In Denver, John Kerry Reopens Door to Possible Presidential Run

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=68145

DENVER - Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) reopened the door to a possible 2008 presidential campaign during a book signing in Denver and then again, in an interview with 9NEWS.

The 2004 Democratic nominee told a crowd of more than 250 at the Tattered Cover bookstore in lower downtown Denver that he had no desire to endorse any candidate for the office right now, choosing to wait to see how they addressed the issue of global warming. Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, are finishing up a nationwide tour to promote their book, "This Moment on Earth," which highlights successful efforts at the local level to better the environment.

Afterwards, while answering a question from a viewer on the program YOUR SHOW about why he chose not to run, Kerry said he had decided it wasn't the right time.

"Could that change?" Kerry said. "It might. It may change over years. It may change over months. I can't tell you, but I've said very clearly I don't consider myself out of it forever."

<>When asked whether he expected that decision to change in time for the 2008 race, Kerry said, "If suddenly the field changed or the dynamics of the nation shifted, who knows? You might look at it differently, but I don't see that. I don't foresee that. That's not where I am today and that's not what I'm doing."

[PresidentObama]

1. Wow. As much as I'd love Senator Kerry's voice in this debate....

I don't know he'll re enter the race. He's doing fine work in the Senate, and I'm happy with his role right now.

[MessiahRp]

3. Same here.

Senator Kerry is certainly a hero of mine but I'm not sure that 2008 is the right time, nor is it the right idea to take him out of the Senate where he and Barbara Boxer have been progressive bulldogs since the 2004 election. We need him right where he is.

Rp

[PresidentObama]

5. It pains me to say he needs to stay in the Senate, but it's true.

God, I wish he were in the White House.

But in any event, he's were we need him!! And I'm very proud of Senator Kerry for his work for the country, and for running in 2004!!

[blm]

11. It pains me to say that we can't count on many Dems to open the books on BushInc

and their crimes of office over the last 30 plus years.

I think people should spend their time encouraging THEIR favorite candidates to perform in the most ideal way for issues imperative to this nation and world.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Kerry does not see a dynamic shift for '08, but he definitely leaves the door open, if it does.

[blm]

7. He's planning to endorse Gore when he jumps in, imo. But, I don't agree with ANYONE

treating him like crap the way they do when it is up to THEIR candidate to convince US that they are the better steward for this nation, and in my view that means a TRUE open government Democrat who will open the books on BushInc - at LONG LAST.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Kerry did not bring up BCCI, etc. during his campaign. Am not convinced he would've "opened books"

if he'd been elected. And perhaps mostly because he would have been too busy cleaning up Dubya's colossal fuckups, both at home and abroad.

[blm]

16. Yes, he did - in September - and no Dem pundits would spread his word.

All of the Clinton people at the DNC and in the pundit class would NOT further Kerry's remarks on BCCI because Clinton helped Poppy Bush cover it up.

And Dem pollsters told the campaign that people didn't understand BCCI - I call bullshit. Who were these pollsters really aligned with - anyone we know?

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=13354

Whom does the biographer think his subject will pick as a running mate? Not Hillary Rodham Clinton. "There's really two different Democratic parties right now: there's the Clintons and Terry McAuliffe and the DNC and then there's the Kerry upstarts. John Kerry had one of the great advantages in life by being considered to get the nomination in December. He watched every Democrat in the country flee from him, and the Clintons really stick the knife in his back a bunch of times, so he's able to really see who was loyal to him and who wasn't. That's a very useful thing in life."
>>>

[karynnj]

22. He did bring it up

most significantly in speaking of how he would run the War on Trror. At the University of Pennsylvania, he spoke of using law enforcement and intelligence and occasionally military actions. In speaking of intelligence he spoke of how you follow the money and communications. He then said that he knew how to do this - because he had already done that successfully. He then alluded to BCCI.

He had to be careful how to push this issue. He had been prescient - he wrote the legislation on international money laundering, but the Republicans in Congress, with help from Democrats stopped it. His committee that was investigating BCCI was taken away and he continued to pursue it via the Justice Department (which did nothing) and then Morgenthau - that is a story of incredible persistance - as people from Jimmy Carter to Jackie Onnasis asked him to stop.

Think about it - a foreign bank with links to terrorists had bought protect from both political parties and would have succeeded in stopping investigations into their actions if it were not for Kerry doing what was right. This is not a typical action of someone with Presidential aspirations as he became an outcast.

His last act on BCCI was to write and put in the record, 20 items that needed to be further investigated. The number one issue was to further investigate how A Q Khan, with BCCI funding, subverted the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. It also wanted more investigation of "fugitive financier", Marc Rich. This report was writtin in the early 1990s - and was ignored by both GHWB and Clinton.

Looking at that, it's clear the reason for not going deeper into to it was not because "people would confuse it with the BBC".

[flpoljunkie]

26. I truly admire how Kerry stood up against his own party. Thanks for your post.

[MessiahRp]

2. Well I'm sure Republicans are revving up the "flip flopper" brigade

Considering just the concept of running for President after he said he was not plays into that stupid stereotype.

