The dictum, "first, do no harm" is typically applied to physicians, but I think works here. At this point, when Senator Obama has the nomination all but locked up, it's what the Democratic party leadership must insist on from Sen. Clinton if she's going to stay in the race.

Lately, Mrs. Clinton has attempted to make the only case she feels she has left, flimsy though it is, that 'hard working white people' (an unfortunate statement on a couple levels) won't support Sen. Obama in the general election. I'm not sure if that means the people of Nebraska, Utah, Minnesota, North Dakota, and other Obama states that are almost exclusively white have been dismissed, if they're seen by the Clinton campaign as a bunch of slackers, or if the inference is that only white people work hard. There's really no good way to interpret it. Personally, as a 'hard working white person', I'm a little insulted by her statement, just as I'm insulted by her insistence that, as a woman, she can claim my vote, and that those of us who are fortunate enough to have worked our way to a college degree are elitist and outside the mainstream, or that those who are either not so fortunate or have chosen another course are a huge monolithic voting block. I understand that it's a futile last-ditch effort to resurrect her dying campaign, and I have some compassion for her in that regard. She's a fighter. A dirty fighter at times, but still, there's something in her tenacity to be admired.

The problem with her latest strategy, aside from the fact that her claims are completely baseless, is that goes against the 'do no harm' rule. The divisive rhetoric, the dog whistles, the pandering and the threats are all just the death rattle, but the real harm is that she's hell-bent on taking the party down with her. Despite Sen. Obama's attempts to allow her a graceful exit, Sen. Clinton has insisted on dragging this thing out to the bitter end, irrespective of the damage to anyone who might stand in her way. including the presumptive nominee and the standard bearer of the Democratic party.

As Senator Kerry points out, the claims Senator Clinton is making aren't really true. Senator Kerry won the female vote in 2004, as well as the Hispanic vote. Facts matter. Could we have done better? Certainly, we could have, but I don't recall a whole lot of Hillary out there in '04, urging her 'base' to vote for our candidate. If she's going to claim she speaks for them, maybe she should have spoke up then and helped save us from the last four years of Bush. In these waning days of the primary, she can do that now if she chooses, and exit the race having helped the Democratic party to a big win in November. It doesn't appear that's her plan.

If Senator Clinton needs more time to come to grips with the facts, then there's no reason she shouldn't continue to campaign. She doesn't have to help the Dems to a win, although I think it would help restore her and Bill's damaged legacy. She can continue to make her case. But it's time to insist that she first do no harm.

That's how Obama campaign manager David Plouffe introduced Senator Kerry on a conference call yesterday, where some of his most high profile supporters commented on Tuesday's big Obama win.

It's pretty obvious to me, someone who has spent quite a bit of time listening to both of them, that John Kerry is a source of "great advice and counsel" to Barack Obama. I frequently hear things in his speeches and interviews that I recognize as lessons learned from Sen. Kerry's experiences in 2004. His willingness to listen to and consider expert opinions is one of my favorite things about Obama, and he's smart enough to benefit from the advice of someone who has lived through a scorched earth campaign and has learned what it takes fight back the attacks. After eight years of Bush's refusal to consider dissenting opinion or learn the lessons of history, Obama's willingness to learn from the past and from the experiences of others is a hopeful sign.

Joining Senator Kerry on the call were several other Obama surrogates, including Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Governors Deval Patrick (MA) and Janet Napolitano (AZ).

Keith Olbermann commented last night on the call, featuring Senator Kerry's remarks and calling the North Carolina victory and the Indiana squeaker "the beginning of the end" of the Democratic primary battle.

There's no doubt in my mind that we'll be ready for the Republican slime machine when folks see the vibrant, inspirational Obama and his coalition of experts and grassroots supporters go head-to-head with John W. McSame III. I saw Gramps on The Daily Show last night, and I think one of the real challenges in the general election this fall will be for his supporters to keep from dozing off through his speeches. First, though, they'll have to work on getting the candidate to stay awake.

OK, the first one's not entirely fair. I think most people slept through Bush's SOTU. Besides, their positions are so close on most matters he's probably got it down pat anyway. There's also the argument that he's not really sleeping, but telepathically sending the President his plan to start another war. Or maybe he's just resting up for that 3am call so he doesn't sleep through it. Whatever the reason for McCain sleeping through hearings and speeches, I think the Republicans have a plan to keep him awake through his own campaign events. I wonder if they'd be willing to share it with the rest of us.

Seriously, will you guys in the mainstream media please shut the hell up about the angry old pastor and move on to issues? It's making you look silly.

The Senator didn't say that, of course. Not quite that way. Not that I know of.

But I did. Repeatedly, actually, over the past couple days, at the media's infuriating and incessant pit bull-like grip on the ridiculous Wright non-story, while ignoring important topics like our tanking economy, our troops and innocent Iraqis dying in Bush's war, and the fact that Sen. Clinton has fanned the flames in the Middle East with her reckless, chest-thumping remarks about Iran. Seriously, Sen. Clinton, did you have to use the word 'obliterate'? Was there some good reason to thwack that hornet's nest? I think the Democratic position is to end the war, not instigate another.

Watch what's scrolling at the end of this clip. The media needs be talking about our troops dying. Or the fact that we're sending another carrier to the Persian Gulf. What about "jobs, jobs, jobs"? Sen. Clinton brought it up, after all. It's that all-important experience she keeps talking about. Of course, she never said it was good experience. But then, they didn't ask, did they?

It's about time someone told the MSM to change the damn subject. It's good advice, and it's overdue.

All I can say is thank you, JK.

Senator Kerry gets a lot of awards and accolades. I'm guessing other Senators get some, too, but he really seems to get an awful lot of good ones, and recently, there's been a deluge. Certainly, it's important to recognize a job well done, like the Senator's 100% ratings from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, the American Association of University Women, the Human Rights Campaign and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, all four organizations having recently recognized Senator Kerry's work.

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law has given Senator John Kerry its highest possible 100% rating, citing his work to help end poverty in America, raise the minimum wage, reduce the cost of college, provide access to affordable housing, his support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Head Start, as well as his staunch support of the Development, Relief, and Education for Minors (DREAM) Act.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on strengthening hate crimes laws, making college more affordable, addressing the pay gap between men and women, and raising the minimum wage.

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on the minimum wage, immigration reform and his opposition to judicial nominees who disregard basic civil rights.

Along with an endorsement of Senator Kerry's senate reelection, the HRC also gave him a 100% rating.

“Senator Kerry has been an outspoken leader for GLBT equality in the United States Senate. Most recently, Senator Kerry’s leadership was crucial to the advancement of legislation to lift the discriminatory HIV travel ban. We are pleased to endorse Senator Kerry for re-election and look forward to working with him on achieving equality for our community,” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign.

