Kerry Home Heating Oil PR event on CSpan 2 now

[TayTay]

www.cspan.org

Looking good, but may have a slight cold.

[TayTay]

1. This is friggin heart-breaking.

I can't believe we are even having to beg for this money. It's awful.

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. Watching

it is heartbreaking. This is going to hit many of us hard. How dare them not do the responsible thing. I am glad they are showing this.

[TayTay]

3. So am I.

Mr. K looks good. He is very gracious as host. And this really ws his baby. I wonder if we will get a floor speech on this matter soon.

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. Well

he said that they are going to try it in the Transportation bill next. This is just disgraceful 255% profit for refineries, and the house hits the little guy who has a 5% profit.

[globalvillage]

9. He does look good.

But he doesn't look well. A cold, maybe?

I have been worried about this issue, and I'm so glad the Dems have gotten behind it. Especially Sen Kerry. This must be very painful for him.
It's not water cooler talk yet at work, but I believe because people are just afraid to think about it. By the end of the winter, bush* will be responsible for many more American lives lost than he already is as a result of Iraq and Katrina. His approval ratings will be in the teens, the only bright spot in all of this.
The cost of this administration's neglect of the poor and the elderly will be staggering, both in dollars and in deaths. It almost seems intentional.
Mr Kerry will really look good by the spring. A realization that will come too late for so many.
Heartbreaking, indeed.

[TayTay]

10. Kerry's voice sounded a little 'fall coldish' to me.

Virtual chicken soup to my esteemed Senator. It is difficult to know how to dress for this weather and there is something going around. (And I could, of course, be crazy and imagining this. But he sounded a trifle crackily today. I'm sure that Tersa is on it and sending out Vitamin C and Zinc lozenges.)

This is so wrenching. How can the Rethugs justify this? People will die without this aide and charities are strapped to the brink with helping people from Katrina and Rita. I don't know what it's like all over the US, but Mass food pantries are getting more calls than they have food and the local funds for hearing oil relief will be very, very strapped. We have a private/public venture here that is run by Joe Kennedy (Ted's nephew) that helps make heating oil affordable, but it's not enough. And this is just one state. Sigh!

This is beginning to sound like a scene from a sentimental Christmas movie. The Rethug Scrooges need to see the Ghost of Elections Yet to Come and see how damaging this will be. They are denying help to an awful lot of people.

[jillan]

5. ----

:(
I missed it.

Hopefully they'll play it again!

[ginnyinWI]

6. I just looked it up

It will be on Cspan-1 at 11:50 Eastern. I get a daily schedule in my email every afternoon. :)

[fedupinBushcountry]

7. Thanks

They cut it off when Kerry was being asked questions at the end because Senate went back in session.

[jillan]

8. Thank YOU!

Kerry Kerry Kerry!

[jillan]

11. Thanks to Ginny, I caught it last nite.

Kerry was great. He is such a natural at hosting an event like that.
He is so quick on his feet. And this was such an important topic. OMG it is awful what could happen to the needy this winter.

A couple of things I noticed worth mentioning.
Hillary. Am I the only one that thinks she comes across as such a be-atch? Yes, she gave an excellent speech. But when she is not talking, she looks so uncomfortable, and not very supportive of the other people in the group. I imagine she wished she was the leader of this, but oh well... Kerry outshines her completely.

And I felt so bad for Kerry at the end. When it was question time, everyone left. A few reporters stayed and asked him questions that had nothing to do with LIHEAP. He tried to get back on topic, and then wrapped it up quickly. Senator Kerry, I would have stayed there for hours discussing this with you!

[TayTay]

12. LOL! The press doesn't understand LIHEAP

They are not in danger of freezing to death and don't think it's a big juicy story. (Hey, bad things happen to poor people all the time. What can you do?)

On the other hand, Kerry might make some news if he would only just come out and say he wished he was on the Judiciary Comm because wanted to gut Harriet Miers like a hapless fish during the confrimation hearing. (Ooooh, controversy. Might even get 15 seconds with this on the evening news.)

Poor people need help paying bills? That's so 40 years ago.

