As Republicans Cave, START Treaty on Track to Pass
- Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:17am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The Senate is on track to ratify a new arms control treaty with Russia, a top foreign policy priority of President Barack Obama.
Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Bob Corker of Tennessee said Tuesday they would vote for the treaty. Corker told reporters that the treaty will definitely pass and likely with a solid bipartisan vote. Earlier Tuesday morning, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennesssee, the Senate’s No. 3 Republican, announced that he would back the accord.
“I will vote to ratify the New START Treaty between the United States and Russia because it leaves our country with enough nuclear warheads to blow any attacker to kingdom come, and because the president has committed to an $85 billion 10-year plan to make sure that those weapons work,” Alexander said on the Senate floor Tuesday morning.
The Constitution requires two-thirds of those voting in the Senate to ratify the pact. Democrats need at least nine Republican votes. Eight Republicans have said they would back the treaty and three others have said they are leaning toward approval.
A vote to end debate on the treaty was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama inched closer to winning approval of a major arms control treaty with Russia Tuesday, as the No. 3 Republican leader in the Senate announced his support.
The move by Lamar Alexander gave Obama’s hopes of a foreign policy victory a boost as the Senate moves toward a vote on ratification this week. The top two Republican leaders have opposed the treaty.
“Americans are safer and more secure with the New START treaty than without it,” Alexander said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a statement Tuesday, was urging the Senate to ratify the pact this week. He said the treaty would “provide the necessary flexibility to structure our strategic nuclear forces to best meet national security interests.”
The administration has stepped up its lobbying of pivotal Republicans to win approval of the treaty, which has become Obama’s main priority for the remaining legislative session.
With lawmakers moving toward a final vote expected this week, the White House and senior Democrats were expressing confidence Monday that they had the votes.
Senior Democrats were pushing for a decisive vote to cut off debate and set the stage for the final vote. Republicans and Democrats were discussing amendments to the accompanying resolution, not the treaty, that would deal with Republican problems with missile defense and build support for the agreement.
The United States and Russia negotiated the New START pact to cap nuclear weapons and restart weapons inspections in the spirit of U.S. efforts to reset the relationship between the former Cold War foes.
The White House has seen steady progress in its efforts to persuade Republican lawmakers. On Monday, Sen. Scott Brown announced he would support the treaty. In recent days, Brown had received a call from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who also heard from Clinton, sent the strongest signal yet that he would support ratification. He said he could see no reason that would prevent him from voting yes.
Treaty backers also were heartened as several Republicans broke ranks, voting against three Republican amendments that would have effectively killed the treaty.
Obama, who delayed his holiday vacation, lobbied senators by phone as he pressed to complete the treaty before January. Vice President Joe Biden also called lawmakers.
Bolstering Obama’s argument for quick action, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent a letter to lawmakers reiterating support for the accord.
“This treaty enhances our ability to do that which we in the military have been charged to do: protect and defend the citizens of the United States. I am confident in its success as I am in its safeguards. The sooner it is ratified, the better,” Mullen wrote.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, a Democrat, read parts of Mullen’s letter at a closed briefing.
Despite the letter, several conservative Republicans insist the treaty would restrict U.S. options on a missile defense system to protect America and its allies and argue that the accord has insufficient procedures to verify Russia’s adherence.
Politics coursed through the debate Monday as Republicans were still peeved by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s decision to interrupt the six days of treaty consideration for votes on repealing the ban of gays serving openly in the military and an unsuccessful immigration measure, legislation they considered sops to the Democratic Party’s liberal base.
“No senator should be forced to make decisions like this so we can tick off another item on someone’s political check list before the end of the year,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
Obama suffered a self-described “shellacking” in the Nov. 2 midterm elections as his party lost control of the House and suffered an erosion in its Senate majority. Yet he has scored two major political wins in Congress’ postelection session – overwhelming bipartisan passage of the tax deal he cut with Republicans and repeal of the ban on gays serving openly.
Democrats expect to get 57 votes from their caucus, with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden absent due to cancer surgery on Monday. Six Republican senators – Richard Lugar, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, George Voinovich, Alexander and Brown – have said they back the treaty, and four others – Robert Bennett, Judd Gregg, Bob Corker and Isakson – said they were leaning toward approval.
The treaty specifically would limit each country’s strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, down from the current ceiling of 2,200. It also would establish a system for monitoring and verification. U.S. weapons inspections ended a year ago with the expiration of a 1991 treaty.
