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Just wanted to put up a quick post thanking John Kerry for being pretty much the only major Democrat willing to be critical of Where's The Dough Joe and stand up to his threats to leave the party, repeatedly insult Democrats and promote the Republican agenda. Kerry is in East Hartford today appearing with Ned Lamont while others have thrown a big middle finger to the party's base by siding with their country club buddy and laughing while he shits on their heads. Kerry deserves some big netroots praise for his willingness to buck the Incumbency Protection Racket and listen to what Democratic voters are saying (as opposed to the Republican ones, who comprise the majority of Tortureman's supporters).
Not only did Kerry appear with Ned today at the town hall meeting, his staff called to confirm the appearance themselves. Nobody had to harangue Kerry to show up. And yesterday he took the time to meet with local Massachusetts bloggers, including our own RevDeb, and listen to their concerns. He's also turned up and supported many progressive House candidates that the DCCC couldn't be bothered with.
Mensch.
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FITZ!
Fitz!
Thank you, John Kerry.
You’ve shown that you have the conviction to stand up to DC Dems in general and support CT Dems, specifically.
Go Ned!
Wasn’t he also the same Dem who refused to donate some of his excess campaign funds to needy Blue candidates? Though, this is great that he’s supporting Lamont with his presence.
Not wanting to be a wet blanket, but Kerry won’t really be a stand-up guy for the netroots until he gets up off of that wallet and lets some of that 14 million bucks out to help make it a Dem majority.
Credit where credit is due here, although it’s hardly a surprise that there’s no love lost between Kerry and Loserman after the ‘04 primaries.
Yeah, Kerry’s a mixed bag. My own working theory is that Kerry is a decent guy with shit-for-brains staff. That’s subject to revision as new data come in.
Cap’n Phealy @
5
You know, I too wish that many Democrats — Kerry included — would do that. There is, however, such a thing as positive reinforcement and I don’t think denying him credit for what he’s doing right because he doesn’t fit into the perfect mold at the moment is exactly the right way to go about encouraging others to do likewise.
Way to go Big John. He did a pretty good job of explaining himself in the Kos Diary. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Go Ned!
I’m a bit late for the last thread (darn work, taking up valuable blogging time!), but I wanted to put in a good word for Judy Feder in VA-10. She a strong progressive, the Dean of Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute, in short, exactly the sort of person you want in Congress. She has a good shot at taking down sixteen-year incumbent Frank Wolf.
My thoughts exactly, it’s great that he’s out stumping for our candidates, unlike much of the rest of the DCCC, but I’ll reserve my full praise until he tosses some of his warchest on the pile in furtherance of our larger goals.
Jane - I agree completely.
Public support for Ned Lamont is my single most important litmus test for 2008 presidential hopefuls. Kerry, Edwards and Clark have passed with flying colors.
Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama - they are currently failing. Barak needs to go to Connecticut and Hillary needs to send her husband there to campaign for Ned.
If Hillary and Barak don’t act soon, they’re finished. Period.
How can I be loyal to a candidate who stabs their own party in the back by failing to support the Democratic nominee? I simply cannot.
The window of opportunity for Hillary and Barak is rapidly closing, never to open again. Will they act now?
From a purely political perspective, I don’t understand what Hillary and Barak are doing. If they support Lamont they gain strong support from millions of active, motivated progressive Democrats and loyal Democrats across the country. If they do nothing, they lose our support and gain significant and long-lasting enmity. If they think that we have a short memory about important matters such as this, they are fools.
I just don’t get it.
Thank you John Kerry. I wish you had contested Ohio, but what you are doing now takes a lot of guts. Holy Joe is not the only fraud out there, and there are too many democrats willing to give Holy Joe a free pass. Kerry is doing much more than Schumer and Reed.
xyz: I agree: Barak, Russ, Hlliary(two-faced weasel) and my beloved Al Gore are on notice! If they don’t show up with Ned in Conn. by November 5th, they will BE DEAD TO ME!
Geeno @ 6
Agree completely, and happy to think it wasn’t just me. Going back to my lurker status now.
I applaud Kerry for his support today. The Courant ran an article today about Lamont’s lack of Democratic support. Maybe people will start putting two and two together. The machine that Ned is up against is enormous. If pre-primary activity from Lieberman are any indication, the next two weeks are going to get messy. I think Kerry is helping because he wants to.
Sidenote: Dad from MLN and the Kiss Float are at the event with Kerry now. They also made a stop at the Lieberman/Bob Kerrey event at noon today — when Kerrey was driving by the float, he rolled down his window and said “Love the Kiss!”.
