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Subscribe to RSSAs John Kerry prepares to take his place Friday in the long line of leaders -- including Thomas Jefferson, Henry Kissinger and Hillary Clinton -- who have served as secretary of state, he and President Barack Obama will face some familiar overseas challenges from the past four years:
- Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions;
- North Korea’s erratic nuclear-armed behavior;
- China’s growing economic power and its potential leverage as a holder of U.S. Treasury bonds;
- The horrific civil war in Syria which threatens to spill over into neighboring countries.
And there’s always the specter of a sudden, unexpected international crisis.
But there are also new and developing challenges for the administration and for Kerry, who will be sworn in Friday afternoon, such as the U.S. role in a country that few Americans have heard of or could find on a map: Mali, in north central Africa.
There, the Obama administration has broadened the post-Sept. 11 struggle against jihadists by sharing intelligence with the French, as well as providing them airlift and re-fueling support, to facilitate the French military intervention against Islamists.
This military assistance underscores again why the United States remains -- to use the well-worn phrase Clinton used in a farewell speech Thursday -- the “indispensable nation.”
On Wednesday, John Kerry said farewell to his Senate home of 27 years, as he prepares to take on a new role as Secretary of State. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
When the U.S. or its allies seek to intervene in a place such as Mali, only the United States has an adequate fleet of C-17 cargo planes and KC-135 tanker aircraft to make such an exercise of power possible; the French wouldn't be able to conduct the Mali operation by themselves.
This week the Obama administration also signed a "status of forces" accord with Mali’s next-door neighbor, Niger, allowing U.S. troops to operate in that country and suggesting a new chapter in U.S. engagement in Africa even as Obama is moving to withdraw most U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
The Mali operation is in part an outgrowth of the “lead from behind” U.S. role in the NATO operation to topple Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Professor Michael Mandelbaum of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and author of “The Frugal Superpower” said last October, “In order to get the full benefits of tyrant removal, it may be necessary to put American troops on the ground and that we’re not going to do.”
But with Gadhafi removed from power, his weapons depots were “liberated” and his arms proliferated all over North Africa, including to jihadists in Mali and Algeria, where earlier this month a group of militants attacked a natural gas plant, killing dozens of hostages.
The Pentagon will be Chuck Hagel’s problem (upon confirmation as defense secretary) not Kerry’s, but the new secretary of state is especially worried that America’s role as military enforcer has been hurting its standing in the eyes of other nations.
Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in his confirmation hearing 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 Sept. 11, a role that was thrust upon us.”
He also knows that the traditional U.S. role as a preacher of open economies, free trade and dependable sovereign credit is being undermined by its undisciplined fiscal policy, threatening, he said last week, “my credibility as a diplomat -- and our credibility as nation.”
Kerry’s role as a diplomat and international coalition builder will be difficult for another reason. In the past, when there was a specific threat, American leaders were able to form multinational coalitions to defeat that enemy, as in 1990, when Saddam Hussein’s armies invaded Kuwait.
But two new threats are more diffuse and can’t be attacked on a battlefield:
- Demographic pressure in the developing world: A surging younger generation in developing countries spurs conflict and unrest, particularly in the Middle East where those citizens have played a large role in the so-called “Arab Spring.” In his confirmation hearing, Kerry noted that in his visits over the years to Syria, “President Assad said to me, I have 500,000 kids who turn 18 every year, and I don't have a place to put them; I don't have jobs for them.”
- Climate change: How could Kerry persuade the Chinese to agree to enforceable commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions that might cause disruption in an economy that demands job growth? All Kerry could offer last week is a hope that he and the leaders in Beijing “can find a better sense of the mutuality of our interests and the commonality of goals” so that they could work towards an international accord on greenhouse gas.
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Glad we have people like Kerry to carry out the policies of the Obama administration!
I never imagined that Cagle was so darn stupid. His testimony is disingenuous at best, outright lying at worst. He stumbles over every single question. Obama wants a war with Iran, and filling his administration with Anti-Semites like Cagle was his master plan to war. Obama will get his war, with or without Cagle the Jew hater.
I think we are safe from embarrassment with Kerry. We do not want any Republican making a FOOL of the US around the world, just like Mitt Romney did several times on his "tour"during the Olympics.
Obama picking out his brown shirts for the new fourth Reich?
Rockyroad, you're hilarious. The brown shirts are on the right. It's people like McCain and Graham who are dangerous. They never met a war they didn't like. You numb nuts on the far right scream and yell about Obama being a liberal, a socialist etc. and then you make such a stupid statement? You obviously have no sense of history whatsoever, just a bunch of ignorant prejudices.
uh mikeo - obama IS a liberal and a socialist
mikeo46 gets upset when you question his fuhrer.
After Obama takes down the 2nd Amendment maybe next will be the first? That way nobody will be able to question him ever again.
Well Irespond- if your going to bring up "embarrassing" tours let's not leave out the grand "apology" tour Obama made on our behalf to most of the "peaceful" middle eastern countries.
be more concerned with what wasnt public during obamas apology tour. Shudder to think how much he's compromised this nation behind closed doors
NO ONE HAS EMBARRASSED our country MORE than odumbo has! Even with the media HIDING all his mistakes, we still know enough of them to make him look idiotic!!!
Mrs. Clinton fainted when she found out how much money she has gave to foreign contrie--the most recent $175,000,000,00 to Myanmar---BURMA---and how much the United States tax payers had to pay to devlope the 614-acre industrial park in Haiti---Kerry has already said that the United States need to be more generous with foreign aid--terrible thing to say when Americans are sleeping in tents and cars.
When Clinton's left the white house they were nearly bankrupt due to legal fees. Now they are retired they are Billionaires.
Things that make you go hmmmmm
Government JOBS must pay GREAT!!
Maybe now that he's secratary he can go out onto the white house lawn and pick up his medal he said he threw over the fence when he made his run for pres.....nice to see the POS president stalled on bengazi long enough to get clinton off the hook...the embassidors death is going to fade into obscurrity
I just wondered what happened to the jobs issue now our President has begun his second term. The election was very big on creating jobs, rising income levels and not taxing the middle class. Let's see how that's worked. Payroll taxes went up 2% at the start of the year. Not one discussion about the economy, but rather gun control and immigration reform. Now our President is in his second term, he really doesn't care about the middle class, but rather promoting his agenda.