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Comments (210)
cliKKer
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:48amSo next time he says the republicans only say no… will the MSM remember? the tax vote? this one? DADT?
NO… and they will say… see all the success the big O is getting. It shows you the current Republican party in congress is just progressive lite…. thank god for new one coming in and 2012 clean rest out. I voted for the Earmarks before I voted against them crowd are toast
Report Post »Randyrocker
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:44amA Big Mistake. The Russians were given a President that handed Russian leaders a shower of gifts that would weaken the United States all so that he would look like a peacenik, and his gestures would be perceived as a firm display of his acumen, when all it truly revealed was his naivety. Barack Obama is the ultimate failure and this bill, is another ultimate failure. What’s worse, are all of the other nefarious attachments and added amendments to it. Say no to it. Call your Senator now!!!
Report Post »goku17
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 1:45amYeah, a peacenik traitor. Just like Reagan? Why don’t you do a simply google search and see who started the first START negotiations. You obviously haven’t read the treaty. Of course, that’s not surprising for a Glenn Beck listener.
Report Post »Slayer
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 9:14amReagan was WRONG to make a treaty with the Russians. The Russians BROKE every treaty they made with him. The Liberals still insist the Russians are a country we can work with. Liberals love anything that weakens America, which they hate hate with a fury more than anything else – except the unborn.
Report Post »oldchevyguy
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:43amRussia has never honored a treaty with us.Why would we think they have changed?
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:43amTraitors, all!
Report Post »Refounderparty
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:43amTime for a new party if we have time.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:34pmWe do not have time to build a new bus. This one runs fine, just get in and drive. I know, it pulls to the left a little. It’s up to you to keep it on course.
Report Post »Geo0248
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:43amI certainly hope to new Congress coming in has their repeal bill written up already for Jan 6th.
Report Post »ETOOL USMC RECON
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:01pmLet’s see now….here’s the repeal list so far:
bin obama care
striking down DADT
START
And may they add to their work the ending of:
Dept of (mis)Ed
IRS
EPA
TSA
Homeland (in)Security
The FED
etc
etc
etc
It looks like they will be busy……AND NOT BE ABLE TO PASS ANY MORE STUPID BILLS OR SPEND ANY MORE OF OUR MONEY ! !
Report Post »Nvrforget
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 5:08pm@Etool
You realize none of that is going to happen, at least not anytime soon? They want to use those things as campaign promises in 2012, dangling it in front of our noses like a carrot. They’d be stupid to throw that away now.
Report Post »ETOOL USMC RECON
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 5:28pmNVRFORGET…..Yes I know but I am an eternal optimist…..I try to set my sights high….
Report Post »Maybe…just maybe………
Nvrforget
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 5:37pmIt’s sad that the game of politics is so very self-serving. They’ll let those issues ripen like a good wine so they can get reelected. Let‘s hope it doesn’t turn to vinegar.
Who was it that said “Politicians don‘t have their jobs because they’re any good at politics but because they’re good at being elected” (paraphrased)?
Report Post »Jaggededge
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:41amThis so called President and Congress are leading this country to vuneralbility for the sake of appeasement. Pass the START Treaty so we know what’s in it at a later time…sounds familar?
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:40amThey all need to be fired! Every last one of them.
Shame on Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah (that’s why he was voted out), Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennesssee, and Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:21pmSo that’s the list? There are only four senators on it. Ire should be directed at them, not the whole party.
Report Post »Better_Red_than_Dead
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:47pmIf they’re passing a treaty, there must be more than four – the Senate requires 67 votes for any treaty passed, meaning at least 9 Republicans (assuming both independents are with the Democrats) would have to be on board to sign it.
Report Post »Dont Drink Cool Aid
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:39amDear Republican Senators,
Remember your oath of office…..defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic…without any mental reservation or purpose of evation.
Report Post »ScarletRose
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:37amJonathan Seidl – “Caving” isn’t what you call what these GOP members did.
You cannot even call it “Defecting” since that means they abandoned previous loyalties.
“Revealed themselves” works – as does “Committed Treason as they Violate the Constitution”…
Report Post »Cuthalu
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:34amRINO traitors.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:33amAny time this administration declares a so-called national emergency, I now know that there is something really rotten in DC! How many of these sanctimonious fools have actually read this treaty?What is in the sidebars that the O and his czars don’t want anyone to know? Do they really think that Russia is now our friend, our ally? Let’s see what Putin etal have done recently to seal the deal of friendship: selling a nuclear plant and long range missles to Iran, crocodile tearing about the missle defense shield in Europe, selling nuclear technology to El Presidente Hugo Chavez, siding with China to block severe sanctions against both Iran and North Korea, changing their currency medium with China, and on and on the list grows, but Russia is now our friend. This is more like a pact for destruction of the country.
