You know what doesn't bore me?

[beachmom]

The John Kerry forum. Thanks, guys, so much for the smart posts, wonderful bits of info, and excellent insights you all bring here. We're going on nearly 6 years, and this place is still going strong!!!

Okay, as a gift, some pics:

[wisteria]

1. Thanks Beachmom. n/t

[MH1]

2. Thanks, great pics!

:toast:

[Luftmensch067]

3. You are so right!

(and thanks for the pictures -- I love that group of photos!!!)

I was just getting all maudlin about the other thread (the banality one) and how grateful I am to be able to come to this online haven and read good sense from the wise minds here when I am feeling discouraged or infuriated (or bored!) by the insane political environment in which we find ourselves at present. I truly honor the subject of this forum, but I honor the participants in our conversation just as much. Thanks to all for caring about what is happening out there and for talking so intelligently about it in here.

[karynnj]

4. thank you so much for this lovely thread

Five, almost six years is an incredibly long time for this group to have existed - changing over time as we and the circumstances wanted. Looking back, I am struck by how much I learned from others in this group. Five years ago, I thought "Thomas" was just a male name - not the obvious place to go to find who voted which way or who said what. But, in addition, to learning how to really get information, it was the niceness of everyone here that makes this the first place I go on the internet. (That also meant I had to concede that my kids were right - internet friends could be real friends. )

In the spirit of your thread, here are some pictures from the September, 2006 Kerry National Security speech that I was so happy to attend with many others here, followed by a nice meal together, than a walk around Boston with Whometense.




At a booksigning in 2008 for the paperback version of This Moment on Earth, again with other DU JK people:



And, in DU JK tradition - a little "catnip" - a very cute Teresa story from the 1980s.

At the inaugural luncheon in the Capitol's Statuary Hall Monday, Teresa Heinz, wife of Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania, was seated at a table that included Ambassador Anatoly F. Dobrynin of the Soviet Union. After some discussion of arms control and other topics, Mrs. Heinz volunteered to obtain for the Ambassador President Reagan's autograph on the menu, but Secret Service agents told her she could not cross the room and approach the President at the head table.

Whereupon Ambassador Dobrynin began to needle Mrs. Heinz jovially about the power of the American secret police and the ability of women to deliver on their promises. Mrs. Heinz took this as an international challenge. Accompanied by the United States Trade Representative, Bill Brock, she ignored the security warning and marched up to the head table where she got menu signatures from President and Mrs. Reagan, Vice President and Mrs. Bush, Chief Justice Burger and the House Speaker, Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Mrs. Heinz triumphantly delivered her trophy to the Ambassador, and champagne toasts were exchanged

http://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/23/us/briefing-never-say-nyet.html?scp=24&sq=John+heinz&st=nyt

[Luftmensch067]

5. What a great THK story!

LOL! I can imagine her doing that!

[karynnj]

6. I could too - even though it sounds like the ambassador was having fun teasing her

It is hilarious that she so over exceeded the promise.

[sandnsea]

7. That is why I love that woman

You just know she had to ask herself, "well what are they going to do, shoot me in the middle of a state dinner." Obviously not, and up she goes and gets it done. She's incredible.

[karynnj]

8. True - she is incredible

Not to mention that as likely the most beautiful woman in the room and a very charming person, she was very likely to get the signatures. (I would assume that the worst that could have happened is being politely (but firmly) told to return to her seat.)

[beachmom]

9. Ha! I love it. Good find.

And a nice summary of all that has happened both on the internet and IRL with the DU JK group.

[ProSense]

11. LOL!

That's great.

I've been watching some of the clips from 2004. Teresa is wonderful and funny.

I also watched this C-Span video of the 1992 Earth Day Summit. Early in the clip, you see Teresa listening to JK. They have a brief exchange. He addresses the audience at the event. You'll also see Nancy Pelosi and others in the Congressional delegation.

[karynnj]

14. Really cool find

Hearing Kerry speak to the crowd about 15 minutes in was really nice - and he sounded much as he does today. He was incredible - clearly the most compelling speaker. I can't help thinking that had his live been less complicated, he would have run for President at that point and he no way would he have lost the primary to Clinton.

I didn't recognize Pelosi - until she spoke!

[Luftmensch067]

15. This really made my day!

Thanks so much -- I had no idea this footage was online! I loved seeing JK's passion for the subject and, though he was a realist about how long things might take, felt a little sad about how long they're REALLY taking. It was adorable to see him and THK making polite conversation!

[Inuca]

13. Could not agree more

I never met any of you face to face and yet I do think of most people here as friends, in one of the many possible meanings of this complex word. And you go great with my morning coffee :-). By the way, Thomas meant the same to me, and I could add a lot more to what I learned because of my visits here.

Thanks beachmom for starting this thread (and for starting me on tweeter, another place I visit with my morning coffee :-))!

[JI7]

10. i'm not sure i could have stayed on here without this forum

especially after the 2004 elections things were SOOOOO ugly. this place helped a lot.

[YvonneCa]

12. Yes, it sure did. n/t