Kerry Charts Own Course on Middle East Tour

[kerrygoddess]

Senator John Kerry arrived in the Jordanian capital of Amman, to begin his 13 day tour of the Middle East. Kerry has scheduled visits to Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank.

April Boyd, a Kerry spokeswoman, said he has meetings scheduled with local leaders, military commanders, troops from Massachusetts, a wide range of specialists in the area.

Senator John Kerry has made foreign policy a foundation of his 20-year Senate career. Kerry has been a member of the Foreign Relations Committee since he first entered the Senate. Kerry is the Ranking member on the Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

"He intends to play a prominent role in foreign and domestic policy, and this is clear evidence of this," said Philip W. Johnston, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. "The fact that his first major public outing following the election relates to Iraq and foreign policy tells us that he intends to be a strong spokesperson on those issues."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

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[Botany]

1. Kerry should be in D.C.

The mideast could have waited. I am so glad I worked my ass off for him.

[Dr Ron]

2. It's just fantasy that being in DC would change anything

Going to the mideast is part of Kerry's plans to establish a real Democratic opposition on foreign and domestic policy. Fighting for the future (including for election reform) is what will really make a difference.

[jackster]

5. I support the trip - but this is the wrong time

with all that's going on this week in Congress, I believe that he should have been here. They close down for the inauguration on Jan 7 - he should have waited a week -

[kerrygoddess]

10. It's good timing

He'll have plenty standing for him on the 6th.

[jackster]

11. let's hope so

I don't know - I'm not sure any of them have the balls to do it

Byrd maybe? Kennedy says no basically. No one seems to be stepping up to the plate here !

[kerrygoddess]

12. I heard differently

a good source told me otherwise about TK

[zann725]

13. I agree. We need him HERE...NOW. We ARE his people...and SHOULD BE

his FIRST priority. What is going down this week in D.C. (and Ohio, etc.) is crucial, and time is of the essence.

His leaving the country at such a time disappoints me greatly. And as one of his staunchest supporters, it is leaving me quite dismayed.

[kerrygoddess]

14. Troops in Iraq are his people too

Zann

The MA troops in Iraq are his people too. Kerry is on among other things a fact finding mission about Iraq. The trip was scheduled in mid-November.

I've been a Kerry supporter for over 20 years. I volunteered for the campaign for 20 months. I trust his decision to follow through with this trip at this time.

Word is that we will have support in the House and Senate on Jan 6. If that is the case, JK will be well represented.

Regardless of the outcome on the 6th, JK is doing the right thing in visiting Iraq.

[zann725]

23. I honor your opinion. But firmly believe JK could've waited 4 more days

...and so BEST serve BOTH those abroad, as well as here IN PERSON.

I did not mean to personally attack your comments. Hope it didn't seem that way. I also volunteered for his campaign.

[robbedvoter]

25. Fact finding mission about Iraq? Ain't that a bit LATE? (2 years late?)

I remember he didn't even read all the briefing on IWR.
What a disaster! This is from the guy who wanted McCain as VP and Powell to stay on....Maybe we've been robbed of less than I first thought.

[tavalon]

3. Actually

on the day that the electors are challenged, the MSM is going to be scrambling for two photo ops. GWB and Kerry. I have no idea where they're going to find the Shrub but they will find Kerry in Iraq communing with the troops, looking, well, Presidential. I bet Shrubby can't pull that one off. He'll be AWOL as usual, I'm sure.

On edit: I should proof my posts more often.

[emulatorloo]

7. GWB will be raising 40mil for the inauguration and communing w Kid Rock

as they plan Kid's tribute concert.

[kerrygoddess]

8. Exactly!

JK will be in Iraq with the most poetic and profound photo-op, with our Troops.

[Leilani]

16. Exactly, a photo-op

Like the dead ducks, or was it geese?

[LittleClarkie]

21. Geese. I still wish they would have used the nose to nose with dog one

If Rove would have tried that in his little hunting outfit, the dog would have chewed his face off.

You don't like hunters either, dear?

Did you object to the other photo ops too? The baby kissing and such? Are you anti-ops in general? Or is it a goose thing.

[robbedvoter]

26. No, "dear". It's a photo op thing. He was needed in the senate

for real stuff - such as the electoral votes fraud confirmation and torture Gonzalez's.

[LittleClarkie]

27. Then why "dear, is it barely being covered in the press

I see two Massachusetts newspapers, one small photo on Yahoo, and that's about it.