And to think I had high hopes he would get the economy on track. My mistake.
Kerry is the cherry on nobamas socialist sundae
Well Clinton fled the position while the getting was good. The Middle East is a tinderbox, and in large part because of failed policies of the Obama administration. Clinton felt it is more then likely to erupt in the next four years and wanted to distance herself so as not to hurt her chances of getting Bubba back in the White House. Kerry is an elitist, and no one is going to take him seriously around the globe. Get ready for 10.00 gasoline and heating oil, as the region falls into chaos.
Kerry isn't a bad choice for SoS. Seems to be pretty level-headed when it comes to foreign policy. And I think we're going to need that since Middle-East policies have been bungled so badly in the last 12 years or thereabouts.
I like HC but I think she was not the right choice for that job. Pretty hard to get much respect as a female from the primitives running the Middle East, who think women are chattel. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Her gender disqualifies her for international politics in a world that is largely still misogynistic.
She'll do much better in domestic politics.
Couldn't agree more Rick, there's more going on than meets the eye. It did not go unnoticed that no sooner did the dust settle in January 2009, Hillary was embarking on what would become the most worthless four years since Madeline Albright. Albright really did accomplish more, many praised her work in Central Europe after the conflict in the Bosnia-Herzegovina area. There was never any doubt in my mind that Obama played a hand of poker when he formed his cabinet, with Hillary being one of the future discards, he doesn't need her anymore and has told her to please resign.
I care not for Kerry but he will indeed travel less and accomplish more.
Lesson learned: secure the weaponry!
With John Kerry, we'll have a seasoned, knowledgeable representative in the world who is shrewd eough to learn the lessons of history, old and new.
Americans and their expectation of immediate gratification. It's February first for pete's sake.
The reason the President hasn't said as much about jobs lately is that he has already set up the economy for job growth. Immigration and security are issues that need immediate attention, especially as any second-term president knows he'll have a limited amount of time to press his agenda.
What is the difference what Obama's ideology is he can use the same tactics that was employed by another despot to gain ultimate control.
I just figured out why so many on the right, who regularly claim they hate NBCNews, make comments here. Its because Fox News doesn't allow comments. And Rockyroad, you were concerned about losing the first amendment?
Great....... We have LURCH as our Secretary of State.
Who is going to take this clown seriously???????????
He is a cave-in, spinless, and best yet a bleeder when hit!!!!!!
Get ready for more unstability around the world with more smoke and mirrors all the while our freedoms and lifestyle diminish further.
Amazing that Democrats WOULD FOLLOW AND PUSH FOR A SOCIALIST AGENDA.
Obama could not run on his own ticket as a Socialist, but rather the DEMS took him into their camp willingly.
Vote for the most ridiculous comment so far:
UrbanRoman, Srich, RockyRoad, DaveM, imnotlost, Rick.
Tom someone has to bring reasoned ballace to NBC.
No screaming from Liberials about troops going to Niger? I guess it is only OK for Democrats to start wars. The problem is leading from behind has not put in new stable governments, unless you count the Muslim Brotherhood as stable. I hope he does a better job then Hillary. I just wonder who he will blame for the troubles he will have, Hillary or George Bush?
Obama hasn't had a jobs meeting in over a year. I am sure he will be tring to get more off unemployment so the unemployment rate will drop more, since it is much easier to do that then get real jobs started.
@urban Roman: So if I criticise the government of china, that means I hate the chineese people? If i make fun of the Canadian government, does that mean I hate Canadians? What if I cal the government of Mexico corrupt? does that mean I hate Mexican people? Your assertion that Hagel is an anti-Semite, is just plain wrong. Why is Israel the only country in the world that I can't criticise? Hell, you right wingers say you want to drown the American government in the bath tub. (that's what Reagan said). So are you and "anti-American"?????????? people even want Assault weapons to fight our government, are they "anti-American???? Are they America haters?
@ DaveM. shhhh you don't even know what socialism is. talk about a clown.
That 'someone' is clearly not you.
Kerry won't blame anyone. But if you want to put blame somewhere, it belongs to the Shrub for lying us into a war with the wrong country, a war that nearly bankrupted us and cost us our reputation in the world.
Obama and his administration have done a fantastic job repairing the damage done by Bush.
"...traditional U.S. role as a preacher of open economies, free trade and dependable sovereign credit is being undermined by its undisciplined fiscal policy..." Says it all, doesn't it. Let's keep on SPENDING, SPENDING, SPENDING!
KayBee -
It's shocking how liberals who hated Bush and accuse him of bankrupting our country and starting a fake war think it is fantastic that Odumbo has ran up the highest debt and is now sending weapons to Egypt when they are on the verge of collapse.
You find it ok for terrorist to destroy Israel, fund Obama's buddies who make millions of dollars on failed green energy and support a war in Afghanistan that have lost more lives than Iraq..... You won't let us drill here and criticize the other admin for protecting oil interest in the middle east....
Obama the most corrupt president in history and you love and condone everything he does.
Amazing. Pot, meet the kettle.
As a conservative, I think Bush is a rino and was not in favor of the war in Iraq. I think he was a good president in other ways and I'm smart enough to know that republicans are just as corrupt as democrats.
While Barry and Michelle party with "stars" and billionaires at the whitehouse on our dime..... you just keep drinking the kool-aide because after Barry is done, he and his cronies like Al Gore will be billionaires and no matter how hard you work, you'll never get a leg up because you'll continue to support the elitest and the other people who have no desire to work
Kerry is going to be a bigger failure as Secretary of State then Clinton was...
...I'm just preparing you for it.
...oh, and KayBee; your crack is making you wack! Seek rehab.
If it weren't so darn scarry it would be laughable. Here are the usual lemmings and posters home on hand out programs praising the newest members of the Obama fiasco as another of our Embassies is attacked, the unemployment is rising once again and the illegals are getting a free pass. They are even to blinded by the smoke they inhale to know that many of those "illegals" are from terrorists countries. Obama is trying to take away our guns and another Constitutional freedom guarentee even as the DHS is putting automatic military style weapons in places like the Social Security offices becase as Janet N is "preparing for massive civil war." Good God how did our population get to this degree of denial or just plain stupidity?
