There is only one reason why anyone opposes the TPA: To kill the TPP

[cali]

Everyone knows that voting to reject the TPA (fast track), effectively kills the TPP. Politicians may not come out and say that directly but they know it better than anyone- just as they know that passing it means almost surely passing the tpp. The record is replete with evidence for that claim regarding trade deals in the past.

http://thediplomat.com/2013/11/congress-may-have-killed-the-trans-pacific-partnership/
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/20065-how-to-pass-disastrous-trade-agreements

It's not really about wanting to amend the legislation- and you'll have a hell of a hard time find a dem in opposition to the tpa, claiming that. They know, as do I, that that would be completely unworkable. What they have wanted and expressed is for the all but completed draft text to be released before the vote on trade promotion authority, which is not as so many of the supporters here (and elsewhere) seem to believe, just about voting yea or nay on the tpp and upcoming trade agreements.

[cali]

1. kick

[jeff47]

2. They're trying to set up a way to lose "gracefully"

Along the lines of "Well, these parts are really bad, but these parts are kinda good. We would have loved to amend it, but we couldn't. So we grudgingly voted yes on the treaty."

[pampango]

3. Agreed, cali. Well said. n/t