Change

[beachmom]

I think that it is time for me to move on from blogging.

I feel like I am fighting here and elsewhere all the time. Things are changing, and it will never be like it was before. I don't have that much faith in John Kerry to help anyone but the constituents in his state. Good for Mass., bad for the rest of us. All I know is that in 2007, when he was faced with the choice between tax fairness or helping his wealthy hedge fund manager friends, he went with the latter. Inc. magazine later said he did this because he felt it would hurt small businesses, who would not receive as much venture capital money had the hedge fund managers had to pay higher taxes. There is a name for that: trickle down economics. It doesn't work, and it is particularly shameful that Kerry used that argument to allow the wealthy power elite to pay only 15% in tax. I let his office know how I felt, but it was clear that the netroots are not as important to him as other more prominent people he gets advice from.

The Nation (I think it was them) argued at the time that Kerry made this decision out of some kind of quid pro quo for a lousy $15,000 in campaign donations. I don't buy that for a second. I think the truth is harder to take. He actually believed in them having a lower tax rate. Those rich people were his friends who also believed in global climate change and that a green revolution needed to happen in America. He felt comfortable with them -- maybe some of them went to the same schools as he did. But he ignored us, The People, and instead listened to his elite friends. A lot of lefties have warned us about this side of him, but I wouldn't believe them ... until the carried interest tax issue came up, and it became clear.

I think John Kerry was given a bad rap after the 2004 election, and I have no regrets sticking up for him for 4 years when both the Left and the Right threw him under the bus time and time again. I still think he is overall a "good Dem", but I simply am no longer naive about him. He is a politician, and will do what is necessary to stay in the job. Everyone should watch The Wire HBO series to understand that those who have career ambitions have to make compromises that most of us would not make. Kerry also can be tone deaf when he chooses to shut out the people's voice. The Iraq War Resolution was a moment when he did not listen; the Kerry/Feingold amendment was a moment when he did. I don't think he is listening to us now, sadly. He IS doing the job he has been asked to do: represent the people of Mass. The pork is vast that he has brought into his state, but it makes me as an outsider from another state very, very angry. I am represented by a bunch of buffoons who do not know how to take care of their state. Now this part of my anger against Kerry is not his fault -- but the anger I feel is real. A classic red state versus blue state anger I never thought I would feel, but do.

After Kerry got passed up for the Secretary of State gig, I felt myself drifting from wanting to do this anymore. I took some time off, and then plowed back in, but I just feel like I have changed too much and I can no longer do what I used to do. I also find myself more economically moderate than others here, and feel this is causing some heat that I simply cannot deal with. There are new stresses at home -- the economic downturn is hitting my household, too (as I know it has hit others in an unprecedented way) and I just feel like blogging is more of a vanity project that I need to give up. Instead, I need to do more to take care of my family.

I have stayed longer than I should because of you guys. You were the friends I so needed during these last four years, and I hope people stay in touch, maybe more personally than always talking about politics. We survived the second term of Bush together. That represented a dark time, yet a special time I will always cherish. But change has come, and I can't pretend like it has not happened. I don't feel like being an opposition to the new POTUS, nor be a chief defender of it either. I just want to be a well informed and engaged citizen and leave the pundit job behind.

It goes without saying that all of you are the best, and I love you all.

Beachmom.

[wisteria]

