Sen. Kerry Says He'll Vote for Bernanke

[The Northerner]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.) said on Saturday he will vote to confirm Ben Bernanke for a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, bringing to 27 the number of senators who have said they will do so.

According to the latest Dow Jones News Service tally, 15 senators have said they will oppose him, 10 Republicans, four Democrats and one independent (Bernie Sanders of Vermont.) The other 58 haven't said how they will vote.

An administration spokesman said President Barack Obama made a few calls to members of the Senate on Saturday on the Bernanke confirmation and was assured that it is on track.

Sen. Kerry's endorsement was not unconditional. "While I have some concerns about the Fed's approach to banking accountability," he said in statement, "Chairman Bernanke should not be a scapegoat for systemic failings. The politics of the moment cannot distract us from the urgent work which remains of reforming our financial regulatory system and creating jobs and stability." He added that it is "understandable why there is debate, questioning and even anger" about giving Mr. Bernanke a second term. "Everyone understands that these are some of the most difficult economic times we've ever faced, especially for working American taxpayers who have seen jobs destroyed, life savings emptied, and then been forced to bail-out Wall Street and the big banks that created the mess."

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704562504575021321737061334.html

[rsmith6621]

1. Thats What The DLC Would Want.....

....He joins Lieberman as someone I am now glad did not get a political promotion....Bernanke is part of the problem....Mr Kerry if you have some concerns grab your twins and just say NO!!!!....

....Where have all the tough poitical leaders gone???

[madrchsod]

3. lbj...the last democrat with "big balls in cowtown"...lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgbdl0gvcjU

hey it`s texas swing!

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. Yaaahooo !!! Now we are talking music, I tell ya.

Thanks for the link. Had not heard of that group.

[madrchsod]

20. i have a 5 albums of bob wills and the playboys

every once in awhile i`ll put on bob wills and dance around the house...drives my wife crazy!

[brewens]

31. I like the Asleep at the Wheel tribute to Wills.

I'm a rocker but like a little old time country every once in awhile.

[Ter]

7. Skull and Bones would never oppose him

[karynnj]

23. So, you are happy Bush won both elections?

Do you really think that handing Obama a major defeat now is a super good idea?

Not to mention Kerry has been a leader in pushing for the oversight and reform that needs to be done.

[defendandprotect]

42. WE -- the American people -- are suffering the "defeat" .... not Obama . . .

Kerry is DLC --

the corporate wing of the Democratic Party --

and poison for democracy and the party!

[amborin]

74. +10000

[roguevalley]

108. he's sticking up for his class. nothing less, nothing more. what a

near miss he turned out to be. the only think I like about him is his wife.

[aquart]

2. Bleh.

[No Elephants]

4. Bernanke is no more a scapegoat than Greenspan--and Bernanke fights for opacity.

Guess I'll be emailing John yet again.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

5. Mr. Kerry must have heard by now...

the crowd at Brown"s celebration were chanting "Kerry's next, Kerry's next."

Don't ruffle any feathers now for that poor, working American taxpayer.

[karynnj]

22. Said by Brown's daughter, who in calmer times VOTED for Senator Kerry

AFTER the election victory call, here is what she said:

“There are times where I’ve voted for a Republican. There are times where I’ve voted for a Democrat,” the 21-year-old Boston College senior told NECN. “If they’ve been incredibly nice to me, I really take that into consideration. Those who make time to meet with people are usually good people.”
<snip>
Ayla admitted she voted for him. “I thought he was incredibly nice,” she told the cable station. “I took that into consideration.”

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1227561

Now, Kerry is not up for re-election until 2014 and he won last year, when there already was a lot of any incumbent anger. He won with two thirds of the vote.

Coakley lost because she neither campaigned, nor was she likable. Kerry campaigned high in 2008 against no real threat. There is no way he would not fight even harder if there was a threat. In addition, in spite of all the smears, most people in MA know him and he is a very nice, decent, honorable man. Coakley had name recognition, but very little was known about her.

Reading Kerry's comment, it is clear that he will fight for oversight - a possition he has led on since he entered Congress. I would bet that Kerry and others know that handing Obama a defeat now is beyond stupid - and Bernanke is, even by Krugman's analysis someone who did a good job in 2008 and 2009.

[wisteria]

34. I agree 100%. n/t

[Ter]

6. Why do more Repuplicans oppose him than Democrats?

Bernanke is awful, you would think Republicans would like him.

[digidigido]

8. Because they are trying to pretend that the crisis was caused by dems like him

[No Elephants]

14. Bernanke is a Dem?

[spotbird]

24. He was appointed by Bush

it doesn't matter, because he sucks either way, but I think he isn't registered in either party.

[spotbird]

21. The Republicans won't block him

With the fall off from a few Democrats, they could. They're perfectly fine with him, they just have to scream populism for the teabaggers.

[emsimon33]

9. And to think that I volluteered all over the country in 2004 for this jerk

[JanusAscending]

106. Look here........

the pot's calling the kettle black!! You can only do that when you learn to spell!!! Who the hell are you to be calling anyone a "jerk"?? At least respect the man's integrity!

