Thanks, And to Start Us Off … Live-blogging!
And, left out of the list of thanks in Violet’s post below … thanks to Violet! For shepherding this blog, this community, so well since the inception of the John Kerry blog version 2.0. We are very excited about this new step in the evolution of this community, but it’s not without some sadness and regret. Violet, Rick, Karen, Dick, Casey and all the rest who have made the front-page what it has been have done a wonderful job, and I thank them for it.
There will be some exciting changes coming in the weeks ahead; we’re hard at work building an entirely new technical infrastructure for the whole spectrum of sites and pages, an infrastructure that will push the boundaries of what’s possible in a community site. Our goal is to make activism easier and more effective for all of us (and, hopefully, many more to join us). We’re talking to major groups about partnerships, reaching out to like-minded organizations large and small to try rally and make possible action to get this country on the right track. Building a more sane foreign policy, getting real action on our climate crisis and other critical environmental issues, working to get our veterans a fair shake … all of the issues the John Kerry has shown so much leadership on, this blog and other sites to come will be ground-zero for action on those issues. We have a wonderful leader in John Kerry working hard on these issues, and we’ll be building tools to empower activists to move those issues forward.
Because activism is where John Kerry comes from. In my conversations with him and other members of the team over the two months I’ve been a part of the team, I’ve been extremely and continually impressed by the passion and dedication of everyone to fostering activism and empowering activists. I’m an activist; as I wrote about in the piece Violet linked to below, a dedication to activism is what convinced me to jump into this position. And I fit right in; from John Kerry on down, all the people I’ve met not only are committed to activism, they are activists.
So, while everything but the names on the posts will look much the same in the immediate future, stay tuned … there will be some exciting changes in the months ahead. And, as I promised, to start us off … let’s have some live-blogging. John Kerry will be giving a major address at the National Press Club at 1 o’clock that will be broadcast live on C-Span 3. Comments will be open for live-blogging at around 12:30 or so … enjoy!
update: Oh, and as otter reminds us in comments:
By the way, those of you who don’t have extended cable access where you’re reading this can stream C-Span’s programming live to your computers—just point your browser’s to C-Span.org and then scroll down to the bottom of the page to select the link for which of the three C-Span channels you want to watch.
And if you go to C-Span’s site now, the link to the coverage of Senator Kerry’s speech is front and center on the site.
update: C-Span3 said that they will show Senator Kerry’s speech (the whole speech) as soon as the hearing is done … so stay tuned.
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By the way, those of you who don’t have extended cable access where you’re reading this can stream C-Span’s programming live to your computers—just point your browser’s to http://c-span.org/ and then scroll down to the bottom of the page to select the link for which of the three C-Span channels you want to watch.
See you at 1:00!
Thanks, otter ... live commenting should be on for everyone ...
The AP has a pre-speech story out on the speech already. You can read it here:
http://tinyurl.com/yuhw9p
Hi everyone! This starts at 1:00, right?
Yes, am I on the right channel? Has it started yet?
It was scheduled for 1:00. Any number of things, could have delayed it. I haven’t heard C-Span announce a change in the schedule, so I assume it will happen right after this hearing. (Or before that, if the NPC is ready for the speech before the hearing ends.)
I do know there were votes on the Senate floor today right around 12:30. That might have delayed the Senator.
Whew, I’m here thought I wouldn’t make it. Well I see it isn’t on yet they will probably switch to it as soon as it starts. They have it displayed on the home page at C-Span.
Well, it seems that the TB hearing has monopolized the Cspan3 channel contrary to what is posted on CSpan’s home page. Too bad for those of us hoping to hear JK at the National Press Club.
Hearing over. I guess we will se if they go to the NP Club.
Hearing over. I guess we will see if they go to the NP Club.
Finally, they are going to Kerry’s speech!
Well, it was time-delayed for some 40 minutes due being pre-empted by an absolutely fascinating, edge-of-our-seats senate hearing on the CDC’s tuberculosis management policies, but now the Nat’l Press Club speech is finally starting up on C-Span 3. Yay!
Well, they finally are running this at C -Span. It looks like they have a full contigent of press there from Mass and from around the country. That’s nice.
OK, we know all this stuff .
The Senator looks quite serious today.
Will have to get back to the Senate for votes, but hopes to have time to answer questions after speech.
Well, the podium lighting at the Nat’l Press Club site is about as washed-out and unflattering looking as always. And he’s not wearing a tie with little polar bears on it. But other than that, it’s fine.
:0)
Admin Griffin was waiting for more scientific reports and conclusions in order to act. They shouldn’t be waiting.
Kerry told how Griffen, the Bush head of NASA, said he is not sure we have the priviledge of deciding what the climate should be - that it is arrogant for the government to decide what the temperature should be. Kerry said it was arrogant to ignore everyone in the world on this.