Pretty impressive stuff. Here's one, though, that has to really hit home. On Friday, the Senator was honored with the First Annual Father Drinan Award, which celebrates those who have maintained "a lifelong history of working for the goals of the Democratic Party, especially with a focus on social justice."

Being the first recipient is quite an honor. But the fact that Sen. Kerry and Fr. Drinan were long time friends had to have made that one especially significant. Sounds like the two had a lot in common.

Kerry focused on Drinan's social activism in Congress, especially his opposition to the war in Vietnam. "He brought to Congress a moral opposition to the war and his testimony against the war became that much more powerful," he said. Drinan was also the first congressman to call for President Richard Nixon's impeachment. However, these early protests were in response to the secret bombings in Cambodia, not the more popularly maligned Watergate scandal, Kerry said. This action showcased the "boldness and uniqueness of this priest in a critical moment in American history." All of this social activism stemmed from his two loves: the Catholic Church and politics, and despite the forced exodus from Congress, Drinan never really left public life. "There was no separation between his political life and his life," Kerry said.

It's got to feel pretty great to receive that kind of recognition, but maybe even more so to have an award bestowed in your honor. In this video, Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone describes the contributions Sen. Kerry has made that lead to the creation of the Senator John F. Kerry Leadership Award, and introduces Senator Kerry in advance of the recognition of three outstanding recipients.

Congratulations to the Senator and to Loretta Lillios, Richard Mucci and Donna Greska, recipients of the Senator John F. Kerry Leadership Award.

While the lovely Teresa was here in Pittsburgh with Barack, Michelle and Bob Casey, Senator Kerry was in New York City for the Earth Day paperback release of their book "This Moment on Earth".

And while my new friends Tamara, Cindy, Matt and Joe were at the Obama rally at Pitt with my camera and an energized group of Barack supporters including the SW Allegheny crew (that's our Obama campaign field organizer Rob in the crowd in the center of the second photo, just above Sen. Obama) ...

 
... my old friend Karen was in New York, getting her book signed by JK.

Sadly, I missed both events. Not so sadly, my camera and Karen's did not. I have lots more photos and some video to share from the past four days of GOTV in Pennsylvania, where Senator Obama and an incredible group of caring citizens worked long hours canvassing (and have the blisters on their feet to prove it), to reduce Hillary's lead from 20 points to single digits. Congratulations and thanks to all who put in the time and effort these past weeks to call, walk and donate time and money to Senator Obama's campaign for Pennsylvania. It was a blast, and we were incredible.

It appears the out of touch NRSC has decided to 'go there' by once again attacking Sen. Kerry, this time for doing the right thing and supporting the candidate of his (and the majority of Democrats) choice for the Democratic nomination, at the same time attempting to take down Barack Obama for actually listening and responding to what the American people have to say, and as an added bonus insulting the intelligence of a huge swath of the voting public.

The substance of the NRSC video is that John Kerry is somehow wrong for supporting a candidate who said that Americans are bitter because of the pain we've suffered at the hands of this administration. So, what's the truth? On Lou Dobbs' website the other day, he posted a push-poll that pushed back. I don't think Lou expected 67% of Americans to proclaim that they are 'bitter and angry' when the poll was clearly looking for 'independent and proud'. But they did.

So, I ask the NRSC, who is out of touch with the American people? Who doesn't understand that Americans ARE bitter after the beating we've taken at the hands of this miserable Republican administration? I'm not going to name names, but their initials are NRSC.

I said the other day I would revisit every Republican filibuster in the 110th if the NRSC put up another lame attack, and they did, so I will. I'm just not sure if I want to post them one at a time, or just let loose with the whole rotten first session at once. I'll have to think about that. For now, let's start with this especially egregious item from July, 2007. It's the Webb amendment, wherein the Republicans decided against giving our weary troops a little relief between deployments.

REPUBLICAN FAILURE #1 -- THE FILIBUSTER OF THE WEBB AMENDMENT

The following is a statement by Senator Jim Webb following a 56-member vote in favor of his amendment to ensure responsible troop deployment cycles, four votes short of the threshold necessary to receive a final up-or-down vote:

“A clear majority of the Senate—56 Members – sent a strong message today in favor of ensuring responsible deployment cycles for our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I regret that we did not reach the 60-vote margin that would have allowed this amendment to prevail. It was offered in the spirit of bipartisanship. It was offered with the intention of protecting the well-being of our troops.

“A Republican filibuster kept this amendment from passing by an up-or-down vote. Americans are tired of this kind of posturing. The troops and their families don’t want to hear about political, procedural maneuvers. What they really care about are results. They are looking for concrete actions that will protect the well-being of our men and women in uniform.

“The question on this amendment is not whether you support this war or whether you do not. It is not whether you want to wait until July or September to see where one particular set of bench marks or summaries might be taking us. The question is this: more than four years into ground operations in Iraq, we owe stability, and a reasonable cycle of deployment, to the men and women who are carrying our nation’s burden. That is the question. And that was the purpose of this amendment.”

The Senate Republicans filibustered the Webb amendment. This is just one example of how the 'support our troops' Republicans simply don't. There are others, including the administration's insistence on keeping them in his ill-conceived war in Iraq, but this was a pretty straight forward amendment which attempted to give our fighting men and women a chance to spend time with their families and have some well deserved R&R.

And the Republicans blocked it. Maybe the NRSC should make a video to try to defend that.

I know some of you may be thinking, "Who cares about the ineffectual jerks at the NRSC and their silly videos? Let it go, Faith." You have a point, of course. I know they're going to use baseless attack ads, because, to borrow a quote from JK, "They don't have a record to run on, they have a record to run away from." I just think they deserve another look.

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the Republican obstruction of S.3, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007, 'A bill to amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for fair prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.' That's a pretty bitter pill for our seniors to swallow, and I think it's blockage deserves a bit more attention.

I'm sure folks are much more outraged at the fact that Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to help the elderly with their prescriptions than that Sen. Kerry supports someone who has the audacity to tell the truth to the American people. Don't you think?

I'm not sure who Hillary has been talking to in Pennsylvania, but I've knocked on plenty of doors here and spoken with a lot of voters over the past couple weeks, and I can tell you that it's hard to find one who isn't angry about the the war or home foreclosures or the cost of college or health care or gas or food or all of the above.

I'll tell you what. We're all pissed about something.

That look on my neighbors' faces when I see them at the gas station isn't optimism, it's anger. When they drive through towns in Pennsylvania with boarded up storefronts, or past the plants where they used to pull in a decent paycheck, they're discouraged. Even the lucky among us who have good jobs are dodging potholes big enough to break an axle as we bemoan our crumbling infrastructure. Sure, you're going to find people at political events who are optimistic. They're there because they're looking for change. They're there because they're looking for someone to help fix the things that are making them them angry and discouraged. Take a drive through PA, Hillary, and you'll find plenty of bitter.

