In recent years, John Kerry seems to have settled into a new role in the Senate. The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee finally got a major chairmanship at the helm of the Foreign Relations Committee. And he’s been in the thick of several major issues from climate change and health care reform to Afghanistan/Pakistan relations. It was Kerry who pushed through $1.5 billion in annual non-military aid to Pakistan. And so it was Kerry who went last week to tell Pakistan that if they don’t find a way to reset relations, all that money – plus $3 billion each year in military aid – could be at risk.
How do you react when you suspect a friend has been aiding your worst enemy? If you’re Rep. Ted Poe, you demand they prove their loyalty. “Pakistan has a lot of explaining to do. It seems unimaginable that Osama bin Laden was living 1,000 yards away from a military base in a million-dollar mansion built [...]
Crowley wrote back in December: [The WikiLeaks cables] support the idea that Kerry has been an effective envoy for the Obama administration–a kind of utility player who can lay diplomatic groundwork for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or step into a crisis where other officials can’t–as when he assuaged an ornery Afghan president Hamid Karzai [...]
What is it about Senator Lindsey Graham that brings out the Mr. Smith in the most inveterate politicians? First, Chuck Schumer unveils their working draft of immigration legislation in the vain hope that by making a good faith, bipartisan bid some other Republicans might sign on; the response has not been deafening. Now Senators John [...]
If the weekend is any guide, the Senate health reform bill is not likely to undergo much tweaking. Between Friday and Sunday, despite hours of debate on the Senate floor, the only amendments that passed were those from Democrats simply reiterating things the bill already calls for. One sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was a [...]
Yesterday, when Republicans on the Senate Environment and Publics Works Committee boycotted a mark up of Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry’s climate change bill, things looked bleak for getting a bipartisan measure to the Senate floor. The atmosphere poisoned even the most eager Republican for a climate change bill, retiring Ohio Senator George Voinovich. [...]
John Kerry gave a good, detailed speech about Afghanistan policy today. His sense that McChrystal’s 40,000 request is too much, too soon is especially noteworthy. I hate to make predictions, but just this once: I still think Obama will approve 20-25,000 troops–two brigades to secure Kandahar city and environs, plus three to train the Afghan [...]
Roll Call takes a look at the annual disclosure forms. And while we won’t be playing violins for any of them, it does appear that the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committe might consider finding another financial planner.:
Four years ago John Kerry took the stage on a rainy April evening in Chicago. It was the day after the Illinois primary – the contest that put Kerry over the 50% threshold of Democratic delegates and made him nominee presumptive. He was there to campaign on behalf of the newly minted Democratic nominee to [...]
