Senator Kerry is on his way to Syria and Lebonon.

[wisteria]

"Massachusetts Senator John Kerry -- who is juggling climate change, aid to Pakistan and Congressional oversight of the war in Afghanistan -- plunges this week into yet another major international conundrum: Middle East peace.

Kerry departs today to the region "to investigate the political situation in Syria and Lebanon and the prospects for progress in the Arab-Israeli Peace Process," according to a schedule provided by his office."




http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/03/kerry_departs_f.html

[Inuca]

1. Very interesting, thanks! n/t

[blm]

2. Syria should NOT have been allowed to slip back into hostile mode. I don't think our SoS is an

honest broker in these talks and neither does Syria as her personal position was no different than Bush's. Kerry works consistently to advance our relationship with Syria and then the hawks keep focking things up again.

[wisteria]

3. He has been working for a long time to advance our relationship with Syria

and to some extent Lebanon. And, it appears the President is interested in seeing what develops-bypassing our "real" SOS.

[karynnj]

5. But, but the MSM assured me regularly that she was the bestest Secretary of State ever

I don't remember her having much to do with Syria. The nominee for Ambassador has had a hearing, but I think the SFRC has not had the business meeting to vote him out yet. (It was scheduled for one of the afternoons last week - so it might have been canceled because of the nonsense Republican unwillingess to allow committee meetings after 2:00 pm or it may have been the unexpected visit of Netyanahu and meetings with Obama on START.)

I don't think that Clinton would take a position on something as important as the Middle East that differs from what the President wants. In addition, at a recent hearing on the Middle East, Kerry responded diplomatically to one witness who praised his comments over those of the administration by saying something to the affect that he had the ability to say, as a Senator, things they couldn't - as it could lead them to being embarrassed if they had to backtrack. I'm not saying there is no difference between Kerry and Obama - there clearly is - but it likely is not as deep as it appears. Interesting questions would be what Clinton herself things and advises behind closed doors and exactly what Obama's opinions are. The latter will likely become more obvious, Clinton's likely won't be known until she leaves office and writes a book. (Even then, we will need to wait till Obama leaves office to hear if anything in the (as yet unwritten) Clinton book is hind sight revision.)

I also think that Obama might actually be closer to Clinton on foreign policy. I suspect that most of the Democratic foreign policy people have all been influenced by the same, relatively small set of foreign policy advisers - though they are not all in agreement and include people like Allbright, Rice, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Peter Galbraith. Kerry always sounded different from the other candidates and I think he had by far the most thought out world view - and, from his own comments, one influence he had - likely the one with the most impact - that the others didn't was Richard Kerry. The fact that his 1966 Yale speech had some parts that sound so much like his current views suggests that those parts - the attention to culture especially - likely come from his dad. It is interesting to think that his father's ideas have gained some influence because they influenced Senator Kerry's world view.

[karynnj]

4. Video from Lebanon!!

http://www.digtriad.com/news/national_world/article.aspx?storyid=139771&catid=175 (link on right hand side to video)

Looks like Kerry enjoys conversations with world leaders.

[wisteria]

6. Thanks! n/t

[politicasista]

7. Wonder if he is doing any media appearances soon

Been lurking and commenting at W.E.E. See You (an AA Pro-Obama, Pro-Biden political blog) and there was a quip from Hardball and Tweety asked a question that they and some DUers wanted to know: "Where are the people supporting this president i.e. Kerry, all Dems." Obama looks like he is out there by himself. (i.e. Swift Boat attacks 04) (jilian aka pirhana posted this out GDP a while back during the health care debate).

If you are wondering, responded with the Middle East trip, Climate Change, etc, but not enough.

However, some thought the Senator's response to the Teabaggers was was "weak" from a "major snooze-master." (still hear this all the time :() Maybe something like admitting that they are sick, racist, xenophobic and don't like the fact that a black man (Obama) is in charge of their government would have been better, maybe something along side of what former President Carter said last summer.

The upside is that some people liked me chiming in. Unfortunately, it is all about what have he and Dems done as far as: Racial profiling, Teabaggers (Sorry, but it could have been stronger), and what's he (and Democrats) going to do about that. Too much.


This part will hurt, but people don't care for the behind the scenes thing. It means indifference, silence, and not caring about or doing anything.

Never mind that Kerry was one of Obama best surrogates, but doing that and helping forwarding the Obama Agenda is not good enough.


http://weeseeyou.com/2010/04/01/w-e-e-peeps-thursday-link-sweep-24/#disqus_thread

http://weeseeyou.com/2010/04/01/president-obama-keeps-it-real/#disqus_thread


It's ok if someone chews me out. Understand, this doesn't help the group much. It may not be a good idea to visit there anymore.

[wisteria]

8. Senator Kerry is obviously very busy, but I am sure with the introduction of the climate change bill

soon, he will be out and about explaining it. I think it was Senator Kerry who said, when you have the majority, you have a lot more to do.

[politicasista]

9. Yep. I remember he said that

It's unfortunate that President Obama's hardcore, ardent supporters do not see/understand that.

[Mass]

10. Who cares what two people on a blog think?

He should get more face time, but it is his choice, and these comments were really not a big deal.

[politicasista]

17. Ok, will just quit sticking up for the Senator

over there. It's not worth it anymore.

[karynnj]

12. There a lot here - and the main thing I would say is that at least up to

this point the Senators and Congressmen should not be in "campaign mode". In addition, President Obama has by far more ability to be heard than the rest of the Democrats - as does Biden.

During the 2008 election, Kerry often put his own reputation on the line to support Obama. In the primary, that meant calling Bill Clinton on lies. Even with Obama winning, I assume that action hurt Senator Kerry with the many Clinton allies. We know it is the main reason he had to deal with an annoying primary fight. In the general election, he is the Democrat who best challenged McCain on foreign policy and national security - the two areas where McCain was seen as better than Obama before the general election. His reward - to be labeled one of the most partisan Senators. (In fact, in both parties, the only other person, who played attack dog, after they had reached the level of gravitas (or higher) that Kerry had was Bill Clinton - and that was in support of his wife and the media has rehabilitated any harm that his reputation suffered. Being the attack dog for someone else risks your own likability - as can be seen by a vain VP nominee who was unwilling to do any of it.)

Since then, Kerry has been working on legislation and building the SFRC into a more respected bipartisan foreign policy center. Passing any bill requires calmly and quietly learning what will get the votes needed. The fact is that the hated Baucus and Reid deserve more credit for passing the healthcare bill, which could be the centerpiece of Obama's legacy, than they get - far more than blog favorites like Grayson. Do you remember that one of Kerry's first actions when he took over the SFRC was to have an informal dinner at his home with all the members and their wives? (This was not the only dinner - as Graham spoke of his work with Kerry started after a dinner at the Kerrys, where he discovered that they also like the "Pink Panther".) Have you seen the genuine respect that he shows to others on that committee? While he is very lucky to have Lugar as his counterpart, that civil tone is what much of the Senate and Congress needs, but doesn't have.

Now, building those legislative coalitions and trying to help pull a dysfunctional body back into a body where there can be compromise and civility is a very very tough job - and one for which MANY Senators on both sides will be needed to even partially accomplish. Having a senior Senator out ADDING to the polarization by calling out the tea partiers in the type of words that would please the bloggers would make this even less possible and would diminish them. Note that President Obama himself spoke of some tea partiers having valid questions. Leave the partisan bickering to Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman.

I personally think that many people on boards seem almost ADD in that they want immediate action and fireworks. I assume this is because their postings are escape valves and if someone spoke to them in real life, they would back down on the more outrageous comments.

IMO, if anything, one Kerry email too strident on the tea partiers, but that was in support of the lame Coakley campaign. (I don't think politicians should use the word tea baggers - I know THEY used that name first, but using it offends some people.) I liked that Kerry called for the people in Sommerville to politely let the tea partier speak and ask a question. That person did - and Kerry gave a great answer. This was a tiny blow against incivility and it was responsive to a constituent.

The real contributions that Kerry has made to Obama's legacy are many and mostly little known. He was a very constructive force on the Finance committee when they worked on the health care bill. His hearings on Afghanistan raised serious questions - some of which were hopefully heard in the White House. He and Lugar have been working on many major foreign policy initiatives - changing how foreign aid will be done, a major bill on world hunger and the KLB bill that tests the idea that helping people with basic services can lead to stronger friendlier relations. (All of these things when passed will be seen as Obama changes (or even state department changes) and they will add to whatever legacy Obama has on the foreign policy side.) He also has been incredibly tireless on a climate change bill.

These are serious actions of a serious statesman and public servant. They will not make him a blog favorite, but to do things he wants to do what he needs is the respect and votes of MA and the respect of his peers in the Senate. (and it doesn't hurt to have Obama's backing.)

[politicasista]

18. Think people wanted both ways.

People haven't forgotten the surrogate work Kerry did for Obama as risky as it was. I have not. And Congress is dysfunctional (me thinks Baucus stole that kid's pen at the signing last week. :)), but how many people know what climate change is? Or the purpose of the SFRC? Not many. There is just frustration of constantly seeing the same GOP pols on every show spewing false rhetoric without being challenged by true Dems. Obama is out there promoting health care on his own (although Congress is in recess).

Unfortunately, people have ADD (aka short attention span) and the Senator (despite all the work done) is just too smart for peeps, maybe too smart for America, in a good way. We live in a soundbite (unfortunately dumbing down) era and being labeled a "main snooze master" will always be an Achilles heel for him. (Which is why poli vents, in a sarcastic way).

It was like that during the Kennedy Memorial Service last Summer. When Obama wasn't going to show (cause he did the eulogy). The anticipated speeches were VP Biden, McCain and members of the Kennedy family. My dad thought that Biden stole the show (cause he was heartfelt and blunt like that), and was surprised that Dodd was a good speaker, but a mention of Kerry, it went downhill. He was good, though he can be "boring." Maybe I just like "boring" people/music artists but I told him, I didn't think he was that bad. There is a reason that his endorsement of Obama is forgotten (although the Kennedy family ones were excellent and gave Obama more momentum going into Super Tuesday).

