Have John Kerry and Barack Obama already made a "deal" ?

[kentuck]

I'm sure that others also noticed that John Kerry was the public face in criticizing John McCain for being out of touch and "confused" over the Iraq War issues and facts? Was it just a coincidence? I would have thought so but when Jim Johnson was asked to resign his job as a "volunteer" vetter, we find that Mr Johnson also had worked as a "vetter" for John Kerry in 2004? So the person that worked for Kerry was also working for Obama and John Kerry seems to be the "attack dog" for the Obama campaign? Is this all just a coincidence or is Mr Kerry the front-runner in the VP race? Just asking? :-)

[Pirate Smile]

1. John Kerry knows from his own experience how important it is that the candidate have surrogates out

in the media strongly countering attacks and going after the Republicans. Joe Biden learned that as well from 2004.

[Frances]

2. I don't think Kerry will be the VP

That would not go well with Obama's theme of change.

However, if I were Kerry, I would do everything I could to help Obama, not only because Obama is the best candidate, but also to show up those people who attacked my record in Vietnam.

[rox63]

3. I don't think so - Kerry's running for reelection to his Senate seat right now

But I wouldn't be suprised to see him get offererd a cabinet post in an Obama administration. I would love to see either Attorney General Kerry or Secretary of State Kerry.

edit for bad spelling

[SuperTrouper]

5. Secretary of State Kerry sounds great

and Joe Biden as VP. Kerry is the best surrogate to attack McHyena because he has the moral ground to go mano a mano with McCrab.

[ourbluenation]

25. two bits says it's Biden as SoS. n/t

[Divine Discontent]

32. you're on!

I want those two bits! :) I think Kerry would get it before Biden. I think Biden might get VP or a high level cabinet position.



New Obama Items Weekly!
www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[ourbluenation]

33. ok - it's on. I can hear those quarters jingling in my pocket already.

:P

[Divine Discontent]

34. you can? damn! I knew I was being played like a fiddle!

I feel like b*sh with darth cheney as my Veep! Pxwnd!

[Major Hogwash]

26. This rumor gets knocked down every day here.

Shit, this rumor gets knocked down more than Leon Spinks.

It's incredible that his name keeps popping up.

[SoFlaJet]

4. John Kerry

is giving some much deserved paybacks to the two culprits who came out first with faux outrage at him for fucking up a punchline...two people who were SUPPOSED to be his friends. Hillary and McCain...one down one more to go.

[karynnj]

17. I think it has more to do with Kerry's view of what is needed

for the US to return to sanity. He would not be human if he did not feel some genuine happiness that the Clintons, who attacked his campaign as poor and said only they knew how to run a winning campaign lost a race where everything was stacked in their favor. That most of those in the campaign led those attacks on him post 2004, seeing their poor tactics compared to his excellent primary race had to be satisfying, especially as many of his people went to Obama when he opted not to run. He also likely did think that the Clintons did not give him the support due the nominee in 2004 - Bill putting out his book in late June 2004 was beyond unhelpful - especially as ML was the top thing spoken about and because Clinton spoke of how Democrats were supporting Bush on Iraq. In addition, in early 2005, there was a massive Clinton effort to make it clear that Kerry was not a party leader - in the seanet or out, even though he earned that designation. They were particularly obnoxious when Kerry fought Alito and when he introduced Kerry/Feingold.

With McCain, there were things that Kerry likely never thought McCain, who he respected and liked, would do - such as taking major money from the SBVT. But, he has kept his criticism on the fact that McCain is completely wrong on statement after statement on Iraq. Kerry has argued that before - countering McCain time after time in the Senate. That disagreement is not based on personal issues - but very genuine disagreement and the words have been tough for some time. (McCain was one of those who used "cut and run")

[napi21]

6. I think Kerry was asked to be the attacvk dog against McNuts because

he has close to peer status with him. Both were in 'Nam, both have been in the Senate for quite a while, & both are nationally recognized figures. I know the first thing I thought of when I saw Kerry last night was that he was ONE surrogate with credibility on the subject. I really don't think Kerry is on any VP list.

[jeffrey_X]

8. I think he's also is looking for revenge from 2004 and wants to help in any way possible

this is his avenue.

[karynnj]

18. He cares about righting the country - just as he did in 1971

this is not revenge for 2004, but fighting for what he has fought for all his adult life. This is the man who risked not having a political career to demand that we end the war in Vietnam, take care of the vets, and change our foreign policy. Once he got to the Senate, he risked his career again as the only Senator willing to investigate the illegal funding of the Contras by the popular Reagan. (This is popular here, but democrats like Clinton and Gore were for overtly aiding the Contras.) He then again risked angering all the Democratic powers that be by pushing the investigation of BCCI for 5 years and when all paths were closed, giving the info to Morgenthau in NYC. BCCI had coopted many powerful people in both parties. Powerful people who were the ones needed to be favored for the nomination.

That is who he is - though the media which has never given him much support has tried to portray him as the opposite.

[babylonsister]

7. I would have said no, but just read this:

http://www.jackischechner.com/2008/06/kerry-as-obamas-vp.html

Kerry as Obama's VP?


I interviewed Senator Kerry today as part of the Virtual Energy Forum and asked whether he'd be interested in the VP spot:

Jacki Schechner: It was inevitable we were going to get this question so I'm just going to throw it out there. But somebody says...her name is Lola...she says, "Would you consider running with Obama, and if so, what would you do to decrease the crisis with the Middle East and use diplomacy in reducing the economy and dependence on oil?"

Senator Kerry: Well, Lola, I'll answer the first part of your question by saying that having made the selection for Vice President, it's a good idea not to consider running with the person who's choosing. Let them decide who they want to have run with them. So the answer is no, I'm sitting here like everybody else and watching with amusement while this process goes on.

Jacki: Would you be interested?

Kerry: Only...the answer is probably not, but if the right definition were given to the job, then you'd be foolish not to say that you would think about it or consider it. And you'd be dishonest, likewise.

[dailykoff]

10. Wow.

He deserves it if he wants it. Personally I think it's a great idea.

[babylonsister]

13. Shocked me, and I applaud his honesty. nt

[beachmom]

37. I still read it as wiggle room for an unlikely scenario. He was being honest,

which is always stunning when a politician does that. But taking the VP slot would mean giving up his Senate seat. So ... I still don't view it as likely.

[anonymous171]

9. Nope, he's just giving the GOP back what they gave him.

Except that he doesn't have to lie. It's payback time!

[blogslut]

11. Or maybe, Senator Kerry was available for broadcast

?

[thewiseguy]

12. He is supporting the democrats nominee

[book_worm]

14. Nope, with Ted Kennedy seriously ill--John Kerry is too valuable to give up from the Senate.

[karynnj]

19. Which didn't stop Clinton supporters in MA from backing his primary opponent

leading to a primary when the Republicans don't have one. Nice and clever -so there will be crossover votes to eliminate Kerry - along with lefty freepers and bitter Clinton people.

[karynnj]

15. No - Kerry has been out there as Obama's surrogate

since January because he believes in what Obama has to offer. Kerry is running for re-election in MA and can't run for both. In addition, Kerry has been smeared continuously for about 4 years - 3 of them by BOTH the RW and the Clinton allies. That has had an impact. The fact that he genuinely is a great public servant, with a very clean record, who really has a huge number of accomplishments matters less than the perception of many to the contrary. In addition, it would make the Clinton people livid. There is no one I respect and admire more - but these factors - unfair as they are - could make him what you don't want in a VP - a source of controversy.

Kerry also was a surrogate in the 1990s for Clinton and in 2000 for Gore. He is one of the two best Democrats on foreign policy and McCain's strength is perceived to be his complete dominance on national security/military/Iraq.(The other is Biden - but Biden did not get his soft partition bill supported until he made the change that Kerry saw as needed a year earlier and he got kerry to sign on. Kerry's sense of the problems due to the colonial heritage cause him to be more sensitive to issues stemming from it.) Kerry has spent the last 3 months making progressively stronger cases that McCain, though a vet, has been consistently wrong on Iraq.

The fact is that there is NO ONE who spoken in stronger terms and been more persuasive on Iraq from 2004 - now, than John Kerry. He took an enormous political risk in pushing Kerry/Feingold and demanding it be debated in the Senate - and he was vilified for it by the the Clinton wing of the party. That move was so risky, that Obama did not vote for it and Edwards took a less aggressive position as well. (Because the loony left hates him for beating Dean and losing in 2004, it was even more politically risky for him - they still don't back him.) But in 2005, it was Kerry, who convinced America that we should not be doing the policing and search and destroy - this was another risky thing to do as it involved describing from both the Iraqi and the soldiers' point of view why this doesn't work. He was the man who most influenced the ISG and it showed.

Look at Johnkerry.com - Kerry has been out there speaking this way on Iraq since 2004. the difference is that he is now addressing McCain's misstatements as well as Bush's.

[Mass]

16. Kerry is running for reelection for MA and cannot run for the two seats.

Probably why he is so much at ease bashing McCain.

[AllentownJake]

21. Actually he can run for VP and Senate

Ask Joe Traitor Lieberman. He ran for re-election as a hedge in 2000.

[Mass]

29. Not in Massachusetts.

[karynnj]

31. If he were a CT Senator - yes, not as a MA Senator

It is not allowed in MA.

[politicasista]

20. No n/t

[OzarkDem]

22. Interesting theory

I'll admit, I'm stumped. Could be.

[tritsofme]

23. I sure hope not.

If anyone knows about blowing a presidential campaign, its John Kerry.

[nomorewhopper]

24. JK is not gunning for VP, he supports Obama from a ways back

and he's doing everything in his power to help!

john kerry is a great man and a friend of all democrats. the obama camp would be wise to use him. think of how much better life would have been under a JK rule instead of GWB. sigh...

[TheDonkey]

27. nothing to do with VP. Just has to do with JK being the best man to rip McSame on this issue

Biden would have been good too but JK is more focused and did an excellent job. You'll be seeing him come out a lot this campaign.

[PresidentObama]

28. GOD I hope so!! If I cant have President Kerry, I'll settle with Vice President Kerry

[newmajority]

30. Two senators on the ticket = McLoon landslide

The guy who lost* last time = double suicide.

If Kerry is out there acting as an attack dog, and deflecting the bullshit, that's great. But he's not a good choice for VP on this ticket.

[beachmom]

35. I think it's because Kerry is a veteran & a foreign policy expert

That is why he was an ideal surrogate. He might just end up being a very powerful Senator shepherding legislation through for President Obama.

[JI7]

36. Kerry is only doing what he has always done and what all Democrats should do

when one of their own is being attacked.