Like clockwork, Joan Vennochi chimes in on Kerry's Afghanistan speech

[karynnj]

and decides that he is too vague, which apparently is not ok for a senior Senator from MA. She thinks the only choices are McChrystal's plan, Biden's plan and Hoh's position. She thinks his job is to pick one of those alternatives. He has to pick a side. Now, as there is no vote, he really does not have to make that type of constrained choice.

(Will she act the witch in Wizard of Oz, if Obama ends up picking a choice not on her list - maybe similar to Kerry's.)

I had looked at google and started reading this, without noticing it was Joanie.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/10/29/on_afghan_war_pick_a_side/

[beachmom]

1. Fear not. The Boston Globe's circulation is down nearly 20% from last year.

Like a cliff. Check out this graph (which doesn't include the BG, but still, it is stunning):



I think overall that opinions online are more interesting than op-eds made for print. Think about the Wash. Ind. or the Foreign Policy blogs. So much better than this woman who only writes hateful things about Kerry, and frankly, is more of a generalist than any kind of foreign policy expert.

On the merits, I don't think Kerry's plan is vague. It's in the middle, which some may find squishy. But it is a real plan, and every article I read points to Obama seriously considering it. And, as I posted in another thread, it is the most popular choice according to a recent poll.

[karynnj]

2. Fascinating graphs

I agree with you on the best of the online op-eds being better. Here, she is a blithering idiot, making up rules that apply to no one. The fact that Obama may be seriously considering it and it being the most popular choice really count for more than her likely it.

[wisteria]

3. She always has to be on the opposite side of Kerry.n/t

[MBS]

4. yup, you bet.

In the 2008 presidential primary, it came out that she was a Hillary supporter. . seems consistent.

[Mass]

5. When did joannie become specialist in foreign policy?

She should hold to what she knows best, writing stupid editorials about how moderate GOPers in MA are great.

[wisteria]

6. Your right. LOL ! n/t

[MBS]

7. oh, how right you are! : ) n/t

[TayTay]

8. That OpEd was very poorly done

And it felt mailed in from Vennochi. It makes little sense to complain that the US needs a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and then complain when it takes time to get a comprehensive strategy.

I read that dyspeptic column and thought that Vennochi thought she hadn't bashed Kerry in a while, so she thought she would make something up. Very weak column.

It's like someone asked Joan, how do you fix a oil leak and she replied, Yes!, most vehemently. It makes no sense.