Everything he does now will be a photo op or a campaign gimmick. He'll be grandstanding when he puts the child health care bill in. He's apparently campaigning when he goes to the Middle East even though he's in the Foreign Relations Committee and it's well within his job to gp there. How can he fight for our soldiers in Iraq if he doesn't witness what's going on and then use that knowledge. Cripes, someone even suggested he went to a Massachusetts soldiers funeral for a photo op. Admit it, you just don't like the guy. Either that or we've got to get that Fox News filter pried out from in front of your eyes. If I hear one more RNC talking point coming out of a Dem, I'm going to SNAP!

He's doing his job as a Senator. Right now, I don't want him within two feet of Congress when they contest the vote. He's right where he needs to be in my eyes. His being in Congress would add nothing.

As for the AG, well, we could spend the next 4 years saying when he's in spot A, then why isn't he standing in spot B. I think spot A is just as important as Spot B, really.

I further suggest that if the electors are contested, that this will open up discussion and debate, getting the issues finally out in the open and covered. The very last thing it will do is flip the election. I don't believe it, and I don't think Kerry believes it either. He said he wanted the votes counted. He wants election reform. He did NOT say he wanted to flip the election. We're stuck with Bush baby, I'm afraid.

My expectations are set at reform, not Prez Kerry. And the 109th Congress has barely begun. I shall wait to see what happens. I don't need instant gratification.

[kerrygoddess]

6. Really?

I worked my tail off for 20 months for Kerry and I support this trip that he scheduled in mid-November.

He will have plenty of representation in DC on the 6th, from what the buzz has been saying. That being the case, he's exactly where he should be.

[comradebillyboy]

4. preparing for another inept race i see

maybe he can fit in some wind surfing on the beaches near tel aviv (which i hear are quite nice)

[kerrygoddess]

9. oh please...

that statment is what is wrong with the Dems!

[Leilani]

15. Maybe he should have gone to Iraq BEFORE he cast his AYE vote

for this abomination of a war.

This is a photo op tour, to kick off his 2008 race.

[kerrygoddess]

17. Thanks for the critque

Some folks just always need to cast the negative around. Must get tiring. Negativity is a heavy load to carry.

[Leilani]

18. No, it's reality.

I live in the real world, where Bush has been reelected President, the worst President in my lifetime.

Where our country is involved in a horrific war with Iraqis & Americans are being blown to smitheens every day.

Where the incomes of MOST Americans are declining.

Where people can't afford healthcare.

Where our country is so deeply in debt, it will have global ramifications.

And we are Leaderless. Photo ops do not make a Leader.

I'm glad you're such a happy camper, but I'm not.

[kerrygoddess]

19. Not a happy camper

Leilani

I am not a happy camper, however I choose hope over despair.

I'm an only parent with a home business that is suffering under Bush. I have no healthcare, my kid receives SS survivor benefits...
but you know what, although I happen to be one of those people truly suffering under the Bush administration I AM NOT BLAMING John Kerry.

I live in the real world too, but I am wise enough to know who is to blame for our problems.

[Leilani]

20. I'm sorry to hear of your problems.

Many of us are hurting under the Bush regime.

But that's why I am frustrated as hell that the Dems did not compete more effectively...for people like you & me!

I supported Kerry, & I have nothig against him personally, but I am feeling really, really let down. There were SO many missed opportunities by the Dems....Bush is NOT popular...but we didn't make a strong enough case.

And as far as election fraud, the Dems should have been screaming bloody murder BEFORE the election. If the issue of fraud had been front & center, Ohio would have been easier to make a case for.

Don't mind my bad mood...I'm just really disillusioned.

[kerrygoddess]

22. I understand

Leilani

I understand your frustrations with Bush and quite frankly the Dem party. Kerry got more votes than any Dem presidential candidate in history and for all we know, he won, damn it.

I don't know what will happen on the 6th but I am hoping for something. Anything. A miracle!

We need to change the direction of the party. I don't know about you, but this was the first time I have been involved and it was a valuable lesson in how important it is to be involved.

We'll get thorugh this. Not sure how but we will. :)

[robbedvoter]

24. Will he be away on Jan 6? How conveeeenient!

I was once banned for mentioning he missed voting on medicare, unemployment benefits and media consolidation. Only in 2004. Maybe now it's safe to say: Kerry is AWOL from the day job he so cautiously saved for himself.

[LittleClarkie]

28. Who will contest the election? SATAN?!?!?!?

Sorry...Church Lady moment.

Dude, this IS part of his day job. He's on the Foreign Relations Committee after all.

And was he campaigning during the time you talked about when he missed votes? How about before his campaign? Was he AWOL in 2002 or 2001 or 2000? I could go check.