"Ode to John Kerry"

[wisteria]

"I've never been more frustrated," said a fit, rested and youthful-looking Kerry in an elegant navy summer suit.
John Kerry said yesterday he didn't want to get into a thing about what-ifs. Waste of time. Didn't happen. "Timing is everything in politics," he said. His time for the White House is past.

No "wistful" here, thank you very much.

Well let me be wistful on his behalf. As Kerry rattled off one policy initiative after another yesterday, I kept thinking that his brain is about 100 times bigger than that of our foggy, confused, pushed around by his Machiavellian advisers, can-I-ever-get-a-sentence-out-straight embarrassment of a president.

So Kerry's a tough-to-warm-up-to stiff. So what.

We really blew it.

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2008/07/eagans_ode_to_john_kerry.html

To think that all those brains and talent are just being bestowed on Massachusetts with little recognition and thanks elsewhere.
Oh, and having met the man, I strongly disagree with the very suggestion of him being hard t warm up to and stiff. Both Senator and Mrs Kerry are very warm and friendly people. Being reserved is not a bad thing.

[politicasista]

1. Thought about giving 2 cents

about this article, but everyone here has heard it all before, so no need to repeat it over and over again.

[TayTay]

2. Ah, well we did offer to share.

And we do regularly allow the good Senator to vote for the Country as well as the home folks in MA. It's not like we keep him in a cage and only let him out for Mass-related stuff.

Geez, we do share as much as possible.

[wisteria]

3. No insult to the good people of Mass intended.

It is just that I don't believe his best service to this country is behind him and I don't think he can do his best work from the restraints of the Senate.

[beachmom]

4. Well, I'm in red GA, and I don't think Kerry being the Sen. from MA

is something to feel down about. It's not a bad job. He tried out for a better job, but it didn't work out. That is true for a lot of people, and you notice that Kerry never sounds bitter. Nor should we; well, maybe just wistful once in a while. The thing is it is not up to him, if he changes jobs, or even keeps the one he has. The latter is up to the voters in MA(who 94% probability will come through), and the former will be first up to voters to vote in Obama, and then it will be up to Obama. That is a lot of ifs, all of which are beyond Kerry's and our control.

I agree the Mass. snark stinks (except when it is occasionally funny). But it's part of the reason why they grow the best Senators. And thank God they voted him in in '82 for Lt. Gov. and then '84 for Senator. Maybe we should be grateful to them for having the fortitude to picking him over the back slappers.

[wisteria]

5. There was something special about the 2004 election and Senator Kerry

At least for me. Although many believe Obama to be a once in a lifetime candidate- I reserve that status for Senator Kerry. I never had as much interest or enthusiasm for any candidate running for President in my life. He deserves recognition and respect. I don't see him acquiring much of that as one of 50 Senators. Clinton runs and loses in the primary and they talk of a leadership position in the senate, Kerry nearly becomes president and he gets to fade back into mostly secondary roles in the Senate. When the Reid wants a spokesperson on Military and war issues who does he refer everyone to- the dull Senator Reed. I feel Kerry gets the short end of the stick- so to speak- a lot of the time. It isn't about being bitter, it is about getting your due. I don't like to see undeserving people get ahead while those more deserving languish behind.

[karynnj]

7. I am not as black about it as you are

I also thing that things in the Seanate are not exactly how the media protrays them. The media immediately spoke of a leadership position as a consolation prize almost - but this was the media, not the Senate. In tyhe Senate, we saw HRC stay away for a month after she was definately the loser.

Think of what that means. If she had a warm supportive place to return, she would. When she did come back, there was the photo op of being cheered arriving at the capital. But, it was all interns - and was clearly set up. (How did they know the time she would arrive? Given the medis's pin on her vs Kerry, what you didn't see were many pictures like those of Kerry2004, where he was affectionately greeted by many Senators - even from the other side of the aisle. (Lugar's words were kind in the SFRC) HRC seemed to get off the floor as soon as possible in the very few votes I saw.

Also, we all watch hearings. To me the true measure of respect shown in a meeting is whether others refer to your comments or continue your line of questioning. I've seen far fewer HRC hearings, so this may not be fair - but -at least on the Armed Servidces Committt, she is no Kerry on SFRC

[wisteria]

8. We shall see, but I think she has already been treated better than Kerry, by th press

and those who lead in the Senate. I have made up my mind though that if the Clinton's still have leadership and controlling roles in the Democrat party after Nov. I am going to pull back from the party.

[karynnj]

9. I agree the media was behind her

My point was that I didn't see the affection or respect from Senators that the media's words would suggest. From all the behind the scenes thing it is likely that she made enemies of some of the most senior leaders.

If Obama wins, that changes the power structure. People who have his ear will be more important than who has Bill Clinton's. I seriously doubt she is even remotely likely to be the Majority Leader in that case. The "old" Democratic administration in exile will either be working for Obama or will be likely to be out of power until at least 2016 - 16 years from when they were in power. (If Reid steps down, Durbin and Dodd might have more support. Notice that if Dodd is ML and Biden SoS or VP, who is Chair of the SFRC?

If Obama loses, they will likely try to do to him what they did to Kerry - argue he is not a leader of the party. But, Bill has lost a lot of luster.

[wisteria]

10. Why should Dodd and Biden have more clout then Kerry?

Things don't always work by seniority. The best qualified should be appointed to these positions-losing in the primaries doesn't mean you qualified for a consolation prize. Hillary still has support from Reid and Shumer-two very influential people in Washington. Do you ever think they would offer Kerry Reid's position? I doubt it.

[karynnj]

11. I think if he really wanted it and made an

effort to get it, he would have a good chance at it - especially if Obama is President. Just watching him chair hearings vs many others, he has a far better temperament to do it than HRC. I suspect though, that as majority leader, he would be unable to do the detailed legislative work that he really is great at - though doesn't get that much credit for. Kerry would be excellent as the spokesman and in working out sensible compromises, but it seems a lot of Reid's job is administrative rather than issues.

I don't think either Biden or Dodd currently has more clout - both were ranked lower in that list where Kerry was 12th. (That list included Obama, McCain, and HRC because they were all at the time it came out serious possibilities as President - after the election I would guess none of the three will be there.)

Had we seen people on the floor of the Senate rush to greet/hug HRC the first time she reappeared, I would be concerned the Senate could pick her. That didn't happen. So, I doubt she has either the popularity or the seniority the majority leader usually has. The media was wrong on her inevitability and they are clearly wrong that the Clintons will be a dominant power if Obama wins. (That fact scares me - given 2000 and 2004)

I mentioned Dodd and Durbin, because Durbin is clearly the number 2 guy to Reid and the first to endorse Obama and because Dodd tried to get the position in 2004/2005. I think Durbin would be great.

[wisteria]

12. I think Durbin would be good to. n/t

[BlueIris]

6. All I can post is

never say never.

[MonteLukast]

13. I'm kind of glad she's regretful.

I want her to chew on, "We blew it" for a while. Until she stops blaming Kerry. Until she gets some damn perspective cemented in her head, and stops seeing "cold and stiff" as a deal-breaker for her leaders.

[wisteria]

14. I with you! n/t