I support John Kerry for Secretary of State

[democrattotheend]

Last edited Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:35 AM - Edit history (1)

The more that is coming out about Susan Rice, the more I don't like. She was apparently a vocal supporter of the Iraq war.

Yes, I know Kerry voted for it, and he made a huge mistake doing that that probably cost him the presidency. But he was never a vocal cheerleader for the war, and he has a long history of opposition to war and of leadership on foreign policy. He said long ago that he regretted his vote and he took the lead, along with Feingold, in pushing for withdrawal before it really became popular. I don't think his whole career should be discounted because of one really bad vote.

I think he is the best candidate for the job, and it's crazy not to give it to him because we are scared about being able to win a Senate seat in Massachusetts. There are plenty of good Democrats in MA who could run for that seat.

Kerry has been a leader on foreign policy issues in the Senate for a long time, he has had a distinguished career, and he has been a staunch supporter of the president since 2008, when he took a chance and endorsed him early on, the day after the New Hampshire primary.

Here is a great article about how the administration has been dispatching Kerry all over the world to put out fires as sort of an ex-officio member of the administration: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/magazine/john-kerry-our-man-in-kabul.html?pagewanted=all

I don't want to give in to Republicans, but I have always thought Kerry was the better pick for the job, and their criticism of Susan Rice doesn't change that for me.

18 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I support John Kerry for Secretary of State
	2 (11%)
	I support Susan Rice for Secretary of State
	13 (72%)
	I support neither; pick someone else
	3 (17%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[doc03]

1. I don't like the idea of losing a Democrat Senator

for a Republican replacement.

[demosincebirth]

3. +1

[caraher]

5. I don't like it either

Rice will do fine, and doesn't vacate a Senate seat we'd need to fight for.

[Egalitarian Thug]

13. Except that he's a Democratic Senator. Improper use of the word democrat is straight out

of the republican playbook. Please make a note.

[doc03]

18. I'll call the other guy a Republic then n/t

[longship]

2. "The more that is coming out about Susan Rice, the more I don't like."

I guess the Republicans are doing a good job on you.

I support Dr. Rice, if Hillary steps down and President Obama nominates her -- none of what has happened as of yet.

I never vote in DU polls.

[democrattotheend]

8. I meant the stuff about her supporting the Iraq War, and the Keystone Pipeline investments

I read that stuff here, so I don't think you can blame Republicans for it.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

4. Susan Rice owns

OIL stocks. We need Kerry who lives paycheck to paycheck.

[FogerRox]

6. Kerry invested twice as much in Tar Sands companies as Rice. SO what?

[obnoxiousdrunk]

9. So why is Rice

investments bad ?

[doc03]

7. Kerry lives paycheck to paycheck, I take that as

sarcasm. Heinz!

[Separation]

10. I think you forgot something.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

21. Looks better without it .

[Lucinda]

11. I'll wait until the POTUS decides before I worry about it

And then, I'll probably still support his choice.

[Egalitarian Thug]

15. After the choice is made, it's too late. Please try to keep up. n/t

[Lucinda]

20. LOL ~ Obama will choose exactly who he wants

He always does. Progressives would be the last possible Dems in the party to influence that choice.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I don't like the idea of losing a senator,

but there's always been something about Susan Rice that bothers me. She just seems angry to me...probably my imagination, and I'm sure she's a fine person, but I personally would prefer someone else for the position. I think John Kerry has the temperament for the job.

[LeftInTX]

14. I support whoever Pres Obama nominates.

I hate to lose his Senate seat, but whoever Pres Obama feels is best.

[Bucky]

19. That's the right answer. It's who the president trusts to counsel him in that job

No doubt Kerry would do an excellent job. I know he wanted it in '09 and deferred to Clinton's selection. It'd be a honorable crowning spot to his public career. But it's Obama's choice and his preferred candidate is clear and qualified.

[Overseas]

16. John Kerry would be excellent as either Sec State or Sec Def but not at the expense of having

Scott Brown back in the senate.

Scott is charismatic. Only lost by a few points (for Massachusetts) to Elizabeth Warren. We do not want him back.

Susan Rice is eminently qualified to be our SoS.

[democrattotheend]

17. Why are people so sure Brown would win?

Are you honestly telling me in a state as blue as MA there is no Democrat who could beat him? With a Democratic governor, Lt. Governor, and 10 Democratic members of Congress?

[Overseas]

23. He only lost to Warren by 8 points where President Obama won by about 20

And when Teddy Kennedy's seat became vacant, the staunch Democrats of MA voted in handsome Scott instead of Attorney General Martha Oakley.

[democrattotheend]

29. But wasn't 2010 a perfect storm?

Between drummed up opposition to the ACA and an inept Democratic candidate and failure by her and the Democratic Party to take the race seriously until too late, and an overall rotten climate for Democrats?

None of those factors would be present here. Any Democrat who ran would run a serious campaign and know not to underestimate Brown, the president is far more popular now than he was then, and Democrats are in much better regard nationally now than they were then.

[Mass]

22. I support both. We need to stop this idiocy. Obama will choose.

[quinnox]

24. I voted pass, any reasonable candidate as long as its not S. Rice

After hearing Rice is in bed with oil polluters and also is a war hawk, I want Kerry or Clark or Huntsman or any reasonable candidate, just not Rice. She would be a horrible choice as far as I'm concerned.

[Sunlei]

25. Kerry will be an excellent Senator. Clinton and Rice can 2-team for several months.

Then Kerry can rise higher in 2016 or remain Senator for more terms.

As a trusted Senator Kerry can still assist the SOS position, gain valuable experience and world connections.

I want the door to remain firmly closed to any republican advantage.

[still_one]

26. We need John Kerry more than ever now, especially with Senators like Durbin calling for putting

Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block

I want someone like Kerry who I can trust

[bowens43]

27. If it's Kerry we lose a senator. not accepatble

[WI_DEM]

28. I don't know why people think it will be either Rice or Kerry

there are a lot of other good people out there. We do need Kerry in the Senate, though.