Iran Non-binding Negotiations

The administration is negotiating a deal with Iran which will hopefully decrease Iran's nuclear capacity and result in a lifting of American--and Western--sanctions. The Rube--publicans have sent a letter to the Iranians from the Senate suggesting that the agreement, if culminated, may not stand because they--the Senate--have the final approval of treaties. The administration says this agreement is nothing more than an agreement and is not a treaty, hence not subject to Senate advice and consent. But it is important; a nuclear Iran would be important.

Biden argued that the practice of negotiating non-Senate approved deals is as old as the United States itself.  "Under presidents of both parties, such major shifts in American foreign policy as diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic of China, the resolution of the Iran hostage crisis, and the conclusion of the Vietnam War were all conducted without congressional approval," he said in his statement opposing the GOP letter.

And history is rife with Senators interfering with international relations. Ted Kennedy actually approached the Russians in an effort to defeat Reagan. Pelosi showed up in the Middle East one weekend like a singing telegram.

At the core of this obnoxious struggle are actual principles. The Senate wants things done by the book--and the Constitution, the President wants to get this important arrangement done without political interference. The problem is that the Rube-publicans are almost comically inept and obnoxious and the President has clearly begun to ramp up his assumption of power by legislating out of the legislative bodies.