Support for Iran sanctions bill nears filibuster-proof majority

[kristopher]

Source: Washington Post

Congressional support for a new round of sanctions against Iran is growing, with a near filibuster-proof majority of senators now willing to approve fresh legislation, according to senior Senate aides.

There are no plans for Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) to allow a vote on any proposal in the near future, the aides said, but if a bill moves forward, it could complicate negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.The Obama administration has urged lawmakers not to impose new sanctions while the U.S. and five other world powers negotiate with Iran on a permanent deal to ensure that it cannot develop nuclear weapons. Two months ago, Iran agreed to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for temporary relief on some sanctions.

On Friday, Iran’s top nuclear envoy signaled that the text of an initial agreement was being circulated among the negotiating countries for further approval. In Geneva, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s top nuclear envoy, told the official IRNA news agency that he expected countries to respond within two days about whether they accept the terms of an interim agreement; it would map out a six-month plan to be implemented while diplomats continue negotiating any final deal.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/support-for-iran-sanctions-bill-nears-filibuster-proof-majority/2014/01/10/33efdaee-7a2c-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_story.html

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I called Sen Coons today to let him know how poor I consider his judgement on this issue. He's a great guy on most things, but if he helps push us into another war I will never be able to support him again.

Please find out where your Senators stand and call them if required.

Please.

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Harry Reid needs to bury this.

[Vic Vinegar]

2. Starve a country who is trying to develop nuclear power

Can't anyone see in the intelligence community that the Ayatollah gave a fatwa against nuclear weapons? Oh, I forgot the intelligence community generally makes up conclusions to fill geopolitical ambitions--so that's what happened in Syria.

[kelliekat44]

29. What do you expect from the "United States of Israel?" nt

[AnalystInParadise]

30. I am not going to accuse the Ayatollah of lying

However, my experiences in Iraq as a soldier with Shiites using Taqiyya as ordered by their various religious leaders causes me to not completely trust anything the Ayatollah says. Taqiyya for those who don't know is a specific loophole in Shia Islam that allows for dishonesty and lying (or the commission of war crimes) if it protects the faith, the group or advances Shia Islam. Thus, taqiyyah may be used for either the protection of an individual or the protection of a community. If a community was developing Nuclear Weapons, Taqiyyah would be used.

Not saying this is going on, but if I am supposed to be naturally suspicious of U.S. Senators doing their job in regards to Intelligence Oversight, why should I trust the Ayatollah implicitly?

[gwheezie]

3. I've already threatened my 2 dem senators

via email about this vote. I'm outraged that dems would leave the president out to dry during crucial negotiations with Iran.

[Deep13]

4. This is a really, really bad idea.

They may get 60, but they need 67 to override a veto.

Fucking Israeli lobby.

[lostincalifornia]

6. true, but how about the fucking senators who are doing this? I blame them more than the lobbyists.

They created the lobbyists and are taking the bribes. I have no doubt that the majority of the populous want the administration and the SOS negotiations to be given a chance, so these Senators ARE NOT doing what their constituents want. They are doing what some special interest group wants, and it is time to replace them with progressive who can't be bribed

[warrant46]

10. Its mainly Sen Chuck Scumer (D) (Tel Aviv)

[lostincalifornia]

17. Maybe, but it is Menendez who started this, and regardless, I blame all of those so-called democrats

who want to derail current peace negotiations

f**k them

[warrant46]

22. Menendez also

For some reason these clowns want a War

[dlwickham]

26. it's let's blame the Jews time!

[ronnie624]

14. The campaign financing system does what it is designed to do:

influence our policies and legislation with private money, through a brazen system of bribery. The problem is systemic, and will not change, until we eliminate this corruption of our political process. Public financing would allow it to function in the interests of our society at large. Attacking individual politicians is a waste of time. The only way to weed out the bad ones, is by addressing the corruption of the process.

