http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /607230360

Kerry knocks Bush on handling of Mideast conflict

Valerie Olander / The Detroit News

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D- Mass., who was in town Sunday to help Gov. Jennifer Granholm campaign for her re-election bid, took time to take a jab at the Bush administration for its lack of leadership in the Israeli-Lebanon conflict.

"If I was president, this wouldn't have happened," said Kerry during a noon stop at Honest John's bar and grill in Detroit's Cass Corridor.

Bush has been so concentrated on the war in Iraq that other Middle East tension arose as a result, he said.

"The president has been so absent on diplomacy when it comes to issues affecting the Middle East," Kerry said. "We're going to have a lot of ground to make up (in 2008) because of it."

Kerry lost by a narrow margin to Bush in 2004 and plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2008.

Today marks the 12th day of fighting between Israel and Lebanon. Israel launched air strikes after Hezbollah militants, whom operate within Lebanon, kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in an attempt to swap them for prisoners.

Israel began a ground invasion, sending tanks and troops across the border as thousands of Lebanese have fled to escape the fighting.

Hezbollah guerillas should have been targeted with other terrorist organizations, such as al-Qaida and the Taliban, which operate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kerry said. However, Bush, has focused military strength on Iraq.

"This is about American security and Bush has failed. He has made it so much worse because of his lack of reality in going into Iraq.…We have to destroy Hezbollah," he said.


Funny, I don't remember him mentioning the urgent need to "destroy Hezbollah" during the 2004 campaign.

Man, Kerry is embarassing

two minutes after that article went to bed, he changed his mind

I didn't know he formally declared his intention to run in 2008. And what would he have done differently?

F Kerry

F Bush

F 'em all.

Keep talking, John. You're washed up.

If Al Gore said this, he might have a point, but by 2004 the damage was done. Get over yourself, John.

who the hell are the Dems going to run next time round?... and please, for the love of Jesus, Jewish God, and Tom Cruise, don't say Hil

oh sweet laughter.

Fuck it, I'm running.

hillary in '08.

I hope Hillary runs... I would take great joy in watching her get crushed in the election

You're Jewish, you don't stand a chance.

John Stewart with Colbert as his VP.

I don't have a big problem with Hillary, but I agree that she would get crushed. I think the country will have grown tired of the Bush-Clinton-Bush-(Clinton?) dynasty. Jeb Bush is a possible candidate in 2012 if the Democrats take the Presidency in '08, but again he runs into the same problem.

I'll just vote for whoever Eddie tells me to.

Your posts here in RM will really fuck up your chances

So, PunkDavid aside, who is going to be running for president. John Kerry wants it, I've heard of him, he seemed a reasonable alternative. What are the likely suspects like? Any of George W's current associates interested in picking up his torch?

i dont follow politics enough to know a whole lot... but here's what im guessing... and maybe im way off, but who knows...

i think McCain has been setting us all up for a long time... you know, being the one "good" Republican out there that "understands" the Dems and all... i say he runs and fools all the Dems/Libs into believing his BS... he's been the one who actually "stands up" to Bush and all here-and-there... but again, i think it's all a front to fool.... we'll see...

and if Hil gets the Dem nomination, the Repubs will be laughing all the way to the White House... sorry, nobody will actually vote a woman into the WH... it's just like one of those things you say to sound nice and all, but when ballot time comes, she'll lose in a landslide

It's not about her being a woman, it's about her being HILLARY, who for all her talents is really a detestable person, with almost no actual experience.

2008 is going to be the ugliest election in history.

i think for her to have ANY chance, she would do best as a very very active vice president first. Providing she does more good than harm, of course. Perhaps by taking on very personal, semi-non dividing issues like healthcare, education, feeding the poor, etc.

Personally, I think she would do well, I like her. But you never know, right?