Kerry in MA - a few of the articles in the news

[Mass]

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/us_sen_john_kerry_makes_campai.html?category=Politics

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, seeking to win re-election this fall, visited the Pioneer Valley today, making stops in Springfield and Northampton.

Kerry, who has been in the Senate for 25 years, stopped at the Raymond J. Sullivan Public Safety Complex in Springfield and saw some of the new firefighting equipment from federal grants, then his campaign hosted a reception at the Red Rose Pizzeria in the South End.

Earlier in the day in Northampton, Kerry toured the police station and the city-owned building known as the James House with Mayor Mary Clare Higgins before meeting with a consortium of educators at the Senior Center. The city is planning to build a new $12.5 million facility next to the existing police station, which dates back to the 1950s.
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VIDEO at the link.
http://capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/116990/senator-kerry-hosts-energy-hearing/Default.aspx

Senator Kerry hosts energy hearing
Updated: 05/28/2008 05:22 PM
By: Ryan Burgess

PITTSFIELD, MA -- "I think it's completely up to Hillary Clinton to make the decision about what she thinks is the right thing to do," said Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.

That's his opinion on whether Hillary Clinton should drop out of the presidential race. Although some suggest the long fight for the democratic nomination is hurting the party, Kerry says that's not the case.

"I think, personally, in the end this is strengthening our party. We're campaigning in states we don't normally organize in. We're registering new people to vote by the tens of thousands. And I think in the end, the party's going to come together, the party's going to be united and we're going to have a much more energized base than we've had before," said Kerry.

Kerry was in Pittsfield to host a U.S. Senate committee hearing on the soaring cost of energy in Massachusetts. After local business leaders testified about the challenges they face, the Senator said costs need to get back under control for the consumer

[Mass]

1. And, for those who like me missed it, this editorial by Kerry about Iran

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/23/AR2008052302170.html

The Wisdom In Talking

By John F. Kerry
Saturday, May 24, 2008; Page A21

As President Bush commemorated Israel's 60th anniversary by attacking Barack Obama from overseas, here at home he found an all-too-frequent ally: John McCain.

When Bush accused "some" -- including Obama, Bush aides explained -- of "the false comfort of appeasement," McCain echoed this slander.

"What does he want to talk about with Ahmadinejad?" McCain asked, fumbling to link Obama to the Iranian president's hateful words. Soon, a GOP talking point was born.

Lost in the rhetoric was the question America deserves to have answered: Why should we engage with Iran?

In short, not talking to Iran has failed. Miserably.

Bush engages in self-deception arguing that not engaging Iran has worked. In fact, Iran has grown stronger: continuing to master the nuclear fuel cycle; arming militias in Iraq and Lebanon; bolstering extremist anti-Israeli proxies. It has embraced Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and spends lavishly to rebuild Afghanistan, gaining influence across the region.
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[politicasista]

2. Thanks for posting this

Nice pic also. :)

[beachmom]

3. I liked this local story, too:

http://www.ack.net/052908Kerry.html

Kerry talks to Panchy’s honors U.S. history class

By Lindsay Pykosz
I&M Staff Writer


U.S. Senator John Kerry made a surprise visit to a small group of history and social studies students at Nantucket High School Tuesday morning.


During his brief visit, Kerry responded to a variety of questions from the students on topics surrounding the current economy, the 2008 election and the possibility of democracy in Iraq.

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Rachel Siegel, a junior, is working on a project about the Freedom Riders. Jumping at the opportunity, she did not hesitate to ask Kerry about his first-hand experiences with the civil rights activists who tried to desegregate the South.


“Tell me what your experiences with the Freedom Riders were like,” she said.

Kerry answered by saying that he helped raise money and drove down south one spring from New Haven, Conn.


“It was a shock for me,” continued Kerry. “I was a kid from the North seeing signs that said ‘Whites Only’ and ‘No Coloreds Allowed.’ There was a lot of animosity and it was dangerous sometimes but it was a great thing to be involved with.”

I didn't know that Kerry was involved with Freedom Riders. Does anyone have more info on this? Anyway, that is really nice that he went and talked to students.

[beachmom]

4. Another one from Salem News:

http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_151203134.html

During a meeting Thursday with editors of The Salem News, Kerry shared an update on his ailing colleague, Ted Kennedy; addressed the possibility of accepting a post in presidential candidate Barack Obama's cabinet; pitched a plan to help reduce gas prices; and stressed the vital importance of alternative energy options.

Kerry expressed hope that Kennedy's tenure in Congress wouldn't be cut short.

"He's a great partner and a wonderful mentor to me for 24 years, and I hope that's going to continue," he said of Kennedy, who was recently diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

"We're all pulling for him," Kerry said.

Like Kennedy, Kerry is a staunch and outspoken supporter of Obama, who was launched to national prominence after delivering a speech at the convention that nominated Kerry for president four years ago. Despite the close connection, Kerry brushed aside the suggestion that he might fill a role in an Obama administration, should the Illinois senator succeed in the fall.

"I have no intention of it," Kerry said during a meeting at the newspaper's Beverly headquarters. "I'm running for re-election for the purpose of being elected and serving. That's my plan. To start making decisions based on some type of hypothetical just doesn't make a lot of sense."


MORE at the link