Althouse: "McCain slips into Syria to meet with rebel leaders."

May 28, 2013

"McCain slips into Syria to meet with rebel leaders."

"The White House declined to comment on the GOP senator's visit."

I assume McCain coordinated with the White House. Is there any reason to think he did not?

52 comments:

Chef Mojo said...: This is not going to end well.; 5/28/13, 9:26 AM
Matt Sablan said...: Did McCain cross any red lines while doing so?; 5/28/13, 9:27 AM
edutcher said...: I take it Operation PUSH and the Rainbow coalition are under new management?

Ann Althouse said...

I assume McCain coordinated with the White House. Is there any reason to think he did not?

"I won" vs USNA '58.; 5/28/13, 9:30 AM
Henry said...: I assume McCain coordinated with the White House. Is there any reason to think he did not?

Is Jimmy Carter with him?; 5/28/13, 9:30 AM
Big Mike said...: Mavericks don't coordinate with anyone.

But my answer to your question, Professor, is no.; 5/28/13, 9:31 AM
Icepick said...: I assume McCain coordinated with the White House. Is there any reason to think he did not?

Yes, there is reason to believe that he didn't coordinate with the White House, namely that the White House doesn't coordinate with anyone. They don't know what goes on at State (Benghazi), or Defense (Benghazi again), they disavow knowledge of what goes on at Treasury (IRS scandal) and Justice (reporter intimidation), they don't work with Congress, and on and on and on.

Any reason to assume this White House coordinates with anyone, given that they ALWAYS say afterwards that they had no idea what was happening?; 5/28/13, 9:31 AM
Matt Sablan said...: "I assume McCain coordinated with the White House. Is there any reason to think he did not?"

-- If Obama's own IRS and DOJ don't coordinate with the White House, what makes us think an opposition Senator needs to do so? The better question is if McCain got the OK from the relevant authorities on the ground/Congress.; 5/28/13, 9:32 AM
Unknown said...: The answer is: there was just enough coordination so that the administration will claim credit if something positive comes of it, but enough plausible deniability so that they'll denounce the trip if it can be tied to a deteriorating situation in Syria.; 5/28/13, 9:35 AM
Icepick said...: The answer is: there was just enough coordination so that the administration will claim credit if something positive comes of it, but enough plausible deniability so that they'll denounce the trip if it can be tied to a deteriorating situation in Syria.

And of course, if McCain gets into trouble, the President will take a nap while John Kerry orders a drone strike: on McCain.; 5/28/13, 9:37 AM
Known Unknown said...: Did McCain check in to the Damascus Hilton?; 5/28/13, 9:38 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: When you slip into Syria it's good to know the Jedi Mind Trick.; 5/28/13, 9:38 AM
Matt Sablan said...: Let's also note that treaties are the domain of Congress (sort-of, kind-of; they get to weigh in); so there is a perfectly valid balance of powers reason that Congress might want to investigate who might be running the rebellion before we sign up to support it.; 5/28/13, 9:39 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: McCain is so desperate to avoid irrelvancy that he stoops to stunts and hugs far left hyper-partisans like Chuck Shumer on a regular basis.; 5/28/13, 9:41 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Maybe McCain slipped past security disguised as Jesse Jackson.; 5/28/13, 9:53 AM
AllenS said...: Nobody knew McCain was slipping into Syria, because he was wearing a burqa.; 5/28/13, 10:04 AM
Anonymous said...: If Obama's own IRS and DOJ don't coordinate with the White House, what makes us think an opposition Senator needs to do so? The better question is if McCain got the OK from the relevant authorities on the ground/Congress.

Because of the Logan Act. As much as I dislike McCain, I don't think he is that stupid.; 5/28/13, 10:07 AM
Balfegor said...: If he didn't coordinate with the White House that's very bad judgment on his part. If he's not careful, he could be exciting expectations that the United States is in no wise prepared to meet, and thereby casting our reputation into further disrepute.; 5/28/13, 10:08 AM
Matt Sablan said...: The Logan Act, as far as I'm aware, has never before been used when people like Jimmy Carter or Barack Obama were overseas and not the president. If it were actually used against McCain, it would just be being used as a political bludgeon. I'm frankly impressed anyone pretended that it actually is a law with any force behind it.; 5/28/13, 10:11 AM
JHapp said...: I could care less, except I don't want any taxpayer $ involved.; 5/28/13, 10:14 AM
The Godfather said...: I don't see a Logan Act issue. As reported, McCain wasn't negotiating with Syrian rebels. You could call it a fact-finding mission, but it really seems to have been an attempt to increase leverage on the US government for a change of policy. I don't think there's a law against that.

What Carter and Jesse Jackson did or tried to do actually did include negotiations or attempts to negotiate with foreign governments or powers, as I recall.; 5/28/13, 10:17 AM
Balfegor said...: Re: Freder:

Because of the Logan Act. As much as I dislike McCain, I don't think he is that stupid.

I think a lot politicians -- McCain included -- are just that stupid. Or rather, maybe not so stupid, because it just doesn't seem to be enforced.

When Pelosi travelled to Syria to make nice with Bashar Assad in 2007, for example, people argued that she had violated the Logan Act. President Carter's freelance "diplomacy" with North Korea and other countries -- often at cross-purposes with the official diplomatic stance of the US -- has often led to accusations that he has violated the Logan Act.; 5/28/13, 10:17 AM
edutcher said...: Freder Frederson said...

If Obama's own IRS and DOJ don't coordinate with the White House, what makes us think an opposition Senator needs to do so? The better question is if McCain got the OK from the relevant authorities on the ground/Congress.

Because of the Logan Act. As much as I dislike McCain, I don't think he is that stupid.

Meeting is not necessarily negotiating; besides, when was Jessuh Jackson or Old Bucketmouth prosecuted for it?

Junior is one of the best Republicans the demos have these days. Going after him would be like hacking a CBS reporter's computer.; 5/28/13, 10:30 AM
Nomennovum said...: McCain Slips into Syria to Meet with Rebel Leaders.

Shades of Jimmy Carter and just as douchey.

This won't end well.

MYOB, Johnny.; 5/28/13, 10:35 AM
Icepick said...: I'm wondering if Dennis Rodman violated the Logan Act in North Korea.; 5/28/13, 10:51 AM
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...: Useful idiot. Like his daughter.; 5/28/13, 10:56 AM
Chris said...: Our gutsy President wants to ease into Syria, but needs Republican help, and deniability.; 5/28/13, 10:58 AM
J said...: McCain needs to retire before he hurts anyone else.; 5/28/13, 11:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Thank God he lost the Presidency.; 5/28/13, 11:12 AM
Nomennovum said...: I just changed my mind. Go McCain!; 5/28/13, 11:15 AM
cubanbob said...: What's Mc Cain going to find out that isn't already known? The rebels are already infested with AQ. They are no better than Assad. The best thing for the US to do is to do nothing and not stop the Isreali's from hitting weapons transfers to Hezbollah.; 5/28/13, 11:30 AM
Icepick said...: I just changed my mind. Go McCain!

LOL, I see what you did there!; 5/28/13, 11:34 AM
orthodoc said...: Syria. Give 'em all weapons and seal the borders.; 5/28/13, 11:46 AM
ricpic said...: I wouldn't be at all surprised if the power mad McCain isn't secretly full of admiration for the religion of submit or die.; 5/28/13, 11:46 AM
Real American said...: even if McCain did coordinate with the White House, Obama will claim he only learned of the trip from watching the news.; 5/28/13, 11:47 AM
Original Mike said...: "I assume McCain coordinated with the White House. Is there any reason to think he did not?"

The President is a feekless ass?; 5/28/13, 11:53 AM
Seeing Red said...: He's trying to find the weapons Hillary gave/sold to AQ?; 5/28/13, 12:12 PM
Original Mike said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/28/13, 12:17 PM
Methadras said...: Why didn't they just send in the stunt senator?; 5/28/13, 12:38 PM
mccullough said...: McCain also met with the Libyan rebels while the fighting was still on-going.

He's like Lord Byron. Hopefully it doesn't end badly for him.; 5/28/13, 1:07 PM
Anonymous said...: Imagine working for years trying to track down Bin Laden, then this mensch takes all the credit, while throwing out red meat for the anti war, progressive, leftist and legalistic Left base....

solidifying his worldview.

Constantly campaigning, relying on others then maybe throwing them under the bus, the buck never seems to stop at his desk.

McCain is mavericky and Old Guard out of touch, but look how Rubio is trying to work with the Obama coalition too.

Just stay away if you're able.; 5/28/13, 1:15 PM
effinayright said...: Lessee if I've got this straight....a US Senator illegally enters Syria to meet with rebels opposed to its government?

If so, McCain's cavalier disregard for borders easily explains his support for "amnesty".; 5/28/13, 1:16 PM
Strelnikov said...: Asshat.; 5/28/13, 1:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Whatever window we had to work with the Syrian rebels is likely gone. We were waiting for events to line up with Obama's ideals and bold leadership, which is, needless to say, going to be a very long wait.; 5/28/13, 1:18 PM
Anonymous said...: Now McCain's trying to line up the Syrians with his ideals. Not necessarily a good idea either. Doesn't speak we'll of our politics, and sends sad messages to the rest of the world.; 5/28/13, 1:21 PM
William said...: So who authorized this trip?

Who said that it was OK for this pathetically mis-directed, senile old fool to spend tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to go to Syria? And to what end?

He should be held accountable for pissing away taxpayer dollars and not accomplishing a damn thing.

Oh -- that's right. He's in the Congress. That's what they do.; 5/28/13, 1:45 PM
damikesc said...: McCain --- THERE ARE NO GOOD GUYS THERE.

We'd be best served if both sides slaughtered one another en masse and we stood back and did nothing.

If we get involved, we'll be boned. Hard.

Nothing is worse than Assad's regime. But the alternative sure as hell isn't better.; 5/28/13, 2:05 PM
Hagar said...: Advice for budding GOP politicians:
Do not, do not!, have anything to do with anything associated with John McCain.; 5/28/13, 2:52 PM
rcocean said...: I hope he stays there permanently. We're all Syrians now, John boy.; 5/28/13, 6:43 PM
rcocean said...: Its all part of McCain pattern. He's always felt himself "wasted" on boring domestic issues. Or helping Americans. He's a world crusader at heart. A big picture man. Who doesn't really like the little people. We're just supposed to salute and say "Aye, Aye, Senator".

That's why he loves amnesty. Its all about helping foreigners. "Bear any burden, pay any price.."; 5/28/13, 6:47 PM
Hagar said...: Not really. He just has appallingly poor judgment.; 5/28/13, 8:13 PM
rcocean said...: "Not really. He just has appallingly poor judgment."

Why? Personal projection? Or just a troll like empathy?; 5/28/13, 8:33 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: Our enemies are fighting each other. Why help one win? Either way the aftermath is a bloodbath.

The was a time in 2011 where decisive action could have toppled the government at relatively little cost. That time has past, and nothing good is going to happen.

The result of US policy is to keep the war going as long as possible. That's good for us because it keeps Iran and Al Nusra busy. Maybe that's deliberate policy, but I doubt it.; 5/29/13, 12:04 AM