Boehner Invites Israel's Netanyahu To Address Congress On Iran

[Purveyor]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Rebuffing President Barack Obama on Iran, House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday he had invited Israel's prime minister to address a joint meeting of Congress next month about the threats from

The Republican leader released a letter extending the invitation to Benjamin Netanyahu for Feb. 11. Boehner also told a private meeting of GOP lawmakers that Congress would move ahead on new penalties against Iran despite Obama's warning that any legislation would scuttle diplomatic negotiations over the country's nuclear program.

"You may have seen that on Friday, the president warned us not to move ahead with sanctions on Iran, a state sponsor of terror," Boehner told colleagues, according to his office. "His exact message to us was: 'Hold your fire.' He expects us to stand idly by and do nothing while he cuts a bad deal with Iran.

"Two words: 'Hell no!' ... We're going to do no such thing," the speaker said.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-netanyahu-congress-boehner-20150121-story.html

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White House Says Netanyahu 'Departing From Protocol' With US Visit

WASHINGTON -- The White House expressed displeasure with the handling of an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to the United States on Wednesday, after the Israeli premier received an invitation by House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner to address a joint session of Congress next month.

Boehner told reporters he did not inform the White House of his plans to invite Netanyahu to the US. Neither did the prime minister's office.

Aboard Air Force One en route to Idaho, US President Barack Obama's press secretary said that typical protocol for the visit of a national figurehead had been breached somewhere along the way.

"The protocol would suggest that the leader of one country would contact the leader of another country when he's traveling there," press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters traveling with Obama aboard Air Force One.

MORE...

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/White-House-says-Netanyahu-departing-from-protocol-with-US-visit-388482

[tblue]

1. Israel's Cheney.

No.

[riversedge]

2. Boehner is being a big bully. this kind of behavior is not befitting of a Speaker

[Kingofalldems]

3. He wants (along with the neocons) to send

American kids to Iran.

[Divernan]

4. 60% of Israelis don't want Netanyahu; Election is March 17.

Epic GOP blunder - they choose to align themselves with Netanyahu - a mere month before the man is predicted to be voted out of office. Stupid waste of time on Bibi's part as well - latest poll by Jerusalem post reports that 60 % of Israelis do not want Netanyahu to continue in office; and when it comes to selecting the issue which will decide which party they vote for, ONLY ONE PERCENT SAID ISRAEL'S FOREIGN RELATIONS. Picturing Netanyahu addressing the GOP congress, the phrase circle-jerk comes to mind.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Post-poll-60-percent-of-Israelis-dont-want-Netanyahu-anymore-383724

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chances of coasting to an easy victory in the March 17 election took a surprising hit on Thursday when a Panels Research poll taken for The Jerusalem Post and its Hebrew sister newspaper, Ma’ariv Sof Hashavua, found that a hefty majority of Israelis want him to lose.

The poll, taken on Wednesday among 500 respondents representing a statistical sample of the adult population, indicated that the election could end up being close and assumptions that Netanyahu cannot be defeated may be incorrect.

It asked respondents whether they want Netanyahu to remain prime minister after the vote. Sixty percent said no, 34% said yes, and 6% did not know.

When asked what issue will decide which party they will choose on Election Day, 34% said the economy, 30% security, 14% social justice, 10% matters of religion and state, 5% Arab-Jewish relations and 2% education and culture. Just 1% said Israel’s foreign relations. The poll had a margin of error of ± 4.3%.

Herzog said on Thursday that Netanyahu can be beaten and that parties from across the political spectrum could end up recommending to President Reuven Rivlin that he form the government rather than Netanyahu. Channel 10 reported that Liberman and Kahlon could join the Left in trying to prevent Rivlin from assigning Netanyahu the task of forming a governing coalition.

[leftynyc]

6. I don't think we should pretend

that security and foreign relations are different topics in Israel. That said, because of their wacky system, even if bibi loses seats in the Knesset, he can still be Prime Minister - it depends on what deals can be made that have nothing to do with what people vote for.

[albino65]

5. What a sleazy bastard Boehner is!

He says he doesn't want to sit around and do nothing. That's what those bastards do best.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Boner is a POS, so's his buddie Bibi. Hopefully, they'll both be run out of office soon.

[Monk06]

7. All public visits and addresses to congress by foreign leaders have previously been cleared by the

State department. Obama should cancel the visit until Boner and Notyetyahoo find some manners.

[maxrandb]

11. Repukes act like nothing but petulent children

They apparently thought that the President was supposed to bow down to the pricks last night, and when that didn't happen, and the Repukes further embarrassed themselves with that "Whack-a-doodle-SOTU-Response" horseshit, Boehner simply had to do something to keep his base from storming the Capitol and running him out of town on a rail.

He knows the Repukes got their asses kicked last night, and he simply had to do something to appease his base.

Now, if the President and the State Department are able to, then this fucker Bibi wouldn't be able to get into this country, until Boehner publicly and contritely asked for travel clearance from the White House. I'd also tell Boehner that I'm sorry, but Israeli security is not cleared, and that the Secret Service is going to be very busy that day. Maybe the Repukes can pick up Bibi from the airport in their Clown Car.

