A Shameful Act By A United States Senator

[Greco]

I can't recall anything like this ever happening before. A United States Senator is actually planning to fly to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to "lead a truth squad". His mission is to attempt to meet with world leaders to tell them not to believe what our government says. He wants to inform them that the United States will not pass any legislation to deal with the issue. He wants the world leaders to believe our government is lying to them, and they should not work with our government.

While it may not actually rise to the legal definition of treason, it's dangerously close. It's a despicable act, and you couldn't possibly engage in such an activity without having a total disprespect for America. It's an agressive action designed to undermine our government, pure and simple.

So who would actually do such a shameful thing? It's Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican - Oklahoma).

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...-will-say-that-us-senate-wont-pass-a-bill.php

 

[TheFranklinParty]

I can't recall anything like this ever happening before. A United States Senator is actually planning to fly to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to "lead a truth squad". His mission is to attempt to meet with world leaders to tell them not to believe what our government says. He wants to inform them that the United States will not pass any legislation to deal with the issue. He wants the world leaders to believe our government is lying to them, and they should not work with our government.

While it may not actually rise to the legal definition of treason, it's dangerously close. It's a despicable act, and you couldn't possibly engage in such an activity without having a total disprespect for America. It's an agressive action designed to undermine our government, pure and simple.

So who would actually do such a shameful thing? It's Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican - Oklahoma).

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...-will-say-that-us-senate-wont-pass-a-bill.php

To be honest, I struggle with the whole global warming pseudo science. We could fill a whole thread going back and forth, but for now I have a different point to make.

How is it all right for Sen. Boxer to go to the conference, but not Sen. Inhof? No bill will be passed by that time and neither of them should be speaking at the conference.

 

[Greco]

Perhaps she was invited. In any event, she isn't going to speak against or undermine our nation. That certainly can't be said about Senator Inhofe.

 

[Bunz]

A few issues I have...
Firstly, who is paying for him and whoever else to go?

I really dont care to much about him actually attending, but it is very clear that the President sets international policy. I could only imagine what the right wing media would scream if it the tables were turned.

Ultimately what does Inhofe care? The erosion caused by raising sea levels will hit his state last.

 

[Greco]

Senator Inhofe is obviously unaware of a federal law titled The Logan Act, He may soon get the chance to become acquainted with it.

His announced plan to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark to "personally lead a truth squad" to inform other nations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, that the United States can't be trusted, and encourage them to accept his premise that our government is lying to them, and they should take no action, may actually be a felony criminal offense.

Here are a few extracts from Wikipedia about this law, which he most certainly has no immunity from, even as a United States Senator...

The Logan Act is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with 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.

Text of The Logan Act: § 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

In general, the Act is intended to prohibit American citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. Although attempts have been made to repeal the Act, it remains law and at least a potential sanction to be used against anyone who without authority interferes in the foreign relations of the United States.

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

 

[BigRob]

Senator Inhofe is obviously unaware of a federal law titled The Logan Act, He may soon get the chance to become acquainted with it.

His announced plan to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark to "personally lead a truth squad" to inform other nations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, that the United States can't be trusted, and encourage them to accept his premise that our government is lying to them, and they should take no action, may actually be a felony criminal offense.

Here are a few extracts from Wikipedia about this law, which he most certainly has no immunity from, even as a United States Senator...

The Logan Act is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with 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.

Text of The Logan Act: § 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

In general, the Act is intended to prohibit American citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. Although attempts have been made to repeal the Act, it remains law and at least a potential sanction to be used against anyone who without authority interferes in the foreign relations of the United States.

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

This is not even close to a violation of the Logan Act. If anything, President Carter visiting Hamas was a much clearer violation, but it is not going to be brought up.

Why is this not a violation? Because if any law prevents members of Congress from carrying out their constitutionally mandated legislative duties (including talking to foreign officials) then that law is unconstitutional.

You may not agree with what the Senator is doing, but it is hardly a Logan Act violation.

 

[Greco]

There is a distinction between "talking to foreign officials", and an agressive action to undermine official government policy. There is a distinction between "talking to foreign officials" and informing them your government can't be trusted, is lying to them, and encouraging them to not cooperate.

Your comment about Carter and Hammas is total baloney. The Logan Act specifically states "foreign governments". Hammas is not a "foreign government". Something you either can't comrehend, or chose to ignore in making your uninformed statement.

You may wish to excuse Senator Inhofe just because he's a Republican, just like your party did for eight years with Bush, but it doesn't alter the shameful conduct he's announced he plans to engage in.

 

[Dr.Who]

I can't recall anything like this ever happening before. A United States Senator is actually planning to fly to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to "lead a truth squad". His mission is to attempt to meet with world leaders to tell them not to believe what our government says. He wants to inform them that the United States will not pass any legislation to deal with the issue. He wants the world leaders to believe our government is lying to them, and they should not work with our government.

While it may not actually rise to the legal definition of treason, it's dangerously close. It's a despicable act, and you couldn't possibly engage in such an activity without having a total disprespect for America. It's an agressive action designed to undermine our government, pure and simple.

So who would actually do such a shameful thing? It's Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican - Oklahoma).

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...-will-say-that-us-senate-wont-pass-a-bill.php

You could read about what the senator is doing on a few other sites to see how much of that is spin.

And then you could ask yourself where your outrage was when others did acts that were almost identical.

 

[always]

I can't recall anything like this ever happening before. A United States Senator is actually planning to fly to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to "lead a truth squad". His mission is to attempt to meet with world leaders to tell them not to believe what our government says. He wants to inform them that the United States will not pass any legislation to deal with the issue. He wants the world leaders to believe our government is lying to them, and they should not work with our government.

