Kerry: A senior senator unleashed (Boston Globe editorial)

[ProSense]

Kerry: A senior senator unleashed

October 22, 2009

In John Kerry’s first two months as senior senator from Massachusetts, he has stamped his name on a major piece of legislation - the Kerry-Boxer climate change bill - and played a crucial celebrity-diplomacy role in persuading Afghan President Hamid Karzai to agree to a run-off election with his challenger. Both moves were reminiscent of his late colleague, Edward M. Kennedy, who wrote important domestic legislation while also using his fame to help resolve disputes overseas.

Back in August, Kerry mourned Kennedy as his teacher. But friends and colleagues have long maintained that behind the mentor-mentee camaraderie, Kerry was something of a kept man. By the time Kerry reached the Senate, Kennedy had staked out so much turf that the new senator was restricted to his core interests of foreign relations and helping small businesses, with an occasional prosecutorial thrust such as helping reveal the BCCI scandal of the ’80s. When Kerry ran for president, his relatively slender legislative record was noted; within Massachusetts, it was an act of faith that Kennedy’s was the go-to office for local priorities.

Now Massachusetts is fortunate to have a senior senator with national name recognition and the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee, to boot. His determination to be a Kennedy-like leader is apparent. With his clout and ambition, Kerry can help Massachusetts overcome the loss of a senator who was legendary in his ability to deliver.

Wonderful recognition, but the slight on Kerry's legislative record is media spin. His record speaks for itself.

[babylonsister]

1. We are so lucky to have him in the positions he is involved in.

His wisdom and stature in the Senate carry a lot of weight.

[Cha]

2. Oh yeah, there's always

got to be "media" spinning badly but, they cannot cover up what Senator Kerry is doing and what he means to our country now.

[applegrove]

3. He's done us all proud.

[saltpoint]

4. John Kerry is the gold standard for public service, IMO.

Certainly the Republican Party has absolutely no one anything close to Kerry. They're light years away from his model of citizenship.

[MBS]

6. IMO, too! n/t

[blm]

9. Exactly. You can't name ONE lawmaker who's effected the nation's historic record more positively

than Kerry has the last 4 decades. Imagine NO uncovering of IranContra, BCCI, S&L crimes, CIA drugrunning - this nation would be well into its second decade of full-on fascism (courtesy of the BFEE) by now.

What's sad and pathetic is that so many Democrats are completely unaware of what Kerry's work has meant to this nation.

[saltpoint]

12. He's one of the good guys hanging out in DC.

:hi:

[YvonneCa]

10. GOLD Standard. I like that...

...very much. Kerry's model of citizenship could be transformative, given half a chance.

[saltpoint]

11. -- --

:hi:

[politicasista]

5. Kick. After the election ended

and when the SOS rumors leaked, me wasn't sure if Obama was going to listen to anyone outside of his cabinet; and felt that people who helped him get where he is now were going to be marginalized, ignored, or slighted.

That has not been the case with President Obama, and looking back, Kerry staying in the Senate may have been a good decision (especially now that Uncle Ted has left us :().

This isn't to say that he wouldn't have made cabinet member, but being an independent, global voice doesn't seem that bad either. It is like you can BYOB (Be Your Own Boss) and still have the President's ear at the same time. :)

So much kudos to Kerry and Team Obama for working towards change and progress. :kick: :patriot:

[vaberella]

7. He's brilliant. I'm more impressed with each news of the things he's done. n/t

[blm]

8. Globe STILL can't acknowledge JK's full efforts on IranContra, BCCI, S&Ls, and CIA drugrunning

because it might lead to questions about WHY mainstream media downplays those matters to this day and Kerry's crucial role in uncovering those matters.

Globe and the rest of corporate media don't WANT investigations of government corruption acknowledged in any detail - their masters pay them to protect the corrupt.