Yes, I know people wanted him to run, but consider

[TayTay]

I hope you all saw Sen. Kerry in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today. I hope you saw that passion and the urgency in his remarks on Iraq. That is where his heart is. That was the guy we all worked for and voted for and worked for. That's the real guy.

This war must end. Sometimes that means that you can't campaign and you can't go through what candidates go through and also make a war stop. (They are often mutually exclusive aims.)

This war must end. I think that Sen. Kerry knows that and I think he realizes that he can make an unjust and unnecessary war end quicker as a Senator than as a Presidential candidate. I really do.

Can we talk?

[beachmom]

1. I support Kerry 100% and my support for him was NEVER based

on him being president. He's going to help stop this war. I know it. And Feingold is going to be replaced by Kerry as most loved liberal in the Senate. I guarantee you. He will NOT be marginalized and ignored -- his stature will only grow. You mark my words, that my grandchildren will be reading about him in the history books as one of the greats, while Bush will be described as the nation's worst president.

[TayTay]

2. This war is immoral.

It is immoral. Those words could come back to haunt some presidential candidates. Deeply. I have a feeling we have not heard the last of them. Not by a long shot.

[wisteria]

3. Sorry Tay, but you don't lose out here. You still have a Senator.

And no matter what he tries to do now won't matter to anyone but Mass.

[TayTay]

4. It matters.

It matters to the 146 families in Pennsylvania who have lost someone in the Iraq War. It matters to the 3062 families in America who have lost sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers to this war.

That is not a problem just in Massachusetts. It is a problem for our country.

[wisteria]

7. he would of been more affective as a candidate not as a Mass. Senator.

We have our own senators to speak up for us.

[Democrafty]

5. Sorry, but, after seeing what he did for the party in the midterms,

I just don't think that statement is accurate.

JK can get away with something like this because he isn't just any senator. He's a national politician who is extremely well-respected in the global community. Don't underestimate him. He's fighting for all of us.

[wisteria]

6. And, he will be fighting another uphill battle for media respect and attention.

It is done!

[Luftmensch067]

10. Agreed

As long as he is in public office (and as long as he draws breath) JK will make a difference for the country and for the world.

[wisteria]

13. Not if no one is paying attention and the media ignore him.

I think he decided to play it safe.

[karynnj]

27. But tides turn

and if we've seen one thing it's that Kerry has used the Senate record to document things (remember his pulling together all the speeches etc to counter Cheney's veteran's day lies in 2005.

Also three things won't change:
1)He knows precisely who he is - remember the comment he made that he still had his integrity and his family and friends. He still has both - to a degree that all living former and current Presidents would envy if they thought of it.

2)He has had an impact on the world for good. I hope that after Iraq is not an issue, that the Senator will try to move others towards he foreign policy beliefs. Being President would have implemented them immediately, but as an elder statesman, he can still articulate them with the same eloquence we have seen.

3) He has to know that he is a good person - if for no other reason that he has to know that Teresa wouldn't have married him otherwise. :)

As to the media's assessment, would you rather be Carter or Clinton at the end of your life? (yeah, I know this is as weird as the strange Zogby questions.)

[MarjorieG]

17. The press decides how minimized.

The competition, the media, would have decided how truthful, and how much we heard from Kerry on the campaign trail. Just like before. Since he will not, now, be interrupting the media's storyline and entertainment, the female president, the person of color, who is the first black president, Obama or Bill3, will the media be fairer or absent about what Kerry is trying to do.

Even if this race were to have remained uphill, but still a glorious fight, getting his issues out, establishing his truer history, that might have been worth it. As the DC establishment is not as invested with what Kerry has to offer, never did, getting it last time or this time would be equally difficult, and harder this time. I wonder if any of them regretted not working harder in 2004, but we'll never know. The Steven Spielbergs said they should have done more.

Everyone left it to Kerry, a newcomer to a national campaign, deconstructed by the media and left to defend himself, for a few short months to do the impossible, and he did it. More Dems should admit his successes. More people wanted to vote for Kerry that day, than was regostered as a final vote count. The most any would have gotten.

As stands, Kerry is one tenth less point than Clinton got against Bob Dole, without war and a better ecomomy, and no Rovian operation. Remeber that Clinton's first win came from Perot as the third party candidate.

I'm listening to him in them Senate on Iraq.

I wish Senator Kerry and Teresa peace, and unconflicted and purposeful expression. Advocating for their causes, free to receive all the love and admiration deserved. They are so exemplary, we need to see them as beacons, on the hill, as unfiltered and unmaligned as possible.

[k j]

29. Marjorie G

Yes, another uphill battle, but still a glorious fight, and I was ready as well.
But your last paragraph- that's the first thing I've read that gave me a bit of peace re: this news.
Beacons on the hill and still alive. That's quite powerful. Thank you.

[karynnj]

25. That's not true

He represents Massachusetts, but the Senate is a national body. What he does in crafting legislation, holding President's feet to the fire and guiding foreign policy affects everyone.

Or we could all move to Massachusetts.

[wildflowergardener]

8. I think he will still speak up for all of us

I think he will still speak up for all of us - the whole country, even though he will still be a senator. He did the last four years, even though he was just a senator.

Maybe now everything he says won't be second guessed and criticized. He can speak his conscience without having to worry as much about what the Democratic Party has to say.

Meg

[saltpoint]

9. Good point. Right to the heart and mind a good point.

Thanks, Tay.

[JanusAscending]

11. Hi Tay!

I just missed seeing him. I don't get C Span 3, but I did see Webbs' reply 'cause they cut away from the House during a vote. By then Kerry had left. I wonder if he made up his mind when he ran out of the SOTU address, having "seen the light"?? That this jerk that calls himself the POTUS needs him to take him down?

[emulatorloo]

12. thanks TayTay -- my sentiments exactly . . . eom

[StoryTeller]

14. I did not see him this morning, could someone recap for me?

Or a link to a video? Wednesday morning is piano lessons around here.

[TayTay]

15. It's not up yet

But it should be on c-span later.

Ahm, watch that and be proud over everything you ever did for this truly great man. It was there today.

[whometense]

21. It's up now

Senate Foreign Relations Mark Up of Iraq Policy Resolution (01/24/2007)

http://www.c-span.org/homepage.asp?Cat=Current_Event&Code=Congress&ShowVidNum=7&Rot_Cat_CD=Congress&Rot_HT=&Rot_WD=&ShowVidDays=365&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30

[beachmom]

16. Go to the SFRC Bus. Meeting thread down below. Tay Tay

live blogged it pretty good. I think we will get some kind of transcript and C-SPAN will probably provide a video at some point. It was a "moment" where time stood still.

[Dr Ron]

18. As sad as it is, Kerry made the wise decision

Post on the decision at Liberal Values:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=931

[wisteria]

20. I don't! he has turned this contry over to the likes of anotherRepublican Administration

and if by so chance in hell Hillary makes it, back into the hands of a slimy self-serving politician.

[Inuca]

40. Wisteria...

... I wish I had the right words, but I do not... I read several of your posts, you are angry and hurt, you sound very hurt... just wanted to send a virtual hug your way, the funny smiley doe snot seem appropriate, but the hug, for what is worth, is from the bottom of my heart... I just locked myself in my office, so nobody will drop in, because my eyes filled with tears again.. somehow reading the pain in your words, made me wonder WHY I feel so pained myself, and the one rational explanation I can come up with is that for the only time in my life I had "found" a politician that I could truly believe in and admire and trust, I am rather cynical by nature, and do not trust politics much, just try to do a little to help the lesser of two evils. But since adolescence I have had the longing for the "hero in the shinning armor" that would truly fight for the downtrodden, would be truly admirable, honest, intelligent, visionary, etc. I do not know for sure how many of these (and many others) things JK truly is, but almost everything I learned about him in the last 2 years showed that he is at least as close as reality can come to a dream. ANd now the dream is gone, and I the kind of overpowering sadness I hardly ever felt since adolescence engulfs me. I wonder how many others here are similarly affected by the broken dream... I blabber again... apologies to all...

[europegirl4jfk]

19. I'm not that disappointed

The saddest day for me was November 3rd 2004. And back then I didn't even know everything about John Kerry what I know now. I had got to like him though during the campaign and hoped so much for America and the world that we wouldn't have to put up with Bush for four more years.

It wasn't until January/February 05 when I started to read up on Kerry and really became a strong supporter of him. It didn't even cross my mind then that he could consider a second run. Later it became a tempting thought but with the starting primary wars and all these venomous attacks going on an on, even before, I'm glad he isn't running again. I personally think that he never ran because he wanted absolutely to be president but because he felt that your country needed someone in 2004 to step up to Bush and the mounting fascism. Unfortunately the country wasn't ready for that in 04. Since then the situation has completely changed, and with the Dems controlling Congress now, I think Senator Kerry is right to focus on ending the war in Iraq. That was always his mission since Vietnam, as he stated to impressively again today in the SFRC.

For me he is the greatest American, I came ever across in my lifetime, and I will always support him in whatever he will do in the future. I'm also sure that that wasn't the last we heard and saw from him. He will fight the good fight for many years to come.

[sandnsea]

22. I expected this decision

It's sad, but not unexpected. I look forward to great things from him.

The response by DUers is what's disheartening. I thought more people understood the politics behind various factions better than they appear to.

[wisteria]

23. Most of the people at Du are idiots,. They follow the news media and them post the misinformation. n

[politicasista]

26. It's sad they don't see the media and party for who and what it is

Really sad.

[k j]

24. With all due respect,

the hope of John Kerry becoming my President has carried me through too many days and nights to let go quite so easily.
This is a painful shock to absorb, despite his recent low-to-the-ground presence being nearly an announcement in itself. I had hopes (nice illusions) about that stance as well. Stay low and under the radar again, avoid the cluster, and then STRONG STEP, on the road, just a bit off the beaten path, as usual. I really, truly hoped-against-hope for that scenario.

