Fellow Dem's have knives out against Senator Kerry for pushing Climate Change.

[wisteria]

What a shame that some of the "popular" guys don't like being persuaded to vote for what is right for our country.

There is a real hit piece in Politico against Senator Kerry and it appears to me that they are trying to make him the scapegoat for not passing anything but the energy legislation from Sen Bingaman. Since when is doing what is right for this country and interjecting some progress the wrong thing to do politically? The EPA has said that the Climate Change bill is good for our country, it will cost very little and it will create jobs.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38775.html

[Inuca]

1. Why I love Kerry (and cannot truly dislike Graham)

“I’ve asked my closest friends in the environmental community to swallow hard on some pieces that matter enormously to members of our caucus, and I think most senators appreciate that,” he added. “I believe it’s been worth the effort to fight. I feel this issue very intensely. I care about it more than anything I’ve ever worked on in my life. And I’ve always said to my colleagues, ‘I know this is tough, and I know it’s not everyone’s favorite issue, but I only push because I care so much and I desperately want to see us tackle it together as a caucus with one voice rather than giving up.’”


“I’ve never met anyone more committed to an issue than John,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who worked with Kerry for nine months before abandoning the talks because of immigration politics.


Graham took note of Kerry’s decision to meet last month on natural gas policy with T. Boone Pickens, the Texas oilman who funded the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad campaign that helped derail Kerry’s 2004 bid for the White House.


“John’s willingness to sit down with Boone Pickens speaks volumes about him as a person and his willingness to find a solution to this issue,” Graham said.

[karynnj]

10. I actually suspect reading that that if Kerry can get 59 ... he will get Graham

Last Thursday, I went to see a documentary at the Paley Center in NYC (formally the Broadcast Museum) called the Senate Speaks - on the 2006 McCain?Kennedy bill. http://www.philanthropynewyork.org/s_nyrag/doc_event.as...

This documentary had incredible access following Senators, staff, lobbyists, advocates etc on the 2006 effort to get a Senate bill on immigration. Kennedy was even more awesome than I remembered when seen close up - as was his staff.

Relevance to current day? Reid and Schumer at one point intentionally killed the bill - with one advocate repeating that Schumer thought doing so could give them 5 more seats in the 2006 election. This would be so because with that bill dead, Sennsebrenner's awful bill - also dead with no Senate counterpart would hurt the Republicans. (Both Kennedy and McCain and their staffs were furious. Kennedy called it politics winning out over policy - publicly and he refused to attend the Democratic press conference. )

As it was, there were then enough huge rallies to give McCain and Kennedy enough support to restart the work. They did eventually pass a Senate bill, but no bill passed both Houses. Graham was often very angry over - to use Kennedy's words "politics winning out over policy". If Kerry had 59, his joining would be meaningful - and likely a death knell to winning in 2014.

[Inuca]

21. Interesting stuff

and thought provoking analogy. We shall see.... I just hope SOMETHING meaningful, imperfect as it may be, comes out if all this eventually.

[wisteria]

25. I agree, and if I ever needed someone on my side to help me fight for something so important as this

I would want it to be Senator Kerry. There is nothing wrong with fighting hard for what you beleive in.

[babylonsister]

2. Baucus, Rockefeller, the usual suspects. They should all be

as committed and passionate about an issue that will have such a grave impact on us all if we don't do something about it. But all they can do is whine.

I admire Sen. Kerry's commitment and wish there were more like him...

According to his staff, he’s had 292 meetings and phone calls with senators, 72 meetings with Obama administration officials and 46 meetings with top international and environmental leaders, including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and former Vice President Al Gore.

[BeFree]

3. well

Kerry has knifed those bastards enough times, and now he gets some payback.

The corporate beholden 'keep doing the same thing, over and over' senators know if Kerry is left to revamp energy policy, it will be the death of them. They knife Kerry so that they may live. Self defense.

[karynnj]

12. Give me an example where Kerry ever knived Rockefeller or any of the others

As to Schumer, he likely knives someone at least once a month.

Question, what are you saying?

