JOHN KERRY appreciation week - next week on 1600

[polichick]

David Shuster says he deserves more than he got from Obama. Wow!


On edit: I didn't mean to imply anything serious here ~ Shuster just pointed out that Kerry was one of the first to endorse Obama but Clinton got the SoS job, and he was having a special week to show that he appreciates Kerry. The "Wow!" is because it was a surprising announcement imo.

[Uzybone]

1. I am waiting for the threads to start

Where perfectly happy men are called bitter and disgruntled because they were "dissed" by Obama.

[marimour]

5. if thats what this thread is then its a dishonest attempt

Anyone watching that could see that Shuster wasn't angry and was smiling when he said everything. One good line (paraphrasing): "while Senator Clinton may be the center of the world now, you are the still the center of our universe, for next week at least".

[polichick]

28. No dishonest attempt. I wasn't implying what you suggest...

...but who really knows why Shuster would bring up such a thing ~ or make such a big deal out of it that he's having an appreciation week? He may be stirring trouble even with the smile on his face and the laugh in his voice.

[marimour]

2. he didnt say that.

He said Clinton got the job that Kerry wanted. Everything was said in a joking manner.

[globalvillage]

8. He said the same thing yesterday.

I wasn't sure if he was serious.

All of us here at 1600 believe John Kerry deserves some love. So we have officially designated next week as John Kerry Appreciation Week. Let‘s practice everybody. Senator Kerry, we appreciate you.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28580503/

[marimour]

13. yeah

he said what you quoted, just don't think it was said the way the OP is insinuating it was.

[polichick]

16. I wasn't insinuating anything - just announcing the special week for Kerry.

[blm]

21. I think you may have misread her intent....she wouldn't snark like that, imo

.

[polichick]

22. Thank you - I just edited the op. :)

[marimour]

27. oh ok. sorry about that.

The way is sounded, especially with the wow! at the end made it sound (to me) like the Dean stuff. Glad were on the same page, I think Kerry is great and am glad that he's getting some appreciation from Shuster.

[polichick]

29. No worries. :)

[blm]

3. Kerry NEEDS to be in the senate leading investigations. He couldn't do that as SoS.

He just hired Douglas Frantz as chief investigator - Frantz co-wrote a book on BCCI.

A Full Service Bank: How BCCI Stole Billions Around the World

Name ONE other Senator who can handle the job more knowledgeably and more ethically - you can't.....especially those who benefited from the deep-sixing of BCCI matters throughout the 90s.

[Maccagirl]

10. John Kerry knows where the BFEE bodies are buried

He needs to lay it all out and have complete legal protection.

[Cha]

11. So it's the corporate media

starting shit again?

[polichick]

17. I'm not sure why Shuster brought this up - kind of weird.

[Cha]

20. I'd been reading from

the beginning how Kerry is more important where he is now so maybe TPTB don't like that.

[anonymous171]

25. Kerry took on fucking Nixon. He's not afraid of the Bush cabal.

The man is awesome.

[AtomicKitten]

4. John Kerry will be pivotal in the Senate but I would have preferred him for SoS. n/t

[polichick]

15. That's how I feel too. I was surprised that Shuster would make this case...

...saying that Kerry was one of the first to endorse Obama but Clinton got the job.

Don't know what the agenda is (if any), but it's interesting.

[AtomicKitten]

33. I think it's a logical conclusion of giving credit where credit is due.

Obama always seems graciously effusive with praise for his fellow travelers in his quest for the White House. I don't understand a lot of Obama's nominations/appointments, and wish Dean and Kerry had found a spot. They both certainly deserve it. I suspect in time this may become more clear.

[karynnj]

19. Actually, it depends what Obama wants the Secretary of State job to be

From some articles he has already selected three special envoys - Holbrooke, Ross and Haas - supposedly for India/Pakistan, Iraq and Israel/Palestine. Kerry has over seen all these areas as chair of the near east and south east asia SFRC subcommittee - HRC has occasionally visited them. It also looks like Obama wants the State Department expanded to cover some of the international financial and economic issues. (Now Kerry has strong experience on international finance - starting with spending 5 years untangling BCCI - HRC doesn't - to my knowledge.

If the Secretary of State were Kerry, those are the jobs that I would want him heading - in addition to heading the negotiations for Copenhagen (global warming - another issue where Kerry, not HRC is an expert). Now, I know that is likely more than one man (yeah even Kerry) could do - but they likely will not happen simultaneously. In addition, it would be great for Obama to have Kerry's insight on any foreign policy issue. Given that list, it is obvious that there are too many major issues and too much work for this type of SoS.

It looks to me as though the Secretary of State will have a mostly administrative job mananging all these diverse efforts - and likely adding her presence when needed in foreign countries.

Kerry in the Senate is well positioned on many many things. Obviously there is the SFRC and he has spoken of investigating the international tax shelters - like the Cayman Islands. In a Finance committee meeting last year, he and Jack Blum (his BCCI investigator) spoke of this as an international problem - not just for tax evasion, but to facilitate money laundering. I doubt anyone else in the Senate could head this. In the first place, Kerry is the only person on both SFRC and the Finance committee - two committees where a huge amount of specialized information needs to be learned. (Not to mention, the full circle if he leads a SFRC investigating torture etc and works to make it less likely in the future.)

He has a major bill for high speed rail that has gotten a lot of positive attention. He also introduced his re-insurance for catastrophic costs provision for healthcare. This is an idea that should be added to ANY (non-single payer) plan - and Obama included it in his proposal. (I will reply with the Senate speech introducing it). Look at the senior Senators - Kerry is positioned to be an exceptionally powerful Senator - and he has the creativity, skill, knowledge and positions on the right committees to do really good work.

Being Senator, if Obama values his foreign policy insight - he will still ask him for it - the weight it will be given doesn't depend on the position he holds - it depends only on whether Obama agrees. If he disagreed, and Kerry were SoS, it would be awkward - as Senator - Kerry is independent. I suspect long term - he will be happier where he is - and it is a job he can likely have as long as he wants it. (On e other point - a SoS is outside politics - I've seen Kerry at many rallies - one thing that is clear is that he really loves speaking to people and interacting. I think he would miss that as SoS.

[blm]

23. Excellent analysis....and spot on, imo.

.

[polichick]

24. Very interesting - thanks...

I met John Kerry at an event for vets who were interested in learning more about Obama ~ he was delightful, and even more handsome in person!

[AtomicKitten]

32. I think Kerry will instill confidence in whatever capacity he serves.

I am appalled by Obama's foreign policy team choices with the possible exception of Susan Rice. Dennis Ross has been deemed "more neocon than Bush."

:scared:

I would have had more confidence in Kerry as SoS, but I agree he has more flexibility and is sorely needed in the Senate. I too succumb to wistfully regretting that every good Democrat wasn't rewarded with a cabinet position. The only upside I see of his choice for SoS is that it neutralized a primary challenge in 2012, so there's that. ;)

Thanks for your informative post. :hi:

[globalvillage]

6. I'm all for it.

Not because of anything Obama did or didn't do, but I think John Kerry Appreciation Week is a fine idea. He's done a lot for this country, he's a wonderful person and he's going to be a great SFRC Chair. I'll celebrate that.

[marimour]

9. yeah i'm all for it too! I think he's great.

Just wanted to make sure people who weren't watching it didn't think that Shuster was trying to start a Kerry Snubgate, b/c it really wasn't like that.

[polichick]

26. Well, he might be trying to start something. Who knows? It's kind of weird...

...for him to bring it up.

[bigwillq]

7. I would rather have Kerry in the Senate (nt)

[Starry Messenger]

12. I can't wait!

I miss seeing him on my teevee now that the election is over. I would like Kerry appreciation week once a year. :D

[globalvillage]

14. Some new pics of Sen Kerry from Tue

at his swearing in reception. I think I got a couple good ones of Teddy, too, and of Bob Casey, who is incredibly photogenic and turning out to be a better Senator than I had hoped.

http://www.kerryvision.net/2009/01/senator_kerry_is_sworn_in_for.html

[Starry Messenger]

18. Oh, awesome!

Those are great pics globalvillage! Your Teddy pictures look wonderful...he actually looks younger than I remember seeing him in years. You should send some copies to him. The Kerrys look just look so beautiful. They must be happy at the prospect of getting things started this year. Yay!

[globalvillage]

30. Thanks.

Teddy really sounded good, and he looked fine when you consider what he's going through. It was awesome to be in the SFRC hearing room and think of the history of that place. The Senator's sister mentioned that she was there in '71 when JK testified, and Max Cleland spoke about how he felt working with Teddy and JK. It really was a perfect setting to celebrate Sen. Kerry's fifth term.

Sen. Kerry said he and Teddy are the longest serving Jr/Sr team in the Senate. MA should be proud they've had the good sense to reelect the both of them so many times.

[babylonsister]

31. Great pictures, globalvillage. What a fantastic memory for you, too.

Thanks for sharing! :hi:

[AtomicKitten]

34. great pics! thanks for sharing them n/t

[politicasista]

35. Nice pics!

:hi:

[Thrill]

36. I've never seen a politician, that so many thinks he owes them or someone something

[blm]

44. I'll tell you what YOU and American citizens owe the man...gratitude for being the lawmaker who did

more than any other of the last 50 years to make government accountable to you, respecting your right to open government accountable to the people.

Most Americans have no clue that the only reason we even KNOW about the Aug6,2001 CIA memo about Bin Laden was because Kerry kept taking Bush1 to court during BCCI investigation to get documents released that had been allowed to be hidden by presidential orders in the past.

This nation would be well into its second decade of full-on fascism by now if you take away Kerry's work uncovering and exposing IranContra, BCCI and CIA drugrunning operations. He uncovered and exposed more corruption than any lawmaker in modern history, and did so against the entire DC powerstructure, including the powerful in his own party. Powerful figures in his own party that STILL seek to tear down his work and block his efforts as they side with the secrecy and privilege of the Bushes and their cronies.

[globalvillage]

37. Here's the video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28584404#28584404

Hmmm ... The hearts and graphic are silly. Wonder what they have in mind?

[polichick]

39. Oh yeah - it's because Clinton's hearing is going on next week. Thanks!

[globalvillage]

41. So, are they trying to pit Clinton against Kerry?

I hope they're not trying to use the hearing to minimize Obama's pick or Sen. Clinton's appointment. It's his job as chair of he SFRC to hold her confirmation hearing, and he wouldn't abuse his position.

I guess we just wait and see.

[polichick]

42. I don't know - it's a pretty strange thing for Shuster and producers to do.

[Grateful for Hope]

38. Kerry is happy with where he is

I wonder why Shuster needs to "fuel the flames". I do think he is often on target, but, in this case, I think he is going for the ratings.

[polichick]

40. I hope he's happy - do you know this for sure?

[Grateful for Hope]

45. He says he is

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/kerry-says-hes-happy-where-he-is-2009-01-08.html

I believe this to be the case. He is heading a very powerful committee, and, I think he is an excellent choice for this role.

[IndianaGreen]

43. John Kerry is a great man that went to bat for us when Bush was shredding the Constitution

and people like Pelosi and Reid were keeping impeachment off the table.

The primaries are long over, it is counter productive to re-fight the who-endorsed-whom.

[Blue_In_AK]

46. I wish Kerry had been president.

I think he would have done a masterful job.