Kerry Shows He's A Class Act Today...

[kerrygoddess]

A Stoical Kerry on Bush's Day

By Dana Milbank
Friday, January 21, 2005; Page A28

It was just as John F. Kerry must have dreamed it would be: There he stood on the Capitol dais on a sunny Inauguration Day, looking presidential in blue scarf and overcoat, as the Marine Band played "Hail to the Chief" before the swearing-in.

But wait! Something was terribly wrong. Kerry's seat assignment was in the seventh row. And every time they flashed his picture on the Jumbotron, the crowd -- full of wealthy Republicans -- jeered.

It's no fun being the runner-up on Inauguration Day. To add to the poignancy for Kerry, it was a year and a day since his surprise victory in the Iowa caucus propelled him to the Democratic nomination and, almost, the presidency. And yet, Kerry seemed to embrace the role of loser with ironic amusement.

The senator from Massachusetts took a seat up front, where he was sure to be seen on television playing the part of Good Sport. When the color guard approached, he clutched his breast as if suffering a bout of arrhythmia. When the national anthem played, he sang as if he were Denyce Graves. When President Bush spoke, he clapped politely -- and gazed over the Mall with a faraway look.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24863-2005Jan20.html?nav=rss_politics

[angel54321]

1. He's a class act...thank you for the post n/t

[zann725]

3. I don't know how he finds the strength. It must hurt so much.

n/t

[TaleWgnDg]

2. I'm from Massachusetts. He's been my Senator for years.

.


I'm from Massachusetts. He's been my Senator for years. And John Forbes Kerry has always been a 100% classy guy w/ dignity.


.

[izzie]

4. Trouble is money does not mean class so they go with Bush.

Kerry has always been a class act. We do not always put in to office our top people.

[kerrygoddess]

8. I grew up in MA

I've lived in CA for 15 years, but grew up watching Kerry's career. From his days protesting Vietnam when he came from serving to prosecutor taking on the Mob, to Lt. Gov, I've always admired and respected him.

[seaglass]

5. Great article kerrygoddess. I'm glad I didn't watch, I don't

think I could have taken it.

[kerrygoddess]

9. I couldn't watch either!

[flpoljunkie]

6. Thanks for posting. Especially like this from his email to supporters..

"Democracy means working together for the good of our country; it also means keeping faith with your ideals, never retreating from core convictions even as you work to find common ground," Kerry said in a statement his office released yesterday morning. On Monday, he will introduce a plan to provide health coverage to all children, picking a fight with GOP lawmakers and the White House.

_____________

Kudos to Kerry for introducing a plan to provide health coverage to all children, and very sad, indeed, to know Republicans will howl!

[Modem Butterfly]

7. "Hail to the Chief" indeed!

Thanks for posting this. Kerry is a great man. I hope to hear more from him in the near future.

[cheezus]

10. so... kerry has just launched his 08 campaign?

well, I guess he still has enough of our money left over to do it....

[savistocate]

12. And Repub audience antithesis of "class"-has to boo

CRASS VULGARIANS THRU & THRU. That would fit the "petty partisan"

To honest criticism they've taken up this LOUD "USA" screech
A relevant answer-- "USA _ NOT ABOVE THE LAW"

[CBHagman]

18. "Sore Winners," as a recent book has it.

Notice the undercurrent of resentment, the inability to resist behaving like a lout, a boor, the creep your parents warned you about? That's our new GOP leadership! It almost makes one long for Newt Gingrich (I said ALMOST).

Being a gracious loser takes a lot of self-discipline. Being a nasty winner means you have less class than a steaming mound of dog turds.

I guess we're in the Dog Turd Era.

[E_Smith]

19. the same could be said of the protesters

protesting Bush at his inauguration could also be interpreted as classless... not that I think it is. Is jeering Kerry more classless, yeah probably. But in an atmosphere where your guy who won is being booed, it is understandable.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

20. It is not understandable

well, maybe if we consider that all those GOP clowns on stage are boors then it is, but it indicates a complete lack of self esteem and confidence on the part of the "winners"... gee, maybe they don't really think they won?

[blm]

28. It was Bush's INVITED guests who booed Kerry. And they did it well before

any protestor heckled Bush. So, what "atmosphere" are you excusing?

[E_Smith]

45. I'm not sure whether there was an atmosphere or not....

I guess I thought the sequence was that there were protesters in the same area as the invited guests, or that the guests were indistinguishable from protesters. I could be wrong.

[CBHagman]

50. I suspect that the invited guest looked nothing like...

...the protesters. You know how when you live in New York or DC and you can tell right away who's from out of town? Well, part of that is going on with the invited guests from out of town.