Report Post »123abc
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:32amThis administration is intentionally weakening America. Obama should be impeached.
Report Post »blacksmith
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:54amImpeached? These repubes are going to get his face on Mt. Rushmore before his first term is up! I say first term due that the repubes are almost guaranteeing his re-election by not standing against his agenda. The DADT has passed after a poll showed that a majority of line troops did not want it! Do you believe that the Dream Act is not going to resurface as something else? They will throw these repube hogs an earmark in a bill and they will go along with anything. We truly get the government that we deserve! Let us Tear down OLD GLORY and raise the white flag to the One World Order! Our collapse is coming and I can not wait for it to happen. The anarchists and marxists maybe doing us a favor! After the collapse We may be able to return this country to a constitutional republic and if not I would prefer anarchy. It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!
Report Post »joejackson_withshoes
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:32amSenator Isakson needs to reconsider and not join the democrats on this one. I believe him to be a “pretender” conservative like so many other ex-democratic politicians here in Georgia. Tea Party needs to replace him with a much stronger senator.
Report Post »Spawnomite
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:32amWe got your back too Republicans.
You can go packing along with the Democrats and play grab @$$ with each other all you want off of our dime.
Report Post »jacquecustard
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:29amRINO REPUBLICAN PARTYaka NO BACKBONE PARTY. The elections mean nothing to the ruling class. I am really thinking a third party is required,. Nothing changes with the Republicans, usual weak, feeble gutless wonders.
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:29amSo much for conservative victory 2010!! All we did is elect a new bunch of effin’ TRAITORS!! Maybe this anagram has something to do with it: SENATOR = TREASON. Coincidence? I don’t think so :-) FYI republicans, we want NOTHING that Obama wants.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:41amthe folks we elected aren’t in there yet bozo
Report Post »time4termlimits
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:12pmActually, there are a few there who have shown their colors. The most obvious is the clown in MA who replaced Ted Kennedy. Scott Brown is a good example of a political shell game that was perpetrated on the voters in MA. He is no more a conservative than Ted Kennedy. Such a big deal was made out of a Repub taking the long held Dem seat. What a joke. He is a disgrace.
Report Post »Keep track of all these progressive, new world order, one world government, etc political criminals and hypocrites. The census is finished and there will be another political bloodbath in 2012 followed by 2014 and beyond. If we do not remain vigilant, kiss America the beautiful goodbye.
BeingThere
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:53pmTermlimitsnow: A message was sent and the people that are there are still not listening. Slinda like you’re the bozo!
Report Post »Curioso
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 11:17amThe reps doing this are the same one’s that have been there all along not the new group of reps. They new guys are going to have a very hard time trying to straighten this out please pray for them. Hopefully they will actually live up to our expectations.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:28amFriggin’ communists!!!
This was probably borne out of that backroom tax-cut-extension fiasco.
I never thought I’d ever live to see the day that Republican reps were so willing to get bent – they even seem to embrace it.
Report Post »ltb
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:44amThose 50% of us Americans who pay an income tax need to organize and stop paying our taxes, because the only way to prevent these idiots from destroying America is by cutting off their lifeblood. I’m tired of this crap and am not going to just sit by anymore while America turns into the new soviet union.
Report Post »Bauervision
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:14pmLTB, I’ve stopped paying taxes already. When Paulson came out and said they couldn’t account for a trillion of our dollars, I went down to my secretary and filed EXEMPT.
If enough people stop looking forward to refund checks at the end of every year, and just keep their money throughout the year, not only would they enjoy a bigger pay raise–thanks to themself, but they would be doing exactly what you are suggesting, cutting them off where it hurts.
I mean…T.Geitner owed $40K in taxes and became Sec of the Treasury, in my book, that means we have a minimum of $40K we can owe before we need to be concerned. You know how long it would take for me to owe $40K in taxes? By my last estimation, it would be 20 years of me not paying federal taxes before I hit that mark.
Imagine 20 years of sending no money to these people……
I personally cast an American vote of No Confidence in Congress’ ability to manage our money–with 20 years of debt spending, reckless government programs, no oversight, inability to adhere to the Constitution, and a recent extreme degradation in the security of its citizens.