Maybe the people Hillary is talking to are OK with her connection to NAFTA that has taken so many jobs from Pennsylvania, and feel that the Columbian trade deal, that will take even more, is something to be optimistic about. Her husband seems happy. Of course, he's made a ton of money from it. Her 'former' campaign guy, too. But the people who realize that Bill Clinton had a lot to do with shipping their jobs out of the country and making a bundle from it in the process are none too happy.

Pennsylvanians are a lot smarter than either Hillary or McCain give us credit for, although I have to admit she was right about one thing.

"Pennsylvanians don't need a president who looks down on them, they need a president who stands up for them.’’

That's exactly what we need. So stop with the sound byte gotchas, Hillary. Stop misleading the American people, and stop treating Pennsylvanians like we're a bunch of backwater hicks who don't understand the truth when we hear it. Pennsylvanians can see through your weak attempts to distort Sen. Obama's words. We really are mad as hell, and we're not going to take it any more.

TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA – At a town hall meeting in Indiana, U.S. Senator Barack Obama made the following comments in response to the Clinton and McCain campaign's attacks:

“When I go around and I talk to people there is frustration and there is anger and there is bitterness. And what’s worse is when people are expressing their anger then politicians try to say what are you angry about? This just happened – I want to make a point here today.

“I was in San Francisco talking to a group at a fundraiser and somebody asked how’re you going to get votes in Pennsylvania? What’s going on there? We hear that’s its hard for some working class people to get behind your campaign. I said, “Well look, they’re frustrated and for good reason. Because for the last 25 years they’ve seen jobs shipped overseas. They’ve seen their economies collapse. They have lost their jobs. They have lost their pensions. They have lost their healthcare.

“And for 25, 30 years Democrats and Republicans have come before them and said we're going to make your community better. We're going to make it right and nothing ever happens. And of course they’re bitter. Of course they’re frustrated. You would be too. In fact many of you are. Because the same thing has happened here in Indiana. The same thing happened across the border in Decatur. The same thing has happened all across the country. Nobody is looking out for you. Nobody is thinking about you. And so people end up- they don't vote on economic issues because they don't expect anybody’s going to help them. So people end up, you know, voting on issues like guns, and are they going to have the right to bear arms. They vote on issues like gay marriage. And they take refuge in their faith and their community and their families and things they can count on. But they don’t believe they can count on Washington. So I made this statement-- so, here’s what rich. Senator Clinton says ‘No, I don't think that people are bitter in Pennsylvania. You know, I think Barack’s being condescending.’ John McCain says, ‘Oh, how could he say that? How could he say people are bitter? You know, he's obviously out of touch with people.’

“Out of touch? Out of touch? I mean, John McCain—it took him three tries to finally figure out that the home foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it, and he's saying I’m out of touch? Senator Clinton voted for a credit card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt after taking money from the financial services companies, and she says I'm out of touch? No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what’s going on. I know what’s going on in Pennsylvania. I know what’s going on in Indiana. I know what’s going on in Illinois. People are fed-up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter. And they want to see a change in Washington and that's why I'm running for President of the United States of America.”

Shame on you, Hillary Clinton. The kind of disingenuous attack on the truth you displayed yesterday is just one more example of why we're bitter. It's the reason we ended up with four more years of Bush, and we're too smart to be fooled again. Are you really so out of touch that you can't see the anger of people who are struggling in this dreadful economy? Are you really that disconnected?

Pennsylvanians can handle the truth, Hillary, and it's refreshing to find a politician who isn't afraid to tell it. And not just easy, sound byte friendly truths, but the hard ones that we don't necessarily want to hear. We've had enough of Washington double-speak, enough of politicians who say only what they think will garner them a few votes, and enough of condescending baloney from Washington insiders.

We want the truth, Hillary. When you and McSame start telling it, maybe we'll be just a little less bitter.

If anybody over at FOX News was concerned that after scolding his colleagues at Fox and Friends for attacking Obama unfairly, Chris Wallace might all of a sudden follow in his father Mike's footsteps and become a fair journalist, they needn't have worried. Chris is still a lesser son of a greater sire - as evidenced in the following interview with Senator Kerry.

He was belligerent, misquoting, quoting out of context - in short, he employed the old reliable Fox News tactics to get in his talking points and put JK on the spot. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum, so to speak:  the good Senator wasn't playing ball! He was having none of Wallace's nonsense and calmly but firmly corrected him on every misquote and misstatement he tried to weasel into the interview.

After Senator Kerry rightly pointed out the many McCain flip-flops since signing on to campaign for president, Wallace had this to say:

"But Senator, with all due respect' (isn't it funny how anything that comes after this preface is utterly devoid of any respect?)   'almost every politician, and frankly, even you have been accused of flip flops over the years. But do you think John McCain was an opportunist when he supported the troops surge when nobody else in congress was supporting a troop surge? Do you think John McCain was an opportunist when he refused to take an early release from a Vietnamese prison camp because he was the son of an admiral? Because he said he was gonna stay there for years, as long as all the other Americans did?' (I was ready to cue the violins at this point and have the choir sing Saint McCain's praises.)

'Chris, please!' scoffed JK. 'You almost insult my intelligence and my values and those of every other American. Nobody would ever insinuate that John McCain is anything but a hero for his activities in Vietnam.'

'Well, Howard Dean called him a blatant opportunist' interrupted Wallace indignantly, to which the Senator helpfully proposed that Dean was likely referring to what's happened to McCain in the period of time since the nomination, and pointing to his own numerous references earlier to recent McCain reversals, and ending with setting the record straight once again on his own supposed flip flop that never was - the infamous 87 billion vote.

Well, you know what they say - if you can't beat 'em, change the subject... or something like that, which is exactly what Wallace did after JK's answer. However, despite Wallace's valiant effort to move to safer ground, Senator Kerry deftly steered his reply right back to where he wanted to be!

All is right with the world again and equilibrium has been restored. Wallace has stepped back into his proper role as FOX News unfair and unbalanced shill, and Senator Kerry got to sharpen his chops on him and possibly even reach out to the odd FOX viewer who possesses a modicum of intelligence. These kinds of interviews, and SFRC hearings are truly the highlights of the week!

If there's anything better than having John Kerry support your run for the White House, it's having two Kerrys. Teresa and the Senator both hit the campaign trail for Obama in the past few days, Teresa with Michelle in at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and the Senator across the Commonwealth, building support for Barack for Pennsylvania's April 22nd primary.

First, though, Senator Kerry hit the cable news channels to talk to both MSNBC and CNN about Senator Obama's experience and vision, and John McCain's failed strategy.

