House gives 9/11 victims capacity to sue Saudi Arabia in US courts for 9/11.

[MomentsofSanity]

Yea, I kind of blinked and gulped when It read that.

I figured it would be obvious. Pretty sure I don't normally come off as a raving lunatic........ Or maybe.....

 

[senseamp]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mitch-mcconnell-saudi-9-11-bill-228903

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that a new law allowing U.S. victims of terrorism to sue foreign governments may have “unintended ramifications,” despite Congress’s overwhelming vote this week to defy President Barack Obama’s veto of the legislation.

Though Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act was easily overridden, many senators are seeking changes to the law later this year, particularly after gauging any international reaction. McConnell laid some fault at the hands of the White House, calling the battle over JASTA a “good example” of “failure to communicate early about the potential consequences” of a popular bill.


“I told the president the other day that this is an example of an issue that we should have talked about much earlier,” McConnell said Thursday. “It appears as if there may be some unintended ramifications of that and I do think it’s worth further discussing. But it was certainly not something that was going to be fixed this week.”

A spokesman said McConnell and Obama spoke on Monday, the same day the majority leader teed up a vote on the veto override.

No, this is not the Onion.
So GOP Senate leader is now blaming Obama because a bill that he helped ram through over Obama's veto will have “unintended ramifications” that Obama warned him about.

 

[VRAMdemon]

Of course Mitch McConnell blames Obama for the unintended consequences of JASTA

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mitch-mcconnell-saudi-9-11-bill-228903

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that a new law allowing U.S. victims of terrorism to sue foreign governments may have “unintended ramifications,” despite Congress’s overwhelming vote this week to defy President Barack Obama’s veto of the legislation.

Though Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act was easily overridden, many senators are seeking changes to the law later this year, particularly after gauging any international reaction. McConnell laid some fault at the hands of the White House, calling the battle over JASTA a “good example” of “failure to communicate early about the potential consequences” of a popular bill.

So..McConnell couldn't read it himself and figure it out?..sheesh!..

 

[VRAMdemon]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mitch-mcconnell-saudi-9-11-bill-228903

No, this is not the Onion.
So GOP Senate leader is now blaming Obama because a bill that he helped ram through over Obama's veto will have “unintended ramifications” that Obama warned him about.

Lol..beat me to it!

 

[MomentsofSanity]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mitch-mcconnell-saudi-9-11-bill-228903

No, this is not the Onion.
So GOP Senate leader is now blaming Obama because a bill that he helped ram through over Obama's veto will have “unintended ramifications” that Obama warned him about.

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/17/senate-oks-bill-sue-saudi-govt-over-terror-attacks/

Looks like he had since at least May to consider Obamas concern before they passed the bill mid September.

 

[IronWing]

If the KKK blows up a jewish synagogue in Italy, should the victims' families be able to sue the US Government in Italian courts? I say no, the US Government is not responsible.

Good, because that is not what this bill allows. It allows US citizens to sue foreign governments in U.S. courts for any government involvement in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud is the government so actions of the Saud family are government actions.

 

[senseamp]

So if CIA helps "moderate rebels" in Syria, and that aid is used by a subset of those rebels to commit a terrorist act, the US can be sued in foreign courts and US assets seized and US personnel arrested?

 

[IronWing]

So if CIA helps "moderate rebels" in Syria, and that aid is used by a subset of those rebels to commit a terrorist act, the US can be sued in foreign courts and US assets seized and US personnel arrested?

Sure. Now a more accurate comparison would be the Contra mercenaries .

 

[senseamp]

What's the US liability in Nicaragua alone?

 

[IronWing]

What's the US liability in Nicaragua alone?

Maybe if we find out, we'd stop letting our government skinny dip in other people's blood.

 

[DrDoug]

Of course Mitch McConnell blames Obama for the unintended consequences of JASTA

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mitch-mcconnell-saudi-9-11-bill-228903



So..McConnell couldn't read it himself and figure it out?..sheesh!..

Think about it... McConnell, the leader of the Senate side of our legislature, is blaming Obama, the leader of the executive branch, for the veto override because he didn't explain the negative implications of legislation to the legislators in our two legislative branches, the very legislators who wrote that legislation, and thus they had no choice but to override his veto.

What McConnell should have come right out and said is: "We are very disappointed that President Obama deliberately chose to oppose this bill knowing that our party, in standing opposed to everything this out of control President is either for or against, would have no choice but to override his veto. Once again, President Obama has failed America but thankfully for America, the Republican party is here to set things right. Vote for Trump!"

 

[MongGrel]

I have to have my fun somehow. Mind you there is still a small but undisclosed presence in Saudi but I believe the bulk of it is a drone base.

There are still a lot of civilians that are former military the Saudis hire to maintain a lot of their Air Force, etc, unless that has changed over the years.

 

[fskimospy]

It's interesting to see republicans blame Obama for their own incompetence. While Democratic legislators were stupid about this too at least they didn't try to blame someone else for it.

The party of personal responsibility!

 

[senseamp]

Time to end this amateur hour and vote the bums out!

 

[pcgeek11]

I hate to say it, but this is one thing that I agree with Obama on. Congress has allowed the camels nose under the tent.

Congress has screwed the pooch with this veto override.

 

[DrDoug]

It's interesting to see republicans blame Obama for their own incompetence. While Democratic legislators were stupid about this too at least they didn't try to blame someone else for it.

