Why John Kerry should have been made Senate Minority Leader

[WI_DEM]

It is actually a delicious idea. John Kerry was the Democratic nominee for president and won 48% of the vote, just narrowly missing becoming president. He got more votes than anybody else in history except for Bush. The Minority Leader of the Senate is actually the most powerful post the opposition party has. Kerry as the titular head of the Democratic party and a US Senator would have been ideal to hold this post. It is like the parlimentary system in England, Bush is Prime Minister and Kerry would be the opposition leader. Harry Reid? He will be another Daschle. Kerry having gone up against Bush would have much more clout and more of a voice as the opposition leader. I'm actually surprised that the senate democrats didn't think of it that way, but then again maybe I shouldn't be.

[Democat]

1. Great point - he got more votes than Ronald Reagan - he is a U.S. leader

Why give it to Reid of all people?

[candy331]

2. Give it a rest, Kerry is history, he is viewed as a sellout for

conceding less than 24 hours after the vote and the vote is still not in. He and the most of the rest in Congress needs to go because there is no legislation they can effect they are just there to suck up oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide in the room.

[Democat]

3. They can still filibuster and they are what America sees of the Democrats

The Democrats in the Senate are still crucial for us, don't be deluded!

[elsiesummers]

4. Not convinced it should be Kerry - but please, not Reid!

Kerry is definitely better than Reid. But there are so many articulate Democrats who would be better than Reid. Levin, Biden, Durbin, Dodd - c'mon - why oh why is it Reid?

[Democat]

6. What about Harkin?

I like him, though I'm not sure if he is the right man for leadership. Sometimes you don't know who makes a good leader until they step into the roll.

[SoCalDem]

5. Not really..

First of all, I doubt that Kerry is interested.. He may not even run for re-election in 08. If you think about it, the last two years have been kind of hard on him.. He had a cancer scare, and a grueling time on the campaign. He might just be ready to go on to something else.

He has a great bio, but Bush spent 2 years demonizing him, and in his place, I would just say Go F yourself to all the idiots who either did not really support him, or actively trashed him...and then go off and enjoy life.. He does not need the money or the aggravation..

He would be a weakened minority leader, and being up for re-election in 06, would have to miss a lot of time running for re-election.

A sitting senator who was JUST re-elected should be the leader.. and he/she should ALWAYS be fram a safe state...a very DEEP blue state.


edited to change term end date....I still don't think he wants to be minority leader

[WI_DEM]

7. Actually he has four years left to his term

up in '08, Maybe he isn't interested, but as the defeated presidential candidate and a US Senator who has twenty odd years experience in the Senate, Minority Leader--the opposition leader to Bush, makes perfect sense to me.