I wasn't able to break away from work to see THK and Michelle on Wednesday, and it sounds like I missed a great event. The next day's PG front page story was titled "Michelle Obama wows them at CMU", and noted the frequent comparison of the two women, both "independent-minded political spouses". I think I would have to add that they are both accomplished women in their own right, with some pretty serious resumes to their credit.

It may not be newsworthy, but I was out and about for Obama yesterday as well, this time canvassing a very nice middle class neighborhood near my home. The economy was an issue for the folks I met, as it was in a more economically challenged area I visited the other day, but the real standout for many of these people is Iraq, and their anger and frustration over Bush's war. Needless to say, they're not voting for John McCain. They get it. They can see through Teflon John's rhetoric and the free pass he's getting from much of the media. As with the other neighborhoods I called and canvassed, Obama was the clear favorite yesterday.

Heads up! Sen Kerry will make an appearance on Fox News Sunday today, to discuss the situation in Iraq and Gen. Petraeus' upcoming status report.

Ed Schultz likes him some Kerry! The good Senator is fast becoming a regular guest on the radio talk show host's daily program. During his call-in on Monday, he weighed in on everything from the presidential campaign to the current situation in Iraq.

When asked whether Hillary should drop out of the race, JK echoed Barack Obama's sentiment on the matter, 'I think the voters will take care of this as we go forward, and I don't think it's appropriate, and I'm not going to tell a presidential candidate when they ought to be in and whether they should be in.'

Explaining why Obama is absolutely qualified for the job in terms of foreign policy experience, he pointed out that Obama was right on Iraq, on how to approach Iraq, about Afghanistan and Pakistan being the center of the War on Terror, and that he was right about going into Pakistan on actionable intelligence to take out known and pinpointed suspects - something which he was criticized for by Hillary Clinton, but was vindicated later as the US did precicely that, and took out the number three Al Qeada operative.

For the entire conversation,
 Listen here

What struck me in particular, were Ed Schultz's words of praise for Senator Kerry after the call ended. Saying that if Kerry had won the election, we would be in a different and better place now, Ed went on to expose the hypocrisy of the conservatives, who accused Senator Kerry of weakness when he proposed a regional conference of all players in the Middle East, but are now praising John McCain's exact same proposal as a sign of reason and intelligence.

Ed, I hear you! With all my heart, I wish that JK were president right now. America will likely never know what it has lost out on, but I am certain Barack Obama will benefit from Senator Kerry's wisdom and advice during his terms as president. Just having him as a spokesperson and surrogate has helped Obama tremendously.

As an added bonus and treat, and to illustrate just how important it is to have Kerry in your corner, here is a clip of a Patriot Ledger editorial board meeting back in January:

With well-reasoned arguments on both Ed Schultz's show, where he has a friendly audience, and during this board meeting, where the atmosphere was neutral at best, Senator Kerry makes the case for Barack Obama for president, debunking all contrary arguments. Yes, we will take him any way we can have him. If not in the top spot, then surely behind the person vying for that spot.

Pity the fool who goes up against John Kerry in a debate. Even in the most beneficial circumstances for his opponents, the good Senator has debated each and everyone of them right under the table. Just ask Governor William Weld, whose 1996 challenge for Senator Kerry's seat began promisingly enough, but ended in defeat after having been out-debated by JK a total of eight times. The stuff of legend in Massachusetts!

On Sunday, Governor Ed Rendell was precicely that fool, and I mean this kindly and with empathy. It certainly did not help him that he had to do what Clinton surrogates and supporters have been forced to resort to these days - stretching, bending, and twisting, in order to make it appear as though their candidate is worthy and certainly still has a legitimate shot at the nomination.

No offense, but Governor Rendell is too old and too dignified for the acrobatics he was forced to engage in during his appearance on This Week with George Stephanopolous:

JK rightly pointed out that the Clinton camp keeps shifting the goal posts after each contest, and he would have none of Governor Rendell's insinuating that the Obama camp was content with slinging mud over Bosnia, stating that Senator Clinton was all too happy to grant an interview to her former arch nemesis Scaife's Pittsburgh Tribune Review, in which she had no qualms about bringing up Reverend Wright.

In all fairness, though: This was not an even fight. Senator Kerry had common sense and logic on his side, and Governor Rendell did not, because these days, in order to be a part of the Clinton team, one must dispense with both commodities.

Case in point - Ed's asinine claim that Fox News is the most objective network when it comes to Hillary Clinton.

Ed, has it ever occurred to you that Fox might have an agenda? That their pushing Hillary might be likened to Limbaugh's advocating that Republicans vote for her in the Democratic Primaries to 'bloody Obama', as he puts it? Far be it from me to attribute sinister motives to Fox News, but if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck....

Still, there is hope for Ed, because as I said, he is a good and honorable guy. Once freed from the shackles of Clinton surrogacy, I am positive he will become a worthy spokesperson for our nominee Barack Obama.

There really is no place like home. Rich, poor or in between, for most of us, our homes are a lot more than brick and mortar and a payment coupon every month, they help make us part of a community and give us a sense of security and pride of ownership. Owning a home has long been part of the American dream, but this year the dreams of a million people may turn into nightmares as they lose the place where they raise their children, welcome friends, sink most of their hard earned money and time into, and find comfort at the end of a long work day. It's easy enough for some rich guy like John McCain to blame the crisis on the American people instead of focusing on the predatory lending practices of mortgage companies. He's probably got enough money to pay for his house many times over, and he's not known to be big on compassion. But some of us regular people are still trying to pay ours off, and sinking most of our paychecks into our house payments.

U.S. Home Defaults, Foreclosures Rise 60% in February

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. home foreclosure filings jumped 60 percent and bank seizures more than doubled in February as rates on adjustable mortgages rose and property owners were unable to sell or refinance amid falling prices...

More than 223,000 properties were in some stage of default, or 1 in every 557 U.S. households, Irvine, California-based RealtyTrac Inc., a seller of foreclosure data, said today in a statement...

Foreclosure filings are likely to be ``explosive'' in May and June as more payments jump, after remaining at current levels this month and next, Rick Sharga, executive vice president of RealtyTrac, said in an interview. There may be between 750,000 and 1 million bank repossessions in 2008. Bank seizures rose 110 percent in February from a year ago, he said...

Economists are forecasting the U.S. housing slump will push the economy into a recession this year and there are no signs housing will recover in 2008. U.S. sales of new and existing homes probably will fall to 5 million this year, down 33 percent from the all-time high of 7.46 million in 2005, before rising to 5.23 million in 2009, Freddie Mac said in a March 3 forecast.

