Article: Kerry keeps 2008 options open

[rox63]

Former presidential contender keeps 2008 options open

01/02/2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's almost as if Sen. John Kerry never stopped running for president.

He still jets across the country, raising millions of dollars and rallying Democrats. He still stalks the TV news show circuit, scolding President Bush at every turn.

His campaign Web site boasts of an online army of 3 million supporters.

The Massachusetts Democrat, defeated by Bush in 2004, insists it is far too early to talk about the 2008 race, but some analysts assume he has already positioning himself for another shot at the White House.

Read the rest here: http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BOS11877

[globalvillage]

1. You beat me. I'll delete.

:hi:

[globalvillage]

2. Me, too.

"I go to bed every night praying Kerry is the nominee again," he said.

[ginnyinWI]

22. I'm glad he tipped his hand

When a GOP operative says something gratuitous about a Dem, they are usually planting false information! I think he means the opposite! ;)

[globalvillage]

3. CNN Headline has picked up this story. n/t

[Luftmensch067]

4. Again, with the "With friends like these..."

Thanks for the link, Rox!

"He is going to have a difficult time overcoming his last campaign and explaining to the party regulars how and why he lost," said Dan Payne, a longtime Democratic consultant and former Kerry strategist. "There's only so much that the Democrats can blame on (senior Bush adviser) Karl Rove."

How can these people call themselves "Democrats" let alone have EVER called themselves members of the Kerry campaign?! Oh, it makes me ill every time I think of the naysayers who were part of his operation.

[fedupinBushcountry]

10. Who is this guy?

Dan Payne is a Boston-based Democratic media consultant who has worked in John Kerry's Senate campaigns in the past but is not affiliated with his presidential campaign. He does presidential campaign analysis for NPR, and his column appears regularly in the Globe.

Since when does a media consultant turn into a strategist

We have to fight these armchair ego tripping pundits.

[wisteria]

36. I think he could honestly say,hiring Dan Payne was one of the mistakes

made, even if he wasn't affiliated with the
Presidential election.
What a jerk, "only so much that Democrats
can blame on karl Rove". I get tired of all
the blame being dropped at Kerry's feet.

[karynnj]

42. "who worked in Senate campaigns in the past" is pretty vague

nothing about level or function or even which Senate campaigns. The other quotw by GHWB's political advisor should also be taken with a bit of salt - how did he manage a drop from I think the high 80s at the end of the Gulf war (91) to below 40 in October in 1992 with few major national events.

I do think that Kerry will have a tougher task than the others - they have to show that they have the credentials to deal with both the enormous domestic and foreign policy issues. I think that Hillary's credentials are very hard to assess - because they include her time as First Lady (without them, she's a Senator just starting on her second term with little to show for it due largely to a Republican Senate.)

One interesting thing is that the Clintons attack Kerry's foreign or domestic policy credentials at their own peril - Clinton (and Bush I) ignored Kerry's written advise (in the BCCI report) to investigate whether Khan was selling nucleur technology. On domestic issues - in her book, Hillary uses S-CHP passed under Clinton as the biggest improvement to government health insurance since Medicare/medicaid. In her book she claims she helped Kennedy behind the scenes. (Kerry, who Kennedy thought had something to do with this is not mentioned in her book.)

[kerrygoddess]

48. Looking at this realistically

Payne is not saying anything that is not true. We all know there are naysayers out there, Payne articulates that and points out what JK will need to do. He's not the naysayer in saying this, and he's not saying anything that JK is not aware of.

[ProSense]

5. Official RW spin off and running (The BS needs to be countered)

Really? Start with the contradictions and spin


He still jets across the country, raising millions of dollars and rallying Democrats.

His campaign Web site boasts of an online army of 3 million supporters.

He has also used his fundraising prowess to aid Democrats across the country, collecting chits that could be called if he seeks the party's White House nomination.

Traveling extensively since his 2004 loss, Kerry generated nearly $5.3 million for dozens of Democratic candidates, state parties and charitable causes, according to aides.

(Looks like fire to me)



Borrowing a page from Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record)'s 2000 post election playbook, Kerry has kept much of his presidential political organization intact.

(It’s not McCain’s book. The Democrats read from their own book and as a result beat the GOP in 2005)


Kerry's image as a Northeast liberal with fuzzy views on major issues like Iraq would make him vulnerable once more, said Kaufman, who was White House political director for Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush.

(When will they give up this spin, which has been countered by every appearance Kerry has made. Also, I guess he missed the two best speeches by anyone on Iraq and national security: Kerry’s "The Path Forward" and “Real Security in the Post-9/11 World”; and he missed everything Kerry has been fighting for since the election.)


"I go to bed every night praying Kerry is the nominee again," he said.

(The idiot GOP Kaufman tries a little reverse psychology. Truth: afraid Kerry will be the nominee. Maybe Kaufman should explain why the GOP had to resort to all the dirty tricks, including Bush's top lawyer working for the SBVT)

[ginnyinWI]

23. this should be posted in GD-P

We need to keep as many DUers on board with Kerry as we can! Too many are apt to accept the spin.

[ProSense]

32. The article is in LBN

I posted this there.

[wisteria]

37. I'm afraid they will mistake Kaufman's comment about a Kerry run

as him being a week candidate and build on it, with RW talking points. I say, leave out the Kaufman comment at the end.

[Mass]

6. A perfect example of why many people get disaffected about politics

(Not Kerry's fault here, but the media and blogs's fault).