Next stop - Joe’s Volunteer Rally!!!!
Thank you, FDL’ers for all of your float support. You guys are awesome!
OT, but I wish Bill Frist would weigh in on whether Michael J. Fox is “acting” like he has Parkinson’s and put an end, finally, to this madness.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....00691.html
beth @ 13
Beth, you’re right. I forgot Gore. He’s on notice too. And he seriously was one of my top choices for 2008. And Feingold too.
Well, none of these folks can’t say that that they weren’t warned. We have been all over them to show support for Lamont.
Clark, Kerry and Edwards are all great candidates. I’ll be happy to support any of them in the primaries.
Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama and Al Gore - I will actively work against each of them unless they get to Connecticut for Lamont before the election.
Public support for Ned Lamont is my single most important litmus test for 2008 presidential hopefuls. Kerry, Edwards and Clark have passed with flying colors.
Wow. Simply, wow.
Some people have some strange priorities.
mc,
why do you want a comment from Frist on MJF? The Fat Bloated Oracle Limbaugh has already spoken on the matter — isn’t that enough? What are you, some kind of skeptic lib’rul?
gibblet @ 18
I find your critique substantive and compelling.
*xyz @ 11
Once again, no Hillary fan, BUT….she said she would do anything asked of her by the Lamont campaign.
I totally disagree..
I would like lots of people to poney up $$$ for Ned right now, but I am extremely thankful for Kerry’s personal appearance. It’s a hell of a lot better than Harold Ford, Jr; Obama; Clinton I and Clinton II; Schumer; Reid, and all of the other spineless DC Dems who are helping the anti-candidate, Lieberman.
F*ck ‘em if they can’t take a joke. And they will never get another dime from me!
Thank you!! Thank you!! Jane.
I don’t post much because I pay by the minute for my connection and actually have no business being on line. My grandmother would call it “living above my means” — however, I open the pages and read them offline and have seen a lot of undue criticism of Kerry. Thanks so much for highlighting it.
EPU’d on the previous thread:
Taylor Marsh does an excellent breakdown on Kerry’s hard work and spending on his party.
http://www.taylormarsh.com/arc.....p?id=24686
IMO, Kerry’s REAL problem is his membership in the DLC. He would be so much greater without it. (I blame them–and Clinton–for his lousy campaign.) I tell him so everytime I contact him in a PS. :)
Cozumel @ 21
Cozumel @ 21
She’s not doing enough. I have drawn my own conclusions based on her behavior.
phoebes @
4
Kerry does have some cash but he really, really has outworked anyone nationally for our various candidates. He has given money, raised money and gone all over the place. A lot of politicians have worked hard and given money for the cause but none as much as Kerry. I do hope he gives some more but I can only praise him at this point.
thingwarbler @ 19
It’s just that Frist has magical medical video powers and, well, he’s a doctor and everything…
*xyz–Hillary I actually do understand. Various speculative rumors have her as the Majority Leader before long if Dems win the Senate. Like most Dem Senators, she’s too afraid of Lieberman bolting (and therefore losing her chance at Majority Leader), and not confident enough to help Lamont out to avoid that scenario.
Obama is a mystery to me–there’s no chance of him becoming Majority Leader. I noticed yesterday, to great annoyance, the title of his new book, “The Audacity of Hope.” Where’s his own audaciousness? Again: afraid of Lieberman, insufficiently audacious to aid Lamont in countering those fears.
Not to be a homer about it, but on the ground I think Kerry’s been quite good stumping and fundraising for other candidates.
I take back my “irk” of yesterday toward Senator Kerry when he e-mailed a request for contributions to candidates in the four critical Senate races. Sent him $ for each of the four and $ to ActBlue for Lamont and Rowley. And, thank you, Senator Kerry for all that you and Teresa are doing.
Jane Hamsher @ 7
Agree. Also, if you read through the transcript, when Kerry answers questions about that issue, he states that what he and wife Theresa has done in other ways is the equivalent of what is being asked. He’s been funding Dems all over, plus funding the DNC, DSCC and DCCC. So there’s more here to consider.
btw, in the transcript, RevDeb twice says “John” but I think she’s not talking to the Senator here; given the context, I believe these are references to Jon Jennings, the Kerry staffer who helped set up the meeting and has been our contact for other meetings. Any way, great job Deb.
Has Lamont asked Hillary to campaign for him? What about Bill?
He could ask Obama, but I’m not sure how Obama’s cachet translates into CT votes.
Either of the Clintons campaigning for Lamont would be a big boon.