[lostincalifornia]

18. That won't happen with the fox watching the chicken coop, the fox being congress. No, the way to do

it is starting to clean up the party by voting progressives who want what is best for the country

The majority of people do NOT want war with Iran

Some special interests groups do, but they are NOT the majority

[Deep13]

16. yup nt

[lostincalifornia]

5. I called Menendez office, and really gave them a piece of my mind. Told them no more money for war

mongers from me

[karynnj]

21. I called his office too - and his aide in a very sad voice spoke of how people were calling

Menendez a war monger. He then reminded me that he had voted against the IWR in the House. So, I am troubled that Menendez thinks that this bill could help the negotiations.He was not happy when I pointed out that Kerry, who is involved in the negotiations, says that more sanctions could hurt the negotiations and were not needed at the moment anyway.

He did say one thing interesting - there are more people calling on our side than on AIPAC's.

I mentioned that I had volunteered in 2006 and 2012 - because I TRUSTED JOHN KERRY'S JUDGMENT and his emailed endorsement- the same judgment that says this is a really bad idea.

[lostincalifornia]

23. Thanks, I am glad to hear that. Usually they do not tell you what other callers are doing. I am a

firm believer that the view to subvert the current negotiations does NOT have the peoples support, nor most Democrats

[karynnj]

24. I quite agree - and that is in spite of a pretty intensive effort against the diplomacy

I like to look at pollingreport.com on issues. On Iran, when the President called for negotiations about 76% favored it. Yet the interim agreement had 64% approval in mid November (when it was made) and 56% measured two days later. http://pollingreport.com/iran.htm

It is tricky for Obama. He did make a speech the night the world agreed, but as this is simply an interim agreement, it is hard for him to push it more -- especially when the ACA, minimum wage and unemployment insurance are things he NEEDS to spend as much time pushing as possible.

One notable thing here is that the 10 Chairmen - including Boxer - who signed against this are some of the most respected and senior members of the Senate. (What I wonder is if Barbara Boxer will play hardball with Menendez. She has the right to chair SFRC, but waived her seniority because she wanted the environmental committee. However waiving it in 2013 does NOT mean she has to in 2015 - the start of the next Congress. )

This is very serious as it will kill Obama's ability to have much influence in the world if he can't control things like this. In addition, this more than anything else has the potential to be a REAL gamechanger in the Middle East - unlike all the attempts via invasions to change the ME.

As to the staffer - I started by speaking of having phonebanked and canvassed in 2006 and 2012 for Menendez - the first time in response to a Kerry email for support. That changed his responses to me into trying to explain and even get me to try to see Menendez's point of view. I still suspect that it is AIPAC and even a view that he needs to seen as "strong". I don't think there is any chance of getting him to change --- but it would be great if even a few Democrats could be pulled away.

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. no matter how one tries to spin it or what tedious sophistry and endless mountains of bullshit some

try to spew - for far, far too long - many American politicians including a lot of so called liberal Democrats - have for whatever reason - have for so long - put the demands of Israel and its lobby ahead of the national interest of the United States of America and the peace and stability of the world - AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT!!

[sendero]

11. Yes...

.. our "friend" in the Middle East. That never does anything "friendly" for us and ignores everything we say.

Supporting Israel is fine but America comes first. Iran is NOT America's problem. They are lucky we are doing what we can but their real goal is to get us involved militarily, and that is not going to happen.

[CFLDem]

27. I'm sure our MIC is pushing for this as hard as Israel is.

The war machine must fed elsewhere since Afghanistan is shutting down.

Millions of American's livelihoods depend on it.

[blkmusclmachine]

8. Gotta cater to Israel 24/7, cuz ... God's In The Mix!!!

[blkmusclmachine]

9. Your Tax Dollars At Work, People...

[davidpdx]

12. Do we have any kind of list?

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Co-sponsor list

Democrats bolded.

