When John Kerry Tweets Open Thread

[beachmom]

Not that the Senator tweets all that often but I figure we could use this thread when he does so.

Here is one from today:

Great meeting with Henry Waxman and Ed Markey today on climate/energy – hope their legislative karma rubbed off

Follow him here:

http://twitter.com/JohnKerry

If you see an status update, post it on this thread. Of course, his last tweet was in February so we might be waiting some time for the next one.

[wisteria]

1. Thanks, I have been busy and missed that tweet. n/t

[ObamaKerryDem]

2. Great idea for a thread!

He seems to be Tweeting a bit more often, at least if these past couple of days are any indication, lol. Always great to hear from him! :)

[Democrafty]

3. 4.14.10, around 21:00EST:

"Climate negotiations meant I didn't see a single at bat, but thank you boston.com for telling me John Lackey got first win for Sox."

Found at http://twitter.com/JohnKerry

[ObamaKerryDem]

4. New JK tweet from today (Thursday, April 15)

Only in Washington can you talk with James Cameron and David Axelrod in the same afternoon.
about 6 hours ago via web

LOL! But probably true. :D

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. Another one. JK is on a roll after a long Tweeting hiatus! lol

Mailed back census form this week -- today’s the last day -- get yours back if you haven’t yet
7:08 AM Apr 16th via web

[Luftmensch067]

6. Love that one!

JK is such a good citizen! :patriot:

[wisteria]

7. I suppose he wants to stay busy. n/t

[ObamaKerryDem]

9. Seems it! :)

[ObamaKerryDem]

8. Yet another! I'm loving this. :)

Fired the starting gun for Wheelchair Division of the Marathon – my 6th! Some great athletes.
about 3 hours ago via web

[Democrafty]

10. 4/26/10:

"Burning up phones pressing on climate/energy. Headlines saying otherwise are very ‘Dewey Defeats Truman.’ Post on TPM: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/26/climate_b..."

The url is cutting off, but here's the whole thing: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/26/climate_bill_still_moving_forward/index.php

[karynnj]

11. That is a really reassuring op-ed

I hope that he is right. I liked his quotes of the Tom Friedman op-ed.

[YvonneCa]

12. It is reassuring. He still sounds hopeful. n/t

[Luftmensch067]

13. Still lovin' that "Green Tea Party"! n/t

[karynnj]

14. But, but ... Candy Crowley would say the "green tea" party is elitist!

(but the White Ayurvedic Chai and Samuri Chai Mate" Trevana tea is elitist, but really really good!)

[beachmom]

15. Not me. I want nothing to do with any "Tea Party".

Sorry, but that crowd is a bunch of bigoted, bitter, ill mannered . . . white males over 45. I think Friedman legitimizes them with this phrase. That somehow climate activists should emulate the town hall shouters. No way. Bad metaphor from Friedman.

[Democrafty]

28. I'll bring the sustainably farmed sandwiches! NT

[beachmom]

16. Not to be a wet blanket, but what else is Sen. Kerry supposed to do?

Admit it doesn't look good?

Health care is completely different from climate. It was a GIVEN for a very long time that hcr would pass. What wasn't predicted was how badly it went for 6 months culminating with Brown winning Kennedy's seat. It wasn't ridiculous to think hcr was dead at that point, but overall, momentum was always for hcr passing. That has never been the case with cap & trade. Everyone has been skeptical the entire time.

Look, I admire Sen. Kerry's fighting spirit, but an op-ed on a liberal blog is not going to change a whole lot.

[karynnj]

17. I agree that the outlook was always dimmer for climate change

It was never bright and from the beginning there were signs that it would be very tough. At the point that HCR got enabling language in the Budget bill, climate change not only didn't, but there was an amendment that many Democrats joined the Republicans on that explicitly prohibited it. It was declared dead last summer. The Kerry/Graham op-ed led to the MSM expressing with genuine surprise that it could possibly maybe gain enough support.

I do think that there was considered thought that healthcare would fail because it was seen to very hard to get 60 votes once it was clear that no Republicans would vote for it.

I agree that a Kerry post on a liberal blog doesn't help much - in fact, if they genuinely have the affected business leaders behind them that might matter more. If they believe Kerry on opportunities and they want the certainty that legislation provides, there might be some remote chance. I can see that Kerry can't just quit - I trust that he believes 100% what he says on the need to do this.

