Senator Kerry at the SOTU, looking dapper as usual! nt

[babylonsister]

[sandnsea]

1. Standing next to my Senator!

Looking waxy as usual (lol). *sigh* Still, was very cool to see them both!!

[Mass]

2. He was one of the first ones to rush out of the room.

No intent to shake hands with Bush.

[Firespirit]

7. Yeah, he's got a lot on his mind right now

I don't blame him for wanting to get away from this useless bullshit and think about more important things than playing nice with the likes of Bush.

[Mass]

9. I certainly would not blame him for that. The only thing I regret is that he is

not on TV. They do not know what they miss.

We have Obama and Clinton blabbering about bipartisanship, and apparently, Edwards is there too, though I do not know what he said.

[Mass]

3. And his answer - Pretty good and it was certainly quick

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x21710

Kerry Says Bush Address Ignores America’s Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry tonight issued the following statement on President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address this evening:

“The President missed a golden opportunity tonight to admit that he made a mistake in Iraq and to share with the American people a plan for gradually removing our troops and allowing the Iraqis to solve the political crisis in Iraq. Instead, he glossed over the disastrous war and its multi-billion-dollar price tag and implied again that our presence in Iraq is somehow improving the situation in that chaotic and turbulent country. The Congress must stand up against Bush’s plan to escalate the war with a new surge of troops and I will be introducing legislation shortly to demand that the Administration set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The President’s address came up short in other areas as well – like his idea to tax worker health benefits and his failure to seriously address the challenge of global climate change. Our economy is headed in the wrong way; wages are barely keeping up with inflation and family income is on the way down,” Kerry said.

More specifically, the President missed the mark on several fronts:

* ENERGY: Once again the President only paid lip service to a meaningful energy agenda that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. His record speaks for itself – we’re more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. Tonight the President failed to embrace bold policies to break our oil dependence. The President says the nation should reduce U.S. gas usage by 20 percent over the next 10 years, but a goal without a roadmap for getting there is useless. The President should have included more funding for hybrids and battery technology.

* HEALTH CARE: Providing more people with meaningful, affordable health care is a laudable goal, but taxing worker health benefits to get there is a terrible idea. We need to increase the number of insured Americans, not play a shell game that risks coverage for those who have coverage today. As many as 35 million people could face higher taxes under the President’s plan while many millions more will face a choice of higher taxes or inadequate coverage in future. The President’s plan could actually increase the number of uninsured if employers decide to shift the entire premium cost to workers or offer only high-deductible plans.

* IMMIGRATION: Once again the President called for immigration reform that includes a guest worker program. I support comprehensive immigration reform and I’m disappointed that President Bush walked away from the issue last congress in the heat of the midterm elections. I hope that he’ll work with the Democratic-led congress to make comprehensive reform a reality.

[Mass]

4. People from VA must be proud of their junior senator.

It was the first Democratic response in a long time I really liked.

[sandnsea]

5. He opposes guest worker?

I heard Charlie Rangel opposing guest worker today and was very pleased. I hope that's what this immigration comment means, guest worker is awful.

[Mass]

6. He opposes guest workers as Bush wants them:

immigration linked to a work contract, where the person is sent away when the work is finished.

He supports immigration where the person has a chance to integrate and become citizen. The first one is the best way to have people paid under the average price and who works below standards of living in this country. As the person is linked to his/her employment, he cannot protest if he/she is exploited.

[sandnsea]

8. They're both in the Kennedy bill

I wasn't sure where specific Democrats stood on the guest worker part of the bill. I figured it was a compromise, one we really shouldn't make.

[beachmom]

20. Thoughts on immigration

We need an immigration reform bill passed while Bush is still president and with McCain's support, too. I had a very scary recent incident with a woman who at first seemed amiable enough before she went on an "illegal immigrant" rant. And I continue to meet people like this everywhere. She thinks Mexicans coming over the border (for which I think many Latinos are NOT Mexican but from other parts of South/Central America, but I digress) are "terrorists". Yep, that's what she said. Then she starts a sentence by saying "I don't mean to be prejudiced, but ...", which of course was follwed by a highly prejudiced statement. I tried to shut down the argument by saying it wasn't one of my top issues, that I was more concerned about Islamic extremism than illegal immigration -- but, good God, this lady wouldn't shut up. She even brought up that she is part native American, and how she went to her relative's reservation, and "they hate white people" and are assisting the "illegals aka terrorists" and will also assist Islamic terrorists if they get a chance. Really nutty conspiracy stuff. And this woman is not unique. She's only the tip of the iceberg. Furthermore, these views are inflamed by right wing hate talk radio plus the likes of Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanan.

The reason why I am so adamant that we need a bipartisan bill passed in these next 2 years, is because we need immigration, as a wedge issue, off the damned table for '08. Otherwise, this will be the new abortion/gay marriage issue. But .... if McCain is part of the process, and Bush signs the bill, then the Democrats cannot be villified on this, and the Republicans will be forever exposed as divided on the issue.

I think many of you are making good points, but I think I'm going to trust Kennedy on this. The bill will not be perfect -- compromise never is -- but it needs to get done. Because I'm telling you -- these populist haters are never going to shut up about it, but they can at least be deprived of real power if their own party goes ahead and tries to help these undocumented workers become documented and have a path to citizenship.

[karynnj]

10. Last year he didn't like it

he though they needed a path to citizenship

[sandnsea]

11. They're trying to pass both

The ones who are here will get the path to citizenship. The guest worker is separate, they get a pass to work, and then go back home. That's the right wing's talking point, they don't want to live here, they just want to work here. It's two separate aspects of last year's immigration bill. I never heard Kerry speak specifically against the guest worker part last year, I'm glad Democrats seem to be getting more unified on that point.

[whometense]

12. Here's a pic.

:loveya:

[wisteria]

13. Good picture. One of the best I have seen in a while. n/t

[karynnj]

19. I agree- he looks relaxed, confident and happy

That looks like a genuine smile. He really stood out as they scanned the crowds before the event.

[babylonsister]

14. Awww, he's so sweet/cute/smart/"nice" (from what I've heard). Thanks!

:loveya:

[whometense]

15. He is.

ALL of the above. ;-)

[ginnyinWI]

16. how does he do it--

Keeps looking better and better. Megawatt smile! :)

[Island Blue]

17. What a great photo!

Thanks for posting! I wonder who he's pointing at?

[globalvillage]

18. My new desktop background

Nice photo. And a great response from the Senator.
Thanks.