JK was at BC today!

[whometense]

But I didn't know anything about it until I heard it on the news this afternoon. :-( (pouting)

Achieving Bipartisanship: The Challenge for National Leadership
EMAIL TO FRIEND

Featuring many of the Law School's national political leaders, including Senator John Kerry and Congressman Bobby Scott, among others, the event will include a moderated panel discussion and breakout discussion groups with law students and the law school community.

Date and Time:
Monday, March 19, 2007 | 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location:


Law School, Newton Campus, East Wing Room 115
Event URL:
http://www.bc.edu/law

Of Interest to Particular Audience:
Alumni, Faculty, Graduate Students, Public

Categorized as:
Conferences, Lectures & Readings, Workshops

Sponsored by:
75th Committee/Dean's Office

[whometense]

1. More

http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/newsevents/2007-archive/75thBipartisanhipE.html

75th Celebration Event Draws Political Leaders

3/14/07--Boston College Law School and the 75th Celebration Committee is pleased to announce the final 75th Celebration public event, 'Achieving Bipartisanship: The Challenge for National Leadership.' Featuring many of the Law School's national political leaders, including Senator John Kerry and Congressman Bobby Scott, among others, the event will take place on Monday, March 19 at 9:30 am, and will include a moderated panel discussion and breakout discussion groups with law students and the law school community.

"This is the culmination of our three-year 75th Celebration, and it is a fitting way to usher in the next 75 years," said Dean John H. Garvey. "I'm very pleased that we've been able to gather such an impressive group of alumni together for a single event. It promises to be an important day for our students and community."

The event will take place in the Law School's East Wing Building in Room 115, and will open with a keynote address from Senator Kerry. The panel discussion will follow, moderated by former Senator Warren Rudman ('60) and featuring members of the US Congressional delegation including U.S. Representatives Stephen Lynch ('91), Edward J. Markey ('72), Robert "Bobby" Scott, ('73), Michael E. Capuano, ('77), and Paul Hodes ('78). The panelists will then join the breakout groups to discuss issues of the day with students, faculty and staff.

All participants will receive the Law School's 75th Alumni Awards.

[beachmom]

3. OMG!! Bobby Scott from Norfolk, VA. I really like him.

I have seen him speak in person a couple of times and even shook his hand (hey, I haven't been in the political jungle that long so that's a big deal :)). Anyway, he was the first Democrat I saw to specifically speak out against the Military Detainee bill the weekend before it was put to a vote (Kerry spoke out against torture, but didn't talk specifically about the bill until on the Senate floor that week). That was a big deal to me at the time. Bobby Scott is more of an intellectual, budgetary wonky type. He's not a back slapper, but instead is quite business like. I hope that Kerry and him got to chat, because I could see some mutual respect being there.

[whometense]

4. For the tiny amount of coverage

it generated, this was a pretty high-powered event.

That's really cool that you met him. He sounds like a good guy - I hope they'll put up some audio or video, but I'm not holding my breath.

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. I did some volunteer work

in Bobby Scott's office in '04 over in Newport News we handed out tickets for the JK appearance at the Nauticus. I also met him at the opening of the official Kerry office in Norfolk. He is a bit wonky but was surprised when I talked with him and told him that I had seen him many times on C-Span, and he said you watch that ------- ( I can't remember his exact word but I think it was something in the meaning of baloney) that sort of shocked me.

[beachmom]

7. Okay, nobody shoot me, but Fedup -- did Scott strike you as . . .

aloof, reserved? He came over and said "Bobby Scott" and shook my hand with absolutely no pleasantries whatsoever, then moved on to the next person. Then he gave this excellent speech on the budget where I learned a lot. But have a beer with him? Well, I'd rank that with having a beer with Webb. I respect both of them, but AWKWARD is how I would describe socializing with them.


(To be fair, I've never met Webb, but he just strikes me as a non-small talker)

[fedupinBushcountry]

8. Well, to tell you the truth

when he responded the way he did to me and I felt like he thought I was nuts for watching C-Span, I thought to myself that he is a POLITICIAN and really doesn't like the people messing in the people's business. It really turned me off.

[whometense]

2. Kerry calls for bipartisan cooperation

Media Credit: Matt Schoen
U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) calls on Republicans and Democrats to work together in the new Congress at Boston College yesterday.

Kerry calls for bipartisan cooperation
By: Chloe Gotsis
Posted: 3/20/07
Despite calling for an end to partisan politics yesterday, U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) criticized what he identified as shortcomings in the Bush administration and the former Republican-controlled Congress during a packed forum at Boston College yesterday.

Kerry said many problems facing the United States today, including healthcare, education, global warming and the ongoing war in Iraq, stem from lawmakers' failure to work together across party lines.

"Your education costs are higher, loans are higher, kids to school is harder," Kerry said. "We have 47 million without healthcare. It's unconscionable."

Americans have done little to call for the end to the bipartisan split, Kerry said, even when legislation directly affects them negatively, such as cuts to healthcare and children's programs.

"Where is the outrage?" Kerry said. "We are cutting after-school programs for children. We are cutting state and drug-free programs for children. We're about to cut Medicaid for children."

Kerry took a jab at the news media and said the public gets little credible information because the media have become increasingly obsessed with celebrities and less interested in politics.

"Look at the Anna Nicole Smith week," he said. "Did that really merit that amount of coverage?

"A whole bunch of people are getting their news from 'The Daily Show' and Colbert, and they are great people and funny as hell, but it's very hard to build (credibility)," he added...

[wisteria]

6. This event should have been publicized more. Senator Kerry had some excellent points

I am happy he is touching on children's issues. These have been long neglected and he is absolutely right about the state of the media.