Except for a handful of political junkies, and I am one of them, people dont care about that. This is why sites like dailykos, DU, ... are so ineffectual. They dont deal with true matters, and more and more, politicians dont either. They deal with process. I dont care about process. I care about what people do and whay they need.

I had avoided DU and other sites for the holidays week, and I am reading it for the first time today. Everything seems so artificial, so useless that I think I will try to avoid it more and more (I will keep an eye on this forum, but unfortunately, the rest is a loss of time and energy).

[ProSense]

8. True, people don't care about the process, but

look how quickly this is picked up by CNN (have they even covered the two Iraq speeches?)

What people will hear is that Kerry is running and everything he says here on out is political posturing. What they will hear is the spin about no fire and fuzzy on issues.

People don't care about the process, but when they vote, they remember the media's take on the candidate.


Please see my other post, the spin has to be countered.

[globalvillage]

9. Or maybe they'll see that he hasn't gone away.

The CNNHN story was very brief. It mentioned that he was raising money for '06 candidates, and nothing negative. I don't think it hurt.
Was there a more in depth story on regular CNN? If so, I missed it.
He looked great in the clip they showed, BTW.

[ProSense]

13. It's now on Yahoo's front page

and is being picked up by major and independent media alike. Not one of Kerry's major speeches got this kind of coverage. And it was deemed major in an brief mention on CNN's site.

They know he hasn't gone away, but the article will reinforce in some that he is still the caricature they saw in last year's campaign. I know a lot of people are waking up, but this is the kind of thing that starts small and ends up dominating the media.

[fedupinBushcountry]

15. The "CORPORATE" media

has been for Hillary since the day after the election. We have to fight these sob's.

[ginnyinWI]

25. yeah even William Safire has decreed

Hillary is the nominee. I wish these RWers would just butt out of Dem politics! But no, it serves their nefarious purposes! And of course, there is no such person as John Kerry in his world!

[wisteria]

41. The fact that Corporate or Big Business is pushing her indicates

that she wouldn't be a candidate for the people, but the candidate for Big Business. Exactly how will she represent us? How will she be good for us? I can't seem to figure those two things out.

[paulk]

53. I don't think she's being pushed by

corporate or big business interests as much as the media sees a ratings bonanza
in the first woman running for president sweepstakes...

[fedupinBushcountry]

73. I wish it was just that

but the media is corporate. They take their orders from the corporate offices in N.Y. I know this for fact, my brother is a reporter and he told me exactly that. We do not have an independent media any longer it is a corporate media.

[globalvillage]

18. We'll see.

I don't agree that the average voter knows he hasn't gone away.
My last three conversations with co-workers re Sen Kerry were basically this...
"I hear you met John Kerry, what's he like?"
"Did he say if he'll run again? I hope so."
This article is not all bad and not all good.
That it mentions he's fighting bush* is positive.
That it gets voters to realize Hillary isn't the de facto nominee is a plus. Anything to de-rail that train.
That it says he's raising money for Dem candidates shows it's not about him, but about Democrats.
Sure, there's the typical snark from the other side, but I think that's expected, even by the average reader. The last couple paragraphs are ugly.
But it also shows that he's a fighter and that the election loss hasn't changed that. And if it happens that they portray him as a 'caricature', well, that just opens a door to respond to some of the nastiness from the campaign now instead of waiting for it to dominate the '08 campaign. bush* looks like shit right now, both literally and figuratively. Seeing the Senator has to call up some buyers remorse. People are waking up.
Overall, I don't see this as hurting him.
Now, if they'd only cover the speeches.

[ProSense]

20. I'm sorry! You're right

They don't know that he plans to run again and that's what you were referring to.

I meant to say they know Kerry is still out there (by the furor the RW stirs up: the RNC ad, Limpy, etc.).

And the article wasn't all bad, but one thing about the ridiculous negative comments (I'm noticing after reading some of the comments in this thread) are from the most off the beaten path GOPers.

[globalvillage]

21. There is no need to apologize when your goal is defending the Senator.

You're right. The negative comments are infuriating. What's important is for the average American to continue to see Sen Kerry fighting for what he believes. And the fact that he looks wonderful, especially after the battered face of bush* these past couple days, can't hurt.
We need to start worrying when they stop covering him.
See this from Ginny in the Mark Shields thread. That's what we have to worry about.

I've seen several of these end of the year things, and what really burns me up is how JK has become the "invisible man". They mention everybody else, but JK and anything he does is just invisible. They talk about Feingold, Murtha, Reid, even Obama, but it's like there is no John Kerry. It's like he's been erased from anything that's happened since the end of 2004.

[ProSense]

24. CNN's coverage of Kerry's two “major” Iraq speeches

There was the Wolfie interview (next to lanst entry), and Kerry did great:


And it appears as though Georgetown University is becoming a magnet for potential 2008 presidential candidates. Last week, Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) delivered a major speech on Iraq. This morning, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) participate in a panel titled "Ending the New Slavery: The Fight Against Human Trafficking."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/01/sr.tues/index.html


Kerry calls for goal of withdrawing most U.S. troops from Iraq before 2007

From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Wednesday called on President Bush to put in motion a plan to begin reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq, with the objective of pulling out most military personnel by the end of December 2006.

"The goal should be to withdraw the bulk of American combat forces by the end of next year," Kerry said in a speech delivered at Georgetown University. "If the administration does its work correctly, that is achievable."

Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, was highly critical of President Bush's handling of the Iraq War, though he claimed his decision to offer his thoughts on the war was not driven by politics. But Kerry, who promoted his Georgetown appearance in an e-mail to political supporters just hours before the speech, is widely believed to be considering running again for his party's presidential nomination in 2008.

The Massachusetts Democrat offered an outline that he claims will help Iraq regain its footing and eventually establish self-rule. The first benchmark would be the removal of 20,000 U.S. troops in the coming months, following the "completion of the democratic elections." (Posted 5:25 p.m.)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/26/wednesday/index.html


Fifteen minutes later, Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) will deliver what is being promoted as a "major policy address" on Iraq, specifically "Operation Iraqi Freedom and the path to victory," at the American Enterprise Institute. Sen. John Kerry (Massachusetts), the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, recently unveiled his own plan on Iraq, which included removing nearly all U.S. troops by the close of 2006.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/10/sr.thurs/index.html


Kerry: I'd have us in a 'different place'
Senator speaks on prewar intelligence, timetables, election plans

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer spoke with Sen. John Kerry -- the Massachusetts Democrat who lost to President Bush in last year's election -- beginning by asking about the president recently quoting Kerry's prewar comments on Saddam Hussein.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/17/cnna.kerry/index.html


While Frist is talking in Washington about a potential plague, Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) will deliver his second "major" address on Iraq and broaden his remarks to winning the war on terror at a 1 pm speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Kerry, who is also considering a 2008 presidential campaign, will criticize President Bush's efforts to win the war on terror and emphasize it is imperative for the U.S. to not only "destroy the terrorist cells," but also win the "war of ideas."

"This war has drawn us smack into the middle of an internal struggle in the Islamic World," Kerry will say, according to excerpts of his speech released by his office. "A struggle ultimately for the transformation of the greater Middle East into a region that is no longer isolated from the global economy, no longer dependent on despotism for stability, no longer fearful of freedom, and no longer content to feed restive and rising populations of unemployed young people a diet of illusions and excuses."

Kerry's speech to CFR comes 24 hours after President Bush spoke on Iraq before the same group in Washington.

The Kerry address is being billed as an effort by Congressional Democrats to address several of their legislative priorities in a series of coordinated speeches across the country. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey) will speak on prescription drugs and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin) will deliver an economic address, in their respective states. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) joins Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) and Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland) in Baltimore to talk about education, while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) speaks about corruption in Congress.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/08/sr.thurs/index.html?section=cnn_latest



Now why isn't anyone repeating the point in bold?

[wisteria]

38. I think he needs to be seen and heard, but I agree it not good if it's

the same old misrepresentations. Hannity does this crap when he mentions him. Trying to tag him as an anti-war, weak defense wild far left liberal. Again, I like to see him make news.but positive informative news. What do you think we can do to counter this? Don't you think Kerry is aware of how the media is misrepresenting him?

[whometense]

11. I have a similar take.

After taking some time off, a lot of what I read looks like wheels spinning in the mud. There is a genuine paucity of original thought (this forum excepted). It frankly amazes me how few people seem unwilling or just plain unable to think outside of the box.

I'd have thought a few people might have learned a few things from Kerry's "surprise" nomination win in 2004 - such as that the conventional wisdom has absolutely nothing to do with wisdom at all. I think JK's doing a great job right now keeping a very delicate balance between flying under the radar (his favorite position) and keeping himself a present and relevant factor in the minds of the voters. One thing he knows is that timing is all. But very few others seem aware of this.

After going on a news-and-commentary fast, the first thing I noticed on reentry is exactly what you just said - how irrelevant most of the blather is, how beside the point, and how fatuous, self-serving, and how frankly tone deaf.

[ginnyinWI]

30. me too!

Most of DU is just people posting their own instant emotional reactions about something they've read which don't add any new information. There are a few exceptions, but why wade through all the dreck daily and get to feeling so demoralized!

My need to spend my time getting actual news. This forum does give me news--of the JK kind, not usually covered in the media, so I really, really value this forum and everyone who contributes! I also love the comments by people here, because they are almost always thoughtful and substantial! :pals:

And let's not forget the pic threads. :blush: :loveya:

[whometense]

33. I feel the same way.

:pals:

I was thinking about the blogs too when I wrote that comment. There really is a big echo chamber (or two - one left and one right), and while I can see possible value to that, I don't really like to blog that way. When you step away for a while and come back it's interesting to see how many (and which) sites are worth going back to, and that offer real value for the time invested in reading them. It's relatively few, considering the total number that are out there.


Of course, pic threads have innate value. :loveya:

[ProSense]

35. What a great photo! Thanks.

:loveya:

[Island Blue]

7. A comment

"Obviously, Kerry has all but said he wants another crack at the thing," said Neal Thigpen, a political science professor at South Carolina's Francis Marion University. "He's going to make a second try."

"In 2008, Democrats will probably be eager for a fresh face, said Thigpen, citing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead in early polls and her ability to raise large sums of money."

These are quotes from apparently a very random person - Francis Marion is a very small school in SC. I don't think the school is particularly known for having a steller political science department. I just think it's odd that such a random "expert" would be quoted. (Oh, and regarding your second comment Mr. Thigpen - bite me.)

[jenndar]

12. How the heck is Hillary a fresh face?

Seriously, if you spend more than 30 seconds reading this stuff, it falls apart at the seams.

