books.google.com/books/about/October_surprise.html?id=c8R1AAAAMAAJ
I so hope they get Boehner! He committed treason (in my estimation) befriending and bringing Netanyahoooo to speak before the United States Congress to undermine our foreign policies of President Obama!
ReplyDeleteThe petition will have no effect on Boehner although signing it provides an easy way to release outrage over Netanyahu's disgusting performance art in the U.S. Congress.
ReplyDeleteInstead of, or in addition to signing the petition, we may want to look for a way to support Israel's Labor Party and help defeat the lying and manipulative war-monger Netanyahu?
I agree that signing the petition (which I did) may have no effect on Boehner, but it sure made me feel better to do so!
DeleteI think the USA should STOP funding Israel on an annual basis! They don't need it and can take care of themselves.
DeleteThe USA needs to take care of itself and citizens!
11:38 Do you also 'think' we should stop 'funding' the many other countries to which we provide aid or is this just a convenient way to express some anti-semitism? Netanyahu is the face of ultra conservative war mongering in Israel. It's not fair to taint all Jews with his reckless, hateful behavior as most of us are moderates, independents and liberals. Just imagine the U.S. with McCain at the helm. Would you enjoy being labeled by his hawkish, actions and especially by who HE considered would be a perfect choice as his VP.
DeleteNow for a little imperialism quiz. How many U.S. military bases are located in foreign countries?
Then, how many foreign military bases are located in the U.S.?
www.twocare.org/pro-revolution-u-s-evangelicals-ally-with-putin-inner-circle/
ReplyDeleteOooo. Good one.
ReplyDeleteI hope they finally nail his ass on this one.
Yes, Boehner is ghastly. Only problem with replacing him is that he would be replaced by a tea bagger, someone who would never see reality and, say, finally agree to a vote on a clean DHS funding bill, passing legislation with Democratic support.
ReplyDeleteBoehner's eyes always look like the drunk's on a stool at the end of the bar.
ReplyDelete