How Diplomacy is Done.

[globalvillage]

I posted this in GDP, but I wanted to make sure you all saw it. This is excellent work by the Senator.

Transcript: John Kerry on "Day to Day" with Alex Chadwick

Dec 20, 2006

KERRY: I emphasize to you as we did to the administration, and I met with Secretary Rice before I left, we are a separate and co-equal branch of government. We have important responsibilities to our constituents and the American people for foreign policy. We saw an election of profound importance last November where the Democrats took control of the Congress and we have responsibilities as chairman of sub-committees, as members of the Foreign Relations Committee to get this right. I've been at this for a long time now and the efforts that I made with Vietnam, the efforts that I made with the Philippines, with Central America, with Latin America -- they all came about because we were prepared to try to engage in a discussion and I just believe that it's important to talk. Ronald Reagan talked to Gorbachev. Richard Nixon sent Kissinger to talk to the Chinese. We need to engage. This is too dangerous a world not to. And we're gonna, we're trying to help the administration and I think they will be pleased with today's discussion, I really do.

http://tinyurl.com/y39gw7

Abbas willing to meet Olmert: Erekat

Dec 21, 2006

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Thursday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Erekat made remarks at a joint press conference with visiting U. S. Senator John Kerry, who is a Democrat presidential candidate in 2004.

http://english.people.com.cn/200612/22/eng20061222_334859.html

[TayTay]

1. So nice to hear from an intelligent person

Someone who understands what diplomacy means and that it has nothing to do with playing 'High Noon' games with other people's lives.

Contrast that with what Bush said this week about the recommendations of his own Joint Chiefs of Staff. If only we had a President who understood that if you don't speak with others and engage them in diplomatic efforts, then you are essentially talking to yourself.

I think Bush's performance this week is depressing me even more. He is delusional and refuses to accept any advise the contradicts his pre-conceived notions. This is so dangerous.

[whometense]

2. I think there's some

certifiable mental illness going on there. Don't know whether it's his usual sociopathic behavior ramped up by panic (over his "legacy" - as if it has any chance of being anything but one of shame and disgust), or there's some new pathology, but he looks just plain crazy to me.

It's the new naked emperor - or if you will, the new elephant in the room. No one seems willing to say anything about it. It's pretty scary. Not to mention dangerous.

[MBS]

3. ever since the 2004 debates,especially,

I've been convinced that there is something clinically, seriously, wrong with W. Eventually, I guess, we'll find out what it is But something is definitely physiologically not right. I think it's something more than "mere" panic at being too small a person to handle the job of president, although that 's bad enough. .

[blm]

4. The second article, especially, really needs to go up in GD or GDP.

Great find, gv.