All politics is local (well, today.) JK LTTE to BGlobe

[TayTay]

Sen. Kerry wrote a short letter to the Globe today defending Mike Capuano, a Cong. from Somerville, against charges that he had taken an improper trip on a loybbist's or interest groups dime

I RESPECT Brian McGrory's blunt and honest, never-indifferent observations, even when they sting me and my colleagues. However, his take on Mike Capuano (Traveling to oblivion City & Region, Jan. 20) didn't reflect the Mike Capuano I know who serves his district with guts, heart, and a commitment that sets a high standard for any member of Congress. Massachusetts is well served by the experience and tenacity he brings to public service, and we'd all be better off if he were in the majority cleaning up the Washington that's broken the public trust under one-party rule.

JOHN KERRY
Boston

The writer is a US senator from Massachusetts.

[whometense]

1. Beat me to it!

But The Chimes at Midnight gives props:
http://www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/http://chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/2006/01/writer-is-us-senator-from.html

Thursday, January 26, 2006

"The Writer is a US Senator from Massachusetts"
or so the Globe classified Senator Kerry's ringing defense of Mike Capuano in a letter to the editor in today's edition. I can't give y'all a link cause' th' cheap ass muthas on Morrissey Blvd have it blocked with a sign up page.

Well anyway, good for John I say, he ought to write in more, and if he started calling Brainless Brian McGrory a heinous hack so much the better.
:)
- posted by John @ 6:53 AM

That was one NASTY column.

Kerry link: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2006/01/26/congressmans_backers/

[_dynamicdems]

14. Brainless Brian...I like it. Maybe the moniker it will stick.

}(

He is such a toad.

[Mass]

2. Happy to see that - The column made me mad, largely because

McGrory simply ignored Romney using pharmaceutical industries' plane to go to the GOP Governor's conference.

But it seems that Capuano has a weak defense on this one, even if the travel has some justification given the large Brazilian population in Sommerville.

[ProSense]

3. Yay!

Kerry is doing a great job countering the media BS. And he's everywhere (busy, busy), and countering Bush in everyway.

I'm so proud.

[TayTay]

4. I'm glad someone is reading the papers

and writing in once in a while to get a correction. I love the beginning of the letter ("hey, I get knocked by this guy a lot, but still read him cuz he's lively....)

[blm]

5. GD - Kerry again attacks media for biased artiucle against Dem congressman

How's that for a GD subject line?

Please post in GD. They need to know the fight against the media is ON, and Kerry and Slaughter are already in the water with the sharks.

[TayTay]

6. No, not this one blm

It's too local and I don't want to publicize the Capuano trip allegations. This would be 'echo-chambered' in GD. Not on this one, it's not worth it.

[blm]

7. Gotcha

.

[ProSense]

8. Speaking of the media.

Nothing for days and wind of a Kerry filibuster and suddenly:

Kerry Won't Rule Out Presidential Run
14 minutes ago

DAVOS, Switzerland - John Kerry, who lost the 2004 election for president to George W. Bush, said Thursday that he does not rule out a repeat run.

Asked whether he would run again, Kerry told The Associated Press: "We'll tell you somewhere down the line." Asked whether he would not rule it out, Kerry said: "No — I haven't." The Massachusetts senator was speaking on the margins of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060126/ap_on_el_pr/world_forum_kerry_1

Clinton's fundraising trip to Portland concerns some veterans
1/26/2006, 9:10 a.m. PT
The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Sen. Hillary Clinton's fundraising trip to Portland is under fire from some Democratic veterans, who say she is siphoning away money that could go to local candidates.

The group, which includes Jim Rassman, the Florence veteran who hit the campaign trail with John Kerry in 2004 to speak about how Kerry saved his life in Vietnam, have issued a letter denouncing the former first lady's support for the Iraq war.

"As Oregon veterans and members of military families," the letter says, "we are concerned with your fundraising trip to Oregon on two counts: your strong support for the immoral war in Iraq and your plan to take Oregon donations that are needed elsewhere."

more...

