DeMint Caves, Won’t Force Reading of New START

[sasha031]

Jim DeMint decided against forcing a reading of the new START treaty on the floor of the Senate. He’s hilariously trying to spin this as a victory because Harry Reid delayed the opening of the debate one day.
"Senator DeMint opposes ramming the controversial START Treaty in the lame duck session. After Senator DeMint asked for the entire treaty to be read aloud to slow down the process, Senator Reid relented and agreed to delay the debate until tomorrow.”
In reality, there wasn’t going to be a vote today, so there’s no difference here. Reid and McConnell made a deal to start debate tomorrow. The Senate voted to bring forward debate on the new START treaty by the robust count of 66-32. That actually would have won if it were the final vote, because you only need 2/3 of those voting to pass. And anyway, Democrat Evan Bayh did not vote. So there appear to be 67 votes in hand. Republicans voting in favor included:ennett, Scott Brown, Collins, Graham, Lugar, McCain, Murkowski, Snowe, Voinovich
Here’s my favorite part of this:
"Mr. Reid struck a deal with his Republican counterpart, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, to begin substantive debate on Thursday. Mr. DeMint, his arms crossed, sat on the floor and appeared unhappy as the deal was announced."
Wahhhh.This doesn’t mean that the votes are definitely there for new START, but it puts supporters in a pretty strong position. The main thing that might derail it, in fact, is if the government funding issue takes days to sort out, and a final vote can’t happen. But for now, DeMint caved.
http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/15/demint-caves-wont-force-reading-of-new-start/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[Lasher]

1. Finally there's something to make the Republicans cave.

Threaten to take away their big long vacation. This is more important to them than the fate of the START treaty.

[Old and In the Way]

2. What a dickhead.

Another do nothing Senator that prefers theatrics to doing the work he was elected to do.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. DeMint CAVED because

Reid came out swinging, and Gibbs called him out openly in the presser. They were both on message: he's putting petty political tricks over national security. DeMint ran like hell after this was repeated non-stop on the networks.

DeMint also tried to force an amendment into the Tax Bill that would require the extension in unemplyment insurance to be paid for by cuts in other programs. He was soundly defeated on that amendment, though he'll no doubt take it back to his teabagger supporters and pretend he's a deficit buster. He's getting his ass kicked up and down the aisle this week.

[Historic NY]

4. +100

[David Zephyr]

5. DeMint caved not to Obama, but to the Bush International Machine

The Bush Cabal wants START and therefore they will get START.

End of subject.