GOP playing crass politics with nuclear treaty
According to Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ratification of the New START treaty with Russia is “essential to our future security.” Every single member of the joint chiefs backs him in that conclusion.
Republican foreign policy experts from Henry Kissinger to Condoleezza Rice also urge the treaty’s approval by the U.S. Senate, noting that without the treaty, the United States will be unable to inspect Russia’s nuclear arsenal, unable to carry out Ronald Reagan’s dictum of “trust but verify.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has challenged his fellow party members to have the guts to step forward and do their duty to their country.
“Every senator has an obligation in the national security interest to take a stand, to do his or her duty,” Lugar said last week. “Maybe people would prefer not to do his or her duty right now. Sometimes when you prefer not to vote, you attempt to find reasons not to vote.”
“If we don’t get the treaty, [the Russians] are not constrained in their development of force structure and… we have no insight into what they’re doing,” according to Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of the U.S. Strategic Command. “So it’s the worst of both possible worlds.”
But Senate Republicans refuse to step up to approve the arms control pact, which requires a two-thirds majority. None of their professed “reasons” make sense. For example, they complain that not enough is being spent on modernizing the nation’s existing nuclear arsenal, which will retain 1,550 warheads. Yet the Obama administration has committed $84 billion over 10 years to the task, which many experts say is unnecessary and which is considerably more than the Bush administration had spent.
Yet it is allegedly not enough. Not as long as President Barack Obama occupies the White House. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has publicly and repeatedly announced that his No. 1 goal over the next two years is to defeat Obama, and this demonstrates the ludricrous, dangerous lengths that he is willing to take to achieve that goal.
It is telling that in 2002, when President Bush brought an arms reduction treaty before the Senate, it passed by a vote of 100-0.
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia. voted in favor of the treaty in committee, but has not promised to supporting it in a floor vote. He can be contacted at his Senate office. His seatmate, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, is also noncommittal. He too can be contacted at his Senate office.
There is no excuse for this, no rationalization that explains it in any way other than a crass political ploy on an issue of unchallenged national security importance.
It is shameful.
UPDATE: Here’s Sam Nunn explaining why it’s important to ratify the treaty.
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267 comments Add your comment
TaxPayer
November 22nd, 2010
9:25 am
If there were even a single solitary Republican not voting in lockstep with all the rest of these compassionate conservatives, then at least a claim that it is not a partisan effort could be supported with one single solitary piece of viable evidence. I’m not holding my breath, just my nose. Republicans Reek.
Jay
November 22nd, 2010
9:25 am
Sam Nunn strongly advocates ratification. Up above, I’ve posted a video of Nunn explaining its importance.
JohnnyReb
November 22nd, 2010
9:26 am
Granny, it is my understanding the treaty would limit the number of aircraft, not just capabilities.
retired early
November 22nd, 2010
9:27 am
Gabriel
What part of “the entire uniformed Command” unanimously endorse signing the treaty do you have a problem with. That’s credibility.
These new GOP Senators…do they know more than these aforementioned Generals, admirals, etc who put the treaty together?
They just want to deny Obama any credit at all cost. What could be more obvious. It is disgraceful.
The voters in KY should vote McConnell out based on this one thing only. He is a self serving traitor.
thomas
November 22nd, 2010
9:27 am
Bosch
November 22nd, 2010
9:12 am
No, no, no Jay says that if the Bill doesn’t pass now it will not pass at all!
@@
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 am
So is the Cold War on or off. Wasn’t that long ago, the left was proclaiming it was a figment of the GOP’s imagination. The pronouncement was brought forth by Jimmy Carter, if I’m not mistaken.
Has Obama got any ideas as to North Korea’s nuclear capabilities?
jay, do you know why Obama changed his mind about the Afghanistan withdrawal? First it was 2011….now it’s 2014!!??!!
Jay
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 am
Yup Thomas, because if a Senate of 41 Republicans balks at approving it, it becomes almost impossible with a Senate with 47 Republicans.
And if this were about “getting a win,” why wouldn’t Obama want to delay his “win” until next year or the year after, when it was closer to another election?
It makes no sense. None.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
9:31 am
SoCo – don’t go talking to us about liberal smears … we know you’re the one behind the nekkid airport screening pictures currently floating around the interwebs … sicko
If I want to see WOMEN nekkid, I go to the strip clubs. I don’t know why the flying public is so worried. I can guess that about 95-98% of the TSA workers don’t wanna be subjected to seeing images of people coming thru the airports, and about that same amount don’t wanna have to touch them either. The main reason that they do that is because of things like mortgages, bills, and such.
