I wish people paid more attention to what Eisenhower said about military-industry complex. Keep them off the civilian government. No revolving door like Cheney.
4
More policy fumbling from the most incompetent administration in our nation's troubled history. As a nation we need to ask ourselves: why are we the biggest arms seller in the world? Why are we a nation constantly at war? I think the two are intertwined. And we have much better and more important things to be doing here in our own country for our own citizens.
3
$$$$ wins again. Wish I had bought stocks in companies that support war when Trump was elected - he isn't done filling the pockets of the arms dealers.
2
Seven GOP Senators? Really? That's it? That passes as bipartisan these days?
Bet none are from arms-producing states. Bet some of those arms merchants have ties to The Trump Organization.
It's all about the riyal, baby. Death and destruction produce large piles of cash and larger piles of bodies.
And please, spare me the "but it creates jobs in the U.S" stuff. There are industries out there that don't turn hospitals and schools into craters.
5
Mitch McConnell could stop all of this now. He is the most greedy and cynical leader we have ever had, and yet he has never received one vote outside the state of Kentucky. Totally without ethics, morals, or conscience.
7
Where was Mitt Romney? Thought he had some courage--at least he suggested that he possessed it. Guess he wasn't telling the truth. What a concept.
Trump is riding on the accomplishments of Obama. The next president will be held accountable for the mess Trum leaves behind. I hope that is not Trump.
1
We have a Senate that does not represent the people as democracy will require and has too much power. When California and New York citizens get only same representation in senate as North Dakota or Wyoming, there is no democracy. President can act as a dictator with impunity. When constitution was written, it was assumed that senators will be thinkers and will discuss what is good for nation ad will not be beholden to party.
5
@Kumar...Delaware and Rhode Island have the same number of Senators as California and New York, but y'all never complain about that enormous disparity. Why is that, Kumar? Besides, and y'all just can't seem to wrap your neurons around this concept, the US is not a Democracy. The US is a Republic. That's why Cal and NY get all of those Congressors, many of which are thanks to their large non-citizen populations.
If the Repubs don't override a veto then this is just plain pointless. Pathetic.
3
Trump's boot-lickers actually developed a spine? I don't really believe it. Now they get to deal with him telling an adversary "we're gonna attack, get ready" and then saying, "oopsies, I talked to vladimir and he told me 'no donny my pet, you can't attack my buddies'."
4
At last! For the sake of the world stop your arms sales America!!
3
@Jo Ann...Now, just for clarity, you do want America to honor Article V of the NATO charter, don't you? You know, just in case the Bear decides to annex the Matterhorn.
As hard as it is for me to say this, I have to give credit to the Republican Senators, that voted to block these Arm sales to MBS and MBZ. Now, if Trump Veto's this, the rest of the Republican Senators, need to get on board and vote to over ride his Veto. It truly is a vote to protect the power of Congress, and stop cedeing it to the President.
4
Finally, the Republicans are beginning to see he's a loose cannon. Let's hope they can rein him in before he makes terrible mistakes.
4
Trump ran his businesses like a dictator. He is determined to operate the same way as POTUS. As his stonewalling of Congressional investigations so amply demonstrates, he has no regard for the rule of law, the Constitution, or the separation of powers. He will simply do whatever the heck he so desires, and defy anyone to try and stop him.
As long as the GOP remains in lockstep support of him, they function as his enablers. It takes something as extreme as an effort to provide a massive amount of powerful weapons to a brutal, murderous dictator to induce any Republican to stop Trump's shredding of our democracy. The nation needs more Republicans to show a backbone more consistently to stop the runaway freight train that this dangerous man has become upon being given more power than he had as a businessman. In 2020, we must deliver a decisive repudiation of his lawless approach to governance.
5
Apparently, the pseudo-patriotic Freedom Caucus supports giving weapons to the country, whose citizens represented the 9/11 attack. It figures that they would sit on their hands, while first responders were going bankrupt or dying from trying to save 9/11 victims. The former Tea Party group, as they go along with exploding debt, just might be the most hypocritical of an entire party of hypocrites.
3
where is the so called moderate Republican Mitt Romney in all this? With the morals and values to stand against Trump? Was he voting to give away congressional powers just like the rest? Thank God some stood up, even Lindsay Graham
2
I'm afraid Trump and Kushner owe the Saudis way too much money to ever let arms sales slip. When will American's realize their country is simply being used as Trump's investment tool. It is so obvious from afar yet a taboo topic domestically. Fools and their country are easily parted.
4
The Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (Title II of Pub.L. 94–329, 90 Stat. 729, enacted June 30, 1976, codified at 22 U.S.C. ch. 39) gives the President of the United States the authority to control the import and export of defense articles and defense services. The H.R. 13680 legislation was passed by the 94th Congressional session and enacted into law by the 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford on June 30, 1976.[1]
If the American people want this act and the Emergency Powers Act amended then they should start by voting Lindsay Graham out of the Senate.
@rford...Would 22 USC Ch 39 be the same authorization that #44 used when he initiated the $110 Billion arms sales transaction with the Saudis? As with the economy, Trump is just carrying on Obama's brilliant policies. As for Graham, if the entire Article I band of misfits was Royal Blue, the Emergency Powers Act would stand. Congress is where pompous stuff shirts and blouses go to preen for their tribe back home. Being eunuchs by nature, they are happy to delegate the responsibilities of State to the guy at 1600 PA Ave.
Now the senate needs to push legislation to block Trumps other illegal acts
1
Mitch's Mob must continue to do the right thing in over riding the bully's veto...their initial "rebuke" will mean nothing but a diversion from their immoral and weak spines if they cave on the veto....
1
Senator Lindsey Graham said it best:
"There is no amount of oil you can produce that will get me and others to give you a pass on chopping somebody up in a consulate."
Let's hope other Republicans grow spines and stand up with Senator Graham against Saudi Arabian barbarism.
35
It seems that even a few Republicans don't want war on US soil. It could be in the form of more terrorist, or strikes, by Iran. Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan.
1
Our arms sales are the fuel that keep conflict the fires burning around the world. In some cases we subsidize the purchases with "foreign aid", in all cases however, only the arms makers benefit and profit.
We condones this by allowing it to happen in the name of free enterprise, regional stability, or some other meaningless words and then for some strange reason seem surprised that people don't want to be our friends.
Time for a department of peace
20
@selinas Wow, best idea I've heard in a long time "Department of Peace", I love it.
3
I hope that enough Republicans who may presently not have voted to hold off on arm sales would be willing to pass another measure as a matter of principle and solidarity with other senators to create a veto proof majority.
1
So the administration's belligerence towards Iran is not about Iran's behavior, it's about being able to declare an emergency so Trump can make $8 billion arms sales to Saudi and UAE.
Thank you Ms. Edmondson for clarifying this point for me.
3
I believe that Graham's sometimes support of all positions trump, and his occasional opposition to the presidents policies or actions...rather than simply being merit based case-by-case appraisals of issues, are more likely calculations and posturing by Graham that he thinks will enable him to say at a later date..."See, I didn't blindly support the president, I followed my conscience, and did what I thought was right...", where trump is concerned- minimizing the appearance of any attachment or affiliation to the president where that might be a negative for him- Graham's trying to have it...play it, both ways.
Which is somewhat disingenuous and...sleazy.
5
I want to believe that this show of bipartisanship is a positive sign, and that Congress is truly concerned about stopping the executive branch from becoming all-powerful. But the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating, so it behooves republicans in Congress to rise to the challenge and shoot down the inevitable presidential veto.
Please! Restore my faith in humanity and let the president know we will not tolerate his desire to aid and abet the murderous Saudis.
3
Enough failing to back-up what you say in during photo ops.
This is just political smoke for the base if you are not willing to override trump's sure veto.
3
Who is getting the kick back in Saudi arms sale ? Are they really gonna buy
from anyone else? Buying from China or Russia the hard ware and soft ware would not compatible with the equipment they already have.
2
Terrific that Lindsey Graham seems to have found a shadow of his spine in time for the 2020 election, I mean, in order to appear not to support our, I mean, the Saudis', corrupt regime. Now if a few other Republicans could find THEIR spines, and get a veto-proof majority, maybe we'd be getting somewhere..
2
Didn't then-presidential candidate Trump, on February 17, 2016, call in to Fox & Friends show, stating that Saudi Arabia was behind the September 11th attacks in the US?
Now he wants to sell arms to the same country that he claimed attacked us?
There are multiple lawsuits currently pending in US federal court against Saudi Arabia for their alleged involvement in the September 11th attacks.
4
I do NOT think the Republicans decision in the senate to vote to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia, was done because they expect it will be vetoed anyway. I would like to think they have voted their consciences, and are tired of having their votes dictated by their leadership, with whom they disagree. It might be a vote of integrity. Let’s see how far an embrace of strong moral principles will take them.
Iran isn't afraid. Reason? Obama gave it the funds to develop nuclear capability. I believe Iran HAS that capability NOW. They are jabbing the snake in hope of a response that will (in their minds) justify a 1st strike. Make no mistake. Iran isn't playing. We either take out their military bases or suffer the consequences.
2
@kadun duncan In what way does Iran threaten the security of the United States? I realize they threaten Israel. I realize they threaten the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. But before we enter a war of uncertain scope and uncertain duration, I need to know how the US is existentially threatened by Iran. I say this as someone who served many years in the Army, and experienced war fist hand, not watching snippets on Fox News.
35
@kadun duncan Please get your facts straight! Obama didn't "give" Iran any money. As part of the deal, Iran's own money held in the US was returned to them. By all accounts Iran was keeping up it's end of the deal until Trump decided to renege on it and start to needle them. Maybe he thinks to start a war will increase his chances at reelection. No sitting president has lost in times of war. Since Mr. Trump's only concern is his own self and glory, it would be perfectly in accordance with his character. Who cares about several thousand lives lost, not him if it helps to keep him in power!
39
Obama give Iran back their own money.
The late Shah has ordered a lot of military hardware that was never delivered due he lost power.
Obama was giving back the deposits.
26
The president is more interested (after himself) in state dinners and photo-ops with dictators than he is in the U.S. YO - Mr. President, have someone define "OUR POSTERITY" and uh, maybe, pay attention. ........................
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.
6
Who were the seven Republicans who supported this, and why?
5
Isn’t it shocking they would actually do something for the good of the country?
1
@PJW
They are listed in the article.
Don't you love how Saudi Arabia and Israel encourage our nation to go to war with Iran? Given how much military assistance our nation have given both nations, why don't they pick up the mantel and do it themselves? The woman and men in our armed forces have done more than fair share.
15
Israel isn’t encouraging the war, Trump’s friend in crime Bibi is - the former PM who wasn’t able to form a government, and would love a war right now for exactly the reasons Trump would.
Please don’t confuse the two - Israel’s a democracy.
It has no formal opinions.
Only the dictators with crowns still breathing in Saudi Arabia say what Saudi Arabia feels.
