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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 2:20p.m. ET: President Barack Obama’s choice to be secretary of state, Sen. John Kerry, D- Mass, testified Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one day after the same committee conducted a fractious hearing with current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over last September's attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
Unlike Wednesday’s sometimes-contentious hearings, Republicans welcomed Kerry, who is currently the chairman of the same committee, warmly at the outset.
Sen. John McCain R-Ariz. joined Clinton and Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-Mass. in introducing the nominee, with McCain praising him for “exemplary statesmanship” in his work on an accord to allow opening of normal diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995.
But while the hearing remained cordial, Kerry came under bipartisan pressure on the question of the civil war in Syria in which more than 60,000 have been killed.
Kerry has met several times over the years with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
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McCain, part of a bipartisan group of senators which just got back from a trip to the Mideast and visited camps where Syrian refugees are living, told Kerry they feel “an anger and frustration” and believe that the United States is indifferent to their suffering.
One Syrian teacher told McCain and the other senators, “This next generation of children will take revenge on those that that did not help them.” McCain added, “We are sowing the wind in Syria and we are going to reap the whirlwind.”
He said “We can do a lot more, without putting boots on the ground” – such as a no-fly zone – and he complained that “all I get, frankly, from the (Obama) administration is the fall of Assad is, quote, ‘inevitable.’ I agree, but what about what happens in the meantime?”
Another member of the delegation that toured the Middle East, Sen. Chris Coons, D- Del., complained to Kerry that U.S. humanitarian aid intended for Syrian refugees “has not reached the people on the ground.”
In response to both Coons and McCain, Kerry said “if you have a complete implosion of the state” in Syria after Assad’s fall, it would greatly increase the risk that Assad’s chemical weapons arsenal would fall into the wrong hands.
Kerry also said that “we need to change Bashar Assad’s calculation. Right now President Assad doesn’t think he’s losing -- and the opposition thinks it is winning.” Kerry said the goal of U.S. policy is a peaceful transition to a new government. He said he hoped to confer with the Russian government, a major supporter of Assad, and with others and “increase the readiness of President Assad to see that the die is cast, the handwriting is on the wall….”
Coons told Kerry, “We frankly face a very narrow window to make a difference on the ground in support of the opposition.”
“I get it,” Kerry answered, saying he did not want to “wind up with them (members of the anti-Saddam Syrian opposition) blaming you” for not doing more to remove Assad from power. But Kerry voiced worry about who would control the country if Assad were forced out of power.
Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images
Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., President Barack Obama's nominee for Secretary of State, speaks with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., before he testifies at the Senate Foreign Relations committee during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Jan. 24, 2013.
The committee’s ranking Republican, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, asked Kerry about Obama’s nominee to be defense secretary, former Sen. Chuck Hagel and his support for Global Zero, a group which calls for the total abolition of nuclear weapons.
Kerry said Hagel would be “a strong secretary of defense secretary” and that Hagel would not weaken the U.S. nuclear arsenal which serves as a deterrent to an attack on the United States.
A world without any nuclear weapons, Kerry said, was a goal “worth aspiring to,” but “we’re not talking about today’s world” and it might take “many centuries” to achieve abolition of nuclear weapons.
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Kerry also addressed Iran's nuclear program.
“The president has made it definitive--we will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he said in his opening statement to the committee. “I repeat here today: our policy is not containment. It is prevention and the clock is ticking on our efforts to secure responsible compliance.”
He added, “No one should mistake our resolve to reduce the nuclear threat.”
John Kerry faces tough questions about Israel and Pakistan at his confirmation hearing from Rand Paul.
He said Obama “knows that American foreign policy is not defined by drones and deployments alone. We cannot allow the extraordinary good we do to save and change lives to be eclipsed entirely by the role we have had to play since September 11th, a role that was thrust upon us.”
Referring to the impasse over reducing budget deficits and the growing national debt, Kerry said to the committee members that “the first priority of business which will affect my credibility as a diplomat – and our credibility as nation – as we work to help other countries create order, is whether America at last puts its own fiscal house in order.”
In his opening statement, Kerry showed one brief moment of emotion. His voice shook when he referred to his father, who was a Foreign Service officer. Kerry said he was proud that “the Senate is in my blood – but equally proud that so too is the Foreign Service. My father’s work under presidents both Democrat and Republican took me and my siblings around the world for a personal journey that brought home the sacrifices” that American diplomats abroad make or their country.
During an appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama's nominee for secretary of state Sen. John Kerry faced tough questions. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
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Knowing Senator Kerry, it's surprising that his "opening statement" won't go on until the end of the week...
Don't get me wrong, just that he is a little (more than a little) ponderous in his "speechifyin'"
“But I know he will acquit himself in that office with distinction, and use his many talents and his indefatigable persistence to advance our country's interests, and I commend his nomination to you without reservation.”
============================
I'm certain it is just me and it being late in the week and my brain is tired, but does the word "acquit" come across as a unique word to use?
I like Kerry, even voted for him, But we should use this as a strength, send him to our enemies so he can bore them to death.
Well of course Kerry got a warm welcome from the old BOYS! They truly do not like women in any place of power. Again, they are stuck in the 18th century and going backward from there!
...I mean, just to clarify, the word/meaning does fit the sentence...maybe it is just hard to hear that word and not be inclined to consider its other use, in light of the exchanges that happened yesterday...very specifically, the exchange between Sen. McCain and SoS Clinton.
I'm certain it is just me....but it seems like the Sen. is playing with words a little bit with a roundabout slight against the current SoS and the future SoS.
Why wouldn't he? He is old, pale and male. Only flaw according to the GOP is the D next to his name. Don't get me wrong. I voted for him and would have preferred him to W. without question. The fact is you can predict how the GOP, and even some Democratic men, will treat an Obama nominee just by looking at their sex and the color of their skin. Yes gentlemen, you are predictable that way.
My prediction on this nomination, Kerry will bore everyone into submission and he'll get a yes vote by the end of the week.
Another Mr. Obama puppet~parrot on the streets.
Ahhhh yes, AnaBanana-1782128......you are showing your true Racist form this morning. You Progressives are "predictable that way".
Republicons so well informed on the issues.....will be asking him about what kind of relations he will be attempting to have with the aliens from Rockwell area 51, and if he will establish any kind of relations with Bigfoot!
Seeking and Ana ....
No kidding he got a warm and fuzzy welcome from the boys. They are chomping at the bit to see if they can get a Republican in his soon to be vacant Senate seat!
Yep, starsailing......
The Progressives (and Mr. Kerry) would give Aliens and Bigfoot(s) free housing, medical care, food stamps, and education. And maybe even kick in a few Chevy Volts.
Layton - they're going to be SOOOOOO unhappy when they can't get anyone in MA to vote for a Republican!
Ido - your post indicates senility may possibly be a problem you should have checked out!
After watching McCain whip into Clinton yesterday and the way he kisses Kerry's ass this morning, I wonder if he (McCain) is Gay? or is it just that he hates women in the old boy club?
Phil,
I'll take hates women in the old boy club any day of the week. Poor thing was so burned by his running mate, I'm sure that wound still keeps him up at night.
ldo
can you let us know where we can get this FREE STUFF you guys keep talking about? I KNOW that a reputable news channel like Fox News would only tell the truth so since they keep talking about Obama giving out free stuff to win votes, it must be true and they must have proof to support their statements, right? So where is this free stuff?
Gosh! Was going to comment on IDO but other posters have done such a thorough job already . . .
bayllie,
Ido is a frequent benefactor of "free stuff" that is why he knows all about it I'm sure. He must be in oil or energy or banking or maybe resides in a state that doesn't pay enough wages or collect enough taxes and has to rely on the "free stuff" in the form of the government teat to make ends meet. Or maybe all of the above.
Or maybe, Hillary Clinton is a terrible Sec. of State! What country can you point to that has been helped by the carpet-bagger? John Kerry will be fine as Sec. of State, replacing a vacationing Clinton, through her negligence and incompetence got 4 brave US citizens killed! Funny how the only one arrested in this failure, was an American expressing his rights of free speech. Typical Obama administration response, act like were doing something! Amb. Rice must be thrilled to get thrown under the bus by the Panderer in Chief.
AnaBanana-1782128
everytime I read a post about "free stuff" I get excited that I am going to get "free stuff" but no one will tell me how to get it.
seriously, I even had a salesman come to my office and inform me that the only reason people voted for Obama is because he promised them "free stuff" and that college students should not be able to vote if they don't pay taxes...this is how Fox News spreads ingorance and people believe it. I can only feel sorry for these people. It's gotta suck to be this gullible.
geo - no actually Hillary Clinton is a GREAT Secretary of State and that is what burns the old boys. Imagine - a woman doing that job - how did that happen???
I love how you keep harping on the 4 dead in Benghazi (a tragedy for sure) but you did nothing about the more than 20 who died in embassy and consulate attacks during the Bush administration. And, I have yet to see you or any other poster demand Bush/Cheney/Rice/Rumsfield be questioned about ignoring the many CIA warnings about our country being attacked using our own airplaines - before 9/11/2001. You know, the one where over 3000 were killed?
