Shortsighted pandering

There is a very real reason that Congress' approval rating is lower than even that of the President. It's because it does shortsighted, stupid partisan things like changing the rules in the middle of a debate on a free trade deal with Colombia: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121124379355805567.html?mod=djemEditorialPage.

The system had worked wonderfully for over 30 years........until Nancy Pelosi and her union sycophants took the reigns of power in the House of Representatives. They've now killed the "fast track" authority that enabled the Bush 43 Administration to negotiate the free trade deal with Colombia. Why? Ostensibly, it's because of "human rights concerns", but the reality of the situation is that it has everything to do with cozying up to the Democrat's union base as we approach the November General Election. The fact that this move will harm relations with a key strategic ally in an area of the world where we don't have that many friends matters not at all to Pelosi et als.

Blatant hypocrisy

You have to admire the Democrats, if for no other reason than they are utterly brazen in their hypocrisy. On one hand, they screech incessantly that they will "restore the United States' standing in the world", and that they will mend the fences with our allies. Yet, on the other, and even while they do not control the presidency, they are undermining allies: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120821999415914691.html?mod=djemEditorialPage. Changing House of Representatives rules to kill the Colombia-United State Free Trade Deal is but one example. We also have Barack Obama threatening to re-open NAFTA, so as to go after those nasty Canadians.

Yup, there is no way better way to mend the fences than by putting the screws to one of your closest allies...............