Pope Francis must have been invited to address Congress for a reason. He waded into the fractious issues that divide his audience in the House chamber and across America. On immigration, the son of an immigrant challenged a nation of immigrants to remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The “common good” that business creates must also include the earth, a nod to climate change without ever uttering the phrase. Gay marriage? Francis acknowledged the questions raised about “fundamental relationships,” but stressed the “richness and beauty of family life” without any further definition. Did the lawmakers get the message they were looking for?
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A Side Agreement Could Void the Iran Deal
Posted September 7th, 2015 at 8:39 am (UTC-5)
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For Congress to vote on the merits of the agreement without the opportunity to review all of its aspects would both effectively sanction the president’s unconstitutional conduct and be a major policy mistake.
Using Financial Sticks to Control Iran
Posted August 28th, 2015 at 9:28 am (UTC-5)
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Congress should put in place a new strategy, preserving and strengthening our ability to confront Iran’s rogue activity through the use of financial power. The strategy will succeed if focused on underlying Iranian conduct and accepted international principles.
American Jewish Lobby a Crucial Player in Iran Nuke Deal
Posted August 20th, 2015 at 4:33 pm (UTC-5)
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‘When it comes to Iran’s nuclear capability, this [deal] is the best option,” wrote retired Israeli Admiral Ami Ayalon, former head of Israel’s secret service agency Shin Bet, in a full-page ad in The New York Times newspaper. The ad, signed by more than two dozen leaders in the American Jewish community, directly opposes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu’s very public criticism of the accord. A Congressional vote on the pact will take place next month. In the meantime, members of the American Jewish lobby find themselves split over a deal that everyone agrees will have long-term consequences.
Why the Iran Deal’s Critics Will Probably Lose
Posted August 5th, 2015 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
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None of them, from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “historic mistake” Netanyahu to U.S. Senator Lindsey “it’s a declaration of war on Israel” Graham, has yet risen to the challenge of offering a better real-world alternative
Iran Nuclear Deal: The Alternatives
Posted July 30th, 2015 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
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Ever since the US-led nuclear deal with Iran was announced, the Obama administration has answered critics by arguing there is no better alternative. Here we present the views of several columnists and their proposed alternatives to the landmark agreement, which still must be approved by the US Congress.
The Sources of Opposition to the Iran Agreement
Posted July 28th, 2015 at 11:39 am (UTC-5)
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If the current debate were being conducted solely on the merits of the agreement, the outcome would be almost a no-brainer; the agreement is obviously much better than the alternative of killing the agreement … And yet the agreement’s political fate on Capitol Hill does not reflect that.
Why America Needs the Export-Import Bank
Posted July 1st, 2015 at 1:21 pm (UTC-5)
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In an opinion article published in the The Boston Globe, President Barack Obama argued his case for congressional action to authorize the US Export-Import Bank, whose mandate has now expired. In it, the president chides the Congress for not acting to keep the project afloat, saying: “Today, small business owners say that they’re more optimistic than they’ve been in years. They’re ready to keep growing and hiring. Washington should not stand in their way.”
Democrats Being Democrats
Posted June 15th, 2015 at 4:27 pm (UTC-5)
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On Friday, House Democrats shocked almost everyone by rejecting key provisions needed to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement the White House wants but much of the party doesn’t.
The Blackmail Caucus, a.k.a. the Republican Party
The Boehner era has been one in which Republicans have accepted no responsibility for helping to govern the country, in which they have opposed anything and everything the president proposes.