US media coverage suggests hostility toward diplomatic engagement with Russia as a matter of course. A new HarrisX poll, however, suggests that this is not the view of the majority of the American public, with 54% approving of President Trump inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the White House for a second summit.
The first summit, held earlier this month in Helsinki, was seemingly successful, despite it being followed by negative media coverage and attacks from lawmakers in both parties. Trump followed this up by inviting Putin for a second summit, this time in the US.
American public support for such a summit doesn’t extend to Congress, however. On Tuesday, Congressional leadership announced that even if Putin does come to the White House, he will not be invited to address Congress or visit the Capitol building.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) says addressing Congress is “something we reserve for allies.” Ryan added he was only okay with Trump and Putin meeting so long as the message is “stop violating our sovereignty.”
Congress focuses heavily on allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election, and there is bipartisan consensus, despite a lack of evidence to that effect, that Putin was behind all of it personally.
Protracted vilification of Putin would make a visit to Congress to deliver a speech a difficult matter at any rate. Explicitly saying he isn’t invited to do so, however, is clearly intended to be a blow to diplomacy.
Ryan and Congress are a do nothing, “No There There” club of bought and paid for weaklings that gave up their power to the executive and ‘intelligence ‘ agency’s long ago. So to Ryan, please, shut your mouth and have dreams of your pathetic performance against ‘Uncle Joe’ in the 2012 elections. You and Romney deserved each other.
Actually it would be better if they did nothing.
This Congress is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
I would say that a screen door on a submarine is probably more useful…
Particularly when the GOP is running the show.
How does one tell difference? As Tom Woods said: ” it seems no matter who you vote for you end up with John McCain.”
Try looking up votes in congress. Not hard to do. I recommend the Friends Committee on National Legislation, FCNL. They focus on war related bills.
It’s a game they play. The votes will be there from the “other” side if needed to pass any bill. One side pretends to be less war mongering, the other side pretends to more fiscally conservative. The deals are inmade in the back room. Not hard to figure out. Notice that the war agenda didn’t Change? Couldn’t happen without support from both “sides”. Since the Democrats had control of the POTUS and both houses and the interventions still happened. The excuses were spun (R2P), but the results were the same.
So, when “progressives” or “liberals” claim their “side” is more benign, I don’t buy it. Bottom line, the vast majority of libertarians would support a real viable anti war candidate. Kucinich comes to mind. Even though we are against the domestic policies that candidate would be in favor of. But, as we have seen, progressives and liberals would oppose an anti war libertarian even MORE than a hard core war mongering Republican. That is because progressives and liberals know they can deal with an establishment GOP politician to get the domestic looting they want. Much likely for a libertarian to cut a deal with either side. Libertarians want less. Hard to deal with someone when they aren’t looking to loot the public to pay off their special interest backers.
Only people whom don’t check votes say the parties are the same.
OMG A true believer.
As I said, the votes are meaningless. You haven’t been there. I have. This is all orchestrated. The vote is set on most legislation. The record is a fraud. Congress members are allowed to vote for or against a bill that fits their claimed ideology. Unless that vote is needed to pass or not pass a bill….. Ever notice the discrepancies? Dig deeper.
Only those who do not pay attention to what is actually being done think what you do. Of course some enjoy the theatre. I don’t.
Self deception is the basis of the successful con.
Amazing the flaccid gymnastics you go thru to say, I refuse to evaluate the record because I won’t like what I find.
???? What part of what I wrote did you not understand? I am aware of the voting record.
You refuse to evaluate the ACTIONS. Did you miss the fact that when the Democrats were in control, NOTHING CHANGED in policy?
I have no energy to waste on those as indoctrinated as you.
You have no energy, or inclination, to do research. Just spout the old Reagan/Rush/Rove mantra..government is the problem, Congress and the constitution don’t matter. Why do you even post on a political site ? I post to persuade, the parties are not the same, or even close, I’ve done the research. I’ve posted a dozen times on this site, listing important bills that MADE policy (like wars). Yet, like many, you just won’t learn unless you do the research yourself. You anti-voting, anti government give up people are winning, half the population do not vote, and you allow the authoritarian war party to obtain a monopoly on political power in the US. Dems and GOP in collusion in Congress ? Maybe in flat earth world, which, as this administration censors “science”, may be the law of the land.
You haven’t a clue as to who I am and what I have done. What an ego you have. Suffice I have been involved for likely before you were born.
Course I don’t know who you are, you don’t have enough pride in what you say to even put your name on it. However long you been doing it, whatever it is, your doing it wrong.
How did you like the way Ron Paul voted . Maybe Ron could invite Putin to his talk show . If Ron would trust Putin I would feel safer than Trump trusting Putin . I’am a little afraid Trump may not always be right . Although I don’t trust the intelligence agencies at all .
I do like, and supported Ron Paul, tho, he is not part of the GOP in any way. Always thought Obamas’ mistake was not enlisting Dr Paul as his VP.
It’s a subtle difference. You have to watch closely. One likes to suck on Netanyahu’s left nut, the other enjoys the one on the right …
The standing ovation in congress when this criminal spoke before a fawning congress was telling.
As the saying goes: you can tell who rules by who you are not allowed to criticize.
If the United States had a democracy like the Baltic states that NATO is right now protecting . No one could vote unless they could trace their lineage back to before 1940 . We could disenfranchise 1/3 of our citizens .
And how in the f**k is that a good thing?
I think his comments were meant as sarcasm…
I hope you’re right but I have my doubts.