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1138296555108050.xml&storylist=orlocal

[whometense]

10. Hah!

Go Jim!!!!

[ProSense]

13. Check this out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=248734&mesg_id=248734

[Mass]

12. And photos

U.S. Democratic Senator from Boston, John Kerry, left, and his wife Teresa Heinz-Kerry attend a plenary entitled 'Muslim Societies in the Modern World' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday Jan. 26, 2006. The second day of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting promised a blend of celebrity and brass tacks talk of the issues facing the global community, ranging from security against terror to advancing human rights and the struggle against poverty and disease. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)



U.S. Democratic Senator from Boston, John Kerry, left, shares a word with Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Moussa prior to a plenary entitled 'Muslim Societies in the Modern World' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday Jan. 26, 2006. The second day of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting promised a blend of celebrity and brass tacks talk of the issues facing the global community, ranging from security against terror to advancing human rights and the struggle against poverty and disease. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

[whometense]

15. love that first picture!!!!!!!!

Just filched it for the dupe thread. :-)

[jillan]

9. Want I want from Kerry today...

Is him to blog at KOS (since we can't get him here)
about what the mood is in the senate.

Too soon, probably. But heck, Kyl posted daily in the paper when
the committee hearings were going on.

[TayTay]

11. I think I would like to see a staffer sign on and do that.

Since the Senator is in Switzerland and then in Ireland on business. (If he's not here, then, someone else should do it, but with some credibillity and authority in being able to speak for Sen. Kerry.) Hey, at least THK went with him. That's nice.

Wow! he travels a lot! I would be dead after a 12 day trip then a 4 days trip. Wow! Especially after some of the stuff he has to go through to travel to some of these more difficult areas.

Aziz entourage frisked
B. Muralidhar Reddy <P>
Source: THE HINDU
Date: January 25, 2006

The first official visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Washington
has begun on an inauspicious note with the U.S. authorities conducting a physical search of his entourage which included Ministers and Members of Parliament. Mr. Aziz is on an official visit and is scheduled to meet President George W. Bush later on Tuesday. On Sunday, the immigration authorities apparently asked the entourage barring Mr. Aziz to line up in a queue and conducted body search. Some members have been quoted as saying they would ensure similar treatment to their counterparts from the U.S. when they visit Pakistan. The Pakistan embassy sought to play down the incident on the plea that it was routine and even the likes of John Kerry receive the same treatment.

[jillan]

16. Wow - what is he doing there?

Now the real question...how is he going to lead this filibuster if he is out of the country?
This is not good news Tay.

[rox63]

17. I assume he will be back for the vote

When is the vote supposed to happen anyway?

[jillan]

18. tomorrow. Just saw there is an economic forum going on in a

ski resort in Switzerland. Sounds nice. But damm - we need him HERE.

[jillan]

19. I'm sorry - this is really upsetting me.

All over Du, other blogs, there is so much excitement about Kerry leading a fillibuster.
He is out of the country.
I expecting a major Kerry smacking. :scared:
Tell me I'm over-reacting, and that the wonderful Kerry can be
in two places at the same time.

[whometense]

20. I understand your frustration,

but really, I don't see what JK can accomplish in DC that he can't accomplish over his phone from Switzerland.

[TayTay]

21. He can still suggest filibuster to his colleagues.

He doesn't have to be in DC to do that. He talks to his staffers who go and talk to the staffers of other Sens. (Some of whom are probably in Davos or in other locations as well. You know, there are 3 days of very well-established floor speeches scheduled. That is what is going on in the Senate. JK is not physically needed in DC in order to be able to rally the troops for a vote against cloture. That's unnecessary.)

He has said he will break from the ranks of those who weren't saying anything about a filibuster and has spoken out for it. Now, his staff is probably calling around and trying to convince other offices to go for it. The Senator is also probably on the phone doing the same. Ahm, this is the digital age, communications can be done from anywhere and be just as effective.