David Gregory continues to show he lives in another world. He shows that he is nothing but a shrill for the powerful.
“I had calls nine against to one for, when this whole Syrian crisis came up,” said Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN). “The president, I think was trying to stop Assad because he would not stop until he is stopped yet my constituents, I guarantee you, were not in favor of us doing anything in Syria.”
After another panelist suggested it was not only about a good policy outcome but the herky-jerky manner to get there. Rep. Ellison reminded her that the political environment was in fact herky-jerky. Gregory then had to chime in, showing what he really thinks about the power structure of this country.
“Congressman, you are not suggesting that the kind of calls you get influence your leadership,” Gregory asked. ”Right? I mean you have to make decisions about what’s best …”
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"This is a democracy,” Ellison responded. “You have to listen to what your constituents want.” Ellison proceeded to school Gregory on the reality. Anyone who remembers those times remembers that Congress, while hyperventilating about what the president was doing, had no desire to take responsibility. Yet the policy it turns out was successful:
Syria’s entire chemical weapons stockpile has been removed, the international watchdog overseeing its destruction announced Monday.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon’s (OPCW) director general, Ahmet Uzumcu, said the final 8 percent of the 1,300-ton chemical arsenal was removed from Syria.
“A major landmark in this mission has been reached today,” Uzumcu said. “The last of the remaining chemicals identified for removal from Syria were loaded this afternoon aboard the Danish ship Ark Futura. The ship made its last call at the port of Latakia in what has been a long and patient campaign in support of this international endeavor.”
Gregory still continued to complain about politicians, and the president in particular modifying policy based on the will of the people.