Wow. Major article in the Wash. Post.

[beachmom]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/22/AR2009102204709.html

His CFR speech is being postponed until Monday, so that he can attend Obama's speech in Boston.

Here is an excerpt, but you really need to read the whole thing. Notice the bold. First time anyone has EVER said that:

For Kerry, a growing role on foreign policy stage

Senator shrugs off 2004 loss to engage deeply with world

Five years after his painful loss to George W. Bush, ending a presidential campaign in which he was accused of being an Iraq war defeatist who was too willing to talk to America's adversaries, Sen. John F. Kerry has finally found his place in the foreign policy spotlight.

Not only has President Obama advanced many of the senator's ideas, Vice President Biden's election vacated for Kerry the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the legislative branch's leading foreign policy pulpit.

Kerry's role over the past week in resolving, at least temporarily, the political turmoil in Afghanistan brought him kudos from Obama, who thanked him publicly and called his successful efforts to persuade President Hamid Karzai to accept a runoff election "extraordinarily constructive." It was Kerry, pressed into action by the Obama administration while on an unrelated trip to Afghanistan, who stood by Karzai's side in Kabul on Wednesday when the announcement about the runoff was made. For the first time since 2004, the Massachusetts Democrat's face appeared on front pages across the country.

But Kerry has been careful to draw back before the administration grows wary of his prominence on such a hot-button issue. When a reporter suggested that he had become the "de facto secretary of state," the senator grew flustered, sputtering, "I don't want -- you know, I don't even -- I don't think that's appropriate, de facto, whatever, whatever."

Obama is carrying out Kerry's ideas? That is AWESOME that they said that.

Now it's not 100% positive, but maybe 98% positive. Frankly, I am beginning to feel suspicious. What's with the Kerry love fest??? What is going on? Have the planets alligned or something? I have never read such positive press about him since I have been studying him, and that includes even the fluff articles early in the 2004 campaign. Maybe I just cannot accept the good news?

They also mention that staff wouldn't comment for the article, because they didn't want it to look like he was engaged in "self aggrandizement". Those attacks were in early press accounts and the National Review. Completely unfair, but it is good that the staff decided to pull back.

They even talk about the hearings he held in the SFRC that were never reported on! I really like that Corker gave them nice quotes.

[karynnj]

1. I suspect it is because this is such a clear cut accomplishment

that everyone in the mainstream, no matter where they are on Afghanistan sees as a positive. The alternative was Afghanistan going deeper into chaos. I would love to hope that it will last, as this is far better than any press he got in 2004, but the fact is that few things will be accepted as good by every side. I watched about half of the NATO hearing - and Lugar and Corker really praised Kerry's accomplishment, with Corker saying he thought that Kerry should have been given a standing ovation when he came in and that he was proud of him and for him. Madeline Albright really praised him as well.

[beachmom]

3. Well, the accomplishment was clear cut but that's not the whole story.

I mean, he has done other things well before. Yet no good press. Not even close to this. It's because the WH gave the green light for the praise AND because, like you said, it was a clear cut accomplishment.

See my DC insider press/power infrastructure theory below.

[karynnj]

6. Actually you're right - Bali is an excellent example

where in spite of Bush people praising him in committee and what he did being something the left would approve, there was very little.

Your theory works far better.

[beachmom]

7. You're right. He saved negotiations in Bali. Which is a big deal.

No press. In fact, a lot of credit went to Gore. I like Gore, but I am not sure he did a lot there as a private citizen.

[Inuca]

15. As I have already mentioned in the past

Corker is at times a pleasant surprise. I assume JK was present, right?

[karynnj]

19. Yes he was

In articles written when Kerry took over SFRC, there was discussion of how he wanted to build the personal links and take the committee back to being less partisan. They spoke of him having a dinner party for all the members and their wives. Lugar's respect and friendship goes back years, but if there was anyone likely welcome to this approach it seems to be Corker.

His public comment on Kerry's diplomacy really was very very nice.

[beachmom]

2. Okay, I just re-remembered my theory of the press, so here is

my explanation of why this is happening:

I have always thought that the press is highly influenced by power. Nothing else really matters, at least for the DC insiders. The power infrastructure has two sides - Democrat and Republican - which is weighed by how much power each party holds. Now I do think there is a lag time, so it is still a bit too much GOP heavy, but it is beginning to move ever slightly toward Democrats, who do after all control the WH and both houses of Congress. But that is just the beginning. There is also the power infrastructure WITHIN both parties. Certain Democrats or groups of Democrats have more power than others; likewise with the GOP. The White House power infrastructure nearly ALWAYS trumps the Congressional one.