Look up the word HYPOCRITE - you'll find your photo!
Bay Lie - Why don't you go grocery shopping with me, I can point out who has a WIC card and how that IS getting FREE stuff. What percentage of those people do you think voted for the Panderer. I think it's about 95%.
My problem with Obama and Clinton, is you know thier lying because thier lips are moving. The 4 dead knew they had a dangerous job, no doubt, but why can't you just come out and say "this was a terrorist attack and were doing everthing we can to bring the perpetrators to justice" not hard. But this administration had to lie over and over again. WHY? Why blame it on a video? Why lie on the Sunday talk shows? Why ruin AMB. Rice's career? WHY?
ana banana a racist? a lefty a racist? LMAO...go figure.. now lets see how many come out and defend the fact they arent a racist.
geo-1957883
Bay Lie - Why don't you go grocery shopping with me, I can point out who has a WIC card and how that IS getting FREE stuff. What percentage of those people do you think voted for the Panderer. I think it's about 95%.
=============
I wasn't aware that the WIC program started under the Obama Administration..so I 'm not quite certain how the WIC - free stuff - and the election get so easily thrown at the President's feet. Is there some evidence that shows the Administration saying to someone, who let's say got $50 in WIC prior to the election, now getting $70 in WIC simply by saying they voted for the President?
Notwithstanding...how exactly would this Administration, let alone any Administration know who to allegedly payoff based off of their vote?
Seeking Sanity,
It is 2013, Bush has not been in office for some time now. Get over it sunshine, you cant put blame on Bush for Benghazi. Hillary f-cked up......deal with it. Now please put up another post attacking people because you have nothing to say that adds to a discussion. I am sure you are a blast to be around at a party.
So Kerry says tackling the debt issue is key for strong foreign policy. Hmmm either he will now be disowned by Obama or he is already laying out his excuses for poor performance in this role.
Wonder which it is?
Caesar,
Everyone knows that dems are the biggest racists in the country. Look how hard they try to hide their racism day in and day out.
Of the 17 MILLION new dependents created under Obama, 13 Million voted for him. So Allen being a smart guy, maybe you can see the correlation?
geo-1957883
so you are saying that they got their WIC card AFTER the election because that would be the correct sequence of 1)vote, 2) get free stuff.
or is it that they had their WIC card before the election and they are Wal-Mart employees who vote for the party who will help them supplement their below-living-wage paycheck so they can feed their kids? And because they know that the Republican party could not give sh*t about wether their Wal-Mart paycheck pays for food as long as the Wal-mart owners laugh all the way to the bank?
which one is it geo?
Irish 21 - The Democrats have done more to destroy the black race in America then any other factor! Since they started voting Democrat with JFK how has the black race in America excelled? More dependent, yes. Just look on how the once proud suburbs around Chicago have been turned to ghettos by the Democrats.
geo-1957883
and George W. Bush created 14.2 million of new foodstamp recipients and that was BEFORE THE FINANCIAL MELTDOWN and global recession that took out our economy.
Just think how incompetent Bush was if he could not wing it when things were good.
Geo,
I live in Chicago and see it everyday. But of course the dems claim to be fighting for minorities that is why they keep them segregated in crumbling areas, right?
Bay Lie - So you don't want to grocery shopping with me? My feeelings are hurt. So by creating 17 MILLION new dependents had nothing to do with the election? "Wether" you believe that or not is your decision. Were they forced to work at Wal-Mart? Maybe if they didn't have a Chicago Public School education they could get a better job!
AnaBanana,
Right. I found it interesting how so many male RWNJs on this site, both yesterday and today (the Albanian Idiot being one of them), mocked the glasses that Hillary wore. It occurred to me that if she were a man they wouldn't even have noticed. . . .
Irish 21 - Totally agree. The Democrats have been enslaving blacks for years, destroying thier hope. I fear the hispanics are next. The Democrats could care less about minorites, it's all about power. My mom lives downtown and is afraid to go out due to all the shootings, boy those strict gun laws have helped!
I don't think the guy should be ANYWHERE NEAR our Gvmnt.. Not cause he has a D behind his name, I would be saying the same thing if he had a R or and I...
The guy showed me what a piece of trash he truly is when his wife had cancer. I don't really care if the Gvmnt acquitted him of the campaign money issue or not, I personally think he used his rich donors to hide his mistress and child from the public when he was running for office.
I do not think a person with the lack of moral fiber, should be anywhere near the position " representing " our country.
Baylee it is "free stuff" that the government and in particular this admin is using to stay in power by enslaving people to handouts. The increase in the welfare and food stamps crowd is astounding (try doing a little research or is that too much like WORK). Please enlighten me as to why everytime there is a threat of government shut down the first people your prez threatens to withhold checks from are our seniors and vets???? Never a word about food stamps, welfare, sec 8 housing, etc? The economy is no where near back on its feet yet he's working on immigration reform (translate: moving the illegals to the head of the line ahead those that are going through the legal channels and paying for it!), more votes for the dems -- again it's "free stuff". You do know that this admin is running commercials in Mexico letting them know how to get the "free stuff" paid for by us hard working taxpayers.
Spot on Jeremy.
Unfortunately the American public doesn't hold any one accountable for their actions. There is no such thing as natural consequences for your actions... Instead we are all spiralling down into a morass of debt and platitudes from Washington.
Irish - again your post shows ignorance and stupidty. If it wasn't a problem when those people died with Bush in office, why is it suddenly worth investigating? Try to at least make a resonable point - which you NEVER do.
Dotties girl - again what part of a recession do you not understand? If Bush hadn't sunk the economy - which was bleeding 700,000 jobs a month when he left, we would not have so many receiving government asistance. Why is it Democrats always have to clean up the Republican's mess?
geo - as usual you make a post that has no sense to it.
Jeremy- are you talking about McCain? Because he definitely cheated on his wife - with wife #2 - right after she had a horrible car accident. I think you got your people confused.
So Hillary being the experienced statseperson she was having served in the armed forces and been a diplomat for years and then serving several terms in the senate to build her level of experience just like Obama.. OH wait neither did any of that, they were fast tracked into their positions and have virtually no experience and want to tell us with lies how we need to trust them to take care of us..
Same BS on this page as on others....With the same list of characters.
Ok here goes.
The Sec. of State. does not have the authority to order action by our military. The only thing that that office can do at anytime of an attack against one of our embassies is to inform the Dept. Of Defense. Who in turn will assess to see if in fact any action can take place. The D.o.D needs approval & input from the Senate intel committee, National Security Council & the President to name a few to take action.
We have international treaty laws that have to be followed and treaties with most of our host countries.
Our host countries in most cases do not allow a large military presents at our embassies, as they (the host country) are charged by treaty to keep secure those embassies within their country.
So, in looking at this mess...the cable for help and notice that the embassy was under attack should have gone to the D.o.D, as there was a CIA operation going on at the time of the incident, and a very small embassy personnel foot print.
Im thinking you need to do some research on Kerry.. the guy who cheated on his wife, while she was fighting cancer.. Who fathered a child with his mistress, denied the child was his, and used his rich friends to try and hide her from the public while he was running for office.
but he has a D behind his name, so you would fall on the floor and worship the ground he walks on based on your posts.. You are anything but Seeking Sanity.
Good riddance to Live Shot Kerry...easily the most useless Senator of all time. Gonna be fun to watch Lizzy the fake indian as the senior senator...wonder what wack job will get Kerry's seat.
Dotties girl
yes, ENSLAVING....keep watching the Rabid Fox Propaganda News. It fits your ignorance.
BTW, you will always have deadbeats who milk the system and that includes Corporate deadbeats. But supplementing income through government programs so companies like Wal-mart and McDonald's can pay minimum wage with no benefits to their employees is not handouts...well, it is - to Wal-mart and McDonalds.
Just to clarify a few things. The aliens were suppose to have been at Roswell, not Rockwell. And just so you know, WIC is Women, Infant and Children program. WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding health care and other community services. Participants must meet income guidelines and be pregnant women, new mothers, infants or children under age five. In California, 84 WIC agencies provide services locally to over 1.45 million participants each month at over 650 sites throughout the State.
And the website has instructions in Spanish. Go figure.
From the article above:
I doubt it will take “many centuries”.
I see two scenarios that could happen.
Either the mutant-robot-vampire-zombies from Vega will annihilate us way before then,
OR,
Mother Nature through Global warming and climate change will render the few remaining thousands left to live in underground caves and survive only through the genius of the cryogenically frozen, then thawed, Al Gore.
Salud
Steve... correct you are (once again), and simply more credence to Ron White's comedy routine "you can't fix stupid". Hell, he could amend that to "republicans" and most of us would get it.
