Not directly Kerry related, it was his idea, but worth taking notice

[jillan]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/04/news/secretaries.php

Bush seeks audience with past appointees
By David E. Sanger The New York Times

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2006


WASHINGTON It will be an unusual sight on Thursday in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, and deliberately so: President George W. Bush will engage in a consultation of sorts with a bipartisan collection of former secretaries of state and defense.

Among them will be several who have left little doubt that they think Bush has dangerously mishandled Iraq, ignored other looming crises and put critical alliances at risk.

The meeting was called by the White House, which sent out invitations just before Christmas to everyone who once held those jobs.

The invitees were told they were being asked to attend a briefing on Iraq and other issues. It was unclear, one recipient said, "how interested they are in what we are thinking."

Among those planning to attend are Colin Powell, Bush's first secretary of state and the administration's best-known and most careful dissident voice, and Madeleine Albright, Powell's predecessor.

William Perry, who was secretary of defense in the Clinton administration, is flying in from California; he helped formulate foreign policy positions for Senator John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.

....Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, called the meeting part of Bush's broader effort for "outreach on the strategy."

continued

What do you think he is up to??? And I remember Kerry making this recommendation many times, about this and other controversial topics.

[beachmom]

1. You know, I really hope he actually listens to what they have to say

I think it was Lieberman, who said that like it or not * is the CIC for the next 3 years. Although we can all fantasize about an impeachment, I doubt it will happen. Sex sells better than civil liberties or torture any day of the week, which is why Clinton was impeached and * probably will not be. With that caveat, maybe somebody can get through that thick skull of his how to improve the situation in Iraq.

But I'm not holding my breath. Most likely he'll just scowl at them like he did Kerry during the debates, and say "no, I'm right". The guy just can't seem to change and is highly inflexible. Then McClellan can trot that info out at press briefings that * does consult across the aisle . . .

[ginnyinWI]

2. I think it's just a lot of PR image-building stuff

Rove has thought up several of these stunts lately. This is not a man who can listen to an opposing viewpoint. With them, it's all about appearances rather than substance.

[ProSense]

3. Yeah!

All of a sudden he wants to give the appearance that he:

1.. has sense
2.. values other people's opinions
3.. plans to stop lying, especially when it comes to Iraq

[Chiyo-chichi]

4. It absolutely is.

Furthermore, everybody who is in attendance is already on board. Warren Christopher is the only former Sec. of State (or Defense for that matter) who has publicly opposed * on Iraq and HE'S NOT THERE!

[TayTay]

5. Welcome soonerhoosier to the JK Forum

Love your DU name. May I ask if there is a story behind it?

Welcome, come on in and have a chat.

:patriot:

[Chiyo-chichi]

6. Thanks.

soonerhoosier reporting for duty.

That has always been my online name. I was born & bred in Oklahoma, the Sooner state, and have lived the second half of my life in Indiana, the Hoosier state. Even though I am from two states that are VERY "red," I have been a lifelong staunch Democrat and now live in a "blue island" - in Bloomington.

Thanks for the welcome and the compliment on my handle. Within the last week, I was told that I was "going nowhere fast" on DU because of it, though the guy who told me that would not elaborate. I assume that it sounded too red for his taste.

[TayTay]

8. Unfortunately, idiots abound on this board.

Sigh! They just do. You have to look at dealings with these people as a chance to sharpen your debating skills. There are a lot of what we call 'lefty freepers' around here who seem to love to bash Democrats. Again, it's all part of the free and open debate around here. (That kind of drives you nuts.)

Welcome and thanks for the reply!

[ProSense]

7. Excellent point! Welcome!

:hi: