Teresa Heinz is something of an enigma to me.

[MoonRiver]

I'm watching her now on C-SPAN and she is giving me the same complex vibes I've felt from her before. She is obviously a very intelligent and fascinating person in her own right. She is dedicated to John Kerry and completely devoted to his campaign.

But, at times, her demeanor is so solumn and serious. Even when people are shouting joyously in response to John's political successes, she seems oddly detached. Often I see her with her head down and unsmiling when other are screaming and waving their arms.

I get the feeling that this is a haunted person. It is if some deep and compelling thoughts take her away from the present and into the profound. I don't know what her childhood or early adult background were like. I get an impression of someone who has experienced a terrible trauma. Either that, or she is a person so deeply caring, that the pain of others overwhelms her psychically. There are some so sensitive that this can occur.

Bottom line is that Teresa Heinz appears to be an individual of enormous depth and intensity. I don't think she will be a First Lady who storms Washington. However, the work she can accomplish in that position may be important beyond anything seen since Eleanor Roosevelt. Something is very, very special about this lady.

[funky_bug]

1. I watched her on CSPAN this afternoon

and I was enthralled. She is Hillary AND a bag of chips. She speaks with authority, yet humility. She is soft-spoken, yet carries a message boldly. She speaks with simplicity, addressing complicated issues.

If she's an enigma, then I'm looking forward to watching her unfold over the next few months.

Plus, that accent is WAY cool!

[MoonRiver]

6. She is going to be a fascinating First Lady.

I would have adored to have had Gert, but maybe we can get them both!

[funky_bug]

12. Gert and Teresa together!

So say it, so let it be...lol

I'll always love Gert ;)

[MoonRiver]

21. Be still my heart!

:loveya:

[Wwagsthedog]

2. Kerry's web site has this

http://www.johnkerry.com/about_teresa/

Teresa Heinz Kerry brings an extraordinary range of experience and talent to the campaign trail for her husband. She has been deeply involved with a number of issues that are equally important to her husband, including the environment, children, women's issues, and health care and wellness. She has been an outspoken advocate for human rights, and a strong supporter of the arts.

Born in Mozambique, fluent in five languages, she has combined compassion and common sense to become a force for innovation and social progress as leader of one of the nation's largest private foundations. After studying in South Africa and Switzerland, she moved to the United States to work for the United Nations. In 1966, she married Senator John Heinz, with whom she had three sons. Shortly after celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in 1991, she lost her husband in a plane crash.

more.........

[funky_bug]

19. That's it, I'm so..... sold!

She speaks five languages, worked for the UN, active in human rights, womens' rights, education, the arts etc etc etc

This is an intelligent and gracious woman. She's Wes without the military service, but definitely not without a lifetime of service to this country.

I LUV HER!

I'm considering writing her a letter. Seeing as she's a proponent of the arts, I'd like to know what she and her husband plan to do about Jeb Bush's slaughter of the arts in high school here in Florida. If he has his way, they'll be gone from the curriculum altogether in a few short years. He's already cut them from the graduation requirements. Help, Teresa!

[charlie]

3. In addition to her husband

she lost her sister, grandmother, and godfather to crashes. Her father and father-in-law died within 4 years of John Heinz.

WaPo has a very good article on Teresa, a fascinating read:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A39691-2002May31?language=printer

[Cocoa]

4. i loved when she was chatting with people

signing autographs and interacting with the people. Surprisingly relatable, despite her aristocratic manner.

And in her speech, she showed the same quality I like about her husband, the refusal to dumb it down.

[JI7]

10. she gets along with everyone

did you notice every single person she talked to, she was comfortable with and they were comfortable talking to her. even with differences in these peoples background she could relate to every single one of them in some way. i wasn't surprised to see the "i love teresa" signs at some of the john kerry rallies.

[JI7]

5. she grew up in a dictatorship

she was born and raised in mozambique. when it comes to voting and other participation she is VERY serious. she often talks about how her father could not vote until he was in his 70's. that's something i love about her. she NEVER forgets that there are people in the world who don't have these rights that she got when she came to america. she is very proud and loves it. she is also more comfortable talking in smaller groups and talking one on one to people than in these large rallies which is why she may appear uncomfortable.

[janx]

9. Yes she certainly did grow up in a dictatorship.

Look out.

[janx]

7. Somebody has to help her get out of the bowels of politics.

This is not her element. She has a solid record in human rights, from what I've read--one that doesn't depend on --wait a minute. Maybe it does.

Maybe she has sold herself short, like so many other people married to politics. Maybe she didn't do this on her own but accepted it as part of the job of wealth, politics, or connection.

[Dookus]

11. If you knew anything about Teresa Heinz

you'd know she does what SHE wants to do. And I pity the man who tried to make her do otherwise.

[JI7]

16. john kerry knows not to even try

"she does what SHE wants to do. And I pity the man who tried to make her do otherwise."

senator kerry wouldn't even try to. nor does he want to. it's something he loves about her.