So, how much will this little "tantrum" cost us in the form of increased security, Secret Service requirements, transportation and enhanced Metro DC Police presence? Not to mention our standing in the world. What the hell kind of message does it send to the world when the Congress goes behind the Presidents back to invite a foreign leader? Maybe the Repukes are hoping Bibi will lead them in a coup.

Guess this little snippy "I'll hold my breath until I turn blue" act from Boehner is a good indication of how "serious" the Repukes really are about governing.

BTW - If Boehner holds his breath, does he turn brown?

[msongs]

9. not any worse than having a pope do it nt

[hatrack]

10. The Pope isn't pushing for a new war . . .

Especially one which under ideal conditions for Netanyahu would be on our dime, with our guys, "liberating" a nation more half again as big as Iraq, with more than twice the population.

[maxrandb]

15. But.....

it will be a "cakewalk". It's a "slam-dunk". We'll be greeted as "liberators" with flowers and shit like that.

[EileenFB]

12. One way to knock this speech off the headlines

and piss off Boehner is when Netanyahu is about to speak, a late breaking news item comes in that Hillary is holding a news conference to announce she is running.

[maxrandb]

16. Or

announce a major nuclear arms control deal with Iran just as Bibi is about to begin speaking.

[EileenFB]

17. I like that one also

either one will work.

[47of74]

13. Some idiot had this to say

Some idiot had this to say about this invitation;

"Chris DeBello
31 mins ·

John Boehner has invited Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on February 11 about national security and Iranian nukes. Can we tie Obama down, make him listen and hope some leadership qualities rub off on him?"

My question is if we can first tie them down and have them listen to Washington's 1796 Farewell Address? Especially those parts about staying the fuck out of other countries pissing contests.

[razorman]

20. Too late. We've been interferring in places where we have no business

being, for decades. Everywhere from Somalia, to the Balkans, to the entire Middle East.

[47of74]

25. I don't think it's to late to start

Especially since when we involve ourselves in other people's pissing contests we wind up in the middle and get hit from both directions.

[razorman]

27. I certainly hope you are right. Perhaps it is not too late to fix some things.

We sure can't time-travel to the past and change it.

[47of74]

28. You're right.

Unless of course one has access to a flying DeLorean;

[razorman]

30. Yeah. Unfortunately, I lost mine. Damn shame, too. I left my anti-gravity

hoverboard in the trunk.

[Stainless]

14. Impeach Boehner

If this breach of protocol is an impeachable offense! At least censure him so it is shows that he officially fucked up!

[sammy750]

18. Speaker Boehner is a useless fool taking our money for doing nothing.

The Israel PM is not interested in peace, just like our GOP. He prefers wars and fighting just like the GOP and G. Bush. Boehner, McConnell has no plans to do anything for the last 2 years of Obama leadership. They have wasted 6 years already, doing nothing, Yet getting huge support from the voters. Our nation under the GOP will be trashed and reversed back 50 years or more. That is their mission.
The GOP continues not to offer any agenda for the nation or people. The election in 2016 should be interesting

[Bette R. Daize]

19. Exactly Who Will Be Paying For This Unapproved Visit?

The taxpayers better not be on the hook for any unannounced, uncleared visits from heads of states since they are not doing The People's business. I have already left a message on the Speaker's voice mail asking for an explanation. He will soon get my follow-up email.

[lark]

21. Great, let's just have a mass murderer lecture our pols

and tell us how we need to start a war on Iran, because he says so. Do it for Israel, let young Americans die to make the middle east even worse. That way Americans instead of Israelis die and American MIC gets all the money. Bad deal for us all the way around.

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. He openly says he intends to screw up negotiations with Iran

"You may have seen that on Friday, the president warned us not to move ahead with sanctions on Iran, a state sponsor of terror," Boehner told colleagues, according to his office. "His exact message to us was: 'Hold your fire.' He expects us to stand idly by and do nothing while he cuts a bad deal with Iran.

"Two words: 'Hell no!' ... We're going to do no such thing," the speaker said.

With a Speaker like that, what country needs external enemies?

[Turbineguy]

23. He doesn't really mean it.

Republicans are big on following the Constitution. Balance of Powers and all that.

OK, well maybe they just follow the Constitution when it suits them.

[benld74]

24. Never, never has a POTUS

Been treated, disrespected, ignored , made fun of and basically hated MORE than Obama.
And now this!
GOP are a bunch of petulant adolescents who need their asses handed to them!
This is pure BS.
Geebus how I loathe these people!!!!

[Ken Burch]

26. And after Netanyahu speaks, you'll once again hear Likudnik types on all the call-in shows

claiming that it's some sort of bias if the press doesn't mention every single coerced "standing ovation" that Netanyahu will get(never mind that the only reason he'll get them is that nearlt everybody in Congress is terrified of being falsely accused of antisemitism if they don't cheer the guy blindly).

[47of74]

29. I'm wondering if it would be possible for the Democrats to boycott this load of horse manure?

First I would not want them to do that if it meant that they could face sanctions.

But if they could - and would grow a spine - I'm wondering if they all could skip the speech as a means of solidarity with the President?

[cstanleytech]

31. Any chance the republicans might have screwed up here and violated the law if

they have been having contact with Netanyahu over this specifically I am referring to the the part where it is up to the presidents job to negotiate with foreign powers. http://constitution.findlaw.com/article2/annotation10.html