OT, but if the Senator is the true inheritor of the Kennedy legacy, then what does that make Obama? Thought the family passed the torch to him.

It's all good. While I respect and see that Kerry is becoming an influential Senator, it's unfortunate that many will not see/appreciate what you all have seen. A serious statesman, eloquent, "charismatic," (though that's not a big deal anymore), caring, public servant/politician with still a lot to contribute to the country, the Obama presidency as an independent voice, and being the (sane!) Senior Senator for the peeps of MA instead of thinking that Obama and Kennedy are/were the only Dems with backbone/spine. Hope he will stand and fight for the same peeps (AA, Latinos, Asians, etc) like Uncle Ted did, they are going to need him because they are disillusioned with Brown now. The Haiti relief thing is a start though.

Didn't post much here after the inauguration last year because of feeling like you can't reach people anymore, but my political blogging experience may end soon. It's been good lurking and posting here, but everyone seems more in your face on the main boards. It was like that after the 08 election and SOS speculation. So, I have said enough, maybe too much now.



Great post as always. :hi:

[Mass]

11. Reporting on Syria

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/02/world/middleeast/02syria.html

Kerry Tries to Nudge Syria to Re-engage With the U.S.
By MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Published: April 1, 2010
CAIRO — Senator John Kerry met Thursday with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria in Damascus, another indication that the United States is moving to re-engage with Syria as the Obama administration works to resuscitate Middle East peace talks.

Mr. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Damascus, Syria’s capital, as the Senate takes up the appointment of a new ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford. The United States has not had an ambassador in Damascus since 2005, shortly after the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. Syria was blamed for the killing, an accusation that it has denied.

After his meeting with Mr. Assad, Mr. Kerry said in a statement that the United States and Syria shared “a mutual interest in having a very frank exchange on any differences that may exist, but also on the many, many agreements that we have about the possibilities of peace in this region.”
...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303395904575157713877756160.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iODV-0_emQ0bSjQKNufoQrZAFuUwD9EQATK80

Nothing in the Globe, and the Herald is more interested reported about some woman he dated 20 years ago and who is now in some reality show, than on any significant action of our senator out of state, At this point, Kerry gets more press in the ME than in MA (even Press TV reported on the visit).

I am actually surprised nobody criticized him for going in the ME while the state is in emergency (not that he could have done something to stop the waters, but given the complex and convoluted reporting about President Obama's visit to MEMA yesterday, I was expecting to hear bad comments about this CODEL).

[karynnj]

13. I like the New York Times article

It has the best explanation I have seen on what Kerry and the Obama administration is trying to do there. The AP article's title subtlety makes Kerry's statement on Syria more positive than it was. It is rather sad that the Boston Globe did not simply print the NYT article (as they are owned by them).

I wonder if the reason he was not criticized on leaving while there was an emergency is because he already asked for and got the national emergency designation - equally hard hit Rhode Island got theirs on Tuesday. So, the MA delegation quickly on that and that's all they really could do. Not to mention, he did go to the flood area.

[Mass]

14. Probably true, but, you know,

Scott Brown filled sandbags (I wonder why he did that in Lexington, where there is very little flood, though. Nice photoop, for sure, but I got to see him on TV, doing that).
http://chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/2010/04/allegedly.html

Allegedly
Scott Brown spent some time up in Lexington on Monday night, filling sandbags for the National Guard.
That must be a helluva GPS gimmick in his All American Truck, normally Scott Brown couldn't find Lexington (or any other liberal leaning community in Middlesex County) to save his life.
Mark those sandbags well, they are likely the only good Scott Brown will be doing for communities like Lexington for the foreseeable future.
Of course, he could just ditch the TV news cameras, return to DC and see if there was any stimulus money available to get the Commonwealth's many many aging and substandard dams and spillways fixed...But that is too big a job for Scott, best to just fill up sandbags and leave it at that.
Given his performance on HCR, I'm looking forward to all the roads and bridges money that'll shortly be flooding the state thanks to our Junior Senator.

[karynnj]

15. I agree that that is a nice photo op for Brown

so I can see what you are saying. The problem is Kerry is the head of the SFRC and though it seems bleak, if he can do anything there - even if it is just building up some incremental trust, that is good.

[Blaukraut]

16. You're right. Not one mention in local media about this trip

But last night's local FOX News was positively outraged that Obama's surprise trip to MEMA was all MA people got, and how disappointed Fall River residents were who had waited for hours, made homemade signs, and whatnot, and then the president didn't show, but he had time for TWO $30,000/plate fundraisers, don't you know! Ugh

With the help of our local media MA will vote for the republican challenger to Obama and reelect Brown in '12.

[wisteria]

19. And, if they do they will be sorry. I just don't see how people can be taken in by the media's

games and manipulation. Unless by some miracle and with no help from the media, Democrats do well in November I just see this BS continuing until 2012. There is a massive media effort underway to damage the Democrats in November-the proof is provided just by turning on any news station.