In non-Olympic news, a sitting US senator is going to Hondouras to support a miltary junta...

[CrownPrinceBandar]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/demint-honduras-trip-plan_n_307632.html

"TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A U.S. senator and three congressmen plan to meet Friday with Honduras' interim leader in defiance of official Washington policy barring contact with the architects of the military coup that ousted the nation's president. emphasis mine

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint intends to meet with interim President Roberto Micheletti as well as members of the Central American nation's Supreme Court, election officials and business and civic leaders during the fact-finding trip, said Wesley Denton, a spokesman for the senator.

The visit comes as President Barack Obama's administration seeks to isolate the interim government and use other forms of pressure – including suspending aid and canceling the visas of some members of the country's wealthy elite – in hopes of returning ousted President Manuel Zelaya to serve the remaining months of his term."

Rachel Maddow indicated last night that this action may constitute treason or at least a violation of the Logan Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act

Why is nobody (including the MSM) talking about this?

[anonymous171]

1. Because it is in their (the corporate media's) best interest to let him go.

If Obama really does not like the Coup government, he will find a way to stop him. Otherwise Obama will be giving implicit support for the Coupsters.

[atreides1]

5. DeMint can be stopped

Right now Levin and Gates can put the brakes on, just like Kerry and Clinton did.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. I thought he'd been blocked from his "fact finding" trip again yesterday?

What took place to override the block?

On edit: Mitch McConnell is what happened!

On Thursday, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) attempted to block the delegation's trip at the last minute, denying committee approval.

But later Thursday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) intervened and approved the trip.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11245834

:wtf:

[iceman66]

20. Both Demint and NcConnell should be held accountable

for this treasonous behavior, but don't expect spineless Harry Reid to lift a finger!

If I lived in Nevada, I'd be voting third-party in next year's Senate race!

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. I thought Kerry blocked him from going?

[atreides1]

8. He did

So, DeMint went through Defense with the aid of Mitch McConnell. Now the ball is in Levin and Gates court!

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Ah - I missed that.

[laughingliberal]

4. Someone needs to 'Grayson' this

People should be clear that the coup deposed a democratically elected leader to install a corporatist, right winger. Then they can take stock of the people supporting it.

[Old and In the Way]

19. I agree - I'm wondering if DeMint isn't starting his 2012 Presidential run early?

Could DeMint's trip be as much, or more, for the domestic audience that votes Republican? I think he's looking to escalate this into a highly visible political dispute that he thinks might gain him lots of free face time in front of national audiences, well before the start of the GOP primary season.

He's undermining our way of government by supporting a military takeover of a lrgitimately elected government. DeMint supports the Ends and the Means of the powerful over the freely elected. That's the message DeMint is seeding. Sounds like treason to me.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Birds of a feather flock together.

[Blue_Tires]

7. +1

[quiet.american]

9. Had watched this story on Maddow last night, too.

The mission of the wingnuts in Congress to disrespect and de-legitimize President Obama continues.

(What I'd like to know is, who did Mitch McConnell call at the Pentagon to authorize the plane.)

[Artie Bucco]

10. Hope Honduras beats the shit out of the US on the 10th

[Toucano]

14. They will.

Political coups aside, they're having a great year! LOL!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

11. You're right..........

I looked up the wrong act. I'll change it now.

[quiet.american]

22. Cheers; updated my reply, too. nt

[Ikonoklast]

13. Logan Act his ass as soon as he gets back.

Subpoena and forced to either testify as to what were his intentions, who he met with, what he promised, and on whose behalf he actually made the trip.

[uppityperson]

15. k&r for not having to guess which party the 3 belong to

[MNDemNY]

16. He should be arrested upon his return.

[redqueen]

17. K&R

We have a few threads here... as for the M$M though... um, duh?

Maybe it'll get on Keith or Rachel or Ed's show. Maybe.

[EFerrari]

18. Maybe they can demo their torture of journalists for Senator DeMint.

Or how they beat up women from the resistance.

Or how they attack suspected advocates' homes with tear gas and gunfire. Or tour the stripped studio of Radio Globo.

So many sightseeing possibilities.

[Xithras]

21. The Logan Act probably wouldn't work.

DeMint would simply need to reference McGovern's mid-70's trip to Cuba, during which the State Department issued a public statement that the Logan Act does NOT prevent Congresspeople from talking to foreign governments or participating in foreign fact finding trips. The "McGovern Exclusion" has been used by dozens of Senators and Representatives since to visit nations around the world where events impacting the US were taking place(Vietnam, Rwanda, South Africa, etc). Simply exchanging information isn't a violation, but negotiating IS. Because of that limitation, it's impossible to use the Logan Act to limit their travel ahead of time, and it can only be used afterward to prosecute them if they step over that legal line.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

23. That could be true............

but I would like to see this affair fully investigated and its legality fully vetted.

[Ignis]

24. South Carolina sure can pick 'em, eh?

:banghead:

[Omnibus]

28. No kidding!

Is every South Carolinian Republican perverted, evil, or stupid?

[maxpower]

25. because Obama went to Copenhagen

Peace,
Max

[Joe Chi Minh]

26. I expect Perry thinks DeMint's going there to interview them for an upcoming

job as a teleprompter in the environs of the Oval Office. Stranger thoughts, I'm sure, have occurred, to the good "fermented pear juice". Not to even SPEAK of the good DeMint-Julep.

[Major Hogwash]

27. Is he from South Carolina?

Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

"You lie!" ~ Rep. Joe Wilson's territory.

"I was walking on the Appalachian Trail" ~ Governor Sanford's state.

"McCain knows what he is talking about. Listen to him." ~ Senator Lindsay Graham's region.

[TexasObserver]

29. His security clearance and that of his staffers should be yanked.

And he should be booted off any committee that oversees anything to do with anything outside US borders.