Nancy headed for Prison..or the Hizbollah Vote ?

Robert Turner in The Wall Street Journal in a piece entitlted "Illegal Diplomacy" raises the possibility that Granny Nancy Pelosi's recent visits to Syria could put her in breach of the Logan Act of 1799 - named after Senator Logan who had travelled to France during the quasi US / French Naval war to try to make a private settlement.

Although Lebanese American Darrell Issa has recently visited Syria to see President Assad as he did in 2003 and a trio of Republican Congressmen , Frank Wolf of Virginia, Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania, and Robert Aderholt of Alabama, as a group,beat Nancy to Syria by week .

The Logan Act states ..

§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments

Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

Clad with her photogenic jibjab the smiling Pelosi claimed post a visit to see the corrupt and failing Government in Tel Aviv that they were wanting peace.

The New York Post editorialised and pondered Pelosi's peripatetic policy..

"Negotiating with world leaders - particularly those at odds with the United States - should be left to the president, or those authorized by him to do so."

But her solo adventure - as a member of the legislature, has drawn little attention or criticism. NBC’s Matt Lauer and Tim Russert on "Today" apparently discussed Pelosi’s possible illegal activity but the press has moved on.

Ronnie Regan got hot under the collar when Jessie Jackson brought some Cuban refugees back from Nicaragua and threatened him with the Act, but did nothing.

However Nancy has a powerful backer in Waddlin Madeleine Albright who herself visited Damascus sevral times who says that although Nancy's trip sends "mixed signals" (whatever that means) and said "the trip showed the importance of meeting leaders at odds with the U.S."

Even though POTUS said it was "counterproductive" Madeleine said "`I talked to a lot of people that we didn't necessarily agree with, (My that must have been a crowd) and I think that's not a bad message.''

The best odds say that this is one Granny who won't be heading for prison , but Dubya had better check with AIPAC first.