[politicasista]

18. **crickets** n/t

[BeFree]

31. Are you kidding?

Hasn't Kerry caused all kinds of problems for the establishment?

Or are you thinking Kerry is establishment?

[karynnj]

35. I think Kerry is a principled leader doing what he thinks is right -

He has fought things like the government illegally funding the Contras and BCCI. His pushing Kerry/Feingold was not what the establishment wanted. In all of these he was fighting for what he thought right - not attacking people.

Kerry should have become the "establishment" in 2005.

[blm]

4. Politico always pushes anti-Kerry propaganda, often with Schumer's office supplying the innuendo and

smears. Schumer wanted Reid to push immigration reform debate ahaead of climate change on senate schedule.

Schumer's also the dirtbag who planted smears against Kerry for filibustering Alito.

The corporatist wing of the Dem party has the knives out for ANY significant climate change legislation. They want it watered down to total insignificance and Kerry hasn't budged enough for them.


Typical corpPolitico hitpiece against progressive lawmakers....Disgusting.

[karynnj]

15. Not to mention Schumer was a very likely suspect of the "Hey John" hit piece

when Schumer headed the DSCC. He was angry that Kerry was working in parallel supporting Democratic candidates using his email list and his money left from the primary in 2004. This in spite of the fact that Schumer himself had over $10 million in his account that was not touched in 2006 or 2008 helping others.

[wisteria]

24. I suspected Schumer, but had nothing tangible to go on to suggest this was

orchestrated by him and his people. You know, I hope he does not have an opportunity to become majority leader, I personally do not think it would be at all good for the party.

[Inuca]

5. Are only right-wing idiots

posting at Politico? I just skimmed through the first few comments, all were horrible, but here is a quote from the gem in these first few:

This is just another money grubbing politation going after a portion of the stemulus moneythese politations come up with an off the wall plan to get millions of dollars that they donot have to claim on their taxes that is if they even file.

[Chulanowa]

9. It's Drudge with some of the fecal matter hosed off

[wisteria]

26. Unbelievable. n/t

[politicasista]

6. Former DUer Firespirit tried to warn everyone that would happen

That the usual suspects will try to roll in and undermine the Senator in anything, if not everything he tries to do. He is doing a nice job playing second fiddle to the spaghetti, jello-kneed leadership of Reid, Snake Schumer, etc.

But hey, he keeps trying even if liberal progressive are slinging rocks and tomatoes from the sidelines and some people in his state don't appreciate him anyway.

[karynnj]

16. It is mostly the right wingers who say his state does not appreciate him

Kerry got two thirds of the vote in MA in 2008 (Obama got 62%). (Brown got just 52%)

[politicasista]

20. And lefties

as well as some (not all) DUers who claim to be from MA (not the ones in the DUJK group :)), don't seem to appreciate him.

Maybe others that Uncle Ted always looked after and his Dem candidate Coakley ignored, (which explains why turnout was low in both elections and why MA has Porno Brown).

Maybe me is wrong, but some comments in the Bay State Banner do not seem optimistic. :shrug: Hopefully there is more behind the scenes that is being done. :)

http://www.baystatebanner.com/Roving-Camera60-2009-12-17


Two thirds must be more or less than Obama? Though heard that some AA voted for Brown (:puke:)

[karynnj]

22. Kerry got over 66%, Obama got 62%

Meaning some obviously voted Kerry and McCain.

I'm sure no one in MA can replace Ted Kennedy. But, in 2008, the last time Kerry won, Kennedy was far too ill to help - and Kerry did not need help. I volunteered and did a small amount of phone banking in the primary and general election. There is a lot of support for Kerry - or as most called him "John" - me, I can't imagine calling either of my senators by their first name.

There are more self identified MA people who know they have a good Senator - and there are very few who post that they will act to defeat him. Even in an open primary, he got just under 70 % of the vote - where much of the no voting was anger that he supported Obama over Hillary.

[politicasista]

23. Of late,

I probably sound like a concern troll in a sarcastic way, but there is some method to the madness. Not meant to offend any Kerry person.