[Mass]

18. The goal of this editorial is not to change things in the Senate. It is to get the activists out.

If there is a thing that Kerry said for months now, it is that it would not be done if those of us who care about this issue did not make noise. This is just the follow-up. I suspect that Senator Kerry has a pretty good idea that the bill will be hard to pass. But he also knows that the best way not to have it is for activists to stop asking for it.

I suspect this was the reason for his optimism in front of so dire augurs, today and before. Activists have to make themselves heard.

If this crisis has done something, it is to get behind the bill people who were hesitant before, because they understand that not getting the bill to the floor does not mean a better bill, but no bill.

There were a couple of news today that shows that the bill is slowly moving along:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63Q3V220100427
Senator Kerry says EPA to start climate bill analysis

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/94519-green-groups-to-senate-dont-squander-chance-to-move-on-climate-and-energy

Obviously, the bill has long odds, but Kerry is doing what is necessary given the circumstances.

[ObamaKerryDem]

19. JK must not like Kool & the Gang...

or at least that "Celebration" song (Though I have to admit, it is overplayed/used :)), LOL. But on a serious note, the vid he refers to is right on (as he points out in his latest tweet):

Friend emailed this, speaks volumes, though spare me the music: http://bit.ly/a7vPzu
24 minutes ago via web

[YvonneCa]

20. Wow. I must say I disagree with JK on this...

...music. ;) I like 'Celebration' ! :7 The video is good, too...

[politicasista]

21. He needs some good, if not variety in his music

in a good way.

Thought he liked hip-hop, although Obama openly loves it (Jay Z, Common, etc) like all genres.

Respectfully disagree with the Senator. :) Ain't nothing wrong with some Soul music and Kool and the Gang (though "Celebration" is a Pop crossover). Peeps like Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin were four of many socially conscience artists during the country's most turbulent periods.

Thought the Senator liked feel good music? That's what he said back in 2004, but that was then, this now.

[beachmom]

25. Not sure you can read all of that from his 140 character tweet.

I think what he is saying is that the music doesn't really match the message. The music, while fun at weddings and so forth, is kind of annoying while trying to read the message and watch the video.

FWIW, I bet you $1 million John Kerry LOVES Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". In fact, I don't think you should read into his tweet that he dislikes soul music, just that that song (which is kind of from the disco era really) doesn't work with the video.

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

[politicasista]

26. Too late to go back and edit, and just saw the video

and he and you are right. The song does not fit the message. They should save this for when (if?) it passes. A more earthly song could have been used.

Be me thinks he got some good music with The Boss. :)


On edit, thanks for the What's Going On lyrics.

[karynnj]

22. That is an interesting video

[ProSense]

23. Interesting video.

Yeah, I don't get the music. Nothing against the song, but it doesn't fit the clip.

[beachmom]

24. Edit: Oh, it's from his Twitter feed. Duh.

I agree with him that the song TOTALLY does not work with the message/video. I do not think he is saying he necessarily dislikes Kool and the Gang. But is anyone here going to say with a straight face that "Celebration" works with images of Ahmadinejad? Really? The song belongs at weddings and on Fridays when you get home from work, not in a video to do something about global climate change while pointing out what fossile fuel use funds terrorism.

[karynnj]

27. I agree with you - I think the song boring,

But your comment is totally on target. That said, I can't think of an appropriate song.

[beachmom]

29. Well, something instrumental and scary like a movie soundtrack.

However, not sure you guys have been following what has been going on with copyright infringement and YouTube but really, the video JK linked to is in copyright infringement to Kool and the Gang and if found, the music label that owns the song will issue a takedown order. It didn't used to be like that, and frankly, I think it is out of control and has taken a lot of the fun out of YouTube. I actually went to find that funny JedReport video from the primaries that was about Hillary and Bosnia. It was set up as a "movie trailer" and was really good, and I thought it was a good example of using good music with a message. It took me a while to find the post on it and when I clicked play it said You Tube had taken it down due to copyright violation. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

[beachmom]

30. Um, this is not some random video. It is a real ad. Some are not that impressed:

David Roberts of Grist:

Others will differ, but I find the xenophobia & militarism of this new #climatebill ad grotesque.