Cosponsor Date Cosponsored

Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven (R-IL)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]* 12/19/2013
Sen. Graham, Lindsey (R-SC)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. (D-MD)* 12/19/2013
Sen. McCain, John (R-AZ)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D-PA)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Rubio, Marco (R-FL)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. (D-DE)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Cornyn, John (R-TX)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard (D-CT)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Ayotte, Kelly (R-NH)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Begich, Mark (D-AK)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Corker, Bob (R-TN)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Pryor, Mark L. (D-AR)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Collins, Susan M. (R-ME)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. (D-LA)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Moran, Jerry (R-KS)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (D-NY)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Roberts, Pat (R-KS)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Warner, Mark R. (D-VA)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Johanns, Mike (R-NE)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Hagan, Kay (D-NC)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Cruz, Ted (R-TX)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Donnelly, Joe (D-IN)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Blunt, Roy (R-MO)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Booker, Cory A. (D-NJ)* 12/19/2013
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) 12/20/2013
Sen. Manchin, Joe, III (D-WV) 12/20/2013
Sen. Coats, Daniel (R-IN) 12/20/2013
Sen. Vitter, David (R-LA) 12/20/2013
Sen. Risch, James E. (R-ID) 12/20/2013
Sen. Isakson, Johnny (R-GA) 12/20/2013
Sen. Boozman, John (R-AR) 12/20/2013
Sen. Fischer, Deb (R-NE) 01/06/2014
Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. (R-UT) 01/06/2014
Sen. Thune, John (R-SD) 01/06/2014
Sen. Coburn, Tom (R-OK) 01/06/2014
Sen. Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) 01/06/2014
Sen. Toomey, Pat (R-PA) 01/06/2014
Sen. Wicker, Roger F. (R-MS) 01/06/2014
Sen. Enzi, Michael B. (R-WY) 01/06/2014
Sen. Inhofe, James M. (R-OK) 01/06/2014
Sen. Lee, Mike (R-UT) 01/06/2014
Sen. Scott, Tim (R-SC) 01/06/2014
Sen. Portman, Rob (R-OH) 01/06/2014
Sen. Alexander, Lamar (R-TN) 01/06/2014
Sen. Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) 01/06/2014
Sen. Barrasso, John (R-WY) 01/08/2014
Sen. Johnson, Ron (R-WI) 01/08/2014
Sen. Hoeven, John (R-ND) 01/08/2014
Sen. Burr, Richard (R-NC) 01/08/2014
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. (D-CO) 01/08/2014
Sen. Heller, Dean (R-NV) 01/08/2014
Sen. McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) 01/09/2014
Sen. Cochran, Thad (R-MS) 01/09/2014
Sen. Crapo, Mike (R-ID]) 01/09/2014
Sen. Shelby, Richard C. (R-AL) 01/09/2014
Sen. Sessions, Jeff (R-AL) 01/09/2014

http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/1881/cosponsors

Looks like 15 Democrats and 43 rethugs. It's basically a rethug-conservadem bill.

[kristopher]

20. I won't speak to the rest, but Coons isn't a 'conservadem'

He is usually on the right side of most issues AFAIK. That made it all the more surprising that he took this position. I'd expect it from our other Senator (Carper) but Coons struck me as being different.

Live and learn.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. Being here in Philly, which is DE's media market

I have learned that DE is a weird state. I.e., 2 of its 3 counties tend to be conservative.

As FYI, Coons was formerly a rethug who worked on Raygun's campaign. But yes, he had an epiphany early in his life that impacted his political leanings to change parties and eventually to run to the left for his career (not unlike Hillary who was a "Goldwater Girl&quot , but I don't expect that all of his early thought processes were completely purged. I would put him more into the "moderate" bent considering that had someone like Mike Castle made it through the rethug primaries instead of "I am not a Witch", then Castle would have cruised into office in DE, and I'm sure Coons was well aware of it. If anything, I always assumed he knew that he needed to capture the electorate who put Biden in and I always considered Biden a (hawkish) conservadem.

[davidpdx]

25. Thanks

I hope they don't get enough to make it veto proof. President Obama might be able to stop them just with the threat of a veto.

[Pterodactyl]

15. Let the sanctions work.

[octoberlib]

19. I called warmonger Kay Hagan's

office yesterday. I think I'll go embarrass her on Twitter.

[AnalystInParadise]

28. Given

the role of Congress in Intelligence oversight, I find no problem with this at all. This is Congress doing their job. The 15 Democrats on this will hopefully be joined by more of their colleagues shortly.