Its people like ( Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, John McCain, Lindsey Graham and the Koch Tea movement ) that make America look Stupid !!!
What this Country needs is more like Kerry and Clinton to get our respect back in the World !!!
Republicans did everything in their power to destroy this Nation from lying Wars to Sabotaging our Country!!!
Years 2014 and 2016 will be the end of of republican party, thank god !!!
Kerry can't be any worse then any of the other idiots that have served in that position. My question is this.......what happened to the jobs and the economy? For months and months during the campaign all the talk was about jobs and the economy.........only now that the election is over......the only talk I hear is about gun control, gay marriage, and higher taxes. America has been fooled yet again!!
What are you doing home? Don't want to take that minimum wage job the immigrants are taking?
Wait, wait a minute here. Obama won re-election by convincing millions that it was horrible to be a millionaire, need to hate the wealthy, they're not in touch, etc...Well Darth Vader, I mean Kerry is so wealthy he makes Romney look like a homeless person. Romney was declared a tax cheat by the liberals because he smartly invested in hedge funds that maintain offices in other countries. Kerry purchases a $7.5 million custom built yacht, BUT keeps it in Rhode Island so he can dance around paying the $500,000 luxury tax he'd have to pay if he kept it in his home state. I guess Romney or any GOP would be deemed a tax cheat by the left, but they deem Kerry smart for doing so. And I won't even begin to start with his b.s. medals that he really did deserve, wink, wink. I love the Party of the Hypocrites.
Lets not forget who got this nation into this sad mess, can anyone sad GWB Jr. !!!
every-time you vote a Republican into office we go to War, not one but two !!!
Best way to bankrupt a Country is to vote "Republican" !!!
Kerry will serve our Country with honour and honesty, something the Republican party can not do !!!
Folks, we have a winner of the liberal BLAME GAME. What a tool, your idiot has been President for over 4 years now.
It's a waste of time replying to some of you ridiculous tighty righties.
You people can't handle the truth. But here's a hint for you: turn off Fox, Limbaugh and Beck. After a few days, you're likely to recover enough sanity to tie your own shoes again.
seaskip
Translation: Leftists like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd caused the economic collapse through the sub-prime mortgage industry because they wanted everyone to have the "right" to own a home whether they could afford it or not. They were smart enough to do it while a Republican was in office so they could scream "Bush was at the helm. It happened on his watch". The media drills the story, and the sheeple buy it.
It's amazing how you forget that the intelligence agencies all agreed that Saddam had WMD's, and several top DEMOCRATS spoke about this threat as well. Then, the Democrats voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq.
Remember the news reporting DAILY the running total of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan? Once Obama took office, that reporting went away. Pure, naked propaganda.
What kind of authorization did Obama get before going into Libya? Oh, that's right, he didn't.
Translation: The best way to bankrupt a country is to vote Democrat. They spend endlessly on bloated social programs which reward bad behaviors, and punish the good, and all while DENYING the presence of mounting tensions and strategic problems overseas until a Republican has to send in the military to neutralize the threat.
Honor? You mean like when he testified before congress that our troops in Vietnam were criminals to get himself in the spotlight, recommended himself for Navy commendation medals, and proudly proclaimed he threw his medal over a fence in protest? Gee, if he only publicly burned our flag, the Democrats would give him a Nobel Prize!
BTW, I am liberal in the sense I balieve in liberty and freedom. I am NOT a neo-communist "progressive".
Tomorrow is ground hog day, now Republicans can come out of their holes and learn something from Kerry how to be a gentleman !!!
First on the list is TURKEY !!!
Where was the security ?
Yep, time for Mr. Kerry to be the "Progressive" gentleman !!!!
Wow. I see the idiot RIGHT WING is here today, alive and well. Still, misuing words like socialism and communism and marxism. Still having no idea what those words actually, mean. And, even more stupid, are the comparsions of Obama to Hitler. You guys should have never dropped out of the third grade, in spite of the fact that you already tried to get through it four times.
Nice rant, DMorgan....typical lefty crap....lots of namecalling, but nary a bit of substance. Since you're so goddamned intelligent, why don't you give us your definitions of socialism, communism, and marxism? I'm sure we'd all be not only enlightened , but also highly impressed by your superior intellect!
Will Republicans - John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul start a new investigation and hearing saying Kerry killed three people in Turkey ???
What will Republicans do next to look Stupid !!!
Wow, such venom n hate from the right. I thought you guys wanted Kerry. Or was that just so you could come on here with a new luster of irrelevant hate filled dribble in your never ending contempt for average Americans?
For those who keep comparing Obama to Hitler......get a clue, Hitler was the product of the extreme RIGHT.
Try a little Love in your life..... Can go a long ways.
Much Love n Peace,
Da Pup
>:o):
KayBeeToysBlows
they will turn off when you turn off CNN , NBC , Headline News , OWN , Matthews , Madcow , Krugman and the rest of your lefty racist "news outlets".
...oh , I almost forgot the defacto "leader" of the leftist "news" sources , thats right Jon Stewart on Comedy Central , and note to you leftist followers , he aint funny or smart!
oh also , Kay Bee Toys is a pitiful exuse for a business ,not a personal attack , just an observation
Spider, give him a break, you should be proud that our educational system was able to educate someone of his apparent deficiencies beyond the 3rd grade.
Give him a crayon, he'll be able to draw you a picture.
DMorgan..."critical thinker"
what is "misuing" ?...just the short definition , not the Saul Alinsky "distract or change the subject" definition , thanks
There is no "your definition" of any ism. There is only the definition. If you are lost then look it up, I had to once because I forgot and needed a refresher. The over all point Dmorgan was making, was people consistently comparing those social/government structure is not relevant to U.S structure. Sure there is some minute similarities but not the same.
And in most case the comprable simularity is very reversable.
you mean as opposed to the brown shorts, brown-nosers like Rubio?