Plus there are fur coats aplenty among the Bush crowd. I don't think anyone is going to confuse them with the Code Pink or ANSWER people!

But down in the streets, around the bleachers, yes, I think it might be harder to tell the ordinary Bush supporters from the protesters, simply because everyone will be bundled up and probably not so well heeled. Besides, I understand that ordinary folks who sought bleacher seats had a rough time getting them. At least that's what some comments in today's Washington Post suggest.

[Cha]

40. Yeah, because they politically

assassinated Kerry so they could keep their tax cuts and the hell with the Country!

[LittleClarkie]

64. Where do you read that he's "just" launched his campaign

in this story. I see a story of what happened on Thurs. Where do you see a campaign story.

As for "just" launched, he has made it clear before that this is his intention, so he really didn't "just launch anything. Can't say as I blame him. The PAC is part of that. Half campaign 2008 and half fighting for the issues he considers important now.

The PAC has to be fresh money though. Those are the rules. It can't be campaign money from this time. I'm not sure how much he has left anyway. I wonder if all the bills have come in yet. I think Gore had about 8 mil. at this point, and last I heard Kerry had 10 or 15 mil.

I wonder what does happen to those monies once a candidate doesn't need them any more. Kerry has pledged his leftovers to 2005 and 2006 candidates, but I don't know what became of Gore's or any other candidates, winning or losing.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, so far Kerry has put flowers on a soldier's grave, sent us at least four emails asking for some action on our part (including calling cards for soldiers, a petition for children's health care, calling majority leaders about the contesting of the election and a petition against Rummy), gone to Iraq and voted against Condi, all of which has been either "too little, too late" or "campaigning for 2008."

I'm starting to think that if Kerry burps too loudly, it will be called "campaigning for 2008." Who cares why he's doing what he's doing, really. If it gets results, then I hope he campaigns from now til doomsday. How can we diss him for not doing anything, then diss him for doing something, because we think he MIGHT be doing it for political reasons. It's too easy to have that kneejerk reaction. It means not having to think, really. Personally, I always thought of our side as the thinking side.

I do wish we could not fight the primary battles of 2004 and 2008 incessantly. It's too early for one thing, and it's a distorted way to look at these people. Suddenly folks won't support good actions because they're coming from someone whom they don't plan to support in 2008. Greaat. How DO we plan on getting anything done as a unified party with an attitude like that.

We need to take whatever actions and use whatever resources present themselves. Don't support the politician; support the ACTION.

(/soapbox)

[robbedvoter]

11. Nice dissing of Gore - the guy who fought + opposed war

Glad you all revel in the abject acceptance of death of democracy.
I don't know what's more pathetic here - freepers jeering or you swooning...

[E_Smith]

13. so because Kerry

voted for IWR he is forever discredited? don't forget that he vocally opposed the use of force in the run up to war.

[robbedvoter]

14. No. because he allowed the election steal to appear legit.

That's why the medja praises him too.
The war just puts blood on his hands.

[E_Smith]

15. I'm not convinced it was stolen

per se... definitely there was massive suppression but bbv has not been proven. the truth is Kerry would be finished if he tried to contest the results.

[LittleClarkie]

33. I read no dissing in the article that was quoted

Just described the pain that was evident on that day and his reaction in the aftermath.

Kerry's reaction has been different, as it had to be, since he still has a role to play. I've been trying to remember all day when the last time was that a losing candidate had to go back to his old job in governement. Was that Mondale. I'll have to break down and actually look, I guess.

As for the death of democracy, I think reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.

[blm]

37. That's their way of needling Gore. It may sound benign but rarely is.

They always demean him as unworthy somehow, to cover their own failure to be honest journalists. As badly as the media performed in 2004, they were even worse against Gore.

[ZombieNixon]

38. It was McGovern.

After losing to Nixon in '72, he returned to the Senate from South Dakota. Ironically, SD, a state that he lost in the general election, sent him back to the Senate him in 1974.

[Larkspur]

16. Kerry is no class act in my book

and this is an anti-Gore piece. Gore had every right to be pissed. He ran the DLC's strategy until he decided late in the race, that it wasn't working and chucked it.

Since then, Gore has redeemed himself with is anti-Iraq war speeches and blisering critique of the Bush Admin.

Kerry is still Bush-lite in my book. His vote against Condi is a start on his path to redemption, but not enough for a complete forgivess of his Bush-lite sins.

[GRLMGC]

17. Bushlite?

How? Nevermind that he's one of the most liberal Senators in the Senate. He's made some crappy votes but that doesn't mean he's a fucking neocon.

[AntiCoup2K4]

46. Well those crappy votes enabled the neocons

And during the campaign he praised Ariel Sharon's tribute to the Berlin Wall. If he hasn't been acting like a neocon since Bush stole the 2000 election, then I'd be curious of what your definition of crossing that line is.