He sounds and looks great.
Time to do something responsible about climate change—it’s not a privilege, it is an obligation for the government to do something (or have the privilege of finding themselves other jobs!)
Talking about Michael Griffin’s comments regarding climate change.
Seriously, how is it possible that a NASA ‘leader’ can’t see that the world isn’t flat? They have photos and everything.
Washington “has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Good one, JK.
“This Administration has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Great line.
“America has not been addicted to oil because it wanted to be—it’s been addicted to oil because that’s the way powerful interests have wanted it to be, and because there’s been a Congress that has acquiesced to that.”
“Washington has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Too true. LOL, but it’s sad too.
Calls on the Pres to make a real committment at the G-8 in Germany to real goals and real targets.
I love how JK has been holding the President and this Administration responsible for actually GOVERNING all the way down the line. He calls him on it and never lets up, nor should he!
But he also puts the responsibility on the Democratic majority, too. It’s not about party, it’s about getting things done! Making it right.
Hi all...glad to see they finally put JK’s speech on...watching now.
“If you offend no one, you change nothing.”
I’m glad JK drew attention to Bush at the G8. Really, will we have any friends left by the time Bush is out of office? He’s managed to alienate just about every country we’ve had dealings with, and Condi has filled in the ones he missed.
Energy Effeciency: Improving fuel effeciency is the starting point.
JK’s starting to get in the groove now. He’s speaking on a subject he believes in very strongly, and he’s not making any apologies for the newly-elected Democratic Congress’s actions to date on these issues as compared to the previous Republican Congresses—rather the opposite, in fact. He’s not being all my-esteemed-colleagues nicey-nice about this, he’s calling them out. Not angrily, not belligerently, but firmly and clearly. This is good, because it’s important and it needs to be said.
IB, I agree, that is a great line:
“If you offend no one, you change nothing.”
I hope that Democrats in DC are listening, the ball is now in their hands.
Nice reference to the Watertown Mass company A123 systems that makes the lithium batteries for the Prius hybrids. Can you imagine getting 150 MPG. That would be great. It would be even better if the car was American-made.
A serious energy bill must include three components: 1) a major increase in the efficiency of all sources and uses of energy, from pickup trucks to fluorescent light bulbs; 2) dramatic incentives for all renewable energy sources, including the requirement that at least 20% of our energy come from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2020; and 3) a comprehensive plan to get clean coal technologies and carbon sequestration off the drawing board and under construction.
GV: too true, but I do think that most of the world knows that this Administration is a disaster but that the people of America are not their Administration (even if they’re responsible for its existence!)
I think they’re waiting for us to take our country back.
I love the things JK and THK say about how “building green” adds jobs and saves money while saving energy. Win-win for everyone. I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to get on that bandwagon.
Fuel economy. We can really do so much better. There is so much opportunity, but the auto companies really aren’t keeping up. I read today that Honda will stop making the Accord hybrid. There are very little choices in hybrid vehicles already. They need to give the public more choice, and people will buy hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles.
Nothing less than 35mpg for American made cars. Is that in the new energy bill?
JK on coal: “We can dig it.”
But from there he goes on to talk about the how’s and especially the why’s of why we need to make use of our abundant coal resources in clean, environmentally sound ways.
It’s insane—people are aching to buy more fuel-efficient cars!!! Our auto industry HAS to change and legislation has to push them to do it.
JK must be pretty unhappy with that bill in the House (by Dingell et al) to throw out state and regional fuel economy standards.
GV: I had not read about GM’s decision on the Accord. That is too bad. It’s just awful to think that American manufacturers are leasing that technology from foreign car makers. Sigh! We used to lead the world in that kind of research.
We need leadership to make sure that we lead again going forward.
German chancellor Merkel had a private meeting with Bush this afternoon to talk with him about climate change. I’m sure she would have appreciated it much more to meet with President Kerry instead. What a difference that would be! Life just isn’t fair!
Thanks for doing this all. I’ll be reading, have no sound so I can’t participate. :-(
Kerry speaking of the need to pass an energy bill that will change our position. Kerry called on Bush to make a committment with real targets.
Kerry said the Democrats were not elected to be only a little less pro-oil than the Republicans. Speaking how bad last years bill was and how many give aways to industry their was. Says that both parties have avoided doing serious things on this.
1) Major increase in energy efficiency on everything
- no increase in mileage for years in cars.Industry could increase mileage dramatically - spoke of MA battery that put on a Prius could get 150 miles a gallon. Current bill has too many loopholes.
Spoke of building green. It saved money for Texas Instruments.
2) Dramatic incentives for renewable energy - the states and cities are doing more.
3) Clean coal out of the drawing board into plants - says that this is an abundant source of energy, but it produces too much carbon.
