To be fair, the link in the OP was about a pledge by Republicans in the Senate to procedurally block all legislation except fiscal matters. The START treaty is not affected; as a treaty it comes to the Senate floor under different rules than legislation (I guess). And my link about the child nutrition bill was about Republicans in the House.
That said, they are both relevant to a discussion about GOP obstructionism.
Treaties need 67 votes to be ratified. The link I posted in my first reply deals with Jon Kyl (R-AZ) threatening to give New START the same treatment as McConnell is doing for everything else. I don’t know how much of a chance there is of getting 33 votes against it, but when you’re playing around with nukes on the line in order to blow $700 billion on tax cuts for the rich, I’m of the opinion that any chance is something to worry about.
“Let those Americans who make in excess of $250,000 per year continue to pay a lowered tax rate, or we will go on strike, down tools and refuse to do our jobs, even if it means that the country will be damaged as a result. We don’t care. The continuation of a tax break for those making over a quarter million dollars a year is the single most important thing for the country at this time, and is of absolutely critical importance.”
People don’t give a shit about fiscal issues unless someone shouts it really loud a bunch of times and then shoves a microphone in their face. They care about jobs.
Republicans would never allow a jobs bill to come to the table, not that the Democrats are even trying. They’re blocking the next best thing though (further unemployment extensions.)
Damn, I agree with Sam Stone on a political issue. It’s a sign of the apocalypse.
As a committed independant voter that wants to see some fiscal responsibility, I’m at the stage of wanting the government shut down and a mass movement to rat fuck the Republican party. This is just insane. And on a good year I am in the highest bracket. Shit, I grew up missionary poor, people making a quarter of a million dollars should be grateful for the opportunity to pay the taxes. I mean, what 98% of all Americans and 99% of the global population think it would be a nice problem to have.
So what happened to all the Election Night speeches from the GOP leadership about how they’d learned their lesson, been given a second chance, and would act responsibly on behalf of the Merkin Pipple? It’s still a month before the swearings-in!