A couple of major points: As campaigns have merged, no doubt there are Edwards supporters who want their guy to be VP. Cohen is a republican and has given NO sign of supporting Kerry, and has been non-committal about Iraq and everything else. Neither he nor Shelton are on Kerry's Military Advisory Group OR on the foreign policy "pooh-bahs" team. The Edwardians may circulate the Shelton/Cohen crap behind the scenes, but obviously their opinions don't count, because General Clark is part of the Military Advisory Group AND the foreign policy "pooh-bahs." Edwards is not on either advisory group.
I choose to believe what I have seen the Kerry campaign actually do, not what unnamed sources or anonymous people claim. Sen Kerry has Clark and Edwards both out raising money, BUT since Edwards BOMBED on Imus 6-8 weeks ago, I haven't seen him on any tv or radio program for the Kerry campaign. Not only is the General on tv, radio, and writing substantive articles for the campaign, Kerry has placed the General on both the foreign policy AND military advisory boards. He doesn't let Edwards do anything substantive, just preach to the faithful and pass the bucket. The Kerrys and the Clarks have much in common - both couples are well-traveled, culturally aware, speak multiple languages. It just seems a better fit.
Kerry's Senior Military Advisory Group consists of prominent retired admirals and general officers who are advising his campaign on defense and national security issues. "I am honored to have such a distinguished group of experienced military leaders and professionals working with me on the vital security challenges facing our nation," said Kerry. (The full list is below.)
Kerry has said his national security policy will be guided by four imperatives: building and leading new alliances; modernizing the military; deploying all that is in America's arsenal - the power of our economy, our diplomacy, our intelligence capabilities and our values and ideas; and freeing America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.
Kerry's Military Advisor Committee, formed two weeks ago:
Admiral William Crowe (USN, Ret.)
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General John Shalikashvili (USA, Ret.)
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Tony McPeak (USAF, Ret.)
Former US Air Force Chief of Staff
Admiral Stansfield Turner, (USN, Ret.)
Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency
General Joseph Hoar (USMC, Ret)
Former Commander-in-Chief, US Central Command
General Wesley Clark (USA, Ret.)
Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe
General Johnnie Wilson, (USA, Ret.)
Former Commander, US Army Material Command
(CAMPAIGNED EXTENSIVELY WITH THE GENERAL AND GERT)
LTG Daniel Christman (USA, Ret.)
Former Superintendent US Military Academy
LTG General Kennedy (USA, Ret.)
Former Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Intelligence
Vice Admiral Lee Gunn (USN, Ret.)
Former Inspector General, US Navy
Major General Harry Jenkins (USMC, Ret.)
Former Chief Legislative Liaison US Marine Corps
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0603.htmlNOTICE - NO SHELTON, NO COHEN, NO "INTELLIGENCE EXPERT" EDWARDS on the military panel - 'NUFF SAID
**Kerry's Foreign Policy Team, or as he calls them, The Pooh-bahs:**
Foreign Policy Team Takes Center Stage
World Events Help Change Focus of Kerry Campaign
By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer - Sunday, May 30, 2004
....
Since Kerry wrapped up the presidential nomination in March, however, many of the Democratic Party all-stars have signed on and are injecting new energy. Now in the midst of an 11-day blitz on foreign policy, Kerry is also being advised by former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright, former U.N. ambassadors Richard C. Holbrooke and Bill Richardson, former defense secretary William J. Perry, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, former NATO commander Gen. Wesley K. Clark, and Sen. Joseph R. Biden (Del.), ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.
....
Kerry's staff jokingly calls the inner circle the Pooh-bahs, from the 1885 Gilbert and Sullivan opera "The Mikado." The word originally meant "Lord-High-Everything-Else" and has come to signify a person of great influence or high position...
NOTICE AGAIN - NO SHELTON, NO COHEN, NO "INTELLIGENCE EXPERT" EDWARDS ON THE FOREIGN POLICY PANEL- 'NUFF SAID
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1438-2004May29.html