Now the next time you come thru… I’ll be ready with the scanner for you.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 22nd, 2010
9:31 am
SoCo – don’t go talking to us about liberal smears … we know you’re the one behind the nekkid airport screening pictures currently floating around the interwebs … sicko
And the prevert wants me to park my beer truck at the airport so him and his buddies can get blasted after they get their fill of nekkid pictures.
I don’t know nothing about this treaty. All I know is, what with the wars winding down, we’re going to need to start another one to get the economy going and get Patriotic Republicans elected.
Have a good day everybody.
jm
November 22nd, 2010
9:31 am
BREAKING NEWS: DEMOCRATS PLAYING CRASS POLITICS OVER LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MANAGEMENT.
Finding a good new superintendent will not be easy. Meanwhile, kids are suffering. Progress is not being made at APS. And the AJC is playing no small part in further fueling the fire.
@@
November 22nd, 2010
9:31 am
‘Scuse me….the original pronouncement was brought forth by Jimmy.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
9:35 am
And the prevert wants me to park my beer truck at the airport so him and his buddies can get blasted after they get their fill of nekkid pictures.
Redneck, you got it wrong. The beer is to scrub those images out of everybody’s minds. Imagine your worst dream about Sister Dusty, and then multiply that by 25. That’s what TSA screeners have to deal with every day they work. It would take a lot of beer to remove that image from your brain.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
9:36 am
SoCo – 9:31 –
I wouldn’t want to touch most of my fellow travelers, either
and unless names and e-mails are attached with the ghost porn, I don’t know what the fuss is about …
TaxPayer
November 22nd, 2010
9:38 am
At least the Democratic Party has diversity of thought and beliefs under its big tent, unlike the Republican Party, the Party of Unified No. Their big tent extends only as far as the nay sayers.
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
9:39 am
Nope but the b52 is Johnny Reb. So cut 20 B52’s and replace them with 10 B2’s. Cut 50 F117’s and replace them with a lesser number of of newer aircraft. F14’s, 15’s and 16’s are old and thus maintenance intensive. The treaty limits NUMBERS, so get rid of the hordes of old aircraft we have. RIght now, with what we have, we could take on the whole world in a war of “air superiority.”
Thus your comment that suggests we have to give up our entire air force is the thing that is ridiculous…………. But we damn sure could cut it back and modernize it……….
@@
November 22nd, 2010
9:40 am
I’m wondering if Russia would close our supply lines into Afghanistan if Obama doesn’t acquiesce on START.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
9:40 am
http://www.rhymeswithorange.com/2010/11/november-20-2010/
I mean. seriously.
TaxPayer
November 22nd, 2010
9:41 am
I think the Republicans are actually the Borg.
Normal
November 22nd, 2010
9:42 am
SoCo,
Is it don’t ask, don’t tell at the scanners?
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
9:43 am
ghost porn?????
James D. Savage
November 22nd, 2010
9:43 am
Once again the Republicans think it is more important to destroy Obama then to do whats best for this country . What a bunch of anti-american jerks.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
9:44 am
Normal
More like… who knows, who cares.
Bosch
November 22nd, 2010
9:46 am
Sam Nunn is the man.
RB from Gwinnett
November 22nd, 2010
9:47 am
Palin bad, Purdue bad, Republicans bad….
Blah Blah Blah…
It’s tiresome Jay. If you can’t find anything better to write, do the city a favor and move on.
Jay
November 22nd, 2010
9:49 am
and yet you visit here repeatedly, RB.
Admit it: You just can’t quit me.
Deep Throat
November 22nd, 2010
9:49 am
More liberal jibberish, do ya’ll ever get tired of the bs you’re spewing ?
Don't Forget
November 22nd, 2010
9:50 am
The republicans have defined themselves as the “true” Americans. So anything that doesn’t benefit them is of no interest to them.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
9:52 am
damn, Jay. warn us when you’re going to write something like your 9:49 … some of us don’t want to picture RB that way …
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
9:53 am
Bosch – 9:46 – well, other than the don’t ask/don’t tell thing …
Jimmy62
November 22nd, 2010
9:53 am
Didn’t Obama have the chance to extend the previous START and refused? And the new one has actual problems, like allowing Russia to encrypt certain things we were able to read previously?
