*****CLINTON HEARING THREAD #1****

[ncrainbowgrrl]

Starting now on CSPAN

[malaise]

1. TheHiillary confirmation hearing - thread 1

About to begin. GEM$NBC has coverage.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. Kerry tries to make a funny...

and it was funny!

[malaise]

3. Didn't see your thread

also on CSpan
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-R-14186

[madokie]

7. I sure like listening to John Kerry

smart man. Patriot too.
No bullshit John Kerry

[karynnj]

16. He is a patriot and an incredible gracious statesman

Kerry started with comments of how HRC was a strong candidate and was a person known by her first name who could reach people that Obama needs to reach. He then spoke of 1971, and spoke of chairs - especially Pell. He said some nice things of Biden and Lugar.

He is now speaking of the problems that face the country. He spoke of the need for transformation - he spoke of needing a fundamendal change in policy in Afghanistan and Iraq. Spoke of terrorism, and the various trouble spots - Pakistan, Syria, etc

He spoke of the need for a new non-proliferation treaty - sounds like the op in MASS's thread.

In all of things he mentioned he spoke of wanting to here HRC's thoughts.

Says that she has SFRC support to re-engage woth South America and Asia.

He then spoke of how global warming is a National Security threat - mentioned Copenhaken - the international committee looking to US leadership - said the committee will be very involved in developing a solution.

Said HRC always sought common ground as Senator - he said that he went with HRC to Vietnam with the Clintons in the first Presidential visit and spoke of how quickly and well she picked up things well.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

4. John Kerry is Chair, Opening up with speech. CSPAN 2

[ErinBerin84]

5. heh

"America is back"


Also, did anyone hear Chris Matthews say "Perhaps Joe Biden wants to be in that seat today"...wasn't it widely reported that he was asked whether he wanted to be VP OR SOS, and he chose VP?

[TayTay]

6. Who are the new Dems on the SFRC?

I see empty seats past Jim Webb.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

9. Copy and paste list here

Biden, Joseph R. (DE) , Chairman
Dodd, Christopher J. (CT)
Kerry, John F. (MA)
Feingold, Russell D. (WI)
Boxer, Barbara (CA)
Nelson, Bill (FL)
Menendez, Robert (NJ)
Cardin, Benjamin L. (MD)
Casey, Robert P. (PA)
Webb, Jim (VA)

Lugar, Richard G. (IN), Ranking Member
Corker, Bob (TN)
Voinovich, George V. (OH)
Murkowski, Lisa (AK)
DeMint, Jim (SC)
Isakson, Johnny (GA)
Vitter, David (LA)
Barrasso, John (WY)

[TayTay]

14. This is the list from the 110th Congress for SFRC

There are new Dems assigned to this committee. I believe Jeanne Shaheen is one of them. I do not know the rest.

A ranking for the 111th Congress would list Kerry first as Chair, then Dodd, then Feingold, then Boxer, etc with the freshmen Sens at the end.

Thanks for this though. I know it is what is up until the SFRC site is updated.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

18. I can't find anything updated.

[Mass]

32. I know Shaheen (NH) was going to be on it. There should be a couple

of other people, not sure whom though on both sides.

[Subdivisions]

11. Douglas Frantz

I know, not a Senator but worth a mention re: SFRC...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4799158

Hopefully we'll see an in-depth investigation into the BFEE's ties to this failed and fraud-ridden former bank.

[shadowknows69]

8. Are we expecting any surprises here?

What am I saying, I'm sure at least one rethug idiot will oppose it. Keep me updated please.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

10. Someone's gonna bring up Bill's foundation, methinks

Even Senator Kerry says it.

[karynnj]

19. It is a valid issue to bring up - and to make sure the

agreement with Obama is strong enough. I agree with the many editorials that they should push for more real time reporting of donations.

Kerry's comments on Clinton were very generous and very good.

[karynnj]

22. Kerry invited Chelsea Clinton to be an intern for a day

(Chairman's perogative - he said) He said that HRC had said that she wished she could she Chelsea -but couldn't because she was sitting behind her. Kerry said Bill was an intern one summer for the committee.

[blm]

33. Ever the gracious statesman....he's walking the extra mile for HRC that they'd never walk for him

when he was our nominee.

[Beacool]

40. Hmmmm, intern for a day???

Why am I thinking evil thoughts?

Bad girl, bad.........

}(

[karynnj]

43. The Senator was giving her an invitation to sit with the committee

facing her mom. It is sad that Bill Clinton's senseless actions lead you to think of such things.

[Beacool]

45. It was just a joke.

Of course I know Kerry meant nothing of that sort. Besides, I still love the Bigdawg.

