NO SCHUMER AS SENATE LEADER

NO TO CHUCK SCHUMER AS SENATE LEADER

NO TO THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG

Mr Schumer has been a fine Senator on domestic issues and is a nice man. But unfortunately he does not think on his own when it comes to foreign policy in the Middle East...a part of the world where Israeli foreign policies and USA policies are diverging. This is no time for a Schumer ascendancy. This Senator has manifested particular biases and weaknesses all too often. The fact is Senator Schumer would have us manacled to the far right Israeli Likud leader Mr. Netanyahu's ISRAELI foreign policy. Recall, he was a co-sponsor of the dangerous Kirk-Menedez-Schumer Act of 2014 sometimes referred to as the "Wag the Dog Act" (formally known as the Iran Weapons Free Act of 2013. See lobelog.com (Dec 18, 2013)). That legislation would have effectively given over to the brazen, undiplomatic, trigger happy Mr. Netanyahu the ability to send our young men and women to war as a consequence of its "got Israel's back" clause. That alone should disqualify him from contention as Democrat Leader of the Senate, if nothing else. If Mr. Schumer were an Israeli Knesset member, rather than a US Senator, would he have given that powerful ability to the US President to wield over the Israeli citizenry? I think not!

But there is more. Just before Senator Reid announced his retirement from the Senate this week (March 27, 2015) Schumer announced that he was co-sponsoring the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. If it passes, the President will surely veto it. The bill ties the hands of our duly elected chief executive in his efforts to make the Middle East a safer place. Its provisions are designed to throw a monkey wrench into the President's agreement and drive Iran into an untenable position where it is more likely to seek a nuclear umbrella of its own. (Not perhaps as massive as that wielded by the 200 or more Israeli weapons.) Upending the deal is a vote for WAR, and for the neocon warmongers and representatives who have been bought and sold by mega rich mono-issue activists like Sheldon Adelson.

No to Schumer...I like the guy...but all of us must recognize his weaknesses and put our own US interests first. The Middle East would be a far better place today were it not for the pro-Israel "knee jerk" reactions made by American officials like Chuck Schumer and others to even the most dangerous, ill conceived and illegal Israeli policies.

Sorry Chuck..