Honestly, I was only listening for the music the first time. Looking at it a second time, not sure it's that great an ad. Clearly it is intended to go viral, but it is not very good. After all, we have a journalist who hates the images and a Senator who hates the music. Not exactly critical acclaim going on there.

Edit: I also think they may have cleared it with Kool and the Gang because they have a button showing where to buy the song. Kind of embarrassing that a not very well done video is actually a professional job.

[karynnj]

31. it was kind of fuzzyish - horribly done

It takes talent to pick the right music - and this is not it. Way too upbeat and overly familiar.

[Mass]

33. I agree with Roberts. The music was not what turned me off.

This ad does not look like an ad for climate change reform. It is an ad for more drilling in the US.

Note: I was watching the video when my son entered the room and started to dance on it. Apparently, this music oriented teenager liked the music.

[wisteria]

32. I get the premise of Iran partying over more oil revenues and what that means to us. .

I really do not mind the song,it is an old 80's party standard.

[beachmom]

34. John Kerry definitely looking for followers on Twitter!

I received an e-mail from him that talked about the climate bill but he encouraged everyone to check his Twitter account. Excellent.

Here are some new tweets:

RT @algore Denialists in denial http://bit.ly/avIPx9 A great post by @marcambinder


Sec Salazar in Boston today, what a process Cape Wind has been. My statement: http://bit.ly/a40nxz

[beachmom]

35. This one is funny:

Maybe Darren Samuelsohn and I should start carpooling, he’s my shadow in capitol.

I believe he means this writer for Climate Wire:

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/04/14/14climatewire-senate-leader-set-to-take-command-of-climate-53711.html

[beachmom]

36. Wow, another one this time about T Boone Pickens:

T Boone Pickens says he’s for my climate bill. No I didn’t think I’d see this day either.

I swear I am not obsessively checking JK's Twitter account. He's just popping up on my feed on a fairly regular basis. :)

[ProSense]

38. I really

hate T Boone Pickens. Ugh!

[karynnj]

39. Wow is right

Would love to hear Teresa'a opinion on that

[Luftmensch067]

40. He's cracking me up today -- so many tweets!

I love his sort of wry undertone on some of them -- seems like this short telegraphic style works for him. Plus, have you noticed he's now following 12 twitter accounts instead of 2? It used to just be Obama and Gore.

Why, yes, I *am* obsessively checking JK's Twitter account. :rofl:

[beachmom]

41. Just saw that he was following more people.

Here is who he follows:

Clean Energy Works
Vote Vets
Jon Soltz
Jim Tankersley (environmental reporter for the LA Times)
Jake Tapper
John Roberts
Claire McCaskill
Tom Friedman
Joe Klein
George Stephanapolos
Al Gore
Barack Obama


Interesting list. Anyone feel like analyzing it? Admittedly, I'm not a fan of Tom Friedman or Joe Klein. I read them, but I'm not a fan.

[ProSense]

37. OT: Kerry on China lifting its HIV travel ban

posted here

Sorry, didn't want to start a new thread.

[beachmom]

42. Tweet on SFRC hearing today:

big hrg in FRC this aft – starting on START, first of many big hrgs to come

[beachmom]

43. And another:

No major arms treaty with Russia has ever won less than 84 votes. Told Globe maybe 68 is the new 84 in today’s hyper-partisan DC

[Democrafty]

44. From about an hour ago:

"Retired Generals/Admirals on Hill today pushing our climate bill - no better advocates and they've got the hardware to prove it!"

[Luftmensch067]

45. It's the exclamation point that fills me with love and joy

JK will never get old.

[beachmom]

46. I know!! I am so digging JK's tweets. They have personality.

There is also a combo of serious posts with some lighter posts.

[Luftmensch067]

47. Agreed!

You're right -- seems like they really express his personality.

Kind of ironic, when you think of all the people who've insisted he can't do soundbites! LOL!

[Luftmensch067]

48. One the Boston area appreciates a lot!

From today:

Water main break in MA, our delegation working on request for disaster declaration to get federal help, 48 hours till clean water.

Edited to add a link to this very good and very thorough press release on the President's quick response: http://kerry.senate.gov/cfm/record.cfm?id=324622

[karynnj]

49. I love that he put up front that Obama was there so early - before they even

finished the letter. It seems all too rare when politicians generously give credit when it is due.