2
Does this mean the Saudis will cancel their upcoming hotel and golf reservations at Trump Hotels? DJT must be able to get updates on advance bookings in the WH on a daily basis.
8
The blood of innocents is on the hands of those who do not vote to override a presidential veto.
14
Too bad that the rest of the Republicans cannot see that these nations are using our weapons to destabilize the region.
8
I would like to trade Trump for JFK.
Trumps believes in
"Ask how much your country can do for you, and what you can do to ruin your country."
13
This has to be the most depressing news article that I've read in weeks, and there have been many downer stories. Since DJ Trump became president, I've come to the conclusion that everything he does has the goal of promoting chaos--and that he is acting at the behest, if not the blackmailing demand, of Vladimir Putin.
Think about it. Which world leader and which country are benefiting from the disruption and the cruelties that Trump is responsible for? Putin and Russia. And even if we can't immediately see a connection between Trump's actions and an advantage for Putin, I believe a connection will someday be found.
It's hard to forget how chastened Trump looked in Helsinki when he stood beside V. Putin and claimed that he did not believe Putin had tried to interfere in the 2016 election. Our president's reason for not believing the findings of our own intelligence agencies? Why, it was because he took the word of Russia's president instead.
The two men deserve each other. But America, the shining city on a hill, doesn't deserve Donald Trump.
Next time, vote like the future of our nation depends on it. Not to seem too melodramatic, but it does.
20
Well, well. The complicit-on-everything-else Senate finally grows a backbone. We'll see how significant this is, or if it's just for show, when Trump vetoes the bill.
6
When the President becomes too Imperial, Senators want their Constitutional power back.
1
Naturally, not enough Republicans will vote to override Trump’s veto though.
10
Trump doesn't care about any "rebuke". With the simple stroke of a pen, he can get his way anyway. As he's done in other instances, he will summon, like magic genies, his enablers and sycophants, who will find a way to achieve whatever end Trump wishes, no matter how questionable, unprecedented, unethical or suspect.
If our government doesn't change executive powers to curtail the sort of authoritarian rule Trump has too easily tapped into, then our democratic republic will become past tense, if it hasn't already.
151
@Roxy
Remember this:
Lunatics will rise to power again and again on tidal waves of aggressive nationalism and intolerance, even in places where it seems utterly incomprehensible"
For those that think this means Republicans are suddenly being reasonable, realize that Trump is going to veto this, so their vote will not affect policy. It just means that a few Republicans can pretend they're being tough on the Saudis.
Inconsequential compromise for show is not progress.
If the Republicans removed their blatantly corrupt president, that would be progress.
110
@McGloin
Over-ridding his veto would be a small start but they won't even do that.
16
What it means is those few Republicans are up for re-election...
6
@McGloin Spot on! It is a straw vote that they know will mean nothing in the end. Same group of Senators that regularly change their minds in support of the POTUS after wringing their hands in angst about what he is about to do.
2
If Trump vetoes this legislation, and enough Republicans can't muster the courage to join Democrats to override the veto, I think there will be voters who remember this in 2020.
Unconditional support for Saudi Arabia seems to be wearing thin for a lot of voters, particularly when it comes to arms sales.
170
@Pat Boice: Don't forget the unauthorized and dead-of-night sale of nuclear technology to our "imperfect partner."
56
@Pat Boice Remember in 2020? Are you joking? This issue will be forgotten by the news cycle and 99.9% of voters by next week.
1
@Pat Boice
I will remember; I believe I am not alone.
1
It's pretty clear that with this arms sale to the Saudis and his other actions, Trump is stoking dangerous, warlike fires in this region. Advised by Bolton, who hasn't learned anything from our experience in Iraq, the administration apparently wants another damaging war that will cost the US money it doesn't have—because all our funds go to corporations and the wealthy—and cost American lives and civilian lives in the region.
214
@Wiltontraveler The problem is that Congress didn't devise an effective check on Presidential war powers after Iraq.
Congress should have to approve any significant military action by the US, including sales of arms, by a supermajority (which automatically makes it veto-proof). And ignoring this such that we end up in a war should trigger automatic impeachment.
44
Seven Republican votes is hardly a "Bipartisan Rebuke".
GOP lawmakers have nearly unanimously supported this President as he ignore Congress at will, from placing him above the law and immune to investigations to allowing him to use the most transparent of lies to support emergency actions such as his various trade wars.
Seven votes to deny a corrupt President from selling weapons to the birthplace and exporter of radical Wahhabism, Osama bin Laden, 15 of the 19 September 11 terrorists, and the murder / torture of an American resident?
Seven votes is not a rebuke. It barely qualifies as a finger wag.
222
@LT, short, concise. Good point.
6
Our military people are going to die and for what? A draft dodger president, an administration full of hawks who never served a day in the military but are graduates of West Point.?
So fed up watching beautiful people die and for what.? Egos?
18 years we were lied to not again. There is no faith with this administration. One constant lie and hate for our allies. Kill your own kids I am not serving my children up for a lie.
Enough!
28
No, because most Republicans in Congress are unwilling to challenge the man. They could stop him.
6
Don't hold your breath. The king will veto. Does he have a wax seal with the signet ring for his veto seal? Has anyone seen GOP senate or house members kissing the ring?
16
Same old stupid stuff. Vote against it and run your gums. Menendez and the rest of congress what does this mean you aren’t able to override a veto so what does it mean. Nothing. We are so tired of this.
6
Small moves, Ellie. Small moves.
Congress created that monster and now they cannot control it. Their own corruption is coming back to haunt them.
13
The Congress CAN control the president. They can override his veto.
Let's see where the GOP stands.
4
Don’t worry, as soon as he gets this war started, trump will claim it’s a national emergency and use some newly granted war powers act to get that sale going.
Get used to another long and costly war thanks to our dear leader.
13
We effectively now have a government of one & that one is a lunatic with limited intellect, np ethics or morals, & unclean hands. At 60 years old, I have never been so disappointed in or felt so failed by the government. I have lost all faith in this country.
17
Join the masses!
Why aren’t we fighting?
It feels like Vietnam Nam and all the Govt Lies
All over again!
7
@JM
You are right. Gulf of Tonkin, Gulf of Oman. The parallels are frightening. Re: fighting: ready when you are, no kidding.
1
Where is Mitt Romney’s “Bain Capital” vote? You know, the guy that called Trump a “Con Man?”
Only seven votes keeping us from going to war with Iran so Trump can fill his coffers with Saudi money? Who else is on the take? Where the heck are the teeth in the Democratic party to take this horror show all the way to impeachment?
My grandma used to say it takes a rattler bite to get the devil. Well???
14
I am so pleased with this passage. When i paid my taxes this year the picture of the starving 7 year old girl, on the front page of the Times kept entering into my mind. I kept thinking about not paying them but my attorney advised otherwise. The picture of the journalist who was butchered was also on my mind. Butchers from the 12th century, ignorant, clumsy, butchers is what the Saudi's turn out. What a backward nation.
Now maybe i can go back to being an Independent voter.
6
@Nightwood
The passing is only symbolic since the Senate won't vote to override the veto. Much ado about nothing.
3
@ExPatMX Perhaps not. I want to do everything i can to let the Republicans know their time is coming to an end. Fair play and decency must begin if they (and all of us) are to survive in the long run.
1
Mitch McConnell is a stain on our democracy. His words today reinforce that fact (“imperfect partner” - really?). The ditching of Mitch is long overdue.
It’s time to mobilize for 2020, folks. And part of this mobilization involves convincing some of the multitude of Democratic presidential candidates that their efforts are desperately required in the race for Senate seats.
The math is clear: no Republican majority, no Mitch.
23
Mitch McConnell will go down in history as the single most dangerous and despised Senate Majority Leader in the United States of America.
7
@JM
Unfortunately McPalpatine does not care about being despised, and in fact I suspect he revels in it.
3
They can tell us that they stood against Trump with this first vote. However, we know that they will not have the resolve to do what is right, over-ride his veto. It's all sound and fury, signifying nothing.
9
At long last. A vote that could signal a beginning of balancing power. Now, gird yourselves and vote to override any presidential veto.
8
A big question is do Trump and Jared have financial ties to the countries buying the weapons?
12
@Javaforce
You left out Jared's idol, Bibi ! ... Is the Pope Catholic ?
3
The reason this is happening is because people flock to where there is electricity. Saudi Arabia and the Arab Emirates are actually doing something great with what they have and want to kick out Yemen rebels from stealing their establishments of utilities. Iran does not want these people either. As Iran wants only to starve its people to create enough electricity using air, hydro, coal, and solar to enrich uranium; an indeed net value in electricity no matter the initial cost. Only to claim that they will pay all their bills back afterwards and be rich in the redistribution. Whom they instill in the rebels will be them.
This isn’t just about selling weapons to a regime that kills its critics. As reported two weeks ago, the greater concern is that the administration is authorizing Raytheon to share critical technology with this regime, which is untrustworthy on so many fronts. And rubbing salt into the wounds, Raytheon would build these weapons in Saudi Arabia, using Saudi rather than American workers. So much for bringing all those great jobs back to the US.
7
@Ockham9
Don't forget; the new sec of defense ... former Raytheon exec ... "Listen to the money talk."
1
And I'm sure that Congress will just turn around and let POTUS and his minions have a war. I do doubt that. Not after the fiasco of both LJB in Vietnam and Bush 43 in Iraq.
4
Quick question:
Either directly or through immediate proxies; which country has killed the most children in the last 70 years?
Speaking of violence, so discount Mao.
2
The president would NOT ignore the Senate vote, would he?...
2
You betcha he would and will.
And boot-licker, McConnell, will evaluate how much $$$ he and his wife will profit from a war with Iran, and support Trump accordingly.
5
Republicans did their jobs? Glad I'm sitting down...
4
@Kathy Dreher
You can stand back up. The vote was for show since they won't over-ride the veto.
2
Bad policy....diminishes US standing in the world community and more importantly is a very disproportionate response to the Khashoggi situation. So, we will put the balance of power in the Middle East and Israel at risk.
This is not kindergarten with tit for tat. And, I am totally sick of RINO's in the Senate.
@Unhappy JD, how about Israel and the Saudis send their kids to war? We can’t sit back and watch for a change, while they spend their lives and their money. After all, we don’t live there. Ad it’s not our oil that’s threatened, thank to Mr Obama.
Although, how would McConnell, Chao and Halliburton make any money?? Bless their hearts.
OK, so here we go again. Another Trumpism. The president doesn't want war with Iran, but wants to sell billion$ upon billion$ in munitions to the murdering Saudis, and the United Arab Emirates. Gee, that should cool things off, hey? Now the Republican Senators are angry for not being consulted by King Donald, but won't join to override Trumps threatened veto to block the sale. All in a day's work of the Republican Senate, cowards hard at work.
9
All thanks to Trump’ Enabler, Mitch McConnell!
1
Mitch McConnell is an American politician who has a net worth of $17 million dollars. How has he made so much on a Senator's salary over 35 years in the Senate?