Ryan says we only allow allies to address congress. Like Bibi. We also allow him and AIPAC to violate our sovereignty. Putin and Russia don’t have that “special” relationship that we preserve for the newly declared Theocracy.
Calling Israel and BN an ally twists the truth into a pretzel. But in the Orwellian pit of DC anyone not lying dosen’t have any voice at all.
Bibi, the pretzel vendor.
Watch his dirty hands.
He sells America that freedom
Is bombing Muslim lands.
Can anyone tell me what an “agent for a foreign power” even means these days? Duel-citizen, Sheldon Adelson, throws millions at Trump and expects things like the US moving its embassy to Jerusalem, a war with Iran, etc. in return. Why are we lambasting Russia for interfering in our elections? Why don’t we have Israelgate instead of Russiagate?
Because when you OWN the Congress and the mainstream media, you never have to worry about them investigating, talking about, or prosecuting you.
He won’t come. It is beneath him.
Of course Putin won’t be invited to address congress — that “honor” is reserved for warmongers and barbarians, like Netanyahu.
Putin should address the American people and the American people should address congress by giving us a new congress one that wants peace and return America to her Judeo Christian roots rather than the NWO deep state
“Polonium soup for you!”
Soup [benevolent dictator]
If the poll were “how many Americans oppose Putin coming to the Us” the number would be under 10%. Not allowing Putin to address Congress is not akin to opposing diplomacy, wherever it occurs. But, this reality doesn’t fit into the authors “trump as victim” narrative.
O K so why does our congressmen say the opposite 90 % will not listen to any thing Russia says .
Senators from AIPAC awaiting instructions.
Pretty much that is the entire Senate. That 4 Billion $ in US aid is laundered through Israel and a large share ends up in the pockets of the DC establishment.
Past time to end all foreign aid. The lions share just ends up in the hands of dictators, war criminals and corrupt foreign elites.
russia has to be the enemy in order to justify the $$ TRILLIONS spent on weapons of mass destruction for uncle samuel.
It is really sad tio see our congresmen forced to parrot the lines given them by their underwriters. They are all still calculating that Trump and his ideas are a temporary phenomena, and that they can suceed to get Democrat majority in Congress to impeach Trump and demonize, ridicule and destroy his entire agenda. They cannot wait to get back to power — as this time around they eill insure that no popular revolt via ballot box is possible. Unless Trump can demonstrate to rational democratic voters that there is a method to his reality show style — the combined power of media and public ignorance will bring the deep state into unwuestioning power. At which point war with the “ enemies” is going to happen. The problem is — our leaders of the derp state think only of money, not realizing how US has fallen behind technologically, scientifically and civilizationally. Our entire infrastructure is falling into disrepear, or is overwhelmed by the new demands. No US airport is among the world’s top ten. Our electric grid, bridges and roads are in D- category, and majority of schools are identified with health risk issues. So, back to Trump who has identified problems of our far flung global policing costs, is trying to wrap up exit from Syria, pushed Korean sides to work together, talking to Russia about arms control, and challenging EU that is “afraid” of Russia, while expanding energy business with the same Russia, does not want to ponny up for defence and is parasiting on trade with US — in the name of helping them. Trump is right — Europe either has a problem with Russia or not. US business with Russia must focus on arms control and preventing global catastrophy. Not babysitting Europeans that enjoy thumbing their noses at Russia — while hiding behind Uncle Sam’s deep pockets.
But Congress is betting on Trump loosing. Or is it just desparation — being between the stark reality of US economy and the merciless thug of hangman’s noose pulled by their minders.
What a lovely, peaceful, reasonable “agenda” Bianca. Can you point me the way to a single bill, executive order, action on the ground that demonstrates that the GOP/trump team is doing anything you list ? Cause I want to support it. Unfortunately, I can find a myriad of things which are exactly the opposite.
Trump did cut off funding for the Syrian rebels And Trump has mentioned Crimea has always spoke the Russian language . Trump is not a very well read man only operates by his good instincts But he is working with faulty intelligence agencies So he is bound to have a hard time . Trumps instincts suggested he could trust Putin more than his intelligence agencies . But America is not ready to accept that yet . We have been told otherwise forever ..
So I expect the next defense bill to be slashed significantly.
I think it should be cut in 1/2 but congress and the news media don’t want to let Trump even talk to Russia . they want remove him for colluding with Russia .
My response was to Bianca and her opinion that Trump is trying to end our adventurous foreign policy. It was sarcasm. Trump isn’t going to slash our defense budget. Actually I think it should be cut by 75%. At least.
Sell out congress needs to talk to Mike Hawk.
I live in a purple state and more than half of my friends are queer, I don’t think I can name one person who would appose this summit. Washington and their media parrots are so far out to sea they might as well be in Atlantis.
We should beg Putin to come and state his case before the midterm elections . Tell us how Russia feels . We will listen Trump might listen . If we could make peace with Russia and China We could cut our military spending in half and provide low cost health care to everyone .
I think we could make peace with Russia and China BY cutting our military spending by at least 50% (a good place to start) but I agree with your sentiment. War is the worst way to waste money. If you’re gonna steal my cash, at least help some sick kids with it.
The citizens may ultimately be controlled by the globalist war profiteers through the mechanism of the federal government, but the Congress is OWNED by the globalist war profiteers and better not upset them.
We can once again see where 80% of congress is in AIPAC’s pocket and I still find it sickening that that warmonger from Israel was aloud to speak before congress but only the AIPAC owned senators were in attendance.
I wish Putin would come visit us anyway in America before the midterm elections and help us get a new congress . A congress that welcomes peace and wishes to be friendly to all people .