If he asks, and then it becomes public (through an unfortunate leak) that they refused to campaign for him, mightn’t that be negative publicity they’d rather avoid?
I’m not sure.
Jane -
With your kind permission (while we’re pondering the subject of wondering where the dough went), let me repost my comment appearing in the previous thread with an addendum consisting of two questions:
Stephen Parrish, CPA @
38
Do you see a pattern developing with respect to organized volunteer activity? Where’s the dough?
Cap’n Phealy @
5
You guys should read the kos diary linked in the story. He gives a pretty compelling argument about how much he’s raised for candidates, how much he’s given personally, and why it might not be the greatest idea to raid his war chest.
But-but-but!!
I thought King Kos told me to hate Kerry this week!
I’m so confused!
Audrey, left a note for you at the end of the last thread.
marky @ 30
I’m thinking he asked them to stay away to avoid and quid pro quo. Maybe Kerry hasn’t asked him to promise anything in return.
Just a WAG.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 31
Nice, nice catch.
How can Hillary come out for Lamont, an anti-Iraq war candidate, when Senator Clinton seems bent on keeping troops in Iraq?
Does anyone know if Ned actually has spoken to these dems and literally ASKED then to get their asses to CT? has he been refused? Do they not take his calls?
Anyone know how this works? Staff to staff?
I say call them and get a direct answer and offer to send a jet to pick their ass up.
And Massachusetts’ other Senator quickly called Bush on his new (old)line of Iraq propaganda. Makes one proud to be from the Bay State.
Thanks to both Senators, Kerry and Kennedy.
Thank you, John Kerry! I would hope some of the spineless Democrats (Schumer, et al)will take note of your principaled stand.
In the netroots we have long memories…and we’ll remember that you stood up for Ned Lamont. THANKS!
TRex @ 32
Nah, that was in response to comments by the other aide who didn’t get the memo on how to answer the question.
John Kerry is a class act.Too bad the swift boaters did such a job on him.The same crowd
is now working their magic on Harold Ford~
Monday, Amb Joe Wilson and Barak Obama were here in Phoenix campaigning for our AZ candidates. Amb Wilson was on the local AAR radio program taking calls and answering questions.
Here is the link to the mp3
http://mikenewcomb.net/audio/JWILSON.mp3
Thankfully I asked two questions, getting the info out about Kyl and his false statements inserted into the Congressional record and then submitted to the Supreme Court!
OK -
Boxer managed to campaign for Joey even though they differ on many issues. Hillary could do it easily… she’s smooth.
Hi, btw.
Excellent. Good on ya, John Kerry.
Kos apparently is still a denaiac and can’t accept Kerry doing anything positive. No politician is goig to shine all the time.. it’s the nature of the beast they are always triangulating something. Kos has a big ego for a little guy even though he claims not.
Lots of things are going down that we can’t see. Would it be a reach to see that everyone has something on everyone else and play them like puppets because of that?
One should only become involved in politics after coming to the unshakable and immutable conclusion that all politicians are self serving assholes who balance power, votes, and money as a way of getting what they want. They’ll pick yer pocket on a whim- and break the hearts of the naive without regret.
So once you know what you’re dealin with- yer decisions can be much clearer- “Which of these self serving lyin machines serve my purposes best in this election.
Never allow yourself to feel any affection for the fuckers- you might as well fall in love with snakes.
Sally @ 33
Ahhh! Thanks Sally. Maybe Bell didn’t buy ads here–or on a different station. I only get one. I don’t get radio either. Talk about deprived! ;)
That’s so reassuring, though.
OTOH, Perry’s ads against Bell are AWFUL. They’re recycled from the last election and you can tell. Naugebauer’s(sp) are recycled too. Hope they both backfire.
rwcole @47
I think Ned Lamont is cut from the same clothe… Time will tell…
Twisted Martini @
8
likewise, on the funding i$$ue. to be clear: that’s a far cry from wiping the slate clean of the missteps from his 2004 campaign.
DefJef @ 46
I thought Kos was a Wesley Clarkiac? ; )
TRex @ 32
OOOPS! Now I’m confused. I thought King Kobe was the boss of us!
OT - Well, about as off topic your general run of the mill “double-standard” “cronyistic” “rubber-stamping” Republican antics can get; I guess…
er…yeah, right.
Read it in all its glory at http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4545824
rwcole (47), you pretty well describe most of the human race.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @
31
Stephen, I sense you have a great point here but I still don’t get it. Could you help out a dense Balrog and explain?
Thanks.
