Fired up.
It may be an Obama rallying cry, but it also pretty accurately describes Sen. Kerry's demeanor over the past week of hearings and interviews. I think, though, that what he believes is 'ready to go', is the current administration. With only nine months left until the grownups take back the White House, I believe that's pretty much in line with the general feeling of the country.
The Senator was interviewed on all three cable news networks this week in addition to Senate hearings in the Foreign Relations and Finance Committees, a floor speech on the housing crisis and a swing through the eastern half of Pennsylvania for Obama. I was pretty disappointed that he didn't stretch that trip a bit further west to his wife's home town of Pittsburgh, but we're still hoping he makes it here before the primary.
I'm afraid I missed the Finance Committee hearing on anti-terrorism financing last week, which can be found at the committee website (Sen. Kerry is at 1:07 and again at 1:21:30). Actually, listening to it now, I'm really sorry I didn't catch it, as he mentions his investigation into BCCI. There are some pretty slimy things hiding under rocks Senator Kerry has overturned, and no doubt a lot more ooze yet to be uncovered. This is a hugely important issue that is at the heart of our national security, and that you won't hear much about on the evening news. The full hearing is worth watching, but if you're short on time, try to find a few minutes to watch JK.
Sec. Levey: "That's a difficult question."
Sen. Kerry: "That's why I asked it."
Levey looked pretty relieved when JK was done with him, and not especially thrilled about Sen. Wyden's Saudi question that followed. I don't think he was looking forward to a second round, but I was. Follow the money, indeed.
Comments (1)
Posted by Karennj | April 7, 2008 6:02 PM
All of those hearings were intense! I hadn't heard the Finance one and I liked the summary Kerry gave of the work he has done in the last 20 years on that. It was interesting to know that he was responsible for some of the tools they had.
I agree with you that Levey looked releived when Kerry's turn was ending - even though it sounded like he was trying to find what additional help they needed. The conversation in his second round was scary - especially at the end when Kerry spoke of what he saw in Pakistan and Afghanistan and what really needs to be done.
It was another time when it was hard to accept how much further we would have been had Kerry not been on that committee now - but in the WH.