Anyone else with me?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:24pmI don’t pay any taxes, I have a great accountant. I‘ll be darned if I’m going to surrender ANY of my money to these idiots who want to spend it on crap that doesen’t matter to anyone.
Report Post »Bauervision
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:49pmagreed Kate, did you happen to look through the wasteful spending pdf from yesterday? That crap pissed me off! How can they expect for us to sit back and let that continue?
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:24pmYou know, I’ve thought about this SERIOUSLY over the past few years. The problem is, unless EVERYBODY does it, or at least the people in this country that are productive, it would never work. Also, it would be great if employers did this also. But, now that Big Bidness is 50% left, that’s a pipe dream also.
But, it really always comes down to money so we could wreak havoc, at least. People need to understand, fully, who pays the bills in this country.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:48pmI am still waiting to see if they install all those confrence room cameras.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:27amTrent Lott must go, damn RINO makes me want to puke.
Report Post »reshas1
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:26amhttp://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Report Post »Lotus503
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:26amHere comes the third party…The Tea Party in 2011. Bye, bye Republican party! You’re going the way of the Democrats.
Report Post »swamp22
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:18pmBy the grace of God, you betcha!!!!!
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:32pmWe have to get there first.
Report Post »GApatriot55
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:55pmI agree! I have thought that my senators from Georgia were good, but I guess even they have become corrupt incumbents. Isakson says one of his top priorities is strengthening the military, yet he is voting for this. unbelievable…
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 3:09pmThere are lot of us who no longer consider ourselves Republican! Most certainly since most are now RHINO’s who are a total waste of my time! Totally disgusted and will find myself more in line with the Tea Party group since there is no Conservative Party! Maybe if enough of us left the RHINOs, we could have a strong Conservative party! It seems the pathetic RHINOs come from very Liberal states so they side with the Dems more then the Republican! I AM SO DONE WITH THAT GARBAGE!
Report Post »lycanknight
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:23amSo now our Gov is giving away our tump cards in spite of increased nuclear threats from around the world. It seams now that we are being betrayed again by our representatives in Washington. Clueless = Dangerous.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:34amAnything in that treaty that stops Russia from helping Iran develop their nuclear capabilities?
Report Post »Better_Red_than_Dead
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:40pm@LYCANKNIGHT
How are they giving away our trump card? We still have over 1500 nuclear weapons after this treaty. I‘m pretty sure that’s still enough to glass the entire planet, if we wanted to.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:44pmBetter red than dead, spoken like a true red…lol
Report Post »Nvrforget
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 5:01pmSo we need more nukes than necessary to kill every last organism on this planet for… what exactly? Nuke the moon?
Report Post »xm-1774u
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:20ami would expect nothing more from these traitors in office. weaken us and boot lick meanwile we starve
Report Post »marhee9
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:19amThey are doing a special on this at donsmithshow.com this weekend. The President is calling this another national emergency. That makes 4 national emergencies in the past 7 days.
lovenfl3
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:36amI don’t understand why they would cave on this.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:40amNever let a crisis go to waste..even the created ones. .
Report Post »marhee9
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:05pm@colonial – That’s cool. Lol. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:09pmHa Ha. Yeah I’ve about had it too. It would be fine if he would just post a link, but he is just too sly for that.
Report Post »Colonial Revolutionary
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:10pm@marhee
Merry Christmas to you too. Good luck with that Don Smith thing.
Report Post »marhee9
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:23pm@colonial – Thanks. While it may annoy some, it brings about 50,000 hits/day just from here. It’s kind of a free market thing. Take care.
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 2:11pmI figured that was the reason you kept pushing it on every post. How much did you make?
Report Post »cubber
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:18amThey ALL have to go. BE PREPARED.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:21amSo the Russians are building and upgrading their defense shelters and systems while we get to be systematically disarmed by the traitors of the administration; wonder now how long until the admin‘s just declare the country will disband all nuke’s and invite the terroritst to use our own weaponry upon this land?
Report Post »byehlik
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:23amI’m with you! They all are pushing for the One World Government crowd. Americans will not be ruled, we will rule!
Report Post »norway1516
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:25amI’ve written my senator and told him I hope he votes for this so we could vote him out in 2012. I cant wait to get the names of these scum bags who further put us at risk with another pathetic treaty with a corrupt country like Russia.
Report Post »blackegg
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:26amI think I am with you cubber. We are doomed to be doomed!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:29am@Bye
We will Rule our own nation; and show the light unto the rest of the world enshrouded by the fog of the night. Freedom will win out in the end, Americans will win out in the end, our country will push for the higher ground and win again, restored by the hand of the Almighty and by the actions each and every one of us does.