1. I can understand how you feel to some extent.

Perhaps it is disillusionment or some realization that has set in. Possibly, it could be no longer having to defend the senator may also be a consideration. I had to step away for a while to realize that the Kerry of 2003/2004 is long gone. I think he saw us as useful for a while and a means to stay connected to the people when he thought he might run again for the presidency. But, the roots never offered him very much and most of the time we did nothing ( or I did nothing ), but battle with idiots and closed minds. A hugh waste of time, really. Senator Kerry is and will remain the Senator from Massachusetts. I so wanted to see him as SOS, but I suspect underlying factors of one sort or another prevented this from happening. He seems happy though and he appears to have an ambitious local agenda- that doesn't concern me- a national one that does. As Chairman of the SFRC, I can see he wants to do all he can to change our image around the world. He also wants to be part of a new beginning a fresh start on diplomacy,security, peace and human rights. I suspect the senator's one great cause is foreign policy and all the other matters that coalesce around it. I will continue to support him on these endeavors. As for the matter of hegefunds, I am not pleased either, he has flipped- flopped on this issue and not for the better. I have however always thought his real views on money matters swayed to the conservative end. Except with taxpayer money though, that he seems to have no problem spending. I have to say I have raised an eyebrow or two at some of the costly things he has been pushing for. "Strike while the iron is hot I suppose."
Anyway, what I have come to believe is that while Senator Kerry is still important to me, the ideals I believe in and the causes I want to continue defending mean more. I will support both the Senator and President Obama because I think ultimately, they both mean to do good things for this country. Things do not get accomplished if there appears to be no support for them and I will contact them when I think they are missing the point on an issue. I will have my say and if others agree, perhaps we can look forward to some real changes. However, my well being and that of my family is more important to me than both of these men.
I have finally been able to put all the emotion, anger and sadness into perspective and I know what my priorities are now.

I don't want to see you leave your input and perspective here adds much to the forum. IMO, we need diversified opinions. Perhaps, a little breather would help.

[Mass]

2. beachmom, I love you but I am not sure I understand you.

TayTay often says: why are you here? and she has a point (a big, big point). The real question is not a political man or another, not even Obama . Nobody is a saint. Nobody is going to represent our views 100 % of the time, far from it.

It is the things we hold for important, that we want to be change so that there is change. There are a few that are dearest to my mind than others: My top issue is and has always been a sustainable development that will allow the Western countries to keep their level of living (improving it for the poor and very poor) without oppressing and dominating the rest of the world for our comfort. Now, I also live in the real world and this means that there are some issues where I will focus more, like energy/global warming, natural resources, healthcare, and foreign policy
I happens that I think Kerry has the right position (or at least a good one) on many of these options and I respect and like that, so I know, and have known for a while that he (or Boxer, Feingold, Sanders, Kennedy) do not represent me on every single issue.

I understand that you need a rest. People get burned out when blogging and it is necessary to reconnect with the real life. I just hope that you stay in contact, but, as I was saying the other day (and I was not talking about you), people need a life.

[karynnj]

3. I will miss reading your comments

which have always been insightful, intelligent and wonderfully written. I really enjoyed the thread where the two of us along with others took up Tay Tay's request and tried to gather articles and information from the Congressional record to try to understand how the financial mess occurred. It would be an understatement to say that no one emerged a hero.

It also was likely that, for the most part, the problems did not come from malfeasance. I would blame ideology and too many people relying on a small interconnected group of advisers. Ideology drove the three Gramm amendments - all coming from his honest belief in the free market unharnessed from regulation. The Democrats faced these amendments in huge bills - and, by and large, trusted Rubin, Summers, et al that these removed antiquated regulations. I hope that Obama and the various Senators have learned from this the need to pull in more diverse experts. (I don't think they learned not to put very large, complicated, controversial things in as amendments to the must pass budget - we are all hoping Obama gets health care, education, and cap and trade (the least likely) in his. Here the 60 versus 50 votes drives this - this is an unintended consequence of the requirement that 60 is needed to waive the budget.)

I wish you well in all the things that you try to do and hope that things work out better than expected for your family. I can understand that there is a huge difference between blogging to help get a Democratic President and Congress and the situation now. I would like to think that the sum of the liberal blogosphere helped get us to this point. It is ambiguous as to what the blogosphere can do now.

Obama can command TV any time he wants and he himself can speak directly to people. Though the media speaks of Obama's grassroots supporters - I don't think that Obama himself really has tried to use the netroots that are there to help him get support for his agenda. I do think he could on both health care and the environment. I wish I could say that Kerry has reached out to keep the netroots as a force - as he did in late 2004. It might be that he feels this would step on Obama's domain as the leader of the party. If you think of cap and trade, a key Kerry issue - it would be awkward for Kerry to rally the netroots if Obama is not going to stand strongly behind it. Kerry likely does not want to be aligned against Obama. On foreign policy issues, Kerry might have had to choose between being a trusted adviser and putting out his own ideas on the internet. At any rate, in the 2 months since Obama has been President, Kerry has not had the internet presence he had in 2005 - 2008.