And like Larkspur said, Kerry did the right thing in a vote against Condi that was largely symbolic. Let's see if he follows through on Tuesday, and god forbid - drags a few more DLC senators along with him to vote against Junior's own personal incompetent lying Sally Hemming.

And I'll be the first to give him credit if he does.

Well, first non-cheerleader anyway....

[KittyWampus]

23. Bushlite? Always Fun Seeing Someone Post That With A Dean Avatar

Some of us haven't forgotten Dean's actual governing record in Vermont nor his membership in the DLC.

[blm]

31. I think Dean was sorry he ever said that during the primaries

and I'd bet he'd be embarassed at the way some have chosen to use it still to attack Kerry.

[Cha]

42. Yes, Dean did belong in the dlc

for a time..but we've all had things in our past that we have grown away from.

And I know many Vermonters who love the way Dean Governed in Vermont.

And for the record I think Kerry has had many class acts..I don't agree with him on everything..just like I don't agree with Dean on everything.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blm]

25. Really? So IWR is Bushlite to you, Biden-Lugar must be Bushliter?

Because, after all, there wasn't any SIGNIFICANT difference in B-L that would have stopped Bush from going into Iraq any more than the IWR.

And, of course, you wouldn't consider anyone who governed as a centrist for 11 years, Bushlite, would you?

Or anyone who made speeches at the CATO Institute or sold the largest energy firm to Bush cronies, the Koch Brothers?

You are SO selective in what you call Bushlite, Larkspur. Everyone has priorities on the issues. Environmentalists would never call Kerry Bushlite, or civil rights advocates, or free speech advocates, or any anti-war activist who recalls ALL the wars of the last 40 years.

YOU claim for months to be a moderate, yet many of us on the left think moderates are "Bushlite" sometimes, but I'd never even think to call you that.

If you're going to use Bushlite as an insult to Kerry, you better be prepared to use it against others who SOMETIMES make moderate or centrist choices in their governing positions.

I fought with feminist friends for years over Kucinich who I supported because of WHO he was as a person, who I knew to be more liberal than some of the votes he cast in the Congress against issues that really mattered to me, like abortion and free speech/flag-burning. He's now considered to be one of the most liberal Dems in the country.

Please show some honesty when you lash out at good Democrats.

[Karmadillo]

27. Nice Hannity-lite attack on Kerry. Keep up the good work.

n/t

[LittleClarkie]

35. As I told Robbedvoter, the article only describes Gore's pain

and what happen after --- what had to happen after, as Gore had no job to go back to, and felt he needed to let the country heal the rift. The way Gore reacted was perfectly understandable. Kerry's reaction had to be more muted this time, because he does have a job to go back to.

As for redemption and such, I will not let my opinion of each of these people, from Gore to Kerry to Boxer to Feingold, ride a rollercoaster based on what their last vote was.

For example:
Feingold voted against Patriot Act. Feingold good. Feingold voted against war. Feingold very good. Feingold voted for Condi. Feingold bad.

Boxer voted for the Patriot Act. Boxer bad. Boxer stands up on Jan. 6th. Boxer good. Boxer votes no on Condi. Boxer very good. Sadly, she's bound to vote for something somebody doesn't like at some point. Will her newfound supporters then drop her and rush to some new hero? I hope not.

These people are NOT just as good or bad as their last vote. That's short-sighted. We need to be more than fair-weather friends.

[American Tragedy]

44. Well said, LittleClarkie.

[kerrygoddess]

65. Nice Repuke talking points

[ArkDem]

21. I'll bet Kerry was really uncomfortable in the middle of all those

rich rebublicans.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. Well, yes I am sure he was

because he was not being sworn in to take care of all us non-rich non-rebublicans.
But good luck with future such cute comments.

[ArkDem]

29. You take offense, sir?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

48. BTW, ArkD, who was your candidate of choice this election?

I've seen your sarcastic posts regarding just about every Dem candidate for just about every office...please enlighten me, which candidate was blessed with your support? MKJ

[ArkDem]

61. Dean

[KittyWampus]

22. Isn't Dana Milbank One Of The Whore Who HELPED Screw Over Kerry?

[ChiciB1]

52. I've Seen Her Many Times With Tweety

and she seems to try REAL HARD not to show her preferences, but I ALWAYS come away thinking that she and Tweety are in the same boat, on the same page and doing the same dance!

I have never felt either one of them are very fond of Kerry!

As to the Bushlite stuff... well I've been around a long time. Long enough to remember Kerry way back when, and I've always held him in high regard. I had wanted him to run many times to no avail.

