Why are people acting as though the new START treaty has a chance?

As a friend of mine says of middle-east negotiations, "They aren't really negotiations.  They're just talking until they can get stronger and attack you again."

This is what Senate Republicans are doing with the new START treaty.  The treaty needs 67 votes to pass the Senate.  Democrats have 60 in the lame-duck session, but only 53 when the new Congress meets in January.  Stall until January and you kill the treaty.

I don't know what people are batting their gums about anyway.  It's doubtful this thing is going to pass even in the lame-duck Senate.  They only have one Republican lined up now--Richard Lugar--and need six more.  That would be hard enough.  Getting 14 Republican votes in January is impossible.

True, the treaty would be a blow to Iran, and true, the treaty would "reset" US-Russian relations for the better, but, unfortunately, it's been negotiated in a Democratic administration and, according to the theology of the GOP base, Democrats are in league with the devil.  Therefore, it must be opposed.