Obama's Russia sanctions put Hill Republicans in a box

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

President Barack Obama’s eleventh-hour Russia sanctions present a big test for congressional Republicans, who are torn between decades-old GOP principles and their new standard-bearer's unorthodox embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Democrats are already seeking to exploit this rift, drafting legislation designed to make it harder for President-elect Donald Trump to unilaterally roll back Obama’s new sanctions.

The goal is to force Republicans into a tough spot in which they can either soften their long-standing animosity toward Russia, opening themselves to charges of hypocrisy — or defy Trump, who on Wednesday dismissed efforts to punish Russia by saying “we ought to get on with our lives.”

“Now is not the ‘time to get on with our lives,’” Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement. “The executive branch has acted, but it is imperative the legislative branch now pick up the ball and move it forward. Congressional sanctions can complement and strengthen these new executive sanctions.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/russia-sanctions-hill-republicans-obama-trump-233039

[uponit7771]

1. "The goal is to force Republicans into a tough spot", They support a sexual predator who paid 25 mil

... milllion for grifting fuckin college students.

These fuckers are waging war, in war they'll side with whom ever will help them

[world wide wally]

4. Unfortunately true

[Takket]

2. this puts Trump in the same box

if he cancels Obama's sanctions, it is tantamount to saying that he is accepting of Russia interfering with our elections. Some intel was released and was on ABC news tonight so "prove it" no longer holds any water as an excuse. There is no way for Trump to spin his way out of this mess.

[Abouttime]

6. A matter of months

I'm still not sure that tRump will even be sworn in.
If he is his pResidency will crash and burn within months..bet on it

[calimary]

8. That would be something to see.

I've noticed there's a rather astounding number of invocations of the verb "impeach" and the noun "impeachment" - before this individual even takes the oath of office. More than I've ever seen, on the approach path to an Inauguration Day. More than I've ever seen, for ANY incoming President, in the four-or-so decades since I started keeping track. Serious and well-thought-out and credible mentions, too.

I'd LOVE to see him driven from office. Preferably before he starts World War III. Unfortunately, that'd leave us with a President Pence. Which is a nauseating thought, for sure. Only reassuring thing about that is - each of 'em would have only part of one term as POTUS, and hopefully wouldn't be able to get all that much done. Ahhh... to get a Dem back in the White House in 2020...

[sheshe2]

3. K&R

[leftofcool]

5. Now close the fucking lid so they can't escape!

[AmericanActivist]

10. Exactly! I agree w you, close the lid so they can't escape nm

[Midnight Writer]

7. Too bad there are no 24 hour a day TV and radio that will run these stories over and over

I live in rural America, and spin the radio dial, turn on the TV, go to work, pick up a local newspaper, go to the doctor's or the dentist's or the repair shop or the local eateries, and it is non-stop hate talk and lies. You don't need to seek it out like this story. It is in the very air you pass through every day.

Patriots need outlets to get our message to the people who won't normally hear it.

Trumpsters are not going to search out web sites like DU to find out what's up. It needs to be offered up in a format that they will at least brush up against occasionally.

[uponit7771]

11. ... for a year and a half and spend more time on this story than all issues combined !!!

Getting a station in rural areas with the expectation of making no money at all should be our number one priority.

I think in the past people were looking for sponsors and to make their money back.

Were the fuck are the liberal billionaires who don't mind dumping money into shit for just the sake of humanity ?!?!

[0rganism]

9. long game on this doesn't look too bad for Trumputin

if i were Vlad i'd be on the phone telling Puppet not to make a big stink about the sanctions

i'm sure Vlad's got a wide enough portfolio to not worry overmuch about the effects of anti-Russia sanctions on himself, let the sanctions happen for a couple years, then roll them back in 2019. price of entry into a tough market, right?

easiest path for Trump is to poke fun at them on twitter and wait to declare them ineffective and stupid until after the midterms. all Trump has to do is tweet caustically for a couple weeks -- waddaya know, it's in his skill set.

[uponit7771]

12. Yeap, thought the same thing... they'd just shrug it off and wait a couple of years. On the other...

... hand I don't think Benedict Donald has any discipline whatsoever... he'd fuck that up ... too.