Hey Vek and others: Did you see the hearing last week in FinComm

[TayTay]

Lots of good stuff, it's short and it was very, very direct. This was the one on Long-Term Debt.

Oh, and Vek, lots and lots of shots of the good Senator with his great reading glasses on.

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearings.htm

Kerry doesn't come into the hearing until about 53 minutes or so into it. Short, to the point and very awesome.

[ginnyinWI]

1. This was where he was that day

while Allard was smearing him, right?

[TayTay]

2. Yeah. I think he left the hearing and went to the floor

and spoke back to Allard.

His appearance at this hearing was short but very sweet. It was a classic 'Kerry moment' in a hearing: very challenging, goes right to the point and is substantive.

(And he wears his geeky glasses. Sigh! Some things in this forum never change. Noting the wearing of the glasses is still a staple item here. Reasons unknown.)

[ginnyinWI]

3. the glasses make him a real guy I guess

Anyway, a member of us older people who need them to read, now.

I'm listening him nail the guy on tax cuts for the rich. Great stuff.

And it shows something else: he talks about this because it's his job and he thinks it's important, not because he wants to grandstand on an issue. Because hardly anybody is seeing this.

[TayTay]

4. Thanks Ginny!

I love these 'little' hearings that don't get much notice. They really show a 'working Senator' and one who is very, very capable.

I loved how he didn't give up on the discussion on global purchase of American debt and how that does impact us. (And, oh, yes I am the geekiest person ever born. :blush:) Great stuff.

[ginnyinWI]

5. and you could even say "overqualified"

and in need of a promotion!

I have my wonky/geeky moments. Like taking notes on things I see on some news talk shows--what was said and who said it, on shows like Charlie Rose or some other show where they get really deep into an issue.

[TayTay]

6. That's why I come here.

No one laughs and says, "What the hell are you watching?" or "How can you watch that stuff, it puts me to sleep."

Thanks for being there.

:loveya:

[fedupinBushcountry]

7. Thanks TayTay

I love this stuff, and it is good that I am not alone in watching it. I check to see whats up everytime you post about the hearings.

Kerry hit on so much in such a short time, he is wicked smaht. I saw him talking to Senator Smith on the floor one day, and what I saw of this hearing was Smith got exactly what Kerry was saying, maybe they are working on something together.

The glasses were a big plus. :loveya:

[ginnyinWI]

8. y'know,

Somebody should tell JK that he doesn't need to keep those reading glasses hidden most of the time, using them when he thinks few are watching. ;)

[ProSense]

9. Are you kidding?

I just listened to the entire hearing. Of course, I watched Kerry. Damn he's good. Do you thing he stumped them with that yes or no question? Seriously, the two were so afraid to give a straight answer. I loved JK's line of questioning. And the movement...the way he moves around in his seat... :blush:

[MonteLukast]

16. Ohhh.

The way he moves around in his seat?

I'll blush with you.

The man is clearly unaware how seductive he is. Smart... it's so sexy...

[karynnj]

11. Definitely true

He also seems focused on the real coming problems - and rejects ideological solutions.

The fidelity guy has a vested interest in low capital gains taxes. Although I benefit from it, it really seems wrong that money earned through investing capital is taxed much less than money earned investing time, energy and effort (work).

[karynnj]

10. Great hearing

It was interesting that on the question of consumer debt that the Fidelity guy saw things in aggregate, that the percent equity was high (56%), while Kerry was speaking of individuals taking equity loans and ending up with little equity to use at retirement. It seemed to reflect what the Brookings guy said about the top haf never having it better and the bottom worse.

The other interesting thing was Kerry pushing the experts to really say whether they felt the current policies are sustainable. (It was funny when one said yes, but not for a long time - which kind of gets at what "sustainable" means.) It almost seems that on this issue, Kerry is trying to push the experts to speak out more clearly ans simply and call the government on unsustainable, irresponsible policies.

[ProSense]

12. This hearing is

a great economics primer, especially the exchange between Kerry and the experts.

[karynnj]

15. The strange thing is Kerry makes more of the points than they do

- especially when the Fidelity guy was describing the problem as not enough people saving or maxing out their 401Ks and Kerry was pointing out that wages were staying the same while a list of major costs were rising and people have nothing left to put away. The idiots who say that he doesn't get what life is like for most people really need to see this. Kerry was explaining this to the expert.

[MonteLukast]

18. Man.

Mandatory viewing for all stupid pundits.
And for "Democrats have no message" people.
And for creditors' tools like Joe Biden.
And for those who keep saying "all you have to do is just shut up and SAVE!!!"

[ProSense]

20. Yup!

I seriously would love to get a transcript of this hearing.

[TayTay]

13. There is no crisis, so there is no solution

Ahm, isn't that what you want leadership for, to get people to see what they don't see on their own? Sigh! Bushies are strange and awful people.

[karynnj]

14. I think it's our culture

It seems there is more glory in ignoring problems until they develop into a crisis where through heroic effort you can save the day than in prudently planning to prevent crisises. It hurts to see Kerry trying to get people to understand both the problem here and the need to address it before it is a crisis - when if life were fair, he would be directing his staff to work on this.

[MonteLukast]

19. That's exactly what my dad says!

"Don't create a problem where one doesn't exist."

I guess it's more important to be free of stress-- and not risk stressing other people out cuz, like, y'know, it's so paranoid!-- than to be prepared for a crisis.

Our culture pretty much *requires*, under social penalties, that you wait till it's raining to fix the roof. Pathetic.

I guess it's no surprise that Dad's a Republican. :eyes:

[MonteLukast]

17. There was a great piece the other day

... in the Denver Post about middle class people in Douglas County, one of the wealthiest counties in the country, who find themselves joining the ranks of the working poor after layoffs and upswings in their adjustable rate mortgages. They're so ashamed at having to ask for public assistance after having lived comfortably all their lives, because their debts have gotten out of hand. It's scary and very sad. :(