[fedupinBushcountry]

14. I was thinking

the same thing. In fact to me Kerry is a fresh face in the minds of many. Heck I knew very little about him before 2003, I know there are many more just like me.

[cmnh]

28. Don't worry. We've got her surrounded.

<img src="" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[globalvillage]

29. Hehehe.

cute.

[wisteria]

44. Hi and welcome!! n/t

[karynnj]

51. Welcome to the group

[wisteria]

43. IMO, I think we should be concerned about Mark Warner.

He seems to have almost all the things Dem's seem to think will be a winning strategy, former Governor of a red state,respected for his accomplishments, liked, known for getting along with Repubs.And no long history to examine and criticize. What remains is if he has the ability to raise money. I have nothing against Warner, in another time or place, I might even consider him, but now I have no time for anyone but Kerry.

[karynnj]

50. I would say that his resume is too thin and that he has no Foreign

policy experience. He does seem a really good candidate otherwise - though I know little about him.

Isn't he about 50 years old - if so, running and beating Allen would seem a better strategy. It would put the party in his debt. He could then strengthen his resume and possibly get the 2008 VP.

I really disagree with the Southern Governor strategy - at a time when the US/world relations are in chaos. (I also think the numbers are too small to make inference. We had 2 Southern Governors win, both at times of relative internation quiet. Since 1960, the only Democrats to win (as non-incumbents) were JFK, Carter and Clinton. (Gore, who really won, was VP - so would be close to an incumbent) So, if the BL tape wouldn't have appeared, the media handled things more fairly, or there were adequate machines in Ohio, there would be a fouth - Kerry.

Would CW then be we need a Southern Governor OR a MA Senator, Navy vet, with initials JFK? The numbers are the same and the logic every bit as good. (or as bad)

[wisteria]

54. I don't like the Southern strategy either. We shouldn't have to run

either a Governor nor a Southerner in order to win an election. For my thinking, we can reach out to the red states,but it will be a long time before we make major inroads in some of the redder than red states. For my thinking, I feel we need to go mid-West.

[karynnj]

55. and the south west

What's sad is that Kerry's athleticism and his real personality could have worked in those states if the media let them know.

[wisteria]

57. I agree. I believe the media enjoys and adds to the animosity

between both political parties and the North and the South.

[TayTay]

16. I didn't think it was a bad article.

It mentioned how active Sen. Kerry has been since the election and that is a good thing. It talked about how he has distributed over $5.3 million dollars in direct campaign support money to various Dems all across the country. The 3 million strong e-mail list was also mentioned and that is a big, big plus. This list means that a lot of supporter and fence-sitters are still interested in what Sen. Kerry has to say. This is very big.

The article also mentions how hard it will be to repeat as the nominee. Well, duh. Of course it will be hard. (It is improbable that anyone will ever get to be the nominee. It's extraordinarily difficult. So what? It was extraordinarily difficult the last time, especially when the polls had Kerry down by 30-40% at one point. Again, so what? You never know until you try.)

The article finishes up by quoting one of the great incompetents of all time: Ron Kaufman, past chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, one of the most useless and ineffective organizations in modern American politics. Kaufman says something nasty about Kerry. Ho hom. Tomorrow he can go to sleep and dream about how, under his leadership, the number of Republican office holders in MA has shrunk dramatically. If Kaufman, who is profoundly incompetent, is dreaming of a Kerry nomination, then I say bring it on. If that boob Kaufman is any indication, it will be just the thing the Dems need.

Don't let this stuff bother you. It's just early sniping. There is nothing new in here and there is a lot that is good. Focus on that and on the positives and there are many positives.

BTW, jealousy is playing a part in this. There are a lot of people who want Kerry's e-mail list and his campaign money. They envy this and they envy the fact that Kerry still has a strong base of support and is raising money. There will be a lot more stories like this as the year progresses. The green-eyed monster is definitely out and rampaging through the land on this one. (And yes, we were told in Boston that the fundraising is going well. Ha ha. Bite me you jealous bunch of whiny little babies. Just bite me. When your candidate grows up, he or she can compile their own e-mail list and go out and solicite money. Until then, stop coveting other people's stuff.)

[ginnyinWI]

26. it will be hard to get re-nominated.

I said a year ago that he will need to make a good argument about why he didn't win--whether it is about fraud in the election, or GOP lies, or whatever. He has to show the Dem electorate why they should give him another try. This is on top of the usual challenge of showing why he's better than any other Dem who runs in the primary.

For my money, give me a John Kerry over anyone else who's been mentioned so far! Hillary can't hold a candle to his foreign policy experience and knowledge. And domestically he's certainly no slouch, either! What has Hillary done so far? Promoted a health plan which failed. I don't think most people will think they'd be getting Bill as a shadow president. Most Dems, I think, will assume that she will be in charge. The Repubs might think so, though, given their generally more backward views about women.

No other Dem being considered has JK's experience or qualifications to be our next Dem president. It's just a matter of convincing enough voters--can he capture their imaginations or interest with the "novelty" of having the same guy run twice in a row? Maybe.

[ProSense]

31. Something interesting about the situation

A year ago the argument was that Bush's status as a wartime president made him hard to defeat. Terrorism drove people's fears. And a lot of misinformation was being held up as fact. By the election, there were those who saw Bush as owner of the Iraq mess and best suited to sort it out (a pretty lame argument in light of the realities). Since then, I've seen a few threads started on this board expressing relief that Kerry didn't take the WH because he would have had to deal with this mess (I understand where the sentiment comes from, but don't agree with it).

