Following the 419-3 vote in the House, the Senate today passed the new bill sanctioning Russia with a similar overwhelming margin, 98-2. The lone no votes were Sens. Bernie Sanders (I – VT) and Rand Paul (R – KY).
The bill initially started as limiting the president’s ability to ease sanctions on Russia, but quickly expanded to adding a bunch of new sanctions targeting Russia, and also some new sanctions against Iran and North Korea, done to secure the votes.
The votes advance the bill on to President Trump, and despite his initial reticence at a bill limiting his power,White House officials have indicated that he will sign the bill as it now structured. This opens the door for retaliatory measures.
Russian officials have already threatened retaliatory measures over this bill should it be signed, expected to include moves to expel some US diplomats. The European Union is also threatening to retaliate, as the sanctions target foreign investors in Russia’s energy sector, which includes a number of important EU companies who import energy from Russia.
Iran has also threatened reciprocal measures over the sanctions against them, which officials see as violating the P5+1 nuclear deal, since they replace sanctions the US was obliged to lift under that deal, while claiming a different pretext for them.
The only tactic I see that’s left to stall this legislation is to veto it as not nearly tough or broad enough. Send it back to congress and hope the apparatchik can sow enough confusion to kill the bill.
If Trump signs it into law, Russia can sanction western companies operating there and make life hard for diplomats, as can Europe. In Europe’s case, sanctions on the US energy sector could have the effect of unraveling the petro dollar.
Take that and the reports that the Pentagon was genuinely worried war with N Korea would break out due to a tweet that ended up being about LGBT’s, and you have a recipe for disaster. The report that they were worried about a declaration of war via some random tweet is very telling of the situation at the seat of the empire.
This could be the fat lady warming up.
If Trump signs this horrible bill, it means he has completely abdicated his duties. If they override, so what? He will have done the right thing. He has got to do his duty on this. On the other hand, if Trump is afraid of what they might do…override, impeach…then he is no leader at all. A leader should stand firm and tall for what he believes in. What does Trump believe in? Are we about to find out?
Well said.
I agree 100%. Trump must veto this horrible bill. The passing of it is total madness. Russia’s not our enemy, the Trotskyites aka Neocons and the Zionist Entity of Israel are our enemies. If Trump signs this bill, he’s totally abdicated his duties .. If he vetoes it and they override it, he’ll have done his duty. He has to do his duty on this .. If he’s afraid of what they might do – override, impeach – then he’s no leader at all. As you said, a leader should stand firm and tall for what he believes in, no matter what the consequences may be. What does Trump believe in? Are we about to find out? That’s the $64 million question.
I don’t think DJT is in any mood to sign this bill.
Its not what they say its what they do.
I agree with Antarticus in that DJT’s in no mood to sign this horrific sanctions bill. He wants cooperation with Russia, but the stupid lunatics in the House and Senate (with the exception of a few) don’t. Only two Senators out of 100 voted against the sanctions bill .. I’m not sure how many Congress Critters voted for it, but the vast majority did.
This should be a wake-up call for voters in all 50 states. Next year, all Representatives and a third of Senators are up for re-election, and it’s the duty of voters to oust every Representative and every Senator who’s up for re-election. These cowards must be told that they just voted themselves out of office for alienating not only Russia, but the EU as well. These scumbags were warned already that not only would Russia retaliate with sanctions of its own, but that the EU would also impose sanctions on the US. Did they heed these warnings? Of course not .. They’re both cowards and traitors.
But he will sign it, that’s the problem. He’s exactly like Obama in that regard.
So to straighten out the United States we can keep 2 senators and 3 reps everybody else has to go .Fake news and the deep state have effected the whole country , I have to get out of here .
There’s nowhere to go.
Just what exactly is Congress good for these days?
To think Congress let Obama do everything he wanted . Support the Arab spring run a coup for the NAZIs in Ukraine . put men in women’s bathrooms , Put queers in our soldiers foxholes and pay for their sex change operations if they want them ,. Support terrorists in both Libya and Syria , bail out the big banks , so they could give their executives bonuses ..This doubled our national debt . Now a even more republican congress only accomplishment might be they have repealed Obama care but that is not a accomplishment unless they can come up with some thing better . Congress has taken almost total control away from our new president so he can not make a move without their approval .And it does not look like they approve of any good moves . So we are right back to where we have been for more than the last 20 years . Trying as hard as we can to financially ruin and destroy America so we have to have a new world government .