The party of personal responsibility!

I think this was a political miscalculation on the part of Republicans. They probably thought that the legislation would make for a good wedge issue for the election with the Democrats as they would side with Obama in blocking the measure, giving the Republicans a political point (Obama and Democrats are bowing to Saudi Arabia!!!). Instead, Democrats already knew the game and voted for the measure to keep the Republicans from scoring their political point for this fall.

Unfortunately for McConnell, the Democrats didn't save the Republican's asses and hand them a political point to club Democrats, hence the whining...

 

[pcgeek11]

I think this was a political miscalculation on the part of Republicans. They probably thought that the legislation would make for a good wedge issue for the election with the Democrats as they would side with Obama in blocking the measure, giving the Republicans a political point (Obama and Democrats are bowing to Saudi Arabia!!!). Instead, Democrats already knew the game and voted for the measure to keep the Republicans from scoring their political point for this fall.

Unfortunately for McConnell, the Democrats didn't save the Republican's asses and hand them a political point to club Democrats, hence the whining...

Talking about a conspiracy theory. WOW. What a load.

 

[fskimospy]

I think this was a political miscalculation on the part of Republicans. They probably thought that the legislation would make for a good wedge issue for the election with the Democrats as they would side with Obama in blocking the measure, giving the Republicans a political point (Obama and Democrats are bowing to Saudi Arabia!!!). Instead, Democrats already knew the game and voted for the measure to keep the Republicans from scoring their political point for this fall.

Unfortunately for McConnell, the Democrats didn't save the Republican's asses and hand them a political point to club Democrats, hence the whining...

That seems like a pretty reasonable theory although that's pretty awful too. Republicans try to do awful thing in order to hurt the democrats for acting like adults and then the Democrats call their bluff by acting equally irresponsibly.

 

[fskimospy]

Talking about a conspiracy theory. WOW. What a load.

Seems reasonably likely to me. What explanation do you have for Congress overriding the president's veto and then immediately whining about the unintended consequences of their own actions?

 

[VRAMdemon]

Good, because that is not what this bill allows. It allows US citizens to sue foreign governments in U.S. courts for any government involvement in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud is the government so actions of the Saud family are government actions.

Well..As a general rule, sovereign states don't allow suits in their own courts against other state actors. Even assuming the Saudi government can receive a fair trial in an American court, which is doubtful, it will now (theoretically) be forced to defend itself against thousands of such claims. Some would no doubt be consolidated or certified for class action, but it will still be a farce. And there is no guarantee that any of the claimants will have anything left to collect against. if you are "injured" by another sovereign acting in its sovereign capacity, your recourse is against your own government. People sue people, and governments deal with governments.

The 911 families deserve their blood money but what they're proposing with this bill could damage the global economy. As far as I understand, foreign investors could move their funds out of the US, in order to protect them from seizure, and US funds in foreign investments are immediately frozen by foreign nations as the citizens of those countries line up to sue the US government.

 

[IronWing]

Seems reasonably likely to me. What explanation do you have for Congress overriding the president's veto and then immediately whining about the unintended consequences of their own actions?

The problem with this theory is that McConnell and Ryan would have had a pretty good idea of the outcome ahead of time and could have simply not brought the issue back for an override vote. They knew it was going to pass.

 

[MongGrel]

The problem with this theory is that McConnell and Ryan would have had a pretty good idea of the outcome ahead of time and could have simply not brought the issue back for an override vote. They knew it was going to pass.

Even if it goes forward and they could win a case, it will still be a long drawn out procedure I'm sure and mostly a win for lawyers involved if it even ever paid out a single dollar.

It's more smoke and mirrors.

 

[DrDoug]

Talking about a conspiracy theory. WOW. What a load.

Was your fainting couch nearby? I sure hope so as I would hate to hear that you were injured when you threw yourself on it and instead hit the ground.

Are you familiar with the idea of legislation proposed by one party that's crafted to make the other side look bad? It happens around election time quite regularly. Defunding Planned Parenthood, defunding Obamacare, outlawing abortion, you know... stuff like that. Your side sure has decried Democrats doing it so I would think you might have heard of such a thing. Or is it just that it's reality if someone speculates that Democrats do it but a conspiracy theory if someone speculates that Republicans may have done it?

Still, thanks for the laugh... you calling someone out for what you call a conspiracy theory is fucking hilarious... I'm still laughing.

 

[Atreus21]

Seems reasonably likely to me. What explanation do you have for Congress overriding the president's veto and then immediately whining about the unintended consequences of their own actions?

Well, according to this theory, how does one account for the 1/3 of house democrats who opposed this? Or are they all not seeking re-election?

Secondly, what is that famous quote? Never ascribe to malice what can reasonably be attributed to being a moron.

 

[DrDoug]

Well, according to this theory, how does one account for the 1/3 of house democrats who opposed this? Or are they all not seeking re-election?

Secondly, what is that famous quote? Never ascribe to malice what can reasonably be attributed to being a moron.

They're called "safe seats"... IOW, that politician isn't facing a serious reelection threat and/or their constituents agree/don't care, so they can support/oppose something as they wish. Politicians in locations with competitive contests (both R's & D's) fall for this crap just about every time. You know, all's fair in politics...

BTW, I'm not asserting that this happened but that it's one political possibility (of many)... one that's been used, successfully and unsuccessfully, a lot in the past.