Interesting how the story changes when you get all the facts. Looks like this is just a way the Dems are finding to make the GOP look bad. But when all the facts are mentioned, it looks a lot more like Dems playing politics and the GOP trying to make the right decision for the US.
retired early
November 22nd, 2010
9:54 am
Some leadership from the GOP Senators.
They are just waiting to hear what Rush has to say on his radio broadcast so they will know how to vote, and we all remember what he said about wanting Obama to fail.
Unbelievable.
thomas
November 22nd, 2010
9:54 am
Jay
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 am
Seems like you are just trying to use fear to gather support.
All these years you have spent being critical of the GOP turns out you were simply spying on them… cause this is straight out of their handbook on fear mongering..
Feel proud!
Bosch
November 22nd, 2010
9:56 am
So, wingnuts — your argument today is that this is a bad treaty — and you say this against what everyone with experience in this arena say and take the word of current GOP Senators with no experience in this arena.
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
9:57 am
What I find particularly interesting (yes I just watched the Nunn video) is that despite a clear reversal of position for no apparent reason other THAT ensuring that Obama doesn’t get the ‘credit.,” the Rep posting here have provided nothing other than name calling.
Are you people that blind? Are you that stupid? Rather than hold your party leadera feet to the fire to do something FOR America, you want to attack the messenger. That just doesn’t make any sense to me.
The issue is clear to someone not wearing partisan goggles. I don’t understand you fanatics and your stupid blind “loyalty” to a party that cares nothing for you, the citizen, only to themselves and their personal POWER. That last statement includes BOTH sets of mindless fanatics, the lefties and the righties. Your heads really won’t explode if you ever try to think for yourselves………
Deep Throat
November 22nd, 2010
9:57 am
retierd early,
its not about wanting Oblunder to fail, he just can’t help himself, two more years and he’s done.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
9:58 am
Jay @ 9:49…
heeheehee!!!
Nice Guy
November 22nd, 2010
10:01 am
Jay – “It is telling that in 2002, when President Bush brought an arms reduction treaty before the Senate, it passed by a vote of 100-0.”
It’s not as telling if you consider that in 2002 the country was united, the majority of politics was not cut throat since we were fresh off the 9-11 attacks. Had Bush proposed the same treaty in, say, 2007, there may have been a different result.
I want to be clear, that, I am not condoning the Repubs behavior on this one, but throwing out that line above doesn’t have the ring to it you were hoping for Jay.
Bosch
November 22nd, 2010
10:01 am
USinUK,
Nunn and DADT? I think at the time, that was the most reasonable compromise. You have to remember the time and put it in context. I think at that time, that was a huge step towards equal rights for homosexuals in the armed forces.
Nice Guy
November 22nd, 2010
10:04 am
Bosch – “and you say this against what everyone with experience in this arena say and take the word of current GOP Senators with no experience in this arena.”
Kind of like Obama listening to his Cabinet (who have close to zero private sector experience) on economic issues rather than listening to economists.
Ok, got it.
Donovan
November 22nd, 2010
10:05 am
We have two principal enemies to consider. One that resides in this country and one that resides outside of this country. Priorities first. We need to deal with the regime running this country first and then deal with the threat existing in Russia. Democrats should never be allowed to handle foreign security matters, based on their their liberal ideology and inept track record in foreign affairs. Why do you think that the Russians are so interested in getting this deal done before 2012? This treaty will get done after the Obamination of this country expires. Until then, the Republicans know full well that the real deal makers need to be in place and in full authority of Congress. Politics? Probably. This stalemate has occured as a direct result of inept people hijacking this country’s policies.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:07 am
Bosch – well, it is definitely a study in unintended consequences – from what I’ve read, there were more people kicked out of the forces AFTER it was enacted than before
Jay
November 22nd, 2010
10:08 am
“Why do you think that the Russians are so interested in getting this deal done before 2012? “
No doubt for the same reason that they were in such a hurry to conclude arms deals with Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.
I mean really, is this the best you can do?
Clearly it is.
jewcowboy
November 22nd, 2010
10:09 am
USinUK,
“EUROPEAN-STYLE socialist agenda (with a Kenyan twist)”
Sound like a new cocktail at the W Hotel.
joe
November 22nd, 2010
10:09 am
Bad GOP, now go to your room and think about what you’ve done!