We can do without the nukes but now that they are here, they are here for awhile. while nations like N. Korea and Iran aspire to make them to 'even' the playing field, the rest of the world will keep them as a result of despots like the aforementioned. Status quo.
We make war that we may live in peace
Jeremy - You might want to drop this conversation about Senator Kerry and his infidelity. I do believe the person you are talking about was John Edwards, the Democratic Senator that ran for President in the Primaries and as John Kerry's VP running mate.
Jeremy - Did not plan on posting on this thread til I saw your overly-confident igorance paraded around with such a condescending tone. Why don't you look up John Edwards. I think you'll find he is the man you are thinking of, and not John Kerry. Thanks for your responsible contribution to the discourse.
sfcet- Thank you. I thought the conversation about cheating politicians and a wife with cancer sounded like John Edwards.
It will be interesting to see how foreign powers like dealing with a zombie.
Freedom of speech and human rights are not taken for granted because communist states like china always wanted to crack down those people who advocates human rights and freedom of speech with iron fist. For example communist regime in china even cooperated with the malaysia government to enact new cyber law 114A to crack down those NGO malaysian bloggers who posted negative comments regarding abuses of human rights in china on the internet by accusing these people of coup,cybercrimes and various of accusations in order to imprison these people in jail for many years and many of these people even torture and die in custody by the malaysia government which is masterminded by the communist regime in china so no one can post negative comments about china
on the internet. Malaysia government even organised a big rally of “burning bible”
movement in this coming weekend in order to intimidate and frighten those NGO
malaysian bloggers who uncovered the truth behind the political motives of the new
cyber law 114A against anyone who posted negative comments about china on the
internet enacted by the malaysia government which is masterminded by the
communist regime in china. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech and religion
is religion. But the malaysia government has mixed up these 2 things together
and even organised big rally of “burning bible” movement in this coming weekend
which is a very disrespectful of other people faith and religion. Since US is
the largerst foreign investor to malaysia,US needs to send a strong message to
the malaysia government that organising big rally of “burning bible” movement
is an act of disrespect to other people faith and harms other people feelings including
the americans too because many americans are of christian faith.
PRober
LOL....I hadn't thought of that....But your right...LMFAO
thanks for proving the point about vote buying, voting for a party that gives you more tax-payer funded benefits is a bought vote and is detrimental to any country. i as a citizen of this country do not support this and i do not pay taxes so others can get free stuff, it is not my responsibility that others made choices that affect their lives; dont have kids, dont waste your money, think before you act, read a book, learn a trade, invent something, go to church, DO SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN TAKE FROM OTHERS WHO EARNED IT WHILE YOU DO NOTHING! helping people is one thing but there is a point where is not help anymore but dependency. we do not like in a democracy, its a republic.
its so bad when you have blind mice defending their masters from any responsibility and pointing to others mistakes to excuse their masters mistakes as if somehow two wrong make a right. obama, clinton and rice LIED to the american public about the beghazi attack, they covered it up. bush wasnt caught in a proven lie, bush didn't try to cover up any attacks and bush is not president. a leader accepts responsibility for all his subordinates even if he did no wrong.
BTW, it was senator edwards who cheated on his cancerous wife and fathered a child then tried to cover it up, just like a politician does. kerry is just a liar and a terrible bore with little qualifications who married into money.
Geo,
There are more white American on government assistance then there are blacks, so I suggest you do some research before you start talking out your A$$. I love how some people have the nerves to try to blame the black being takers. You talking about racist, look in the mirror. If you look up racist your pic will be the first you will see.
I also can go to the grocery store and see the same thing. However, a large portion of these people also voted for Romney. Being poor affects people across party lines.
Also, one of the wealthiest highest salary ($119525 in median household income) areas in the country is Northern Virginia, in which unemployment runs at 2%. Guess what, the majority of these people voted for Obama twice.
In my city of 75,000, unemployment is higher at 6% and Obama won twice with an average of 68%
The free stuff is a myth.
this is your state unemployment % and this is by county http://www.bls.gov/ro3/valaus.htm i see nothing near 2% so please go lie elsewhere. free stuff is not a myth just saying so does not make it so. when you get money from the government and its not yours, thats "free stuff." vote buying is very illegal but i guess as long as you get the "free stuff" its okay.
VIRGINIA
5.5
I didn't say Virginia. I said Northern Virginia is 2% That is a FACT!
The sad thing is the followers of the Republican Party lack the simple character trait of common sense. Everyone with active brain cells knows the old "Obama Bucks-free stuff," is a cooked up extreme right wing excuse as to why Romney lost. The truth is Romney was a bad choice and the majority of Americans rejected him because of that known fact.
Actually, the majority of people that voted for Obama are more educated and have more wealth through higher paying jobs than the folks that voted for Romney. Also, more of the welfare folks favored Romney.
no, that is not a fact lol your just making stuff up or being lied to. here again is the listing by county in Virginia, yes northern Virginia is doing better than the rest of the state but nowhere near 2%.
http://www.bls.gov/ro3/valaus.htm please show us where its at 2%?
based on what? your own opinion or that of the dem loyalists? all you are doing is showing your bias.
Is it just me or is everyone else tired of hearing Senator McCain and his whining. When is he going to shut up? He sounds like a child that had his toy taken away. Someone put him in a corner and tell him no dinner until he quits whining.
Actually, you guys are the ones spreading all of the false information. It's like you live in a bubble in which facts can't get in, and you believe anything the likes of people such as Limball and Hannity tell you.
ex-mi-soldier - As for you being an ignorant Democrat, you should apologize for destruction of the black race in America. The Democrats have ruined the family structure and work habits of blacks plain and simple. Dependency kills, and the Democrats just want thier votes. As for me being a racist, hardly, I love all people who can think for themselves and not expect something for nothing, like most liberals do!
I love it how everything is Hillary or Obama's fault. Not one conservative is intelligent enough to put blame on Congress that defunded embassies and staff, nor fault other countries that will not allow US troops to protect Ambassadors. If you want to know what is going on in America, read some International News, not the Propaganda crap shown on cable or locally.
The senate foreign relations committee is not working in the best interest of the American people when they have Clowns as members like Rand Paul, the Citizens of this Country are getting sick of his kind !!!
trust2112:
Take the bullsh*t excuse about lack of funding for the lack of security at Benghazi and stow it. NPR and the syndicated Jim Bohannon show both interviewed recently retired from mideast military duty security officers who indicated that contingency plans for such a situation are in place, funded and manned. Neither could understand why they weren't implemented.
Instead of spewing your same old tired snarky comments about your superior liberal intelligence, why don't you grace us with a factual source or two for your lame allegations about consevatives.
Brenda You do realize that Senator McCain was wounded and tortured during his service in the military.. He speaks and moves as he does as a result of these serious injuries.. You are a pathetic and disgusting person who must just hate people with physical limitations.. He has not been a perfect elected official but he is able to tell when serious bending or sidestepping of Constitutional rights and obligations are occurring.. He has not fought hard enough to prevent all the rotten things from happening like the Patriot act and its lack of not being allowed to expire.. Also many Presidential orders that are borderline to very unconstitutional and give the president powers akin to a dictator.. The wanted to know about Fast and Furious and were blocked by Obama.. They wanted to know why the White House purposely fed misinformation to cover the attack on a CIA compound not a consulate and were basically told it was above their pay grade.. Once again hiding suspected criminal acts by this administration.. When things are done against foreign countries it is espionage when done against US citizens it is treason.. We will wait and see if the man portable anti aircraft missiles will show up in a neighborhood near you or I..
Making Mexico pay for any and all damages and or expenses incurred by the United States or
any of its institutions or citizens by Mexican national who entered the United States illegally or
remained in the United States after their visas expired or
caused a person, such as a child to be in the United States unlawfully, or
gave birth to a child while inside the United Stated in order to defraud, or
encouraged a person to enter the United States unlawfully, or
used a non-profit organization, charity, or religion, to aid and/or abet a person who is in the United States unlawfully.
I sometimes think I have stumbled into a republican carnival and into the Republican House Of Mirrors. Many of the comments made by the far right here about democrats sound more like the republicans. John Kerry will be a fine Sec of State. The republicans want to do something about it, they can become a little more mainstream and win the next presidential election. They could then get a REAL diplomat appointed, like Sarah Palin.
Swagganaut and Geo,
I trust you'll not be collecting Social Security or Medicare. After all it's an "entitlement" and a "hand out" regardless of how much you've paid in right?
I too pay my taxes. I have for all of my adult life. If I had no other alternative for feeding my child, I would go and apply for assistance. Now how is that free stuff? When I have paid into the system all my life? No, I get it. It should be spent on war, preventing women from obtaining abortions, preventing gay marriage and more guns for everyone. Oh and I forgot, Oil companies DO NOT make enough profit, they need more subsidies.
I voted for Obama because frankly, the mental health of the republican party scares me. I have been silent during all of the bashing back and forth, but when WIC is brought up as a topic of discussion of "free stuff given as bribe for votes" I have to laugh and then comment. WIC provides education, health care, and yes nutritious food. Wow, we can all quit our jobs and just live on the $100 free milk and cheese per month indefinitely!!!
