So Kyl is on the Floor now talking about START - will this be voted on tonight? nt

[gateley]

ETA: He and Kerry are kind of spitting at each other. Chew him up and spit him out, Kerry! :banghead:

[AlinPA]

1. Kyl killed it, didn't he? The republicans won't allow the President to have a foreign policy success

and don't believe in working on a treaty with Russia.

[gateley]

2. I don't really know - I can't keep up with it all but I do remember hearing/reading

that if the Dems bring up DADT, the Reps will refuse to vote on START.

The Republicans are our enemies. Period.

[AlinPA]

3. Corker (TN) said that the republicans will kill the START Treaty if DADT passes. nt

[gateley]

4. Sometimes do you think this is just surreal? I just can't believe some of the

things they say and do. It's honestly perplexing that the seem to view this all as a game and are determined to be the victors. *shaking head in disbelief*

[AlinPA]

5. That threat is the most serious political statement I have ever heard or read about. The Senate

republican caucus is a pit of dishonor. A treaty that will affect world safety is killed because of bigotry. I can't believe this is happening.

[gateley]

7. I know. Surreal! I was shocked when they wouldn't pass the Defense Appropriations

Bill which included a raise for our "heroes in the service" because it contained DADT.

They are vile.

Why did they fuck up the 9/11 help for Responders, do you know? What lame ass excuse could they have given for that?

A pit of dishonor. Very well put.

[AlinPA]

9. The republicans said they could not approve the 9/11 Responders bill because

they said the price tag was too high. In a different article or TV than the link below, I saw that they said there was too much spent or wasted already.
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-12-09/politics/senate.9.11.responders_1_senate-gop-filibuster-republican-filibuster-first-responders?_s=PM:POLITICS

[CBHagman]

10. That was really appalling.

It's funny, isn't it, how frequently the 'cans invoke the price tag as an excuse to avoid things that would benefit ordinary people -- though, to be fair, the 9/11 responders qualify as extraordinary people.

[karynnj]

6. He wants to, but now they are debating an amendment

and Kerry is running circles around him - destroying his argument, leading him to even more tenuous defenses. (Kyl is actually quite smart, but Kerry knows what he is talking about and seized every opening he was given.

As to if it will pass - who knows. They were said to have the votes, but some Republicans are beyond angry that the Dream Act and DADT are going to be voted on - and were bizarrely saying that the Democrats doing that means they won't vote for the treaty, which they admit is important. But, I don't think the ones saying this - McCain, Kyl and Graham were the ones likely to vote for it in the first place.

[karynnj]

8. The distinguished Senator from Massachusetts is not spitting, he is being extremely

patient and very polite, while turning all their arguments to the mush that they really are. Sessions' arguments are off the wall, but the Kyl/Kerry debate was very good.

It is very clear that Kerry wants to completely make it clear that they had abundant debate on the bill. He also did a fantastic job playing the high ground card when they spoke of there not being enough time because of the holy time of Christmas. Kerry even used the word that it was his "prayer" that they do what was right - and mentioned that working for peace was something that fit the Christmas season. (Very bad paraphrase - I was cooking dinner in one room with the TV on in the next) It sounded like Kerry's experience as a choir boy as a youth had some influence.

[politicasista]

11. kick n/t