Posted on 06/23/2015 4:29:02 AM PDT by Leto
As a general matter, I agree (as did Ronald Reagan) that free trade is good for America; when we open up foreign markets, it helps American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers. But TPA in this Congress has become enmeshed in corrupt Washington backroom deal-making, along with serious concerns that it would open up the potential for sweeping changes in our laws that trade agreements typically do not include. Since the Senate first voted on TPA, there have been two material changes. First, WikiLeaks subsequently revealed new troubling information regarding the Trade in Services Agreement, or TiSA, one of the trade deals being negotiated by Obama. Despite the administration’s public assurances that it was not negotiating on immigration, several chapters of the TiSA draft posted online explicitly contained potential changes in federal immigration law. TPA would cover TiSA, and therefore these changes would presumably be subject to be fast-track. When TPA last came up for a vote, both Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)80% and I introduced amendments that would have barred fast-track treatment for any trade agreement that attempted to impact immigration law. Two other Republican senators objected, and we were both denied votes on our amendments. Instead, the House inserted substantially weaker language in related legislation.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Yes, and it was a bad bill because it was not a trade deal, it was fully treaty-like material. And yet the bill turned the tables on the Senate by turning over their 2/3’s treaty power and forcing a super majority to overturn the deal.
Ted Cruz voted No on cloture to the Iran deal and he announced fervently in the press that it was ceding treaty powers of the US Senate and worse it would require a super majority to stop. And it was SECRET to boot!
What I am saying to the anti-Cruz trolls is you can’t have it both ways.
If they are going to attack Senator Cruz, then they are going to have to attack Senator Sessions on the same basis. So the question calls them out and forces them to explain their position which they are not able to do.
They are trolls, putting out the same garbage on thread after thread.
Amen brother
Yes, I actually believe that God is the only power. Don't you?
[Personally, I don’t believe ALL the Cruz supporters were wrong.]
This CRUZ supporter opposes Obamatrade.
I’m glad Ted saw the light and is making a stand against it.
Hopefully others (like Rubio) will join him.
#BREAKING Senate crosses procedural hurdle on TPA bill, 60-37. Needed 60. Big win for Obama. Sets up final passage probably tomorrow
You support TPA with it’s simple majority clause? That is identical to voting for a bill before it’s written.
God loves you, my dear God’sgrrl. You’re an image and likeness of God.
Breitbart has a huge amount of active adobe flash going on in it’s sidebar ads etc. It will crash your browser.
> “Sessions is opposing TPA because of the provisions in TPP and the other agreements being negotiated. He would not support TPA in the future with the same sort of trade bills pending.”
That’s correct but there will not be the same trade deals pending if Ted Cruz is president.
> “And you conveniently overlook the fact that Sessions is one of only four or five Republicans who opposed TPA.
Nonsense! I overlooked no such fact.
> “Republicans support these trade agreements and have for years. Having a Republican, or conservative president will not change that.
Bullcrap! TPA authorizes the president to negotiate trade deals. Congress gives a thumbs up or down; no amendments.
> “Sessions is one of the few who is not owned by the big donor, transnational corporations.”
Broad unfounded statement. Sessions voted for the SECRET Iran deal that ceded treaty powers of the US Senate. You can’t explain that, and that’s the point. The point is that there is a lot more to these deals in terms of politics than you know of.
Why not raise prices 6% and still use cheap labor? Currently Apples stock prices is about average for the market compared to earnings (pe ratio about 15). Why would the stockholders want Apple income to be less than average which would result in a loss on their stock?
“Cruz has never supported TPP. It is not complete yet. I don’t expect him to vote in favor of it.”
Why would he vote yes on TPA the first time just 10 days after reviewing TPP in the “secret room” if he didn’t support what he read there?
Why would he co-sign an op-ed that had the opening line:
“The United States is making headway on two historic trade agreements, one with 11 countries on the Pacific Rim and another with America’s friends in Europe. These two agreements alone would mean greater access to a billion customers for American manufacturers, farmers and ranchers.”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/putting-congress-in-charge-on-trade-1429659409
The biggest problem with politics is that we tend to view it akin to sports. You root for the home team regardless. This is why we have politicians that are largely unresponsive and a congress with a 15% approval rating. I’m pleased that Cruz has come around on this issue in spite of the fact that his excuses are a poor attempt to save face. It still shows that politicians can still be influenced by we the people. It makes no difference how intelligent a person is if they allow their reason to be subrogated to a politician’s talking points. Hopefully we can learn from this.
My Dad, when he was about 85, became very repetitive, stubborn and confrontational. Some people get that way.
He insisted everyone in the neighborhood should listen to opera. That was as annoying as anyone who is repetitive and confrontational. Before that my Dad was great.
Wait....I thought Sen Ron Johnson (WI) had proposed that as an amendment, but that it did not pass. So, they did NOT give up their two-thirds power.
I can’t see Sen Sessions offering a vote on something that would force a supermajority to overturn the deal.
FYI...they just passed cloture on trade and now have 30 hours to debate, if I’m hearing correctly. Vote expected tomorrow (Wed.).
Cruz already voted for TPA and TAA, which was in the first bill. So what has changed? Answer: The heat Cruz took for his first vote. Too little too late,
__________________________________________________
What changed? Here is one of the reasons.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3303091/posts
Odd that his own supporters had no idea how Cruz was going to vote.
How is it possible the people are the last to know?
He wanted TPA for the next President. The Senate will likely go back to the Dems next election.
You're delusional. The three major trade agreements near completion have been in negotiations for six years or more. Nothing is going to change what has been largely already negotiated in secret.
And you have no clue what trade deals Cruz would or would not support based on his flip/flopping and triple talking on issues of trade and immigration.
And really cheap shots trying to discredit Sessions on issues he has been the strongest on for years. Supporters like you do Cruz no good.
Ted Cruz was never FOR TPP. He has always stated that because it is being kept secret and still in “draft” mode he has not made an opinion on whether he is for it or against it, and won’t, until it’s been finalized and he can read it in it’s entirety.
Most of the support for FTA had little to do with TPP/TiSA/TTIP but was based solely on Ted’s talking points. If you were in this category you deserve to be sheared like the sheep you are. What I find amazing is how far this rhetoric went.
Well said, FRiend.
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