Do you realize how silly that sounds? You know low income people have a right to eat and obtain health care too right? No abortion for you, but once you have it (the forced child)no assistance for you either. You've made your bed and now you can lie in it, while I and all my well to do friends take tax breaks making us even more well to do. Hypocrites, all of you. This is the republican modus operandi. Do you think it's possible that you took more of an interest deduction on your taxes than Joe Shmoe got in assistance? AND he still doesn't get to OWN anything. He was just able to feed his family one time a day. Yes, I know you earned it, as well as my disgust and disrespect for treating others in our society so callously.
Now call me a communist liberal would you? I love it. It is a liberal ideal to care about others less fortunate. TY, drive thru.
steve-man who uses lmao and lol,it wasn't an embassy knucklehead. bathe in your glory much?
IDO....Many people wouldn't need food stamps if repubs weren't sending American Jobs overseas and voting against stopping tax break for companies sending the jobs overseas......
Then they vote against giving tax breaks to companies that would bring jobs back to America.....Why is that?...
Because they love getting profits from overseas then putting the profits in off shore accounts to avoid paying American taxes...you know...like the guy you wanted in the Whitehouse...Romney.....
Careful there Kerry.....you will be labeled a warmonger with that statement!
Have no fear, Barry will instill another muslim brotherhood thug!
Any 1%er that hides his yacht in another state to avoid paying taxes should be kicked out of the senate, not rewarded with SOS!
bayllie.....
A real quickie place would be the NYC Social Welfare line.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
starsailing......
The leader of the pack for shipping jobs overseas, especially to China, is Government Electric whose CEO is no other than Mr. Obama's Jobs Czar. BTW: he MAY have actually met with Mr. Obama ONE TIME during the past year, and that is ONE MORE than how many times Mr. Obama has had a Cabinet Meeting.
So what you are saying is you prefer to let infants starve so can they never grow up to vote Democrat? And that somehow baby formula is a needless giveaway and threat to your freedom?
Your'e party bleats on about the life of a pre-formed fetus, but once its out of the womb, let em' starve. It seems you don't value life much at all, Geo
Not sure whose diaper needs changing, the evil gubmint formula-guzzling babies of your paranoid delusions or yours... which seems to be quite loaded, btw.
Are you really that naive? EBT cards are NOT used for baby formula, but junk food!
This woman starved her own kids!!
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/24/16670159-accused-leader-in-philadelphia-dungeon-case-convicted-of-murder-in-1983
He said his mother locked him in the basement for a year to prevent him from running away -- which he said would have reduced her welfare check payments. She fed him noodles and Kool-Aid doctored with drugs, he said. He said he finally escaped in 1998 when he was sent upstairs to wash but instead walked outside into the yard and hopped the fence.
Too bad he didnt tell anyone in 1998...the rest of her victims were freed in 2011!!!
Are you trying to tell me she didnt vote for Barry???? The king of handouts and slavery to the government?
I am a conservative who is pro-abortion. Your statement pretty much explains why. I would rather these children be aborted rather than be taxed to feed them. Single mothers and deadbeat fathers are the downfall of this country. They are not being raised to respect anyone and do poorly in schools. They are dependent on the government from the day they are born until they have another child of their own they cannot support. It is too easy to be irresponsible, have children and use that as an excuse to be unemployed yet the children do not stop coming.
Uh Job 1, I think you mis-stated your position on unemployment for Northern Va.
Job1
I didn't say Virginia. I said Northern Virginia is 2% That is a FACT!
I checked the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Virginia and the lowest unemployment rate as of November 2012 for any county (since Northern Virginia is mostly made up of counties), was Arlington County at 3.1%. Next was Fairfax County (which has the largest population for Virginia) at 3.6%, then comes Loudoun County at 3.7% and the rest go up marginally. So I'd say it was a stretch to say unemployment in Northern Va. is 2%. But you are correct, the region did vote for President Obama.
The Republicans must really think a lot of Kerry... did they really ask how he was going to "solve Syria"? Since when is it ours to "solve"?
Has nothing to do with his war record or how he pronounces words or moves. What it has to do with is sounding like a broken record. Like i described, he sounds like some child who had his toy taken away and can't stop crying.
Now who is sounding pathetic? You criticize President Obama for giving orders borderline unconstitutional, but you say nothing about the 4000+ American lives Bush killed in his personal vendetta against Iraq just to complete what he thought his father should have done. Bush even lied and made up weapons of mass destruction to get it done.
Less then 10 lives where lost in Benghazi under Obama's watch and all the sudden you Republicans come out of the wood work talking conspiracy. 4000+ lives lost in Iraq and we ask you Republicans about that lie and all the sudden it's unpatriotic and how dare we try to question Bush. Talk about Hypocrites.
No sir, it's How dare you even try to protect McCain until you bring Bush up for War crimes.
Maybe Mr. Obama could make ANOTHER unconstitutional appointment during a Congressional break.
Yes sir-reee, let's bring up Mr. Obama to Federal Court for violating the Constitution.
If he didn't do it on his own, nothing would get done. Thanks GOP House for only working 6 days a month and getting paid as if you worked 60 days a month. Talk about raping the USA, that's all the GOP does.
@ Spider-737231, I guess I still have to show you PROOF that Republicans defunded the embassies and staff, while blaming Democrats.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/10/jason-chaffetz-embassy_n_1954912.html
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/12/politics/fact-check-benghazi-security/index.html
Or are you going to take the "Conservative" wussy way out and use the lame excuse of "I Don't recall"?
"One Syrian teacher told McCain and the other senators, “This next generation of children will take revenge on those that that did not help them.” McCain added, “We are sowing the wind in Syria and we are going to reap the whirlwind.”"
A loser from Vietnam war, McCain never learns.
He was one of the first to jump in a similar manner in Libya.
During Benghazi attack, he, Hillary and likes of them went into hiding.
Either send John McCain to a mental hospital or one of the palaces of House of Saud and their 5000 princes and princesses.
John Kerry will deal with foreign policy like Jimmy Carter did or worse. Apologetic and throwing money and assets at them. It is kind of like the deal in the works up north where we are allowing Russian Indians millions of acreage for free.
Knowing such things are impossible, I wish Kerry would go before the Senate and tell John McCain to go to Hell. Remember this John? You were a hero with courage and convictions once. What happened to you?
http://americablog.com/2008/06/mccain-campaign-attacks-john-kerrys-war-record-says-swift-boat-veterans-for-truth-were-simply-telling-the-truth.html
Steve; typical liberal response!
If you're dredging stuff up...
WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry’s military service “dishonest and dishonorable” and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.
The White House declined.
“It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me,” McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, comparing the anti-Kerry ad to tactics in his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.
The 60-second ad features Vietnam veterans who accuse the Democratic presidential nominee of lying about his decorated Vietnam War record and betraying his fellow veterans by later opposing the conflict.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5612836/ns/politics/t/mccain-deplores-anti-kerry-ad/#.UQFZmramCUc
Washingtonpost.com's Chris Cillizza falsely suggested that Sen. John Kerry's call for Sen. John McCain to "cut ties" with retired Col. George "Bud" Day stemmed from Day's defense of McCain's military service in Vietnam. In fact, Kerry's statement called for McCain to sever ties with Day after Day described the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks on Kerry in 2004 -- attacks Cillizza noted McCain denounced at the time -- as "revelation of the truth."
http://mediamatters.org/research/2008/07/10/washingtonpostcoms-cillizza-mischaracterized-ke/144000
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There are lots of things one could criticize Senator McCain for, but this isn't one of them...
Right - no conservative would ever go back and find previous conflicting quotes to throw in someone's face!
McCain is not a war hero. Crashing planes and getting shot down does not make one a hero.
No fan anymore more, but the surviving Hanoi Hilton and the torture does qualify McCain grudging admiration and respect--however, that McCain has long ceased to exist--turned into a panderer and lock-step elephant. McCain is now irrelevant and opinion worthless.
John McCain used to be one of the few Republicans I respected, but sadly it appears that old age and senility are taking over. His meltdown over the consulate attack in Libya has been embarrassing to watch and he all but foams at the mouth and drools while grilling his witch hunt victims. I also voted for Kerry and wish him well in this new endeavor.... but I agree that he would do well to distance himself from old man McCain before the association damages his career.
“He and I have been friends for quite a long time now,” said Mr. McCain, who added that while he and Mr. Kerry have had “political differences” over the years, their “friendship has endured” and is “based in mutual respect.”
Mr. McCain said the friendship stemmed not only from when he and Mr. Kerry “were much younger, nice and better-looking men,” serving in combat in Vietnam, but also because of the experience the two had working together years later — during the early-1990s — toward the normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam.
At the time, Mr. McCain said, he and Mr. Kerry worked tirelessly together to get information from Vietnamese about the fate of American prisoners of war.