Awww, Kerry is your choice, speaks well of a group that have Obama as a tyrannical liberal Socialist Democrat President, a clown for a VP, aka Joe Biden, and now, jerko Kerry. Obama has definitely surrounded hisself with like mindedness, best described as empty-headedness. If it didn't embarrass you that Obama bowed to a muslim, than Kerry will not embarrass you either. its ok, Obama is about to get his just deserves, and then he will enter lame duck, as america can then start climbling out of the hole he has dropped the country into. With Obama raising taxes, his obamacare supporting only large companies , not being able to provide insurance for the poor, which surely he will postpone before it embarrasses him and his administration. yep, obama has done so much for this country, and its all been harm. as usual, Obama surrounds himself with scapegoats, to take credit when things go wrong, and it will, while Obama continues his attack on the 50% of america that didn't vote for him.
"But with Gadhafi removed from power, his weapons depots were “liberated” and his arms proliferated all over North Africa, including to jihadists in Mali and Algeria, where earlier this month a group of militants attacked a natural gas plant, killing dozens of hostages."
It is funny the media is finally figuring out the responsibility for the collapse of Mali. The administration turned a blind eye to all the requests to secure the weapons on the ground in Libya and this is the result. This is another clear blunder by the administration and I mentioned it several times on the blog in May and June of last year. I have a class mate whose family was rather highly placed in the Mali government at the time and they had to flee to Paris because our government refused to act on their government's request for help. Now the clean up will be more costly in terms of life and money. A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The administration's choices lead by Hillary Clinton helped to re-arm the radical Islamics in Africa...go figure...another great example of leading from behind. When you place this with the attack on our consulate in Benghazi you have to wonder why the administration is so accommodating to Muslim extremists in the region?
How do you secure weapons in a country that you don't step foot in?
"Please! Pretty please load the weapons you steal from the warehouse on a truck near the border with the U.S flag on the side"
I am sure that John Kerry will do exactly what his boss tells him to do, just like Hillary did. No independent thinking necessary.
Kaybee:
Only an idiot liberal would name themselves after a toy store that went bankrupt...........
VOTED FOR THE DUMBEST NAME AND AVATAR along with your comments.
Urban Roman
I never imagined that Cagle was so darn stupid. His testimony is disingenuous at best, outright lying at worst. He stumbles over every single question. Obama wants a war with Iran, and filling his administration with Anti-Semites like Cagle was his master plan to war. Obama will get his war, with or without Cagle the Jew hater.
======================================
First, who the hell is Cagle?
Second, it's Netanyahoo who wants a war with Iran, and he's PO'd because Obama won't agree to fight the war for him. How does putting anti-Semites in the administration get us closer to war with Iran, a Persian, Muslim nation, certainly not a Jewish Semitic one.
Get help.
Rabbit Trail: Spider, give him a break, you should be proud that our educational system was able to educate someone of his apparent deficiencies beyond the 3rd grade.
..........Well Bugs, following is a copy/paste from a post by someone ho thinks like you and spider:
Alan Fischer
Mrs. Clinton fainted when she found out how much money she has gave to foreign contrie--
...........Bugs, also checkout my reply above to another of your ideological comrades, Urban Roman, so much for the educationally impaired, as they say: People in glass houses shouldn't......well, you should be able to complete that old saying.
"He also knows that the traditional U.S. role as a preacher of open economies, free trade and dependable sovereign credit is being undermined by its undisciplined fiscal policy, threatening, he said last week, “my credibility as a diplomat -- and our credibility as nation.” "
No kidding - Here are the 2 biggest problems facing the United States today;
1) - The National Debt is projected to be $20.392 Trillion in 2016 - if Obama gets all of the tax increases he's asked for and the economy suddenly starts growing at 5% per year instead of the 2% of the last 4 years (Source - Obama's 2013 Budget). Presidential Budget projections are very optimistic.
Interest Rates on the Debt over the last 30 years before Obama averaged 4.92% per year.
If history is a guide, at $20.392 Trillion of Debt in 2016, we can expect the Interest alone on the National Debt to increase to slightly over $1 Trillion per year in 2016, an increase of over $800 Billion per year above the average of $199 Billion per year paid under Bush. That's an increase of more than $8 TRILLION over 10 years - just for Interest expense. The current 'haggling' over a few hundred $Billion in taxes and spending cuts over 10 years is insignificant compared with this problem.
And the portion of Federal revenues required for Interest expense could increase from 10.02% of ALL Federal receipts in 2008 to 27.6% of Federal receipts in 2016. That dramatic increase in revenues dedicated to Interest expense will crowd out huge amounts of spending that could be used for 'entitlements' and running the government (causing Austerity). That dramatic increase in money spent for Interest will also require huge tax increases, which will cause a huge drop in consumer spending, which will stagnate the economy and cause high Unemployment (ala Greece).
No matter what happens over the next 4 years, EVERYONE will face huge tax increases – just to pay the Interest expense.
2) - Inflation (and Interest Rates) are poised to skyrocket. Any student of Economics is taught that there is a very simple formula that predicts general price levels (Inflation) – Here it is;
M x V = P x Q
In the preceding equation, M is the money supply, V is the velocity of money, as measured by the number of times the money supply turns over in a year, P is the general level of prices, and Q is the quantity of goods and services available, which changes very slowly over time (w/ productivity).
Applying this simple formula, it's easy to see that a significant change in any of these 'variables' will have a direct impact on Prices, as reflected in the inflation rate. Doubling the money supply (M) ultimately leads to a doubling of prices (P) over a relatively short period of time.
What's happening right now is that the Money Supply (M1) has been increasing dramatically over the last few years ($1.4 Trillion in 2008 vs $2.5 Trillion now) because the Federal Reserve has been 'creating' more money to fund the huge current government Deficits. Ultimately, this will be highly inflationary, and if/when the Federal Reserve has to reverse course to counter inflation by reducing the money supply, it will lead to high interest rates and an economic contraction (recession). Generally, the greater the reduction in the money supply, the greater the contraction. In Milton Friedman's book "Money Mischief" he devotes chapter 8 to this subject – 'The Cause and Cure of Inflation'. History has shown that this is a 'Truism' – it has ALWAYS happened in the past.