Let the watchmen stand strong; the storm is here, and comes with fiere wrath, yet we are found to be standing strong with the Almighty backing us up. Keep going, keep calling, and keep pushing forward one step and victory at a time.
The victory is inevitable; we are Americans.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:31amBoy! to all my SHEEPLE friends. I am really glad the politicians in Washington got the message from this past November. We sure told them Huh!
Report Post »annieoakley
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:31amAmen!
Report Post »ltb
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:34amGee, a Congress and a President who hate America are signing a treaty with communists who hate America… I wonder how this is going to pan out?
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:36amI can’t believe these so called Republicans are doing this to us. This is sheer stupidity with drastic consequencies.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:36amDo you think the Founding Fathers ever thought or felt they were doomed? No doubt. But when in doubt what did they do? They put it in writing and as one group pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor…So Help ME GOD. And they got the job done. Did it cost them? Yep! Was it worth it? Damn straight. How about 233+ years of freedom. Why should we be any different? Get Prepared. No Compromise…. and Merry Christmas.
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:44amA few weeks ago all I heard was how “different” it was going to be. Well, they were right. They are the Lords and Masters, we are the serfs. What’s new?
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:46amEvery flippin one of them.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:43pmSome of these Senators’ inboxes are full.
Report Post »Better_Red_than_Dead
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:43pmWhat’s so bad about this treaty? It reduces our and Russia’s nuclear stockpiles which will save us millions (if not billions) in upkeep costs and lessen the chance one of Russia’s weapons winds up in the wrong hands, while still leaving the United States with enough nuclear ordnance to decimate the globe, if we so chose.
Seems pretty reasonable.
Report Post »hickoryrat
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 12:52pmWe will remember these traitors
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:02pm@ Better – the problem with this Bill is not that it cuts nules, it‘s that it severely limits the USA’s ability to develop and deploy any kind of missilbe defense system. Russia has already said that if we deploy any anti-missile weapons to Europe, they will back out of the treaty. While cutting nuke counts is great, it also makes it more difficult to defend ourselves from enemy attack. If N Korea or Iran got thier hands on reliable long-range nukes, we would have fewer ways to defend ourselves. We also would not be allowed to defend our friends in Europe or Israel with anti-missile technologies deployed overseas.
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:05pmPlease one of you traitors in our government that are voting for this tell me how getting rid of our weapons makes us safer against people who want to kill us! You candy boy liberals think that giving out lollipops and bending over solves all the problems in the world don’t you!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:13pmThere is too much politics surrounding this. But here are some people who support the treaty. The majority of Americans for one (http://www.gallup.com/poll/145184/majority-supports-ratification-start-treaty.aspx0).
Who else? I’ll leave out the Democrats: President George H.W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, James Baker (Secretary of State under W. Bush), Henry Kissinger, all current US military leaders, many of which served under Bush, Colin Powell, Brent Scowcroft (Nation Security Advisor under Ford and Bush), etc. Here’s a list for you: http://www.armscontrol.org/issuebriefs/bipartisanNewSTARTSupport
The only people against it Republicans who see political gain in blocking anything Obama tries to do. Current and past military leaders, national security advisors and the American public would like to see the treaty passed.
Don’t worry Blazers, the US will still have enough nukes to destroy every man, woman and child on the planet several times over.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:22pmTaking names!!!! Need to find Conservatives to PRIMARY THESE turncoats.
Report Post »Better_Red_than_Dead
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:25pm@ROGUE
The missile defense shield isn’t included within this treaty, that’s a separate issue. Indeed, one of the things we’re currently trying to negotiate with Russia is a joint NATO-Russia shield that will protect the whole of the European continent, and the New START Treaty is seen as one way to help foster trust between our often tenuous nations.
As for North Korea – after this treaty, we’ll only be limited to 1,550 nuclear weapons. That’s enough to glass all of North Korea a hundred times over. We could vaporize it entirely and turn South Korea into an island, if we wanted to. I don’t think we have to much to worry about as far as being “weakened.”
SavvyCowboy
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:34pmAgreed – throw EVERY bum out! Communists WIN – USA loses. BIG TIME!!