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:11 am
jcb – I hate it when they get off-message …
RB from Gwinnett
November 22nd, 2010
10:12 am
“Admit it: You just can’t quit me.”
Somebody has to keep the biased agendas the liberal media passes off as “news” in check, Jay. Thats why I come here.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
10:13 am
Democrats should never be allowed to handle foreign security matters, based on their their liberal ideology and inept track record in foreign affairs. Why do you think that the Russians are so interested in getting this deal done before 2012?
And somebody tried to say it wasn’t for partisan reasons???
AmVet
November 22nd, 2010
10:13 am
After decades of deadly, failed and incompetent foreign policy by the War First, War Last, War Always Republicans, why should things be any different now?
I remember 47 years ago toady pretty vividly. We were let out of school around one o’clock, which for an 8 year old was great news! I really didn’t quite understand what had happened but I felt the enormous agony and sadness of all the adults and knew somehow that the world had been changed forever.
And the one image of those days that is forever seared into my mind is of a very small John John saluting the flag draped coffin in that horse drawn hearse moving up the street.
To have not been deeply touched by that, regardless of one’s age or beliefs or situation, was to have no heart.
The end of America innocence…
@@
November 22nd, 2010
10:15 am
Even WaPo is seeing thru Obama’s ploy.
Start with the New START treaty that Obama has made a priority for the lame-duck Senate, at a time when Americans don’t yet know what income tax rate they will pay on Jan.
1. The treaty resembles the landmark U.S.-Soviet arms control treaties that were negotiated in the years after Obama wrote his article – and it would perpetuate their important verification measures.
The difference is that no one stages marches today about U.S. and Soviet – now Russian – strategic weapons, and with good reason. The danger of a war between the two states is minuscule; and treaty or no, Russia’s arsenal is very likely to dwindle in the coming years. The threat of nuclear weapons now comes from rogue states such as North Korea, Iran and Syria, and maybe from terrorist organizations. Obama believes that U.S.-Russian treaties will lead to better containment of that threat – but that’s at best an indirect benefit.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/21/AR2010112103771.html
In all things foreign, Obama desperately seeks to be a major player on the world stage. This is nothing more than his wanting to distract from the more important issues facing Americans.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:15 am
“Why do you think that the Russians are so interested in getting this deal done before 2012?”
well, the Olympics ARE coming up … they have things to do, steroids to take …
Del
November 22nd, 2010
10:15 am
Congress has greater priorities to take care of during this lame duck session. This isn’t the time to take up the Start Treaty.
jewcowboy
November 22nd, 2010
10:15 am
USinUK,
“I hate it when they get off-message …”
Off message or off their meds?
jm
November 22nd, 2010
10:18 am
Wait. You mean, Harry Reid wasn’t playing crass politics with environmental legislation when he threw it and the illegal immigrant legislation under the bus?
You mean dems don’t play crass politics when they defer writing an actual budget past the end of the fiscal year? You mean dems don’t play crass politics when they defer actually resolving a serious and significant tax issue until after an election and still can’t get their act together?
Jay, yes, the Republicans deserve criticism for this BS. But perhaps more to the point, the system and whatever is going on in DC deserves criticism. The turkeys are on both sides of the aisle.
Too bad we can’t just cook all the turkeys on Thursday.
Bye Bye Empire
November 22nd, 2010
10:18 am
“More liberal jibberish, do ya’ll ever get tired of the bs you’re spewing ?”
It’d be fun to have a brain scan of what happens when these characters are being dashed off.
I wonder, would the screen remain flat-lined through the whole procedure?
Bosch
November 22nd, 2010
10:19 am
“Kind of like Obama listening to his Cabinet (who have close to zero private sector experience) on economic issues rather than listening to economists.
Ok, got it.”
Actually with comments like that, no I don’t think you do “get it.”
Nice AM radio talking point though.
@@
November 22nd, 2010
10:20 am
Oh, and jay? When it comes to the hawks you quoted. Make no mistake about it, their interests START in Afghanistan.
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
10:20 am
RB from Gwinnett
November 22nd, 2010
10:12 am
Somebody has to keep the biased agendas the liberal media passes off as “news” in check, Jay. Thats why I come here.
++++++++++++++++++++
And as has become the norm for Republicans nowadays RB, you are either a liar or too stupid to understand. This isn’t a “news” blog, it’s an OPINION blog. Jay isn’t “reporting” he’s opining.
