Don't Get Mad, Get Even

[benny05]

Yesterday I saw the LBN on both Kos and here and thought about you all. I can imagine the disappointment and have been through it twice: once with Edwards when he couldn't go on in the 2004 Primaries, and the other was when Kerry made the concession speech. Now you have been through it twice.

My subject line is borrowed from the movie "Animal House", and I picked it for a good reason. There was a scene where the morale was low and the guys decided to pick themselves up. Kerry decided to do something very positive, which was to stay in the Senate and finally work to put an end to the war. He will be very effective, and despite the snarks you've seen in the past 24 hours, our comrades here will appreciate his efforts more. He will get to say what he wants without someone (mainly media) watching him constantly. He will get to enjoy being a senator and reclaim the zest he had when he first entered that chamber in 1985. And he will get to introduce more creative legislation our country needs.

Last night a Kerrycrat and I chatted for awhile, and I was thinking aloud that there needs to be an official KerryCrat day, whether it be on Senator Kerry's birthday, or another day where you post the good things he's been doing and ask others to join you in celebrating being a Kerrycrat. It's a way to feel good about him, yourselves, and most of all, what you all are doing to help make the DU and our country a better place.

My hat goes out to Senator and Mrs. Kerry. You all get the roses. Keep posting.

[TayTay]

1. You know Benny

I think the Senator looked about 10 years younger yesterday. I watched him in that SFRC hearing and he looked a bit different. I think it was that weight falling off his shoulders, that weight of expectations and the grind of being a media candidate and all that baggage that goes with it.

Seriously, he looked wonderful. (Yes, sad, but still, wonderful.) I think the decision was freeing for him and it showed.

Thank you for your kind words. You are very sweet.

[beachmom]

2. Thank you, Benny, for your kind words.

I know I've been tough on Edwards lately, so I hope you don't hold that against me. But I do want to say in regards to '08, I am truly undecided now, and will consider Edwards as well as the other candidates, but I won't be making any choice for a long time after debates, campaigning, etc.

Thanks for the roses, too! :)

[benny05]

3. You Are Welcome

For the roses.

I am not advocating for John Edwards officially on this thread. There are many good candidates out there. I've just noticed though that Obama and Clark have not filed papers yet.

I can't wait to see Kerry kick some butt on that Senate floor!



:dem:

[karynnj]

4. Thanks, Benny

Although even history may not accuartely credit each person for what they accomplished, that truth exists.

Had Senator Kerry never gone into public life, his 1971 Senate testimony alone would have given him a place of honor in history. He moved public opinion and Congress to think about a policy gone wrong. In yesterday's SFRC, Kerry speaking of his testimony said it led to changes in US combat training. That is an amazing accomlishment. Last week in an article on a 20+ year Kerry SFRC staffers, she spoke of how she, Kerry and Vallery drafted the treaty between Vietnam and the US which re-normalized relations. They were the ones that included such provisions as allowing Americans and Vietnamese to find and return American remains. Similar work in Laos is what led to Howard Dean's family getting the remains of his brother. Bill Clinton's book trumpets resumptio of relations with Vietnam as a key accomplishment of his administation - which it was. It could not have been done without Kerry's POW/MIA committee, his drafting the agreement, and his sheperding it through the Senate.

He has also gotten changes into legislation that have strengthen veterans' rights and benefits. Watching the Senate, what became clear is that he makes many of these cntributions by making such a compelling case they are accepted into the legislation by a voice vote - which is a way that gets things done rather than puts his name on something. He may not have gotten credit, but he helped many people get what they deserved.

Sometimes it is hard to even know the full measure of an accomplishment. In the early 1990s, John Kerry stood alone to get the information that ultimately shut down BCCI. BCCI was facilitating the transfer of funds for terrorist and drug runners. When it was shut down, it owned at least one US bank and thought it was immune from investigation because it had bought off both Democrats and Republicans. Imagine how much more intricate it would have become by 2001 if it were not shut down. That one action likely had as much impact on terrorism than anything done by anyone else in the Senate. Much of this work was done when Kerry was a freshman Senator.

In 2004, Kerry had incredibly innovative ideas of how to do things - those ideas, if they are as good as they sound - and they were very wel received - will be pushed in the Senate by Kerry or adopted by someone else. Senator Kerry has led a life of great accomplishment. Those accomplishments, if everything he quietly did - because that was a way it could be done - were added together, he has done more for good than all but a few people.

[rox63]

5. Thanks for your kind words, wishes and roses, benny

:hi: