Foreign relations experience of the candidates

[vision]

I read that Bush will hammer home that he has foreign relations experience and that the obvious counter to that is John Kerry because he has experience in that arena.

But does that really matter?

In 2000 and after 9/11 we were told by the Republicans and Big Media to relax and trust George because regardless of his own experience, which was none, he had a brilliant and talented team behind him.

No matter who the Democratic nominee is, couldn't we use the same argument? Look at the potential Dems that a Dem nominee could bring in (Clark of course, but many others also) to back him up. I think that the Democratic party has a pr oven record of accomplishments in foreign relations and that it doesn't matter who the nominee is because of this.

If framed that way with competent players on the world stage behind the Dem nominee would foreign relations experience be a make or break position?

I don't think so but I'm stuck in Missouri so others may see it different.

[punpirate]

1. It's very important to remember...

... that Bush, prior to assuming the presidency, had no foreign policy experience at all. The proof of that is the conduct of his administration in the past couple of years--conducting wars of economic opportunity, alienating former allies, etc.

Bush was a guy who was happy to remain in Midland, TX, or Houston, or any place in Texas, as compared to traveling the world in search of foreign opinion of us.

Bush is a foreign policy nincompoop.

[incapsulated]

2. They will simply say

Bush was elected before 9/11 and then went to war. He is now effectively a post-disaster, wartime President, with all the experience America needs for it's security in these terribly dangerous times. So why risk it with some know-nothing dickhead who would put this country at risk while he "learned on the job"?


Clark would be a walk in such an argument. Kerry less so, but he could still fight it off. Edwards, no way.

[AnnitaR]

3. You are exactly right.

I think Edwards is a fine man, but they would kill him on this issue.

If Kerry is smart he'll offer VP to Clark so that they can't even make the case that our guys aren't ready for future emergencies and disasters.

[AP]

6. They'd NEVER argue that it was right to elect Bush in 2000, but wrong if

election were in 2002.

Republicans alwasy pretend that that values matter more than experience, and that, if you surround yourself with good people, that's enough.

I guaranttee you Republicans will not be arguing that intelligence, experience or biography matter. They'll pretend character matters most in 2004, just like they always do.

[seaglass]

4. It's a make or break for me.

Although I could easily support a candidate who had a VP with strong foreign policy credentials.

So, Kerry is good on his own, Edwards needs a strong fp VP and Clark would have been good on his own.

Dean, not so good - no experience and the wrong temperament - he is the exact opposite of diplomatic.

[MaineDem]

5. John Kerry's experience

During his 18 years of service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry has distinguished himself as a seasoned leader and one of our nation’s most respected voices on national security and international affairs. A decorated combat veteran and the son of an American diplomat, he has been out front in the battle to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, modernize our military, promote democracy and respect for human rights abroad, and improve our homeland security.

Beginning with his groundbreaking work on the Senate investigations into the Iran-Contra and BCCI scandals, Senator Kerry has taken on complex and challenging issues, earning a bipartisan reputation for integrity and perseverance. As chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, Senator Kerry traveled frequently to Southeast Asia to investigate the fate of missing American soldiers, laying the groundwork for normalization of diplomatic and trade relations with Vietnam. He has continued to play a prominent role in formulating U.S. policy in the region in his role as ranking Democrat on the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee.

In 1997 Kerry wrote The New War, an in-depth assessment of the national security issues facing the United States in the 21st Century. Drawing on his extensive Senate experience, including a term as chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations, Senator Kerry played a key role in crafting the American response to the events of September 11th, and he has since been a leading Democratic voice on developments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, and the Middle East peace process.

...from the John Kerry web site.

I complained that GW Bush had no experience in this area in the last election. It's one of the issues that steered me away from Howard Dean. I really feel that Kerry's experience - the fact that he's met with world leaders and understands the importance of the US's role in a global village - is perhaps one of his strongest assests.