WHAT?  WHAT?  YOU MEAN...GOP CAJONES?  WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? – AT 7:46 P.M. ET:  We have wonderful news.  Some Republican senators have learned that they're men, and have decided to do something to honor the breed.  They're taking on President Obama over a foolish provision in a disarmament agreement with Russia.  Never thought we'd see the day.  From the Washington Times:

Senate Republicans are challenging the Obama administration on the new strategic arms accord with Russia, proposing new language to the treaty's ratification resolution that would bar limits on U.S. missile defenses.

A draft ratification resolution, sent out on Monday by Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Indiana Republican and ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, would prohibit a U.S.-Russian panel established in the treaty from forging side agreements on missile defenses. The Senate panel is scheduled to vote Thursday on the treaty signed earlier this year.

Lugar?  Lugar?  That marshamallow has come alive?  I have now seen everything.

The administration on Monday dispatched Rose Gottemoeller, assistant secretary of state for verification, compliance and implementation, to talk with Republican staff about Mr. Lugar's draft. One Senate aide said Ms. Gottemoeller is opposed to the draft's language because it will complicate treaty implementation with the Russians.

My heart breaks.  Maybe the administration will ask for the Bolshoi to perform at Ground Zero as compensation to Moscow.

Ms. Gottemoeller and State Department spokesmen declined to comment on the Republican draft resolution.

Republican support for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is important for the White House, which has made Senate approval of the treaty a high priority and the centerpiece of its "reset" policy with Russia. The treaty, which requires 67 votes in the Senate for passage, would further reduce the Russian and U.S. nuclear missile arsenals to 1,550 deployed warheads.

COMMENT:  Now we're getting some common sense into the START talks.  It isn't Ronald Reagan doing the negotiating.  It's Barack Obama.  Republicans must be ultra-vigilant before Obama gives away the store, then raises our taxes to change the lock.

September 14, 2010