In a pair of FP articles by the most excellent McJoan, I read that we can't possibly vote on the Start Treaty because, after all, they haven't had time to properly consider it.
McConnell wants more time
Graham dislikes 'process'
Well, what have these esteemed Senators been doing with their time? Would you believe raising money for reelection?
From Open Secrets I find this list of fundraisers for the Evil Calamari sent by Emperor Palpatine to undermine America:
McConnell fundraisers
McConnell held 4 fundraisers, hosted by special interests or big-time Washington lobbying firms.
For the saner member of the SC Senate delegation:
Graham fundraisers
Again, 4 fundraisers, hosted by special interests or lobbying firms.
For both of them, you can't get in the door to a fundraiser for less than $500.
And what is the START treaty about?
The United States deploys 2,000 strategic nuclear warheads. The Soviet Union has more, around 2,500. The average size of a warhead is many times that of the bombs that destroyed whole Japanese cities at the end of WWII.
The treaty moves a small, incremental step toward getting rid of these weapons of mass destruction.
Every former Secretary of State has endorsed the treaty.
Richard Lugar, for decades the GOP go-to Senator on arms control, supports the treaty.
So a treaty that has no serious flaws, is endorsed by the most knowledgeable Republicans, and involves the possibility of the annihilation of all sentient life forms on this planet is fair game for politics as usual. You can't expect a Senator to read a treaty that is a matter of life and death for millions of people when they could be fundraising with lobbyists, can you?
Oh, and one last thing. The reason the treaty was delayed until after the elections? The GOP asked that it be delayed.
Responding to McConnell, a clearly frustrated Sen. John Kerry said consideration of the treaty was delayed until after the election at the request of Republicans.
"Having accommodated their interests they now come back and turn around and say 'Oh you guys are terrible. You are bringing up this treaty at the last minute,'" Kerry said. "I mean is there no shame ever with respect to the arguments that are made sometimes on the floor of the United States Senate."
Memo to President Obama: when dealing with the Republicans, do NOT trust, and double or triple verify. There is no promise they won't break if you let them get away with it.