So why is Kerry suddenly such a big hero in the press? Because the power infrastructure of the Democratic party has decided he can be a hero. Another words, this power emanates largely from the White House and I would assume from State as well. Kerry was already (IMO) gaining strength in the Congressional power structure, which was beginning to be noticed but that is more subtle. Frankly, this is about White House power.

What Kerry needs to do is shore up that power NOW while he is in agreement with Pres. Obama, and save it up in case he goes another way on Afghanistan or some other area down the road. Because right now his power is fragile (although his Congressional power is quite solid), and is coming too much from a power infrastructure that although they are deeming him the "cool kid" this week, I am unsure if they have really let him into their clique.

And, yes, Washington D.C. does remind me of high school.

Edit: the opposite was when The Joke happened with the reaction WAY out of proportion of the sin. Why? Republicans had the WH and both houses of Congress AND Kerry was not really powerful at that point within the Democratic party. Nearly ALL members of the power infrastructure gunned for Kerry. DC press followed the power.

Double edit: Don't forget that Kerry fired Jim Jordan as his first campaign manager and Gibbs left at the same time in protest. These people are not his friends. This is about power.

[karynnj]

5. That makes sense

They may also see that even the Congressional power alone will be significant if he is able to pass a climate bill.

[beachmom]

8. You got that right!! Definitely.

[TayTay]

9. Excellent analysis

Also remember: It goes well, Kerry did it. Afghanistan doesn't go well, Kerry did it. Breaks both ways.

I doubt Gibbs had any lingering resentment, not his style. Given what happened next, in 2003, not Gibbs style at all. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4385913

Plus, Teddy is no longer in the Senate. That has meant a renewed focus on the other Senator from MA. It was time for a second act for that very worthy man. There was no way that was going to happen during the last 20 months, given the focus in MA on someone else. No way. Now it can happen.

And the climate change stuff come up is truly, truly, truly globally groundbreaking work. This second act may go on for quite a while.

[beachmom]

11. I remember reading comments from people mad about that anti-Dean ad.

They blamed Kerry. Not sure if that was fair as it was an independent group, but .... there was the Gibbs connection.

RE: Afghanistan. Well, the deal he brokered alone does not put him on the hook. But if Obama takes his advice, then it does. Thing is, that is fair to a certain degree. He gave advice, and if it is wrong, then I do think he shares some of the responsibility. And I think he thinks it does, too. Which was what he basically said at the WH when he argued with McCain.

Ultimately, Obama is going to be the fall guy. Because he is the President. And he can't fire Kerry over there in the Senate. So ... not sure if it is a great set up for the WH.

[karynnj]

20. Gibbs was no longer working for Kerry and did no go back to working for him, even in the general

election. Now, I realize that if he really were a covert Kerry team member, it would be blatantly obvious if he were hired back into the primary campaign. However, he was not brought back in when the team was greatly expanded in the general election. If he were a Kerry loyalist and the Deaniac conspiracy theory was true, the idea that Kerry, who added many whose loyalty was elsewhere would not have brought a talented, loyal person in.

[karynnj]

22. On Afghanistan, your comment, as often has happened, really makes me think in a way I hadn't before

If Kerry's advice is the way Obama goes, he does lose the ability to deflect criticism by firing the strategist behind it - it helped Bush somewhat when he belatedly fired Rumsfeld. I agree that if Obama does follow advice that we see as Kerry's and it makes things worse, Kerry will share some of the blame and that likely was what he meant when he argued with McCain. In addition, there is never a way to know the real outcome of the path not taken. It will be seen by its proponents as it was idealized. (It also ignores that could be a tiger behind every door that could have been selected.)

[karynnj]

12. It's gotta be at least a third act

1971 alone earned him a place in history books (and a Bruce Springsteen song). Had he and his wife decided to live quietly and avoid politics, at least the history books would have kept the reference.

2004 has to count too.

The last 2 weeks have to have been incredible for him, from waking his daughter down the aisle to this triumph in Afghanistan. As it is known that Kharzi not allowing the runoff would have led to major problems, as long as this process clearly picks a winner and we can maintain some security, I can't see this not being seen as good. But it is a baby step in a long walk.

[Blaukraut]

21. You hit on something here, Tay

I was wondering about all this Kerry love, too. Then you pointed out that he will own this, no matter which way it goes. That's exactly it. They're not 100% positive that Afghanistan is going to go well, so they are perfectly happy to let Kerry get all the credit, because if it goes badly, they can hang THAT around Kerry's neck, making him the ideal scapegoat.