I don’t know whether an appearance from either Billary would help Lamont per se. Whether or not she actually showed up, it could help Ned if Hillary would say, “Ned has been courageous in challenging us all to rethink our premises about Iraq. Given what we see happening every day in the news, it now seems that Ned showed a lot of judgement, insight and courage in doing what he did. He’s helped redefine what we all think about Bush’s disastorous foreign policy. And we’re all going to have to think about this a lot harder and be willing to stand up to President Bush and the lame arguments he continues to make. That’s why I think he’d make a great Senator.” If she said that, then Bill could come in and close the deal.
What else could she say that would be helpful?
Cozumel @
21
Coz: she reneged. Disclosure will come by and by.
I agree that Kerry deserves another look, based strictly upon his actions. I was terribly disappointed when he let Bush steal Ohio. No doubt he was following the wisdom of the borg democrats in DC. Resistance is futile. Stay the course. Don’t rock the boat.
Kerry has never been magnetic like Clinton. But if he has learned his lesson about rejecting the timidity oozing out of the “expert handlers” from DC and is willing to step up for us, we should step up for him. God knows establishment democrats willing to put it on the line for real people are few and far between.
I would say stop complaining that he is not doing enough, and complain about those who are doing NOTHING.
By the way republicans, our gay congress members are WAY better than your gay congress members. Ours help the party win (Frank), instead of dragging it down (Foley). So there! NYAH NYAH NYAH!
rw
This may be true for many, but not for all. I believe you would not say this about Ned Lamont if you met him. It takes about 30 seconds to realize this guy is real.
scarecrow (56), if she said that, it would help Hillary, too, mucho. And thanks for the spotlight information. I confess I read directions as a last resort.
OT - has this made the broader news circuit?
punaise @
174
Cozumel @ 51
Markos was not a Deaniac. He wasn’t anti-Dean, but he was very unimpressed with some of his personnel choices during the campaign, not without cause.
And here TRex and Kos had me thinking we really all did have long memories.
Love ya, Jane, but the war is on *now*. We need money from Kerry, period. He could give the DCCC a cool million without significantly lowering his 0.005% chance of winning the ‘08 Democratic nomination. Your post just might have led some of Kerry’s minions to think he can get away with shutting the wallet and still win the netroots love. Not a good move.
Can’t agree, rwcole, though this is probably true for many in Washington. But I am represented by Patrick Leahy, Jim Jeffords and Bernie Sanders, so I know there are people of integrity in Congress.
scarecrow @ 56
Ned needs to bring remaining “low information” Dems home. Joe still has a chunk of them, in no small part because Bill got through to them for Joe prior to the primary. And that is where they remain. Bill could undo that, and if he does not, it’s not because he’s ignorant.
TRex @ 33
It’s a blip in the Blogitburo. Don’t theropods do nuance?
Pachacutec @ 57
Cryptic. Does this have anything to do with those who met with WJC and what they know but can’t tell?
Or is this more of a Karma thing?
Q: How do you keep a Balrog in suspense?
A: I’ll tell you later.
Second Looks?
2008 My List based on who I think can win AND run the country.
Gore/Edwards (if Gore decides to run)
Edwards/Clark
The Dark Horse Pairing: Edwards/Obama
Thoughts?
scarecrow @ 56
Anything that any dem party leader does at this late date has to be nearly bombastic. No standard-issue appearance or livingroom photo op or $5000 contribution.
It has to be so dramatic and compelling because (woulda shoulda coulda) I believe Ned would now be flying high and primed to win this one big if they had come out for him immediately after the primary.
Now Hillary and the rest will have to blanket the state with extraordinary and passionate appearances. It’s not over yet, but it would be a miracle if they did this, in my opinion.
Pachacutec @ 57
Pach: Okay. I’ll take your word for it.
punaise @ 61
I just finished it. WOW. I think it will be getting around tomorrow. I think this deserves a whole post here at FDL.
Except for the fact that Kerry is happy to fall back on it for his own job.
Sally @ 60
You’re welcome. I find that if I have to check the instructions to see how something works, there’s something wrong with that particular model. This seems to be true for electronic equipment, computers and programs, cars, and [ducking, looking into places to hide] some women I have known.
I think Kerry worked his guts out for us in ‘04. He made his mistakes and I’m not sure why he conceded when he did (pure pragmatism, most likely, after looking at conceivable scenarios), but he’s worked harder for this country than any of us has or ever will.
RW at 47:
LOL! I mostly agree (although it pains me). We’re all pretty egotistical at times (SWEEPING blanket generalization alert!) and when you add in money and power, well…you know. I think some of our pols try, which is sometimes enough. (Thanks Russ!)
shooogarp at 71 — it got one, first thing this morning. And why am I now depressed that I put a lot of work into a post that no one remembers. SIGH (kidding…)
…Nice shade of Pink Lipstick.