[jillan]

14. And Katrina was so Last Month!

I forgot about those poor people already!
Just vote for my tax cuts-okay?

[karynnj]

18. I actually was less impressed with her speech than I have been

with other speeches she has given. When she spoke when they had the SS trip she was much better. Here, I thought she rushed through things - she pointed to the charts but didn't really explain them. She had a good refrain that she repeated, but she didn't seem as connected to the problem as any of the others.

I have to watch more Hillary before agreeing that she is a be-atch (like your spelling). The Inside the Bubble tape seemed to show the same side of her (even though I think it was directed at Bush) , sort of an impatience with people. It was weird how she changed when she started talking - when she smiled more.

I think Kerry's plea for Bush himself to join them and make this nonpartisan was great. He sounded so completely sincere on why this had to be done. He sounded different than during the campaign - almost a cross between the more low key soft spoken person off camera Kerry and the sharper (in tone - he was equally brilliant) Kerry that was giving speeches. The only thing I can think of is he was trying to appeal to other congress people to look at the merits of the proposal and realize it had to be done.

I will not understand if teh press finds either Romney or Hillary more likable.

[ginnyinWI]

21. this post reminded me of a thought that's been knocking around

in my head lately. Kerry has been a candidate for president, and I can see that he sees himself as not just another Senator--he's more on the level of the president in a way. He doesn't spend a lot of time talking about the other Senators--he addresses Bush directly, calling him out on this or that failure--because he's been up there and seen it from a president's perspective.

Does anyone else see this? He now looks at every problem as if he were the president, and what he would do--and what * should be doing.
It's the Shadow President thing--but I'm noticing it more and more, as * gets worse and worse, I guess.

[TayTay]

22. I was actually thinking about this yesterday

I was having an odd moment and trying to reconcile this. I saw Sen. Kerry at the Taunton dam and he was being a good Senator. But it seemed so odd to have him there. (It's a dam. We can handle it. But he has to go and do that stuff, it's in the job description. But, but, but... geez, he should go do Senator stuff. It was odd.)

Then I saw him in the Senate Committee and he was strongly asking Condi for accountability. He acted with authority and with command. So, I guess I agree with you. The NYTimes was right when they described him as 'less than a nominee, but more than an ordinary Senator." He is in-betweening.

[whometense]

24. I agree.

It's partly his normal gravitas, but I see it as in-betweening too. Just the fact that Lugar didn't interrupt him was surprising to me. I'd have thought Lugar would be dying to slap him down, but he didn't even try - just groused a little. I found that very interesting.

[TayTay]

25. Do you have some strange dissonance now

when you see him doing local things on the news. It's odd. It would be insulting to say that he isn't taking care of the people at home, cuz he is. (He is actually doing a very good job this year and has been right on the spot for everything that has happened this year at home, from the red tide problem to Otis to this.)

But, it seems petty in a way. (I don't know how to express this thought.) It's like okay, I'm glad your're doing this and as a constituent I'm glad someone is minding the store and all, but, the problems at the federal level trump my little hill of beans. I feel oddly torn about this now. (And I probably express it badly. I am grateful, but I feel bad for asking in a way.)

[whometense]

26. I do, actually.

I know what you mean. It does seem in some ways a waste of his time and attention, and kind of incongruous, though it's certainly in his job description. And I think he's at pains to show the people of his home state that we still come first, even though he's very much engaged in the big picture.

I think it's less political (though that's part of it) than personal, and goes along with his "painful sincerity." He doesn't want us to think he's outgrown us and left us in the dust. I do appreciate the feeling behind it.

[ginnyinWI]

28. but I think the reality is

that he has outgrown the job. He ought to be president. No offense meant to MA, but you know what I mean. He isn't forgetting his Senatorial duties, but he is meant for oh, so much more. He could walk right into the job of President or Sec. of State today and never lose a beat. (Or Ambassador to the U.N., Sec. of Defense, or what-have-you in the Foreign Relations realm.) Sigh.

[TayTay]

29. I know.

That's why it's so strange to see him at the Taunton dam. I know that he's doing his job. I know that Senators have to take care of the home folks. But, but, but.....