He added that the experience showed him that Mr. Kerry will approach the office of secretary of state “with distinction.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/24/sen-kerry-expected-sail-through-secretary-state-co/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS
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“I commend his nomination to you without reservation,” Mr. McCain told senators on Thursday.
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Sky-
Why are his opinions worthless?
I don't agree that John McCain was a hero.
dogs80....
The Democrats (Liberals) are not a party any more. They are now PROGRESSIVES.
To bad the President didn't nomination Mr McCain for Defense Secretary. It would have been fun to watch his fellow republican senators, republican congressmen and the rest of the republican party eat him for lunch like they are doing to Mr Hagel.
skyparrot . . .
Very well put. McCain has turned into a bitter old man with a stinky albatross around his neck named Sarah.
mountainlady
I agree. I had a huge respect for him as a man even though I did not agree with his Bush-like way of thinking. And then came the 2008 election, Failin' Pailin, and the rest is history...whatever happened to this guy is a mystery.
It's obvious what he was trying to do. To appeal to people who would have voted for Hillary Clinton but couldn't because she was defeated in the primary. Many people were sore from that bruising, vowing not to vote for Obama because of that. McCain made a calculated move. Unfortunately, Palin had more sway over die-hard conservatives instead of independents.
Pragmatic - sadly McCain believed we women are stupid and would vote for ANY woman - no matter who she was. He didn't give women credit for intelligence and integrity and tried to pass a moron off as a capable candidate. He defeated himself and he's too proud to admit it!
Hemorrhoids. Chronically waxing and waning, but always there. Lotta wonderful little pesky things awaiting us as we become older. Then there's the pissy prostate problems. When you finally do piss, the dribble often shows up on your shorts and britches. Then there's McCains young, good looking wife. Any wonder He has these conflicting fits?
Pragmatic-3918582
obviously it is easy for me to say today: "Palin? - what the f*ck was he thingking???" but there had to be huge, huge red flags in 2008. Palin started flopping 5 minutes after the nomination and they were not small failures either. McCain's calculated move was not so calculated - I think they just jump into the decision without doing any research first.
SeekingSanity
bingo - I really think that they thought that an attractive woman was automatically going to get votes of women regardless of what's in her head or heart. This is another example of how Republicans are out of touch with women. It took one Palin speech for me to realize: this lady is a jerk and a bully with no capabilities to lead.
charemor - Yet Obama's a hero for giving away other peoples money. HMMM.
geo-1957883
how is that? Is he stealing people's checkbooks and writing out checks?
@geo-1957883: The President only wishes to return that money to It's rightful owners after removing It from the thieves who stole It. Good Man, our President.
sad thing is you and the people who voted you up actually believe this..
Jeremy - sad thing is you believe the total nonsense you post daily! No sanity at all in the Republican party and you've prove it yet again!@
I noticed my pay first paycheck this year was a little lighter due to more being taken by the government. And I don't have a six figure income, but am considered middle class. I guess someone in the government wrote a check out of my checkbook before it got to me.
Amen. Somebody needs to Tell John McCain to retire to the OLD FOLKS FARM. The man is acting like PTSD has just hit him. All he can do is be TOTALLY NASTY and add NO VALUE to the issues facing this Country.
He WEARS his SORE LOSER status on HIS Sleeve Daily, Trying to attack someone's INTELLIGENCE AND INTEGRITY. This coming from a Man who Picked Sarah Palin as his Running MATE. Even his fellow Republicans did not want to even think of this Woman Stepping into his Shoes if something happened to McCain as President.
Well, I say to you Mr. McCain, you have lost all of the INTEGRITY AND RESPECT you once had. GET A CLUE and try to serve out the rest of your time as a Senator as an Elder Statesman, because if you don't History will not be very kind to your memories or accomplishments.
Talking head what the hell would you know about INTEGRITY.
seems you post nonsense daily too! anyone can read all your prior posts and see how you provide no substance but instead use personal attacks, rhetoric, bias and bigotry all in the name of the democrat party. does it realy matter when people point out your tactics? you seems to really just say the same statements over and over using different words. you must be hired to do this along with others, unless you have no life and sit here just waiting for the next seed to spew your vitriol. as much fun as this is for me to see the rabid hatred you on the left has for the right, it does become quite boring after some time of hearing the same thing being said over and over and over and over again -well they say if you repeat something often enough them it will become truth.
kerry is a bad choice for SoS, as is hagel but maybe i would take hagel over kerry, i just wish for once that someone would actually have the experience needed to do the job they are being picked for, kerry certainty does not have the speech for negotiations, he would put everyone to sleep. hagel needs to watch what he says but thats for all politicians.
MacForrestor - Please,Please, explain how EARNING money is STEALING money? Stealing is more in tune to how Obama and his mom and dad went through life.
MountainLady: the definition of senility is "old age"....just thought I would share that with you. I think perhaps the word that you were going for was dementia. Senility and dementia are not the same thing.
@geo-1957883#2.27: I was speaking metaphorically about our economic corruption. Taxes waaay too low on corporations and the wealthy for waaay too long. This has caused too few to be able to hold waaay too much wealth, and too many to hold waaay too little wealth. Our economic system was not, and is not, conducive to work anywhere close to any degree of efficiency in such a warped manner. Lack of full employment, inappropriately low wages, suffered by 70 to 80 percent of the US population versus adequate wages to decadent wealth among the remaining 20 percent has knocked the hell and balance, out of our Whole economic system along with circulating currency balance. You have any idea what the cost to all of us would be if we stopped all aid to the poor and indigent as opposed to the pittance we now throw them in the hope they can hold on until we can fully recover? Much more than that $1.18 per person per meal in food stamps we give 'em now, or that $250.00 weekly in unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, the Congress has passed laws subsidizing every Corporation and large Financial Enterprise in the country. Lack of balance "geo". Total lack of moral proprietary, which will, if allowed to continue unchecked, destroy our economic and political systems. Actually, looks like our politics (especially republicanism) is hell bent on the destruction of our economic system as we speak. It is quite plain the only ones capable of effecting correction are the President and the democrats. Love earners. I'm one. Several work for me.
mack you have to add in those damn dems with that statement now,honestly. you act like the dems in congress aren't bought and paid for too, only those evil repubs,right? that's where you guys on the left and right fail to acknowledge(my party cares) hate to burst that bubble but they(all) don't give a @!$%# about any of us. they care only of theatrics and reelection,dat's all folks!
@@!$%#-you#2.30: I'll give you some of your justified aggravation. Some democrats are guilty. Historically however, the poor and middle classes have fared much better under the policies of democratic leadership than republican. Too, American business and industry as well. Mutually tendered and applied regulation brought forth by both political, and business beneficiaries of that regulation, would remove most of the corruption that presently afflicts both. It seems the republicans prefer to fight over the economy rather than for it. Such is always a detriment to the dependent people who are sustained by that economy.
Watch the Swift Boating commence--the GOP crescendo of twist and spin will begin shortly.
Kerry well qualified for SS post--Senator, do not let the fools get away with falsehoods, distortions, innuendo, smears, and personal attacks, and they will come guarantee it. For the GOP way of life, that's what they do, and fined tuned the art of deflection, rumor, and smear.
Did you read the story?
Kerry is a joke. Medals for taking pictures of himself in a boat. No one else in his platoon received a medal because they didn't do anything. Kerry filled out the paper work himself and got a worthless medal. That's along the same vein as Obama buying the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mission accomplished, skyparrot; you can put away your DNC book of juvenile insults and go back to watching Sesame Street now.
I certainly did, Dingle, true to form the GOP will begin their agenda--after the "warm" welcome.
Well, Spider, Jack has begun the not unexpected demeaning comments--proves my point.
Wow, Skyparrot throughs out the first insults aimed at the GOP and then when said insults are returned, blames the GOP for initiating the insults. Can you be any more hypocritical skyparrot?
jack -
Ask the special forces officer that Kerry pulled out of the water and rescued if he deserved his medals.
In fact, ask anyone who was actually confirmed to be on the boat with Kerry when the medal-winning actions took place and they will support Kerry's version of events.
They're only demeaning in your liberal brain, because it's what you want to believe.
Tnseveol: Kerry pulled him out the water because he fell down while water skiing behind the boat. It's funny you guys put Kerry on a pedestal because a very few say he pulled someone out the water, but post numerous horrible comments about McCain who was tortured as a POW for years. I think I admire McCain a little more. I don't think either is a great politician, but when it comes to being an American hero, it's not even close.
jack - why do you insist on lying with every post you make. John Kerry did NOT fill out the paperwork for his medal and the people Kerry rescued would spit in your face. You're disgusting and a typical lowlife Republican!
jack,
I'm reading what you're writing but my brain keeps interpreting it as "support our troops, as long as they don't become liberal politicians later in life."
Jack,
McCain was admirable at one point in his career and life. Not anymore. He takes every opportunity possible to denigrate and demean those that don't agree with his parties current values. The McCain of old deserved respect. The bitter mean old man that he has become does not.
