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Note the “designed to speed up and boost the likelihood of the U.S. approving free trade agreements.” This TPA is a smoke and mirrors device used to get around the two-thirds vote requirement to pass a treaty, which is what the trade bills are. I talked with a senator’s aide and he slipped and called the bill a treaty. Do you honestly believe the Senate would joyfully approve TPA if they did not have in mind passing the whole deal? To grant their prince Obama fast track authority and then deny his use of it? When have Republicans denied Obama anything he wanted since they took control of Congress?

No argument that fast-track makes it much easier to pass trade deals. I think the conventional wisdom is that it would be impossible to pass a trade deal without it. Personally, I think some trade deals are good and necessary, although I haven't seen the TPP yet.

My point is that there's nothing unique about how TPP is being handled. Every modern trade deal has been done using this process. If you're against all trade deals, fine, but don't think the TPP's getting any special treatment.

But is TPP a typical trade deal?

Doesn’t look like it to me. At least from what Congressmen and Senators who’ve seen it are saying (under the gag order).

That should requre a change to the “usual” TPA rules and process.

My point is that there's nothing unique about how TPP is being handled.

That is false. Notwithstanding the legislative differences, 0bama wasn't president. We didn't have a president that wants to screw us at every opportunity.

He is not looking out for us.

The unique thing is that there are reported to be items in this bill that are uniquely “Obama”: rules to override our gun laws, to wildly increase immigration, to allow corporations to sue states, thereby eliminating our national sovereignty . . . and probably more that we haven’t heard of yet.

That’s what’s unique. Stop trolling for Obama.