Ooh, I missed this. Grist.org says the climate change bill is "Kerry's bill"

[beachmom]

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-09-30-cejapa-is-kerrys-bill

Karynnj referred to this in another thread (that the bill begins with Kerry's name), but this Grist article has more:

Here’s how the first line of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act begins: “Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mrs. BOXER) introduced the following bill ...”

See whose name is first there?

It’s not “Mr. Kerry and Mrs. Boxer introduced” either. He’s introducing it. This is John Kerry’s bill. Boxer has signed on as a co-sponsor.

Word has it this decision came down from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) himself.

I don't agree with the first sentence at all (Kerry has many accomplishments in his Senate career), but it tells you the stakes for him:

Kerry’s Senate record isn’t exactly littered with major accomplishments either, but from all accounts he’s completely thrown himself into this. It’ll be a real test of his chops, and if he defies the odds and shepherds it all the way to passage, he will finally have the Kennedy-sized accomplishment he’s always wanted.

Frankly, I think it would have been difficult to have a "Kennedy-sized accomplishment" when you were junior Senator to Kennedy. Now as Senior Senator, Kerry will have many, many "Kennedy-sized accomplishments" regardless of how this bill goes.

[beachmom]

1. Oh, I got this link from an excellent diary that rounded up blog reaction to the bill:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/1/788539/-The-Blogosphere-Reacts-to-the-Kerry-Boxer-Senate-Climate-Bill

[karynnj]

2. I think the Kennedy shadow and Kennedy sized accomplishments is overblown

There never was any comment that say - Senator Clinton's accomplishments were not "Kennedy sized". In addition, Kennedy was one of the 2 or 3 most successful legislators of all time. It is kind of like criticizing any later top British band as not having the accomplishments of the Beatles. In fact, it is harder for new Senators, because the best of what they do is taken into bills written by committees that pass under the chairman's name. But, it ignores that John Kerry would likely have become President if there were sufficient voting machines in Ohio. So, he's not an average Senator.

In addition, this - in addition to foreign policy - is why he went into politics. Al Gore was completely right that he had the best environmental record in the Senate and has been working on this for years. (It is also cool that this is an issue which he and Teresa have so much passion for. )

I think that sentence could be better written, but the conclusion is very true. Passing a climate change bill through the Senate will be incredibly important landmark legislation.

[wisteria]

3. I agree. But, it always seems them have to write something negative.

I suppose this is their way of calling it fair and balanced. However,they always are wrong about the negatives.