While it may not actually rise to the legal definition of treason, it's dangerously close. It's a despicable act, and you couldn't possibly engage in such an activity without having a total disprespect for America. It's an agressive action designed to undermine our government, pure and simple.

So who would actually do such a shameful thing? It's Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican - Oklahoma).

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...-will-say-that-us-senate-wont-pass-a-bill.php

GREAT NEWS!!Senator Inhofe is a breath of fresh air . Yes, we must warn our allies that the Majority of Americans DO NOT support the madman policies of the current Marxist government! Maybe the Senator could trade Obama for anything else!

 

[BigRob]

There is a distinction between "talking to foreign officials", and an agressive action to undermine official government policy. There is a distinction between "talking to foreign officials" and informing them your government can't be trusted, is lying to them, and encouraging them to not cooperate.

Senator Inhofe is clearly acting within his constitutionally mandated legislative duties in this situation.

Your comment about Carter and Hammas is total baloney. The Logan Act specifically states "foreign governments". Hammas is not a "foreign government". Something you either can't comrehend, or chose to ignore in making your uninformed statement.

Well they are the democratically elected government, but I am glad to see that even you refuse to acknowledge that that has any legitimacy.

You may wish to excuse Senator Inhofe just because he's a Republican, just like your party did for eight years with Bush, but it doesn't alter the shameful conduct he's announced he plans to engage in.

Again, in your opinion you disagree with his actions, but it has no bearing on the legality of his actions.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

How is it all right for Sen. Boxer to go to the conference, but not Sen. Inhof? No bill will be passed by that time and neither of them should be speaking at the conference.

Please.

Legitimizing Inhof's paranoia makes as much sense as allowing Sarah Palin to "represent" politically-AWARE Americans; overseas.

​

 

[Greco]

His legislative duties? To go inform other nations not to trust his own government is a "legislative duty"? Ridiculous.

Only a Republican wingnut would even attempt to rationalize his actions. That's the same course Republicans took with Bush for eight years. Every blunder, every false statement, even starting a needless war, Republicans rushed to defend, to justify, to excuse away blunder after blunder, even his rank incompetence. That's why your party was clobbered in two national elections.

It's nice to see you haven't learned from it. Makes it easy to keep you in a dwindling minority.

 

[Dr.Who]

His legislative duties? To go inform other nations not to trust his own government is a "legislative duty"? Ridiculous.

I still don't see where this guy is going to call the gov a liar. He said:

“Look,” he says, “there is no bill that is bad enough to not pass out of our committee. There may be enough votes to get a bill out of EPW, but there is far from enough support in the Senate. The Democrats don’t have the votes. There are too many newly-elected Democrats in the Senate who don’t want to go home and tell voters that they just voted for the largest tax increase in American history.”

He does not seem to be saying that the US is misleading others about our intentions to pass a bill but that the US does not have the votes to pass a bill - and that is a big difference that the author of the article seems to have missed.

 

[TruthAboveAll]

His legislative duties? To go inform other nations not to trust his own government is a "legislative duty"? Ridiculous.

Only a Republican wingnut would even attempt to rationalize his actions. That's the same course Republicans took with Bush for eight years. Every blunder, every false statement, even starting a needless war, Republicans rushed to defend, to justify, to excuse away blunder after blunder, even his rank incompetence. That's why your party was clobbered in two national elections.

It's nice to see you haven't learned from it. Makes it easy to keep you in a dwindling minority.

Your idiotic name-calling aside, it is astounding how someone who seems to be intelligent can continue to pound out the hollow anti-Bush talking points. Whatever would you all have done without someone to channel all your hate and venom at?

Your statement "To go inform other nations not to trust his own government is a 'legislative duty' " is a false representation of what Big Rob said. Greco's post had the line about 'an agressive action to undermine official government policy'.

Perhaps to restate in other terms what my perception of what Big Rob was saying could help. Senator Inhofe is not acting out of bounds of his duties as a high level elected U.S. official. If he were sneaking about, conducting secret meetings with officials from other countries or of global organizations, it indeed could be a different case.

This is in the open, and many not only perceive it as allowable for him to do so, but actually may be a duty to do so. There are many in the country who do not share the official questionable obeisance by our official Federal position to potential junk science policies and mandates.

If you would like to see someone who hasn't learned anything, get a mirror and share it with your friends. This precedent was totally set by the Democrat Caucus and other special-interest Democrat groups, trotting all over the world during the second Bush term, often treading thin ice of plunging into the chilling waters of treasonous activities.

This comes nowhere near that, yet it would be laughable to watch you get your panties in a knot if there were not such serious ramifications. What IS laughable is that the protests and accusations from the left crescendo when the Republicans/Conservatives utilize a play from your own play book.

 

[TruthAboveAll]

I still don't see where this guy is going to call the gov a liar. He said:

“Look,” he says, “there is no bill that is bad enough to not pass out of our committee. There may be enough votes to get a bill out of EPW, but there is far from enough support in the Senate. The Democrats don’t have the votes. There are too many newly-elected Democrats in the Senate who don’t want to go home and tell voters that they just voted for the largest tax increase in American history.”

He does not seem to be saying that the US is misleading others about our intentions to pass a bill but that the US does not have the votes to pass a bill - and that is a big difference that the author of the article seems to have missed.

Exactly. This is typical, try to spin something to fit their perception and agenda. Inhofe is merely pointing out that this is not solid policy here, or even appreciating wide-spread vetted acceptance.