Even at today's majority leader pay in the Senate he makes $193,400. Even thought he made less in previous years, at this rate, over thirty five years, if he saved every penny of that, he'd accumulate only $6,769,000.
17
@Moehoward
It is money given to him by his wife shipping company owning family in gratitude for government help that has allowed their business to prosper ahead of other American shipping lines. You know, because of his heiress wife, Secretary of Transportation, Elaine chao. Talk about conflict of interest and lining one's own pockets. In return, they steer business to Kentucky to help his reelection!
7
@Moehoward
Dark money is floating Mitch McConnell's boat. Married to billionaire and Trump cabinet member Elaine Chao. Transportation secretary Chao and her family are billionaires with a 7.2 billion dollar shipping business. .... she didn't marry creepy old Mitch for his sex appeal.
8
Hilarious!
Mitch and Sex Appeal in the same sentence.
But tortoise appeal maybe.
1
Members of the Congressional GOP are said to be afraid of opposing Trump because they could be attacked and/or have to deal with primary challenges from Trump supporters who are even further right.
When will they realize that if they all-- or at least most of them-- stand together to oppose Trump, they don't have much to worry about?
Right now would be a very, very good time for them to have this epiphany.
20
This is utterly insignificant and barely worthy of a newspaper story. The actual story line: 43 GOP senators voted to continue arms sales to the Bin Salman Butcher and the United Arab Emirates, thus permitting the U.S. president to continue ignoring Congress and functioning as a de facto dictator with no checks and balances. #45 has totally sidelined congress, and McConnell has totally stacked the courts. We no longer have 3 co-equal branches of government or a system of checks and balances.
25
Every decision is a national security issue with the prez that allows him always circumvent congress. Why do we even have congressmen and senators at this point. They just get bypassed at all times.
8
It's about time Congress stood up to Trump's lunacy on this. I realize that McConnell probably supports Trump and is attempting to dodge the issue but ordering someone to be chopped up because he writes and says things about your country that you don't like is still murder even if it's state sponsored. Trump's willingness to sell them arms or anything is shameful given how he carried on about Iran. His actions, not Obama's, are making things worse in the Middle East.
Trump's entire foreign policy (and domestic as well) seems to be ABO, anything but Obama. If Obama did it he's going to reverse it. I think we saw the results of this attitude on 9/11/2001, the day that our own airplanes were used against us in a devastating attack that killed thousands and left thousands more bereaved. What happened on 9/11/2001 was partly the result of George W. Bush and his cabinet having the attitude of ABC; anything but Clinton.
We aren't so desperate for money that we need to sell arms to people who, although they act like civilized human beings, continue to support Sharia law, treat half their people like chattel, and have a ruler who ordered a human being to be carved up like a turkey.
6/20/2019 6:58pm
11
So just enough republican senators broke ranks to take some sort of “courageous stand,” but not enough to eventually and actually do anything about it? What a collection calculating jellyfish.
8
@Theo Baker
Remember their names and vote these spineless anti democracy people out of office.
There is no room in decent society for gutless traitors.
2
Wow. So how are DJT and jared going to launder money to MBS and his criminal friends.
Does PayPal accept payments in the hundreds of millions with no questions asked?
8
"Saudi Arabia, I like the Saudis," Trump said at a July 2015 rally. "I make a lot of money with them. They buy all sorts of my stuff. All kinds of toys from Trump. They pay me millions and hundred of millions."
20
& don’t forget to add Kush into it. His ties to Saudi are just as strong DTs. But yes you nailed it- follow the money trail.
AT last the repubs find something that even they can't abide. Now, they need to control the monster they created.
4
@RichardHead
A few people voted for show. The Republicans will not do anything to stop Trump. They can't even stop the monster on their own side of Congress - McConnell.
1
So, where is Mitt Romney’s no vote? How much is Bain Capital mixed up with Middle East money? Only seven Republicans are voting after the UN lays out the horrific murder of a journalist and American resident?
Is this why we are now “wagging the dog” to go to war with Iran? So that Trump and Kushner can fill their bank accounts?
Wow. Please investigate more.
10
Bain Capital!
A nightmare from The Romney candidacy days with horror stories of Romney raiding companies of all their $$$$ and then bankrupting them, forcing us, sucker taxpayers, to pick up the tab!
Romney is as evil a vulture as Trump.
1
Someday we will know the real truth behind the first crime family's backing of MBS (and Putin). In the meantime, we have to hope that the GOP continues to show some spine when it comes to these murderous regimes.
7
Hope?
The GOP is beyond all “hope”...
except for maybe their air-head former model and only WH“communications” director who somehow never spoke, Hope Hicks.
There is no person on the planet who can call themselves a conservative and support the Trump Administration's position.
8
Lindsay is showing a little backbone. How nice.
3
@Melanie Testa
He's still descended from a long line of South Carolinian cephalopods. No backbone.
2
Pathetic and Spineless Lindsay Graham sold his soul to Trump a long time ago.
But word has it that John McCain will haunt him nightly til they meet again.
With Trump the "hits" just keep on coming. The longer it takes to finally end his presidency, the more he will keep pushing the boundaries.
22
Every Gulf in the world must have a name, I think, and so does the gulf that you are referring to. It's not just Gulf (or Gulf nations), it's Persian Gulf.
5
@Hadi: From the body of the article: "Persian Gulf nations". Also, "Gulf Nations" is generally understood to refer to the states around the Persian Gulf.
3
I was under the impression that Senator Romney was both a reasonable and ethical man. What happened?
14
He also loves money.
3
@Ozma, I'm afraid you were mistaken.
3
Bain Capital.
GOP.
Greedy Old Plutocrats.
1
Strange that no Republican thought to mention the poor Yemenis caught in this Saudi bloodbath. All Mitch would say is that the Saudis were "imperfect allies".
11
Why have a Congress that represents the people of this country if the president can veto and lay down whatever law he wishes? Where is the constitution in all of this? This is a dangerous precedent to be set... he must stand to make a fortune on this deal. To override the governing bodies is, I would think, grounds for impeachment.
15
The Senate, our other piece in Congress actually did showed it has sensibility......amazing. I just can't believe it, they actually showed American they have something between their ears.
@Me Too
No they didn't. Seven people made a token vote.
2
Amazing that the GOP grew a spine finally. It will be temporary but it's a start.
@northeastsoccermom
It’s not really a spine, it’s more like seven vertebrae.
2
@northeastsoccermum Not collectively, they didn't. Only 7 of them.
1
Most of the GOP senators probably have known in advance that they would not be able to block the Trump veto, so those that voted no, knew it was lip service. Still better than the others that just went along with this terrible arms sale to an even more terrible regime.
2
"While the Democrat-controlled House is also expected to block the sales, Mr. Trump has pledged to veto the legislation, and it is unlikely that either chamber could muster enough support to override the president’s veto."
Looks like Trump's post-presidency plans for hotels in Saudi Arabia are still safe.
28
I never thought I would be able to take Lindsey Graham at his word -- especially given the fact that he has been a stalwart of Donald Trump, and is up for reelection next year.
Well done, Senator, for finally putting country and humanity before party politics.
12
@N. Smith It won't last. Being able to take Lindsay Graham at his word, that is.
2
Thank the lord. Congress dis something right. Keep us out of war!
23
@TwoCents Sadly this is not a done deal and probably won’t be. Don’t hold your breath waiting for Trump to pull out his felt tip pin and sign. Instead he will veto, and congress does not have the votes to override him.
Trump has considerable personal financial interests in Saudi Arabia as does Jared. Money is what motivates them. He showed that when he blew off MBS’s slaughter of Khashoggi. That’s the least concern Trump has.
6
Congressional Republicans had better start reading. The UN report on the Khoshoggi murder clearly implicates MBS and the Saudi government. (They should also read the Mueller Report while they're at it.)
We shouldn't be selling weapons to people who chop up journalists for sport.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/world/middleeast/jamal-khashoggi-Mohammed-bin-Salman.html?searchResultPosition=1
72
@L
And don’t ever forget the 9/11 perpetrators were all Saudis.
2
Iran is Trump’s new Mexican border.
We must stop him.
29
Congress deserves this. For years, decades even, they've been enabling an imperial presidency, not exercising its Constitutional authorities. Time to put party aside and put institutional prerogatives at the forefront, for that's the nature of our system. Kudos to the 7 repubs who voted for this measure, shame on the 45ish who didn't.
37
Trump's invocation of the emergency provision in the Arms Export Control Act to sell weapons to the Saudis is an egregious misuse of power. While the Senate's majority vote sends an important signal to the administration, but it will be ineffective unless more Republicans come to their senses.
41
Golly gee, a few Trump Party senators side with Democrats to pass this thing. He will veto their tepid attempt at a little humanity in foreign policy. The Senate might vote but will fail to override the veto and most of those Trump Party senators will either take a long retreat to the restrooms or will simply vote not to override. Even if they do maintain their momentary courage, the vote will still fail to override. It is worth noting that one of the Trump Party senators who didn't vote to block the sale is Mitt Romney. Courage of a lion that one.
35
Has the USA ever participated in murder either indirectly or directly, for political and or policy purposes?
3
@Bernard Fudim
The short answer is yes, if you ask whether the U.S. has been complicit in strategic assassinations.
2
@Bernard Fudim - yes it has, and one little-known related case went all the way to the Supreme Court: Kamis Khadafy, et al. v. Ronald Regan, et al., No. 86-1816 (Oct. Term, 1986).
1
@Bernard Fudim, unfortunately, I'm sure the answer is yes. I also believe those who ordered, executed, and covered up the act should be convicted of murder. America IS great because we are a nation of law. When our trusted servants fail to observe that, they disgrace and dishonor us. Ask yourself, "Do I want a criminal thug representing me?"
1
Trump and his gang should be indicted by the international court as aides to the murderers of Khashoggi. Congress at this point is and invalid arm of balance and justice. The Supreme Court is a body too slow to wake up and is blinded by the injustices of the administration. The three branches of government at this point is moot. Trump needs to be tried by an international court that represent the citizens of the world.
25
@As American As You Can Get - More than a "Recommend" - I'm in with both feet for "Make the Planet Great Again". And keep that court open for the rest of the populist hoodlums running amuck. But I'm torn by the slippery slope. Any ideas on how to re-educate or repair Trump's deplorable supporters? That's not a dig at you or at them - it's a problem whether we can punish Trump or not.... "they" are still running around "doing things". Wat a mess.
4
@notsocrazy
Those deplorable supporters are fraught minded Americans that span across all classes and educational background. Most of them are displaced, will be displaced or know someone that has been displaced by the globalization of the world- which include and. It limited to a multitude of immigration flights made easy by technology. They may not understand and if they do, are not easy with the synthesis of modern human evolution. One effective way for them to understand that there are mutually, regionally, and globally beneficial approaches to problem solving is from a fluid one on one basis. So with half the country talking to the other half it may work. If not, we need an anti-Trump version of Trump before this country get ripped apart from the heartland.
1
With so many enablers, Trump can't lose.
15
Good! Now we need a bipartisan resolution condemning both the Saudis and the Emiratis -- the Saudis for killing innocent people in Yemen, the Emiratis for re-selling arms to Hemeti in Sudan.
Veto this one, Donald, and we won't *think* you collude with foreign dictators, we'll *know* it. People die when the Trump family butters up MBS and MBZ.
33
Little context:
“Nothing has been more corrosive to the stability and modernization of the Arab world, and the Muslim world at large, than the billions and billions of dollars the Saudis have invested since the 1970s into wiping out the pluralism of Islam — the Sufi, moderate Sunni and Shiite versions — and imposing in its place the puritanical, anti-modern, anti-women, anti-Western, anti-pluralistic Wahhabi Salafist brand of Islam promoted by the Saudi religious establishment.”
- Thomas L. Friedman, 2015
"For five decades, Saudi Arabia has spread its narrow, puritanical and intolerant version of Islam — originally practiced almost nowhere else — across the Muslim world. Osama bin Laden was Saudi, as were 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists... And we know, via a leaked email from former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in recent years the Saudi government, along with Qatar, has been “providing clandestine financial and logistic support to [the Islamic State] and other radical Sunni groups in the region.” Saudi nationals make up the second-largest group of foreign fighters in the Islamic State and, by some accounts, the largest in the terrorist group’s Iraqi operations. The kingdom is in a tacit alliance with al-Qaeda in Yemen."
- Fareed Zakaria, May 25, 2017
57
A United Nations report released Wednesday made the most authoritative case to date that responsibility for the killing and its cover-up lies at the highest levels of the Saudi royal court.
Sometimes I don’t get the UN. In our raging immigration debate of late regarding fleeing crime ravaged Central American refugees’ unending sexual assault and gang violence there, I don’t recall reading a peep from the UN on that subject. Now suddenly they’re all over this Khashoggi thing.
4
@John Doe: The Kashoggi murder has it's origins in the highest level of the Saudi Government and was a targeted effort to silence the free press. The "unending sexual assault and gang violence" that you refer to in Central America is not government policy there. And, incidentally, that's the reality that the "illegal immigrants" from that region are trying to escape.
2
I can't believe any GOP senator voted against stopping the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, who are killing in Yemen. I thought these people were pro-life.
30
@Syliva They are only pro-life when it comes to American babies/foetuses. They otherwise do not care about women, healthcare, tax cuts (fair ones) or ethical issues or decisions, oh, nor do they care about the environment.
4
"While the Democrat-controlled House is also expected to block the sales, Mr. Trump has pledged to veto the legislation, and it is unlikely that either chamber could muster enough support to override the president’s veto."
It should have been good news that the Senate voted to block the sale of munitions to Saudi Arabia. However, the fact that there are not enough Republicans to override a veto by Trump is not just discouraging, but is an example of the corrupt state of our government that we are facing with this administration. If there is not a full bipartisan agreement on preventing this administration from putting our country into peril, we are doomed.
24
Why are private US defense contractors lobbying our government to sell sophisticated weapons to Saudi Arabia or any foreign country?
As rhetorical as that question sounds, it gets back to foreign influence in our democracy.
Trump seems to be willing too monetize every aspect of our government. It appears that our entire national security policy is based around monetizing US national defense assets to the highest bidders.
Does sending sophisticated arms to Saudi Arabia make Americans safer? It certainly makes some Americans very wealthy and gives them the ability to give nice checks to politicians.
26
How does our nation stop Trump, Pompeo, Bolton, all the other Republican war mongers, and their military industrial corporate masters from successfully concluding this arms deal to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, so they can continue their war of annihilation in Yemen, and ramp up efforts to move on Iran.
Apparently this Congressional effort is so much hoopla, designed to get us to believe there is still some decency left in our government, when we know there isn't a smidgen left.
We have become the monsters we used to destroy; tell me how it is not so, especially when we know that our President, Trump, is best buddies with the Bone Saw wielding Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the real live monster who ordered, organized and made absolutely sure that an American journalist, Kamal Kashoggi was tortured and cut into pieces, while still alive, within the Saudi Consulate office in Turkey.
Not only best buddies but engaged in billion dollar deals together, and this monster we call Trump is standing by this other abomination.
Something is way beyond wrong in our country.
47
@Mel Farrell - I heard that the TRUMP Presidential Library will be located in Saudi Arabia - hosted by the Butcher of Saudi Arabia aka the Bone Saw wielding Crown Prince MBS. They deserve each other. We don't.
8
@cynthia abra The Trump Library could just as easily end up in Jerusalem under the eye of Trump’s other pal Bibi Netanyahu if he does not get ousted from office for corruption. He is under intense investigation (just like Donald). Bibi’s wife was just given a $15,000 fine for corruption at her level.
1
@cynthia abra--Maybe Mitt will volunteer Salt Lake City for the Trump Library....
1
There is really no price paid by the GOP Senators if the veto is not overridden. They can posture that they "stood up" to the President, but the Saudis still get their weapons and the weapons peddlers still make their profit.
21
In a Tom Clancy book, a Japanese pilot flew a passenger jet into the Capitol building as Congress and the then-president of the United States prepared for the State of the Union address to Congress. Everyone in the Capitol Building and the president were incinerated. The Saudis on the 9/11 planes, and bin Laden (also a Saudi), used this book as a playbook for 9/11. The plane passengers took down in Pennsylvania was destined to take out the Capitol Building. While I was terrified and emotionally crushed by the 9/11 attacks (my birthday is 9/11, by the way), I cannot help but wonder why there was absolutely no reprisal against Saudi Arabia for financing the 9/11 attacks. Saudi Arabia remains inimical towards Israel and many Saudis also would like to see the United States fall. We have more enemies on this planet than we have friends. Wake up Republicans and smell the poisonous concoction you and Trump are brewing.
44
@Angelsea
There was no reprisal because the Saudis acted with the approval of the Cheney/Bush administration.
7
We shouldn't do anything just because our allies are "imperfect".
1
No Trutherism, please. It's just as bad as Alex Jones' lies about Sandy Hook.
2
When the house of Saud falls what exactly is the plan to destroy a vast array of weapons that will be controlled by people who will really really hate us?
More than 400 aircraft that can be used in a strike role
1000 main battle tanks.
They are familiar with our tactical doctrine as well as it's weaknesses.
Allied with Iran, quite the nightmare. A solution please, because it will happen when we least expect it.
14
@Lawrence I do not believe that Saudi Arabia is allied with Iran.
Quite the contrary. Saudi Arabia is Sunni; Iran is Shia. It is Saudi Arabia that is fomenting this alleged 'crisis' with the Iranians, trying to get the current occupant of the White House to act as their surrogate.
Hospitals, civilians, children are deliberately bombed and starved to death or dying of cholera and we need to support these murderers for what reason? We supposedly produce more oil than anyone on earth now, so why do we do we believe we still need to play these geopolitical games in the Middle East and waste lives and treasure?
14
@Mose
I know. Where are the pro-life stances when you need them?
9
@Syliva they’d have to care about living, non-white people first.
1
Correct move by the Senate. Finally some spine and some whiff of a moral compass. As utterly hideous as the murder of Jamal Khasoggi was, there are numerous other reasons to stop selling lethal arms to the Saudi autocrats. They are inept warmongers and the US should not be aiding and abetting the Saudi slaughter in Yemen. Now the Senate has to step up and override Trump's upcoming veto. Now that would be leadership. Probably won't happen though. The Military Industrial Complex is embedded in our national economy and we just love those foreign customers.
7
Hey, what about $140 billion Trump claims they already bought? How many weapons do they need to keep their citizens in line? Who do they think they are, America?
7
@JRB
The 140$ billion was a grossly inflated figure. Wishful thinking on the part of Trump which, of course, is touted by his gullible base as a fact & a great achievement and a great boost to the US economy.
5
And, it was only a proposal, not a finished deal.
Having written to both my Senators last month demanding they vote to block Trump, I checked the list to see if Idaho's two gutless GOP Senators, Mike Crapo and Jim Risch had found some spine and participated with votes to block.
But no, their love affair with Trump remains untarnished.
To be clear, this is THEIR love affair, and NOT Idaho's.
20
The New York Times and Washington Post have documented many payments by Qatar and other Middle East countries, including Israel, that found their way to Kushner buildings - a 99 year lease on 666 Fifth Avenue, for example. This family is running a criminal enterprise out of the White House and have no shame - just look at the traffic going in and out of the Trump Hotel, Washington, D.C. Brokering deals without regard to America’s safety is their motto.
21
Now we need bipartisan impeachment.
14
Did McConnell wink when he said all that?
6
Trump and Jared Kushner have a very cozy relationship with the Saudis. Funny, how the Saudis responsible for September 11th, are now the darlings of the Republicans!
Without Republicans voting with the Democrats to block this deal, the Saudis will gain weapons they normally would not have! God help us!
Vote, America! Let’s vote OUT of office not just T una but every single Republican!
13
The UK just did the same thing. Kidnapping and murdering journalists isn't a good look. People like MBS, Putin, and Xi should remember that.
4
Are there any readers who support selling arms to the country that attacked us in 2001, chops a US resident journalist up into pieces at their embassy, and that is destroying Yemen? Why? And if so, would you support Obama doing the same?
13
McConnell, Senate yes man to Trump has finally said a No. Miracle of Miracles. And he dares to run for re-election. Vote No in Kentucky. There must be some honorable men there somewhere.
11
Only seven GOP senators voted to block this sale?? Pathetic and horrifying. Where is Romney? And, McSally who was in the military? Where are those with brains and backbones?
15
"There is no amount of oil you can produce that will get me and others to give you a pass on chopping somebody up in a consulate." Probably gross and distasteful to most NYT readers. And yes, hypocritical of Senator Graham. But no viewer would doubt the sincerity in the moment, and I wish Democrats would learn how to turn a phrase and prove they can communicate a point with force to average Americans.
16
Good! The senate has finally spoken. But my God, where has the Republican senate been all this while? The Senate used to be 1/3 of the government but now, thanks to the wimpy Republican Party, the Senate is no more than a yes man to a would be dictator. This is their first NO. One hopes they make it a good one.
18
I guess Mitch and Lindsay aren't getting any donations from Saudia Arabia...only Russia!
11
Anymore, I am ashamed to be an American.
14
It is all quite meaningless unless they can override the President's veto. Since they can't do that, what is the point?
Trump is a disgrace, for the nth time. Not only is Trump a stain on our nation-state but so are his super hawk cabinet members and other advisors. They need to be removed from office and hopefully that will happen.
24
Can Mitch McConnell sink any lower? How does this man look at himself in the mirror every day? Or does he? He must know by now what he's become. At least, it's becoming apparent that his legacy will be that he was one of the most corrupt, vicious Senate majority leaders in history.