The main reason that we have not experienced an inflationary spiral to date is the recession, which has resulted in a slowing in the Velocity (V) of money, and the 'lag time' between an increased money supply and its effects, but when inflation begins and people start 'getting rid' of Dollars that are declining in value by buying things, Prices (P) will quickly rise ever faster, thus forcing the Federal Reserve to intervene. A classic example of this process in action occurred in the early 1980s, when Paul Volker (then the head of the Federal Reserve) reduced the money supply, which forced consumer interest rates up to about 18% per year to combat the 14% inflation rate in late 1980. The result was a sharp recession and high unemployment. Interesting point - $1.00 from 1970 is currently worth only 17 cents in equivalent value because of inflation.
For an interesting 'read' on the relationship between M1 and Inflation, I would recommend the following link;
http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation/Money_Supply_and_Inflation.asp
And the reason that it will happen is political ineptness, as shown by a N Y Times article, linked below;
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/opinion/04meltzer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&th&emc=th
Forewarned is forearmed, and 'Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it'.
"Obama picking out his brown shirts for the new fourth Reich?"
Yeah...That's it, you stupid f*ck.
Kerry has liar written all over that plastic face. He should have found a better surgeon to fix that contorted mess he calls a face, he got that from trying to make people believe he was speaking the truth. While he was at it he should have had him stitch some stripes on his arm for when he lied about his military service!
Thanks for your vote, Dave.
Coming from someone with your slant, that is a much-appreciated compliment.
Kerry is a member of the american ruling class in good standing.
An old Skull and Bones man like Bush Sr. & Jr., Kerry married a wealthy heir (the Heinz Fortune).
His Viet Nam Protestor days were mostly a cynical ploy to play both sides of the road to realize his pollitical ambitions: Viet Nam vet and anti-war protestor which was sort of mainstream back in early '70's.
With Kerry I think you will see a continuation of Ms. Clinton's (and Sec.s of state for awhile now) general approach: aggressive maintenance of empire cloaked in "humanitarian" rhetoric.
You only hate Rubio because he is brown. You are a racist.
So 'Swift Boat' Kerry is taking over the State Department from Hilly! Will he do a better job protecting our embassies than she did?
How can a guy who had to fight to get himself a Purple Heart because of an injury he incured when he hurt himself in a training exercise do any better, lol?
Is this an upgrade or a downgrade to the position? Only time will tell. God help our State Department employees overseas in the meantime!!
My only hope is that Kerry doesn't start any wars if he hits a head of state in the head throwing his medals.
this bonehead thinks that the role of America's military is to "change lives"...this fool must have naked pictures or something on that Heinz broads father
I don't have any problem with Kerry being Secretary of State. He's been thoroughly vetted by both sides of the media when he was running for president(unlike our current president). His lies exposed and all the fake apologies have been made. You're setting him up for failure though if his success is measured by convincing any other nation to commit climate suicide like we are. Imagine someone stepping in during our industrial revolution trying to reign things in.
Kerry is a mere millionaire at the moment but in a very short time he will be a billionaire.
Career politicians.
obama's my zero----Kerry is well vetted--giving the U.S. tax payers money away--he would not be any good picking cotten
Kerry is as pompous as they come. A true elitist for which endless examples exist. Not the least of which is forcing taxpayers in Massachusetts to spend over 5 million to move a fire hydrant from in front of his Beacon Hill home. Or keeping his 7 million dollar yacht in another state to avoid paying Massachusetts taxes. The epitome of the do as I say not as I do liberal Democrat. But make no mistake, even Republicans knew that Massachusetts voters were never going to be smart enough to rid the Congress of a career political sham, so they pat him on the back and shove him out the door. Kerry's political career is going to end badly with all the chaos set to erupt in the Middle East.
...and you're not any good spelling it.
What's your point? Is there a cabinet position for Chief Cotton Picker?
You should apply.
We're in trouble now with old horseface as SOS.
That's not the right title. You need to rearrange the words, and it's not a cabinet position.
Kerry lost me when he ran for Pres. Are there no other choices for SOS?
Kerry will do fine!
Reporter writes " Few peple heard of or can find on a map", or words to that effect, Talking about Mali. Curry thinks people are stupid.
Unfortunately, if you don't think that is the case, just ask a few people where Mali is. The responses may surprise you. If you asked the average high school student today to point out North Dakota on a map they couldn't, and worse, they could care less. But, they sure know what is going on with DWTS.
No worries Obama will probably gift them some of our most advanced weapons as well soon.
*see free F-16's to Egypt for reference*
mikeo is right, most people don't know geography. I actually had to take it in high school, but now it's rolled into a class called Civics. And we wonder why our children don't do well in education. It's the dumbing down of America.
What's a DWTS?
When the US sees a major economic downturn in the fourth quarter and people believe it when Obama, Reid, and Pelosi blame it entirely on Republicans for a cut in spending, asking about where Mali is on a map is just making fun of them. People probably aren't really that stupid, but they are being what Democrats want them to be. A cut in spending, now that one is priceless.
Coyotehunter...DWTS = Dancing with the stars
Rick? how is one tenth, of one percent, a major down turn? I'm sorry, what planet did you say you where from?
kinda like the "great recession of 0.06% during Clinton time. Do you even know what a recession is?
hey, found any WMD"S yet? no? didn't think so.
Rockyroad- Do you have any clue what you are taking about? The F-16 is not a modern weapon. I know your stuck every night whacking off to "maverick" with your right hand and "Ice Man" with your left but lets get out of the 80's. We haven't had those planes in service for many years. In fact starting next year we switch from f-18 to the new lightning stealth F-35. So what do you thing we should do with all those planes let them sit?
Hell no sell them they are out dated and help pay for the new.
@Deebo, block 50 and 60 F-16's are pretty advanced and modern, LM is still producing them for foreign users.
Oh another memory challenged liberal that hails from Fantasy Land. george pauljohn the reported economic growth the third quarter was 3.1%, and that plunged to 0.1% which by any definition is a major downturn. Since two consecutive quarters of negative growth is the definition of a recession, the Obama recession is but a quarter away.