I actually do not see the hedge fund issue as black and white. In Kerry's comments to Kudlow after the Faneuil Hall speech on economics in 2007, Kerry gave an answer that spoke of the need for completely fixing teh tax code and spoke of unintended consequences of making piecemeal changes. In addition to the concern of technology or small businesses getting investment money, there was also concern that the Hedge funds would move offshore. Could this lead to essentially removing all taxation as an unintended consequence that would be especially damaging to states like MA where they are now located? The real question also seems to come down on the amount of risk taken by the managers. This should be easy to see now - as, if there was real risk, they should have done horribly last year.

I am not saying that he is right - I am saying that I don't know enough to know whether the consequences of that bill as written passed at that point in time would have been good. As it was, I don't think it came to a vote. Kerry has spoken against the special pages in the tax code for companies and individuals. The true test is whether he will push to actually work to clean up the tax code. (Obama has spoken of the same thing - and he is in a better position to implement it.) I am less ready to ascribe this to doing this for his friends or some class based thing. (Also, I don't know if the Hedge fund managers are old school elite.)

I also don't think Kerry did or should FOLLOW the netroots. I think it was the situation in Iraq that caused his GRADUAL change to Kerry/Feingold. I actually see a large amount in common between his Path Forward of October 2005 and Kerry/Feingold. I think the Path Forward was heavily influenced by what he saw in Iraq and what the military told him coupled with his own experience in Vietnam. The latter especially influencing his call for the US to get out of search and destroy and policing. (The interviews at the end of 2005 sounded like the editorial he wrote when Bob Kerrey was accused of war crimes.)

This does not mean that I think he, his peers and the President should not hear (or read0 what the concerns of the netroots are. They should and they should explain when they come down at a different place. To me wanting to be the "netroots favorite" at all times by always taking the positions the netroots favor is no better than following the polls. I want my Senators using their best judgment and voting their conscience. This will mean I will sometimes disagree -like when Menendez held up the 2 Obama appointments because of the unrelated Cuba policy or when both voted for the toture bill.

I do get your anger at Kerry getting projects for MA, but I also have watched the SFRC hearings where I hope he is delving into big global issues with enough depth and with the right people to develop a "sandbox" for exploring innovative ideas that might make for good policy. I think Kerry would have made a great President and am less convinced he should have opted out in 2007 than I once was. I think he would have made an extraordinary SoS - but that was Obama's choice and one that still hurts. At this point, Kerry's future is not something that depends much on the opinion in the blogosphere - but in the opinions of Obama and his peers in the Senate. Other than that, all he has to do is keep MA happy enough with him. As for me, the Nation and lefties to the contrary, he is the politician I most trust. This is knowing he is human and he will make mistakes. I think the biggest problem the lefties have is that Kerry is genuinely independent and not an ideologue. He bothers them more than they are bothered by more predictable Senators because he has taken incredible stands they agree with, that the Schumers of the Senate would never contemplate, then stuns them by unexpectedly take a stand with equal strength that they don't like.

But this is all digression - and what I want to say was that it was great to have had the four years of debating, mostly in agreement, and I am really really glad that I had the chance to meet you. You are an incredibly nice, brilliant person. Good luck with everything and enjoy the extra time with those lovely kids.

[MH1]

4. I'll miss your posts Beachmom. (Don't stay away too long!)

I can understand a lot of what you write. I've backed off blogging quite a bit myself, not for exactly the same reasons, but it seems clear to me that the role that we played in 2005 - 2008 isn't quite as relevant or needed anymore, so I'm less motivated for blogging and other things tend to take priority.

As to Kerry, I guess I have always seen him as a politician. One of the better ones, overall; but also with moments and issues where he clearly outshines in understanding, vision, and integrity. Then there are moments where I shake my head and say, "well he is a politician, after all." The political world royally sucks for getting anything sensible done, and in one sense I am thankful for the John Kerrys of the world who will put themselves and their ideals through that special hell. But then at other times I grind my teeth and wonder why they can't be better?

