JK on he Sneate floor now

[Inuca]

not sure whenit started.

[karynnj]

1. CSPAN has not broken out the speeches for this afternoon

They appear to be concentrating on the House. Here is the link to the whole session - http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SenateSessionPart267 - Kerry starts as about 2:02 in.

He is as somber as I have ever seen him. He is calling out for people to find a solution. He really goes after the House tea party guys, many of whom never held office before and who don't value compromise. He suggests that they listen to Ronald Reagan. Says the tea party turned their back on Ronald Reagan and are playing chicken with the American economy. He quoted Stockman who said that it was unrealistic to not raise taxes - following a catechism that forbids tax increases.

He spoke of meeting with the Finance of Greece and of speaking to experts, who know more about economics than he does. He quotes the Boston Globe which says that MA companies are reluctant to hire because they are are sure the government will avoid default and that some are concerned with spending cuts that will weaken an already weak economy. He then suggests that that might even be the goal of the tea party for political reasons.

He says that experts say that they can not tell him what a default will do - know one really needs.

Boehner plan will have draconian cuts to Medicare, Social Security and you will eviscerate the safety net for the poor. They purposely left out the money for getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

- This is a speech where we need the transcript.

Kerry says this is pure politics. A short term plan is not necessary or wise. He says the only rationale to come back to do the same thing next year is that they want to use it for politics.

[Mass]

2. Good to hear. I hope I can listen to it soon.

[Mass]

3. Video here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x603711

[Inuca]

4. He tweeted a link

to the youtube video of the speech

[Mass]

5. Sigh. The BG and BH did not bother to report.

This said, this crisis is the epitome of what is wrong in the political discourse both among politicians and supporters, including here on DU. It stopped being about ideas and it is about people. No surprise that the GOP, who claims to be about ideas, appeals to people. Even if they compromise at the 11th hour, they will have stood high for their ideas. On our side, not so much. Claims of cutting SS and Medicare have NOT been denied, and sadly and as ridiculously as it is, Boehner's claim that he is negotiating with a jelly fish resonates with people. Of course, it is wrong, but it gives in the perception that has followed the lack of clarity on what would be done. I am now done with the idea that you should be ready to compromise.

[karynnj]

6. The Boston Globe did have that Brown is using his "cut, cap and balance" vote in fund raising - at

least in its internet articles. Brown's public statement of a "symbolical" vote was not even clear which way he voted. His fund raising letter embraces his inner tea party persona. http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/07/brown-uses-cut-cap-and-balance-vote-fundraiser/ZSNqQKU9jboZpRxZpdLYpJ/index.html

(Glenn Johnson also has a slimy Kerry attack article that Politico and the BG pulled from the depths of the right wing gutter. I don't want to link to it, but it can be found googling Kerry's name.) This removes any remaining doubt of Johnson's personal positions.

I wonder if either made the paper itself.

[Mass]

7. BMG has a couple good posts on our junior senator they have nicknamed

Senator "blank, blank, blank, and blank" and Caboose of the Senate after a statement on what Obama should do concerning the debt limit. What is sad is that we are stuck with this guy.

http://bluemassgroup.com/2011/07/scott-brown-lost-in-2010-time-warp/

[karynnj]

8. I loved "Hester Prynne's" response

Our Junior Senator is a Jukebox

He doesn’t sing unless you put some money in.

Take his Friday vote on the House Republicans’ “cut, cap and balance” bill, which would lock in cuts for the next ten years at least as severe as those in the Ryan budget (around which the Senator beat around the bush so memorably in April).

From his Friday press statement, a masterpiece of vacuity, you could not be entirely sure which way he voted:

Today we took a symbolic vote on a balanced budget amendment. A balanced budget requirement is something we have in Massachusetts, and I think it would be good for the entire country at a time when we are $14.3 trillion dollars in debt and it is rising every day. Now both parties need to come together on a plan that will allow us to avoid default, make substantial cuts in spending, which is reasonable and bipartisan and will have a chance of being signed into law. Let’s stop the negative politics and partisan bickering and get down to work. Time is running short.

But today, he’s touting his Friday vote in favor of “cut, cap and balance.” Turns out he thinks it’s a great way to start a fundraising letter.

For only $20.12, you, too, can find out more about what’s on his mind.