There are some people who, unlike Sen. McCain, understand what homeownership means to working Americans and to the overall health of our economy. Sentor Kerry attended Boston Mayor Tom Menino's foreclosure seminar yesterday, where mortgage company representatives and homeowners met to try to restructure loans and attend financial workshops, and where the Mayor and the Senator attempted to offer some relief and support to people struggling to hold on to their homes.

Senator Kerry also proposed legislation with Senator Smith (R-OR) recently to help people keep their homes, and vowed to keep fighting despite the Republican roadblock.

Kerry-Smith provision will help keep low-income families in their homes Washington, D.C. – Senator John Kerry expressed strong disappointment today when Senate Republicans blocked progress on legislation designed to stem foreclosures and address the housing crisis in America. Kerry vowed to continue his efforts to keep families in their homes and ease the skyrocketing rate of foreclosure across the country. Kerry urged the Senate Finance Committee to keep pursuing the goals of their proposal to address the subprime mortgage crisis. Roughly 2.5 million mortgages were in default in the third quarter of 2007 – a 40 percent increase from 2005.

In 2008, Massachusetts is again on a pace to have a record number of foreclosures. In 2007, mortgage companies foreclosed on more than 7,500 homes in Massachusetts, almost nine times the number in 2005 and almost three times the number in 2006. The foreclosure rates of five Massachusetts metro areas rank in the nation’s top 100 – Worcester (#35), Springfield (#47), Essex County (#53), Boston/Quincy (#59) and Cambridge/Newton/Framingham (#65).

“This legislation would provide targeted relief to families who need it most, and we must not allow Republican obstruction to stop the Senate from acting on common sense,” said John Kerry. "This is a critical moment for families who may soon lose their homes, and Washington needs to be part of finding solutions that will help people avoid foreclosure. In spite of today's roadblock, we will keep pushing until this bill is enacted into law and help is on the way.”

Senator Kerry and Senator Gordon Smith began working on a bill in December to stop the spread of foreclosures by providing options to obtain safe, fair mortgages. Under current law, state and local governments may issue bonds to finance new mortgage loans to first-time homebuyers. The Kerry- Smith provision would temporarily expand the use of this program to include refinancing of subprime loans.

According to a recent report by the Joint Economic Committee, the number of subprime foreclosures in Oregon will total 12,600 by the end of 2009. Mortgages in delinquency in Oregon rose by nearly 50 percent between 2005 and the end of 2007. Nationwide, it is estimated that Smith’s proposal would lead to roughly 80,000 fair, secure, new loans according to the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

Dr. David Seiders, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, spoke favorably of the Kerry- Smith provision at today’s Finance Committee hearing. The Finance Committee passed the provision last month with overwhelming bipartisan support as part of the economic stimulus package, though it was not included in the package that was signed into law.

The mortgage crisis has also taken center stage in the presidential contest, and rightly so. Both Obama and Clinton have offered plans to address foreclosures. McCain, who admits knowing little about the economy (and it shows), has nothing, falling back on what Rachel Maddow calls the "I'm a dummy strategy".

I canvassed for Barack Obama yesterday, and there was a common theme. Most of the people I spoke with had the same concerns. They'll vote for the person who will bring back jobs, help them get healthcare, and keep them in their homes. As one very observant Obama supporter who lives in a neighborhood with rising crime rates and high unemployment told me, "If you want to keep crime down, bring our jobs back. Most people will do what they have to do to feed their families."

Senator McCain and the Roadblock Republicans just don't get that it really is the economy, stupid.

Heads up! JK is on 'This Week' today, debating my Gov., Big Ed Rendell.
Go get 'em, Senator!

Also on the show is Joe 'Zell' Lieberman, at which point I will turn off the TV.

E-mail from the Senator!

If there's anything as important as electing a Democratic president this year, it's increasing our majority in Congress. Time to remove the roadblocks, end the endless filibusters, and elect some good, fighting Dems. These will do for a start:

Dear KerryVision,

There's nothing our johnkerry.com community has done these last four years that I'm more proud of than our work to elect veterans - "Fighting Democrats" - to Congress.

In races the cynics said we couldn't win, you gave early and often to elect some special candidates who shook up Washington and reminded Karl Rove and his Republican allies that patriotism doesn't have a political label, and the flag of the United States doesn't belong to a Party, it belongs to the American people.

And these vets have reminded the political class what patriotism really is: just a couple weeks ago, for instance, the House of Representatives stood up to George Bush on his illegal wiretapping scheme and refused to budge in the face of fear-mongering attacks from the right.

And some of the veterans you helped elect (people like Patrick Murphy and Tim Walz) were right in the middle of it, reminding America that there's a way to safeguard our security without shedding our values.

But we're not done yet. We need more Democrats in Congress to finally achieve a true working majority, and we need more Democratic veterans to help chart a new national security course and help us end the disastrous Bush/McCain Iraq policy.

So please click here and do what you can to help some great Democrats - and veterans of our armed services - win in November: http://www.actblue.com/page/strongermajority

We have some great new candidates running to take over Republican seats:

In New York, Tom Reynolds just retired, spooked by my friend and young Iraq war veteran Jon Powers. Capt. Powers saw the devastation of the Iraq War up close and personal when he served in Baghdad and decided to do something about it. As soon as he got back home, he started a charitable organization to help Iraqi children. Jon and I have been friends for three years now; I believe that if we seize this moment and send him to Congress he will be a real leader for our Party and country for decades to come.

And in California, we have the Deputy Commander of all Joint Special Forces Operations in Iraq running to replace arch-conservative Duncan Hunter. Mike Lumpkin has served 8 operational tours as a Navy SEAL, so he knows the realities of 21st century conflicts intimately. He knows we need to change course in the Middle East and knows a strong nation depends on good jobs and an economy that works for working people.

We also have two incumbents you all helped elect in 2006 we need to help. They've been targeted by Republicans for their courage in standing up for us, and we need to have their backs:

Patrick Murphy was the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, and he's been a great ally in the drive to keep our promises to those who wear the uniform of our country. He's worked tirelessly to end the Bush policy in Iraq. Patrick has been one of the best fresh young Democrats in Congress; and that's exactly why he earned a place on the list of top GOP targets this fall.

Minnesota's Tim Walz, who started his service when he was 17 on the first day he was eligible to join the National Guard, stood with Patrick and other Democrats a couple of weeks ago and refused to let the White House scare the Congress about illegal wiretapping and domestic spying. Tim stood up for the Constitution and stared down the fear-mongering ads the rightwing threw at him. But by doing so, he made himself a target for the right, and we need to stand up for gutsy public servants like Tim when they stand up for us.

So please do what you can to help these great Democrats hold and expand our Democratic majority in the fall:

http://www.actblue.com/page/strongermajority

I firmly believe we'll have a new Democratic President next year, and that President will need a strong Democratic Congress to deliver the kind of change our country needs. In the last election, we fought off the worst of the Republican policies, and now it's time to get our country moving forward.