To help cleat things up for your befuddled mind, he’s not “passing” anything (other than gas perhaps) liberal or conservative off as “news.”
So which is it, you just don’t understand the difference between opinion and news, or are you a liar trying to obfuscate the issue?
Common Sense isn't very Common
November 22nd, 2010
10:24 am
Which is worse quick annilation via nukes (Russia) or slow painful economic death due to high taxes, lack of jobs, etc (China)
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:25 am
““Kind of like Obama listening to his Cabinet (who have close to zero private sector experience) on economic issues rather than listening to economists.
Ok, got it.”
Actually with comments like that, no I don’t think you do “get it.””
Bosch –
dude. talk about making a point that is exactly OPPOSITE of the thesis at hand. I had skimmed over that comment – thanks for highlighting!
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
10:25 am
Congress has greater priorities to take care of during this lame duck session. This isn’t the time to take up the Start Treaty.
I agree. It should have been taken care of before it expired last year.
Mr_B
November 22nd, 2010
10:27 am
“Congress has greater priorities to take care of during this lame duck session. This isn’t the time to take up the Start Treaty”
This ought to take all of about twenty minutes. Say, we eliminate one of Boehner’s tanning bed sessions.
jewcowboy
November 22nd, 2010
10:27 am
If the Republicans wish to derail the treaty ratification then they need to take personal responsibility for any future breakdown in relations with Russia, as well as any future catastrophes involving loose Russian fissile material.
What strikes me a quite interesting is that the Republicans want to go to war with Iran over their potential nuclear weaponry, yet are quite fine sitting back and doing nothing about 7000+ nuclear weapons in a barely stable Russia.
Doesn’t give much hope for Republicans to show much in terms of personal responsibility does it?
AmVet
November 22nd, 2010
10:29 am
Common Sense isn’t very Common, you’ve come close to addressing one of the fallouts of the neo-con War on the Middle Class, that I have noted before.
The Reagan foisted Mutually Assured Destruction of Economies – MADE.
We spend as much as the rest of the planet combined on our war machine and the chickenhawks think it is STILL too little!
They should all be water-boarded. By Dick Cheney…
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:31 am
AmVet – “They should all be water-boarded. By Dick Cheney…”
BY Dick Cheney???
he should be at the head of the queue
Bosch
November 22nd, 2010
10:32 am
USinUK,
No problem. It’s my mission to expose the stoopid.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/dec/02/glenn-beck/beck-says-less-10-percent-obama-cabinet-members-ha/
jm
November 22nd, 2010
10:32 am
Democrats are monumental mismanagers of government. (I don’t care if I just made a word up vis-a-vis “mismanagers”)
So are Republicans. Apparently it doesn’t matter who we vote for. They’re all incompetent.
Vote for Mitch Daniels, Michael Bloomberg, Tim Pawlenty, or maybe Chris Christie for President 2012….
jewcowboy
November 22nd, 2010
10:34 am
Bosch,
“It’s my mission to expose the stoopid.”
That’s a more than full time job with some on this blog
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
10:34 am
LOL jm. It’s funny how the times have changed. I used to say Tax and Spend Democrats drive us into debt. Now I say Cut-tax and spend more Republicans drive us into debt…………..
Del
November 22nd, 2010
10:34 am
“yet are quite fine sitting back and doing nothing about 7000+ nuclear weapons in a barely stable Russia.” If Russia is that unstable maybe more time does need to be spent in examining this treaty.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:35 am
“If Russia is that unstable maybe more time does need to be spent in examining this treaty”
Del, you’re going to make Condi cry … why don’t you trust her assessment of the treaty? don’t you think she’s a bit clued-in to Russia’s stability?
jm
November 22nd, 2010
10:36 am
Hey Bosch, that’s not just a Beck assertion. That criticism has come from a wide group of business publications.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/24/michael-cembalest-obama-business-beltway-cabinet.html
Beck is just a megaphone.
barking frog
November 22nd, 2010
10:36 am
The Treaty will be ratified. Russia will join NATO. The
Missile Shield will be built to defend Europe and Russia
from ‘Iran’(China).The WW2 allies will be rejoined, this time
including Germany. The ‘oil’ money will leave the Euro and
return to the dollar and the EU will collapse.
China will now be used as the ‘bad guy’
to scare US taxpayers into giving up dollars to feed the
‘military industrial complex’ for things like tanks to
Afghanistan to use against terrorists armed with pipe
bombs and AK47 assault rifles. All is well with the
Republic.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
10:37 am
No problem. It’s my mission to expose the stoopid.
