Biting Off Your Nose To Spite Your Face
So the damn United States Congress voted to override President Obama’s veto of the 911-bill that allows US citizens to sue Saudi Arabia over 911.
It was the first time they have overridden any of Obama’s vetoes.
Then they woke up this morning and realized what they did. Brexit revisited.
U.S. lawmakers on Thursday expressed doubts about Sept. 11 legislation they forced on President Barack Obama, saying the new law allowing lawsuits against Saudi Arabia could be narrowed to ease concerns about its effect on Americans abroad.
… the White House argued it could have negative repercussions on U.S. citizens and companies who could be subject to suits over U.S. government actions.
It’s an election year and nobody wanted to be against 911 victims getting whatever they can from Saudi Arabia.
Congress claims they are going to “fit it,” read: gut it after the election.
It’s times like these that I realize that no matter how cynical I get, I can’t keep up with Congress.
Thanks to everybody for the heads up.
If memory serves, some citizens sued and won a large judgement from Saudi Araboa under dumbass dubya’s reign of terror. Dubya then took the money and used it to fight the war on terror ( or returned it). Any one else remember this?
1Of course congressional nitwits are now blaming the President for not informing them of the downside of this bill. Wasn’t that why he vetoed it?
2So, when the President vetoed it, and gave those reasons, that wasn’t your FIRST clue?
3Maryelle: As JJ said “… it’s an election year…”. That explains it all. Sigh.
Y’know why Congress is like a badminton court?
4No balls.
I thought part of the job of an elected official was to educate their constituents on the pros and cons of pending legislation.
5Looks the the Ds have their fair share of election year pandering,too.
If Congress had a brain (I know, wishful thinking) perhaps they would have passed a bill that limited who could sue and why and add a provision protecting against lawsuits on the US. Just like the bill to fund the government. They can’t let a chance go by to sneak in defunding Planned Parenthood instead of just writing a bill that does what is needed to keep the country going. JAK…brilliant observation.
6Okay. Anybody needing proof of how far to the right the repugnantcan party has shifted simply needs to read that story the link sends us to. Trent Lott is the voice of reason. Trent effing Lott.
7“It’s times like these that I realize that no matter how cynical I get, I can’t keep up with Congress.”
I got past that point when the GOP majority voted that it was A-OK to sell guns to convicted domestic abusers. I didn’t keep track later, but it’s a safe assumption that the death rate for women and kids went up.
8So, do you live in Harris County TX (Houston and environs) and want to vote? Better be able to prove in court that you couldn’t get a photo ID: http://wonkette.com/607064/texas-still-doing-all-it-can-to-keep-filthy-americans-from-voting
9As with blaming Obama for Iraq, the snacibupeR are lost in their world where SOFA means that furniture attached to their ‘thinking’ zone.
10So now they’re saying they “won’t have time” to “fix the law” before the election. They’re talking about taking it up during the lame duck session.
Or not. Not if [when] Clinton wins. Because, if it backfires, as it is bound to do, they can point to Clinton and claim it’s all her fault.
Proving once again, WE HAVE TO FLIP THE SENATE! And the House, too, if at all possible. WE HAVE TO.
11~~~
@ Rhea:
My tipping point came when Texas, among others, made a gun permit acceptable ID for voting and denied student ID cards. That told me, more effectively than anything else ever could, where the snacilbupeR pull their legislation from.
And the sun ain’t never shined there.
And in the ongoing death spiral of the repugnantcan party, Charles Krauthammer points out the absurdity of Donnie’s zany behavior. Sure, he tries to tag Hillary to make her seem equally complicit, but his heart just isn’t in it. It’s Donnie. As pointed out by Charles effing Krauthammer.
12P.P. This Congress actually makes me miss Trent Lott!
13Rethuglican oppositional behavior is responsible for so much wasted time and money. Consider the near 100 times they’ve tried to repeal the ACA. Had they succeeded, they would be blaming the Prez for not telling them that 20 million people no longer have healthcare and healthcare costs are shooting sky high. The Republican Party is going down the toilet, but they’re dragging our country with them.
14P.P.: Yeah… I caught that crafty word smithing.
15Skeletor strikes again!
It looks like a LOT of people think USA citizens should be able to sue, but no one else should.
That’s the textbook definition of American Exceptionalism.
I’m in favor of the law. Inconvenience be d@mned.
16JAK, this is great:
“Y’know why Congress is like a badminton court?
No balls.”
Change “why Congress” to “how Scumpf”. That works too.
17Isn’t this the same Congress that doesn’t want the parents of murdered school children to be able to sue gun manufacturers for marketing assault weapons to civilians?
18it’s almost as if this particular congress doesn’t listen when they are told the downside of some stupid bill they’re just hot to trot to pass. if only there was a person who had the authority to block this kind of stupid legislation, and tell congress why he blocked it.
19Cpinva: Yeah, the framers of the constitution really should have seen this coming and set up some sort of mechanism whereby somebody, preferably somebody the majority of us trust, has the power to call bullsh*t on laws that please the masses right now, but screw everyday folks later. Mob rule is not cool. Stupid Framers.
20@P.P.
Take a look at US Constitution Article 3 Section 2. You might read something there that you like!
21Well, see, it’s really the Dem senators’ faults. The plan was, pass the bill, have Obama veto it, then not have enough votes to override. Obama and the Dems get excoriated for not caring about 9/11 families, and the Repugs come off as all compassionate and stuff, without having to spend any money, or otherwise actually contribute to the families and survivors.
But those damn Dems just don’t have the right hive mentality, and some of them actually went against their own president. Which makes them not any brighter or less venal than the Repugs. Or maybe much smarter – who knows?
Anyway, it’s the GOP’s dog now – fleas, ticks, and all.
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