To lazy minded media - No, Dem visits to Syria were NOT the same as GOP letter.

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7. You're right -- no two situations are alike

But the "reasonableness" of the Syrian regime is a matter of debate. Syria has been on the list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1979, both before and after Assad became President.

If conducting foreign policy, including deciding who to designate as a state supporter of terrorism and deciding how interactions with the leaders of such countries should be managed is exclusively an executive branch function, then what Pelosi did was inappropriate.

However, if you believe (as I do) that the legislative branch has a role to play in foreign policy even when the role they play is at odds with the wishes of the executive branch, then the appropriateness or inappropriateness of other actions taken by members of the executive branch that are contrary to the policy positions and wishes of the executive branch are not necessarily clear cut issues. I believe the letter falls on the wrong side of that line, but less because of its substantive impact (which appears likely to be negligible), but because it was schoolyard showboating move intended to embarrass the president.

Interestingly, I doubt that the uproar would be the same if 47 repubs had simply gone on the floor of the Senate and given speeches that said essentially what the letter said.