Personally, I think all of us are venting a little too much and blaming Kerry. I feel most of it can be blamed on how America has evolved since my activist days in the late 60's and early 70's! The REPUKES have become DRUNK with power and vengeance and can't even see how mean-spirited they appear. So many other countries have chimed in about the downward trend in America and we've lost a LOT of credibility simply because of this administration. In all my political years, I've never seen anything like what is going on. But to blame Kerry alone seems unfair. However, I would enjoy a little more GRIT with my Democratic Congress-people! The time will come again.

[blm]

55. That's Dana Priest. Dana Milbank is a male.

I understand that people are more attracted to grit these days. That's what happens after years of gruff, hate-spewing Republican thuggery coming out on top. I don't think it's so good for the country .

It's a shame on this nation that a number of its citizens have learned to disdain the intellectual and elegant speakers. i am also quite certain that most of the rest of the world agrees with me.

[ChiciB1]

56. Oh Yes! I Stand Corrected... AND

I was thrown by the "WHORE" comment! I can even picture Dana Milbank now! Just got carried away!

But the other Dana is who I was talking about!

Thanks for catching my GOOF!

[ChiciB1]

57. Me Again...

You removed your profile.... why???

[blm]

59. mi esposo

works in a newsroom...

plus, I've been cyberstalked in the past.

[ChiciB1]

60. Gotcha... I worry about that too...

and I wonder all the time about "lurkers!" But for now, I'll just keep on keeping on!

I just can't stand the arrogance of this admin, so I'll remain "in their face!"

[fooj]

26. Kerry behaved in a dignified and gracious manner...

unlike the hate-mongers that spew venomous lies everywhere they go! I was thinking about that yesterday and how proud I was to be a democrat! You know...some may view us as losers, however, yesterday's coronation proved that the "winners" were in fact the true "losers"! Shrub had to BUY his support! How can we forget that this hypocrite is where he is because these pricks flagrantly stole ANOTHER election. You know, another thing occurred to me yesterday! At Clinton's Library Opening (even though shrub behaved like a 2 yr. old trying to push his way out the door first) the dems behaved appropriately (and we all know what restraint that must have taken). They keep saying that the dems need to reform their party. However, I believe there is plenty evidence to indicate that it is the republican party that is fragmenting. These evil bastards are threatening the existence of moderate repubs, as well. Seems to me like we should welcome some of these disillusioned repubs with open arms. I don't know...just a thought!

[TheDonkey]

30. Love Kerry. Hate Bush

it's that simple. I'm so happy Kerry is still out there working for us. If I had one complaint for Gore would have been how he disappeared from the fray after the slim defeat only to return years later (even though he was fired up!).

[blm]

32. In fairness to Gore, the media wouldn't stop beating him up.

Plus, he had been vice-president for 8 years. Kerry still had the Senate as his arena. There was no battlefield for Gore to maneuver against his enemies.

[NYCGirl]

34. Nor would the GOP or many of the Democrats...

Even his running mate told him to give up. Al Gore got "gored" but good.

[Still_Loves_John]

36. That's a great article

It really makes you feel what he's feeling. Especially the beginning, it seemed like one of those nightmares where you show up at school with no clothes on.

[Cha]

39. "Wealthy repukes jeered"...they have

wealthy but are classless.

That's two good men that the no-class repukes have politically assassinated!

[Clarkie1]

41. I wish Kerry all the best in the rest of his senatorial career. n/t

[LittleClarkie]

43. And beyond!

[Clarkie1]

49. Yes, I wish him well in all his future non-political endevours as well

[marcologico]

51. Would anybody have ragged him if he'd ducked out early?

This sounds like maschocism. Where does it say he had to attend, anyway?

[teachermarie]

53. I'd rather have Kerry there

watching every move Shrub makes. Like an audience watching a bad magician, sooner or later you'll see where the rabbit is hidden and the strings are.

[marcologico]

54. Maybe you're right. Still...

hanging around all that right-wing righteousness can't be good for anybody's mental health.

[teachermarie]

58. Who was it who said

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
You'll always know what they're up to.
Was it Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"?

[Tinoire]

62. I don't like his politics but he's definitely a class act

so is his wife. So are his daughters. Whoops and his sons too.

Kerry needs to get his groove back. Tell the DLC to stick it and spend the next 4 years voting in the people's interest, but he's definitely a class act. You don't even need to compare him to a low-life like Bush to see that.

[Obviousman]

63. How could he ever get through this day?

[kerrygoddess]

66. With distractions

[kerstin]

67. The booing is a compliment.

Kind of like Shaq being booed in Madison Square Garden. And it's an especial compliment to be booed by the likes of these miserly, mean-spirited vulgarians.