[JI7]

14. she is doing what she is into

she doesn't give speeches like ted kennedy. she talks the way she wants and about things she wants to talk about.and she is very good at it. people are different and just because she isn't up there screaming and yelling doesn't make what she has to say and do anything less. politics is a lot more than just wanting to be out in large crowds. it's about trying to make things better for people which is very important to her.

[Dookus]

8. yes

she's an extraordinar woman. In fact, this year we've been blessed that almost all the candidate's wives are extraordinary. Elizabeth Edwards, Judy Dean, Gert Clark...

[Doctor_J]

13. Aristocrats

seem often to, in their adulthood, fall into two categories. Either they educate themselves and use their fame and fortune to advocate tirelessly for humanity (Teresa) or become lazy, ignorant silver spoons who think that all the world should treat them like their nannies treated them (*).

Teresa's beautiful, brilliant, engaged, deep, and she's on our side.

[MoonRiver]

17. Yes. She is strikingly different from the empty headed Laura Bush

or even the politically driven, competitive, and ambitious Hillary (whom I adore). Teresa just seems to deeply care. I can't wait to see her in action after Kerry is elected.

[buff2]

15. She changed parties because of John

She was a republican. I wonder if she is torn? I couldn't imagine switching to the republican party. No way.

[KC21304]

24. John Heinz was a very moderate Republican.

I don't think she is uncomfortable at all in the Democratic party.

[UTUSN]

18. What's the Mystery? - She's an Individual, Human Being??? n/t

[MoonRiver]

22. Can't help myself. I'm a student of human nature.

Teresa will be a fantastic First Lady! She truly is John's "secret weapon"!

[KC21304]

23. During the celebrating after the primary / caucus wins

someone started this stupid raising of the arms with hands clasped and this does not work with a tall man and a much shorter woman. You can see that she almost got her arms pulled out of the sockets.

John Kerry did it to Theresa and so did some of the other men and you could see her obvious discomfort. I think this is what you saw. I know it made me very uncomfortable. I know this was done in Iowa. I think she has maybe had a talk with him and we won't see it anymore. I think at the last after bash he just put his arm around her and pulled her close which is what he should do.

[jpgray]

20. Her liberal values and feminine wiles have subdued me already. Yow.

:D

[genius]

25. Actually she looks sort of like a typical first lady.

Hillary looked a lot flashier than most first ladies. I don't know much about Teresa. She looked intelligent.

[maxanne]

26. we saw

how special she was when she visited our small town just before the primary and was quite ill tempered, calling Howard Dean a liar.

I don't find her mysterious at all.

[DoYouEverWonder]

27. Whether Kerry wins or loses

I think Teresa knows how screwed up things really are and that if her husband does become President that things the next four years may be the most difficult of her life.

Look what Hillary had to go through? If I were Teresa I don't think I'd be jumping for joy either.

[Tinoire]

28. Here's a good article on her

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,1130604,00.html

[dkf]

29. Can you imagine being cheery after all the intern stuff on Kerry?

I still think where there is smoke there is fire and there is a lot of smoke around John Kerry and women.

I think the tape is eventually going to surface and Teresa is going to have to make a decision on whether she will be Hillary Clinton redux.

It must be hard for a woman of such power to have to suck it up. I wonder how it will turn out.

[eileen_d]

30. Thanks for your concern!

It must be hard still believing in the Kerry/intern story. I wonder how that will work out.

[Dookus]

31. sometimes

where there's smoke there's nothing more than a smoke-blowing machine.

But if you believe the existence of an accusation means that there's a 50% chance the accusation is true, then I hereby accuse Howard Dean AND John Edwards of being herpetic cattle rustlers and cat molesters.

Now.... the rumor is out on the internet. Where's there's smoke there's fire. Just exactly how many cattle has Dean rustled? Just how many cats has Edwards molested? I expect to see them come clean tomorrow on national TV, otherwise they're just hiding something.

[eileen_d]

33. LOL - what's "herpetic" mean?

I heard that cat molester rumor about Edwards... unnamed sources in the feline industry are refusing to comment, so you KNOW they've got something to hide...

[Dookus]

34. Herpetic

means having herpes.

[eileen_d]

35. Thanks

You're quite entertaining tonight. :hi: Or is it morning where you are?

[Dookus]

36. I'm in California... it's about 2:15am here

and thank you :)

[mmonk]

32. She speaks with a low key

authority. One gets the impression there is so much there, even when she publicly shows but a small part.

[MoonRiver]

38. Yes, you said what I meant very succintly!

I sense that lady is incredibly intense and deep. She wouldn't know how to pose if her life depended on it. That's why I believe she could be the most awesome First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt. Looking forward to being proven correct!! John Kerry is very lucky to have won her! I doubt it was easy! :D

[Vernunft II]

37. I´d rather elect her than him to be honest

[YNGW]

39. Teresa owns millions in Walmart stock

"...financial disclosure records filed by Mr. Kerry, who has accused Wal-Mart from the stump of giving its employees inadequate health-care benefits, show that his wife owns between $1 million and $5 million in the company’s stock."

http://daily.nysun.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMail&Type=text/html&Path=NYS/2004/02/17&ID=Ar00103

[maxanne]

40. beautiful

and the unions are lining up to endorse him. We have lost any collective national sense.