So… Bosch, which one is you?
http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Mission_Impossible_TV_Show/mission_impossible_the_second_season_dvd_s.jpg
AmVet
November 22nd, 2010
10:38 am
Ex-pat, to be clear, of course the draft dodging Dickhead gets water-boarded.
By that paragon of valor and courage under fire, Sean Hannity.
Who then donates all the proceeds to the Roger Ailes, Triple Chin Relief Fund.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:38 am
“Hey Bosch, that’s not just a Beck assertion. That criticism has come from a wide group of business publications”
just because the right wing is an echo chamber doesn’t mean it’s right.
Del
November 22nd, 2010
10:39 am
USinUK, Condi Rice is certainly a fine person in my view but last I heard she wasn’t involved in negotiating the details of this agreement.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:40 am
SoCo – you have to ask??? he’s SOOOO Martin Landau!
because of this: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4153119488/tt0072564
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:41 am
Del – but she is endorsing the treaty
AmVet
November 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
Yad Kennedy.
On top of an 825 m, high mountain is a monument in the shape of a cut tree trunk, symbolizing a life cut short; dedicated to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, who was assassinated in 1963. 51 columns, each bearing the emblem of a state of the Union, plus the District of Colombia, encircle the mountaintop memorial. An eternal flame burns in the very center. The site was opened in 1966 with funds donated by Jewish communities in the USA. The monument and adjoining picnic grounds are part of the John F. Kennedy Peace Forest.
http://www.holidayinisrael.com/ViewPage.asp?lid=1&pid=358
jewcowboy
November 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
“last I heard she wasn’t involved in negotiating the details of this agreement.”
Probably shopping at Ferragamo…
jm
November 22nd, 2010
10:44 am
Lots of truth in this AJC statement. Worthy of consideration.
“And finally, there needs to be a thorough analysis of whether Atlanta Public Schools is better off if the mayor of the city is ultimately responsible for its success. In other cities, this model has worked in pushing reform and accountability. ”
But there ought to be someone, or a group of people that can audit and ensure the Superintendent (and mayor, were Bill Campbell still around) are not up to shenanigans. But the age of the BOE is over….
thomas
November 22nd, 2010
10:44 am
Don’t know if Condi is such a good example of whom to place our fate in?
She was part of the Bush Adminstration that had the faulty Intel on WMD in Iraq right?
Why are we all positive her information is accurate this time?
Or that it is not another conspriracy to engage us in another war and she is simply lying to the American Public again?
TaxPayer
November 22nd, 2010
10:46 am
Condi Rice is certainly a fine person in my view but last I heard she wasn’t involved in negotiating the details of this agreement.
And yet she has managed to still do more than the entire collective Republican Borg has in two whole years.
retired early
November 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
On this anniversary of JFK’s death I am reminded of how much times have changed.
We used to respect the President and the Presidency, whomever was in office. You read these blogs and realize that we, as Americans, have become bitterly divided and now even hostile toward a sitting president for no apparent reason.
I sincerely believe that Obama picked his advisors from the best and brightest. I believe he has listened to their advice and set policy with one goal…to do what is best for all Americans.
Now, I read pure hate in these blogs with no justification for it. Even if you disagree with some of his policies, which is your right, show some respect for him as president and stop the name calling.
Regardless of what choose to believe, He is respected around the world, but unfortunately not by some of the very Americans he is trying to help in his own country.
Donovan
November 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
Russia is really run by Putin. He still is a dedicated commie in sheep’s clothing. Hence, commies eat liberals for lunch on any given day. Once again, let’s get rid of Obama and deal with SALT later.
barking frog
November 22nd, 2010
10:48 am
No one questions the lack of participation of our
’sock puppet’ in ‘nuclear armament’ negotiations.
Does the world understand what the people of
the US do not? We own the UN and the President
is undeclared Emperor of the World.
Shawny
November 22nd, 2010
10:48 am
uhm…..you have a couple of other axis of evil countries to worry about first.
Del
November 22nd, 2010
10:50 am
USinUK, and she could be right in her endorsement. It just seems to me that this treaty doesn’t need to be on the lame duck docket as a priority and if any congress member regardless of party affiliation has reservations about the treaties provisions, those reservations deserve discussion.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
10:50 am
UnU
I had at least figured out that he wasn’t Barbara Bain.
