Since the beginning of our country's history, the separation of powers has been a hallmark of our system. It can be frustrating at times, and result in progress coming in fits and starts, dotted among long passages of inaction and gridlock. The very nature of it, though, is to prevent one branch from usurping the powers of the others. It's always galling, though, when one branch tries to sidestep others.

All the way back to President Washington, the Executive branch has managed our relationships with foreign powers. The Secretary of State is one of the longest-existing, powerful, and venerated positions in the Executive branch, and 4th in line in succession to the presidency. It's an important job, and requires tact, diplomacy, and a deep knowledge of foreign cultures and political situations.

Republicans in Congress, however, think they know better. Despite their inability to even agree on a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, they feel that inviting a foreign head of state to speak to them about negotiations that our SOS is actively working on will somehow improve the situation. This is shoving a bull into the operating room while a doctor is performing open-heart surgery.

Naturally - there are a lot of unhappy people, including the president:



House Rep Peter Welch (D-VT) stated that "No single individual has done more to harm the vitally important U.S.-Israeli relationship than Netanyahu". Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was furious:

MSNBC's Chris Matthew's reaction was just as angry:

And really - that is the crux of it. Regardless of what you think about how the President and Secretary of State are doing with regards to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, providing a foreign head of state the forum to inject himself into it, and attempt to override our own country's governmental processes is verging on treasonous in my book. Regardless of what you think of Israel and Iran, it is galling to think either country has a right to step into our halls of power and insult us, our abilities, our plans, and our knowledge.

Lest you think I exaggerate, you can read the drivel for yourself; here is an annotated version. Republicans need decide who they represent - their constituents or another country in the Middle East.