Sen. Kerry files papers to run for the Senate in 2014

[TayTay]

This is a way of telling the good citizens of Massachusetts that the Senator's commitment to the Commonwealth and to serving in the Senate is on-going. This also is a way of pre-emptively dealing with the constant stream of rumors that Sen. Kerry is angling for a Cabinet post at some time in the future. He has staked his claim on keeping his seat in the Senate and that is where his focus is.

http://bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1153572">Herald Article:

John Kerry sets sights on 2014

Dave Wedge By Dave Wedge
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Sen. John F. Kerry has already filed papers pledging to seek re-election in 2014 in a move to squash speculation over his political future and stake his claim as Massachusetts’ top Capitol Hill power player.

“This is a once in a lifetime era to be in the Senate digging in for Massachusetts and the country. I love it,” Kerry said. “This is just one hell of a big moment and it’s just beginning. I want to keep my feet planted right here in the Senate.”

Kerry’s name has regularly surfaced for Obama Cabinet posts but his re-election announcement, which is five years premature, sends a strong message.

He’s also ramping up his visibility locally, traveling to several Bay State communities in recent weeks. His top aides have been meeting with local officials on the stimulus package and are pledging to visit all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns this year.

Soooooo, it is, as we all suspected, damned nice to be in the US Senate when you are in the majority party and you have a Dem in the White House. Damn nice indeed.

[Luftmensch067]

1. And from what he has done so far just this year

He is going to make his Senate career fit his goals, not the other way around. That SFRC agenda is amazing in its breadth and focus.

I don't know if others will agree but, for myself, I wouldn't wish him in any other job. He's achieving more now than I believe he ever could in a higher-profile position in which he was constantly under attack by the haters. They are too stupid to understand what he is doing as SFRC chair, so he can get lots more done!

I love this article -- a resounding shot across the bow of the envious and ambitious rumor-mongers and a "strong message" indeed.

[TayTay]

3. I agree with what you wrote

And filing papers now is also a wonderful focusing tool. There were "less than well-informed" people in the last election cycle who made "less than well-informed" accusations that the good Senator didn't do anything for MA and wasn't a major player in the Senate. (These are the folks who said that Sen. Kerry hasn't passed any major legislation with his name on it. Duh!) This announcement also focuses on communications and making sure that MA voters know what the Senator is doing. I do so hope that this means that communications as to what is going on in the Senate and how it affects the country and MA is regularly made. That way those "less than well-informed" people have no legs to stand on when they make "less than well-informed" accusations.

[YvonneCa]

9. And some of those "less than well-informed" people...

...in MA and in other places might actually become MORE well-informed during a strong communication process. That is what I have always meant by education being the key...not necessarily traditional 'education', although it has a role... but using the tools of communication to get actual facts out there that the public might miss.

Today is a perfect example...summits on the economy by Obama, roundtable on energy with Gore and President Clinton (and T.Boone...ick), and all of the work Kerry is doing in SFRC with the Socratic style discussions. ALL these are going out on TV to the public, some on MSNBC, CNN and FOX where word will get out to more of the "less than well-informed" public.

What a difference an election makes. :7

[karynnj]

2. It is interesting that he did this

He really is well positioned to be not just Massachusetts’ top Capitol Hill power player - which sadly will be a given - but like Kennedy, a uniquely powerful Senator. His power will not be in the same areas Kennedy's was - but in some ways, Kennedy's impact could be broader - being the top person on foreign relations and a powerful player on the domestic side on Finance, Communications, and entrepreneurship.

I am surprised by the the speed with which he has had some really exceptional SFRC hearings that really did generate positive ideas and real questioning of CW - in some cases. In the less than 2 months of this session, he has covered Afganistan (with the most interesting discussion between experts I have heard anywhere), the global Financial problem (the first place I heard that other than Canada, we have been hurt the least in terms of GDP of major countries - and it is horrible here), and global warming. His long 10 day trip to the middle east was intense.

But... won't people claim this is in preparation for 2016 - he'll only be 73 when he takes office. :sarcasm: Seriously, I wonder if this move now is to reassure people facing the probable loss of a senator many have had for their entire life - committing to be there.

