Kerry kicks ass on Senate floor today about new debt ceiling

[zulchzulu]

People have been ragging on Kerry and wondering where he is, was, will be and why he didn't demand that he won the Diebold Election without proper evidence.

Guess what... Kerry was kicking ass and taking names in the Senate today regarding the embarrassing increase the "fiscal conservative" GOP voted on as well as letting DeLay get a free pass.

snip

WASHINGTON (AP) - A divided Senate approved an $800 billion increase in the federal debt limit Wednesday, a major boost in borrowing that Sen. John Kerry and other Democrats blamed on the fiscal policies of President Bush.

The mostly party line, 52-44 vote was expected to be followed by House passage Thursday. Enactment would raise the government's borrowing limit to $8.18 trillion - $2.23 trillion higher than when Bush became president in 2001, and more than eight times the debt President Reagan faced when he took office in 1981.

In his first remarks on the Senate floor since his presidential bid ended in defeat two weeks ago, Kerry, D-Mass., said his former opponent had presided over "the worst fiscal turnaround in our nation's entire history."

He was referring to the change from the $5.6 trillion in surpluses that were projected for the next 10 years when Bush took office in 2001, to the $2.3 trillion in deficits now estimated for the coming decade. Kerry and other Democrats complained that those bills will have to be paid by future generations.

"This can be called a birth tax, a birth tax that is dumped on the back of every American child unwillingly," said Kerry, who voted against the borrowing increase.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041118/D86DVIG00.html

[JI7]

1. i'm watching it now on cspan 2

it's being repeated. he looks great and so tough and energetic.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[NinetySix]

15. Yeah, thanks O'Reilly.

I don't think "shut up" carries a lot of water around here. He's right about Kerry's lack of fortitude. Perhaps you agree that Kerry saved our country the pain and suffering of another 2000 post-election spectacle? Wait til you see the pain and suffering the country will face over the next four years all because Kerry, who said he would stand and fight for us...DIDN'T.

[ohioan]

18. What makes you think that if Kerry were screaming and yelling about

Ohio, the margin would shift to his favor?

Everything that can be done is being done in Ohio. It is not necessary - and, in fact would be counterproductive - for Kerry to be running his mouth about what's going on there. Ranting and raving might make you feel better, but it wouldn't do a lick of good. Effective politics is not always about who screams the loudest - it's who works the smartest. Just because they aren't playing to peanut gallery, doesn't mean they're not fighting.

[NinetySix]

25. It's a lovely dream, really.

But do you think in the end that the Greens and the Libertarians are going to pull out Ohio for Kerry? We both know in our heart of hearts that it's OVER. Kerry said he would fight, Edwards came out in the middle of the night to make the brave noises, then Kerry obsequiously--I mean graciously?!?--bowed out. There is no way on this beloved earth of ours that anything is going to change.

Do you think SoS Blackwell (R-OH) is going to hesitate to certify the vote because of the insignificant technicality that Kerry might actually have won? I'll lay you odds right now that he'll appoint Republican electors even if Kerry wins a recount. With this Administration in power, there is no precedent of people being held to account for wrongdoing (Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice, etc.), so long as they serve the King. Blackwell will simply stand and take the heat for a while until the outrage simmers, then he'll keep his job just the same.

Nothing changes, but it's no big deal. Just the same old corruption we've all come to know and love.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. What would you have him do?

Gore had the popular vote. I don't believe Kerry did in spite of what the conspiracy theorists say. True if Kerry had won Ohio he'd be president but he'd be where Bush was in 2000. Not that it would be a bad thing. At the very least it would prompt a constitutional ammendment to elimnate the electoral college.

[tjdee]

10. I'd rather he retired with his billions.

I'm sure Kerry wants a shot in 2008, and I'm fairly sure that's why he's back in the Senate.

But still. Yuck.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

20. He's back in the Senate because his term's not over

[ohioan]

27. Remember when people whined about Kerry and Edwards not running

home from the campaign trail to cast votes that made no difference, just so they could "stand up for what's right?"

Now, Kerry - who could be off on a yacht somewhere resting his weary bones - returns for a lameduck session to stand up for what's right and folks from his own party attack him for it.

It must be nice to be perfect. But why aren't these perfect people running for office?

[JohnKleeb]

31. because no one is perfect and they dont exist

and he was awesome today, I agree.

