U.S members of congress Mr. Tom Lantos and Ms. Nancy Pelosi think a trip to Iran and shaking madman's hand would be okay, and Iranian regime media doesn't hide their happiness about that idea and the holocaust survivor Tom Lanton thinks it is the United States' duty to provide Iran with nuclear fuel:

• "Speaking just for myself, I would be ready to get on a plane tomorrow morning, because however objectionable, unfair and inaccurate many of (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's) statements are, it is important that we have a dialogue with him,'' Lantos said. "Speaking for myself, I'm ready to go -- and knowing the speaker, I think that she might be.''

Incredible... I always thought that there should be a law preventing people over the age of 70-75 to run for public office due to shortage of useful brain cells which might unable them to make live & death decisions at the highest levels. No?

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/10/BAGV9P6C0S6.DTL

http://thespiritofman.blogspot.com/2007/04/oldie-talking.html

This is overstepping their bounds. Congressional members do NOT have Constitutional authority to conduct foreign policy, treaties etc... that is the explicit domain of the President. Someone needs to rein these upstarts in and educate them "old school". Who the does this woman think she is?

Originally Posted by bulldogg

This is overstepping their bounds. Congressional members do NOT have Constitutional authority to conduct foreign policy, treaties etc... that is the explicit domain of the President. Someone needs to rein these upstarts in and educate them "old school". Who the does this woman think she is?

An angry power-hungry liberal woman from the people's republic of San Fran?

Madam Pelosi going to Iran?

This means I will have to revise my opposition to Governments taking hostages.

She is the Speaker of the House...... NOT the Secretary of State. She needs to worry about her job, not making diplomatic splashes

Originally Posted by Team Infidel

She is the Speaker of the House...... NOT the Secretary of State. She needs to worry about her job, not making diplomatic splashes

The Reason Pelosi is there is because of the utter incompetence of the Executive Branch. Had we had a foreign policy that worked (even just some of the time), I doubt should would need to go.

Its true that these types of missions are typically reserved for the Secretary of State serving at the President behest. The problem is our Secretary of State only accomplishment in the last year and a half is to

1. get off the plane
2. smile, shakes hands,
3. Get back on the plane.

I mean really, aside from North Korea (who will break this deal as they have broken all the others) what has she actually accomplished? NOTHING. Not that I blame Condi for her no-accomplishment track record, its hard to be successful when your boss is as incompetent, out of touch with reality, and unpopular as George Bush is.

I think the only reason Condi hasn't resigned yet is because she too afraid what would happen to US foreign policy if it got back in the mitts of the Cheney/Rumsfeld Neocon Cabal again.

What we need is someone connected to the US Government, with power but not under the White House's control. So if Pelosi gets things moving forward, then maybe it isn't a bad idea to send her, or anybody else not connected to the White House for that matter.

Come on mmarsh, I don't know how things work over there in France but here in this country, as has already been stated, the speaker of the house does not set foreign policy or broker treaties. It may surprise you to hear but this woman is not very popular among Americans, she's not very competent as is demonstrated by her complete disregard for our constitution and our political system. Her only motivation is political grandstanding in order to attempt to undermine the Republican administration any chance she gets and if an opportunity doesn't arise, she'll create one.
She's making a mockery of her position (an unelected one I might add). She doesn't represent the American people other than those in her own little district. So please, don't try to elevate her to anything other than the rebellious and repulsive upstart she truly is. She is accomplishing nothing other than to divide and embarrass this country with her holier than thou left wing extremist attitudes.
What we really need is someone who will conduct themselves in an honorable and respectful manner properly befitting their position as speaker of the house of representatives and not spend every waking moment undermining the President of the United States.

mmarsh.. you are such a typical Democrat... You obviously don't understand the FACT that Sen Pelosi does NOT dictate foreign policy. Regardless of what your opinion is on the status of our government. It is not her responsibility. It would be like you going to a foreign country and dictating policy.

Right now, and Dtop back me up on this one.... Sen Pelosi is becoming the "Strategic Corporal" of the Senate. If you need a definition... look it up.

Team infidel

Actually I am a registered Republican, but I keep an independent mind. You are sounding like a Conservative, always blaming the Democrats/liberals for your own parties mistakes. I just love listening to the GOP blaming the liberals while seeming oblivious to the cesspool THEY have created over the past several years. Ever wonder why you lost the last election?

Read the Constitution, there is nothing the prohibits the Speaker from visiting foreign countries leaders, its actually quite common. Thats all she has done. The rest is just political propaganda. I challenge you to show me a treaty on behalf of the US Government that she has signed.

DTOP

What treaties? She hasn't signed anything, she doesn't have the authority to do that. If your worried about politicians overstepping their authority you might want to take a look at our President.

There is a difference between what the the GOP FEARS might happen, and what has ACTUALLY happened. So far nothing has happened other than a meeting with Assad, thats it. And to prove to you that this is nothing than the GOP playing politics, the day AFTER Pelosi visited Assad, the GOP did the very same thing.

http://fe26.news.re3.yahoo.com/s/nm/...congressman_dc

Strangely, I didn't hear the GOP or the White House accusing Darrell Issa of undermining the government.

Pelosi isn't my first choice either, but she isn't nowhere near as unpopular or incompetent as somebody else I could mention. And I remind you that blaming someone who has been in office 2 1/2 months is not going to buy political cover for the failed policy of an administration who has been in power for 6 years. 2 months of Democrats rule doesn't justify the past 6 years.

The real issue is that the White House doesn't like having to share power. Thats what this is really all about. The House speaker does not serve at the Presidents whim. Pelosi is merely reminding everyone that unlike the 109th Congress, the 110 congress will not rubber stamp the Presidents agenda. This is as it should be, but try explaining that to a group of people that view the Presidency as an Imperial rule. They are worse than Nixon.

As for undermining the Administration, I don't think the GOP has any grounds for complaints. It certainly didn't stop them from the persecution of Bill Clinton. What goes around comes around. But I don't even thing vengeance is the issue. Its a competency issue. Its time to give the other side a chance at bat, especially at Foreign Policy where the Administration has proved particularly incompetent.

That seems to be exactly the role she's assuming. The problem is that once one assumes that position, one must also assume the responsibility and accountability for the repercussions resulting from the actions taken. The difference between Pelosi and the Strategic Corporal as I see it is that the Strategic Corporal has the same mission in mind as his/her commander and in the case of Ms. Pelosi, I just don't see that aspect. But yes, I do think that is what she believes she's doing. Good call TI.

Mmarsh, that seems like a short sighted and petty set of reasons for Pelosi to take it upon herself to undermine our foreign policy. It's not her job, period. Her job is not to seek revenge for the trouble that Pres. Clinton got himself into, although I agree that is exactly what she's doing. Petty revenge is unbecoming of anyone in her position. The other side won't get "a turn at bat" until they get elected to the Presidency. Until then, Pelsosi needs to stop her petty nonsense.
As far as Darrell Issa, when was he Speaker of the House?