[TayTay]

4. No, I think it is what is is.

Sometimes people realize that certain doors of opportunity have closed to them. I have known folks who mourned that and failed to see all the open doors that still remain. I have known others who have, as Pres Obama said in his Inaugural Address, "picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and gone on." There are truly wonderful opportunities out there, you have to have the will to see them. I think that is the case here.

[karynnj]

5. I agree with you

and I thought I was saying that. I had intended the one sentence to be sarcasm - and have edited it to make that clear. I completely agree with you that he has done just what you said.

[TayTay]

6. LOL, oh dear

Nor did I mean to be heavy-handed. Your insights are usually dead-on. My apologies if I implied or took some sort of "omniscient" attitude. That is rarely welcome in any discussion. (Who died and made me Queen of the Known Universe, LOL! )

np, we are all good.

[karynnj]

7. No - you were fine

I looked back at mine and saw that there was nothing to indicate that running in 2016 was in jest - and it was not something completely out of the question. Eight years is such a long time and it will most likely be an open primary. I doubt Obama will replace Biden in 2012 and I doubt he will run in 2016. But, even now there are younger Senator and Governors doing good work and they will rise to become contenders. I will bet that not a single person who ran in 2000, 2004 or 2008 will even try to run. This includes HRC, no matter how matter how well she is seen to do as SoS.

In 2008, she had what should have been the nomination and the Presidency on a silver platter. All she had to do was, like Kerry did in 2004 once he became the frontrunner, was to run as if she were the nominee, calmly and with humor batting away Democratic attacks. But, she and Bill were incredibly thin skinned and brittle when she was attacked. It wasn't the answer on immigration - it was the barrage they returned when criticized - even saying it was swiftboating. The fact is that as that race went on - she clearly looked absolutely exhausted and not her normal self. She, like all of us, will be 8 years older. Kerry said that running for President was the most physically exhausting thing he ever did - and she and Bill will be older and less fit than he was then. I really don't see her running again either.

Kerry has a great job and he can work on everything he fought for all his life. How many people get that?

[TayTay]

8. I think this is completely on target

I think 2016 will have a new cast of characters in the Presidential run. I think this will be true on both sides.

I think Sen. Kerry is ramping up his efforts to make some needed changes in this country. As you pointed out, he is really doing some great work at SFRC and is trying to be innovative and open in dealing with foreign policy issues. He has also been a great force in finance and is poised to also do good work at Commerce.

There are so many amazing opportunities here now that were closed just 4 years ago. It's like living in a different universe. I am certainly not surprised to see the good Senator relishing these times and his expanding role in the Senate. Good for him, good for Massachusetts and, most importantly, good for the country.

[ObamaKerryDem]

10. Yay! Go, Senator Kerry! :p

I wish I lived in MA, so I could vote for him again. All you MA Dems are so lucky! :) He'll win again, too. :D

[Noisy Democrat]

11. I agree :)

It was such a good feeling when I got my official acknowledgement from the Board of Elections (or whatever they call it here :) ) that I was registered to vote in Massachusetts -- so I was able to vote for JK against The Toad in September and then again in November. It felt great to get to vote for him 3 times in my life (I didn't vote for him in the presidential primary in '04 -- I didn't even know who he was). And I'm glad I'll get to do it again in 2014.

[karynnj]

12. "The toad "--- LOL

He was a loathsome creature - what kind of Democrat gives any credibility to the SBVT.

[ObamaKerryDem]

13. You lucky duck! :)

I only got to vote for him one time (I turned 18 in '04 but not in time for the primaries. Though he carried my state in them (AZ! :D)), but I'm still so proud that I got to then regardless of what happened and would do it again in a heartbeat! :D You MA Dems are so lucky to have such an awesome senator (Well, SenatorS, counting Teddy, who is also amazing beyond words :)) , though. I'll trade you for McCain? :P

LOL @ "The Toad". I saw JK's debate with him on Youtube not too long ago. He (O'Reilley or whatever his name is) just came off as so obnoxious and rude. JK destroyed him, though, especially the part where he said "that's just flat out untrue", when "The Toad" was trying to say that he held back the extra money from the '04 race for himself (which IS flat out untrue; I can think of very few other people who put in as much in '06 and '08 as he did!). Didn't JK win that one with like 80%? LOL