While we can forever second guess some of the day to day decisions made while campaigning, I supported John Kerry because he made shown a propensity towards making the wise choice when looking at the big picture, from opposing the war in Vietnam, to opposing going to war in Iraq, to his solutions for health care. While I would have supported John Kerry if he had run as he would make the best President of any of the candidates running, the regrettable fact is that he had little chance of winning in 2008. John Kerry once again made the wise decision in deciding not to run for the nomination.
John Kerry has fought for principles and improving the country throughout his life. He will be in a far stronger position to continue these battles as a party leader in Congress, and possibly in the cabinet of a different Democratic President in 2009. Kerry can now concentrate on fighting to end the war in Iraq. I hope he will also continue to be a strong voice on health care. In 2003 he proposed a health care solution which avoided the problems of Hillary Care and which a panel of experts assembled by the National Journal ranked the highest of all plans proposed. The specifics of a candidate’s position on health care will play a large part in my decision as to whether to support a candidate for the nomination. I’ve already made my views on Hillary Clinton’s plans clear in previous posts. So far Barack Obama has stated vague generalities but avoided specifics, and John Edwards prefers to run a feel-good campaign as opposed to an issues oriented one.
It is still very early and it is certainly possible that the top three candidates now might be replaced should someone else catch on. It is far more likely this will be a new face, or perhaps a new Al Gore, than it could be John Kerry. While I disagree with the viewpoint, the fact remains that Democrats are very unlikely to renominate a loser as they ignore the influence of the right wing noise machine and repeatedly blame their candidates for problems which the party as a whole must do a better job of responding to.
As a blogger, this puts me in position where I feel more comfortable, leaving me free to examine the views of all candidates of all parties and commenting favorably when I agree and criticizing when I disagree without having to consider how it plays into the campaign for a candidate I support. While partisans often hope for the opposition party to nominate the candidate they think they can most easily beat, often rooting for someone they see as too extremist to be elected, as an independent I root for the nominees of each party which I believe would make the best President. I only wish that the Republicans would abandon the far right and show the possibility of coming up with an acceptable candidate, and hope that at least one Democratic candidate shows more reason to support them than I see at present.
Kerry will continue the fight, and we know that the right wing noise machine will continue their smears. We will continue to have his back.
I’m sad. I’m always up for an underdog candidate, if he/she has the integrity and intelligence and courage of a John Kerry, so I was hoping against hope for another chance to back John Kerry’s run for President. Numbers lower than Al Sharpton’s? Been there, overcame that.
Ah well. Let the field arrange itself, see who steps up to greatness. Because right now, we need nothing less.
Definately sad, even if the wise choice. Alas, it would be even harder for a comeback now than it was when he was trailing Al Sharpton in some polls in 2003. The current front runners are less likely to self-destruct as Dean did in 2004, and if they do Kerry would still be in a weakened position to be the one to come out standing.
I feel disappointed and sad. But, he will continue to do good work and become a star for the Democratic Party as a powerful Senator.
In all debates about any candidate, I could always make a case for Kerry that was stronger then the case for any other candidate; regardless of party. Kerry would make the best President. With the bar being lowered to Hillary and Obama, I am seriously thinking about sitting this one out.
I invested a lot of financial and emotional assets with Kerry and would gladdy do so again.
I will not in a million years vote for Bubba’s third term and I will not vote for any candidate without solid foreign policy experience. One term in the Senate doesn’t hack it.
If it ain’t Al Gore or Wes Clark, it ain’t nothing.
All cool logic and considered reasoning, Ron, I agree. At one time (from 2000 to 2002) I wanted Al Gore to run again and I felt much stronger about another run in 2008 by John Kerry. So close, both times, despite (to borrow from Jon Stewart) needing a 15% margin to have actually won by 10%.
I am curious now, in a detached way, what the field will shape itself into and what solutions will find themselves headlines. (Well, hopefully solutions will find headlines!)
Thought it appropriate to mourn with old friends, yet I do agree with you. Part of wanting Kerry to run was to reacquaint him to America, change their perceptions. Seeing the Clinton team do more now than they did to tamp enthusiasm and action in 04, I didn’t enjoy watching McAuliffe spin the unreality of the concession and the swift boats, different than mine.
Kerry would have had a harder time going aginst the party, which, frankly, blew it 2004, not securing the vote, not having organizations to get out the vote. Grassroots did well, but couldn’t do more.
The media may actually cover what he does and says, which according to the Senate speech, was going to be the hard truth without regard to politics. A very good place for him to live.
He will be diplomatic and strategic as to how he arrives at the truth, or works with it for the good of all.
The media will either be relieved they won’t have to remove him as a candidate, preferring their storyline horse race, and actually report the good he does, or just ignore him. Either way, I don’t think they have the same reason to misconstrue his positions, with the same nastiness.
I would like him in a position of affecting outcome, moving the dialogue. I woud like him president, but short of that, I hope he lands where he needs to be.
BB, before posting, I always note the first female president run as you do, Bill3. How did he, does he, think he has the right, the chutzpah, to use the network available as a president, to a third term. To the degree of lambasting and make things difficult for Kerry in 2004, and saying as much after the election that he wasn’t a leader of/in the party. Which is bad PR when trying to strengthen the party, regardless. Validates the voter’s choice.
Might be the same as always has been, positioning for the next, but people died, and the world worsened waiting for his ego trip.
Marjorie G
Agreed with everything you said, there’s nothing more to add.
Battlebob
I totally understand where your coming from here, but don’t sit it out. Let’s see what happens. Yes it’s unlikely the party will nominate someone as JK, but there’s still the hope that someone better than Hillary will happen.
I am sad that Senator Kerry will not seek the presidency again. Yet his decision is to be respected. He will no doubt continue to be a strong voice against this war and against the ill advised policies of this administration. His bill to set a date to redeploy troops from Iraq deserves passage. He is a great leader on the issue of the Iraq war. He has served his state and his country with honor and integrity. He has been a strong voice for those of us who don’t have a voice in Washington. Thank you Sir for your continued service to your country.
“Part of wanting Kerry to run was to reacquaint him to America, change their perceptions.”
That’s where I was too. Especially to those Clintonistas like Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner say that he “didn’t motivate his base” and other complaints.
I understand his decision to stay in the Senate, but part of me is sad that he won’t be able to debate Hillary and that the Clinton’s (to the glee of Black folks and Black leaders) are holding on to their grip of the party, which is why I am now with Battlebob, if Gore or Clark do not get in the race, then I will sit this one out.
Ron,
Thank you for everything that you have done to advance the candidacy of Senator Kerry and to continue on with the good fight. Senator Kerry was treated like damaged goods by most of his own party, succumbing to the despicable treatment given to him by the Swift Boaters who, originally organized by Richard Nixon, continued on with the dirty tricks of Lee Atwater. They are just beginning to warm up their act with Barack Obama.
Your friend,
Bob Freedland
John Kerry for President 2008