Hey, studied any history beyond the Bush years lately? Didn't think so.
"foreign aid" keeps the weapons industry fully employed.
I'm an Isolationist. F@ck the rest of the world and let's take care of our own. Foreign Aid just means our tax dollars.
I used to think people who said things like this were a little nuts but I'm tending to agree with you.
How would Americans feel if Russia or China had bases in America?
Close all foreign basses!! Bring our troops home!
I'm kinda leaning the isolationist way myself. Seemed to work well when we had control of who came into the country and for what. We did just fine supporting ourselves with OUR stuff we MADE here.
Remeber when products used to say "Made in America"?
Isolationism will lead to the destruction of america as we know it today. The rest of the world (China, Japan, russia, korea's watch's us very closely, if we take the isolationist road, they will pounce on the chance to take our place in worlds economics and power...
Coyotehunter we lost that about 4 years ago.
Please pay attention.
We tried being Isolationist several times before. All it did was create larger desasters for Us and the world. During the early 1800s leading to the war of 1812, during the early 1900s, 1930s leading to WW1, and WW2. You can see some differance in Iraq, and Egypt. We have to trade with other countries, if we stopped were would we get the majority of our goods we buy everyday. Even some of our food comes overseas and foreign nations. As history proves we can not be isolationist. That has proved deadly. The lion can still eat you if you stick your head in the sand. Years ago we used to be a shinning light that other countries, and their people wanted to be part of, but lately we have turned off that light and have desided to join them in the darkness, too bad.
Remember when republicans cared About America? I don't
Isolationism means Exxon can't take oil from other nations. I means that the diamond mines in Africa would belong to the African people. Isolation would mean people all over the world would have to decide their own fate and multi-national companies would not be able to decide for them. Isolationism just won't due. The foundation families would lose too much money.
Yeah -- following the 8 DESTRUCTIVE, CALAMITOUS YEARS of Dumbya Bush.
Gotta understand Foreign Aid, folks! With that dough comes an understanding that if need be the US will use that aided nation as a stepping stone to where the US will be going to. Remember, A-Stan is but a stepping stone to Iran. That is how it works! Got tons of time in that game. Know it better than most. How do you all think the US got into A-Stan? Foreign Aid to Pakistan. Bottom line, it's better to fight them outside yer fence than inside yer front yard! At the minimum, Kerry wore the Uniform regardless and answered to someone else. We'll see...
I'm not sure which is scarier...our enemies, the guy in the White House, or Kerry.
And then they (liberals) wonder why we think we need our guns....
They're all the same.. Scary creatures..
I would say option 4. YOU!!! You scare me more than anything that you honestly think thing are so different today than say 10 years ago and that you could compare them to terrorists. Does the paranoia keep you up at night? Please keep the safety on there is no need to worry.
I do not like Senator Kerry to be head or Secretary of state. Just because he was in Viet-Nam. What does being in Viet-Nam gives a Senator the right to be a Secretary of state. This Senator bad mouthed the Viet-Nam war. Does being over seas qualified anyone to be a Secretary of state.
John, when you're over here at NATO Headquarters stop by my section; we will go have a good Belgium Beer. Also, in case nobody told you yet, the French and the Brits have already moved into Mali. They are just waiting for us to show up to that party.
They need us to haul all their @!$%# in and the bodies out, we have the airlift power, they don't...we'll be there soon enough.
Great way to impress the Natives Kerry! Start out the tour by Crying in front of the whole World, You libs might think that is a sign of tenderness but the rest of the world sees it for what it is: "Weakness" another American Sissy to bully around. So, We move from a self serving liar to a full blown Crybaby Wimp!
Kerry and Bawling Boehner, way to impress the world leaders....Next election at senatorial and congressional level the first thing should be for candidates to drop pants or lift skirts to see if the have any BALLS!!
No one in D.C. has balls, they all are self serving a333333s wipes.
I guess Kerry will follow Der Fuhrer without question as Obama removes the Constitution and declares himself supreme ruler.
Rockhead - Do you really think that if you say something stupid time after time people will believe you?
Grampa, don't look at rockyroad, look at what Obama is actually doing. For someone who though Excutive Orders should be outlawed and declared unconstitutional, he has nearly single handed made more of them then all the privious Presidents combined.
Yes he will, & the so called suprme court will help all they can.
Rockhead - Do you really think that if you say something stupid time after time people will believe you?
Of course they will, half the people in this forum actually believe the same way he does. Complete f*cking idiots.
Great another MILLIONAIRE politician that will soon be a BILLIONAIRE..
I know this is asking a lot - being a part of the most corrupt administration in America's history
But - Please be honest with the American People - Don't take folk for stupid
John Kerry - the distinction of being a Democrat so rich - he makes Mitt Romney look Middle Class
Taking the american people for stupid has worked great for him so far, why whould he stop?
The horrific civil war in Syria which threatens to spill over into neighboring countries. that's right and it have ambiguity
Kerry and Hagel will see to it that Obama gets all the help he needs to get us totally embroiled in Africa and it's problems. Africa has always been on Obama's hidden agenda's. We've had 'boots on the ground' in Djibouti and Kenya since the Bush administration. Bush has set the groundwork. Obama has since gotten us involved in Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Congo, Rwanda, Libya and Egypt just to name a few. Then, there's Niger and Mali. A blind village idiot should be able to see by now what Obama's purpose has been all along.
Really? Obama emporer of Africa ? Cool......
You happen to own guns per chance ??
WOW, the right wing nut jobs are out in force today, beating the war drums. Let's conquer everybody, because we are the United States. What a bunch of idiots you all are. But, I'm betting none of you have ever served in a war zone. Look at the fool roger-2839865 still bringing up the "swift boat" attacks that were totally discredited so many years ago. But when that's all you nut jobs, and haters, have to hang on to, go for it.
