Finance Comm: Kerry Vs. Sec Snow

[TayTay]

1617 GMT Sen. John Kerry is going head-to-head in questioning Snow
on the administration's policy - or lack of it - when it comes to addressing the
loss of U.S. jobs because of China. Kerry asks straight out, are they
manipulating the currency? Snow's answer: "We believe the currency is pegged, it
should move to flexibility." (GMM)

[TayTay]

1. Ahm, this was lively

From: US Congress warned against 'protectionism' in China trade row

Source: Agence France-Presse English Wire
Date: June 23, 2005

by Jitendra Joshi

(SNIP)

Pressure is mounting in the US Congress for Washington to get tough over the yuan issue. Snow was attacked by some committee members for judging that Beijing does not yet qualify as a "currency manipulator" in US law.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, one of the co-sponsors of the tariffs bill, rounded on the administration stance.

"The opponents of our bill are protectionist. They are protecting China from joining the community of free trading nations," he said. "How long can we continue to talk without action?"

Senator John Kerry, the Democratic challenger to President George W. Bush in last year's election, asked Snow pointedly "are we powerless, are you oblivious, or is it a combination of the two?"

The lively exchanges coincided with news that the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp. is launching the biggest ever takeover offer by a Chinese group with an 18.5 billion-dollar cash bid for US oil major Unocal.

[rox63]

2. I love that quote

It shows our guy in full anger-mode: "are we powerless, are you oblivious, or is it a combination of the two?"

[karynnj]

3. Are they usually friendlier?

I didn't see this, but the comment seems harser than Kerry's comments to people like Stevens. Was he just exasperated?

[TayTay]

4. Yup!

This has been an intractable issue. The Chinese cheat on currency and the Admin winks at the them because of the debt of the US the Chinese hold. And Americans get hurt and no one does anything.

[blm]

5. I'm snagging this for GD.

Kerry works his ass off, and always has. Damn few of the detractors will ever admit.

[TayTay]

6. Just saw it. Thanks!

I will back you up. I am just relistening to the web broadcast of this, as I was not really able to pay attention this morning.

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearings.htm

Kerry comes on around 1:53 into the hearing. Schumer is on at abround 1:35.

[blm]

7. Post the link in the thread.

The other snip from your Original post would be welcome, too.

[karynnj]

8. Thanks for the link

(Also - I'm embarrased to admit that I was brain dead when I read the OP and read Snow to be Senator Snow. )

Secretary Snow's answers were embarrasing - he was either unwilling to tell the truth or he's incompetent.

[Mass]

9. Spelling ---> Senator Snowe.

thanks for the link - I had listened to the hearing until Baucus started to speak but I had missed Kerry.

[whometense]

10. Thanks for putting up the link.

I was out all day and away from the news. It was lovely to come home tonight and see that John spent the day kicking ass.

[TayTay]

11. He did indeed

It was a good day in the Senate. Kerry was wonderful, particularly when he beat the crap out of Rove on the Senate floor. (Sigh, my hero. My deeply, mightily and greatly esteemed Junior Sentah. Sigh! Obviously, nothing inspires me more than a well-done ass-whopping. This is, of course, frightening and deeply disturbing on my part.)

[whometense]

12. Not at all.

No one on this earth deserves an ass-whomping more than Turdblossom.

[TayTay]

13. True dat, girlfriend, true dat

And it was expertly done today. Sigh! I think I was just having a Kerry-moment. Sigh!

[whometense]

14. I can't believe I missed so much

in one day. It appears I picked the wrong vacation day. But the weather was perfect, and I went to the aquarium and then to a chick flick with my daughter. It was nice to be pulled away from the internets for a whole day.

On the other hand, the jellyfish were spectacular, and the octopus put on a show for me.

[ginnyinWI]

15. I just caught the rerun!

Wow. Mr. Prosecutor in full battle mode. Definitely a Kerry Moment! ;) That and a Senate floor speech on the same day--firing on all cylinders yesterday I'd say! He was superb. :loveya: