“Idiocy”: New York Times editorial board scorches GOP’s nuclear sabotage

[DonViejo]

Gray Lady goes after 47 Senate Republicans in unusually blistering language

LUKE BRINKER

In keeping with the generally staid disposition of the Gray Lady, one might have expected the New York Times editorial board to chide the Republican senators seeking to torpedo the Iran nuclear talks as “misguided,” “wrongheaded,” “imprudent,” or some such. But instead, the Times on Thursday published a scathing editorial condemning the GOP’s diplomatic sabotage in unusually blistering language: The GOP’s stunts, the headline announces, reflect nothing less than “Republican Idiocy on Iran.”

Denouncing Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-AR) “disgraceful and irresponsible” letter to the Iranian leadership — signed by 46 other GOP senators — the Times’ editors contend that by warning Iran’s leaders that a future president could nix a nuclear deal, Republicans engaged in “a blatant, dangerous effort to undercut the president on a grave national security issue by communicating directly with a foreign government.”

“Besides being willing to sabotage any deal with Iran (before they know the final details), these Republicans are perfectly willing to diminish America’s standing as a global power capable of crafting international commitments and adhering to them,” the editors write, echoing the criticism put forth by Vice President Joe Biden, who issued a statement this week arguing that the letter conveys “a highly misleading signal to friend and foe alike that that our Commander-in-Chief cannot deliver on America’s commitments — a message that is as false as it is dangerous.”

Although many Cotton detractors seized on the Iranian foreign minister’s swift dismissal of the communiqué, the Times notes that it could nevertheless “embolden hard-liners in Iran” who seek confrontation, not conciliation.

“In rejecting diplomacy, the Republicans make an Iranian bomb and military conflict more likely,” the Times concludes. For many, that may be precisely the point.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/03/12/idiocy_new_york_times_editorial_board_scorches_gops_nuclear_sabotage/

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Republicans, if anything

Are showing how much they intend to (not) respect/honor agreements and how they should not be trusted to be in the WH (or any elected position, really).

[IDemo]

2. "the Republicans make an Iranian bomb and military conflict more likely”

That would be Mission Accomplished from their point of view.

[Nay]

4. Exactly, and it's time for the NYT and other newspapers to spell out that point in their

editorials, rather than leave it unsaid.

[hifiguy]

5. Eeyup. nt

[calimary]

3. Just wanted to throw this in for good measure -

from one of the NYTimes' direct competitors - which NAILED it earlier this week:

[img][/img]

I've said it before but I love rubbing it in: I just LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing rand paul's photo on there. I hope the Dems use this as a campaign tool - for THAT tool in particular! He with the Brillo pad on his head who fancies himself as the next President. Yeah, rand paul. That means YOU, TOO. TRAITOR!!!

[hifiguy]

6. In all seriousness, Cotton looks like the kind of

skeevy weirdo/perv who hangs out at the bus station trolling for runaways.

[calimary]

8. EEEEUUUUWWWWW!!! Now that you mention it...

[QED]

7. They will wear the criticism like a badge of honor

Cotton is delusional and the GOP lemmings are following him over a cliff of crazy because hey, "ain't nobody gonna out crazy us!"