Former VA Gov. Doug Wilder has endorsed Webb.
That is quite helpful.
-GSD
GSD at 78 — and it’s about damn time, too. Although holding it off until the last couple of weeks could be a good momentum boost — we’ll see… (she types, hopefully)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 76
Not true, m’Lady. A lot of us Spotlighted that one all over.
Balrog @
55
Balrog -
What is the difference between cash apparently paid during the Connecticut senatorial primary campaign to volunteers for Senator Lieberman and money that, in his interview yesterday with NPR, Karl Rove mentioned spending for organized volunteer activity?
Thanks to John Kerry for slogging thru the mire of campaigning for Dems this year and for all that he’s doing. But a mil or two for campaign ads would sure be nice. Especially sinc the Rethug “volunteers” and “absentee voters” are just getting warmed up.
Hillary will not run for president.
Hillary will not be majority leader.
Also at Salon.com and quite good. I’ve spent time in Rexburg, Idaho and if there are doubts there, the Republicans are in trouble elsewhere.
http://www.salon.com/news/feat.....index.html
Jenny from the Blog @ 44
Yep, she’s smooth alright. Politically perhaps lithe, urbane and even svelte too.
DefJef @ 49
EXCUSE ME????? You’ve got to be kidding.
Lamont is anything like a standard pol. He doesn’t have a smarmy, self-serving bone in his body - which is why his campaign has been so simple and down-to-earth.
I think it’s sad that you are both so cynical.
I look at Howard Dean, who I did not support, and I admire him immensely for the DFA infrastructure he has established and the 50 state strategy he set up via the DNC.
Balrog @ 55
So the paid ‘volunteers’ in the CT For Lieberman campaign are derived from a page and petty funding technique out of the Karl Rove playbook.
Wondering how many Republicans are missing large amounts of petty cash expenditures during the final days of a campaign.
I voted for Kerry. On this, I have no regrets.
Pachacutec @ 65
Yup. Unfortunately, coming in for joe in the primary was nigh impossible to avoid. And once done…it’s more difficult to undo.
Not getting immediate major support right after the primary hurt a lot. It’s appalling that Joe wasn’t slapped back damn quick by the powers that be.
If he’d been running on the CFL ticket before, more power to him. But he wasn’t.
Joe’s got to go.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 81
*ding*
Thanks Stephen.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 76
Sorry. Been super busy lately and I haven’t gone back yet. Hmmmm. Let’s see…last two weeks. Got married. Moved. Sold my business. Started new job. Cleaned out garage. Cleaned out garage (again, after moving). Stomach Flu (thankfully after the wedding).
Love your posts Christy.
reviser @ 63
didn’t realize that you had the inside scoop on his finances and the campaigns audit issues. He said he couldn’t touch certain funds so he raised new money instead. Have you done the same?
Hi all,
I’m chiming in for a minute then I need to go to the top and read the thread.
It was an interesting though short meeting and I have LOTS to say about it. I was at a minister’s retreat and managed to get an internet connection to check my e-mail and there was one from our contact at Kerry’s office asking me to come in and meet the Senator along with someone from BlueMassGroup.
The entire exchange, audio and transcript can be found here.
I had met Charley a couple of times before so we knew each other a little before going in to the meeting.
I will be writing extended thoughts about it on my web site and perhaps crosspost at BMG, but the short version is that I think Dau’s triangle is now in effect. I think Kerry’s guy called us to do damage control on a story that was started by Chris Bowers at MyDD about the $$ and the media picked up on it. The story ran in the Boston Globe last Sat. and the first thing the media asked Kerry after the Deval Patrick event was about the $$.
He has said that he is willing to/wants to meet with us after the election. . . . lots to do and lots to talk about between now and then.
Now I gotta go up and read what you all have said.
RevDeb
If Senator Clinton is not going to run for the presidency, I wish she would declare her non-candidacy soon. The coyness on this matter is revolting.
GSD @ 78
Webb should be raising holy hell that his full name doesn’t appear on the ballot here in NoVa.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....00566.html
Christy Hardin Smith @ 76
CHS, I spread the word over at NLS.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 76
I remember, cuz I got the front-page shout! Also because Christy’s post was eloquent and compelling. Definitely spotlight-worthy.
Eureka Springs, AR @ 86
How about a group of us answer this question? I would really like to know the answer (was trying to get some traction on expenditure data yesterday).