Well, the mess has grown worse. The Republicans are no different from Bush, and a lot of them are going to be directly brought down by corruption and indirectly affected because they turned a blind eye to the scandals.

The times are as complex as ever. And the person who assumes the presidency in 2008 is going to have to deal with the mess created by Bush, from both a domestic and foreign policy standpoint. I suspect all the candidates will present their strong suit, but for me it will come down to who is best qualified to set the country on a new and different path, and do it successfully.

[whometense]

34. It seems to me as well

that one of the best arguments for Kerry is his extreme competence - and the absolutely bone-weary sense of the citizenry (imagine what it will be like by 2007) that there is no one in charge. There is just a sense of exhaustion - people are sick of scandal, sick of the feeling of having to be on guard 24/7 against the next outrage, the next criminality, the next corruption. And that could be a good argument for going with the guy who inspired so many - and who has been vetted and vetted and vetted and come out clean every time.

I suppose some could use the same argument for a Gore candidacy, but I'd argue that Kerry was a much more inspiring figure.

[ProSense]

39. What's interesting is

that with the depth of corruption and media manipulation that has been exposed, people seem unable or unwilling to connect the battle being played out in the media now with the obstacles the media posed during the campaign. The media is still an obstacle. Bush's actions are impeachable, but why isn't the media running with this story like they did the SBVT story, and forcing Bush on the defensive. Instead, the stories are about his investigation of who leaked the data. Conyers' actions and John Dean's, Kerry's and Boxer's statements, nothing anyone with full legitimacy has said has sparked the a media reaction similar to the one alloted the nefarious SBVT claims. Why?

[MH1]

80. Interesting point.

The SBVT ads were probably made by marketing experts. It seems that for all the "Hollywood" types on the Dems' side, the Repubs have the lions' share of Madison Avenue.

All the actions, statements, and items being raised by Dean, Conyers, Kerry, Boxer still come down to "boring" D.C. stuff. Where's the marketing pizzazz? Has MoveOn made any ads? If so refer back to my first point.

I think Dems just aren't as good at marketing. Of course we know that the best marketed product is not necessarily the best product. But it often sells better. At least until people find out what a piece of crap it really is.

[Luftmensch067]

40. That's interesting!

No other Dem being considered has JK's experience or qualifications to be our next Dem president. It's just a matter of convincing enough voters--can he capture their imaginations or interest with the "novelty" of having the same guy run twice in a row? Maybe.

I don't know if this is what you meant to convey, Ginny, but this tied in with some stuff I've been thinking.

I think people's imaginations might be caught by the idea of "meeting the REAL John Kerry." I think the public consciousness understands that they were spun big-time in '04. They know JK was slimed -- the worst they can find to say is he didn't fight it hard enough, or didn't slime back with equal evilness. I'd be interested in what might happen if a JK campaign just came out and said: look, you know you didn't get a clear picture of who I am last time. Here's your chance to see the real person, the real candidate, without bullsh*t and without editing. We all know that they responded well to seeing him in the debates, where he was constrained and locked in by ridiculous rules (can you believe, even now, how they tried to make him look the same height as B*sh?!?!!?) but not edited. I think the job of any future Kerry campaign should be to get him into the public eye as efficiently and as completely as possible, which means somehow getting him into a medium that reaches millions. We don't know yet how much he'll be able to count on TV. The alternative is the Net. In 2008, if he runs, he must use the Net to make sure that watching his speeches on C-SPAN is not the only way for people to get his message.

I guess the way this relates to what you said is that I think this could be a completely different campaign -- so different that it's almost as if he's not running again, it's as if the first time was a dry run, a learning experience and now: You ain't seen nothin' yet, folks -- look what you missed last time!

[ginnyinWI]

49. that would be a good tack to take

Because to those Moderates and Indys in the middle, they never did see the real JK. I actually think they'd be better prospects that some of the angry lefties we have on DU. They didn't see the real JK either, but they think they have! I maintain the belief that if anyone sees the real man, they become a fan for life--well most of them anyway! ;)

But he does need to somehow win over the media--they have so much power, especially television media. Convince them that he's good for ratings. So many people still don't go to the internet for news, especially those only minimally interested.

[wisteria]

45. Good points. n/t

[ray of light]

17. Freeper alert coming on this article too.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5517659,00.html

Raw Story has it.

[whometense]

19. Interesting how the exact same story

can be tweaked with a few changes of words and some snark elimination into a more positive one:

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=162891

Kerry keeps 2008 options open
1/2/2006 10:56 AM
By: The Associated Press

John Kerry said it's too early to start thinking about 2008.

Since losing to President Bush in 2004, the Massachusetts senator has jetted across the country, raising millions of dollars for fellow Democrats. His campaign already boasts of an online army of three million supporters.

All of this leads some analysts to assume he's positioning for another shot at the White House.

But while Kerry says he's keeping his options open, he hasn't decided whether to run for president again.

Adlai Stevenson was the last Democrat to rebound from a loss and win the nomination a second time. But he lost to Dwight Eisenhower again in 1956, reprising his 1952 defeat.

Richard Nixon won the Republican nomination in 1960, but lost the general election. He rebounded eight years later to capture the presidency.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press, All rights reserved.

