Reply #2: Sober assessment, but Kerry keeps his objectives in view

[Mass]

Even as he sought to drive the committee toward a far-reaching deal, Kerry said he would not sign on to Republican plans that lean heavily on cuts while ignoring tax increases.

“I’m not going to cripple Medicare or something else because these guys are going to be unreasonable,’’ he said. “If they think I’m going to blink on that, they’re dead wrong.’’

And in another article in the hill
http://www.nationaljournal.com/supercommittee/quick-take-kerry-downplays-gop-proposal-20111108

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said on Tuesday the 12-member super committee still has significant differences on a deficit reduction package and he downplayed reports of a GOP proposal floated to eliminate certain itemized deductions and loopholes in exchange for making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
“Well, are anxious to promote a certain concept with all of you, but I’ll be very clear that whatever they put there doesn’t get the job done, and we’ve got some distance to travel and we’re working very hard to do that,” Kerry, a super committee member, told reporters following the weekly Senate lunches.
Kerry said tax revenues remain an issue. Democrats have long insisted they be part of any viable package. Republicans continue to insist tax rates remain off the table....

I am still wary of hearing about cuts in Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, but I also get the feeling he does not think there will be a deal.