The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Amending New START

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A motion to proceed on the New Stategic Arms Reduction Treaty passed the Senate 66-32 today, with nine Republicans voting in favor. Treaties require a 2/3 majority, i.e. 67 votes; one of the two Senators who missed the vote was Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh, who is expected to vote yes, so the treaty would seem on it's face to have just enough support to pass. But a GOP staffer tells John Noonan "if [Reid] doesn't give us votes on amendments I think a few could peel off of the gang of nine."

Republicans are expected to offer several amendments to the treaty tomorrow, assuming they're allowed to. Treaty proponents will argue that these are "treaty killers," but that's nonsense -- the Russians are already preparing to amend the treaty on their end if the Senate alters it. Tweaking New START -- deleting language in the preamble that seems to limit missile defense, for example -- is a good idea, and it would be a mistake for Reid to try to jam the treaty through without doing so.

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bert| 12.16.10 @ 2:30AM

This treaty is a dangerous disgrace and Mitch McConnell could stop this disaster if he wanted to but he is weak K street pawn more interested in his latest cut on any deal.
McConnell needs to be removed .
Please note that Mccain is back to his old ways of undermining the GOP.

Zbigniew Mazurak| 12.17.10 @ 4:42AM

Indeed. McCain, who, like Obama, believes in nuclear disarmament and the goal of a world without nukes, has voted to allow the Senate to consider this disastrous treaty. He's a backstabbing RINO POS. Everyone who endorsed him for a 5th Senate term should be ashamed.

PattyMor| 12.16.10 @ 3:15PM

When you see the RepubRats signing on to the
tax package and the START treaty, do you feel
the Republic is forever slipping away. Are they any politicians on either side that still love the U.S. and will not sell us out? I wonder. The pace of our destruction is breathtaking.