280 ppm carbon pre-industrial revolution, now 380 ppm. What we put up there stays. Scientist have said problem worse than expected, can’t have more than 450 ppm.
Karennj: nice summary, thanks!!
“We have a fundamental moral responsibility” to address climate change.
Wow, he does know all the statistics, doesn’t he?
I hope this is widely reported. People need to hear this stuff in the mainstream to realize the urgency.
Excellent speech. This is a real challenge on the merits with some very specific proposals. It will be interesting to hear the questions on this.
He’s going afield of his as-prepared-for-delivery remarks a bit here, but that’s fine—he’s citing a whole lot of complicated facts & statistics purely from memory, which is impressive, and he’s speaking very passionately about these points and putting idea-power behind the dry details, which is even more impressive.
GV, it really does need to be widely reported, JK explains it so well and the urgency in his voice makes you want to hear more and take steps.
I like the comment to get the G-8 to do something that is realistic. It would be nice to have the US working with the global community to help solve some of the problems associated with climate change, instead of being a roadblock to needed change.
JK talking about how Bush hasn’t noticed that we’ve been talking about climate change for more than 10 years now.
Senator, I was thinking the same thing. Where’s Bush been that all of the sudden he announces he wants to talk about climate change?
He won’t do it, anyway. Nothing serious at least.
“Great challenges bring greatness to those who master them.” That’s the true American spirit. Not the “no can do, it would cost too much, it’s hard work” whining of the current Administration.
I like the list of the ‘downside’ effects if those sounding the alarm on change are wrong. Some ‘down’ side.
Bravo, Senator. Great speech.
onto the questions…
“This will be the challenge that defines this generation...”
I love his argument about what happens if either side is wrong: if those worried about climate change succeed but are wrong, we just have a cleaner environment, if those ignoring the threat of climate change are wrong: catastrophe!
If I might digress a bit about the clean-coal stuff—there’s an argument to be made that coal is environmentally nasty and it should be eschewed. But that’s not realistic.
For one thing, this country happens to be sitting on a huge resource base of coal. We need the energy, and those resources can’t just be written off in the real world.
And from an economic/political standpoint, in a number of key states like Pennsylvania and even Wyoming, coal production is a very big piece of their economies as well.
So we can’t just punt coal out of hand. What we do need to do is to mine it safely and prudently, and then make use of it cleanly and well.
That’s a huge order of business, of course. Making wise use of our coal resources will take a major investment of money and technology as we move forward.
But it’s something that can happen—and more to the point, it’s something that needs to happen ASAP.
Why is global warming a ‘hot topic’ right now? (Well, that was the question.)
Into the Q&A;section now—good deal, this is when the good stuff comes out. He’s on his second question now and he’s handling them in a powerful, passionate, and very precise way that few politicians have the skill (or the nerve) to do when they’re busy worrying about what the latest polls-du-jour say. This isn’t presidential-candidate Kerry—this is statesman-senator Kerry, and it’s mighty good stuff indeed.
“Did the US ‘ non-backing of Kyoto damage us in the eyes of the world?”
Yes, and we need to start to deal more honestly with that. We need to work out those issues in concert with our allies for all our common good.
Great speech.
Question for the wonks: JK didn’t mention geothermal in his speech (I think) but of course that is part of “building green.” However even existing buildings can be converted over to geothermal. I’ve seen pretty impressive claims for energy savings from implementing geothermal (I am looking into doing it for my own home) and I wonder, has anyone (besides industry marketers) ever done any studies showing how much conservation can be achieved by implementing geothermal everywhere possible? Why isn’t this talked about more? Is the potential real, or is it a scam?
We’re going to need a video of this and some transcribing, especially of the Q&A;session. Too much stuff coming out too fast to type it all up
Otter sez: “This isn’t presidential-candidate Kerry—this is statesman-senator Kerry, and it’s mighty good stuff indeed.”
Yup, speeches like this and the amount of thought that went into them show why Sen. Kerry is in his 4th term in the Senate and should be returned to the Senate for his 5th term there. This voice still must be heard in Washington.
Otter, about that clean coal stuff - why bring reality into this?
It’s too bad many people can’t see why we can’t just stop using coal. We have two choices: dirty coal or less-dirty coal (aka “clean coal"). “No coal” is not an option, you are right.
Kerry explained that the reason Bush now intersted might be that venture capitalist and big companies are seing it as an opportunity. Bush may see as a legacy.
Said the unilateral rejection of Kyoto and the unwillingness to continue negotiations hurt. Byrd/Hagel did not reject Kyotoout of hand but wanted a global solution including developing nations. The administration should have continued negotiation, but didn’t.
Said the 35 mph was passed out of committee. He is saying he wants our workers to work on hybrids. Need US cars to be efficient.
Kerry wants to take away unneccesary tax incentives from oil industry - not a windfall profit tax which would be hard to measure and define when it kicks in.