[pundaint]

10. Of course he will. Brown gets his seat next!

[JDPriestly]

11. Senator Kerry is an excellent example of what is wrong with the Senate.

He is just so "nice." He is too kind to his buddies in the Senate and too cruel to the ordinary American people.

Bernanke has done nothing for us little folks out here -- nothing that someone with more sensitivity to poverty and to the plight of the middle class couldn't do far better.

[YvonneCa]

25. Senator Kerry is an excellent example of what is RIGHT with the...

...Senate. If we had more Senators like him,the world would be a different place. I agree he is nice :)...but I'd guess that had little to do with supporting Bernanke.

We almost had another depression. Bernanke has admitted mistakes, but he is also part of Obama's team working hard to fix things. We need his knowledge. Kerry knows this.

As to the cruel part...totally out of touch with reality IMHO.

[wisteria]

36. Yes, people who state the opposite don't know a thing about his record. n/t

[YvonneCa]

48. And they fail to notice who is AGAINST Bernanke's...

...confirmation...case in point...Senator Shelby (R) on State of the Union this morning. Shelby was for auto industry bankruptcy/anti-union last year.

[spotbird]

53. Bernake will get as many Republican

votes as he needs. Republicans are pretending to be populist now, it's all for show.

[cadmium]

79. That is true. Repubs are only doing this for show - n/t

[Wardoc]

94. Can't really go by that. Sanders is against Bernake too after all. (nt)

[JDPriestly]

95. Senators Boxer, Feinstein. They have the courage to oppose a bad

appointment.

[cadmium]

98. Feinstein -- I wasnt that Dianne Feinstein made a committment.

[JDPriestly]

104. Meant Feingold

[cadmium]

109. oh OK . I heard about Feingold. I think

it's a little hypocritical on Feingolds part and inconsistent to use him as an example versus Kerry's support for Bernanke. Feingold voted for both John Roberts and for Alberto Gonzales because he believed that it was proper to give the president the nominee he wanted. So, Feingold is ok rubber-stamping Bush nominees, but not Obama nominees.

I am ok with Boxer and Sanders' principled opposition, but Feingold just seems like he is getting on the band wagon - given his previous stance for Bush nominees.

[JDPriestly]

110. Could this be a strategy to force the Republicans to choose between either

voting against Bernanke who was originally a Bush appointee or voting for Obama's appointment of him?

Could be a way to force the Republicans to take some responsibility here.

[cadmium]

111. I dont know. I dont generally give them

that much credit. I know that they are working pretty hard to separate themselves from Bush. I think the main thing Repubs do in Senate is try to make things stall.

[karynnj]

122. Feingold, who voted to confirm Condi Rice

even though she did not tell the truth in her hearing - when Kerry grilled her. His reason, the President is entitled to his people - unless there is something that disqualifies them. Now, on Geitner, the tax issues could qualify. On Bernanke there is no case that he had problems beyond those Rice had.

[JDPriestly]

103. Sorry, I meant Feingold.

[politicasista]

118. Bingo n/t

[spotbird]

67. Bernanke made the mistakes that

took us to the edge, and there is no assurance that he fixed his mistakes. He should be fired and replaced with a reformer, we don't need any more band leaders for the too big to fail banks.

[JDPriestly]

96. Look, I tabled and walked precincts and made phone calls and even

wrote a book to get Kerry elected in 2004.

He is too much of a gentleman senator. We need fighters, not nice guys, in the Senate.

[politicasista]

117. No matter what the senator does, it's never, ever good enough

Hate saying this but Uncle Ted would be ashamed at these people trashing him and the president behind they anonymity of their keyboards.

[karynnj]

29. Yeah - John Edwards is SOOOO much better

You might need to be reminded that Edwards voted for the bankruptcy bill and Kerry voted against it. Edwards, who you believed 100% in, did little in his 6 years in office - even if you look at legislation introduced and not acted on at all.

Kerry is also sponsoring legislation to deal with people who use off shore shelters to avoid taxes. Kerry has since he entered the Senate been an advocate of oversight and transparency. MANY things Kerry has done have helped "ordinary" people. Kerry wrote the precursor bill to SCHIP with Kennedy and was a co-sponsor of SCHIP itself. Kerry wrote and sponsored through many Congresses the affordable Housing Act that passed a few years ago. Kerry is and has been for 2 decades the sponsor of Youthbuild. You can also throw in that he did more for the vets than any other one Senator.

You ignore that defeating Bernanke would enormously harm Obama at this point and you ignore that Obama is himself pushing for cracking down on the banks. Bernanke, even by Krugman's estimation, did do very good work in 2008/2009 steering the country back from the brink.

[wisteria]

41. Bravo! n/t

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YvonneCa]

49. WOW. Welcome to DU. Amazing how...

...it feels like a Republican blog today...

[wisteria]

39. Cruel? No way, and he has fought for the ordinary American his entire political life.

I know you have no proof to back up your comments.

[Iowa]

12. Kerry is as worthless as the rest. Another useless sell-out.

[YvonneCa]

28. ...

...unbelievable.

