47 Senators signed an open letter to Iran

Clear violation of the Logan Act.

Frankly, I am appalled at the number of people who swore to uphold the Constitution who clearly do not understand it, both in the military and in public office.

Article II, Section 2 (Clause 2) should be reviewed by all who are considering this question.

The senators may not have used good form, but they clearly DID NOT exceed their Constitutional authority.

Ill put my 2 cents in the jar..while many will see this as a form of mutiny, bordering on treason, I see it as solidarity, a small group of Senators have banded together as leaders letting the leaders of Iran know that while this current POTUS may be striking deals...they will be short lived. They can rival in the deal-making, short-term...this mirrors our policy on not bargaining with criminals, not paying ransom, nor making deals with terrorists...As I see it, Iran (and Syria) are the HQ of terrorist training camps. While we may never see eye-to-eye with their leaders -- I ask, it is fair that only 3rd world countries have Nukes? My American citizenship, my military ID, and my genuine love for country tells me we should do everything to keep any additional countries from getting their fingers on nukes...while nuclear energy is efficient, just look at what's happening in Japan, and what they are dealing with, which is quickly become the world's problem...we are not ready for Nuclear energy. I lost a great friend and doctor (to cancer) after he served 20 years in the Nuke field as a USN Officer. We are playing with Pandoras box...we have met the enemy, and it us. We are our own greatest enemies, I never understood that as a young man....boy is it making sense with age. I don't associate this letter with treason at all. Though, I have to ask myself, if Obama was a Republican and the 47 Senators were Democrats, how would I feel...I cannot say I would be feeling the same way.

As we are not at war with Iran it foes not rise to the level of a criminal offense.

As the republican house has found out over the past six years, just because you don't agree with something does not make it a crime. (Fast and Furious/Benghazi/Immigration)

The difference between treaties and executive agreements is pretty significant. However the central issue here is not our relationship with Iran but the relationship with Russia, China, UK, France and Germany. We are participating in a process with them and if we do not hold up our end it ill have long term repercussions.

The GOP has recently managed to out do the Far Far Left Progressives in attempting symbolic acts to appease their base. This is sorta like the students voting to remove the national colors from the student government building. Not the best way to get your point across.

However, the other option if we do not come to some kind of agreement is pretty serious for those of us with 'SM' after their name on this site. If we are unwilling to negotiate and unable to tolerate a nuclear Iran then we will have to take and hold the processing sites long enough to do enough damage that they are better abandoned than rebuilt.

This does not mean 75th Ranger holds the ground for eight hours, more like a multi-division plus massive air strike mission. Iran may be a second or third rate military but they are numerous, and have short supply lines.

My difficulty is that the GOP seems to have adopted an ideology that is against the president rather than found on independent principles. It makes it difficult to agree with them when I know that as soon as the president leaves office or changes his views so will they.

It would be a stretch to prosecute these Congress people under the Logan Act. They simply published an open letter addressed to a head of state laying out the limitations of an executive agreement between two heads of state.

That said, the letter was not a great idea. Firstly, their point (that a Republican president will simply cancel the agreement) is possible but very unlikely. It is rather difficult, politically and as a matter of foreign policy to simply back out of an international agreement. Should these negotiations bear fruit and lead to an agreement it will have been in place for nearly 2 years when the Republicans take office (assuming they win the next presidential election). Backing out on it would mean abandoning a deal that multiple parties have agreed to and will harm the perceived integrity of our country. President Obama is aware of this, and it is why he (I imagine) feels comfortably doing things this way. I'm sure he is just as aware of the limitations of executive agreements verse treaties as Sen Cotton is.

Additionally, it is important that, should this deal fall through, it not appear that the US scuttled negotiations. This is important because, if we cannot come to an agreement, we will want to maintain tight sanctions on Iran. The rest of the world is not necessarily behind that. If Iran backs out of the negotiations we will be in a strong position to return to full sanctions. If we back out of the negotiations we will not be, and sanctions will likely be lightened with no agreements from Iran to limit nuclear capabilities.

Our laws have checks and balances for a reason and that is each branch of government in check. If POTUS acts without Congress he has violated the law. Does that make it alright for them to write a letter? We can debate that for years and never get a straight answer.

Bottom line is POTUS should have brought the Plan to Congress for approval. POTUS is operating outside the Law and therefore has been illegally signing with his pen laws that have not even been brought forward for review before implementing them. That makes him a dictator and therefore treasonist.

With POTUS's FAILURES over the last years of his term he is desperate to push through his plan with Iran to get a WIN! Do you know what POTUS has in this plan? Is Itan going to get Nuclear capabilities? No one knows and there lies the problem.

So by sending the letter to inform Iran that the proposed plan the POTUS is laying out doesn't mean that it will be adhered to in the future.

Never allow a politician to operate without scrutiny. I don't care if it is Republican or Democrat or whatever.

Before you climb all over this, I voted for POTUS! I'm also very disappointed in his lack of Leadership, Patriotism and his Moral guidance.

Stop the Madness! Reach ACCROSS the isles and get the train back on track.

Separate but equal branches. Traditionally it is up the executive branch to conduct diplomacy. On the other hand the executive branch traditionally works with congress to make laws not make them unilaterally.

The president is NOT a dictator and Congressional approval is not an option but mandated. All these wins he is compiling are in the face of Congress and Republicans are merely political grandstanding and arrogant as all get-out. Then media that is corrupt. Williams, Glass, etc.