Thanks so much for your help,
John Kerry

I hate to admit we have a favorite here at KV, but we do. Captain Powers, who we've seen at several Kerry events and met at Take Back America a couple years ago, has a lot of friends and supporters here in the blogosphere, not only because he's a good Dem and friend of John Kerry, not just because of War Kids Relief (although that's a big part of it), but because he's a really great guy with a fantastic sense of humor and a love of his country and of our children's future. His speeches have inspired us and given us hope that as a Congressman, Jon will represent change in the best possible way.

Good luck to Captain Powers and all the fighting Dems.

Thanks for the email, Senator. Donation on its way.

Or maybe "Kerry for Women" is a better title.

Yesterday, we posted about Teresa and touched on the work she's done to promote women's issues. Today, it's the Senator's turn. Throughout his career, he's worked to advance equality for women, and this week his efforts were recognized by the American Association of University Women.

From the press release:

During his 35 years in public service – as a prosecutor, Lieutenant Governor, and throughout 23 years in the United States Senate – John Kerry has been a champion for women’s rights. From protecting a woman’s right to privacy to working toward equal pay for equal work, Kerry has fought for fairness and for America’s women.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on strengthening hate crimes laws, making college more affordable, addressing the pay gap between men and women, and raising the minimum wage.

"On behalf of the bipartisan members of the AAUW of Massachusetts, I want to thank Senator Kerry for his 100 percent rating in our recently published AAUW Congressional Voting Record," said Patricia Ho, AAUW New England Regional Director and a past president of AAUW of Massachusetts. "We greatly appreciate his consistent support for AAUW’s priority issues in the first session of the 110th Congress, including making college more accessible, strengthening hate crimes laws, defending international family planning programs, and raising the minimum wage."

“As the father of two daughters the fight for equal opportunity for women is personal to me, from equal pay and college sports, to health care, to the right to privacy. I am proud of my record of fighting for these issues and with the help and support of my friends in the AAUW I will keep up the fight until we fully achieve economic and social justice for women across Massachusetts and America,” said Senator Kerry.

Senator Kerry and Senator Ted Kennedy together led the Senate’s filibuster against the Alito nomination in order to protect Roe vs. Wade and the Constitutional right to privacy. He has consistently received 100% ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood on behalf of his work on reproductive rights.

Kerry has been a longtime supporter of the Violence Against Women’s Act. Kerry has worked on the Women’s Retirement Security Act, developing pension legislation especially geared towards the unique retirement security issues facing women. He has introduced legislation to strengthen the Earned Income Tax Credit which will help many working women who are the heads of households with children. Kerry has also been a consistent advocate for broader health coverage for pregnant women.

Kerry last year voted to give workers a long overdue raise by increasing the federal minimum wage; of the 13 million workers who currently receive the federal minimum wage approximately 59 percent are women.

As Chairman of the Senate’s Small Business Committee, Kerry has been a longtime supporter of Women’s Business Centers, including the Center for Women and Enterprise in Boston, as well as affiliates in Worcester and Providence. He has authored several successful bills expanding and strengthening the program.

Kerry is also working closely with Senator Kennedy to reverse the erroneous Supreme Court decision in the Ledbetter case so that women who have been subject to pay discrimination can recoup back pay.

Of course, it's no secret that Senator Kerry has long been an advocate for women, in particular in his role as Chariman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The 100 percent rating from the AAUW is an important recognition of that. After all, you don't have to be a woman to be concerned about womens' equality. You just have to care.

If you ask Senator Kerry why he believes Senator Obama will be the best person to answer the '3am phone call', he'll tell you it's about judgment.

It's true that, unlike the other two candidates, Barack Obama has made the correct choice with respect to Iraq and Iran. And his policy of speaking to both friend and foe has been proven by history to be the correct course. Also important to good foreign relations, though, is the proper temperament, and Obama can chalk up a win in that column as well.

Despite Sen. Clinton's claims that she and Sen. McCain are the two candidates who have the experience to react in times of crisis, there is serious concern about what that reaction might be. First, though, two questions. Why is Sen. Clinton defending the Republican nominee over the Democratic candidate, and what, exactly, is her experience? Until recently, the media hasn't challenged her assertions, but lately, they've come under scrutiny.

"I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold. I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you'll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy." -- Hillary Clinton

"I think you'll be able to imagine many things Senator McCain will be able to say. He's never been the president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002." -- Hillary Clinton

So, when John McCain picks up the phone at 3 am, how will he react? Maybe he'll belt out a tune. Heck, the song works with a whole lot of Middle Eastern countries. Perhaps he'll insult some world leader's children. Or maybe a simple "f-you" -- click. Keith Olbermann speaks to Salon's Mark Benjamin about military leaders' fears and John McCain's temperament.

I'm not sure why Sen. Clinton believes John McCain is more prepared than Barack Obama to answer that 3 am phone call. Maybe it's a matter of judgment. Or maybe she really does have some of that John McCain 'experience'.

Evidently we still have a stretch of primary road to travel. As of the writing of this post, the only victories that have emerged on this other Super Tuesday are Vermont for Obama, and Rhode Island for Clinton. The pundits are licking their chops at the thought of the Democratic primaries going on until further notice, and they don't even try to hide their glee.

Dire predictions yet again of superdelegates deciding the winner, an ominous reminder by Tom Brokaw that back in 1980, Jimmy Carter's promise to "kick [his challenger] Ted Kennedy's ass" came true. It didn't come true until the convention, but the ass-kicking commenced nevertheless. This little lesson in history was no doubt meant to elicit comparisons between Clinton and Obama, with Hillary giving the promise of an eventual spanking.

Never mind that the math in adding up the delegates either of them have, and either can still gain, just is not in Clinton's favor. Oh no, it is all about momentum, the comeback, and the horse race.

MSNBC had one intelligent highlight in what was otherwise a night of sensationalism, stirring the pot, and wallowing in self-importance, when Keith Olbermann (the lone voice of reason, it seemed) interviewed Senator Kerry about the campaign and the possible results of the day's voting.

Condemning HRC's statement that she and McCain had more foreign policy experience as insulting, inappropriate, and untrue, the Senator pointed out that Barack Obama has, in fact, more foreign policy experience than Bill Clinton did when he ran back in 1992.

Judging by that interview, Barack could not ask for a better surrogate than John Kerry, and I'm sure he knows it, too. We can only hope that the end is near, and that we will have a clear-cut winner emerging before too long. For once I would like to see the people with the power, instead of the pundits steering the debate for as long as they wish and their ratings justify.