I would disagree with one statement you make: "those who have career ambitions have to make compromises that most of us would not make". I guess I have a more cynical view of humanity - I think most people do make those kind of compromises when their jobs or the security of the world they know is at stake. I try not to, and I think many of us here really try not to, but to be honest, if I have to take care of my family then I will be watching out at my job and make sure I toe the line at certain critical points. If the line isn't where I want it to be I will most likely adjust my thinking so that I can find it okay. Also, politics is, as Wellstone often quoted (Bismarck, I think) "the art of the possible". If what's possible is only a tiny bit of what is needed, it is still better than nothing .. maybe. Usually, people of good will could disagree whether what was possible was really better than nothing. So some might see it is a bad compromise, others might see it as worthwhile.

Ah well, so it goes. I am sure you will make some good contributions as "a well informed and engaged citizen" - we definitely need a few more of those. I hope we will keep in touch and hopefully we will see you blog occasionally too. You do blog very well. :)

[JI7]

5. please don't leave, just take a break

i would rather you post things i disagree with than just leave.

[karynnj]

6. I understand herr need to break from blogging

and the need to more specifically break from advocating specifically for Senator Kerry. But as you (J17) say you are always more than welcome to return to post here and I hope that we will occasionally hear from you.

It has to be really tough to be surrounded by people who, for the most part, disagree with you on politics. It also has to be very very hard to have your own personal life impacted to the degree that they appear to have been and to know that it was the failure of nearly every one in our government that caused the problem. I remember how engaged and excited you were in pushing VA towards blueness. In GA being blue must be as frustrating as being red in NJ - most of my neighbors in the reddest county in NJ find state and federal level politics unrewarding most of the time. (This year may be an exception as Corzine is not strong. Though that has happened in the past and the Democrat survives.)

Just know that we love you and if you ever want to comment, we will be happy to read it - whether it is in favcr or against something Senator Kerry did or if it is more general than a specific politician.

[rox63]

7. I've been a bit scarce lately myself, but for different reasons

Hi Beachmom,

I've always enjoyed your posts here, and I hope your absence is only temporary. As a constituent of Senator Kerry's, I have been disappointed in some of his decisions. But I know he's better than most of the other Senators out there. They all have to compromise at times, and they all do things we'd prefer they not do, even the best of them. They are all politicians, and that means a high level of ambition and ego goes along with the role. I have no illusions about that. But Senator Kerry is a good man, one who does the right thing most of the time.

My own absence has been more due to being a full time student right now, trying to transition into a new career field. My focus has to be on that for now. I've got more than a year left to go in my program, and it is a rigorous one. I don't how some of my classmates do it, having jobs (some full-time) and kids at the same time as they are full-time students. But most of them are much younger than me, so I attribute it to the higher energy level that comes with youth.

I'm still come here mostly for the community that we've built. It all started with supporting Senator Kerry, but I think it goes much deeper than that. I hope you'll take that into consideration when you make your decisions about your future online hangouts.

Hugs,

Rox

:hug:

[sandnsea]

8. I think it's great we can all live our lives

It is what we fought for, the freedom to just go live and not worry that the world was falling down around our ears. Yes, the economy is awful. But I think we knew that what the Bushies were doing was unsustainable. The wilderness areas are such a joy to me that I can't even tell you. I can't believe how much good has happened in such a short time.

I don't know exactly how it is in Georgia, but I would absolutely love to compare notes. I have said for a long time that the only way we will make long term change is from the inside of the states that fight that change. I think most of us aren't as economically left as DU as a whole. I'm a bit to the left of you, but considered a corporate stooge by at least half of this place. We just have to keep talking.

In the end though, I do hope we all stay in touch because you are all such an amazing group of people.

[ladym55]

9. Stay in touch, Beachmom!

I'm not a big time poster (more of a reader), but I always read your posts. I hope you are only taking a break and will be back.

I'm reading your post right after reading that John Kerry is headed to El Paso with SFRC next week. I'm grateful he's going. I'm grateful he's chairing the SFRC. My 24-year-old is doing a job rotation in Juarez, and for the first time in my life, I make her call home every night to let me know she got home from work in one piece. She lives in El Paso and commutes to Juarez. It's so damned scary ... and when I read JK was going there, I thought, whew, the grown-ups have come to town. Maybe there's some hope.