[whometense]

28. I admit

I harbored the same hope.

[k j]

30. Yeah :--\

We were toughened and ready for this and oh, so due.

[blm]

31. OK - give him 6 months to work his ass off, THEN he jumps in and

goes for it - full bore.

FUCK the LIARS and the Coverup Democrats standing against him.

[Inuca]

33. Oh, how I wish...

... but he CAN'T do it now, we have to accept it. I really feel sad beyond words... I have tears in my eyes, and feel stupid about it... I should not be caring so much, but I do... sorry for rambling, but... well... I am sure the people here will understand. Tay's OP may be correct, I did not see his email, did not watch any news, did not see what's going on in the Senate, I am at work, just saw the news in a short break I had in between classes, and then I was on the verge of canceling my classes... I managed to get through another 3 hours, and now I am back in my office with ashes in my heart.. so sad and unfair... As somebody else said, it really feels like in Nov. 04... only in a sense sadder because I started thinking about 08 almost right away... anyway, just felt the need to :cry::cry::cry::cry:on virtual shoulders that understand.....

[politicasista]

35. It's ok

It's is really unfair. :hug:

[Inuca]

36. Thanks, sweet sista! n/t

[blm]

38. I disagree - - he wanted to wait anyway to focus on the work first.

Fine. Work yer ass off, John. Then get yourself onto the debate stage - because the candidates that will be debating in the first few debates all SUCK.

[Inuca]

41. Can he say YES after saying NO???

I did not read the email, nor anything else except comments here and the BG article, so maybe there is some other information I do not know that may make this possible, but if he just said that he i snot going ot do it, and then he changes his mind... you all know what I am thinking of, I am NOT going to write it...

[Democrafty]

42. I don't think t would be, like, illegal.

It might not be possible in terms of, say, fundraising, however.

[blm]

43. Well - let's say a few months from now a bunch of us start petitions

because we don't hear real answers from those running now?

You know we won't - none of them walk the walk on the talk.

And if Kerry works his ass off to bring this country solutions on Iraq and pushes public opinion, then I doubt people will be enthusiastically clapping for Hillary.

[Kerry fan]

32. I am just as upset and crying as in 2004.

But, what is really the most important issue facing this country at this moment? IMO, it's getting our presence OUT of Iraq.

IMO, that is what Kerry believes, also.

I also can understand why he wants to put that objective ahead of his own ambitions, devote ALL his time to that objective.

I also believe he can do more good by focusing on Iraq rather than putting himself out there, drawing attention to himself when the attention should be on Iraq.

It hurts me to the core, But I believe John Kerry is doing the right thing, as he ALWAYS does.

Put it on the scale - My own ambition on the one hand, or devote all my energies to trying to help save my country from another disaaster such as Viet Nam. All of us who know the real John Kerry knows very well which he will choose.

No, Wisteria, WE won't have him in the White House just yet, but WE will have him working hard on the most horific catastrophe that this country has faced in a very long time, maybe ever.

Keep that in mind. It will help some. That is how I am dealing with it.

[Jo March]

34. I agree. We do have him working to end this war

Many, many people want that and he is the one to keep pushing for that. He can lead the fight to end the war. I am confident of that.

I am sad. I supported him back when the primaries started. I would love to have seen him as President. I would be happy if he became Sec. of State because he is so smart with foreign policy and he is a respected politician.

Sigh. Hillary is being rammed down our throats. I'm not happy with today's news at all. x(

[Kerry fan]

37. I CANNOT vote for Hillary! NO WAY - NO HOW!

[Jo March]

39. I'm pretty much right there with you.

Ugh, ugh, ugh. x(

[Island Blue]

44. My support of Senator Kerry made me a better person.

Witnessing his integrity caused me to really reevaluate what I will and will not accept in a politician. I am so proud to have supported this man in his quest for the presidency, and will continue to support him and look to him for guidance in the future, no matter what position he holds.

As for you guys, I love you all. :grouphug:

Sorry if I'm being too sentimental, I'm a little bit upset right now. It's hard to type and cry at the same time, btw.

[WildEyedLiberal]

45. Took the words right outta my mouth.

I will ALWAYS support John Kerry, with every fiber of my being. Always.

I weep today, but my tears are really for America, a once great country now so blinded by meaningless trifles and digital distractions that it cannot see that it has thrown away its greatest champion.

[wildflowergardener]

46. He doesn't rule out another run

In his letter - he doesn't rule out another run someday.

"I sought the presidency to lead us on a different course. There are powerful reasons to want to continue that fight now. But I've concluded this isn't the time for me to mount a presidential campaign. It is the time to put my energy to work as part of the new Democratic majority in the Senate, to do all I can to end this war and strengthen our security and our ability to fight the real war on terror."

You know how much people are behind Gore right now. I wouldn't give up hope entirely. What about Kerry for Vice President, or some other high up cabinet position?

Does anyone know how old Senator Kerry is? I'm thinking in terms of future elections and how old he'd be. How old was Ronald Reagan when he won?

Meg