[Luftmensch067]

50. Three new ones last week

Three in one day!

real job growth last month, the real measure of where we are heading, work just starting. http://bit.ly/cvM82K 8:57 AM May 7th via web

Full steam ahead rolling out climate/energy legislation on Wed w Joe and a hell of a coalition http://bit.ly/9RhCH1 12:35 PM May 7th via web

Ending with a cryptic (to me, anyway!) one:

Here’s tweeting at you @OneillKid 3:05 PM May 7th via web

I read it first as "one ill kid" until I realized his name was O'Neill!!! LOL!

[beachmom]

55. Who is he though? It seems that he graduated from BC, so maybe

he and JK are college buddies? It says he lives in DC and he somehow was able to take a pic of the President getting off Marine One. I haven't a clue.

[Democrafty]

51. On Elena Kagan:

"Spent long time with Elena Kagan during tobacco bill negotiations, she’s smart as hell and real bridge-builder."

[karynnj]

52. That is a very strong endorsement

It is funny, but twitter's terseness forces more direct focused comments. Kerry's official statement is nicely written and says this and more - but in a way this informal comment is stronger. In those few words, he says he knows her well, mentions something they both worked on, praises her intelligence and abilities. (I think that without the tobacco bill, there would have been no SCHIP as the offset was the money from the tobacco taxes and settlements.)

[Luftmensch067]

53. He seems to speak fluent Twitterese

I bet he writes a mean haiku!

[beachmom]

54. Another tweet, linking to a TPM Cafe article:

Wrote up short deal on my work with Elena Kagan/1998 Sen. tobacco debate. Great training for SCOTUS consensus building. http://bit.ly/a6uph6

[beachmom]

56. Another tweet. Press conference at 1:30 PM:

Press conference w/ @JoeLieberman at 1:30 re climate bill. Piece on Huffington Post about bill: http://huff.to/d4Y4Cl

Oh, and I missed a few earlier ones:

In russell rotunda for a couple of the morning shows, just did MSNBC. strange when buchanan and I agree on energy independence!

AND:

@SenBillNelson fear not, APA tighter than current law, with neighboring state veto, protects FL on all rigs that could affect its shores

[karynnj]

57. The Nelson tweet is good news

Thanks for these

[Luftmensch067]

58. Sure, Twitter can be tiring, Senator...

...if you never stop! LOL!

Twitter can be tiring, but up on Grist w/ more detailed look at APA. http://bit.ly/dsAqD2 about 1 hour ago via web

(from today)

[beachmom]

59. Is he worried he is tiring his followers or does he himself find it tiring?

I just assumed someone typed it in for him. But maybe he's doing it. Which is really funny.

[Luftmensch067]

60. I think he's writing them, for sure

I keep remembering that blogger who talked of either sitting next to him on a plane or knowing someone who did and who said he and his blackberry could not be separated. On the other hand, a lot of these seem to be via Web, and I can't imagine him staying still long enough to even type on a laptop!

[beachmom]

61. When Barack Obama tweets about John Kerry:

I applaud Senators Kerry & Lieberman for their work on legislation to put us on a path to a clean energy economy. http://j.mp/93tLaK

[MBS]

62. now there's a tweet I can get behind! n/t

[Luftmensch067]

63. From about 10 hours ago

EPA news is really “last call” for Senate to fish or cut bait folks, pass APA. http://bit.ly/9PvhJ4

[beachmom]

64. Interesting timing, huh?

[Luftmensch067]

65. From this morning

Nonpartisan study analyses APA’s consumer relief: ‘effective, efficient, and consistent’ – take note! http://bit.ly/cw72mL

[Luftmensch067]

66. I don't entirely understand it, but it's clearly hilarious!

From earlier on Sunday:

Celts beat Magic on the road in game 1; new sequel to Cocoon? Amazing

[Luftmensch067]

67. From earlier today, nice appreciation for former staffer

My former staffer now City Councilor Ayanna Pressley: named one of Stuff Magazine’s “Players for 2010.” Well-deserved, congrats!