I spent 3 years squatting in a rice paddy , sonny - so keep your trap shut about anyone else being in a war zone. I can read in your post how wet behind the ears you are - let me guess mikeo - your 20 something , still living in your folks house, never had a job much beyond flipping burgers much less serving your country in a time of war. Maybe you should keep your pie hole shut on subjects you know nothing about - that way , you wont look like such a boob
I'm a retired decorated combat vet and I hate war worse than my ex wife and that's saying something there. If I had my way or say about our foreign policy i'd vote we shouldn't have a single soldier or Marine outside CONUS. Why do we have 163 foreign bases ? It's just pathetic. We have the Navy and the Air Force. Why the bases other than perhaps 20% of what we have to support our Navy ? What atrget on this planet can we not hit from Missouri ? (We have the B1's and B2's there) We piss and moan about our deficit, then, give billions to dozens of foreign countries who hate us. Our gold flow is such that we send trillions overseas supporting local economies there rather than here. Meanwhile, we have 250,000 homeless veterans in this country on any given night.
I agree - we shouldnt be giving billions in money or our best weaponry to any but our closest allies but we are not an island. Peace and stability in the world during most of the 20th century was directly due to a stong US presence. We cant be an island. Since day one , obama has sought to diminish the US as a super power.
Our Embassy in Turkey has just been attacked - Time to get to work Kerry - Keep it honest
@PC/Not -
I in no way advocate isolationalism. I believe we can get by fine on 20% of the bases we now have and attempting to say that soldiers (army) and Marines are the "boots on the ground" which I dont believe is neccesary. The emphasis on foreign policy should change to an "america first" mindset. We can't be an island, I agree. The last time we tried that, the Canadians in 1812 came down here and got all rowdy and burned down the White House. But, this isn't 1812. We can reduce our deficit by simply trying a little better to stay out of everyone's business by fighting their wars for them. It's the army and Marine presence I disagree with mostly.
Kerry is a spoiled super rich kid that is clueless.
Kerry was quoted as saying that America needs to be more generous to other countries????
Help America FIRST!!
Miky46....Eat sh_t and bark at the moon you pogue....
@Perry,
It ends up costing more to close, move equipment and cleanup bases than it does to keep them open. Overseas bases also serve to enlighten our own people as they actually see the rest of the world and how it operates.
It only costs more at first. Then there is no cost.
Say you have a very badly leaking roof. Do you pay the up front money for a new and be worry free fro the next 10-20years or keep paying monthly repairs that in the long run cost 3 times a new but yet you never solve the problem?
Mikeo - you are so correct - the right wing folks are all gathered here. I wonder why they do this when Fox has a web site. the only reason they post here is to insult the Democrats and also to read and reinforce each others misguided posts. sorta like the blind reading the blind.
I really do wish they would learn how to spell when insulting the President. sometimes it seems like the rantings of a pack of little boys getting ready to go out and play "bad guy"
mikeo46,talk about hanging on to things? When are the liberals going to let go of the civil war, and quit playing the race card? By the way..your comments regarding wars?????? You didn't do to well in American history either did you? Maybe you were demonstrating your right to express your individuality.
Funny but are'nt you guys the ones with the confederate flag?DUH!
If I had my way or say about our foreign policy i'd vote we shouldn't have a single soldier or Marine outside CONUS.
I agree...simply read stuff by Major General Smedly Butler.
mikeo, the veracity of your comment was amply proven by the dimwits who insulted you.
We sane Americans must carry on.
Get us out of the middle-east and Afghanistan and stay out of Syria so that we can move totally into the middle of all the problems in Africa. Even the Iranians got to Zimbabwe before we did for the Uranium, and the Chinese already off to a great start knowing the value of all the natural resources and minerals there. Africa here we come folks. Get used to it.
Rember,"I voted for it befor I voted against it", what a great statesman. Yes ROCKY, He will follow Der FUEHRER wherever he goes. By nominating Chuck and John Der FUEHRER shows this country where it is heading and the liberal press goads all the blind sheep to follow.
Fire bad!! GRRrrrrrr!
The ambiguity is exciting to intertwining
Perhaps Kerry could look into Al Gore's links to foreign interest with his recent huge income increase through foreign oil - which he has protested against and made millions off on for years
John Kerry and Al Gore - two ultra rich democrats - selling the we're on your side fable - for years
Because we make war legal,even the Second Amendment says it's legal to make
war even against ourselves.That's why wars are not of God,wars are not only
destructive against others but destructive against ourselves.What's the
difference between an American killing 20 children with a weapon of war,and an
American soldier killing about 15 children in Afghanistan with a weapon of war
in war,or killing chldren in a battle of war,even by mistake,we see a difference
war is legal,the other is not.But to God both are not of God,as Jesus says if
you do it to one of the little children you do it to me.
Breaking News - US Embassy in Turkey has just been attacked this morning
Time to get to work John - Keep it honest
Just blame it on Hillary. Not on his watch until this afternoon. Somebody could'a put a hand grenade in a potato gun for all we know at the moment.
What difference at this point does it make?
Isn't he a one percenter that some time ago tried to avoid paying sales taxes on a luxury yacht he bought??? Thus continues the hypocracy of the Liberal mentality!!!
For those proud and many Obama supporters, Kerry is just another anarchist dispatched to do O's bidding. Iran will go nuclear on O's watch, Israel will suffer a crushing attack on O's watch and the US will permanently and incontrovertibly be relegated to obscurity on O's watch. And O will be regaled and exalted as the "One." In reality, he is a social experiment run amok whose reign only exists as a reaction to our guilt for past indiscretions.
John, John, time to leave the yacht and the kooky old lady in the Boston brownstone. Turkey is on fire and you need to get there to calm the waters. Take O with you.
I just figured it was a conspiracy by all dem thar democritters.
Do you own any guns ? NRA member ?
Pretty funny stuff.I would much rather have that BAFFOON back bankrupting the country with fake wars.HEY! Seen any of those weapons of mass destruction? NAH,never were any.
Glad we have somebody with integrity now!! er... NO this guy was a fellow Skull&Bones member with GW BUSH. Thus he CAN keep a secret, but his allegiance is NOT for us. He is deeply corrupted man.
Get off the Bush BS will you? .Bush left office 4 yrs ago ,and its obama that has spent 6 trillion dollars .IN 4 YRS .Iraq has been over for almost 2 yrs where are the savings that he claims that the country would reap when it ended? Four yrs of hell and its all obama s fault.