Obama didn’t put “queers in our soldiers foxholes”. Believe it or not, there have been “queers” in our foxholes in every war we have fought throughout our entire history. They’re everywhere, be very afraid.
You’re right in that respect, but Obama did order the Pentagon to allow transgenders into the Military .. That’s even worse. Homos are no threat to female personnel, but trannies are. They have the same abilities to sexually assault female personnel as heterosexual males do.
Trump’s done the right thing to ban transgenders from serving in the Military. You’re also right in stating that homos have been in the foxholes throughout our history. The difference is, however, that they hid their sexual preferences from their heterosexual buddies and commanders. Therefore, it wasn’t until Obama assumed office that homosexuals and lesbians were allowed to serve openly .. Before that, they had to keep quiet and suppress their desires.
So now they’ll be able to express those desires and make passes at our heterosexual soldiers while in foxholes together?
Madness. The USA is a rogue state.
Where’s my comment ? You Shmucks !
Stupid is as stupid does. But providing affordable good quality health care for all without insurance company extortion. NO WAY! Corruption and Crapification.
USA! USA! USA!
You lost me. Where did you find affordable insurance, without insurance companies’ extortion?
Obama legislation IS the insurance companies extortion. It is too bad that our media will not look at the Obamacare objectively. They will find out that — it is not affordsble and that it ropes people into private insurance cartel that provides less services, less quality, and all sorts of limitations. You can find information, but you have to look for it. Examples: prople on social security of $1,500 got increase in Obamacare of 40%, to approx $900. I do not think that only a handfull of people are in this situation. People living right next to large university health care providers, have to travel 20 miles to the provider included in Obamacare. Even if you think you are covered by a participating large insurance companies, your level of service is not same. Kerp in mind that is always the case, as participating organizations negotiating fees snd services. We are all hostage to health care insurance bankers — for thst is what they are. Providers are at the mercy of both, insurance companies and pharma industry.
Trump did the right thing — ask Republicans to provide a BETTER replacement. Yes, all those years if threatening to repeal, and insisting that there is a BETTER solution, and look atbthe spectacle! Republicans, just like Demicrats are equally impotent in front of the industry. Insurance and pharma tell the Senators what to do — not the other way around. Trump just called their bluff — exposed their feebleness. It is the Republican voters that are now discovering the emptiness and corruption of their elected representatives.
And it is not just the health care. It is also foreign policy. Congress is taking it away from the President via “sanctions” legislation. The legisllation violates the constitution, but it matters very little any more, unless somebody is villing to challenge it.
It is comical how we are provided with political theater. The powers that run the country are always testing new generations of potential leaders. Those are the ones allowed not to be “brave”. and not to vote for onerous legislation. Like Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders in “sanctions” bill. But we know that already.
Just to get a sense about our economy, and what this financial driven “growth” did to it since rhevendbof eighties — check the leading employers in each state. In vast majority od cases — truly vast — the leading employers are Wallmart, insurance companies and health care providers. Exceptions are Washington state with Boeing, and Connecticut with an electric industry business. By the pathological growth in financialization of all aspects of human activity, we have achieved record quantity of idle land, idle hands and idle minds. Our health care is just another victim of financialization, and Obamacare is designed to cover up its destructive effect. We all can choise to nit buy a car, but we cannot choose not to get medical help. Thus — Obamacare was created to “generously” pay high premiums by individuals and taxpayrts, so politicians can bask in their “achievement”. All I can do is enjoy Trump style — having big mouth Republicans come up with a REPLACEMENT for current monstrosity. But they could not — of course. Now, they were asked to REPEAL, and they could not. Of course — as they know very well that the pressure will ensue to produce a new bill.
Republicans have shown their real face — and they have never given Trump much help anyway. The elections in 2018 will see many a republican ousted. And we will see a record money go into trying to crush Trump supporting candidates.
Traditional urban Republicans will be more confused then ever.
As well as all the other complaints, Trump is seen here to be a coward. VETO THE BILL. Veto the “House” version and the Senate version. These people represent the interests of the USA????? I do not believe this. The rest of the world, peace, trade, cooperation, allies have no meaning? Just small-minded but very dangerous puppets who managed to get “elected” by wearing down the voters who are now being spied on by Trump’s gang of Krobach investigators to ensure there is never again a fair election in the USA.