Must see Senate debate sane, calm Kerry and seething, angry McCain

[karynnj]

Kerry first spoke briefly shortly after 12:30, he took a recent McCain quote and contrasted it to McCain's 2008 position. In 2008, McCain spoke of savings available in Medicare of over $1 billion. When Kerry finished, Burr said that Factcheck.org refuted this. Kerry said he hadn't seen the article, but the campaign never denied that they could make these cuts.

At shortly after 13:45, Kerry returned. He had the factcheck article which did NOT refute Kerry's point - just Obama's ad's implication that Medicare benefits would be cut. Kerry pointed out that that was exactly what the Finance committee and the bill did. Kerry then spoke more on home health care. When he finished, a seething angry McCain with his face throbbing red, started to speak. He seethed "I never said I would cut benefits" and he demanded the factcheck article be added to the record.

Kerry calmly, said he had no problem with that if he had time to refute McCain. That was offered. Kerry repeated that factcheck did not refute his point - and that what McCain said then was what they were saying. Kerry also offered that he was not defending the ad. He made the point again that he had earlier on real debate.

The contrast was amazing. (Later Enzi referred to the article saying the disagreement was resolved.)

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/congress/?q=node/77539&hors=s

[Clio the Leo]

1. McCain had a fit wtih that one....

.... he pulled up something from factcheck.org (an Obama campaign website) to back up some point of his. He said, "I dont want to continue to debate the previous election..." and then continued to do so.

Woke me up from my nap he did! lol

[karynnj]

2. What was really strange is that nothing Kerry had said disagreed with his statement

It was beyond strange. The only mitigating assumption is that he had not heard Kerry, but had been misinformed on what Kerry had said both times he spoke. What this might do as it was "exciting" tv is get Kerry's point out. The Republicans are completely dishonest on the "Medicare cuts" arguments.

I remember reading in McCain's book, that Kerry calmed him down whenever he started to get too angry when they were on the MIA/POW committee. I had heard of McCain's temper, but this is the angriest I ever saw him - he was livid. His comment made not sense, but I think the real anger was that Kerry actually did prove that what he and many Republicans are saying now are lies on this.

I doubt being on the other side of an argument with Kerry would be fun.

[Cha]

4. The fates were with us that we

didn't get mcpalin in the White House where they would be blustering about now..dictating The Agenda.

[Clio the Leo]

6. The fates....

.... and 60 million American voters (thank goodness lol.)

[Cha]

8. We had the Perfect Storm..

and mcpalin got swept away.

[Clio the Leo]

5. And Al Franken made fun of him later....

... "you can come out here and wave your arms around and scream!" (and then proceeded to do so) "but that doesn't change what's in this bill to mean what you're trying to make it mean."

[karynnj]

9. I wish he wouldn't have done that - as McCain's arms were injured in Vietnam

Franken mocking him really does not add to the debate. I hope that is not spun against him. Leaving out the waving arms around would have wise. I hope I am wrong.

[old mark]

3. McCain is famous - infamous- for his temper and lack of control.

Many who knew him in the Navy regard him as a nasty, low minded little prick.

mark

[PatSeg]

7. One would think that by his age,

his temper would have subsided. I remember seeing the hearings about POWs that might still be alive in Vietnam. He went ballistic, his face turned red, and he stormed out of the room. I can't even imagine someone like that in the Oval Office.

[old mark]

10. ....with his finger on the nuclear button, and Palin backing him up. nt

[PatSeg]

11. And every time he had a Vietnam flashback,

we'd invade another country.

[old mark]

14. ...And people complain about Obama. nt

[COLGATE4]

12. McCain is a vile, evil-tempered and self absorbed

prick who has spent his whole life believing that because he was born on third base he got there because he hit a triple. Got into Annapolis on the strength of father and grandfather admirals, stayed in due to the same and yet still was unable to advance to flag rank even with that kind of background. Got into politics instead, shed his first wife for his new Stepford Barbie, and who continues to throw temper tantrums even at his age. He is an embarrassment.

[ProSense]

13. The Republicans conveniently forget things and strangely

seem to believe there is no record of their past comments.

[Hekate]

15. That's why I've always loved Jon Stewart and his newsreel flashbacks, & am SO glad Keith does it now

I have pretty much stopped bothering with MSM news, so I have no idea if any of the networks follow suit yet -- but it disgusted me during the Bush reign that for most of that time the only one who would call the Repubs on their lies and show the footage was the host of a Comedy Channel Fake News program.

Hekate