Let me start this diary with a scenario. A group of high school kids, as a prank, call in a bomb threat to their high school. It happened in my high school. It's happened in lots. The school gets evacuated, the first responders come, no device is found, and then...
The kids get caught and get into lots and LOTS of trouble. Right? Of course, the defense is "we didn't mean it, it was just a joke."
So, this week we have 47 Republican Senators who have signed onto little Tommy Cottons Iran prank (or so GOP sources are now calling it that). Well here is what I have to say about that:
These chumps have not only disrespected their country, their constitution, the President but their voters. And it might really be criminal. Why?
Well, first the country and the President. Yes, yes, traditionally domestic politics stops at the water's edge. Yup. True. But this is worse. Imagine if the Democrats had sent a letter off to Saddam Hussein while Bush was ringing the war bells against him in Washington? Or even better, what if the Democratic majority during Nixon's term went around him and reached out to the Chinese premiere while Nixon was starting his détente with Beijing. Imaging the outrage from the right. Democrats would be Communists, traitors, there would be hearings...
So there's that. Hypocrisy. Let's call Hillary Clinton to testify twice about her emails while we meddle in foreign affairs for the hell of it. That's bad enough, but...
There is also the Constitution: And the Constitution clearly says it is the President's job to negotiate treaties and deal with relations with foreign governments - friend or foe. There is no missing this. Trust me, right-wing freaks, it's clearer than the 2nd Amendment. So that's not your job, GOP Senator "I Wish I Was President". It's the President's job.
And here's the kicker: If you think the President broke the law by taking executive action on immigration, what do you think you just did by taking EXECUTIVE action when you are a LEGISLATOR? You need a smack down. You ought to be in trouble. Your little joke? That could start a war, damage relations with other countries also in the negotiations, and ruin any President's ability (not just this one) to conduct foreign policy which is - again - solely his or her job.
Which is why you Heinz 47 Sauce of Idiots, like the kids with a prank bomb threat, you should be in trouble - legal trouble.
Better yet, you are elected officials, and you have disrespected your voters, by screwing around with a solemn responsibility. So you have disqualified yourself and you - ALL OF YOU - ought to resign. Or be impeached. Or recalled. Not in the next election. Now.
Like the implied racism in their national strategy, and like the obvious and structural attempts to prevent people from voting, this meddling in the business of the President is not just a political trick. It's another fundamental that goes against the framework of our democracy. And it's why you have all disqualified yourselves for office. Again.