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 1:40pmSnowleopard, that sounds great but with the country under the leadership of Obama and other progressives I am wondering if God will remain with us(as a nation) we keep winking at evil with our “don‘t ask don’t tell”, abortion, as well as a multitude of other things and God will remove his hand of grace from this once great nation and we will go the route of other nations that disobeyed his laws..Does Sodom and Gomorrah ring a bell? Besides, we all know what fate the Bible describes for this world and the on coming 1 world government.
Report Post »American Jingoist
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 2:28pmI am and will be working to see that Senator “DICK” Lugar does not make it out of the Primary in 2012, and I know there are thousands here in Indiana who will be working with me to see his term ends.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 2:36pmIt is beyond me why these people want to kiss up to Russia this way unless there is money involved. That surely is the reason for the Repubs risking the wrath of the voters. Somebody tell me what WE gained in the deal.
Report Post »VTSickFreak
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 3:52pmCling tightly to your God and your guns!
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 4:02pmWouldn’t it be nice if they voted for cloture only to kill it on the floor?
Wishful thinking, I know, but it would’ve been fun to see.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 4:18pmI have to agree with snowleopard I hear a lot of whining, throwing up of hands.. etc.. time to wake up.. we have to do things one day at a time..what would have happened IF the founding fathers had taken that attitude? first thing is take a deep breath, find out who voted against it and tell them THANK YOU than find out who voted for it and tell them you will be working on replacing them when they are up for re-election.. let them know ALL eyes are upon them.. they actually think people aren’t paying attention because of the impending holidays… let them know we are watching and will only take the same day off they do CHRISTMAS DAY.. NEW YEARS DAY..
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 5:50pm@ Better – thanks for the response. Maybe I was not clear, as it seems you missed my point. The START treaty implicitly limits our use of defensive anti-ballistic weapons systems. You must have a layered defense when it comes to trying to intercept intercontinental missiles. If we were to determine that South Korea needed additional defense against missiles, should Russia have final say on where we place defense systems, and how many we can use?
As for your comment about cutting down Nukes, I already said, reducing nukes is a good thing. Yes we still have plenty to vaporize the entire surface of the planet. The number of offensive weapons doesn‘t constitute your country’s defenses – sure, it may be a deterrent against attack, but is not going to keep launched missiles from landing in a city near you. Weakening our arsenal is not my concern…. my concern is if someone were to fire 12 nukes at us, we are able to shoot down all 12 before they reach their destinations.
Simply put, Russia should have no say in where we place our defensive systems. Never before has a treaty such as this ties together the use of offensive and defensive weapons. When another country can dictate the level of security we offer our citizens and allies around the globe, I say no. Period. Make the START treaty about limiting Offensive Nukes only, and I’d gladly say yes – cut arsenals by 95% as far as I’m concerned.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:46pmBe prepared for what?
You don’t like Republicans, you don’t like Democrats, you don’t like Islam, you don’t like safe food, you don’t like government transparency, you don’t like immigrants, you don’t like gay marriage, and you think everyone in the government is out to get you…
Should I be prepared for you to start taking your Invega Sustenna? Or is it Depression you suffer from? Or are you like a child and don’t know WHAT you want just that you want something and you like to roll over and kick and scream.
Report Post »goku17
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 1:43amWow. You are all terribly uninformed and obviously Glenn Beck watchers. You don’t know a damned thing about START, which, by the way was started by Ronald Reagan. Do your research you idiots!
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 7:31amLugar = Internationalist = anti-American sovereignty = traitor
Report Post »Slayer
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 9:11amThe Left is back to their ‘peace at any price’ and ‘peace through a weak America’ mentality. Can anyone remember one treaty where the Russians kept their word?
Report Post »The Russians are west of China and north of the Islamic states and people SERIOUSLY BELIEVE they want to disarm their nukes?
I contacted Isackson’s office and told him to vote no – for what it’s worth. Funny, I went to the GOP website and hit the contact button – IT DOESN’T WORK. Is there any wonder why I left the GOP years ago and went to the Conservatives?
This is nothing more than the GOP taking revenge on us for supporting the TEA Party. They will pay dearly in 2012 for this outrage.
Miguelito
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 9:40amThe 11 Republicans voting for this treaty need to go when they can be voted out! Let’s get to work!
Report Post »Curioso
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 10:54amI was at the VA the other day and was talking to a world war 2 vet about what is going on in our country and he said that it was all over we waited to long to get our priorities straight. They fought and died to keep us free and what have we done we have elected scum bags and crooks to represent us. So you might say we are getting exactly what we deserve. It is going to be a hard row to plow to get back.
Report Post »Without some kind of Divine intervention there is no solution to our present situation.