OH DEAR, OH DEAR, WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE? – AT 8:52 A.M. ET:  If ever two politicians deserved each other, it's this dynamic duo, representing two of the most liberal Democratic constituencies in the nation.  Fight on, gentlemen, but wear fashionable boxing gloves.  From The Politico:

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is heading for a collision with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) over whose pet issue will get top billing in the Senate later this year.

The heart bleeds immediately.

Schumer is taking a lead role in immigration — and is pushing Democrats to prioritize a potentially toxic issue leading up to the November elections. Kerry is a lead negotiator on climate change and is demanding that a climate bill get pushed to the front of the line.

I can't wait.  Liberal Democratic bills on immigration and climate change.  What winners at the polls!  Well, we know which way Aspen and Beverly Hills will vote.

Kerry and Schumer — who have a history of competitive tensions — are maneuvering behind the scenes to get White House and Senate leadership to promise to give their respective issues time this spring.

But the reality is that there is room for only one more big issue on the 2010 agenda: the so-called third thing, after health care and financial reform. And accomplishing even one will be a serious stretch for lawmakers unwilling to take on another politically explosive fight after the bruising health care battle.

Leave it to the Dems.  They love martyrdom.  They will get what they love.

“If it’s a competition, then it’s a good competition,” said Jim Kessler, a former policy and legislative director for Schumer. “Each one independently has its own challenges.”

Isn't that precious?

Schumer is quietly spreading the word within the immigration community that he has the White House’s support to pass a bill by April. At the same time, Kerry has been mounting his own campaign to pass a climate bill — telling environmentalists, business groups and fellow senators that his bill will pass this spring, ideally by June.

COMMENT:  And the voters will surely be cheering them on.  Well, six voters.

January 15, 2010