25
@Joanna Stelling
He stands tall while looking at the evil reflection looking back at him, from his flawlessly silvered mirrors, bought and paid for with the "donations", the lucre, he so avariciously grasps from the blood crusted hands of his handlers, the insatiable military industrial corporate behemoth which is the real power in charge of our United States of America.
12
WHO CARES? If Trump will veto it and Congress won't override? This changes nothing, so it isn't even worth reporting. Trump will not be checked by Congress on anything, because most Republicans are too craven to oppose him and most Democrats are too cowardly to impeach him and/or use "inherent contempt" to call witnesses. If this is a national emergency you'd never know it by looking at Congress. TRUMP RULES!
11
@Forrest Chisman I CARE and I suggest so should you and all others who can remember when American Was Great. Trump can and likely will veto anything that at the moment is not to his liking. And, given that "his liking" generally turns on his less than sound thoughts, it is the DUTY of Congress to pass bills regardless of a likely veto. Imagine a Congress actually having the good sense to override a veto. It happens, but not with Mitch McConnell and folks like Colorado's own Cory "Trump" Gardner refusing to do their jobs and instead feathering their own personal goals to keep their cushy jobs. IT is the duty of voters to dump these folks, starting with Trump plus Mitch and plus Gardner.
8
@Bruce nothing new, and hence nothing newsworthy, about all that. Nobody can or will (a combination) do anything about it short of voting the right way in 2020. So who cares about yet another instance of what we all know is true and have known for more than a year?
2
We should never, ever, consider this corruption
normal.
"Imperfect partner"
That is how I would describe my ex-wife. But she would never starve children in Yemen or train 9/11 terrorists or brutally murder a journalist who wrote something she didn't like.
Imperfect partner, yes. Saudi? No.
31
Waste of media space and not Breaking News. Who cares about these symbolic votes anymore. Their purpose is to try to get these senators reelected. Use the space for something more important, like policy ideas from the candidates. NYT and news media: Stop giving valuable space to Trump.
11
OMG...some Republicans DO have some sense of right and wrong. For most, not much but a tiny tad is better than none. And, some Republicans have a backbone. Even fewer than those who know right from wrong but they give a tiny bit of hope that we all can Make American Great Again despite Trump.
5
Thank you for stopping the arms sales which will aid Saudis to continue to kill the innocent in Yemen.
Anything that stops wars is appreciated.
America - let's not enable the killers for profits.
America - let's not kill for our own survival.
One life is just as valuable as another life - my life and your life is just as valuable as a life in Yemen.
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal." America should know this well.
8
It’s just meaningless theater. Unless they also vote down Trump’s inevitable veto this is just an empty political gesture. Trump won’t bother to hear the message, he will get what he wants and the deal will go through. They will all pat themselves on the back for looking strong without having to face the fallout from putting any real brakes on Trump. If there was any real substance here McConnell would have buried the motions.
19
I’m sick of this symbolic moves that, in the end, only waste taxpayers dollars. My money. Your money. Stop the games. If it is guaranteed to be vetoed, stop wasting money on it!! This is incompetence.
Save your typing telling me about the other incompetence around.
7
@Simon This is the best they can do, and it is better than nothing. At least the GOP is forced to vote on the record. But I agree, the impotence of congress is on full display, and it's very concerning.
9
Wait.
The US Senate?
The McConnell Senate?
Oh wait......SB 2: The No Arms for Saudi Arabia Post Office Naming Bill.
Got it.
8
When will Trump's base recognize that we now have a dictator in the White House? It seems McConnell, his ilk and most Republicans in Congress also feel comfortable with this dictator because it appears that they can NOT muster up enough votes to override Trump's veto. What a sad state of affairs. We now can say "bye bye" to this democratic Republic for the US has a dictator at its helmet. To start a war with Iran he declares an emergency and thereby avoids going to Congress. All of Trump's actions are clearly the actions of a true dictator. If I would be younger and not in my mid seventies and not married to an American I would move immediately to my family in Canada.
21
Lets not jump on to calling it a "bipartisan" every time one or a few republican supports a bill. Only seven republican, most of whom usually support and defend Trump on everything else supported the "Rebuke".
This doesn't mean anything. These senators will flip their vote in a matter of seconds if Trump tweets their name. 47 GOP senators are okay with selling weapons to dictators in the Gulf. When has selling arms to the gulf not backfired?
Death of GOP values and voters ignorance is the tragedy of this country.
41
Congress is irrelevant. And they've done this to themselves.
13
McConnel's grasp of the obvious is stunning. Just look at his face. Stunning. Despite downplaying, at least he's not, as he usually does, mischaracterizing the issue.
5
We need more Republicans to stop this would be Dictator Trump and his cronies. This is no time to be selling arms to any country in the Middle East.
Furthermore trigger happy Bolton and Pompeo are trying to manufacture a war. Been there done that and it never turns out well. We need to get rid of the War mongers in this Administration.
16
Wow, mark this date on your calendar - the GOP put ethics over money and their corporate overlords. I'm stunned.
3
They did no such thing, they just made an empty gesture for show. They know it won’t count in the end.
22
@Sheila
A small minority of them did. I wouldn't mark up your calendar just yet.
5
@Sheila. Not te GOP, nut rather 7 or 8 Senators who can afford to break ranks. Its the whole show that all of them have come to terms with. All of it-- the lies the manipulation of things like states of emergency, threats, insulting our allies, taking away critical environmental protections and on and on. His base loves his crassness and do not care that it diminishes the office of the President. So please let the GOP rise up and say and do something that will show backbone.
3
Finally, a few Republicans are showing some backbone. Could this be the beginning of the end for Mr. Trump and his corrupt, failed policies?
4
One could only wish! If they don’t have enough votes to over ride a veto than it’s not even symbolic and a total waste of time
2
It's no coincidence that Trump's first foreign trip as president was to Saudi Arabia. (Jared needed money for his failing 666 Fifth Avenue building and was looking for funding.)
Trump and Kushner are selling out our country and all it stands for to benefit themselves. Trump's deals with other countries reflect what personally benefits him and his family at the nation's expense.
And Republicans who continue to turn a blind eye to this corrupt and immoral administration are equally as corrupt and immoral.
Vote them out in 2020 (and forevermore).
24
“ imperfect partner... build cooperation... check Iran.... achieve goals, ... use our influence.” McConnell
We had a true cooperative alliance that included dependable democratic partners (European Union, UK etc.) lead by an articulate, thoughtful Pres. Obama who had influence, that was keeping Iran in check without U.S. bloodshed.
Now Mitch tells us to link arms and goals with murderous autocracies and chaotic foreign policy of Trump!
Senate Republicans and their leader are cowards.
7
The US Congress needs to restrict the Un-Constitutional Executive powers that have evolved in recent years. Indefinate Detention provides the power of Martial Law to one "Decider". Congress must make the President an employee of all the Citizens again. Restrict or eliminate. Start with stopping arms sales to Trump's business backers, Saudia Arabia and Israel.
9
Two words:
Emoluments Clause
9
I vote for sending Trump, if he vetoes this bill, and McConnell, if he doesn't use his power to over-ride the veto on a ten-year fact-finding trip to Yemen. At their own expense.
9
What's the point?
Too many Republicans voted for the sales to sustain a veto.
3
@emm305 Wat was the point when the colonists defied England's huge army and navy? It could have turned out quite badly, but they persisted. And now al it might take is a few Senators raising their voices in opposition to the dictates of a president gone rogue. Similarly, the point in starting impeachment proceedings is to lay open the pages that have been kept covered by bluster and arrogance. Of course the Senate won't go for it, but the obligation remains.
5
If, at some future time, Congress becomes functional enough to get work beyond the bare minimum essentials done, it should remove the emergency exceptions to some of its laws. Obviously, anything can be called an emergency, and the provision is ripe for abuse by a president acting in bad faith.
5
I'll be convinced that the Republicans in the Senate are not complicit in Mr. Trump's de facto dictatorship when 20 of them join the Democrats to create a veto-proof 67-vote block to uphold the Constitutional checks and balances.
Otherwise, vote them all out in November 2020.
20
Presidents before Trump usually acted as gentlemen in their dealings with Congress. Trump discovered he can bully Congress and do whatever he wants. We can't let that be the way Trump runs the country. We have three equal branches of the government. Let them each do their part. Congress can withhold a new budget and see how Trump handles having no money.
1
Meanwhile, Jared Kushner is busy working on Middle East PIECE. Meaning he wants a piece of the action from our arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Follow the money.
Emoluments Clause.
10
The veto will not be overridden. So every lawmaker who does not vote for the override is telling his or her constituency that:
-He or she does not think that it is appropriate to do their jobs or protect the constitutional power of the Legislative branch of Government.
-That is OK to dismember "enemies" in Consulates and get away with it.
-It is OK to disregard UN reports on human rights and,
-That they have a very bad memory or, a selective one. Remember Bin Laden from Saudi Arabia? Who provided the weapons?
8
The central issues here are not just about Congress and veto powers. It’s the very unusual use of “Emergency Powers” to push through the sale at all. By no logical or reasonable means can an arms sale be considered reason for invoking an emergency. There’s no war going on - just Trump trying to “do the Extra” for a nation he does business with on the side. This is not only abusive and wrong, it shoves Trump’s open, eager readiness to violate the emoluments barrier.
The only recourse of Congress, Republicans included, is to punish Trump. He has depended on Republicans to help him shield his tax and business data from congressional oversight. Trump wasn’t forced to become President, but he clearly wants to openly profit from the role, while refusing to provide clarity.
Enough! No more! He’s been too bold, too nakedly rapacious. Both parties should signal that from now on, the Trump feeding frenzy at the public food trough, and his open dealing for his business partners comes to an end!
It’s become an issue of national security. RELEASE ALL HIS TAXES AND BUSINESS DATA NOW!
10
Lindsey Graham is an absolute hypocrite who obviously wants to be reelected as do the other GOPer who signed on and some of whom are up for reelection.
Grow a spine GOP and get a veto proof majority in the Senate and the Congress.
82
“Catch-22. Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can’t stop them from doing.” It’s becomes important to know who voted against this bill so that people can organize around voting them out of office.
46
Mitch McConnell's description of Saudi Arabia as "an imperfect partner" would be hilarious if it weren't so tragic.
87
Add Israel to that list.
10
Congress is supposed to control the nation’s purse strings. Can’t they close our proverbial wallet to Trump too? Why is this merely symbolic?
56
The a Senate is controlled by Republicans and their corrupt leader, Mitch McConnell. Republicans have to grow a spine they’re terrified of Trump and his base!
3
Sounds like business as usual to me. Trump gets whatever he wants.
28
At least our senate was smart enough to stop a near future proxy war against Iran, fought by Saudi Arabia by preventing further weapons sales to Iran's regional avowed enemy.The U.S. drone shoot down by Iran appeared justified because according to them it was taken down in their air space. Guaranteed we would have done the same thing if one of their drones was survailling their territory.
