Revolt over TPP: Senate Dems Rebuke Obama by Blocking Debate on Secretive Trade Deal

[umbertino]

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

 

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2015/5/13/revolt_over_tpp_senate_dems_rebuke

[new york kevin]

Sounds like many on the Dems side are a bit worried about getting re-elected.

[Jim1cor13]

Interesting, the GOP is trying to save this while the dems

are trying to distance themselves. What a circus.

[thegente]

Right folks, this all just Kabuki for the zombie sheeple...the Dems are pulling a fake out so that once they do shove this stinker down the American public's throat, they can say, "well, WE TRIED"...and sadly most of the idiots out there will fall for it...AGAIN. It does seem more and more folks are waking up everyday though. But I do think things are about to get much, much worse before they get better here in the US.

[thegente]

Only took the puppets a day to roll over like good little doggies:


http://www.forbes.com/sites/dougschoen/2015/05/14/senate-democrats-get-out-of-president-obamas-way-on-tpp/

May 14, 2015 @ 5:09 AM

 

Senate Democrats Get Out Of President Obama's Way On TPP

 

Doug Schoen

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What a difference a day makes.

Just 24 hours after Senate Democrats blocked President Obama’s bid for fast track authority on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) accord that will bring together 12 nations, Senate leaders have agreed on a deal that’s set to advance the agreement.

This new agreement gives Democrats the opportunity to vote on two main issues that they saw as impeding their ability to support TPP. These include provisions to ensure that there’s a vote on worker protections as well as a customs enforcement bill that utilizes language specific to currency manipulation, a major concern for Senate Democrats.

Both the Republican and Democrat leadership in the Senate – who worked closely together on this – were pleased with the results.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the additional votes would “not imperil” the fast track bill.  “We have to take some of these votes separately or we kill the underlying legislation. It’s reasonable. And I look forward to our colleagues from across the aisle joining with us.”

BEAVERTOWN, OR – MAY 8: President Barack Obama speaks to Nike Employees and other Oregonians at Nike Headquarters May 8, 2015 in Beaverton, Oregon. Obama spoke about the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pacts which include the U.S. in a trade agreement with 11 other nations. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images)

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid added, “I think we’ve come up with something that’s fair.”

The separate votes are set to occur today and are expected to pass. That said, the bill’s fate in the House is not nearly as sure. It follows that there may still be a long road ahead before President Obama gets the fast track authority he’s seeking.

As I argued in an earlier piece, the passage of TPP is essential for the American economy. It will give us a much-needed boost. It will solidify an export market in growing economies, bring us closer together with Asia Pacific nations and also create American jobs. The agreement will also go a long way to restoring American preeminence in the global order – this is certainly our best shot at staying at the forefront of global trade and commerce.

It is for all these reasons that I don’t understand the objections of many Senate Democrats and sincerely hope that with the new provisions it will see an easy passage.

Unfortunately, I imagine this won’t be the case. Those who object to the trade deal are largely unbendable characters and will continue to ask for changes to the legislation and amendments.

But there’s also something larger going on here. This episode serves to illustrate the mounting tension between the moderate and left wings of the Democratic Party, a tension that will certainly be on display in the upcoming presidential election.

Presumptive democratic nominee Hillarious Clinton has already had to face serious challenges from the progressive wing of the party, not only in the form of Senator Bernie Sanders who is running against her, but tough questions from Senator Elizabeth Warren and other progressive figures.

Clinton must work to convince the Democratic faithful to nominate her and at the same time she will be find herself stuck between the two poles of a party that is increasingly divided on a number of issues, trade perhaps most of all.

Internal pressure from progressive Democrats will surely be to reject the trade bill without the labor and currency protections. But until she completely embraces a centrist identity and stands by the trade deal she helped craft, she risks alienating Democrats of all stripes instead of merely the most left wing among them.

She has two choices: either follow President Obama’s lead and make the Democratic case for free trade, or look like a hypocrite—and a pandering one at that—and face a much greater challenge on election day.

 

Edited May 14, 2015 by thegente