Yes, JK is the Senator from Massachusetts, and he puts them first, and there are lots of hurting folk in Massachusetts. Is JK perfect? Hell, no, but he's better than most. Do I agree with him all the time? umm, no, but I know he's a smart man and most of the time, he will do the right thing. That's why I'm breathing a little easier this afternoon knowing that he's going to El Paso. He will think about some options in a complicated and horrible situation.

And as someone who spent far too many years in a red state (that finally turned BLUE!!!), I know what it's like to have tone-deaf representatives in Washington. And I'm from Ohio, the state that cost Kerry 2004. (Thanks, Kenny Blackwell and company!) I'm loving having Sherrod Brown as my Senator finally. I can see why everything can just get on your last nerve. And I get frustrated that my own governor (I campaigned for) isn't moving Ohio forward as quickly as I want.

This is meandering, but it's Friday and been a long week. I'm so sorry that this crap economy has taken such a hit on your family. You are a fine and smart woman with many great ideas. You need to take care of family first and focus. I hope to see posts from you again. You always give me something to think about.

Take care of yourself. :hug:

[Inuca]

10. Beachmom

I just wanted to add my voice to the others in saying that I understand but I will really miss reading your posts, so well written and thoughtful. Selfish of me, I know, since I hardly ever post, though I stop by almost every day. Do take care, and hope you will be back.

[BlueIris]

11. Best of luck to you. But I have a feeling

we'll see you again.

[ginnyinWI]

12. indeed.

Things have changed for the better in our country. The bush is gone and a truly competent and talented Dem President is in his place. So for us, really it is "mission accomplished". Not perfect, but the crisis has passed. That's a good thing, but the great fears and terrors that drew us and banded us together have dissipated, and with them maybe some of the passion of our cause.

There will always be things to be concerned with, and interesting things in politics to watch and think about and grow from. Looking back, we made our candidate and then ex-candidate JK our hero because we really desperately needed one to get through those dark days. While I still respect him a lot and believe he's one of the good guys, he's really just a person, not a superhero, trying to do some good in this world. In the long run, maybe him losing was for the best--not because of him, but because the Repubs had enough power for so long that they blew up their party good. Obama seems to be the right person for our present situation. Never thought I'd live to type out what I just said about JK's losing, for that was a super painful event for me and all of us.

I'm still watching the news and some of the talking heads, but I'm drifting into other interests again (the leadership crisis being solved). You can find me in the Cooking & Baking group, the Pets group or in the big forums with an occasional comment.

I haven't chatted with you guys in ages. Special events: just had a visit from my daughter-in-law and grandson (19 months old now). They have been with my son in Australia since last June and came back for a visit. He's still working for the Animal Logic studio in Sydney, but soon will start a new job working for the studio Weta in New Zealand. So since they won't be back any time soon, my husband and I will try to take a trip there in a few months. Never been there and it should be exciting, especially since grandson #2 is due at the end of July! It will cost $$$ but some things are too important to miss.
Eldest daughter, having survived a brief, mistaken marriage and separated two years ago, has apparently met the Love of her Life (cue the orchestra!). She's planning to move to France permanently which is convenient because he is a Belgian. Youngest daughter(the one who got married last summer) and husband are beginning to look for their first house so that they can take advantage of the $8000 Obama tax credit by the end of this year. They still have their Al Franken campaign poster in their window in Minneapolis--when is that thing going to be resolved, anyway?
We're still doing okay even though the 401k is a bit worse for wear. Hopefully it will be back on track by the time we need it to retire on some years ahead.

[wisteria]

13. Politics aside.

I can't agree with your comment that it was perhaps better that Senator Kerry did not win in 2004. That additional four years of Bush and company has lead us to the financial and world crisis we face now. I strongly believe we would all be safer, financial more secure and happier now if JK had won in 2004.

[ginnyinWI]

14. yes, of course--I only meant politically.

Those four more years meant a huge loss of life and resources.

[wisteria]

15. Understood. n/t