[LittleClarkie]

35. Dagnabit, how does one know when these things are coming

Or should I just keep CSpan on for the next 4 years.

Seriously, is there a schedule of some sort to know when a certain Senator or Congressperson is going to speak?

[JI7]

23. he would stay in the Senate even if he had no plans to run again

since massachusettes has a republican governor and he would appoint a replacement if kerry left.

[eileen from OH]

14. Maybe - now, it's just a guess

because he is letting surrogates (the Greens and the Liberatarians in Ohio) raise the money and the fuss. And as far as I know, the possiblities of overturning the election are almost exclusively in Ohio. If it appears that something IS amiss, and it can be proven, he's got money and lawyers to join the fray. If not, he will have avoided the total mess of Florida 2000. Now, I know that some would prefer that he do that NOW in Ohio, but it didn't work for Gore and it wouldn't work in this state - which, despite being a "swing" state nationally is totally, absolutely, irrevocably Republican, when it comes to state-wide offices. Kerry, in my opinion, is avoiding the "Sore Loserman" shit, until it appears that there is a good reason and a solid possiblity that something serious is going down. Right now the Greens/Lib don't NEED Kerry to get involved and he shouldn't - to make it all above aboard.

Bottom line - as of 2 weeks ago, I wanted this guy to be my President. Just as I thought the Swift Boat Vets were total lying assholes in trying to paint him as a traitor and coward, I'm willing to give him a few more weeks to let it play out before I start deciding that he's got his tail between his legs.

eileen from OH

[Mojambo]

3. That "Birth Tax" is a great line for Democrats to use n/t

[Erika]

7. Yes, The Republicans are Selling Out Our Kids

Kerry had the guts to say so.

[LittleClarkie]

36. I remember the ads during the campaign

that made that point. Showing me kids and reminding us all who will pay for the debt.

[JNelson6563]

42. Yes! Great meme! Let's all use it!

Looks like Kerry got the hang of this meme thing! Let's run with it!

Julie

[Julien Sorel]

5. With nothing to lose, Kerry will likely be a firebrand for a bit.

He obviously wants that nomination again, and he's going to have to walk on water to get it.

[zulchzulu]

13. Sheesh...so if Dean said it, you'd be creamin' yer pants?

Kerry has been on this stuff for 20 years or more.

My guess is that a lot of people with their tinfoil hats on are wondering "where the hell Kerry is!"

He's fucking working...like he has been doing. For you.

[clydefrand]

44. I agree! Kerry has been working for years and not too many

people bothered to learn about him until this campaign. I've watched and admired him for years. He might not have won the election because he wasn't known well enough. Why should we jump on him with both feet because he didn't come out swinging when he can still make a difference in the Senate. I predict he will be much more visible on television than he was before so people can see what he's really made of. I liked him before he won the primary, afterwards, and I still do, and I won't stop unless he does something really stupid.

[JI7]

21. depends on who else runs

it will be easier for southern candidates to make the case against Kerry based on him being from Massachusettes or the Northeast if he runs again. they actually did try that this year but it wasn't very effective since by the time he was seen as competitive he was also seen as a winner.

[tjdee]

6. But the increase passed anyway.

Whoopdee doo, Kerry showed a lot of huff and puff on the Senate floor for essentially no reason, as the measure passed along party lines.

This is a major sore point for me, because this man should be President, not fucking around in a Senate minority. It bothers me. A lot. He's not even the friggin minority leader.

And a small part of it has to do with John Edwards, who sacrificed his seat for this race (whether or not he would have won). Too bad he couldn't just hop back into his old job, huh?

[lilpnut]

9. He can't be the minority leader

if he's going to be president soon!

[Erika]

11. The Subject Should Be About The Debt Ceiling

which the GOP are laying on our kids and grandkids backs.

[ohioan]

12. Yep - it's all John Edwards' fault

If he hadn't run for president and if he had run for reelection and if, after blocking conservative judges, voting pro-choice, fighting for civil rights, he managed to convince conservative North Carolina to send him back to the Senate, he would have single-handedly cut the Republican margin from 55-45 to 54-46.

Yeah, if only John Edwards had done the right thing - things would be SO different right now.

[tjdee]

16. Umm...huh?

I :loveya: John Edwards and supported him in his run for the presidency.

I was actually being snarky toward Kerry, LOL.