[Luftmensch067]

68. Snapshot of JK's day via Twitter

Paul Pierce twitter account hacked, don’t get any ideas Wade! about 2 hours ago via web

good talk with TBPickens today – let’s pass the darned bill! about 2 hours ago via web

as if more were even needed, new research on climate threat from National Resource Council. http://bit.ly/ckiFkB about 3 hours ago via web

[Mass]

69. My irritation gets bigger by the day. The tweet about Pickens is a perfect example

of my irritation. Rather than talking to Pickens, he should talk to climate and environmental groups to improve the bill. Pickens is in it only for his personal interest, as his defense of BP shows.

I am irritated enough that he voted with the right on many important amendments of the financial reform, and that his name only comes when he wants to make the reform nicer for hedge funds managers. This tweet does nothing to alleviate my disappointment.

[beachmom]

70. John Kerry has a considerable record of siding with hedge fund managers.

Remember him not going along with that tax a couple of years ago?

If you have time, though, Mass, can you let us know how JK voted on some financial reform amendments.

As to enviro groups, he has met with them, but they don't hold much power and won't help the bill pass the Senate. Sad, but true. Pickens might hold some sway with some Republican Senators. At this point, it's not a matter of motivation but just an alliance of passing the bill. The U.S., after all, allied with Stalin to defeat Hitler.

[Mass]

71. Latest one: against usury amendment.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00159

Even if there was a political reason to do so, there is such a thing as doing what is right rather than convenient. Let's just say that, each time there has been a division in the caucus, Kerry was on the wrong side. I cant even say I am surprised as finance issues are not something Kerry is particularly progressive on. It is just very irritating.

As for the climate thing, he should stop taking environmentalists for granted. It seems that Dems think a balance approach is only publicizing talks with the dark side.

[beachmom]

72. Thanks. For those not familiar with the amendment:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64I5VU20100519?type=politicsNews

The amendment would allow states to set usury caps on the interest rates charged by credit-card issuers located beyond their borders. Many states have usury laws that cap interest rates far below the punitive rates that some issuers charge delinquent borrowers.

That could crimp the profits of national credit-card issuers like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, which base their credit-card subsidiaries in business-friendly states that have weaker consumer protections.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1978 ruled that state usury laws do not apply to banks that are based elsewhere. Community banks and other state-chartered lenders must currently comply with their states' usury caps.

Again, this shows that the Senator is spending more time with corporate lobbyists and less time with real people. Nothing else could explain this vote.

[ProSense]

73. "the Senator is spending more time with corporate lobbyists and less time with real people"

That's not fair, and you don't know why he cast his vote against the amendment.

In fact, Cantwell, who has an amendment to reinstate Glass-Steagall, voted against the usury bill. She also voted againt cloture yesterday because she said the bill wasn't strong enough.

The amendment was supported by Repub Senators from Missouri and Florida. Kaufman, has been strong on financial issues, and he voted against it.

Unless we know Kerry's argument against the bill, it's simply speculation that his vote is about lobbyist. Maybe it's a states issue?

[Luftmensch067]

74. Thank you, ProSense

I agree that we don't know JK's reasons for his votes unless we ask him and Senate decisions are not always what they appear to be. I believe that Senator Kerry is deeply invested in making things better for "real people" and I don't think he EVER loses sight of that. It may be that his view is sometimes a macro one, but favoring corporate lobbyists? I just don't buy it.

[Mass]

75. I think beachmom was not wrong. Sometimes it is easy to lose track of the effect of a bill on real

people, and, just by virtue of who he is and the fact he lives in DC, Kerry is probably more in contact with lobbyists than with people who have trouble getting a credit card at a decent rate. I dont think he had bad intentions, but I think he does not see the effect of these cards on people. (he is not the only one: see Ben Nelson saying he never used an ATM and does not know the fees, see also Therese Murray who said that increasing MA sales tax was the best way to raise revenue'.

At the very least, he owes people in the state an explanation for a vote, because 35 good senators (including moderate ones) voted for this amendment because it is common sense. So, I'd like to hear his rational on this vote.

[Luftmensch067]

76. I'd like to hear it, too

I just don't want to presume I know it in advance or assume that he is out of touch.

[Mass]

77. I will need to be really good to make me comfortable with his vote.

I read Dodd's argument on the Senate website and it made no sense. I suspect it is more about not offending some moderate Dems who could vote against cloture if this amendment passed. But, even with this, I would have preferred that Kerry vote YES.