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
10:50 am
thomas
November 22nd, 2010
10:44 am
She was part of the Bush Adminstration that had the faulty Intel on WMD in Iraq right?
+++++++++++++++++++++
Who furnished that info? Could it possibly be the Director of the CIA who was named by Bill Clinton? Why yes, I do believe it was. Colin Powell received the same information and acted upon it as well. Is HE a liar? I don’t think so and you’ll have to have a lot of indisputable evidence to convince me otherwise.
Being fed faulty info by the “experts” you trust does not make you a liar. Twisting facts to suit your weak positions does…………. or was that too subtle for you?
jm
November 22nd, 2010
10:51 am
Bosch, Soco, why don’t you read the article. Very accurate and statistics based.
One thing is clear: The current administration, compared with past Democratic and Republican ones, marks a departure from the traditional reliance on a balance of public- and private-sector experiences.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/24/michael-cembalest-obama-business-beltway-cabinet.html
Don’t join the crowd of liberals that prefer to ignore the facts when they’re staring them in the face. Denial is a bad state….. causes you to lose midterms. And re-election campaigns….. wait, already happened.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
November 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
I respectfully note that our host offers not a single reason to adopt the treaty, only a list of endorsements. Unlike our leftist brethren, we do not accept “endorsements” as a basis for action; we require reason.
A reasonable mind is suspicious of the “bum’s rush” the opponents receive for asking time to examine the treaty.
(1) Is it true that Russia has 10,000 tactical nuclear weapons outside the scope of the new START? What prevents those weapons from winding up in the hands of terrorists?
(2) President Obama, playing crass politics over the START, threatens to withhold funds approved to modernize the US nuclear arsenal until the treaty is approved. US security and military needs ought not be held hostage to Chauncey’s political preferences.
(3) We don’t need a new treaty with Russia. Russia is not a threat to the US, and the US is not a threat to Russia.
barking frog
November 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
retired early
November 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
——————————————————-
I think you may attach more importance to these comments
than they deserve.
Southern Comfort
November 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
Donovan
SALT or START?? I thought the blog topic was on START.
AmVet
November 22nd, 2010
10:53 am
I guess had the Once Grand Old Party had even one significant foreign policy accomplishment since Nixon, the world would give them an ounce of credibility.
Instead they have managed to prop up endless right-wing dictators, thugs and murderers and screw up almost everything across the globe since 1972…
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:54 am
Del – “those reservations deserve discussion”
please. this has nothing to do with “reservations” – this has to do with “hell no!!!”
see: the Isaakson example cited earlier.
USinUK
November 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
SoCo – he’s only Barbara Bain on the occasional wild weekend …
pat
November 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
Hmmm, seems not all the facts are in order here. The Russian Palimant has already revoked the START 2 treaty, that’s problem one. Secondly, most Republican resistance is due to the hurried nature during the lame duck sessions. There are some legit concerns need to be hammered out. Like for instance, Russia is already providing our friends the Iranians with nuclear material and has assisted and defended their nuclear program. You’re nieve if you think they’ll just stop.
Further, the actual fact is that all indicators is that the senate will ratify the treaty, not the other way around. So the whole premise behind your blog is actually false.
http://www.ikbis.com/channels/rt/268538
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Donovan
November 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
Once again, let’s get rid of Obama and deal with SALT later.
+++++++++++++++
“On March 17, 2009, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signaled that Russia would begin a “large-scale” rearmament and renewal of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. President Medvedev accused NATO of pushing ahead with expansion near Russian borders and ordered that this rearmament commence in 2011 with increased army, naval, and nuclear capabilities. Additionally, the head of Russia’s strategic missile forces, Nikolai Solovtsov, told news agencies that Russia would start deploying its next-generation RS-24 missiles after the December 5 expiry of the START-1 treaty with the United States.”
We are already late to the dance Donovan. The band isn’t setting up, they are playing. They are into the second or third set of their play list. It’s PAST time to put on your dancing shoes………
jewcowboy
November 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
jm,
“Very accurate and statistics based.”
Did you read the link in Bosch’s post at 10.32? It addresses Cembalest’s numbers.
“We tracked down Cembalest to ask about his methodology. He said any effort to address the topic is heavily subjective, and he expressed regret that his work had been used for political ends, saying that it was not his intention to provide fodder for bloggers and talk show hosts.”