I feel funny in that. I don't want him doing this, and I do. (I am crazy, sigh!) I think I am, in some sense, letting go.

Thanks for understanding. I'm not an ingrate, but, geez, it seems like there should be a better use of his time.

[karynnj]

27. Might be that Lugar, although trying to run the committee

had a great deal of sympathy for the those complaining that Condi has avoided the committee and not allowed them the role they are suppose to have. He also, as an old time Republican, may have really meant what he said about it being a good line of questioning (or something like that). I think there is real respect there. (Though it was tough to see at that awful Bolton confirmation hearing. Even at that hearing though he was nicer to Kerry than to some of the others - maybe because Kerry quickly turned his anger to heart felt comments on the loss of civility in the committee.)

[jillan]

23. I've noticed that too.

I'm sure that last year changed Kerry forever.

Just being out among the people of this country, listening to our concerns, he has to be a changed man. He heard what we want from our government, and I think he is still fighting for us and representing us.

He speaks with a certain authority that no one else has.
He is awesome.

[ginnyinWI]

30. yes he did have a unique experience

He saw so much of the country, heard so many stories. I think he carries all of us in his heart now and feels responsible for us, not just those in MA.

[wisteria]

19. I noticed the same expression and posture also.

Although, I got the idea she was pissed. This is actually the same look I saw when she appeared with Kerry in support of new voting initiatives several months ago. I don't want to read to much into it, but it does look like she doesn't like playing "second fiddle",especially to Kerry.
This look make me wonder how she would actually handle a Presidential campaign. She really has never been called out on anything.

[karynnj]

20. Has she taken a supporting role to anyone else?

I don't follow her appearance as much as those of Kerry. I vaguely remember seeing her with Shumer. Shumer tends to almost defer to her either because that's his personality, he's being a gentleman, or he is recognizing that she is really the star of the delegation. But other than that I don't recall seeing her with another Senator - in a leading or supporting role.

The observation is important if she ususally looks like this - vaguely annoyed when not the center of attention. (Think of how this could play in the debates.)

[whometense]

13. It's linked on the

c-span congress front page right now, if anyone missed it yesterday (like me). http://www.c-span.org/homepage.asp?Cat=Current_Event&Code=Congress&ShowVidNum=7&Rot_Cat_CD=Congress&Rot_HT=&Rot_WD=&ShowVidDays=365&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30

With Kerry's picture!!



ON CAPITOL HILL
Winter Heating Costs
House and Senate Democrats hold a news conference to call for immediate action on rising gas prices and home heating costs. Participants included Senators Kerry (D-MA), Clinton (D-NY), Schumer (D-NY), and others.
FROM MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

[jillan]

15. lookie here

http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/Pictures/Persons/001485/001485-189403.jpg

and look at Hillary...that's what I was talking about.

[globalvillage]

16. I do admire Hillary.

And she's a good speaker. Not Kerry caliber, but good. She sure didn't make any friends on the other side of the aisle with her speech today.
But you're right, she doesn't seem very supportive. I think she's trying too hard to live up to the expectations of the Clinton name, and it's backfiring.

[MH1]

17. To be fair about Hillary, maybe she's just thinking

about the people who will be suffering this winter (and onward) because of *'s horrible misadministration.

JK looks just fine in that pic, though, doesn't he? :-)

[Mass]

31. Of course, they put a motion on that, so now they need 60 votes

[TayTay]

33. It won't pass then.

This is why the Kerry people said it has to wait until Nov and the HUD bill. Sigh!

Rethugs suck! They should all move to Aroostock County in Maine and have to live in a log cabin and go out and chop down their own heating source for the winter. Or live in Northern Wisconsin, be out of work and in debt and have to figure out how to pay for their heat this winter.

Arrrrgggghhhhhhhh!

[Mass]

32. Santorum must really be afraid of not being reelected.

Yesterday he voted to increase the minimum wage and today he votes for LIHEAP.

[jillan]

34. What the he11 were they thinking?

How could anybody vote no???
I am so mad! Ashamed - and Disgusted!

These people have no heart

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00261