Steve Hoffacker's Sales Quips

Did you see this one? After all of the wrangling and pleas of urgency and cries of "imperative to national security" to get the START Treat ratified by the lame-duck 111th Congress before they adjorned on Wednesday, the Russian Parliament only gave temporary approval to the Treaty and put off a formal vote until next month - which is actually next year.

So, it didn't have to be rushed through after all. What a surprise. It still isn't a done deal. What if the Russian government decides not to approve it? Probably unlikely, but sure would through a wrench into the process.

This is just another example of how everything had to rushed through irresponsibly in the 111th Congress without time to read the bills they were voting on or without time for serious debate - or consideration of the impact or consequences of measures they were voting to adopt.

As Americans, we deserve much better representation than we have been getting, and that change should be  the 112th Congress' gift  to us for the new year.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

This START Treaty wrangling just won't go away, but maybe the end of the Senate term will save us.

This treaty has to wrong for America because so many people are saying we must have it - red flags unfurled.

The President is in a full-court press on this one, stopping at nothing to get it passed. Makes you pause to ask why? Why the rush? Why now? Why not earlier?

The President say that passing it is "imperative to national security." Really? Then why this 11th hour push? Why was it not part of the State of the Union? Why wasn't it a campaign pledge? Whay wait 8 years sign it was signed in 2002?

Bryon Dorgan (D-SD) says the treaty "represents our national interests." Really? All of a sudden?

Russia wants it passed. That should be enough of a chin-scratcher right there.

John McCain nails it when he says that "We need to stop overstating the successes of our cooperation, and we need to begin dealing with Russia more as the modest power it is, not the great power it once was."

Mitch McConnell says the decision "should not be decided under the pressure of a deadline." Hear. hear.

Lame-duckers are supporting because they have no skin in the game.

Drop the gavel and go home.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Harry Reid and Barrack Obama are determined to get the START Treaty approved by the Senate before Tuesday, if not by tomorrow.

This treaty has been kicking around since 2002, and no Senate since then has seen fit to pass it until now? The Senate is split on this so the 67 votes required for ratification by the Constitution may not be there.

Here's the aggravating part though. The reason for the rush is that come January 3rd in 2 weeks, the 112th Congress with have 5 more Republican Senators and 5 fewer Democratic members. It is believed that the chances of ratification then would be very slim.

If it's such a great deal for America, why does it have to be snuck through at this 11th hour when the belief is that the votes won't be there in 2 weeks? Could it be that it really isn't that good for America after all?

Don't START. Just go home and enjoy Christmas.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

There comes a time when you just have to push back and recognize that something just doesn't seem right. Such is the case now with this rush to get the START treaty passed by the lame-duck Senate. Maybe afraid that it won't pass come January.

Regardless of what the merits might be for having such a treaty ratified, we have lived without it being official for 8 years - and in those 8 years no Senate (mostly lead by the Democrats) has seen fit to ratify it.

Here's what doesn't add up and makes me want to run the other way. Firts of all, the inaction for the past 8 years. Then, Obama wants it, Hillary wants it, Putin wants it, and now Colin Powell wants it. Wonder who will chime in tomorrow. That is just too much pressure being brought to bear. We must say "no" at least for now.

If it's really that important - and I'm not sure either way - it can what for the 112th Congress to look into it.

This is not something to be rushed through just because some people feel it needs to happen now - people who may need to use it for political capital in a year or two.

In short, don't START - not now anyway.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

For the past 8 years (since 2002) we have had the START II (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) between the US and Russia signed but never ratified by the Senate. Now, all of a sudden, the President and the Secretary of State have to move full speed to get it passed by the lame-duck Congress.

Hmmm. I'm thinking if it has to passed this immediately after sitting around for 8 years, there must be something to it that we don't know about - and should continue doing without.

Treaties are made to be broken. In the great words of Ronald Reagan, "trust but verify." Forget the treaties, just build a strong defense. Just because there is a piece of paper, don't expect behavior to change.

START should be a non-starter, as it has been for 8 years.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.