Sure TnS...lets just dial up the old 'special forces' officer and ask. got his number. aside from that i wont question his service in the military..thats what liberals do, in fact you probably think J. Fonda is a war hero
jack -
The factual account of the incident that won John Kerry a Bronze Star and his third Purple Heart, per the offical US Navy commendation:
And Cpt. Hoffman, the commander of the task force, wrote in his official after-action memo:
So who do you believe - the US Navy and a decorated officer, or some politically motivated people who weren't even there?
Caesar-
It is a documented fact that no one who was actually there when the events in question occured EVER disputed Kerry'a account of events at the time. Independent review boards, commanding officers, etc all reviewed the findings and awarded the medals.
Bronze Stars and Silver Stars were not handed out in CrackerJack boxes, or given away without a thorough review.
Those who years after the fact questioned Kerry's medals either never proved they were actually there, or contradicted prior public testimony agreeing with Kerry's claims.
In fact, two of the "swift boat" veterans who claimed Kerry was not under fire during one of the events actually received commendations or medals for being under fire during the same events!
TNSEVOL - the interviewed a man from Chicago who had served with Kerry - after the swiftboat ads ran - and he was hopping mad. He said Kerry deserved his medals and was a true hero. He said what the Republicans did was disgusting and demeaned everyone who served with Kerry.
The lying GOP will stoop to any level to win. And, wallowing in the dirt is the only way they CAN win!
That McCain is a real stand-up guy. So much so that he earned the nickname "the songbird" during his stay at the HH.
A real patriot, he is...I wonder just how many of his fellow servicemen died as a result of his cowardice?
Mickey: Wow, please provide some factual evidence of your b.s.
Layton: I agree; as I said I don't think much of McCain or Kerry as politicians. But Kerry basically operated a tow truck to move an inoperable boat and had to navigate past a few idiots with hand guns. He was not in a major war zone. McCain, regardless of his politics, was held as a POW and tortured for years. It's not close.
SeekingSanity: I've read too many of your posts to give you any credibility.
Pragmatic: You need to rewire your brain then. Kerry just happens to be a liberal. If facts came out that McCain has been lying about being help captive in a POW camp, I'd say the same about him.
Tnsevo: Please show me where Kerry's name is mentioned, independent of his unit in your post from Captain Hoffman. The paragraph above that reminds my of a scene I saw on MASH.
jack - back at ya! And, I really don't care that you don't like facts. But, after reading your posts I understand "fact" is not part of your vocabulary!
So what you're really saying is your can't dispute anything I post. Don't worry-we already knew that!
seeking: Do yourself a favor and re-read your posts and pretend I posted them from a GOP perspective. You only attempt to criticize anyone who disagrees with you and you NEVER provide anything factual, you just say it is. And i can't dispute, via facts anything you post as you don't provide any source; just your twisted thoughts.
Anyone calling Senator McCain a coward for his service in the Viet Nam war is just wrong. Trying being in any of the prisoner's shoes during the war and say it was easy. You can't. All of them were heroes. Why? Because Viet Nam was a very unpopular war and even those who served and were not captured, were vilified here at home.
I may not be a Senator McCain fan, but I am truly grateful to him for his service. And the same can be said for Senator Kerry. Whether or not he earned his medals is not for me to question. He did serve in combat and deserves our respect and appreciation. Neither man's politics excite me, but I am grateful for their service and all of you should be too.
When Hell becomes endothermic and Freezes over, he'll provide evidence.
The fact is they (anti McCain POW activists) labelled him with the name. Its just as bad as the Swiftboating of Kerry.
I too am truly grateful for McCain's military service. That being said he has served his country many times over and has now grown out of my favor. He has taken the Benghazi attack personal and it has affected his judgment. He, and the GOP, are looking for answers that are not there. He wants Hillery to say she didn't provide more protection for Am. Stevens when there wasn't any to be had. It was over in 3-4 hours at most. McCain wants Obama to say he didn't provide help during the attack to Am. Stevens because he is incompetent. McCain has taken this personal and for a man in his position is fatal.
Throw Kerry over the WH fence along with his medals.
IMPEACH MCCAIN! Total Jerk!
I don't think being a jerk is an impeachable offense.
Kerry. Isn't this the vet that angrily tossed his medals over the fence of the white house? Reportedly, some of which he didn't deserve/earn. Fact or fiction? Anyone know for sure which? Oh forgot, the Big O once again had musical chairs and Kerry is it. Same game; different players.
McCain you've had your walk in the sun. Retire in AZ and enjoy the last of the rays.
Anyone who has done any research at all on the "Swift Boat" claims knows that they were ficticious, and the medals were well-deserved.
In most case the "Swift Boat" veterans who made the claims were countering claims they had made previously supporting Kerry's medals.
Much like Pres. Obama's birth certificate, this issue has been long-settled except for those who refuse to accept facts.
Why heap praise Senator McCain, Scott Brown ain't a gettin' that seat! Neither is any other republican!
Is it hard to be that unimaginative with your comments, or does it just come naturally?
Tim,
I'll bet Kerry is the only Obama nominee who won't run into fierce Republican attacks. Kerry is a liberal Democrat, while Hagel is a Republican, but based on the nominee's general politics you'd expect the opposite Republicans to give Kerry a harder time than Hagel.
The real explanation is that Republicans hope that if they get Kerry quickly confirmed that they'll win back the Senate seat he took from them in November. If Kerry wasn't a Senator, they'd be after his hide in these hearings.
George - but they won't get the seat. Another ignorant move by the Republican party - just to add to the count!
Let's hope MA nominates another woman for the Senate seat! Now that would hurt the old boys!
Looks like Scott Brown has his eyes on the Governor of MA position. I don't know he will risk that to run again for Senate. Losing 2nd time in 1 year would be a death sentence to his career. We shall see.
Gilboagirl
I live in MA and I must admit that there has been no serious talks of anyone yet. But I guess it's still early for most to commit.
Damn right! It will be another Indian or we can find another slime ball killer Kennedy hiding under a rock somewhere. Barney the butt boy will probably be the favorite if we can locate him. Has anybody checked the rest area mens rooms on I-95?
Kerry would be a better candidate if he wore the MR MAGOO glasses that Slick Hillary wore at her LYING LIKE A SNAKE hearing. BLIND TO THE FACTS???
Hey the truth is your not too smart. Seek and ye shall find.
I find it interesting that Obama won re-election by convincing many that wealthy people should be villified, and hated. Anyone who is successful should give more and more, they are tax cheats, they aren't in touch.
Now he appoints Kerry, who makes Romney look like a homeless person when it comes to wealth. Kerry has twice as many legal offshore accounts as Romney, but that's okay because he's a liberal.
Kerry paid $7.5 million dollar for a custom built yacht. He keeps it in Rhode Island so he doesn't have to pay the $500,000 luxury tax he would have to pay if he kept it in his home state. If any GOP did that they would be a tax cheat. Kerry does it and liberals say he's smart.
The Party of the Hypocrites.
jack-
Actually, President Obama won re-election by convincing a majority of American voters that his policies and positions were better for America than those of his opposition.
Really? Do you have links to support that claim? I can find no evidence that Kerry has either a Swiss Bank account or a self-owned Cayman Island investment corporation like Romney.
That is smart. Romney would have just claimed Rhode Island was his home state, maybe listed his address as someone's basement like he did to vote in the Massachusetts special election. Romney would also have found a way to have the yacht put into a charitable trust and still be able to use it.
Talk about hypocrites - Republicans claimed Kerry was an out-of-touch elitist and a serial flip-flopper, then nominated Mitt Romney!
I dislike the whole idea that a male version of "jane fonda" is being put in an office he's not suited for.
The swift-boat vets got it right several years ago, when he was running for prez. It doesn't matter how much money he has, I believe all the wealth belongs to his wife anyway, the catsup queen, Heinz.
He didn't earn any of his medals, and swift-boat vets proved that he lied about his duties and service in Vietnam. He was a traitor to his comrades in Vietnam.
jack, The President never villified or projected any "hate speech" toward the wealthy and you know it. If you are so sure about this give us some quotes.
Exactly what does the worth of Romney v. Kerry have to do with anyting? Please explain...
Look aup hypocrit and get back to us...
Thanks, you prove my point. You don't think Kerry is a tax cheat for not paying the luxury tax. Right, and if Romney did that the liberal biased media and liberals would crucify him. Not a surprise. And EVERY Hedge Fund manager maintains offices in Bermuda, Cayman Island, the Jersey Islands, and The Isle of Man. Most people who are wealthy enough place money with a hedge fund, that in turn manages their funds in the above jurisdictions. How is that cheating?
Chip; where were you during the campaign. Romney was too rich to be in touch, he had money offshore, like most do. The wealthy need to pay more. His entire campaign platform pitted the haves against the have nots. If you don't see that you're a true and great liberal.