Good God, Almighty. Is there anyone of driving age in this country who doesn't know what gas is costing the American people these days?

I guess there's one. If there was ever a man so disconnected from reality, so unaware, so incurious as George W. Bush, I haven't yet come across him. While the rest of us are looking for more fuel efficient cars and complaining to our friends, family and co-workers about how much it cost us to fill up at the pump, this guy doesn't know what analysts are saying about the rising cost of gasoline?

Stunning.

At least someone is paying attention.

President George Bush

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

I was dismayed at your reaction to a question regarding gas prices that was asked during your press conference this morning. You seemed genuinely shocked to learn about the skyrocketing gas prices in communities around the country.

Oil closed at a record high on Tuesday, and gas prices are now following the same trajectory. Average national gas prices have jumped 19 cents a gallon in the last two weeks, and many experts have stated that they expect prices to rise to $4 a gallon by Memorial Day -- well above the high of $3.23 a gallon set last Memorial Day weekend.

These statistics are the latest indication of the energy crisis facing our nation. Rising prices are creating real challenges for Americans around the country. The average American family is now paying 131% more for transportation fuel costs than they were in 2001, and these increased fuel costs are reflected in rising prices for daily needs ranging from meat to milk.

We need solutions today to respond to the needs of our communities. One of the best steps we can take is to invest resources in developing clean energy technologies, to bolster domestic energy sources and create millions of green jobs. However, yesterday you announced your intention to veto a renewable energy tax package that would do just that. Among your reasons for threatening the veto is the fact that the green energy package is paid for by rolling back $17.6 billion over 10 years in tax breaks for big oil -- corporations that surely don’t need assistance given that the top 5 oil companies reported record profits of $123 billion in 2007. In light of the challenges faced by American families, I urge you to reconsider your opposition to energy tax packages under consideration in both the House and the Senate.

In addition, there are a number of other important steps we can take, including addressing price gouging, managing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve more wisely, and investing in energy efficiency and green building practices. Families are suffering impacts of high energy costs today, and we know the problem is only going to get worse. The time for excuses and inaction is over. It’s time to act to put forward an aggressive energy plan to reduce our nation’s dependence on oil and bring energy costs down. I welcome your support as we advance policies to achieve these critical goals.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

Senator Kerry was joined by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley in responding to Bush's disconnect yesterday.

"Millions of Americans are feeling the affects of this Administration’s backwards looking energy policies. It’s time the White House wake up to the harsh economic reality that people all over the country face every day at the gas pump.” -John Kerry

“It is clear that the Bush Administration’s energy policy does not adequately and appropriately address the issue at hand.” -Martha Coakley

And here's an oldie but goodie. Two years ago, Barack Obama recorded this message to the American people about the cost of gasoline. If you find something similar from John McCain, let me know, and I'll post it.

Senator Biden started the press conference yesterday by referring to the situation in Afghanistan as "the forgotten war". Senator Kerry warned that Pakistan and Afghanistan are "the most strategically vital region in our struggle against terrorists," each country capable of destabilizing the other.

We've written here several times about the tenuous situation in both countries. Senator Kerry, Senator Biden and others on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have called attention, time and again, to the fragile state of these two nations and the threat that's posed by our inattention, and again yesterday the Senators underscored the need to refocus.

Kerry and Biden recently returned from the Middle East and the two Democratic senators described what they observed during their visit.

It's kind of fascinating watching stump speeches this primary season. Each of the candidates has a unique style, as do their surrogates. There is, of course, Barack Obama's ringing oratory, which has become something of a trademark. It will be so good to hear him for the next eight years after the ear-beating we've taken these past seven. Hillary knows her stuff, no doubt about that, but her speaking style comes off as scolding. If you're a mom who has ever sent her kid to her room without dinner, I think you might find a bit of yourself in Sen. Clinton, and not in a good way. Bill, of course, is a wonderful speaker. He's had a lot of practice, and it's served him well. Even when he screws up, there's something you've got to love about the man. John McCain is probably the worst speaker I have ever heard. Dull as dishwater and wrong on the facts. I've never made it all the way through a John McCain speech, but what I've heard is both snore-inducing in it's delivery and hide-under-the-bed terrifying in it's content.

The speeches have been fascinating, both in style and substance. I'm sure we'll hear plenty more before it's all over, and maybe I'll make it through a McCain speech all the way through. I do have a favorite speaker, though, and he was in Texas last weekend, on the campaign trail for Barack Obama.

I ever needed someone to argue on my behalf, I'd pick this guy.

I always come away with the one thought after hearing the Senator speak. I've heard him many times, not for as many years as some, but I've managed a few. And after each time I find myself thinking that if everyone in America had listened to him speak back before the '04 election, just one time, we'd be looking at a very different country today.

What I like about Senator Kerry's speeches, especially those like this one from Saturday at Galveston's University of Texas Medical Branch, is that you can expect certain things. I've never dissected one before, but it struck me watching this one that even when the themes change, the construct is pretty consistent. First, you're going to get a story. About how his mom sparked his interest in the environment, or about being stranded in the mountains of Afghanistan or a about riding his bike in the hills of Pittsburgh. They are personal stories, and he tends to scatter them through speeches and draw the audience into the conversation. Second, there's a history lesson. About Vietnam, or about the early days of the environmental movement or about the Constitution and the early days of our country. There are the facts, of course. In this case, the facts about Barack Obama's experience and qualifications. And then, there's the call to action and consequences of inaction. John Kerry the senator will always be John Kerry the activist.

I think Senator Kerry likes whales. I know he likes polar bears, as we've noted in previous posts, but he really seems to like whales a lot. I'm not really sure if he prefers one over the other, but it's a good question. I'll have to research that and get back to you. Maybe he just likes saving things, like people and animals that need his help. Right now, it's whales.

Last month, he joined forces with Heroes star Hayden Panettiere at a rally in DC to 'Save the Whales Again'.

This is not a new cause for Senator Kerry, who introduced the North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Act in 2001. At the time, the population of the North Atlantic Right Whale was 350. Currently, the estimate is 300.

"Right whales are at risk of extinction from a number of sources. These include, ship strikes, the number one source of known right whale fatalities, entanglement in fishing gear, coastal pollution, habitat degradation, ocean noise and climate change."

Last August, Senator Kerry wrote to President Bush about the danger to whales of ship strikes. We reported it here at KV, but difficult as it is to believe, I don't think the President reads KV.  I'll try not to take that personally.

"We call on the Administration to take immediate action to finalize a ship strike reduction rule that will slow ships to protect right whales based on the best available scientific evidence. We also ask that the Administration brief our staff on the expected timeline for implementation, as well as the Administration’s plans for the enforcement and monitoring of new provisions."