[wisteria]

47. Now thats the way the article should be written. n/t

[whometense]

52. What a difference, huh?

Same info. Totally different article.

[beachmom]

27. My take is to roll my eyes!!

Who cares about '08 speculation so far out? SOO much could happen in 3 years, that what these "experts" say is irrelevant. I feel like covering my ears and saying "la, la, la, la, la" to block out this useless punditry noise, full of sound and fury symbolizing nothing. The story is that Kerry's PAC is doing well, he has a big e-mail list, and that he is fighting for his issues in the Senate and out in the country. Stamping '08 on it is pointless to me. Look, a year ago, the conventional wisdom was that McCain hadn't a prayer to get the nomination, and now he's the Repub darling. In a year from now, who knows? The election represents a moment in time, and what happens 3 years just doesn't matter much. And, by the way, Warner was immediately put down by the national pundits, too, only being mentioned as a VP candidate. So it's not just us Kerrycrats who are seriously tired of the Hillary talk. See the Shields thread on how Bill's health may be a factor that no on has considered.

[kerrygoddess]

46. Ron posted this on the Dem Daily

I'm re-posting my 2 cents here that I posted in the comments there:

I think David Wade did a wonderful job of articulating what JK has been doing over the last year and plans to do in the next - in a few short sentances.

Anthony Miga who wrote the piece has not been particularly flattering in the past, so I look at this as a rather positive piece from him.

And Dan Payne is right actually, because we all know there are some who will need convincing.

That said, we’re here to help convince people!

Keeping this in the perspective of there being no definative word from JK that he is running, this is good piece in terms of keeping that thought alive in perspective voters minds.

The article articulates (briefly)how much he has raised and donated to other candidates in the past year and what his goals are this year. The mention of his email list and that he is using it, reminds people that he's got a huge asset that other potential candidates do not have and may not come close to garnering anything near as large in the next year.

My opinion is this piece was writen with a purpose and it's not a negative purpose at all.

[TayTay]

56. KG, I totally agree.

I think it's too early. (It's not too early to go out and help take back Congress and help elect other good Dems, but it's too early for serious talk about running.) This is all a big media thing since talking about anything real takes time and a real investment in finding out what the issues are and examinging them in depth. (Screw that, it's faster and easier to speculate aobut '08 and you don't even have to crack a book or a newspaper. Lazy media.)

The reason it's too early is because there really hasn't been enough space yet between '04 and now. The issues that will be at the forefront for this fall are still not set in cement yet. (If we don't even know what this fall will be about, how can we possibly know what '08 will be about yet?) The Bush Admin has really screwed up a lot of stuff and we have not yet begun to calculate the price for their economic and foreign policy failures. It's too early. I think a lot of these 'chickens' are going to come home to roost before '08 and that will shape what is important in that race. But not yet, it's too early.

[WildEyedLiberal]

58. Just saw it on Yahoo's front page

It's mostly okay except for the snark at the end. Why ask some do-nothing Repuke hack from MA what he thinks? Because they need an "opposing viewpoint"? I also hated that remark from I forget who that "there's not a lot of fire out there for Kerry." I think I speak for all of us when I say BULLSHIT.

[globalvillage]

59. WEL speaks for me!

:patriot:

[WildEyedLiberal]

61. Awww thanks!

:blush:

But seriously: do these dumbfucks think that Democrats are ACTUALLY all fired up about Hillary? I HATE when Republicans try to tell us who we are and are not passionate about. I know of one real live Democrat who wants Hillary in 2008, and that's only because she's in love with Bill Clinton and wants a "third term of Bill" as she put it. Not counting you guys, I know several people who would be on board for a Kerry campaign again. I hate people who could give less than a fuck about issues whose only criteria for a candidate is "electability in the south/midwest/west/red states" or whatever the hell. They could care less that Kerry is the most qualified presidential candidate the U.S. has seen in over 40 years- they just want someone who looks good on teevee. (Which he DOES, if teevee ever bothers to show him unedited, but I digress.) ARRRRGH. :argh: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :argh:


</rant>

[globalvillage]

65. I know of NO ONE who wants Hillary to run.

No Dems, anyway. I have, however, spoken to a good many people who would like to see Sen Kerry run again. And some bush* voters who know they made the wrong choice. Some of them red-staters.
Sen Kerry will win in '08 by a landslide. Mark my words.

[TayTay]

68. '08 is going to be a hell of a race.

On both sides. It's so wide open. I find it really funny that the media has given Hillary the early crown as Leader of the Dems. It's too early for that. (And unlucky as well.)

The Rethug race also looks pretty interesting. I don't think McCain has it in the bag either. (And I don't think he looks that well lately. Maybe it's jsut me, but he is showing his age.)

[globalvillage]

72. I saw McCain in person in Nov.

He looks like crap. Even if he gets the nom in '08, he will look so pasty and sad next to Sen Kerry (or whoever), he won't have a chance. He can only hope for the pity vote.
I know that sounds mean, but it's true.

[karynnj]

88. Also if it were Kerry/McCain

I would hope some magazine would pay McCain to exerpt the entire chapter in his second book on the MIA/POW committee. It's McCain's view (and in fact it blows up his role as Bob Smith was the ranking Republican because McCain was convinced the committee was not a political winner.) but Kerry comes out absolutely wonderful in it. He did the diplomacy with the committee mambers, the Vietnamese and with the Nixon era people. One think that really impressed me is that Kerry asked Nixon to respond to written questions rather than demanding he testify. (I always thought I was nice, but I'm amazed that Kerry was big enough not to go for payback there.)

I don't mean this in a nasty way - but it is a really good comparison of each of their strengths.

[wisteria]

69. I don't really know of anyone who is enthusiastic about a Hillary

run either. What's up with these so called Washington insiders?

[WildEyedLiberal]

75. I agree - I can feel it deep in my heart

I even felt it on Nov. 3rd - even through all my tears that day, I knew in my heart that hope wasn't lost. Just deferred.

[Firespirit]

104. I hate to go negative on another Democrat, but...

Since the Boston trip I've done some tentative "sniffing" of Southern Democrats to see what *they* think of Hillary. No mention of JK, just her. I've asked several people ranging from social conservative/economic liberal to almost-Greens what they think of her, and the response is pretty uniform: "I don't trust her." With some of them it's just a "gut feeling," and others actually have kept up with her voting record and issues record and don't trust her because of that. I expect that the people I've talked with are not too different from Iowa and New Hampshire Dems, and one thing that came out of the 2004 primary is that those people didn't want a "politician." They wanted someone they could trust.

[Island Blue]

67. If you know of only one actual Democrat who wants Hillary

(even if it is because of Bill) that would be one more than I know of.

Sometimes I think these folks just say what they say because they have space to fill. Saying that people want Hillary is just an easy, lazy way out because most people know who she is - it prevents them from actually having to provide any useful, truthful information.

[WildEyedLiberal]

76. That's probably true

Making Hillary and McCain the "frontrunners" enables them to completely drop the ball on their political coverage of current events, since almost all Americans "know" Hillary and McCain. (BTW, the "McCain = principled and moderate" meme could end ANY DAY NOW.)

[karynnj]

89. I actually know a few people who are interested in her

but I don't know if they are 100% sure they support her. It may also take a period of time for people to actually try to see her as President.

[karynnj]

85. Also given the demographics of this group, I find it funny to read

that Hillary will have most of the Democratic women.

[globalvillage]

93. I have nothing against Hillary

and I certainly wouldn't mind a woman President. I think it's about time.
But first things first. Sen Kerry is what we need right now. I truly believe he's the only leading Dem who can get us out of this disaster bush* created. And he deserves it.

Eyes on the prize.

[karynnj]

97. Also, I would really like the first lady to be someone

who made it on her own. This might be unfair and I know Hillary is very very bright, but I doubt without Bill she would be a Senator or a Presidential candidate.

I do think that some of Kerry's abilities are needed. What I hate is that his desire to work out compromizes and solutions is to some degree used against him. (More by the LW which doesn't understand the value of compromize.)

[Inuca]

98. Kind of a follow-up...

... I keep wondering how many people will be bothered by the idea of a president's son being followed by a president's wife... royal lineage taking over the american presidency?

[Island Blue]

103. I'm certainly bothered by that prospect.

Just think, by the time of the next presidential election rolls around, there will be kids voting for the first time who have never lived under a President who is not named Bush or Clinton. That alone gives me the heebe-jeebes.

[TayTay]

60. Just saw this on a brief mention on my teevee.

It was a positive mention that said that Sen. Kerry has a base of support to draw on. They dropped the idiotic Kaufman comments because, well, it's Kaufman.

[WildEyedLiberal]

62. Yay

The article was fine except for the snarky "commentary" from the know-nothing douchebags they chose to interview for it. I think it's positive to show people the good he's been doing all year and the money he's been raising for Dems across the country. God, how I HATE pundits and political consultants. EVERYTHING they say is smarmy, egocentric, and more often than not WAY off base. Who the fuck pays these losers money to say stupid shit all day?

[wisteria]

70. Good! n/t

[karynnj]

90. Maybe they heard about his beer with you guys

[benny05]

63. I saw the article too

OK, Kerry-ites...I was driving back from the airport tonight and heard Van Halen's
"Dreams". Seems to me Kerry's team played the song after his speeches when running in the primaries in 2004 (or Pres), or am I confusing the use of the anthem in Dean's run for Dem primaries?

:hi: Rox63: happy new year to you and yours!

[TayTay]

64. Welcome Benny!

Glad you checked in. Any friend of Rox's is a friend of this forum.

Welcome!

:patriot:

[benny05]

71. Thank you--I've posted here before

When a few of you got to spend some time with him on his b-day not long ago. I've seen most of the pics. Way kewl!

So, is it possible Kerry use as one of his anthems, "Dreams" by Van Halen?

Happy New Year to you! Benny:hi:

[globalvillage]

66. Hey benny!

:hi:
You're a friend of Rox? I love ya already.

[benny05]

74. Yep--we've been friends for 10 years this month

Within a few days, I think, if I'm not mistaken...

So, in response to my q: is it possible Kerry used as one of his anthems, "Dreams" by Van Halen?

Happy New Year to you! Benny:hi:

[TayTay]

77. Don't know. I am musically illiterate

unless it's showtunes. (And no one would ever use showtunes in a campaign. That's would bring a whole new meaning to the word 'absurd.')

I knoweth not.

[globalvillage]

79. Are there lilac trees

in the heart of town
can you hear a lark in any other part of town
does enchantment pour
out of every door
no, it's just on the street where you live....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Yup, that'll rally the voters.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[globalvillage]

78. Can you hum a few bars?

I'm not sure. Sorry.

[benny05]

82. Here's the amazon sample : song number 10

GV and Tay-Tay, do you have sound cards to listen to samples?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002NAA/qid=1136260064/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-8051289-3667800?v=glance&s=music

I was watching the movie "Waiting for Heaven" on Xmas night and to quote one of the characters, "it sounded so familiar". That's why I'm asking about this song when I heard it tonight.

Thank you both...hope to meet ya sometime!

:hi:

[globalvillage]

83. I'm sorry, Benny. It doesn't sound familiar. Tay?

I hope to meet you sometime, too.

[benny05]

86. here're some of the more poignant lyrics that ring a bell

Oh, that's what dreams are made of
'Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of

Yeah, we'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Oh, we'll get higher and higher
Who knows what we'll find?

[karendc]

92. The advance team...

...had an entire tape of songs they used. over and over. They selected them. Of course the *official* song (meaning it was played about 5,000 times a day), was Springsteen's "No Surrender".

Given the age demographic of most of the team. Van Halen sounds about right.

[benny05]

94. Hi Karendc

Welcome to the DU...I'm not an old timer...I've been here 368 days, but I wanted to say welcome and glad you are part of the DU! :hi:

I think "Dreams" by Vh was played as one of the songs when Kerry accepted the nomination. Thanks to all who were 'listenin' for me.

HNY,
Benny

[fedupinBushcountry]

95. Benny

you missed my post #91, and yes it was used.

[benny05]

96. I saw it

Thanks...I was waving to karenDC as well...

[fedupinBushcountry]

91. Yes

that song was used, I remember it especially on the night when Kerry accepted the nomination. Great song, I thought all the songs were great.

Oh and Hi Benny, nice to meet you. :hi:

[Island Blue]

81. Hi Benny and welcome!

I don't know the answer to your question about the Van Halen song - I only became obsessive about Senator Kerry after he won the nomination. (And strangely, even more obsessive after 11/03/04.) I don't remember him using that particular song in his general election campaign, but I could be wrong.

On edit: After listening to the sample I still don't know, but I'm pretty sure * used "Runnin' with the Devil." Well if he didn't, he should have.

[rox63]

99. Hi Benny05

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Benny and I go way back. We were housemates in the Boston area several years ago, and have stayed friends since, even though she has relocated to another part of the country.

[benny05]

101. Grins and support for a new forum...

I realized I'd responded as #63...
:thumbsup:

Kerry-ites and DU posters on this forum in general,

I am looking to start a new forum called Caregivers.

I noticed that under Peer Support and Lifestyle forum there is a parenting forum, but there is not a caregiver's forum. I would like to lobby for a "caregivers forum" whereby it is designed for those of us who have issues about caring for their elderly parents, siblings, or perhaps a child
with a chronic disorder (or both). If there is insufficient interest, another idea would be to add it with the "Parenting" one, but I suspect the parenting bloggers would like to keep this issue separate.

I am already going through this issue, but considering more options, partly because I believe that I need to take a moral leadership within my family to do this, but additonally for the moral leadership in lifting up those in poverty and not looking down at them (as fmr Senator Edwards often said and still says), which in this case, starts sort of in my backyard. My mom lives SS check to SS check, which at present is poverty status; her expenses well exceed her SS check. I cannot provide half of my paycheck towards her finanical and health issues at this point. She lives nearly 2,000 miles away. Thus, I could use a support group or at least some creative ideas for caregiving, on the retail or more importantly, the wholesale (with the concept of her living with us, but we are considering the "trial run" first to give us all options).

According to the DU rules, some of you would be somewhat regular bloggers on this issue (I don't think it has to be daily, but not every 3 months either). Skinner tells me in order for the forum to be established, the following has to happen...and here's the link.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=206x10. If you believe that some general caregiver ideas would be of use to you on the DU and you would be willing to contribute some too, please let Skinner (and me) know.

TIA,
Benny05

[rox63]

102. I would be interested

Since I am something of a caretaker for my Mom. But we should probably consider taking it to one of the more general forums, to see if we could build interest in the wider DU community. I'm sure there are a lot of DUers who face these issues.

[globalvillage]

84. Looks like the media really picked this up.

I do thnk this is a good thing. People are looking for a little hope.
Even the conservative one is not bad except for the snark at the end.

Google Alert for: John Kerry

Sen. John Kerry Keeps 2008 Options Open
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
... John Kerry never stopped running for president. He still jets across the country, raising millions of dollars and rallying Democrats. ...


John Kerry keeps 2008 options open
WIS - Columbia,SC,USA
He still jets across the country, raising millions of dollars for the Democrats. He's a regular on the TV news shows, blasting President ...


John Kerry Still on Campaign Trail
The Conservative Voice - Kernersville,NC,USA
John Kerry (D-MA) says it's still too soon for him to announce another run for president in 2008, he is still making speeches across the country to raise ...





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This as-it-happens Google Alert is brought to you by Google.

[MH1]

87. I agree it's good, overall.

After some thought I decided it's good for him to get the notice.

I got my Yahoo alert and there were something like 6 of the same story from different outlets.

Even with the snark at the end, I think on balance it's good, for the reasons you state and the ones stated upthread. Remind people what they could've had, and let them know he's still there.

[jillan]

100. Best line from AP article

"I go to bed every night praying Kerry is the nominee again," he said.

Ah - me too!