Kerry dismisses Reid on fast-track trade bill

[G_j]

(I hear Hagel is pushing back against Reid also, making it a "national security" issue (Peter DeFazio on the Ed Show), though I can't find a link.)

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/trade/197195-kerry-dismisses-reid-objection-to-fast-track-trade-bill

Secretary of State John Kerry dismissed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) recent opposition to granting President Obama enhanced trade powers, predicting the Senate will pass a fast-track trade bill.

On Saturday, Kerry told the Munich Security Conference in Germany that Reid's words don't mean the bill is stymied.

“Well, I don’t – look, I respect Harry Reid. I’ve worked with him for a long time, obviously,” Kerry said. “And I think all of us have learned to interpret a comment on one day in the United States Senate as not necessarily what might be the situation in a matter of months or in some period of time.”

Reid told reporters Wednesday that “everyone would be well advised just to not push this right now” and that he is “against” fast-track, a day after Obama called for the expanded powers in his State of the Union address.

Obama is trying to complete a TransPacific Partnership agreement with Asian, North and South American countries as well as a TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) deal with the European Union.
..more..

[msongs]

1. corporate whores are getting their undies in a wad nt

[blm]

2. This is the part of being an administration spokesman that I hate - Kerry carrying out WH agenda on

Keystone and TPP makes me sick to my stomach. Especially knowing that Hillary set up these deals, but, put them off so it wouldn't hurt her 2016 primary race. Hell, Keystone deal was actually completed in 2010 - everything after was dog and pony.

Kerry was against Keystone and for fast track trade ONLY after labor and environmental concerns were sufficiently addressed. It's HIS legacy that will bear these scars.

[KoKo]

3. It will be passed before the end of the President's Second Term..

UNLESS we can hold the Senate and gain seats in the House in 2014. Given the apathy in the country, the gerrymandering (leaving many of us without a Democrat to vote for) and the powerful interests behind the TPP and the other "trade" deals it's going to be tough going.

It will take a monumental grass roots push back. And, its hard to know where that will come from. But, we who opposed those "trade" deals cannot give up. If we are lucky either Snowden or another Whistleblower will come forward with something that exposes more about TPP and connections that awakens average Americans from their slumber on the devastation these deals will cause an already suffering US population.

[Lasher]

6. Our best hope is that our Senate majority will protect us from Obama's foreign trade policies.

That's a sad indictment but I agree that's where we are. Even if we hold the Senate, it will be hard to hold this off. All Senate Democrats are not lined up behind Reid. Max Baucus (D-MT), for example, introduced Obama's fast track bill in the Senate.

The corporate toadie faction of the GOP would very much like to see passage of the TPP, and don't forget the TTIP which is probably just as bad. But the Teabagger faction might show a populist streak by helping block these trade agreements, even if it's mostly to spite Obama. But who knows, the libertarian Teabaggers must have bought into at least some of this scheme.

[KoKo]

4. ...1

[Cal Carpenter]

5. Who's the dog and who's the pony? n/t