[midnight]

13. On Friday, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel phoned senators urging support of Bernanke.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also made calls to lawmakers, officials said.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/24/key-senators-predict-bernakes-confirmation/

Meanwhile, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and former Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said in a statement Saturday that Bernanke is the right person to help guide the economy back from the worst recession since the 1930s.

Bernanke's term expires Jan. 31.

Already four Senate Democrats have said they would vote against the Fed chairman.

Bernanke has become the focus of increased criticism since Republican Scott Brown won a Senate seat in an upset election in Massachusetts this past week.

[No Elephants]

15. LOL, I bet lawmakers were thrilled to hear from Timmeh. Criticism of Bernanke by

lawmakers began well before Brown even started to close in on Coakley in the polls, so the Washington Times is, not surprisingly, spinning this.

Pretty soon, Scott Brown will have more powers than six super heroes.

[saigon68]

99. Little Douchebag Ram Emanuel dancing the corporate tune

What a sleezy little fucker

[bread_and_roses]

17. Well, I guess we know whose side Kerry is on when it comes to big $$

and it ain't ours.

[YvonneCa]

27. Wrong. Just. Plain...

...WRONG.

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Kerry's Seat is Safe, Because He's From Massachusetts

And we'll never vote for a Repub... oh... never mind.

[mother earth]

19. Kerry has lost what once made him great, no fight left in him.

I loved that man that came back from the war and spoke out, that was his shining moment. The man has disappointed me from his concession speech to today. There was a day I was proud to have him as our senator.

Bernanke as scapegoat? Hardly, spoonfed by Greenspan to get where he is and more enabling by those who supposedly represent the people, another pat on the back, a raise and more years of being the soundbite for the corporate gov't. WTF, Kerry? You disappoint, but you are consistent if nothing else.

[YvonneCa]

26. You DO realize that we wouldn't have...

...the majority in Congress or the White House if Kerry hadn't been a fighter. Are you really that out of touch?

[mother earth]

59. What's the majority doing? Caving. What good is it if our

majority makes concession after concession? Looks like you are the one out of touch, or are you proud of the crumbs we display as victory?

[YvonneCa]

68. I agree. Our Dems need to act like DEMS...

...and let the chips fall where they fall. But Kerry usually LEADS on that. He is not the enemy.

[karynnj]

32. Do you think handing Obama a defeat now is a good idea?

Kerry listed his concerns, and they are things he has fought for entire career. Obama himself is pushing for a crackdown on the banks.

Rather than fighting on Bernanke, who by all accounts did a competent job in 2009 in puling the country back from the brink - even if he did not see or react to the dangers in 2007 and 2008, it might be a very good move if Obama gets Geitner, who is against the direction Obama wants to go on the banks, to resign and replaces him with either Volkner, whose plan it is or someone like Elizabeth Warren or Sheila Baer.

I guess you had a problem with the Alito filibuster that he and Kennedy led, while the media and the Clinton allies ridiculed him or Kerry/Feingold? Kerry's concession speech was all it could be. there still is no proof that could have been taken to court to prove he won.

Which politician would you be proud of?

[wisteria]

44. Good point, feed the prressitutes and weaken him in the eyes of the American public.

Yeah, some people I think are out to destroy our party.

[mother earth]

64. No, I was always proud of Kennedy, he didn't take the easy

stances, he truly was a lion, and no doubt he's turning over in his grave. Kerry WAS once someone very much in that vein, that no longer is true, his concession speech was a good one? I don't think so, if he had fought then he might have saved us from every protection that was turned over or eliminated by GW. Or have you forgotten just how much grief and chaos we've inherited? Short memory?

I don't relish going against any democrat, but I'll be damned if I'm going to congratulate the same kind of GW BS. You want to embrace what goes against what used to be democratic values? Just like the so called conservatives embraced GW insanity? Have at it, but don't expect all of us to join you.

I want representation of our core values, plain and simple. If Obama wants Geithner out, why doesn't he just ask him for his resignation? Must it only be volunteered? Is that the bipartisan way, don't make waves? Sure looks it.

[karynnj]

73. My memory is excellent

How on earth could anything Kerry have said saved us from GWB. The fact is that even with a good case, the Supreme Court gave 2000 to Bush - and Kerry did not have a case at all. There were NO words that could change that Kerry was not going to be named President - but I noticed on the MA board, you are even arguing that Coakley was cheated - something that no one else seems to believe.

As to Geitner, obviously I want Obama to ask for it (ie demand it). I am certainly not saying that one shouldn't make waves, but I simply do not see the issue with Bernanke as black and white as you do.

[wisteria]

37. Oh, please, if there were a need to fight for something you can be sure he would lead it.

He lead the fight for a timetable out of Iraq along with assistance from Feingold, and he lead the charge against the confirmation of Alito to the Supreme Court. Both fights were extremely unpopular at the time with many of his fellow senators, but he knew these were important enough to fight for.

[YvonneCa]

30. How is it that DU now attacks our most progressive Democrats...

...that are now part of or supporting a Democratic administration that we (many of us)worked for eight years to elect?????

This is NUTS!!!!!

[Imajika]

35. Absolutely nuts..

People here are advocating rejecting Obama's request to re-confirm Ben Bernanke?