No wind-fall profits tax. JK clarifies this by saying that he meant taking away most of the incentives for drilling and so forth that are unnecessary today.
Sen Kerry’s approach global and inclusive, with the US leading by example.
Bush’s is pure, unilateral bully tactics.
I just hope we don’t pass the tipping point between now and when Bush leaves office. Time is running out to put some legislation in place.
And we do really have to reward innovation. As JK has often said, we can’t drill our way out, we have to invent our way out.
If we act now, in good faith, we can gain back the trust of the world, of the developing nations who don’t feel they should be stopped from developing just because the richer nations don’t want to give up their comforts.
In favor of wind power. would like to see the siting studies on Cape Wind. The Sen also said that he has suggested sites that are closer to his home on the Cape, so this is not a NIMBY thing.
Ah, and here’s the “do you support wind farms off the coast?” question. JK’s reply is that he does firmly support the use of wind-to-energy technology, but his concerns are that there is as of yet no logical or coherent policies in place as to where wind farms can or should be located. There are a lot of significant environmental-impact factors involved in where such wind farms should be sited, and that’s why he’s holding back his support of any particular single location because the question needs to be dealt with systemically rather than on a case-by-case basis. (Note: my paraphrasing, not his phrasing.)
Passionate avocate of windpower, but a siting process is needed. He is waiting to hear where the Coast Guard and environmentalists feel it should be. He said he has suggested sites including some closer to his home.
Nuclear power has problems:
- dealing with the waste - could change
- currently too expensive - so Wall Street balks
- Can’t happen fast enough
Need new nucleur proliferation treaty to handle these types of peaceful uses considering the terrorist potential.
“This president chose to give the Iraq Study Group the back of his hand.”
Iraq: you are not going to begin to draw down the troops by putting more troops in so that you can begin to draw down troops.
Okay, that does make sense.
Questions on Iraq.
Good, a twofer. Typically it’s annoying when the reporters go off topic, but I’m really glad they’re asking him about Iraq and how we get out. Because he knows.
There is no military solution.
“The way you support the troops is to give them a policy that works for them...our troops have done their job.”
Yay! Awesome speech, great answers to the questions.
Nicely done, Senator.
What did he say about the “super duper primary”? I missed that. Did he say it was stupid?
Great speech. And this has been a wonderful live-blog. I hope we get a chance to do this again soon. These are a lot of fun.
He was terrific. If you didn’t get to see it live do plan on checking back for the video because you’ll enjoy it.
Yep, Terri, live-blogging these speeches is fun. Almost as much fun as live-blogging Fisheries hearings! (Well, okay, so maybe a little more fun. But please don’t tell the fish that, they’ll get a complex.)
That was great, I was so into it, I did very little posting. This should be up on C-Span for viewing and hopefully it will be replayed on C-Span1 or 2 later today.
IMO this is the passionate and progressive voice that is missing in the presidential candidates. *sigh*
GV,
He said the early super duper primary was “ridiculous.” (nods in agreement
)
This was a great speech. Very informative and the media, for a change, asked great questions.
Thanks, Indie. I agree with you and the Senator.
I hope this replays soon. If anyone sees it on the C-SPAN schedule, please share!
Rumor has it that JK’s speech from today will be replayed on the C-spans at 8:00 and 9:27 tomorrow morning. But check your local listings for details, jsut to be sure.
The video’s up at c-span.org.
Yay! JK was awesome today. I have to watch again.
Thanks, guys, for the liveblog. I enjoyed reading your comments, and hope to be able to catch this speech. Responding to EuropeGirl, it is a real illustration of the gulf between Europe and America that the conservative German Chancellor is trying to push the conservative president on this issue—in Europe the debate about climate change is over. They’ve been in the stage of what to do about it for so much longer. I hope America gets to the point where all Democrats AND Republicans accept that global climate change is real, and the debate turns to what to do about it.
C-span.org lists 3:46am on c-span1, for all our west coast fans. Also, 8:23am c-span2, est, which is the same time as another program that doesn’t include playtime. Quien sabe?
You guys rock! As an out of state, Kerry fan, it is so nice to read your live blog (even after the fact) and feel a little more part of the loop.
Thanks
Katie from Washington State
Kerry’s letter begins: “Can you believe these guys...?” He was referring to, of course, the lackluster administration that has dropped the climate change ball consistently.
But neither can I believe that Kerry and his fellow Democrats have not forced Cheney to reveal his secret energy papers, cannot find out the truth about 9/11, have given Bush everything he ever wanted, can not muster the votes to depose the perjurious Gonzo--even in a “non-binding” vote; and worst of all, can not introduce impeachment proceedings against the worst, most treacherous liars in the country’s history.
Those are the guys I “can’t believe,”