Jack - your ignorance is showing yet again. President Obama did NOT win the election by vilifying the rich. Many who voted for him are rich and more 1%ers are Democrats than Republican.
Your post 8.4 shows you are totally clueless!
President Obama won the election because he was the best person running - without a doubt. Now quit your whining. You appear to be just exactly like your moniker - totally insane.
Patricia-
You are so wrong on so many levels.
The swift-boat allegations were proven to be false. In EVERY case Kerry's actions were substantiated by EVERYONE who was offically involved or actually present during the events in question.
The swift-boat veterans either could not prove they were actually there, or were contradicting previous statements made about the events. Some even contradicted their own published accounts or prior public testimony.
Kerry tried to do the right thing after Vietnam, and publically testified about allegation he had heard from his fellow soldiers.
Kerry earned that right via his combat service, unlike the "chickenhawk" actions of Bush, Cheney & company.
By the way, when did you serve?
Jack -
Even if that were true, which it isnt, there is a difference between investing in a fund that makes overseas investments and having your own personal Swiss Bank Account and OWNING a Cayman Islands investment corporation.
jack How many times has the doctor told you that your wrapping the tinfoil to tight around your head is not good?
Promising to increase taxes on the wealthy is neither vilifying them or pitting them against everybody else. And in case you weren't paying attention, it was Mitt Romney who dismissed a major portion of the population as a bunch of moochers, a position he was only too happy to clarify in his statement regarding why he lost the election.
The sad part is many conservatives haven't learned the lesson. They are only all too ready to cast aside people who don't pay income tax as moochers. I personally took great offense to it. My tax liability for 2011 was -$15, meaning I got a whole $15 in a refund. I work, have since the age of 16, have never taken a dime of government benefits, and have generally done all the things you are supposed to do. My wife is also a mooch, she doesn't work, she takes care of our mooching daughter, who is 18 months old. Insulting voters is not the way to win elections. Romney and the GOP might have won if not for these missteps.
Again, you don't get it. Romney did not say anything about not caring about your now famous 47%. He was planning a campaign and said 47% were going to vote Democrat NO MATTER WHAT, so why focus on them to obtain votes you're not going to get anyway. It's the liberal media spin machine that turned it into what you liberal nut jobs believe. And we are in a generation of entitlements, thanks to our President. This is a fruitless argument as you believe everything they tell you and I don't. It's that simple.
And please due a little homework on the hedge fund industry. I'm in it, I cater to it and I know it well. Owning an offshore company is brilliant, so why is Romney somehow cheating by owning a legal business? I incorporated my firm in three states as well as the United Kingdom. I guess I'm cheating as well.
jack: So why didn't Romney show more than 1 years of tax returns...and that year wasn't even complete.
jack -
I feel like I am trying to teach the proverbial pig to sing, but here goes - Romney's actual statement was :
That says nothing about not being able to get their vote, only about their character. Sounds like an attack to me.
ALL hedge funds do not have "offices" in the Cayman Islands. Some hedge funds invest only in domestic opportunites, some in international banks, etc. Also, I did not say Romney was cheating or did anything illegal, you said Kerry had as many off-shore accounts as Romney, which you have subsequently failed to prove.
Please do a little spell-checking. I hope your articles of incorporation are clearer than your commentary.
Romney never said "moocher", but fellow conservatives did. Romney never corrected them. Romney did say that people who don't pay income tax have no sense of personal responsibility. (Another thing that offended me, being a homeowner and living well within my means!) Then Romney made it all too clear what he meant by saying he lost by not promising goodies to people content to suckle on the fat teat of government and never take responsibility for their lives. But Romney was also wrong. The 47% who don't pay income tax aren't made up solely of democrats. There's plenty of red states with rock bottom median incomes. Many of those income earners have no tax liability but vote republican.
How has he, personally, expanded entitlements? I'm pretty sure the Congress is responsible for anything like that.
Quite frankly, I'd believe you if you weren't incorrect. I don't believe anything media tells me. I've been misquoted in the local paper, I've seen scientific inaccuracies in science journalism. But I know what I heard from Romney, I know what the reaction from the right was, and I know how it made me feel. I was offended. You can't argue against how I felt. If I was offended, odds are there are other people who were. And they, like me, vote. You don't win elections by offending voters. That should be brain-dead obvious, but as I said, conservatives haven't learned the lesson and owned up to that mistake. Even you're doing it, by deflecting blame from the conservative with the foot in his mouth to the media.
jack Are hedge funds a part of the problem that started the recession?
Patricia: do you also believe in the trickle down theory? the death panels? the birther issue? the muslim issue?
Do you ever think for yourself or do you just repeat what has been told to you? "Swift Boat" was revealed to be a total lie but that didn't happen until after Georgie was elected and it was lain right at the feet of Rove!
Ole B Hussien has got to be the GREATEST LIAR EVER. He can look straight into the cameras and lie better than the serpent did to Eve.
Hedger funds were just derivatives of the Mortgage Debackle brought on by the Clinton Administrations program to give mortgages to the unqualified parasites; the same parasites that re-elected the Great Destroyer of freedoms.
Hedge funds are not and have not been part of this problem. The CMBS market and banks that integrated non-performing loans into bundles of performing loans is what started the collapse in 2007. Some hedge fund managers, who are probably some of the smartest economists, mathematicians, etc...in the world made millions betting against the CMBS investments. Forcing banks to lower credit standards or be penalized, and allocate a certain amount of capital to lend to borrowers who otherwise would never qualify for a loan contributed, people with zero responsibility and basically defrauding banks when completing loan apps contributed, greedy banks who knew this was going on was criminal, and allowing banks to buy back the same bad loans at huge discounts was a joke.
When I refer to entitlements, I'm not talking about those who have contributed to SS and Medicaid for years as they deserve to take out what they put in.
People are right when they say the GOP needs to change its image. Romney was too honest, horrible trait for a politician. The tea party needs to go and they need to progress towards the middle a little more. But the media does spin and over due the handful of right wing nuts and rarely does the same to those on the left who are just as twisted.
I would support a third party in a heart beat, but unfortunately it won't happen in our lifetime.
Jack explain the 47% agian. I must be reading wrong !
All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. And I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49, 48—he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn't connect. And he'll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean that's what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people—I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.
seeking-you better get at that (seeking SOME sanity) you complain the repubs are in the pockets of the 1% people and corporations and(epiphany) then say there are MORE DEMS 1%ERS then repubs?ahaha get at that seeking thing,sooner would be better.hahahaa you guys KILL ME!
The downfall of the Bush depression was started with the "Credit default Swap" wager. Allowed because the GOP allowed the banks to do whatever they wanted with no restrictions.
After listening to FOX NEWS' Sean Hannity... He basically referrs to John Kerry as being worth little more than Dog S-hit.
What a surprise huh ??
I don't listen to any far right or left shows, but I agree with that comment
Hey Jack !!! Just one question...
Is Jack S-hit worth more than Dog S-hit ??
Hannity would have an initmate relationship with dog poop being of the same genus.
Based on your name; "brown" I think you're a little closer.
Is this the same John Mccain who remained silent while a bunch of cowardly lions ran those not so swifty boat ads?
Yes. The same John McCain who treated both Susan Rice and Hillary Clinton in the manner he did.
He is a reprehensible man.
Pat - I believe you've used the word "man" incorrectly in this case!
So true Seeking.
This man should never be confirmed, but probably will be he, he and Jane Fonda should both in prison for Treason. Ms. Hanoi Jane, thinks because she apologized that is enough, when you betray your country like both of these people, they should be held in prison never let out. Shane on anyone that would vote for Kerry. The man is a nut case and lot worse, ask any viet Nam vet.
Most people in this country are believed to be betrayers for speaking out against a war we shouldn't be in.
If what you said wasn't so sad, I would laugh.
Lady Jag-
Should GW Bush and Dick Cheney be imprisoned for their treasonous acts that deceived the American people and resulted in the deaths of thousands of American soldiers?
LADY JAG, you really need to read something before you post stupid things. Treason, really? You're treasonous if you invoke your 1st amendment rights? Particularly when we're talking about someone who earned that right to protest.
Have you ever served? You certainly have a right to your opinion regardless of how insane it is.
Chip - LADY JAG- my guess is you're related to Jack? Protesting against a war we should not have continued does not make someone unAmerican. It makes them a great American.
Reading your posts and those of Jack I see there is still no sanity to be found in the Republican party!
"Should GW Bush and Dick Cheney be imprisoned for their treasonous acts that deceived the American people and resulted in the deaths of thousands of American soldiers?"
What does it matter what Bush or Cheney allegedly did years ago? What does that have to do with Kerry?
With all due respect to Senator McCain for his time in the NVA hole, regarding Kerry and this confirmation, they'll both be blowing smoke up their's and anyone else's who is ignorant enough to believe Kerry was a hero doing anything!
Well themgop and mclame is still sore from.losing two presidential elections,,lmao
And in 2016 they know they will lose yet again,,,now they aremthemreal,losers
Of course it would be McCain out there kissing the liberals a$$. What a worthless American. Both of them!