This truly is insane. I wonder if they realize how the markets would react to that? If not, the answer is easy, they would crater. Here Obama is proposing tougher bank regulations and some additional bank taxes, things that are already going to make the markets nervous, and people here want to reject Bernanke in the middle of all that?

Here is some news folks. The markets are probably the ONLY thing propping Obama up right now. It is the one piece of the economy that is doing fairly well. Almost every state saw employment slip again in December meaning the unemployment rate is probably going to keep rising. Doing some populist, feel good nonsense like rejecting Bernake's reconfirmation would shake the markets so badly we could see a 1000 point sell off.

Just imagine the sour mood we have now combined with a massive Wall Street sell off? Now think what that would mean for Obama's already shaky approval ratings. Doing this might insure Obama has literally no political capital left to get anything done. Why do people think so many Republicans are opposing him? They know what will happen if he is rejected. They can see how badly it would hurt Obama.

There is a very good reason Reid and Kerry are supporting Bernanke here, and they are right to do so.

[wisteria]

45. I think these are the FDL drones. They would rather vote against their best interest

and have the other party gain control.

[cadmium]

78. same position as Paul Krugman nt

[t0dd]

62. "Kerry" and "most progressive" don't belong in the same paragraph

Let alone the same sentence.

And your precious Democratic majority has done nothing for the ordinary American. Health insurance reform was flatly rejected because it was written by the insurance and pharmaceutical industry. This is "still business as usual", and people are tired of that.

The head of the Fed needs to care about the sufferings of the American people. That is not, and never has been, Ben Bernanke.

[YvonneCa]

69. I'll re-phrase it. Kerry is one of the most progressive...

...Democrats currently in the Senate.

[t0dd]

70. Allow me to respond to that:

:spray:

[karynnj]

75. Brilliant counter

Kerry has been the best Senator on the environment over more than two decades. He was the lead sponsor on the Affordable Housing Act, the co-author of the precursor to SCHIP and the sponsor of Youthbuild for decades. On foreign policy he led on Kerry/Feingold and he led the filibuster attempt against Alito.

He is very likely in the top ten most progressive Senators.

The fact is that Obama needs this at this point - a defeat could seriously hurt.

[t0dd]

92. Senator John F. Kerry's Progressive Action Score: 56

http://thatsmycongress.com/senate/senatorJohnKerryMA111.html

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is a weak score. And even if he were in the "top 10", given the number of real progressives in our Senate, that's a pretty underwhelming accomplishment.

And Kerry is heading in the opposite direction. He voted against drug reimportation recently, which would have saved Americans billions in drug costs. On the finance committee, he came out against Wyden's amendment to allow individuals access to health coverage outside what their employer shackles them to. He defended the excise tax in the Senate bill. And now the Bernanke confirmation. These are all regressive stances, that are contradictory to the interests of the American people.

And I don't give a damn what Obama needs. Just like health care, huh? It doesn't matter how bad it is, as long as we can make it look like a political 'W' for Obama. :eyes:

[karynnj]

93. It is not a weak score - Sherrod Brown and Jack Reed have the same score

In fact your site includes him in "pretty darn progressive" http://progressivepatriots.com/senate/110byranking.html Any of these scores are based on votes, many of which are not as easily categorized as you think.

Kerry has co-sponsored the drug reimportation bill several times and was for it for several years - Rockefeller explained that it would unravel the bill if added. The core of Wyden's amendment was completely eliminating the tax exclusion for employer paid insurance - and you find that good, while you object to an excise tax on the amount above $23,000 - something that adds a cost to the employer for about 3% of plans. Seriously, you can't argue that eliminating the exclusion for everyone is progressive and taxing just the top 3% is not.

[t0dd]

101. Actually, that's not the site I referenced

http://thatsmycongress.com/senate/

Here, for the current Congress, the one we are talking about, he is classified as weak. Nice try though.

I don't care what he did before. He voted against drug reimportation when it mattered. Spin that all you want to.

I object to an excise tax entirely. The excise tax in the Senate bill would have hit older, sicker Americans in addition to those with comprehensive insurance. It would not just tax those with generous policies, but those with expensive policies too. That means a female teacher over 55 with health problems could be hit by it.

We could have just used the Millionaires’ tax from the House bill, which would have been a much better way to pay for it. Yet Kerry did not support that. I guess the path of least resistance is preferable for "Cautionary" Kerry. But convince yourself he is a real progressive. And stand on your head too. If you think that helps.

[karynnj]

112. I used your link to get the comment I found.

The comment you reference is for the uncompleted 111th Congress - and the site also lists Sherrod Brown, the Senator I most often thing of as progressive, as weak as well. That led me to question which bills they were scoring and which they labeled as "progressive.



As they ranked Feingold very high last year. I like Feingold and Kerry, so I decided to look at where they differed in the first half of last year (I started with the intent to look at all - but after a half year, it was tedious and patterns were clear. Here is the record of ALL votes. The list below contains every disagreement. I have rearranged them to lump votes on related issues together.

Confirmation of Geitner - Feingold, who voted for Condi Rice etc "because the President should have his choice" voted NO Here, Kerry is giving an Obama nominee the benefit of the doubt that Feingold gave Condi Rice, who was not honest in her SFRC hearing. That said, this is the one vote I agree with Feingold over Kerry on.

Votes that reflect that Feingold is more fiscally conservative:
4 Republican (and one by Feingold) stimulus amendments:
Coburn amendment to eliminate money for Hollywood - Feingold and many conservative Democrats voted for, Kerry against
Feingold amendment to increase accountability - again, Feingold was with Republicans and a few conservative Democrats.
Coburn amendment that was said to eliminate waste - Feingold voted with the Republicans.
Graham amendment on home foreclosures in TARP - Feingold voted with the Republicans
Grassley amendment - Feingold voted with the Republicans.
Budget Amendments
Coburn amendment for competitive bids - Feingold for, Kerry agaisnt
2 Colburn amendment on earmarks - Feingold for
motion to yable Vitter amendment to repeal automatic Congress pay raises - Kerry for, Feingold against
Reed amendment to use the remaining TARP fund for the benefit of consumers - Kerry - for, Feingold - against
Vitter amendment to use remaining TARP funds towards the deficit - Feingold -for

Feingold voted against: the omnibus appropriations act with the Republicans and against the
supplemental budget- the bill to invoke cloture and the bill itself (Senate and conference report)- Feingold - 4 noes

Feingold voted three times to weaken gun control
Ensign amendment that cut back DC gun laws - Feingold for, Kerry against
Coburn amendment to "keep people safe in National Parks" by allowing them to bring guns - Feingold for
Gregg amendment to require various forms print info on the national dept - Feingold for
Wicker amendment that let people take guns in checked baggage on Amtrack - Feingold for

Foreign policy votes - these incidentally surprise me because I have watched the SFRC for years. I suspect that Feingold voted for the AIPAC ones because he is up for re-election. They all failed incidentaly due to Kerry's leadership:
Inhofe amendment against the UN - Feingold for
Three counterproductive Kyl amendments against Iran/Egypt/Gaza/Hamas that Kerry and Lugar successfully defeated - here Feingold backed AIPAC and Kerry didn't.
To strike the provision funding IMF - Kerry and Lugar leading the fight against this, Feingold for

environment related bills - here I agreed 100% with Kerry
Omnibus Public Land Management bill 2009 cloture vote - Feingold was the ONLY Democrat to vote against it - but both than voted for the bill when cloture succeeded.
to waive the CBA on Whitehouse's amendment for a deficit neutral fund for clean energy - Kerry for
to prohibit reconcilation for cap and trade (Johanns bill) - Feingold for, Kerry and Boxer strongest against
Graham amendment - to protect middle class from an energy tax - Feingold for, Kerry against
Bond amendment - anti future climate change bill if it affects coal - Feingold for, Kerry against

Fairness Doctrine Here, I am with Kerry

Demint amendment to prevent the FCC from ever promulgating the fairness doctrine - Feingold FOR, Kerry, AGAINST
Thune amendment to prohibit funds to the FCC to repromulgate the fairness doctrine - Feingold for

earmarks - Feingold seems to have McCain's phobia of earmarks - though an out in the open ear mark very often funds good and needed projects Kerry's stand even under Bush for a legal line item veto where the set of strikeouts would require approval is a better way than not having earmarks.
Coburn anti earmarks amendment to public works bill - Feingold for
DeMint Amendment to implement "Obama's earmark reforms" - Feingold - for (along with Lieberman, Mccasgill, Bennet and Republicans)
Johnans, Vitter and DeMint motions to instruct the conferees - Kerry no, Feingold yes - it passed
Thune amendment - to require any repaid TARP funds to reduce the authorization limit - Feingold for
McCain amendment attacking an earmark - Feingold for
Feingold amendment to require no earkmarks for disaster bill - Kerry against

National security:
Mccain amendment to eliminate the Over-the-road Bus security act - Feingold for
DeMint amendment to require at least 700 miles of fence on SW border by Dec 2010 - Feingold for


Others that don't naturally fall into categories:

Kyl Amdt. No. 793 - I don't completely understand but it involves data collected to assess best medical - Feingold for and Kerry and most liberal Democrats against.

Joint Resolution S J 5 - Feingold voted with Bayh, Lincoln, Nelson, Dorgan, Shaheen and most of the Republicans FOR the bill while Kerry voted against it.

to waive the CBA on Carpo's amendment to increase the borrowing authority of the FDIC - Feingold - for ???

To strike the provision relating to the Loran-C signal, as recommended by the Administration. - Feingold for with Republicans

Conclusions
Kerry was a key ally to Obama in passing the budget and the supplemental budget. Failure to pass them would have doomed Obama's Presidency. Feingold was frankly not helpful.

I suspect that this site has a libertarian definition of "progressive". Being against gun control and against dealing with the problem of climate change are NOT progressive values. I also think that progressives should value having a diverse mass media - instead of the sea of RW radio and cable. On foreign policy, Kerry could be best described as an internationalist and someone committed to diplomacy.

I already knew Kerry's positions last year and, for the most part agreed. I had followed Feingold less closely - and it is his positions I have a problem with in many cases.

