DeMint’s bluster is a mistake. LOST is NOT dead, because Kerry wasn’t planning a vote until the LAME DUCK session anyway. And when the election is done, ANYTHING GOES. They only need ONE VOTE. This is NOT over, and it is foolish to relax.
You’ll need to watch this video on Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma (July 16th, 2012). The whip count against LOST is 35 and Inhofe has informed the Senate that if Kerry brings this to a floor vote, more “no” votes will be forthcoming.
Inhofe knew that a lame duck strategy was on the table. C’mon, the guy has been to the DC rodeo a few times....cut him some slack.
What Inhofe is doing is called “setting a marker”. He’s telling Kerry (and to anyone else thinking of voting for this...especially those who are up for reelection in 2012/2014) that LOST is DOA. Anyone foolish enough to support LOST, and push for a floor vote, will go on the record supporting a crappy treaty.
Once LOST is explained to the public (which is happening now via the internet/radio/word of mouth), it will become even more toxic.
In closing, you typically don’t request a floor vote unless you either (1) have the votes, (2) don’t have the votes yet wish to make a statement or (3) don’t have the votes yet want to put people on the record. Will Kerry’s coalition be willing to go on the record now? Are they willing to go down with the ship? To those in key swing states (Manchin-WV, Graham-SC) they might be too scarred to pull that lever no matter how discrete their tacit support.