Not a fan of either Kerry or McCainn....but worthless Armericans......hardly...they both served honorable in difficult times for OUR COUNTRY. I wonder, did you pokey??????????????????????????
C'mon pokey, don't be a worthless American. Did you serve like Kerry and McCain????????????????
Yep, another strategic pawn being moved into place by the DNC Communist Party, soon we will hear Check-Mate and that will be the end of America as we know it, good luck Comrades! NOT!!!
How so?
Republicans are letting him through because he is a senator in a state where they know they can feasibly win seats. Odds are Scott Brown will try again and may actually win.
Pragmatic - Brown WON'T win!
When the dam finally breaks they will be running to hide but they will be found just like saddam,Momar and soon to be Bashar and we will will see some real American heroes.
Robo-
Still trying to get someone to believe that the SKY IS FALLING? Good luck-NOT!
Seeking..........how the frig do you know?
I'm tired of seeing old man mclame and his dangling arms,,running his old pasty faced hole,,just die already,loser
Unfair Bulletman! I know it's time for him to go but your thoughts are harmful and unfair.
scott,
Very true, but sad. Way back when it was a choice between Hillary and John. I was not sure. Then the teabaggers hit. John changed his ways. Not the same. But he did serve as did Kerry. I also was in the service during the Nam conflict. Just in the Navy. Not quite the same as ground pounders.
Who cares what McCain has to say? He's proven himself to be a bloviating, irrelevant, grumpy old man. Sad but true. Time to hang up the spurs, gramps, the pasture is waiting.
A horse is a horse of course, of course.
No horseface!!!!!!!!
Unless its the mr mclame,,
Petition for term limits, it's the only way to get these old geisers off the floors of the Congress and Senate. Talk to the reps of your state, and press for legislation to install term limits. Then pray that someone with the credentials (honesty and a backbone) stands up to run for the offices.
Just make sure that they are Veterans, If the President has a term limit make the congress have a two term limit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kerry is the only one that could train a yacht to move to a different State where taxes are lower!
Hey now that sounds like class warfare!
Nope, sounds like a tax evader....like some others in the Presidents inner circle.
Unless that is where he likes to sail his boat?
If Romney kept his custom built $7.5 million dollar yacht in another state to avoid paying the $500,000 luxury tax the liberals would call him a tax cheat, but it's smart if Kerry does it.
Party of the Hypocrites
What I find so funny about all these posts it that the right is trying to support the lies of the Republicans and the left is trying to support the lies of the Democrats. Until everyone on these board and other boards are willing to be just as hard on their own party as they are on the other party nothing will ever change in Washington. Washington knows that if they keep the American population arguing against each other that they will be able to get away with any and everything.
We the people are allowing ourselves to be lied to by both sides. And we try and support those lies. No one wants to step up and call everyone in Washington a liar. Which they all are.
Until we all start holding everyone in Washington accountable nothing will change. Until we all start telling the side we support to come clean nothing will change. Until we all start telling the side we support to stop playing politics with our lives nothing will change.
Call me names, try and defend your position. The sad fact is all of you know you can lie to everyone else but you cannot lie to yourself. Look at what you are supporting. Look at the big picture. Then ask yourself how long will you allow the lies from both sides the ruin the lives of all Americans.
I too am guilty of what I just wrote. However as of yesterday, before I post anything on any of these boards the first thing I do is send an email to my U.S. Senators and Representative. I don't care if they are Republican or Democrat. I want them to know how I feels about all the B/S coming out of Washington. I also send emails to the President and Vice-President. I don't use some of those sites that send emails for you. I want all of them to know that I as individual can speak for myself. I want all of them to know what I as an individual want them to do. And I plan to send them all emails daily. I want them to know I will find to time in my life to let them know daily what I think.
I don't need AARP to speak for me which I am a member. I don't need the NRA to speak for me which I am a member. I don't need NCOA to speak for me which I am a member. I don't need Oathkeepers to speak for which I am a member. And I can continue. Each and every one of you on these boards need to do the same. If Washington starts getting emails daily from the American people things will change. Coming voting time if everyone stops believing that their vote don't count and go vote things will change. Let's get rid of the electoral college. Let's let the people votes mean something.
So to everyone posting unless you are doing the same, then your comments on these boards will result in nothing changing in Washington. Your name calling and rants will not change anything. It might make you feel good but it will not change a thing.
I want both side to stop showing us how well they can twist the words of the English language to hide the facts. Put the facts out and I mean all the facts not just what supports their agenda.
I want a standalone amendment to the Constitution that make it the law that Congress and the Presidents pay is voted on by the people. They should not be able to give themselves pay raises when neither side is getting anything done. The proposal that only side not get paid is B/S. Neither the House, Senate and President gets paid if there is not budget.
Last but not least, everyone needs to understand that according to the Constitution, which a lot of posters want use to support their positions, the House is task with coming up with a budget. They must be willing to compromise with the Senate and the President in order to get one put in place. And so must the Senate and the President be will to compromise. This our way or no way is not helping the American people. Compromise is not a bad thing.
Semper Fi
Bravo! If I could vote that up 50 times, I would. Thank you for your service and have a good day :)
Well said, but unfortunately there is so much money involved with politicians your wish won't happen until term limits are imposed. I think that is where this needs to start, but I doubt those that will be affected will agree.
But yet the GOP lies can be documented.
"I want a standalone amendment to the Constitution that make it the law that Congress and the Presidents pay is voted on by the people. They should not be able to give themselves pay raises when neither side is getting anything done. The proposal that only side not get paid is B/S. Neither the House, Senate and President gets paid if there is not budget."
I went to a restaurant with friends one night. Our host laid a $100 bill on the table. When the waiter (finally) appeared, our host told him--that's your tip. If you give us good service and do a good job, it's all yours. If not, I will subtract from it. The waitperson wasn't too bright, and as the evening wore on, the tip slowly diminished. I think it was about $20 when we left.
I think this is how we should pay our congress and president. If they do a good job, they get paid. If they play games, filibust, obstruct, use bad faith, "pork" around, etc., then they should see their income (and benefits) dwindle. The decision on the pay could be left up to the American people in their districts (I'd volunteer to count the consensus!). I think an 80% reduction of pay and benefits, just one time, might toast a few nuts.
However, back to the article, the lead to the story read, "How is the US going to solve Syria?" Why does the US need to resolve Syria. Why do we need to meddle in their civil war? It's another third world pest hole that is NOT our problem. Let Syria solve it's own problems. How will it ever learn if someone else comes in and "fixes" it. Unfortunately, many places need to suffer just enough to turn around and say, "Hey, we've got a mess. It's time to fix it ourselves." I feel for the innocents, I really do, but I think many people and places need to experience the horror so that they will not forever embrace it. "It's good that war is so terrible, else we would get to like it." Robert E. Lee
Max: go ahead and document, and see if you can document any liberal lies as well.
Does anyone out there really believe that John Kerry is not an elitist? This guy is typical of the "millionaires club" in Washington DC. He's nothing but a "user" (his marriages confrm that), a spoiled brat (just ask the voters of Massachusetts that paid to have the fire hydrant moved in front of his house), and a poster child of the liberal left ........ meaning everything is okay for us (including Obamacare for example), but doesnt include himself and his bunch in DC. I personally don't think the man is fit for this office or any office and is a disgrace to our country. His dispicable actions and statements regarding our Vietnam vets says all you have to know about the spoiled John Kerry. And I'm sure Hanoi Jane Fonda is wetting her pants over his nomination.
That "spoiled" John Kerry volunteered for duty in Vietnam and won three Purple hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver star.
A "disgrace to our country"? I would match his patriotism and courage against the faux patrotism and war-mongering rhetoric of Republican "chicken-hawks" like GW Bush and Dick Cheney any day.
Yes, he married into money, but do you know where he took his future wife on their first date? To the Vietnam Memorial, where he looked up the names of the friends he served with and lost there.
That doesn't sound like a spoiled brat to me.
tnsevol - you don't "win" medals. They are awarded.
If those medals were so important to him for his "heroic" efforts, why did he make a big show of throwin them away.
Because he came to see the futility of our involvement in Vietnam. We lost 50,000 plus valiant young people. All so today, I can go to San Francisco and catch a flight to Hanoi. Some problems are just not ours to solve, something we all should have learned from Vietnam, but apparently some of us did not. The answer to the "Syria question" should be "it simply is not our problem to solve."
Kerry was a Vietnam Vet and saw the irony of the war, was against it and voiced his opinion to Congress and served in the Congress. Hawk McCain wants to engage our boys in a ground war that is clearly been said Syria would use everything they have to fight against foreigners including sarin gas. What would you do? If the government can be brought down without boots on the ground, what would you do?
Everyone knows this is about Scott Walker getting into the Senate. The GOP do not really think Kerry will be a great SOS.
Scott Brown, not Scott Walker.