[karynnj]

113. As to your other comments:

It is not spin that it would have unraveled the compromises. Ask yourself who would vote for it as a standalone bill - Kerry and Rockefeller and others who have been sponsors or McCain and other Republicans voting for it here knowing it would fail? It would be a better idea to introduce re-importation as a standalone bill. If you watched the Finance committee hearings, you would have seen from a different drug issue that we likely would have lost Menendez and Carper had we included that in the bill. (this was a Bill Nelson amendment that Kerry spoke strongly and voted in committee in favor of that would have allowed people qualifying for both Medicaid and Medicare to get the lower cost Medicaid prices. I watched the hearings there and on HELP - and I saw which people fought for what.

Kerry fought there for the lower drug prices, it was his amendment that made rates gender neutral and he was the strongest advocate for reducing the age ratio. He was also one of the strongest advocates for single payer.

Kerry is NOT against the millionaires tax - he has spoken for it at least as much as anyone else and there was NO vote on it. The problem was OTHERS in the Democratic caucus were against using that. In addition, you are wrong on the excise tax. A teacher would have a GROUP policy - the cost would reflect the GROUP.

This was originally a Bill Bradley, who was a liberal Senator, idea - and it, in fact, taxes just the highest policies bought by employers. In reality, the excise tax is really simply removing part of the tax break given on employer plans.

Kerry is not so much "cautionary", but he does want to work towards a bill that will pass. Frankly, that is both harder and more productive at the point that we have the majority than taking quixotic stands that have absolutely no chance in passing.

[politicasista]

116. Yep. The crickets sure chirp loud after every fact-based post!

:rofl:

[wisteria]

33. He thinks he has been scapegoated and I can agree with that.

All the problems with the system don't begin and end with Bernanke.

[defendandprotect]

40. Rec'd just so everyone sees this and unders Kerry/DLC backing . ..

[hayrow]

46. Kerry = Scrapheap of History Cliche

After working hours, days, weeks, and months in 2004 for the Kerry for president campaign in the State of Wisconsin, making phone calls, canvasing, etc., I think it is fair to say John Kerry is one person who will be tossed into the scrapheap of history, and deserves it like almost no other loser. Senator Kerry looked me in the eye in March, 2004 and lied to me, telling me he knew what he was up against and was going to fight to win. When the going got tough, Kerry, instead of demanding to debate Bush and Chaney on their respective Vietnam War records, asked John McCain if he should fight, and McCain said "no". Kerry could have won in 2004 if he really wanted to, and was willing to fight the criminals, however chose to take a dive. Think about it. With a Kerry in office there would be no "Roberts" Court, no Alito, the New Orleans debacle wouldn't have been as severe. Kerry let down absolutely everyone except the Republicans, and is as total a loser as any democrat in this day could be.

[YvonneCa]

52. I worked for him, too. Welcome to DU. n/t

[wisteria]

54. So few posts and so little to say that rings true.

I remember Kerry fighting hard to win in 2004-and I worked hard for him also.
You mention a lot of things that seems revisionist history.
And, Senator Kerry is doing quite well as Chairman of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee and one of the top ten Democrats in the Senate.

[hayrow]

71. Kerry the Loser

Are you dealing with a full deck? Were you there in August of 2004 when Kerry was called a liar and a coward by the swift boaters using Karl Rove collected $? That S.O.B. did not even stand up to defend himself and the fact he fought for our country and was a battle scarred war hero. He refused to go into the convention and speak the truth, and even told others to lie, rather than call out the Bush/Cheney/Rove criminals. Revisionist history, My Ass! Kerry took a dive. It was the only way he couldn't win. Proving he wouldn't defend himself, and fight for our country in the political arena, showed the country that he was a LOSER, even less substantial than Dubya.

[karynnj]

81. Kerry did defend himself, though he should not have had to do so

The SBVT appeared in April for the first time. In response, Kerry put his entire Navy record, other than medical records that were available to the media for a couple of weeks, on his web site. All the fitness reports were there - spanning the whole almost 4 years, all very positive. All the men on his boats for any medals were 100% behind Kerry. In addition, the media itself spoke of the fact that the Nixon administration looked into him and found he was both a hero and completely clean - this was on the secret Nixon tapes.

Against all this - two official records, the SBVT provided no proof and the media asked for none. The Kerry campaign did exactly what Obama did against Corsi's book. The day after it was out, 36 pages of errors and provable lies were given to the media. Surrogates did come out on TV and Kerry himself spoke before the Firefighters saying very concisely that truth was what it was 35 years before -the Navy gave him those medals - he listed them - and he spoke of still having shrapnel in his leg. The media, which gave hours to the liars, did not give this much coverage.

Kerry did not lie at his convention. The idea that he would have won more votes if he morphed into Michal Moore is beyond stupid. As it was, his charge later in the fall that Bush/Cheney did not secure the KNOWN ammo dumps for months and that they were the source for the ieds that were killing and maiming our soldiers is likely the strongest, most devastating charge any major party candidate ever made against a sitting President. It says that they were extremely negligent and the cost was the lives of our soldiers.