14
Only an "imperfect partner" opined the Senate's McConnell, which means that the Dark Prince is actually just like you and me since these Republican "Christians" would also argue that only their Savior is "perfect ". Have you, Mitch, conspired to have an innocent journalist chopped into pieces lately?
81
@John Grillo
We continue to compromise our morality because we align with imperfect partners and are, ourselves, an imperfect partner.
2
The only emergency is Trumps and Kushners loans. Follow the money.
219
@Morris Lee - Exactly.
3
@Morris Lee
And after loans comes PURE GREED.
3
What do the Saudis have on Trump, or what deal is he trying to make to further his "brand" that makes selling weapons and bomb plans to our enemy acceptable!?
101
@Independent American That should always be the first line of questioning for investigative journalists and Congresssional investigators.
35
@Independent American - It appears that Jared made one of the worst deals ever when he bought 666 Manhattan and is on the verge of bankruptcy. No American banks will loan money to him and I doubt now that Deutsche Bank will be so flowing so he has to go to the Omar of Qatar (turned him down and was then called a terrorist nation), to the Chinese, and to MBS.
7
Kushner received a bail out for his 666 5th Ave property from the Saudis. We’ve got to vote not only Trump but every Republican out of office!
14
If only Lindsay Graham would say he can't ignore the behavior of Donald Trump.
63
@joe Graham says the only thing that matters is for Donald and him to have”fun” on the golf course. It is also nice when he gets to stay for free at Mar-a-Lago compliments of the US taxpayers.
3
"imperfect partner"? Really Senator McConnell? These are the people that attacked us on 9/11. The regime is brutal and one of the worst for human rights. Why do so many in Congress still call the Saudis our ally? Disgusting.
172
@caroline I agree the only recent attack on the USA was carried out by Saudis. Why do we want to give them precision bombs?
9
With so little to celebrate in terms of bipartisan accomplishments in the Trump era, I'm not sure whether to smile, laugh, or cry at articles like this. This hardly means that the GOP members of Congress finally grew some vertebrae... nope, far from it. Thank you, Lindsey Graham and others, for once being a rational human being and finally NOT doing something cowardly.
21
It was a moment. It'll pass, just like those "Megyn Kelly moments" that The Times gushed over.
1
Trump is in bed with Saudis and may be with UAE as well. His businesses were rescued few times by financial help from Saudi prince years ago.
Congress needs to start investigations into all financial activities tied with all enterprises associated with Trump, Trump family, Kushner and Kushner family. Specifically focusing on investment or other form of fiscal support from the states of Saudi and UAE as well as royal families of both countries.
70
If I were running the defense contractors who will supply the arms to the Gulf I would make sure that I set up a reserve to cover the inevitable contract termination costs should Congress not appropriate the "Foreign Military Sales" Funds. I'm sure that their stock prices will take a serious hit if this sale goes haywire.
5
"“If we let this emergency declaration go without protest, without a vote, I don’t know that we’re ever getting the power to oversee arms sales back as a body,” said Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, and one of the authors of the resolution."
Christopher Murphy is right. This president has already done so many end runs around Congress, I wonder how there's anything left requiring their consent.
But on the issue at hand, why are we arming opponents of Iran in a brewing conflagration in the Middle East? Surely it can't be the money alone--although I suspect it's the president's personal financial ties with Saudi Arabia that's behind all this.
This makes zero common sense from a foreign policy perspective, proving killing weaponry to the most volatile region on earth, which also indicates that, in addition to armaments, the US is perfectly happpy to wade into a war that the Saudis, Emiratis, and Israelis would be only too happy to let us fight for them.
I wish more Republican Senators would heed Chris Murphy and stand up to a president who's constantly putting his needs over genuine foreign policy concerns.
54
A long overdue step in the right direction and one small step for humankind in an unusual move by the GOP to cross Trump. But if Saudi Arabia's reprehensible, cruel, and ghoulish behavior can't do it, then there is no hope.
So next step: How about the powerful, controlling Mitch McConnell strong-arming his GOP senators to override the expected Trump veto--or isn't McConnell sufficiently human, moral, and patriotic to do that?
19
@PB - its how McConnell works. He takes a vote so they can all be on record as against something knowing that the president will veto. Then, he can just scrunch his shoulders and say he tried but Trump overruled him.
2
First step: Call them by their name, not their brand.
Unless you really do think there's something G about this OP you seem to have fallen for.
It's nice to see both parties agree the continuance of our Democratic way is above politics.
5
Now let’s hope for a veto proof majority in the Senate!
2
It is time that all of us do what it takes to vote out all republicans. This is not a partisan policy dispute it simply that the republicans are more loyal to the traitor Trump than they are to the constitution. Our country is in deep trouble. It is an attack from within and it must be stopped. Send money to candidates, volunteer and above all vote. Vote even if you disagree with some policy or other we can argue over policy later. There is no need to wait until 2020 because there are special elections scattered over the calendar (see Ballotpedia for more info) and there will be state and local elections this year in November.
We fought the Civil War to preserve the constitution, our situation is no less serious now; we all need to take action.
24
I didn't see Mitt Romney's name among those who voted to block the sale. Must have misplaced his sometime backbone.
60
@Bernard Bonn Oh dear, now where might he have left it? As far as my reading of the past dozen or so years shows me, Mitt Romney has been one of the least principled politicians on the national stage (which, considering those he competes with for this honor, is impressive). I don't think this is anything new. It would have been interesting in the abstract to see how the moderate severe conservative would have governed.
8
@Bernard Bonn
He's busy leveraging the buyout of the battlefield after the fighting ceases.
4
Interesting that Utah's Sen Mike Lee broke with the crowd and voted with Democrats -- he has long been a champion of separation of Powers. On the other hand Romney, who sells himself as being so independent, joined right in with the good old boys.
63
@Ann Smith....Romney has no spine, is plain to see...
It is sad that there are only 7 Republican souls in the entire U. S. senate that are not up for sale. MItch McConnell, like Goethe’s Faust, is the poster child for compromising oneself for incentives. Most of our Republicans will do anything to continue in power and increase personal wealth.
29
Keep our imperfect friends close, while Trump insults Canada, Germany, Australia, the UK, France, and other democracies that may well also be imperfect, but not known for cutting people to pieces in their embassies.
63
Matt...A-MEN!!!
Senator McConnell considers the government of Saudi Arabia an "imperfect partner." That must win first prize for understating the situation.
26
@Allen Nikora
McConnel's grasp of the obvious is stunning.
1
McConnell’s too busy grasping cash (er—emolu-ments?) to grasp anything else!
The Saudis are the sponsors of Salafist (Wahhabi) Islam, the most aggressive form this religion can take. 15 of the 19 hijackers in the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania were citizens of Saudi Arabia.
Florida Sen. Bob Graham, Chairman of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence at the time of the 9/11 Report, said in his sworn statements that "there was evidence of support from the Saudi government for the terrorists."
Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the execution and dismemberment of US resident & journalist (Washington Post) Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Trump made his first presidential trip abroad to Saudi Arabia. He was feted, flattered, and promised billions in defense contracts while there. Trump is suspected as having a long-term lucrative relationship with MBS. The crown prince has been carefully nurtured by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. What money is involved there? What quid pro quo?
This Saudi regime sponsors Salafism and murderer. This is the Saudi regime Bolton, Pompeo and Trump want to give US nuclear and missile technology to.
Where will the Saudi hardware land he next time they come to the USA? Stay tuned.
114
@Joe Miksis: "The crown prince has been carefully nurtured by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner." Actually, it looks like it's been the other way around.
33
@Joe Miksis I agree with most of your points, but where are you getting the bit about sharing US nuclear tech? I haven't heard that and can't believe a single member of Congress would go along with that. Raytheon is going to build smart bombs in Saudi Arabia, which will give them access to that tech. But surely NO ONE (US, Saudi, Emirati, Iranian, or Houthi) has seriously considered using anything remotely nuclear in Yemen.
2
@Joe Miksis
"Where will the Saudi hardware land he next time they come to the USA? "
Hopefully trump tower.
18
As soon as we get rid of Trump, Congress must repeal these "emergency" authorities it has granted the President. The idea that he can simply veto a bill like this has the effect of fundamentally altering the Constitution's separation of powers between Article I and Article II by making it necessary to have two thirds of both houses of Congress to pass what should be ordinary legislation.
41
@John Burke
I'm sure that if the Dems manage to win the Presidency but continue to be the minority in the Senate Mitch will be only too happy to introduce jus such a bill. Until the Republicans are out of office this is just wishful thinking.
Perhaps the Times should have listed the 48 Repubs in the Senate who voted against this bill rather than the 7 who did...maybe tweet it out?
This move from the Senate is not enough. They need to have sufficient numbers to knock down a veto from trump (which would be expected). They must have more spine then this weak capitulation to the obvious (and growing) abuse of power from this WH (and the senators supporting this behavior).
41
If McConnell's wife slowly cut him into pieces, while he screamed, would he think of her as an imperfect partner?
69
@Ed - I would love to find out.
8
@DR Me too!
@DR...you’re not the only one!
Many on the left have been (understandably) too preoccupied by Trump’s antics to take notice, but there definitely is a burgeoning anti-war faction on the right. The fact that Tulsi Gabbard’s non-interventionist campaign has gained traction on Fox, WSJ, and other conservative outlets is evidence enough that this faction is growing, and it could well take hold of the Republican Party as a whole one day. (Should Warren win the nomination, I do believe she could win over some Trump voters by emphasizing her commitment to bringing our troops home from the Middle East).
17
@Autumn - I have checking the comments at Breitbart.com which is the opposite of the Times and the average person is very much against a war with Iran or middle east involvement period. They keep hammering that the guy they elected is leaving the southern border wide open while playing games in the middle east.
1
@tom harrison - I've seen a lot of speculation on the comments here at NYT that the Republican party is on its way out and that it won't be able to survive Trump. From what I've seen at least, the GOP is undergoing a huge transformation right now, with Trump acting as a distraction from what's going on backstage. If anything, we're seeing politicians slowly catch up to where the voters are (ironically, it would appear that Rand Paul was ahead of his time). I think 2024 will likely come as a surprise for many people.
This action shows me that there is still some hope that reason and sanity have not been totally obliterated in the GOP. However I am noticing that the media is really pushing Lindsey Graham into the forefront...and I see the hunger in his eyes for McConnell’s spot as he is more politically secure in SC than McConnel is in his home state (and has the issue of his wife’s missteps).
Graham with more power would be scary.
He hung on McCain like a groupie as tho McCain’s strength would somehow rub off on him and toadied to Trump like one of a gang that trails after a bully.
News should be news, and maybe we should be more exposed to the representatives and senators from the “invisible” parts of the country instead of assisting those who have power hunger in their eyes attain more gravitas so that all of us can understand the issues and truly be part of “we the people”.
