Kerry to skip Iowa debate for Medicare filibuster; Edwards (also)

[baby_bear]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/11/22/national1813EST0634.DTL

Kerry to skip Iowa debate for Medicare filibuster; Edwards will fight bill, too

<snip>
John Kerry plans to be a no-show at the Democratic presidential debate in Iowa on Monday.

While campaigning in New Hampshire on Saturday, Kerry announced that he'd be returning to Washington to help his Senate colleagues filibuster the Medicare bill.
...
A spokeswoman for Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said he would be leaving Iowa tomorrow to return to Washington to fight the bill. "We hope we won't have to miss the debate, but we may have to," said spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman had decided earlier this month to pull out of the debate in Des Moines to spend the day campaigning in New Hampshire. His campaign announced Saturday that Lieberman will be in Washington instead on Monday, although spokesman Jano Cabrera said the senator has not yet decided whether to support the Medicare bill or if he'd join the filibuster.
....

</snip>


Has Lieberman decided whether he is Democrat or Republican yet?

s_m

[clarknyc]

1. Good for Kerry. Good for Edwards.

Good for them for doing the work they were elected to do...

[bluestateguy]

2. Mediscam bill

Does anybody have a head count? Do they have 41 votes? That means they can only afford 8 defections. Round up the usual suspects, Zell, Nelson of Nebraska, etc. plus those senators in tough contests next year, and I'm not sure if the numbers add up. If Lieberman votes for this, he might as well drop out.

[baby_bear]

3. I agree

And I have no idea about the head count though I have been trying to find out.

Is Lieberman getting the message that he will lose at least all seniors and baby boomers if he backs this bill?

That will leave him with what, the people who don't vote? No offense to gen-xers et al. who are wonderfully involved here. The point is, who is Lieberman's constituency? I just don't know.

Who does HE think his constituency is? Besides the pharmaceutical companies in Connecticut, that is?

s_m

[bluestateguy]

7. He's even behind in New York

A must win state for him, and he's down double digits to Dean.

[Dagaz]

8. Why would Lieberman lose seniors?

The AARP is bombing my area with ads. This is a tough media battle to win when AARP throws in their considerable money.

[baby_bear]

10. I thought AARP had lost total credibility this week

I guess I spend too much time around fellow liberals....

I need to face reality I guess, rats.

s_m

[Dagaz]

13. nobody loses cred in a week

This bill is a move in the right direction so why not support it with the caveat that it wil be made stronger? We start here and propose amendments.

[dkf]

4. This makes me proud to be a Democrat again.

I've been really pissed at Kerry and Edwards in the past, but they sure do warm my heart when they do this kind of stuff.

[Khephra]

5. I've chided them for missing votes in the past

So I have to congratulate them here for doing the right thing!

:toast: to both of them!

[Renew Deal]

6. Good for these guys.

They are trailing overall and we need their muscle in the Senate. Besides. they can discuss their campaigns on C-Span while they are filibustering. :evilgrin: Seriously, this is good for all.

[cavebat2000]

9. Right on

Hell yes. Looks like Kerry isn't so bad after all.

[PurityOfEssence]

11. I know it's tough, folks, but these are decent, ethical guys

The praise here is much appreciated, especially with the superheated frustration that all of us on the left endure. Sadly, we further frustrate each other with various affiliations and accomodations, and the slings and arrows leave scars.

Wrong though they are on the war vote, and wrong on other things, please remember that these are two true champions of the downtrodden. John Forbes Kerry has never faced or experienced privation for a second in his life, yet somehow he "gets it" and seriously stands his ground.

When Edwards has been called out by "journalists" for his constant reminder of his humble origins, he has been very straight about stating that regardless of the more fortunate economics of Kerry's and Dean's upbringings, they have come to the correct understanding, and that it's to their credit as individuals.

I feel for these guys trying to fight the good fight while locked in a difficult primary race, but their mettle does show through: the votes they've missed have been foregone conclusions, but their priorities are in line for the big ones.

This is what the party is about, and it's what needs to be restated constantly.

[Eloriel]

12. Thank God

I will give them both a huge thank you and a round of applause.

No, it doesn't make up for the war vote. But it IS the right thing to do. For a change. A very welcome change.

Eloriel

[Eric J in MN]

14. good news in two ways

I'm glad they're opposing the Medicare bill, which according to Consumers Union, will actually raise costs for most seniors.

I'm also glad that there will be six debaters instead of nine. Nine is too many people for one debate.

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

15. I think it's the right choice

and I hope the people of Iowa understand. Maybe they could prepare a video to be shown at the debates apologizing for missing and explaining the importance of their going back to Washington. That'd both give them a (limited) presence at the debate and it'd be great support for the filibuster.

I also hope the other candidates are gracious (supportive even, but that's probably too much to hope for) of their missing the debate for such an important session. It'd be really nice if they bring up the issue in the debates and the candidates throw their weight behind it instead of always criticizing each other.

[Myra]

16. Yes!

I'm proud of them both!

This is totally the right thing to do.
Frankly I think the damn debate should be postponed
until this crisis is over. It would be classy of the
non-senate candidates to suggest that.

Thank you for posting this.

[monarch]

17. I'm with you, Myra.

The other candidates should declare a truce whenever something this important comes up. This will be a major issue for the eventual nominee.