It would be nice if people (and I am not talking about DU, but the REAL world) would see that Obama does have allies (though Uncle Ted is sorely missed in what is a dysfunctional Senate), but realize that even if they do not/did not like Senator Kerry, he has something to offer to an Obama Presidency/Agenda.


It was too late to go back and edit the last post, but just reflecting on some DUers who "are" from MA and said that Kerry's staff was not up to par like Kennedy's was (he was the go to guy in MA for constituents). Hopefully, his staff will step their game up and stay on the ball. The Senator is going to need that with Porno Brown as junior.


On edit: No one calls my senators "Bob" and "Lamar" when they need something. They only care about their base and because of all the Anti-Obama garbage here, they want to elect a GOP for governor to replace a Dem!

[wisteria]

28. Some people do not bother to listen to or find out about the things he does for his state.

And, others just complain out of ignorance.

[politicasista]

33. That too

As long as he doesn't follow the strategy the woman running for Uncle Ted's seat did, he should be ok. Take no voter for granted. :)

Will stop there cause am not from MA, but it sounds a lot better than TN.

[wisteria]

27. He is a fighter and he must truly believe in the things he is trying to accomplish in order to put

up with this BS.

[politicasista]

32. Agree

He just isn't fighting the way that "Liberals, Progressives," want him to, or the way that favorite liberals "fight," otherwise people who are "environmental activists" wouldn't be slamming his record or the bill (despite its imperfection) And good for him.

[karynnj]

34. Actually he is fighting as hard as they want him too, but he is smart enough that

he knows that calling out 80% of the Congress and playing to blogs like FDL are counterproductive. The fact is the "favorite" "liberals" change quickly. Most are not the consistent liberal that Kerry genuinely is.

You might notice that he has gotten defense from some of the oldest, most serious environmental groups. They know that he has always been there for them and that he is working for what can genuinely help.

The fact is that the far left progressives are a sucker for anyone that say - loudly what they want to hear. A good example is John Edwards - he had a voting record that looked liked Bayhs, folks - but as soon as he spoke of the evils of lobbyists and corporations, he was a progressive leader - as he took $500,000 from a Hedge Fund. for a "few days work a month on whatever he wanted to do, wherever he wanted to do it". Less bad, Halter was designated a liberal and progressive for not being Blanche Lincoln. Webb, Reagan Secretary of the Navy is still called a progressive - in spite of often being a shaky vote. Even Feingold is a deficit hawk and not good at all on climate change.

Kerry has worked hard to get these sites to know his positions - and they are usually theirs, but his personality - which is mature, thoughtful and honest - and for lack of a better word, "grown up" is not one they appreciate.

[politicasista]

36. You are right.

You sum it up nicely. It is nice to know that the environmental groups know who they can count on.

Luckily, me never got duped by both men (like they were really liberal :eyes:). As you said they want to be pandered to and them E and W were like Pander Bears.

Unfortunately, this is the Reality TV generation where soundbites, personality, and popularity trump intellect and grown-up dialogue.

In some ways, some of those are an achillies heel of both Obama (soundbites, intellect) and Kerry, but there is not a doggone thing he (or they) can do about that. That is just the culture we live in and the way it is.

[karynnj]

7. I think it is the slant of the article

which seems to come from an unnamed senior Democrat. I have my suspicions that the senior Democrat is Schumer - and I think that Kerry would easily win a secret ballot vote as the nicer of the two by a landslide. So much for the popular kid nonsense of the media. However, if you think passing climate change legislation is important then you would want the leader to be as persistent as Kerry - it is what EVERY Senator should do on an important bill.

In terms of what Kerry is doing:

John Kerry has been the most aggressive advocate of climate change legislation in the Senate this year — so aggressive that it’s rubbed some of his colleagues the wrong way.

The Massachusetts Democrat is making his pitch with an almost religious <comment - rw theme> fervor, pushing a message that’s equal parts saving the planet, national security and the economy. Many of his colleagues have been impressed by Kerry’s expertise and his passion in trying to push through caps on carbon when others would prefer to move onto a more limited, energy-only bill.

<snip>

"According to his staff, he’s had 292 meetings and phone calls with senators, 72 meetings with Obama administration officials and 46 meetings with top international and environmental leaders, including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and former Vice President Al Gore.

Kerry said that he’s following direction from Democratic leaders and other senators who wanted him to meet with industry representatives and other groups from across the country."

(short summary - he has worked like Hell on this and has reached out to everyone. So sorry to those who really want to move on to an energy only bill.)
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38775.html#ixzz0rW0MHeSI


If you look at the actual quotes, there is praise from more than there are any criticisms from. In addition, the criticism is more about the feasibility in the case of Durbin. Reid was said to have been impressed. The comments from Conrad, Beglish and Graham are very positive. Reid is described With Rockefeller, they are clearly pushing him to trash Kerry - which he did NOT do. (Note that the link to explain how Kerry's tactics may have turned people off go to an article that says nothing of the sort. It speaks of Lugar's bill and the fact that Schumer wants Bingaman's bill to be the main bill. (Also note the praise here from Graham - the problem is not Kerry's popularity or Kerry's tactics, but that we need 60 votes willing to fight the right demonization of the carbon tax.

Rockefeller refers to Kerry's method as similar to be courted. Kerry is trying to win people over. The analogy would suggest that he is being both persistent and nice. In fact, that is the only way that would stand a chance of working here. Kerry is asking people, like Rockefeller, to make a possibly career ending statesman vote putting themselves on the right side of history. Kerry's persistence and his use of reason would make it hard for those who know that they will pay a price for the vote but who can't completely reject Kerry's arguments.

If anything this article shows that without Kerry, the Democrats would not be working on a climate bill - they would be doing what they've done for years - adding some clean energy incentives to an energy bill. This is POLICY (Kerry) vs politics (Schumer) and Kerry needs our support.

[Arkana]

14. God, I love the fact that he represents me.

Makes me even more ashamed that his counterpart is that greasy ex-stripper Senator Softcore.

[karynnj]

17. I am amazed that both of your Boston papers are in love with Brown

Hopefully it will be a short fling. I hope Kerry can win Brown's vote on this in spite of all his comments to date. Maybe he needs to take him on another bike trip - or invite him to Nantucket for windsurfing! (Note - serious policy arguments likely are what would work with others.)

[wisteria]

29. I agree and you make some excellent points. n/t

[saracat]

8. It was only a matter of time. Sigh.

[BlueIris]

11. Shame.

And more shame.

[ohtransplant]

13. Don't these people have children?

I mean, isn't that what this comes down to?---What kind of world do we want our children and grandchildren to live in?

Are rich kids or those who live in certain states exempt from the effects?

I could go on and list the causes and effects but we all know the litany about the air we breath, the water we drink, getting off fossil fuels, jobs etc...

but it almost seems facts have no place in this discussion. Here we go again...

Hooray for Senator Kerry - once again doing the right thing, the hard thing - that may be politically unpopular. That's what leaders should do. Another thing in short supply.

[karynnj]

19. Wonderful response to this " head-scratching piece about how Kerry is just, well trying too hard"

I have an explanation as to why Kerry is pushing the issue so hard, and is reluctant to switch to a near-worthless energy-only bill: he gets it, and his colleagues do not.

He knows that a so-called "energy only" bill would have a severely limited impact on clean energy generation and would do alarmingly little to reign in national carbon emissions. He knows an "energy only" bill would not stop global warming. And his colleagues do not.

Perhaps John Kerry understands not only the historical importance of passing such a bill, but that history would also look kindly at an instrumental player in the legislative battle to preserve a livable climate. His colleagues, those like Sen. Rockefeller, who are "put off" by Kerry's "zeal" surely do not fully understand the threat presented by global climate change. Kerry should be emphatically urging his colleagues to rally behind a clean energy and climate bill -- he should be displaying fervor. The issue, as we know, certainly warrants it.

Which is why I say that if this climate bill dies, as many pundits are predicting, it won't be Kerry's fault.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/climate-bill-dies-dont-blame-john-kerry.php

[wisteria]

30. Yeah, imagine that, being criticized for being right, and passionate about an issue and

trying to hard.