Kennedy says JFK's spirit lives on

YubaruNov. 25, 2013 - 07:57AM JST

I value her easy accessibility to the White House in time of crisis. That's an important asset.

Speaking about her being a "puppet", as you know, she is not a policy maker. Her job is to play a role of liaison between two countries.

Yabaru, I think you are underestimating her big power network in US political arena. Furthermore, remember she grew up with us . American people will fully support her and never let her fail, I assure you. I am very grateful to Japanese that my granddaughter Caroline (haha) is well received in Japan. She will do very well.

I suppose this is what made her "qualified" to be Ambassador!

I am getting rather tired of this line of reasoning. Did you make the same comments about other ambassador appointees?

Caroline Kennedy got her bachelor degree at Havard and her legal degree at Columbia. She has worked on the boards of several NPOs. What is it about her that you think disqualifies her?

Like I said, she's a puppet.

In the strictest sense, all ambassadors are 'puppets' in that they do what they are told and represent the wishes of their leaders. Nothing has changed with Kennedy's appointment.

Oh and "Her father this, and her father that".....The US needs HER to be the Ambassador and not live on the laurels of her father and his history and legacy.

The anniversary of his assassination was three days ago, it's not surprising that the topic would come up.

What about the U.K.? Arent they also our greatest ally?

Slumdog: She is unqualified because she doesn't speak Japanese. She has never shown any deep interest in Japan. She has no experience in international diplomacy. She has no knowledge of or training in economics. She has not taken part in any kind of international negotiation. She has no knowledge of or experience in military affairs.

Other than those few shortcomings, she is a great choice. She has the most important quality needed- she is a toady of the president.

I just wonder how many % of Japanese know 100 waka' poets and each one's waka now-a-a-days? 5-7-5=7=7 Waka's are not easy to digest. Haijin's Haiku 5-7-5 are easier. She sounds she is qiuite familiar with Japan's old culture. We know she eats sushi, teppan-yaki, sukiyaki but I did not know she dug haykunin isshu. Maybe she knows a lot about Japan than we guess.

@bluesushi, you are right, but it would be a bad move if Kennedy brought out a chart showing Japan's actual standing. Gotta learn to parse the diplomat-ese.

then France became their greatest ally

France has never been the "greatest ally" of America and anyone who thought so for even a second was sorely mistaken.

France has never been the "greatest ally" of America and anyone who thought so for even a second was sorely mistaken.

Hmmm? I thought they supported the American Revolution against British rule and the Statue of Liberty was a gift to mark that connection. Correct me if I am wrong, but hidingout may be sorely mistaken.

Vast Right-Wing ConspiratorNov. 25, 2013 - 11:06PM JST

Slumdog: She is unqualified because she doesn't speak Japanese. She has never shown any deep interest in Japan. She has no experience in international diplomacy. She has no knowledge of or training in economics. She has not taken part in any kind of international negotiation. She has no knowledge of or experience in military affairs.

Other than those few shortcomings, she is a great choice. She has the most important quality needed- she is a toady of the president.

Vast Right-Wing ConspiratorNov. 26, 2013 - 01:12AM JST

What has Kennedy accomplished in either politics or international relations that would vault her to this very (in my opinion) important and delicate post? I look, for example, at Canada's current ambassador to Japan. An accomplished diplomat, fully trilingual (English, French, Japanese), with decades of experience in Asia. I look at Japan's ambassador to the USA. Another career diplomat with accomplishments and skill.

This is a crucial time in Asian affairs. There are real tensions between Japan and other countries that demand serious attention. Three nuclear armed countries are almost neighbours. Kennedy will need constant monitoring, need to be briefed and translated for and isolated from all important events because she is simply not capable of dealing with them.

I understand that presidents need to give patronage rewards to their political supporters. It's part of the game. But I would have preferred she be sent to be ambassador to Belgium or Sweden, somewhere that there is no risk.

Your second post is lot better and ethical than the first one and it still makes sense to the audience what you want to say.

As you know yourself the first post is filled with lies. With this, you will fail in a real court cross examination test. I am posting a landmark case of the United States Supreme Court on Freedom of Speech; Sullivan vs New York Times, so that you will learn something from me to protect yourself. Good luck.

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/nytvsullivan.html

What about the U.K.? Arent they also our greatest ally?

I think it goes in cycles... The UK was America's greatest ally up until the Syria vote in the House of Commons, then France became their greatest ally. Now it's Japan.

What has Kennedy accomplished in either politics or international relations that would vault her to this very (in my opinion) important and delicate post? I look, for example, at Canada's current ambassador to Japan. An accomplished diplomat, fully trilingual (English, French, Japanese), with decades of experience in Asia. I look at Japan's ambassador to the USA. Another career diplomat with accomplishments and skill.

This is a crucial time in Asian affairs. There are real tensions between Japan and other countries that demand serious attention. Three nuclear armed countries are almost neighbours. Kennedy will need constant monitoring, need to be briefed and translated for and isolated from all important events because she is simply not capable of dealing with them.

I understand that presidents need to give patronage rewards to their political supporters. It's part of the game. But I would have preferred she be sent to be ambassador to Belgium or Sweden, somewhere that there is no risk.

Vast Right: Sorry, but she knows Japanese culture but is not familiar with Swedish or Belgian culture. It will be hard for her to learn Belgian or Swedish culture first, then study their problems. japan, she only has to study current situation of Japan. No wonder all Republicans voted for her. is there anyone who has deep knowledge of Janapese culture than she is? She only have to check current situation,

Hidingout, during press conferences after the British vote against action, Kerry called France America's closest ally. Whether that's true or not is a moot point - fact is he said it.

Kennedy, the first female U.S. ambassador to Japan, studied Japanese art at college, the daily said.

She said she was interested in learning more about Japanese poetic traditions.

“I am eager to play ‘Hyakunin Isshu,’ ” she said, referring to a Japanese card game based on a collection of 100 ancient “waka” poems and often played during a New Year holiday break.

I suppose this is what made her "qualified" to be Ambassador!

Oh and "Her father this, and her father that".....The US needs HER to be the Ambassador and not live on the laurels of her father and his history and legacy.

Like I said, she's a puppet.