12
It is so clear as it has been all along over the last few middle east conflicts. This has all about money. When we go to war, the elitist military contractors and those who support them are winning big in their bank accounts. They dont give one iota about the lives that will be lost through their actions. They only want to pad their pockets. Give us a war with legitimacy and I'm all for it. Otherwise everybody loses except those like the execs and stockholders of Halliburton who gained billions in profit for a failed and misguided war effort.
321
@Carlos
Hasn't that been the case for several decades if not forever? Having power is what it's all about.
24
@CarlosNot only the men and women who are killed, but the way this damages one for the rest of their lives. How does anyone think so many became addicted to drugs during the Vietnam War. Check out the suicide rate. Jim Trautman
65
@Carlos. AND we waste billions of taxpayers’ funds, while our roads & bridges crumble, our children get sub-standard educations, millions go without medical care and others just plain starve. I’m so sick of it.
42
I'm sick of Trump's personal pandering to Saudi Arabia. It is clear that the American public does not support these arms sales, as does the majority in Congress, and the US military. Trump is once again acting like a monarchical dictator. His economic ties to Saudi Arabia are suspect, as are his motives for failing to criticize MBS for the death of Kashoggi and the genocide in Yemen. The United States is essentially supporting a criminal state. It is shameful in the extreme.
609
@William O, Beeman
There's no "monarchical" about it. He is becoming an authoritarian dictator, doing as he sees fit through his own declarations.
119
@lhbari - Trump is a monarch wannabe. He would so love to wear a crown and a long, red, ermine-bordered cape. He wants trumpets to sound when he makes an entrance.
And he doesn't want it to be a democratic monarchy a la Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Can you imagine the absolute monarchy of His Majesty King Donald I?
I wish Gilbert and Sullivan were still around to write a suitable operetta. Laugh till we cry.
43
@William O, Beeman
I don't think it is that clear that American public does not support these arms sales to Criminal states. It has only been less than three years when they voted a criminals to the Presidency, and they are less than two years away from doing the same thing again.
13
It's a sad day when a congressional rebuke that is not veto-proof is reported as a significant story. In the end the powers of Trump remain unchecked and the rule of law continues to crumble. I think we've all grown tired of symbolic gestures.
690
@Richard Wilson
"I think we've all grown tired of symbolic gestures"
This is the way your Constitution has been written. Sadly, I don't believe (I'm no American history expert) that there has never been such a president, willing to act like a dictator and showing nothing but disdain for most everyone who doesn't agree with him!
61
@Majortrout
I think the root of the problem is the fact that this current president (45*) can't even agree with himself. He causes so much chaos with his insanity that no one can pin him down (he learned this from decades of dodging legal challenges).
30
@Majortrout
Andrew Jackson.
2
It's clear that trump can't be bothered by as insignificant a group as Congress........warning light
The real question is why The United States Congress
is an insignificant body....and how, and with the help of whom,
did it get that way?
The Republican Senators who are NOT on that list have been totally corrupted supplicants who have sold out their fellow citizens. Jamal Khashoggi's brutal death gets Salman a present direct from
The United States Congress in the name of the American People?
warning light......
As much as I have come to loathe Lindsey Graham...He put it in a nutshell....This time it is the complete dismemberment of our
democratic systems and our sense of what is decent.
And those of you who thought that the American System of
Democracy was made of tempered steel.......need to revisit our founding documents....only to realize, any change of temperature or humidity can render them dust. But our downfall, with or without the founding papers, will come and is coming, at the hands of those rotting with a lust for power..
This is a complete moral failure......it is not new...and
it's a license for more.
Flashing Red Light......
18
The US system is a train wreck.
It creates 'celebrity kings'.
Give me a system where the leader has to go to the House of Reps and debate legislation - any day of the week.
Parliamentary rules.
32
@EC - Interesting to see our similarities to Australia; where the white male leader “debates” with his echo chamber of fossil fuel-funded lackeys while the planet burns and perpetual wars rage.
7
My money is on death and destruction. Trump will get his war and everyone who voted for him should participate in it.
21
Including him, on the front line!
11
I have always thought of Trump as a modern-day Julian the Apostate. (Look him up.) And give Julian credit - he did just what you describe.
Republican Senate plan: Stand up to the President (sort of) with a vote to allow veto from dt. Senators look as if they are growing a spine, but give dt ability to veto, once more assuring him he is in charge of the country. Great photo op. We are not fooled.
27
I think the time has finally come for the Senate leaders to say to Trump that if he continues these vetos he is in fact a dictator, and that he will be impeached unless he changes his ways and starts respecting the powers of the Congress. Nancy Pelosi should go with them and deliver the same message.
19
@Phyllis Sturges
...and pigs will fly. Not going to happen. The only pushback at this point is the Democratic Party, and I don't say this politically. It is FACT.
Republicans have proven themselves to be traitors by supporting the worst domestic enemy in American history - an enemy that would destroy our Constitution; an enemy that has not conscience; an enemy who cares only for celebrity and his money. We do not fear theTaliban, or ISIS, or any other foreign threat - we have Trump, destroying from within with the help of HIS Party. They must ALL be held accountable - no do-overs.
14
Finally these mostly Republican lawmakers have the guts to fight Trump. Watch Trump declare an emergency and pass his bill over this. At least some Republicans seem to be embarrassed by the US position, thanks to Trump, on the Kashogghi killing.
3
@JHM Please let's not jump the gun, there were only 8 a paltry number and possibly just for show. I'd me more impressed if 2/3 of republicans swung this way.
12
@Margo Channing Correction 7 not eight.
3
So Lindsey Graham isn't a Trumpbot after all.
Or maybe his vote (along with other Republicans) was merely symbolic as he knew Trump would veto it in the end.
Where is the rest of the GOP on this issue?
11
Trump will not be curtailed by republicans anyway. He gins up his base to wildness and holds them over the republicans like a gun. He doesn't want to lead the republicans, no. He wants to be a dictator, like his favorite friends, to make us all sit up straight when he talks, like the murderous Kim, to be loyal or dead, as the murderous Saudi prince does his subjects. He won't be the king of the world until he can do his utter will, and won't stop until someone stops him.
30
Call me cynical but I suspect some of those GOP senators went along with this to straddle the fence: appearing to rebuke donnie knowing that he could veto the legislation and there are not enough votes to over-ride the veto.
In short, a gesture, a strong one, but a gesture anyway.
Wonder if they will DO anything significant to stop this plague of pestilence and surfeit of pusillanimous posturing?
14
Why do we even have a House of Representatives if this man can just veto any resolution they pass if it doesn't mirror his imperial will? We have a third world dictator in the White House and not enough will on the Republican side to accept and refuse to condone this.
33
@Elizabeth. Trump doesn’t even see the legislation from the House to veto it. For Trump to veto it, McConnell would have to let it pass in the senate. No chance of that as Mitch does not permit any House legislation to even make it to the senate floor for a vote. A boy just can’t be too careful!
1
Trump is, succinctly put, border-line insane. And now the latest headline that he may veto a Senate decision against more arms for Saudi Arabia. Shades of Trump's veto on the Senate's opposition to declaring a national emergency on the Mexican border. And to use tariff hikes based on similar national security grounds. It's all the same madness, expressed the same way in each instance, i.e., "I alone know what I am doing, so that's it." For the umpteenth time, we (our Senate, specifically) must stop Trump. If he refuses and continues to try to rely on vetos, then prepare the 20 Republican senator votes needed to convict him based on an Abuse of Power article of impeachment passed by majority vote in the House. The man is nuts and obsessed with insane "winners vs. losers" voices screaming in his head, not to mention an obsession with power. Impeach and convict now.
26
trump seems to have found the key to unlimited power: a National Emergency".
Which, as some others have mentioned, he need only come up with an Emergency to cancel or delay the upcoming elections. I no longer think this is the stuff of fiction. We are close to entering the realm of a dictatorship.
47
@Tim I think we are already there:( Where have all the flowers gone?
6
If the arms sales to Saudis and United Arab Emirates cannot be blocked – even though there is a ‘strong’ bipartisan support for it – what good is it if it receives a veto on the President’s desk? As far as the country is concerned the Republican Senate is still spineless, and effectively in the pocket of the President. Saudis love nothing more than using USA to fight their ideological war against Iran by starting it.
17
And an interesting parallel development is that the Court of Appeal in London ruled today that there must be a stay on the granting of new licences to sell arms to the Kingdom because activists from the group “Campaign Against Arms Trade” presented arguments that there was “a clear risk that the arms might be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law.” Although the current licences will not be immediately suspended, British government ministers must now review the licences and present assessments that they pose no threats to Yemeni civilians. A small step, but a significant one.
Let us hope that American legislators push hard to override Trump so we can stop being complicit in what is currently the world’s worse humanitarian crisis caused by a murderous repressive “ally” with no respect for the lives of the men, women and children killed in its indiscriminate bombings. And of course no respect for for the lives of dissident journalists either.
10
It is stunningly sad that, although this bit of bipartisanship is encouraging, Republicans remain blinded by fear of our President with regard to the Mueller report and Obstruction of Justice.
9
It's time more republicans stepped up to the plate against the dangerous policies of this president.
16
Senator McConnell’s description of Saudi Arabia as an “imperfect partner”, despite its commitment to using a bone saw on dissident citizens, makes me wonder when this administration’s view of dissidents as “enemies of the people”and “treasonous” will eventually also be adopted by Republicans.
12
How did it happen, overnight that no one, and no group has any power except the president? What happened to "power of the purse," checks and balances and all that stuff?
23
Why is this news? What would be a breaking story would be a bi-partisan vote in both houses to override the coming presidential veto.
After all, the president must protect the financial transactions that accrue from the Royal House of Saud. And I can imagine Lindsey smirking and winking to the president behind closed doors.
And what does the real president, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, have to say about this apostasy?
7
This is Mitch:
The question the Senate will consider, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said, “is whether we’ll lash out at an imperfect partner and undercut our own efforts to build cooperation, check Iran and achieve other important goals, or whether we’ll keep our imperfect partners close and use our influence.”
And imperfect partner.
Otherwise known as a stone cold killer and an autocrat.
If these are our friends, exactly what "important goals" could possibly even be worth achieving?
14
We as a country must limit the powers of extreme conservatives who do not represent the views of most of the American people. With each day passing the likelihood of conviction by impeachment of this administration by the US Senate grows.
4
On the same day that 52 Republican Senators confirmed a virulently anti-LGBT "judge" to a lifetime appointment on the federal bench. During Pride Month. One symbolic furrowing of the brow over an arms deal to the country that attacked us on 9/11 and would have us fight their proxy war against Iran - a stunt they know will be vetoed anyway hardly passes for proof that Trumpublicans have suddenly abandoned their status as a dangerous, radical cult.
6
Trump should disclose his tax returns and prove he has no personal financial interests with Saudi. Then this wouldn't be as dubious.
6
@David. We already know Trump has a major financial interest in Saudi Arabia. He has at least one lucrative golf course there and also a hotel. Jared is MBS’ BFF. They communicate on What’s Ap to leave no trace. Both Donald and Jared borrow money from the Saudis too.
