Video of JK's Boston Press Conference at Suffolk University Today

[ObamaKerryDem]

Regarding the Debt deal, his intent to run again for Senate, etc:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozPVrd9GFLw&feature=share

[karynnj]

1. Incredibly solemn, serious speech, intensely sincere

not leavened by any hint of humor, which Kerry typically uses. What he did give as a positive thing to do was a mention of his bipartisan infrastructure bank bill. It amazed me that he so unambiguously said he wants to run in 2014. I would have thought the last three weeks would have most people questioning why they do this anyway. (We know his answer - call to service) Especially when Kerry could easily bow out, have a range of interesting things to do or just enjoy life with Teresa.

[Inuca]

2. I don't know any details

about Kerry's infrastructure bank proposal (is it similar to what Dodd and Hagel proposed some years back, the very day the bridge in Minneapolis collapsed?), but I was amazed a Chris Matthews making a snide comment about this proposal yesterday because it has the word "bank" in it, saying that in this climate the president should not talk about banks. Ans I generally have a soft spot for Tweety, but this was beyond silly.

[karynnj]

3. It is a variation on what Dodd/Hagel proposed

A major difference is that rather than grants, it will give loans. This is a reflection on how times have changed so much that this proposal would be DOA if it cost as much as what a very solid conservative was willing to sponsor.

Tweety is a bird brain on anything that involves finance or economics, I guess he avoided those topics in getting his education. I find him very frustrating, because he is likely a Democrat, but he often personally admires some of the more macho Republicans - like Bush and more recently, Chris Christie - who he says is a "real Jersey guy, a regular guy". Well, having lived in NJ for more than half my life, I say I would have left the state back around 1973 or 1974 if he was a "regular NJ guy" - NO - he is just a big bully.

[Inuca]

4. Thanks for the info karyn

You are one of the most informed people I (wish) know (personally).

As to Tweety, I even heard him recently I think acknowledge that he does not know financial stuff. His comment was strictly about appearances and framing, nothing to do with the real substance of the matter.

And I also have to add that Christie went up a LOT in my respect after I saw/heard him last night on Larry O'Donnell. He is till a bully, I agree with that, and I cannot stand bullies, but thise comments about the idiotic Sharia law "issue" and about the muslim judge he appointed earned him a lot of brownie points with me.

[karynnj]

5. I was impressed that Christie did that - I doubt there are many Republican leaders who would

Christie's only earlier elected position was as one of my county's Freeholders. In this county, I don't think the Democrats have had anyone on that for decades. Christie was so disliked by his fellow Freeholders that they recruited another Republican and they all ran as a team when they were up for re-election (with all their names on signs etc. Christie lost.)

Thanks for the kind comment. This infrastructure bank is something I need to learn a lot more about. I think I will try to understand it better after returning from a vacation to Italy that we are starting today.

[Mass]

6. I saw the segment yesterday and was very impressed. It seems sincere and not political correctness.

As misguided as he is on other issues, this is to his credit.

As for Tweety, while once in a while he is right, I generally dislike him. He is only interested in politics in the bad sense of the word, with the horse race and who is up and down, and, even there, he is more often wrong than right.

[Inuca]

8. Agree that Tweety is into the silliness

of politics and can be quite infuriating at times + he is a bad interviewer. I am not sure why I have a soft spot for him... maybe I just find his silly enthusiasm that I think is quite often authentic kind of touching, he is my silly boy on TV :-)

As for Christie, as I said elsewhere, what I saw yesterday earner my respect, for the little that it's worth. And unless he does something quite horrible, that respect will not go away. I may disagree with most or all of what he says and does, it does not matter, I do not mind serious politicians (even super bullies like Christie) that are on the other side. Nobody hold any absolute truths, and politics needs serious people to disagree with. What I DO mind and find maddening and demoralizing are political whores, and yesterday Christie proved that he is not one. An example of a political whore that I found particularly depressing recently is Orrin hatch (I am not going to correct the typo of writing his name in lower case) that I used to have a modicum of respect for. Some of the things I heard him say recently in the context of the debt limit and FAA were undescribably pathetic and ridiculous, especially coming from a smart man, which he undoubtely is. Yes I know that he is up for re-elction and I know what happened to his former colleague from Utah (who was among the half-decent ones I think) and I don't care.

Apologies for drifiting so far away off topic... it will happen again :-).

[MBS]

14. I have the same soft spot for Matthews

On the one hand, he drives me NUTS. On the other hand, there is something genuine about him, and I find his silliness as endearing as it is crazy-making. And he is basically a Democrat, even with all his quirks.
( I do climb the walls every time he -actually not just Matthews, bu any Democrat , including Sen. Kerry, and all the rest -- says anything positive about Ronald Reagan. As someone who endured his governorship as well as presidency, and who is convinced (with data on my side ) that our current troubles started with him and the values he represents(.

[Luftmensch067]

16. Amen

I know JK, at least, is doing it for the sake of bipartisanship and reaching out to the other side (public, as well as Congress) but it gives me the willies. Although I can imagine that to those on our side in politics, Reagan and even Nixon look positively liberal compared to the Tea Party morons. But they weren't and we will remember who they really were and what they really did.

[ObamaKerryDem]

15. Tweety is like two (or three) different people..

..at different times, lol. Sometimes, he is right on point..others, completely lost.

[Inuca]

7. Completely unralted

but could you tell me what on earth a freeholder is? I think I mentioned that I lived for several years (10 +/-) in NJ, but for most of them I felt like an exiled Manhattanite :-) and was not paying much attention to what was going on locally. The last couple of years or so, just before I moved to IL (and as far from Manhattan in terms of environment as one can imagine) I lived in Jackson, that's somewhere central Jersey, close to Freehold. I kept seeing signs about electing such and such as freeholder (does it have anything to do with the town or is it a more general Jersey thing?) and telling myself that I should check it ontline, but by the time I got home I always forgot.

[karynnj]

9. They are the County level governing board

I rarely hear of much that they do. It is an interesting question, I started to say that all counties have them - then realized that I have only lived in one county - Morris.

I am so glad you asked because I found that, indeed, all counties are governed by them and this nice expalnation of what they do. http://www.lwvnj.org/guide/ctygovt.shtml

[Luftmensch067]

10. Completely OT

But Karynnj -- have a wonderful vacation in Italy!

[Inuca]

12. WOW! Now I am envious :-)

My absolutely favorite place in the world! Some of my friends are joking and saying that in a previous life I must have lived in Rome (as a slave, most likely).

Where are you going, if I may ask, Karyn?

[karynnj]

17. We are spending a week at a time share in a small town about 30 minutes from

both Florence and Arezzo. We went to Florence yesterday. After the week we have slightly less than 3 days in Rome.

[Inuca]

18. Nice :-)

Enjoy! Hope it's not too crushingly hot. I have been to Italy several times, not recently unfortunately, and was dreaming to be able to go during spring or fall which was not possible because of my teaching job. Now that I can take my vacation whenever I want, I cannot go because of money and family obligations :-(.

Have you ever been to San Gimigniano (there may be a double letter somewhere there in the name...)? Roughly half way between Florence and Sienna and absolutely AMAZING.

[Inuca]

11. Another thanks

that's teh link I never got to when I was in NJ.

[ObamaKerryDem]

13. Wow, Italy! So exciting! I am green with envy!! :)

Have a fantastic time and safe travels!! :hug: