Bravo, Nancy, Bravo

I have been increasingly upset over the divide in this country but this week Nancy Pelosi did indeed prove there is something that America can agree on. Contrary to the nonsensical point she attempted to make this morning, about sending a message of unity to President Assad, we do not agree on the message we want him to receive.

From Breitbart
...the California Democrat said. "It became clear to President Assad that even though we have our differences in the United States, there is no division between the president and the Congress and the Democrats on the message we wanted him to receive."

There is a good deal of division among both parties on what the right message to send is. Words, bombs, diplomacy or isolation, a valid argument can be made for each. What we can agree on, is that it was not her place to deliver any message.

Right or wrong the Commander-in-Chief of the United States has chosen isolation as the means to deal with Syria. Her trip undermines that objective in a clear and serious way. Even asked by the administration not to interfere she chose to do so anyway. Reasonable people on both sides of the aisle are embarrassed by her trip. Even the Washington Post weighed in on the error of Nancy's ways with a scathing editorial.

From: Pratfall in Damascus
...Ms. Pelosi's attempt to establish a shadow presidency is not only counterproductive, it is foolish.

The Wall Street Journal brings up the issue and I am very interested to see how the Logan Act applies to this publicity grab of a trip.

§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.

Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

18 U.S.C. § 953 (2004).

The way I read it, Nancy should be thinking about hiring an attorney. In a more perfect world the administration would have the hutzpah to charge her. I don't expect that she will be charged but she damn well should be brought to account for her irresponsible and foolish behavior.

The enemies of this country have and will continue to use her like a pawn for their propaganda and to further undermine the respect and influence of our President. How can we expect the world to respect us and our policies if we do not respect each other?

M.C. Funk at Driving Too Fast Down The Middle Of The Road goes to the heart of the matter with this:

Our allies and enemies abroad don't see the Democrats as the cavalry, rushing in to save the imperilled world from unilateral barbarism. They just see an America split by internal strife, and a hazardous executive with its hands not tied, but merely encumbered. Put plainly, they just see weakness.

When The Washington Post, NewsMax, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today are all on the same page, one has to conclude that maybe there is hope after all. Maybe we can stand together on something, even if it is just telling Pelosi to stand down.