[lilfroggy]

39. Stop with the bull$hit

Edwards is a passionate patriot.

[LittleClarkie]

41. Ohio was being satirical

That is all.

[zulchzulu]

17. Perhaps Kerry can make up invisible Senators like invisible votes

Yes, Kerry should be President.

Ask me... I spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars over a two year period to try to make Kerry president.

Am I pissed? FUCK...pissed?

I just wanted to alert people who thought Kerry was wind surfing in Nantucket and eating bon-bons that he's back and um.....pissed.

Let's support him and try to turn the tide in 2006 so these Repug laws don't pass.

[JohnKleeb]

19. Now that was sweet

He did awesome I thought, was to the point, and articulate, and explained why they are actually worse handlers of the ecocomy than we are.

[LittleClarkie]

38. If he's still being articulate

Then he's still pissed. You'll be able to tell when he's lost his edge when he goes back into drone mode.

Here's to 4 years of the Incredible Hulk. No time for David Banner now.

[Gloria]

22. Kerry should vote against everything the GOP brings up...absolutely

everything. It's time for guts, not fuzzy stuff that will be used if he runs again. And even if he doesn't run, he should have learned a hard lesson and now be committed to trying to oppose everything the GOP bastards try to do...

[zulchzulu]

28. I plan on trying to make sure he is the voice of reason in the Senate

I want him to get enough people in the Senate in 2006 to be able to bring up impeachment charges.

He needs to be the meanest junkyard dog that the Repugs hate in the Senate.

[Lady Sonelle]

24. Unconvinced.

I used to be a "Yeloow Dog Democrat"

That was before I met the "Democrat Yellow Dog"!!

I'm sorry, but Kerry has LOST My confidence! Completely.

Tell him to wipe the Republican spooge off his lips and shut up for the next four years. He's lost ANY rights to consideration.

He's Bush's bitch now and good riddance.

Lady Sonelle

[Pastiche423]

26. Big whoop

[lilfroggy]

40. Exactly

Why isn't he fighting for every vote? Ha. What a joke. He said he had our backs. Well, instead, he stabbed us in the back.

[usregimechange]

29. I agree, Thank you Senator Kerry! nt

[KnowerOfLogic]

30. Yawn. Kerry left his backbone in Vietnam.

[ohioan]

32. Uh, huh - And what have YOU done lately to put your ass on the line

for your fellow Dems?

[Dr Fate]

33. I'm glad. Keep it up.

Hell people- I'm not going to complain about this- I want them all to continue & increase this.

DEMS need to get some attention in the media...

[angrydemocrat]

34. Well People Can't Say Kerry Sitting On His A$$ Now !

I hope all you people that were constantly screaming where's Kerry, what the hell is Kerry doing, Kerry is just sitting on his A$$ doing nothing were watching C-SPAN today. Because that would give you your answer he is working for you and slamming the repukes why he does it!
I must say he did a very good job doing it to! Bush and these damn repukes better get use to it because before all is said and done they will wish they never heard the name Kerry! I have no doubt that he is still he and some of his people are still working on this current election as far as the fraud, voter intimidation, ect. goes. Regardless of what some people around here think this man is a fighter and I will support him all the way!

[robbedvoter]

47. He is sitting on our uncounted votes and his unspent money for legal

challenge of the theft - while 3rd parties have to raise it. Am I supposed to choke that he finally showed up to his day job (carefully stashed aside in case that other gig didn't pan out?)

[Eloriel]

37. I'm so glad he's hit his stride

Nice to know he can make himself useful.

[in_cog_ni_to]

43. We hit the debt ceiling in OCTOBER and Snow fudged the numbers

until AFTER the election. (as per Al Franken Skow) These bastards are a bunch of psychos and will never stop. Our country is gone. I can't wait until the shit starts to hit the fan and his supporters have to suffer for what they've done.

[LittleClarkie]

45. Home now, watching it at 7 am

I should be in bed.

What I don't get is where are the fiscal conservatives on the Republican side. Kerry is certainly more of a fiscal conservative than Bush. You'd think he could build some kind of coalition of the sensible.

Perhaps in the 109th Session.

He looks tired.

[robbedvoter]

46. Sooo...it was all worth it? Woopty f*ing do! He shows up for work!

Is this a Kerry cult I just walked into?