[hayrow]

84. One fact you list is correct

The fact that the Bush crime syndicate did not secure the ammo dumps in Iraq should have been a huge issue because it cost hundreds of American lives. Do you remember hearing the facts on the issue at the convention or during the debates? I don't. Did the Kerry campaign pay for ads listing the facts regarding the Iraq ammo dumps? I was in a key swing state, in a hotly contested area, and I surely don't remember that. I also don't remember Kerry demanding a nationally televised debate with Bush and Cheney on their activities during the Vietnam War. Do you? How any informed person can not recognize that Kerry took a dive shows how deluded many good people are.

[karynnj]

85. Far more than one thing I wrote was true - I can defend every sentence.

there - are you disputing anything specifically.

On the ammo, the proof behind it was not known at convention time. That also was ONE example. The fact is that he said things like Bush took the country to war without completely the inspections, without exhausting the diplomacy and without a plan to win the peace - and he said it was not a war of last resort. Do you know what it means that it was not a war of last resort - it means it was not a just war. He also spoke of Bush dropping the ball in Afghanistan by outsourcing the effort to catch OBL to Afghan warlords who weeks before were allied with the Taliban.

Kerry did mention the ammo dumps it in one of the debates - I think the last one. Were there ads? In my area of NJ we didn't see ads, we were not a swing state and I am in the expensive NY media market. Kerry was stretching money over 13 weeks that Bush stretched over 8 - thanks to the date of the convention.

Kerry DID say that if they wanted a debate on what they did in the 1970s, bring it on. The fact is that the US knew that Bush was not a good national guardsman - they didn't care. Bush would never have agreed and the demand would have seemed strange to everyone. Most Bush voters knew the SBVT were lying.

I am an informed person and likely followed the election as closely as you did - and I KNOW he worked his heart out as did his family - and indured the right smearing his reputation and that of the his wife.

[YvonneCa]

87. And welcome to DU to you...

...too.

[C_Lawyer09]

72. Another terribly managed campaign

Why he listened to his handlers, while being eviscerated by that bullshit Swiftboat Veterans for Truth ad, I'll never know. Why didn't the media cover the Army SF Staff Sergeant that recounted how Kerry pulled him out of the Mekong Delta under a hail of gunfire. Many Dems lose so badly as strategists, because many, including Kerry aren't able to relate to the general population, and I'm not neccessarily saying that as a criticism. I was yelling, Get mad, goddamit, get mad! Then he followed with that silliness of the staged, was it pheasant or duck hunting trip? Republicans are expert at making political hay out of the most ridiculous crap, meanwhile, Democrats try the same type of tactics and look silly. Not that we've cornered the market, ala, Giuliani's staged phone call while addressing the NRA.

Having said all this, I didn't lose faith in Kerry, as much as I lost faith in the voting populus. He won every debate. Meanwhile the media crowed about how the debates were a tie, or Bush edged him out. I truly believe, if we dropped this system of accomodation and appeasement, and adapted simple truth telling, and driving it home, and beating it in, refusing to concede, we'd win. Maybe not in the short term, but definitely in the long term. Instead we suffer platitudes meant to please everybody. I bet LBJ is turning in his grave as he watches these milque toast talking heads like Reid get run over.

[karynnj]

82. Rassman, the man Kerry saved was out there often defending Kerry

and telling his side of the story. Why didn't the media give Rassman's comments more prominence? Because it was not a fair game. What I saw in 2004 was that the excellent rallies I saw on CSPAN were shown on cable and the networks, with their talking heads standing in a parking lot saying where they were and about a minute of Kerry, usually covering just a scrap of criticism of Bush - ignoring all the real content. Kerry even spoke of telling the truth - and the look in his eye was one of sincerity. But it was not just on the SBVT, the rallies, and his Senate record that the media distorted - it was also who he and Teresa were (and are).

Back when Elizabeth Edwards did her book tour, one article linked to this short video of the two couples. Think first of the stereotypes of Teresa and the Kerrys in general and watch. Ask yourself if the impression of either couple is the spin the media had in 2004. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=628737n&tag=related
Aside from the comment that Elizabeth might have benefited from doing what Teresa spoke of, compare what you saw to the spin. The Kerrys both obviously listened when the other spoke, Teresa was soft spoken and what she said was extremely good.

The fact is that Kerry can relate to the general population. He actually won two early elections (lt governor and Senate) when he was not the media or party favorite. I saw Kerry speak in Hyannis before the 2008 election - he connected easily and well with the people there and they and he had fun speaking to each other afterward. http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/entry/barnstable_democratic_town_committee_election_eve_rally_video/

[C_Lawyer09]

105. Thanks for the good links

Definitely testimony to the good traits of Kerry and his wife. I always liked hearing her thoughts. Also, mini chicken soup for the soul that at least some heard Rassmans story. It pains me when good men, and women, stretch under constraint to appeal to a certain segment of the voting populus. Saddens me that most of the time, actual merit seems to play second fiddle. I've been especially bothered over time, that flag waving and bloviating "support of the military" is given serious credence, when those in question did cheetah flips and monkey somersaults to avoid doing their time. Thanks again for the links.

[babyblonde]

47. KERRY THE FIGHTER!

who conceded in 2004 before the votes were all tallied

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :yoiks: :patriot:

[wisteria]

50. That is a matter of opinion and very old news. Is this all you have?

Presidential races and Congressional voting are two different things.

