Is START going to be delayed until next year or will something get done next

[Kdillard]

week? I am a little confused about its status.

[shraby]

1. My guess is it will get passed next week or directly after

Christmas. They can't afford not to..Russia is making noises about it.

[impik]

3. Honestly, i don't think we have 67 votes. Those bastards will hurt national security for the sake

of defeating Obama.

[Kdillard]

5. Fingers crossed that you are correct. McConnell saying he wasn't supporting it has me a bit

concerned but hopefully we don't need him to get it through.

[frazzled]

2. It's now or never

Delaying anything until after January 3rd is to effectively kill it.

[karynnj]

4. hard to tell

Durbin and Kerry said they think they have the votes. They did get 66 votes on cloture, but that might include some who will now vote against it. There were some who suggested it would not pass if DADT did first. That is just blackmail and childish.

They likely have 57 Democratic vote (Wyden will be in the hospital) That means we need 10 Republicans. I can't imagine where we get them. Next year is far worse.

[Kdillard]

6. I hope Republicans can put aside the childish behavior and let this pass otherwise our relationship

with Russia will be damaged after all the hard work to get it thawed.

[karynnj]

7. I hope so too

I hope that Dick Lugar has enough Republicans, who are not out for a political gain in spite of any foreign policy harm. Given everybody that is publicly fo it, this should be a no brainer.

I have been watching the hearings - and they are playing silly gotcha games. The McCain/Barasso change was a poison bill and designed to be such. Kyl, who was the most capable of those supporting it, was owned by Kerry in the debate. Kyl had retreated to saying that the line in the preamble gave the Russians a legal pretense for leaving the treaty - Kerry read the treaty's words on exiting the agreement - no justification is needed. Obama's letter, which Kerry obtained really did cover this.

The other excuses - and that's what they are include:
- it does not deal with tactical weapons - which is true and that can be done after the treaty is signed.

- it will stop missile defense, which it won't per the military guy running the program. (Not to mention missile defense does not yet come close to working to the degree that the Republican NON_SCIENTIST Senators say - they just failed a major test which was far below the phrase they object to which is missile defense is against limited attacks. It failed against an "attack" where the source and timing were known and there was just one "missile". )

- it doesn't deal with NK or Iran (True the treaty with Russia doesn't, but the impact of not passing it could mean they don't help us on NK and Iran)

There goal is to have the CW:
- that Obama was naive and too experienced to negotiate with the Russians - and is weak on defense

[Clio the Leo]

8. It seems to have votes needed for cloture...

.... at least that's what the Twittersphere thinks .... but this is not like a normal vote (new normal) where cloture basically assures passage. Even if it gets 60 it still needs 67 for final passage.

[Kdillard]

9. I read that the vote will be tomorrow so we will see what happens. I hope we have enough votes.

[Clio the Leo]

10. Yep .... I cant help thinking what idiots the Russians must think we are. nt