1
Why would we be selling arms to Saudi Arabia, the one nation that attacked the the US since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I mean, Bin Laden was Saudi, 15 of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi, and the funding for Bin Laden's operation was Saudi. What didn't the US do what any normal - & powerful - nation would do after almost 3000 people were murdered on it's own soil after such an attack? You can't blame Trump for that. You have to blame Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld for misdirecting us to attack the Afghans & the Iraqis instead. & , by the wa. our attack on Iraq destroyed the balance of power in the middle east, making Iran much more powerful than when it was kept in check by Iraq.
10
The votes of these 7 Republicans is only symbolic and has no real meaning if these 7 don't strenuously lobby their party mates to vote with them to override a presidential veto.
14
Hopes --that the House will go along with the Senate and that the legislative branch will have the guts to override Trump's veto!
1
Pointless since the Senate does not have enough votes to override a veto. The Republicans knew that going into the vote.
Over and over and over again the Republicans, Trump and The Supreme Court are making The Constitution a hollow document.
9
Congratulations to Sen. Lindsey Graham for the guts to do what is right.
This is grandstanding for his constituents, a way to say he tried to stop the sale when knows the veto will not be overridden . Real courage would be to rally senators to over ride POTUS veto and stop the sale.
4
I am especially concerned about Trump handing over nuclear information to Saudi Arabia. How does that benefit the US or does it just insure the Donald can build more properties there, Jared can haul in more business in Riyadh, maybe both of them can get loans? Interesting nuclear info “payback” the two of them are giving MBS for the slaughter of Khashoggi.
6
@Marcia well, no nuclear weapons info has been handing over to SA. They have peaceful electric program based on nuclear energy which many countries have in the past
@Jqck Unless you're being sarcastic, why is it that you would believe the Saudis have a peaceful electric program and that Iran is the evil makers of nuclear weapons? SA is one of the most vicious authoritarian governments in the world.
5
@Jqck. you better check out your belief. Two weeks ago this was all over several legitimate publications. It is being done by Trump unilaterally without congress. Some meetings have already been held. Google it as it will not show up on Fox!
Trump's decision-making is based on his personal businesses, still run by him and his children, who have an eye on future business deals as well. Trump's decisions benefit him, his children, Kushner and his wealthy friends and business partners. This country has nothing to do with it.
150
If the President can simply declare “emergency powers” to unilaterally take any action or spend any money, and only needs the loyalty of a small minority of senators to prevent any check by otherwise large majorities of each house of Congress... then how exactly are we any different than a dictatorship?
706
@Reed Especially when Congress is so dysfunctional that it doesn't pass much legislation anyway. Uber-powerful President and do-nothing-Congress is, effectively, a dictatorship. Only being a republic protects us from total Presidential domination.
28
@Reed Agreed, what about checks and balances?
19
@Reed: My concern as well. Have we forgotten how 1930s pre-war Germany was duped by a nationalistic, megalomaniacal demagogue and his thugs, ... monsters who overthrew their republic and installed a murderous dictatorship? The parallels of that history to our time are downright horrifying.
98
"I am also very concerned about the precedent these arms sales would set by having the administration go around legitimate concerns of the Congress."
--Lindsey Graham
So, now he's concerned about the administration going around legitimate concerns of the Congress?
This from the Senator who supports every attempt by the administration to stonewall, obfuscate, and withhold the House's attempts at oversight.
Senator Graham, you do realize that the House is also part of Congress, right? You certainly were a zealot for oversight and investigation when you were a member of the House.
Feckless hypocrite.
394
@John Graham just doesn't want to get trashed in one of Trump's tweet. And maybe changing phone numbers was a headache.
6
@John: Regardless of the past, and no matter what their reasons, I am thankful to Graham and the other Republicans for standing up to Pompeo and his hand puppet Trump.
7
@John
Better to grow a spine now than to be sorry later on!
11
Saudis are our friends and allies. Funny after 9/11 they did nothing to help. No, what Mitch who by the way has investments that are connected to Saudi Arabia and so does his wife who has been caught lying about selling investments she reported she did. This nonsense of Al Qaeda being connected to Iran is just that nonsense. It is connected to the Wahabbists of Saudi Arabia and their intelligence service. I did love all the nice talk about George Bush senior and his helper dog, but what was forgotten he was the former head of the CIA, involved in the Iran/Iraq war, Iran Contra which seems to have been forgotten and his attorney general was Barr who pushed for pardons for all those connected to the Iran Contra including Ollie North. Forgotten yes, Trump gets money along with Jared from the Saudis, but so were the Bush's connected getting millions in payments for talks or other consultant work for them. Of course George Bush the younger and Cheney and crew put us into a war without end in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not exactly Mr. Nice. Also remember the Saudis were very helpful in those blackbox torture prisons we operated. Which they deemed legal along with torture. I love it now pushing how legal it would be to attack Iran under Congressional approval given after 9/11 sort of like the Gulf of Tonkin and WMD all over again. How much does it take to learn, but then with a professional army wars are so much fun for those not serving. Barr will say it is all legal. Jim Trautman
51
@trautman great comment, but you went WAY over the heads and memories of trumptards and you lost them...
4
So, what exactly was the vote? How many Republicans voted with Lindsey graham? Some basic facts need to be added to a revision of this article and explain why a 2/3 majority is unattainable.
24
@Paul Wortman Go on Countable.com to gind out how your congress members vote on every single thing that comes up.
Don't kid yourselves, the only reason Lindsey Graham voted to block these munitions sales to Saudi Arabia is because he knows Trump will veto it, and he also knows the Senate does not have the votes to over ride the veto. He's a sheep in wolf's clothing.
138
Yes, he and Trump probably worked all this out during their golf game last Sunday.
16
Saudi Arabia's governing regime murders an innocent journalist and the US Senate leader says the regime is "imperfect"? Is that what passes for condemnation of a brutal murder? There seems to be a new low here.
56
Can someone share what the vote tally was? Frustrated that it is not appearing in the article.
13
@Adam
countable.com, I'm told will give us the vote.
Finally we see something thoughtful coming from the Senate. Is this the beginning of this deliberative body deliberating or a one-time slog through necessity?
13
Congress must get the votes to override Trump's veto. If not what is the point of this story? These spineless creatures in Congress need a lesson taught to them at the ballot box.
177
@CS If you want to return power to the people find a Justice Democrat and vote for him or her in the primary. The establishment Democratic party is an empty vessel.
@CS
Yes, and we need need Florida to right this sinking ship.
1
@CS. Rubio and Scott , are you listening?
I'm waiting to see if Republican senators finally find the guts to assert their authority and override the veto.
74
Could you please mention the names of the Republican senators who stood up to Trump to block the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia?Wish they were more of them....
56
@M
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Senator Todd Young of Indiana.
It's in the article.
12
@M It's in the article:
" Seven Republicans — not nearly enough to override a veto — broke from their party to disapprove of the sales to Saudi Arabia: Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Senator Todd Young of Indiana."
6
@M
They're all listed quite legibly in the 4th paragraph.
7
Why would anyone want to sell lethal weapons to this murderous and contemptible regime which is Saudi Arabia? Makes me wonder if there is a financial incentive, like perhaps a broker fee, heading the Trump sons way.
181
@Bottles
I think you mean son in law.
18
@Bottles No question there is a financial incentive and Bibi and Israel are in on it. Trump doesn't do anything if he is not making money.
59
@Bottles
"Why would anyone want to sell lethal weapons to this murderous and contemptible regime which is Saudi Arabia?"
$$$
16
Does this mean the republicans are ready to move forward on impeachment?
14
@Wade One can only hope.
3
Too little; too late. Graham, the wort hypocrite in the Senate, should have followed the advice of his fake friend McCain. John was correct when he said that Trump is an existential national threat.
All the arms that we sell to the Middle East will soon be used against us. They know our military tech and we will be left virtually defenseless.
93
This will force Trump to ignore 'the will of the people' and veto.
8
Note to Mitch McConnell and other toadies in Congress: blocking arms sales IS using our influence.
76
Republican senators standing up to President Trump? Ha! Such drama! They must not have read the memo that says the King is not to be challenged. These people sicken me. Donald Trump is trying to systematically destroy every institution of our democracy and these Republican senators remain silent, except for a little peep from them on this matter. Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham and your group, you are not fooling anyone. America knows where you stand. Go back to the US Senate Dining Room for your all day lunches where you can hide and cower from Donald Trump.
48
No.
Khashoggi's horrendous murder must be answered for.
113
Republicans seem to be the problem.
107
@ArtMurphy
Cheers for that. Who would have thought ? Thanks for the 1st laugh for the day.
Saudi Arabia, by encouraging their extremist Wahabbists, attacked the US on 9/11. We should have sent them arms the next day- and they should have been on the receiving end. Saudis may be friends of some oil baron families like the Bushes, but they are no allies of our nation. Never. They are no better than Russia.
269
@vandalfan
And I remember so succinctly how all US air traffic was grounded after the 9/11 attacks, except for one plane carrying members of the Saudi royal family which was allowed to fly out. Bush cronies, now Trump cronies.
4
Bingo. Recall the laughing high five by Putin and the Saudi Prince? Both murderous thugs. And apparently both looked up to by the “president,” aka Mussolini wannabe.
3
@Kate
I thought it was members of the Bin Laden family - perhaps both?
2
Senate Republicans seem to have grown one vertebrae. Well short of a spine. I suppose that is a welcome development, but I sure would like to see a fully functioning spine, the sooner the better, to support this nation and its institutions.
174
@David
I would describe it as some cartilage; a proto-spine.
30
@David Maybe Republicans start feeling Trump is vulnerable after the recent polls. Even Fox News is reporting Trump is behind. Jumping the ship?
5
This is nominal opposition to the loser to con "moderate" voters, while they still give Individual-1 their full practical support. DON'T TAKE THE BAIT.
Both the "moderate" GOP and vile GOP are in on that scheme, because just as there is no far left, there is no "moderate" wrong-wing.
Are the Republicans finally realizing how much a menace this president and his cronies are? Trump must be consulting to Cheney of the evil empire.
21
Just a little reporting tip:
When the Senate and the House both pass something the President has vowed to veto, it would be helpful to know the MARGINS by which it was passed.
Is it potentially enough to override a veto or isn't it?
292
@RyanYes, who voted for and nay.
19
@Ryan
They said its not a veto-proof majority in this article.
14
@Ryan
Read the article. 7 Repubs voted for. There are 48 Dem Senators. That's 55. NOT veto proof. READ the article.
12
Dare we hope that there are some Republicans who have found the courage to somehow start reclaiming a bit of their moral compasses?
18
We do not have a President. We have Donald Trump.
255
...and we no longer have a Republican party. We have a cult.
141
@jks ...A Donald Trump who happens (unfortunately) to be President of the United States. Facts matter.