Schumer vs Kerry

[Mass]

Apparently, Schumer is pushing for the immigration bill to be dealt with before the climate change bill. Because, as we all know, the planet can wait.

(and also, probably, because in November the senate majority leader position will be free and Schumer wants it?)

I am sure that a lot of this is politico's spin, but still.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31529.html

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is heading for a collision with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) over whose pet issue will get top billing in the Senate later this year.

Schumer is taking a lead role in immigration — and is pushing Democrats to prioritize a potentially toxic issue leading up to the November elections. Kerry is a lead negotiator on climate change and is demanding that a climate bill get pushed to the front of the line.

Kerry and Schumer — who have a history of competitive tensions — are maneuvering behind the scenes to get White House and Senate leadership to promise to give their respective issues time this spring.
...
But aides say the agenda is far from settled — and that’s why Kerry and Schumer are intensifying their efforts to nudge to the front of the line.

“I don’t think the year is firmly fleshed out yet,” said a Democratic aide. “There has not been a sort of planning out of this year yet, mostly because health care has been the all-dominating issue.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31529_Page3.html#ixzz0chLQHReT

[karynnj]

1. Just saw this -

What I don't get is why are there comments in here from Schumer aides when they say neither office would comment? They also ignore that Obama did make some commitments internationally on climate change and it really is more important to initiate.

It is also rather silly to argue that immigration reform will help win the Hispanic vote without mentioning that in today's economy, the backlash would be greater than it was in 2006 when they last tried to pass something. It is really not clear how it would net out. (The fact that this is an issue even in liberal states - ie NJ or Mass - means that it is not the clear cut win Politico suggests.

[beachmom]

2. It would be incredibly stupid to take up immigration reform first for several reasons:

1. Immigration reform FAILED when it had the support of a Republican President, John McCain, and Ted Kennedy. Why do Democrats have to carry it largely on their own? It is clear that businesses would like something solid, so let a weaker less Democratic Congress take it up after '10. And if it can't pass then it can't. The truth is that with the bad economy it is a less pressing issue. Many undocumented workers went home.

2. Pres. Obama campaigned heavily on a few issues: getting Afghanistan right, health care reform, and energy. He did NOT campaign on immigration reform in any big way. He needs to stick to his promises.

On an aside Markos Moulitsas and other Kool Kids in the netroots want Chuck Schumer as Majority Leader. I mean, are they stupid in the head? They basically want a "STRONG" majority leader who actually has very little in the way of true liberal bona fides. Immigration reform is actually not all that liberal an issue since flipping Pres. Bush was for it. Climate change is more in line with the Dem coalition.

I agree that a lot of this is Politico spin, but OTOH I don't think Kerry & Schumer have much in common when it comes to character or values.

[sandnsea]

4. Immigration is the hottest of hot potatoes

Anybody who thinks we should take that up this year needs to be kept far far away from any leadership position. There are many sensible Republicans who are concerned about the planet in one way or another and see the common sense in change, both environmentally and economically. Immigration? Yikes. Schumer needs to get out more.

And I don't know what it is about Schumer, but I don't like the little weasel either. Claire McCaskill for leader.

[MBS]

5. please, not Schumer as majority leader.

What are they thinking? or smoking? Good grief.

[karynnj]

6. Nice summary

The really ironic thing is wouldn't Schumer as ML soon be seen by them like many of them see Rahm, who also is strong. Not to mention he was THE Senator from Wall Street through the worst of the excesses. It is mindboggling how some of the cool kidz will call Kerry DLC and corporatist - than praise Schumer.

I suspect there problem with Kerry is that he actually is something unexpected to them - a politician who really does have a conscience and values.

[MBS]

3. I hate the way climate change is trivialized in this article as

merely a "pet issue." Come on , Politico: a little perspective, please?

[MH1]

7. The price of failing on health care reform

And as far as I'm concerned, even if an hcr bill ultimately goes to Obama for signature, it failed - because the process dragged out so long and consumed so much political capital that other important work will be deeply crippled. Was it worth it? While I'm not among those who want the current HCR formulation to fail, I am really not enthused with it. And most certainly not at the price.

Why the HELL couldn't the House just pass the Senate bill and send it to Obama last year, and start the year off fresh? I guess it was the whip count, and that would be thanks to our "friends" at FDL and similar groups. But for all the cost to other initiatives, very little will change in the bill, and there is a very real possibility that it will fail cloture when it goes back to the Senate. This is such a no brainer that I am convinced (as if I weren't before) that many of our "reps" in Congress are just that - no brainers. :(

It's ridiculous to put immigration before climate change. In fact in a climate change bill there could probably be elements that support population retention in the worst immigration source countries. But silly me, that would require logic and an actual desire to solve problems! (two elements Kerry and a few others have, but sadly too many in both Houses don't have).

Sorry for the downer post this morning. I'm off to do some work for Sestak's Senate campaign and will hopefully be in a better mood when I return! :)

[beachmom]

8. I agree. The excise tax compromise with the unions was mostly tweaking

around the edges. You really have a point: just have the House pass it.

But don't forget a lot of this does have to do with Republicans. Think about it: all 40 Republicans are opposing it and all but 1 (who reps a Dem district in LA) voted against it in the House. A few were "at the table" for a while but they just wasted our time. The Republicans are really a joke. Their strategy really is the Rush Limbaugh strategy, hoping that Obama, and therefore the country, fails. And they have screwed over their own causes as well. I read somewhere that they could have gotten tort reform thrown in had they decided to compromise and have some vote for HCR. Tort reform is extremely important to many business interests. But instead they chose to achieve nothing so that they could say no. I just don't think this kind of behavior should be rewarded.

Finally, this is an extremely interesting story telling me how screwed up the electorate:

http://washingtonindependent.com/71447/what-johnny-isakson-promised-the-tea-party-movement

Adele Stan’s write-up of Tuesday’s “Code Red” protests on Capitol Hill includes a journey into the office of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a surprise guest at the anti-health care reform rally who invited Tea Party leaders to come and talk with him. Here’s what they discussed.

The activists displayed impatience with the Republican strategy of prolonging debate on health-care reform by offering amendments to the bill from the Senate floor. “We don’t want amendments,” one woman said. “We don’t want a bill.”

Isakson defended the strategy, calling it “brilliant,” and crediting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for crafting it. “That’s the only way we can do — make the other side show its hand,” he said.

One woman in the group proved to be a bit of an outlier. “If this bill is killed, will there be some sort of reform made to health care so that we can afford it?” she asked. “I don’t have health care.”

Isakson launched into the standard GOP talking point of allowing people to purchase insurance policies across state lines.

Incidentally, isn't the exchange going to allow buying insurance from anywhere? I still am not clear about that.