[YvonneCa]

51. Every politician makes that decision before all the votes...

...are officially counted.It's a judgement call.

[wisteria]

55. Exactly, Gore being the expection because the race was called for him and later recinded. n/t

[YvonneCa]

61. I agree, but I don't think Gore was...

...an exception.

I think Gore conceded early on for the same reason Kerry did...he was listening what trusted advisors told him.(If he didn't have the votes, he couldn't win. It would be wrong to prolong things and put the country through that process.) When Gore got more information...which showed the votes could be there...he un-conceded. I think that was also right, because he was standing up for those of us who had voted for him. AND our democracy has a process in place to remedy the situation.

Once the Supreme Court ruled against him (and us), our democracy had spoken. The democratic(small 'd') process had spoken. Al Gore and John Kerry (I believe) both respect that process...as do I. Once democracy has spoken, we the people move forward together. JMHO.

Don't misunderstand...I think Gore AND Kerry won, legally. But they can't fix this alone.

[karynnj]

76. Gore was actually NOT an exception - he conceded and when the numbers unexpectedly turned, he

unconceded. In Kerry's case he conceded when it was mathematically impossible to win.

[YvonneCa]

89. I concur...

...:)

[wisteria]

119. To both of you, yes, you are right. I had forgotten he had conceded first. n/t

[YvonneCa]

121. ...

...:grouphug:

[pjt7]

56. Systematic Failure

is a pretend word.

Kerry needs to go.

[YvonneCa]

63. Kerry didn't say 'systematic.' He said 'systemic'...

...which is quite real.

[karynnj]

77. 2/3rds of MA voters gave him another 6 years in Nov 2008

Not to mention, it is your inability to read - Kerry's language, as usual, was fine.

PS, even if it were Kerry's error, not yours, that is clearly not a reason he or anyone would have to give up a seat.

[benny05]

57. Rgh

I want Bernanke out.

[scytherius]

58. Hey MA. Kick him out too. n/t

nt

[YvonneCa]

65. Why?n/t

[Johnny Harpo]

60. Enough Of Them Will Vote In 'Lock-Step' To Return Bernanke....

for another shot at running the Fed.

Just like 'Timmy at the Treasury'...'Ben at the Bank' is nothing more the the fox guarding the hen house.

[YvonneCa]

66. Welcome to DU.n/t

[cadmium]

80. Basically same position as Paul Krugman except

that Kerry got off the fence and made a decision with mixed feelings.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/the-bernanke-conundrum/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/09/krugman-bernanke-should-b_n_255136.html

[YvonneCa]

90. Which is what I call...

...LEADERSHIP. :7

[mbperrin]

83. Anyone who votes to confirm Chopper Ben is dead to me.

Simple as that. He has been and continues to be a disaster to the public. To his looting cronies, he's been great.

Dupe or criminal? Don't know, don't care. He needs to go out.

[quakerboy]

86. The real question is

Will the Republicans hold the line in opposing him, maintaining their solid obstructionist face to anything done by Obama but incidentally blocking the confirmation of someone their corporate paymasters want, or will they sacrifice the solid front to bow to the will of those paying their bribes?

This will be the key question of the next year. Do all 42 republicans hold a solid front and filibuster everything, or do they make common cause with the rest of the corporatists to create a majority and pass what they want?

[YvonneCa]

88. There sure are a lot of newbies on this...

...thread. None of them seem to like John Kerry...

[cadmium]

97. Probably has little to do with the issue in OP.

[YvonneCa]

100. You are probably...

...right. ;)

[Generator]

91. Kerry has become as worthless as the Blue Dogs

He is the poster child for caution that will lead us oh so politely to the end times.

[unkachuck]

102. c'mon, John....

"Chairman Bernanke should not be a scapegoat for systemic failings."

....bennie IS the system that failed, he's 100% Grade-A bushco....

....the public doesn't associate the Obama administration with bennie....shooting bennie down wouldn't cause any lasting political harm....how many times must we cave under the "I'll crash your economy" threat coming from the wall street casinos?

....I'm sure we can find someone equally or more qualified from our side....unless of course, bennie is on your side....

[w4rma]

107. He still has the same tin ear he had in 2004. nt

[karynnj]

114. No, you have the same tin ear you had when you backed John Edwards

With the markets angry because Obama is pushing real reform, deafeating his Fed nominee, who Paul Krugman seems to agree is a brilliant economist who did a great job last year - but needs to break away from the banking borg - would be extremely counterproductive. This is especially true in light of the plan Obama is pushing,

[politicasista]

115. Another Kerry thread ruined by a flame war

Go figure.

[Doctor_J]

120. I'm Shocked!

:rofl:

[DeadEyeDyck]

123. Look, we all want to bear up on Wall Street but

kicking out Bernanke would cause a serious rift. The last thing we need in Wall Street is panic. Right now, the panic is on thin ice and every little ripple causes it to crack and the DOW to tumble. I kow few that read these pages directly trade as I do, but trust me, Ben is not great, but is as good as we can hope for under the current situation.