I wouldn't be surprised if Bush didn't read that, either. If he did, he certainly didn't do anything about it. It was a good try by the Senator, but since the letter failed to get the President's attention, Senator Kerry has introduced legislation this week to help save the whales from ship strikes.

Senator John Kerry today introduced legislation that would help protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from injury and death due to ship strikes. The Ship Strike Reduction Act of 2008 would require the Bush Administration to finalize a rule establishing speed limits for specified vessels in migratory paths of North Atlantic right whales. The federal rule enforcing the speed limits, known as "the Ship Strike Rule," was first proposed in February, 2007, but the rule has been buried in the regulatory process for over a year.

His ship strike legislation isn't the Senator's only attempt to save the whale from extinction. Last November, he and several other Senators wrote to Japanese Ambassador Kato, calling for a halt to whale hunting expeditions disguised as scientific studies.

... we join the growing chorus of world leaders and environmental experts in asking Japan to reconsider its decision to conduct this hunt,or, at a minimum, significantly scale back its scope. We also ask that Japan immediately cease the killing of both humpback and fin whales, and only employ non-lethal techniques for studying these populations. By pursuing these actions, Japan can continue to make significant scientific contributions, while conserving and protecting these important species.

You know, maybe it's not 'just' about saving bears or whales or hampsters or even individual people at all. Maybe it has something to do with looking beyond one's self and doing the right thing, living by a rule that guides some people to 'do unto others', and applying that rule in a very inclusive way. Maybe it's not a decision at all, but something inherent in a person's individual makeup that compels some people to look at the plight of the helpless and act to make a difference. Whatever it is that makes people like Senator Kerry and Hayden Panettiere and Pierce Brosnan, who appear to have little else in common but a cause, use their influence and celebrity to save the whales from extinction, it's the right thing to do. But as important as it is to save the whales, it's bigger than that. It's about the next generation who will look to the influence of past activists and be emboldened to fight for future causes, when the fight may be for their own survival.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

photo credit: CelebrityMound
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

“No one was injured, everyone is safe,” is how Kerry spokesman David Wade announced the news.

Thank you, David.

If you've ever broken news to someone, potentially really bad news that ended much better than it might have, that's a really good way to do it. A really bad way is to splash the face of the person in question on one of the TV news channels with a map of the Middle East and some news crawl about an emergency helicopter landing, which is how most of us learned of the Senators' Afghanistan adventure.

Senators Kerry, Joe Biden and Chuck Hagel, traveling together in the Middle East this week, made an unexpected stop in the mountains of Afghanistan yesterday when their helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing due to a snowstorm.

From the Boston Globe:

"The weather closed in on us," the Associated Press quoted Kerry as saying. "It went pretty blind, pretty fast and we were around some pretty dangerous ridges. So the pilot exercised his judgment that we were better off putting down there, and we all agreed."

Scary. But thankfully, a happy ending, if you can call an emergency landing in the mountains of Afghanistan in a snowstorm happy. What's important, as Mr. Wade notes, is that everyone is OK.

Although early accounts had phones ringing and email flying among my friends and coworkers, later reports, like the AP story and this from CNN's Brianna Keilar were much more balanced.

The Washington Post reported the lighter side of the story.

Kerry said the lawmakers were lucky because there happened to be a road nearby.

"We sat up there and traded stories," Kerry joked. "We were going to send Biden out to fight the Taliban with snowballs, but we didn't have to do it."

Added Kerry: "Other than getting a little cold, it was fine."

Safe journey home, Senators.

Well, it looks like the good guys won! Fidel finally decides it is time to resign. We shall see how far his arm may still reach in the coming months.

On the other side of the world in Pakistan, the parliamentary elections were successful and the ruling party of Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf admitted defeat with only 38 seats.

The previously ousted Nawaz Sharif whose Pakistan Muslim League-N party won 67 seats, was one of the winners and only The Pakistan People's Party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto won more national assembly seats -- 92.

KerryVision did say that we might never see any video of Senator Kerry's visit to Pakistan to oversee its elections, but we are happy to be proven wrong. Yesterday, CNN asked our guy to weigh in on the latest breaking news - Fidel Castro's resignation, and the parliamentary elections he had overseen on Monday.

The Senator expressed cautious optimism about the Castro news, cautioning that while Fidel would not run again, his brother would take his place, so the US couldn't expect too much of a transition happening. While not advocating a complete change of stance towards the new regime in Cuba, Kerry did allow for some relaxation of the strict and rigid way the US has dealt with the communist nation up until now.

Moving on to Pakistan, Senator Kerry expressed disappointment about the violence on the day prior to the election, but stated that the election itself had been fair and successful. He praised the Pakistani people for their willingness to go out and take a risk because they believed their vote would be counted.

For even more on Senator Kerry's visit to Pakistan, watch this excellent slideshow. There are some pictures of the Super Tuesday Boston rally, as well. We are treated to Teddy, Teresa, and Barack, who - speaking of good guys winning - had a clearcut victory in Wisconsin and a landslide in Hawaii.

Most of us have been paying an awful lot of attention these days to the Democratic primary race here at home, but there's another big election coming up, and Senators Kerry, Biden and Hagel will travel to Pakistan to observe, along with about a thousand other international visitors, the election of Pakistani parliament members. Tens of thousands of Pakistani citizens will be monitoring as well.

Senator Kerry commented on the upcoming elections where there is fear not only of election irregularities, but the potential for violence.

"The stakes are very high here," Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and former presidential nominee who is among three senior U.S. lawmakers traveling to Pakistan to observe the vote, told reporters.

"I hope the government understands that merely clinging to power meets nobody's objectives because it will wind up actually playing into the hands of the radicals and of the instability not only of the country, but of the region."

The Senator also commented on his trip in an update to a DailyKos diary.

A few of you have asked – and I want to underscore - that our trip to Pakistan isn’t legally permitted to be a “monitoring” exercise - it’s an observation group – but I’ve done these for years going back to Marcos/Phillipines – and I do believe having senior American presence there on the ground talking to people in real time matters; it sends a signal that we’re serious enough to fly across the globe to see for ourselves whether the elections are – as promised - free, fair, and transparent - I think having senior members of the Foreign Relations Committee on the ground how seriously we take these elections.

Despite the concern, there's also some effort among the youth of Pakistan to encourage citizens to make an informed choice in Monday's election. A group called Future Leaders of Pakistan has launched 'Parliament Watch', a website and discussion board where citizens are able to learn about the candidates. Although I know nothing about the organization other than what's on their site and what I could find via 'the google', their mission seems to be progressive, they appear not to endorse any candidate, and their goal with respect to the election is open discussion and a commitment to transparency. It's a good place to start.

From all accounts, things are looking pretty tenuous. Musharraf's job approval rating is even lower than Bush's, believe i