:D

[karynnj]

47. I knew it was a joke - the problem is that I bet every young women

who gets an internship in the Senate, the House or White House - likely gets jokes of that sort. It is sad when you think of it.

[onehandle]

12. Impeach Her!

Kidding. Go Hillary! Go Obama!

[KharmaTrain]

13. Why Elections Matter...Again

Doesn't seem that long ago that I was watching the boooshie nominees get their backs scratched and egos stroked...and how depressed and frustrated I was watching right wing and neo-con goons take power. This is a far brighter day...far preferable to the disgusting thought of who Gramps would have run up for these posts had he won.

[karynnj]

21. Then you didn't watch the confirmation of Rice as SoS

Barbara Boxer called her out on many things she did as NSA. Lugar allowed Kerry many extra turns after everyone was finished where he asked many tough questions. Biden, Dodd and Feingold asked some tough questions as well.

The fact is that so far - HRC is likely to have a less contentious hearing than Rice.

[KharmaTrain]

23. I Sure As Hell Saw Those Hearings

...and was pissed they all but gave her a pass on her role as NSA and the infamous PDB about bin Laden ready to attack America. Yes, she got some tough questions but those were formalities as Rice's nomination was a done deal before she went into those hearings. She said nothing that day, did nothing for the next 4 years...the worst Secretary of State ever.

[karynnj]

25. The people who spoke out did what they could to bring up the issues

The problem was that they had more than enough votes. The fact of the matter is that Kerry did get her on record on many issues where she didn't want to be on record.

Actually, Rice has done some real diplomacy in the last year - on the middle east. It was way too late, but it was a real effort. It demonstrated that the Bush administration did not have the real ability to do diplomacy - even when they wanted to.

[LeftishBrit]

41. Worst Secretary of State ever?

She was bad - but I think Kissinger still wins the gold medal.

[KharmaTrain]

49. No Love For Either...

While he advocated the Vietnam War, he also was the one who negotiated our way out (too bad it took 5 years for him to do it). He also opened the door to China that would shift the balance of power at the time and put the "Cold War" in checkmate.

Now, what accomplishments could one attribute to Rice? I can't think of a single one.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

15. Lugar recommends no further Foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation.

[bdamomma]

17. thanks this should be good.

but then again, she is an AIPAC follower too, or am I being too harsh.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

20. CSPAN2 dropped out, on CSPAN now. She has not spoken yet.

[mikelgb]

24. PIRACY!!

:hide:

[mikelgb]

26. drugs = women and children, when trafficking

[ginnyinWI]

27. I like Hillary better this way--as a sober Senator.

I definitely did not like campaigner-Hillary. I wish she had just been herself without all the over the top language, etc.

[WI_DEM]

30. I don't know, I always liked her as a drunk senator.

Just kidding! :)

[Beacool]

46. No you didn't..............

:spank:

:7

[TayTay]

28. Interesting point, Lugar calls for no more intl funds for CGI

(Clinton Global Initiative)

The Washington Post liveblog caught this:

Glenn Kessler
10:01 a.m.
Kerry notes that Lugar was not speaking as a Republican but for the Committee as a whole, so that puts additional pressure on the Clinton Foundation.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/13/live_from_the_clinton_confirma.html


That is a Senate, not a Republican request.

[karynnj]

29. It does seem to be a reasonable request

It will be interesting to see how she answers.

[blm]

31. They should address Bill's lobbying for Dubai and Saudi royals, not just the foundation money.

But, apparently, the Foundation money is being used as the focus to warn Bill. Funny that Bush Sr's working with Dubai and Saudi royals was never an issue for the Bushboy to address. Seems there is always a reluctance for those matters to be brought up. Maybe it's s media thing.

[karynnj]

34. Good point - in addition to the laudable foundation

Clinton has actually lobbied for and given high priced speeches for personal gain. That is, if anything more of a conflict. I assume that that will be controlled as he supposedly must get approval for speeches.

[Stephanie]

42. Also Yucaipa, Burkle, Giustra

He's got business deals going worldwide, not just charity fundraising.

[ThomWV]

35. Jesus, is this fucking speech ever going to end?

[cali]

36. I was just going to post that- and here it ends. thank the dogs.

[greguganus]

37. Live feed here if anyone wants to watch online.

http://www.wral.com/news/video/4300739/

[spanone]

38. go russ

[TayTay]

39. Amb Crocker is moving on

He was actually a pretty good Amb. to Iraq. Sen. Clinton said that Crocker cited personal and family reasons for not continuing in his role.

[bdamomma]

48. Crocker is bowing out? good.

I wish Joe Wilson would consider the position, but I think he has moved on too.

[Ammonium]

44. America is an Arctic nation

lol wat?