boys n girls, one can't hang the TPP around the necks of repubs

And isn't it curious that this is the first issue where the POTUS has fought as though his life depended on it.

That speaks volumes.

How is that any better?

in their respective houses. I'm amazed that some here want that.

And most Democrats don't support fast track because they want Republicans to add amendments? You understand that that excuse makes no sense whatsoever, right?

penurious near-slavery that much faster. They don't want to wait to get started on their lifelong dream project. They've waited so long for feudalism to come back.

an up or down vote. No amendments or changes. It doesn't do anything re: oversight. It's a tool to move along international trade partnerships and deals where multiple countries are involved. Once the member countries negotiate the deal, it is signed by the member countries. After that, it goes to the countries' respective legislatures (in our case, Congress) for a vote. If Fast Track (or Trade Promotion Authority, as it's formally called) hasn't passed, then the Congress can tack on amendments to the deal. Which would then be required to go BACK to the member countries for ratification, and blah, blah, blah.

With TPA invoked, then Congress just gets a 'yea' or 'nea'.

unless the President has all the authority. The idea is that if Congress can nix the deal independently of the President, then foreign negotiators are reluctant to agree to anything knowing that a third party can intervene.

For third parties to be able to intervene to possibly derail secret deals?

Now, you run along and catch up on your TV programs and leave running the country to the professionals...

We are advancing past the best government money can buy, into being sold to the highest bidder.

Three kids sit at a table to decide how they will spend their weekend.

John wants to go to the pool sue wants to go to the park and bob wants to go to the movies.

After a lot of arguing they all agree that the new goonies movie sounds like fun and they will all settle for going to see it.

They then take the plan to their moms.

Mom one likes the idea and gives permission mom two isn't so sure but relents and allows it mom three says sure but you all have to go to the 3 pm showing and no one is allowed to have popcorn.

So it goes back to the kids. John doesn't like popcorn and 3pm works for him so he is ok with the changes to their plans. Sue always has popcorn at the movies so she decides they should do something else. Bob has other commitments at 3pm so it doesn't work at all for him.

We now have an agreement these kids came to amicably torn apart because mom three put in her own stipulations.

The TPP is no different. All of the countries involved have their own concerns and make or break issues. When/if they finally come to an agreement it will be after years of negotiations. Fast track means mom three would only be allowed to say yes or no to the movie plan instead of putting in new conditions. Mom in this case is congress.

There is no point in negotiations at all if individual senators or congress people will be allowed to alter the agreement after it is reached.

In the children's case there is nothing stopping any of the moms from nixing the agreement outright nor is there anything under fast track to stop congress from voting down the agreement. Fast track only prevents them from changing the agreement after it has been reached. It is entirely possible an agreement will never be reached in the first place.