@JEMOZINGO, why should people get off the Bush BS when a bunch, a whole bunch of you people still have CDS? When you can explain that, then I could agree with you. Until then, you come across as being a very hypocritical person.
And yes, 4 more yrs of Obama. WHY did the GOP lie to the American people when they said Obama was going to be a one term President? Must really suck, lost the oval office twice in a row, all to a black man. No wonder you hate him. How do you think McCain and Romney feel about losing to him?
Ahhh and is the norm, the left brings out the race card. Only took a little over a page of comments. Well, that is a little later than normal but good job Sally Anus.
and you tea billy hacks whine when people call you names... not to mention you are just a pig... you kiss your mother with that mouth buttbreath?
I wouldn't bring up Bush in the context of John Kerry...It's too funny when liberals do...
Funny because of how this great man of integrity and great intelligence couldn't even beat the dumb unsophisticated cowboy Bush in an election...
Changing from Clinton to Kerry will be about the same. Only he's taller and more monotone...
Leftward
Being a civil debater I see. Or just a masterbater?
@Sallyann. Sallyann you are apparantly a RACIST. No one said anything about Obama being Black, but you. According to you If you are Black, you are without fault. Not so.
Get your facts straight: Democrats destroyed the Economy. Bill Clinton signed into law the "Sub Prime Loan Scam" backed by the Democrats in Congress, Al Sharpdumb, Jesse Jackass, and ACORN with their New Executive Director, Barack Hussein Obama from Kenya.
Also, Bill Clinton is the one that even after the First WTC bombing in Apr 93, he ignored the threats from Osama Bin Laden, allowed Islamic Jihadist to flood into America. Muslims planned, trained, and prepared for 911 while George Bush was still Gov of Texas.
Bill Clinton could have taken out Osama Bin Laden at least 3 times but failed to do so and Presto we have the world we have today.
Bill Clinton and the Democrats also gave NORTH KOREA the Nuclear Bomb. How's that working out.
Barack Hussein Obama is a FRAUD and is President due only to Voter Fraud. That's what "The Woods Fund" and ACORN are organized for. To create voting blocks and control voting Machines. Obama contracted with SCYTL of Barcelona, Spain to fix the election. see for yourself www.scytl.com
Can you believe it? Obama also gave SCYTL a contract to count the votes for the Department of Defense. A Socialist Company, in a Socialist Country, got $100 million Tax payer's Dollars to fix the election for Barack Hussein Obama.
The Obama Administration is illegal, corrupt, and criminal. The Government is now Dysfunctional and will remain so until Obama is Impeached or leaves office.
Obama is arming his friends and supporters and taking the weapons away from his enemies. Obama is giving the Muslim Brotherhood 20 F-16's and 200 Abrams Tanks. Egypt is broke and falling apart. Obama and the Criminals in Chicago, LaRaza, CAC, CAIR, Organizing for Action, Organizing for America, ACORN, are the only ones supporting The Muslim Brotherhood, cause the people of Egypt are fighting against them.
They wonder why in hell is the USA supporting a Muslim Dictator. That's rather obvious, don't you think?
Kerry ,Oh really ? Another joke from osama to America.My opinion ,the dems are totally stupid.Know one remebers the Winter Soldier scam he tried to pull on the US, when he and other phoney vets, claimed to have seen American soldiers commit atrocities in Viet Nam Then lie about a trip to Cambodia ,on Christmas eve .Yea what a choice for a job to protect America!How about when ,in my opinion, he murdered a defenceless, wounded teenager with a 45 cal. pistol.
@JEMOZINGO, you mean My Lai wasn't an atrocity? Didn't American soldiers kill women and children there? Lt. Calley's name come to mind right away on that. Your slant on history isn't working. Quit trying to re-write history, as you won't be able to make a living on that slant.
SallyAnn - until you have had to dodge a hail of bullets, mortars, RPGs and grenades tossed by women and children - keep your liberal never-served-in-combat opinion to yourself before talking about ANYONE's actions in war. I do not defend war atrocities committed against innocent people. But, if you werent' there to see it in person, experience it in person and rely solely upon Dan Rather's accounts of Vietnam - well, enough said...
doggie... everyone has a right to an opinion... even a rude prick like you.
There are always atrocities in war... NO ONE can claim any moral high ground on that... enough said
There is no such thing as an atrocity in war. It is war. Why the hell do you think Afghanistan has drawn out to damned long. You go in, do what you have to to get the enemies attention, and get out when they say "enough we can't take anymore". Period. Fighting a war and being PC and touchy feely gets you nowhere. You avoid what you can in the area of collateral damage but sh!t happens.
talk... if you truly believe there are no atrocities in war... you are a flippin' moron... heartless tea billy hack, maybe
Hand - there are certainly atrocities that can be committed in war - The Holocaust comes to mind first, and there are definitly more......
left - show me in my words where I was a rude 'prick'. Unlike you - I did not call anyone any names.
Another situation where someone makes a cogent non-rude comment without insults - then gets insulted because that is the only defense/offense a limited education will allow for some in the heat of an intelligent discussion.
leftward lost -
No a realist. You on the other hand live in the land of unicorns and rainbows and think looking at those through your rose colored liberal hack glasses makes everything all better.
InDogpatch, the Holocaust was perpetrated by the "leader" of the people he performed those atrocities against. Not committed by the opposition or enemy who would defeat him later.
telling someone to keep their liberal opinions to themselves because they have not been sprayed with bullets... ignorant and rude... insulting as well
save the passing of judgement for your fellow teatard friends... your entire ideology is offensive
Talk...
Now that's a load of BS. By it's very nature war is an atrocity. But the deliberate murder of non-combatants brings it to a level beyond the boundry of war. The Geneva Convention and our own UCMJ spells this out quite clearly.
left - "telling someone to keep their liberal opinions to themselves because they have not been sprayed with bullets... ignorant and rude... insulting as well save the passing of judgement for your fellow teatard friends... your entire ideology is offensive"
A truer statement has never been made by a rear-echelon troop - or someone who has not been sprayed with bullets....in combat, in 'da hood' or ever had to decide their own answer to "live, die, fight or flight".