I love Senator Kerry. I worked my ass off for him and don't regret a second of it. I also am not enamored by anyone in the Democratic field yet. I like Barack Obama but something about him doesn't tell me that he is pitbull enough for a Presidential campaign. I want Al Gore to run but until he announces I can't even consider him. The remaining field to me just isn't that exciting.

I can see his point when he talks about the dynamics of the field and in that respect he's right, but he sure opens the door to stupid Republican gimmick campaigns against him.

Rp

[flpoljunkie]

8. Obama's tough enough--cut his teeth in Chicago politics. My concern, he's too cautious, like HRC.

I hope I'm wrong!

[PresidentObama]

10. That is my concern as well. n/t

[blm]

12. Like Republicans NEED an open door.

.

[ginnyinWI]

6. He is still my #1 pick.

Nobody else seems as capable or qualified for the job. Especially now when we have the Iraq catastrophe to resolve.

The mere fact that the blogosphere is reacting so strongly to this rather mild statement is very telling.

[PresidentObama]

9. Gore/Kerry 08'

Devil made me do it...

:evilgrin:

[flpoljunkie]

14. Yes, but poetic justice, nonetheless!

[INdemo]

19. Dont think so ..If Gore should enter the race than John Kerry would

ceratinly stay in the Senate... I think the perfect ticket for 2008 would be Gore/Feingold

[flpoljunkie]

23. I would love to see Feingold on the ticket with Obama or Edwards--who are running.

[BlueIris]

34. Self-delete.

DAMN YOU, MONDAY.

[SharonRB]

40. The dream team!

I wonder if he would even consider taking the VP spot. My dream is that ticket, but for them to treat it as a co-presidency once they're elected. It would be a whole different way of governing and would put the two rightfully elected presidents where they both belong. (Of course, they couldn't share the White House, though.)

[TwilightGardener]

15. Good God, please, no.

[Capn Sunshine]

27. Just scrolled down to see my comment

You beat me to it.

[Mass]

17. No, he does not! The denver Post makes a story where there is none.

He is running for Senator and cannot do both.

[PresidentObama]

18. Absolutely. I'm glad he's staying in the Senate. n/t

[Mass]

20. I would prefer him to run, but he is not!

I am totally uninspired by the current crop. But the fact is he is not. The media are making a fuss out of totally innocent remarks.

[PresidentObama]

21. I think you're right. They're blowing this up to get a 'scoop' n/t

[blm]

29. Yes, he's staying in the senate - but this country would be better off if he was running

I am SICK of Coverup Democrats abetting and protecting BushInc.

[flpoljunkie]

24. Is that a law in MA? Kerry does seem to leave the door open, however slightly.

Unless he was misquoted.

[TayTay]

25. He transferred his money to his Senate campaign

That about says it all. He is not running for anything but the US Senate. The rest is just far-fetched speculation that has no basis in any real actions that would indicate anything else.

[Mass]

30. Yes, it is a law - He cannot run for both.

Well, he probably meant that, should the 10 Plagues of Egypt fall on the country and all major candidates drop out of the race and and and..., yep, may be, who knows. But this was certainly no musing that he is considering entering the race... This is silly and hurtful for him (and BTW, I am one of those who would hope he reconsiders, but it will not happen).

[flpoljunkie]

32. Then perhaps he should have not have said what he said.

[LittleClarkie]

33. But he really didn't say anything at all

Just that he hasn't ruled it out forever.

Surely we could cut the man some slack and not fall for the media spin.

[Mass]

37. But he did not say anything. It is a strawman. It is sad to see good people falling for it!

The problem is that he cannot say one word without having people try to interpret it. He has said he would not run for president and, barring unforeseen circumstances, I take him at his word. I know that RW are ready to twist his words as much as they can, but I do not expect that from some people. He did not say that he could think about running. He stated a general truth: things change quickly in politics, and, no surprise, the media run with it. Does he have to check every syllable he says before he talks. I think the media have a special standard for Kerry. I wished DU did not do the same thing.

[flpoljunkie]

38. He said what he said, and unless they got it wrong,he did indeed leave the door open.

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. Once again, they're making hay for strawmen

At least as far as I can tell, Kerry is only excluding the 2008 race. Has he ever said anything different? :shrug:

[LittleClarkie]

31. Fourth thread on this non story

He isn't reopening anything. He answered a question truthfully, that is all. Essentially he says "Never say never, but it's not in my plans at the moment."

I hope those who enjoy saying "OH MY GOD NOT AGAIN HE'S A FLIPFLOPPER AND HE DIDN'T FIGHT FOR MEEEEEEEE!" are having a gay old time.

As for me, it just reminds me that I wish he would run. I still don't know who I'm going to support now.

Maybe in 2012. Or maybe a post in the next Dem admin. I'd like that as well.

Meanwhile, do we really need to go bananas over this media creation?

[BlueIris]

35. Why, why must the MSM torture me so?

And to all the bashers getting off on vilifying Senator Kerry some more--give it a rest. They'll be plenty of time for that if this "story" ever rises above the level of innuendo. Go kick around Hillary or something.

[lojasmo]

36. Aw christ! EOM

[SharonRB]

39. Maybe he's waiting for Al to enter the race

before he endorses anyone.