I really hope the run off election and all subsequent US action over there will be successful, for JK's and our sake.

[TayTay]

25. You know, Sen. Kerry is loving this right now

He is in his element, in all ways. This includes watching all the pieces on the giant chess board that is politics. He loves being "in the fray" as he has said many times, mixing it up with people.

It is common for people to say that they hate politics because it can sometimes look like a big shouting match without end or resolution. That is true, to an extent, and the whole business of politics can be crushing sometimes. But, and I am merely speculating here, I would think Sen. Kerry is having a wonderful time these days. What was frustrating about the two years after the 2004 election was the fact that the Dems were out of power and he was not "in the fray" as a major player in the Senate. (We were the minority, he did not have a Chairmanship, there were others who wanted him to be silent, and so forth.)

The good Senator is a major player on the board. He is watched by others and is watching others to see what they are doing so he can both act and react. He is a "political" person and can read the nuances of what is going on, he understands how this "game" is played, understands when someone is trying to enlist his help or undercut him. He loves this. He has lasted this long in the Senate, where people like Mel Martinez of Florida or former Sen. Salazar of Colorado didn't or couldn't, because he is a gifted politician who can ride these waves.

There are, relatively speaking, only a few people who can thrive in the boiling cauldron that is Washington, DC. There are some people who hang on by being in the shadows and simply not engaging. (So, name the senior Senator from Mississippi, who has been in the Senate for 20+ years and what he has done there. Yeah, I can't name him either without a google look-up.) There are precious few who hang on, keep their own internal principles and integrity and act when the moment presents itself. Sen. Kerry is doing that now. He is in his element right now, doing what, in a sense, he was born to do. And I bet he is loving every second of it, including the incoming fire from the usual suspects. He is "alive" in the Senate, in DC and in politics and doing well. Good for him. Have fun Senator, fight the good fight, tell the bastids off from time to time and do what you do. Give 'em hell!

God this is good to see. He has so earned it.

[YvonneCa]

26. It was painful to see Democrats diminished and...

...John Kerry on the sidelines after 2004. This is VERY good to see...and your Senator has worked hard to earn it.

[karynnj]

27. Nice to read

It is incredible that there are people like Kerry both skillful enough to ride those waves, and do it with grace and dignity, are tough enough to be able to take the attack, yet sensitive enough to be able to understand others (without which he never would have been able to succeed with Kharzi.

Reading this, I can see more what Kennedy's point was when he and Kerry spoke of Kerry's potential in the Senate. There aren't many who navigated that as well.

[ProSense]

13. Great point. I also think they were waiting.

Kerry was one of Obama's strongest surrogates. It's no secret that Obama and Kerry share similar views on many issues. As the OP article mentioned, President Obama is advancing many of the Kerry's ideas. There is no way to get around that. Even during the primary, the media had to acknowledge that much of the candidates' health care, climate change stances were based on Kerry's 2004 platform. They were chasing Kerry. Obama, more than any of the other candidates, was one most likely to give Kerry credit where its due.

So they were waiting, until it was certain that Obama was going to succeed, to acknowledge Kerry as a force. They'll give him credit, as Tay said, when it goes well. Given that Kerry has worked hard to push these policies and is still doing so in the Senate, they can't ignore him any more. This is how I view the renewed focus on Kerry. The MSM is playing catch up because he is going to have an impact given his role as SFRC chair and his legislative agenda.

Another thing: It's an absolute positive that these two men see eye to eye. I don't think Senator Kerry will have any problem making his views known, and he will always do it with diplomacy and tact.

[MBS]

18. yup, I agree completely with your theory

Understandably , but to their discredit, he Washington press is keenly influenced by their perceptions about who's in power and who's not.
Having said this, it's wonderful to think of people perceiving JK as someone with power.
Even more, it's just so wonderful to see him in such a groove. Things are really humming. It must feel so satisfying to him, after years of being misunderstood (WILLFULLY misunderstood), unfairly vilified, and ignored, not only to be publicly appreciated, but being able to carry out his agenda, more or less on his terms, in his style.

[karynnj]

4. Some of the Honduras information here is new to me and I really like it

It was always clear that Kerry was pulling Obama to the position the world has, but this shows more clearly that Kerry himself is in agreement with the rest of the world. On interesting note is that he made an outreach to religious leaders.

Beyond Afghanistan, Kerry and his staff members have played important behind-the-scenes roles in efforts to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Honduras, according to Honduran and administration officials. Kerry has called key Honduran political and religious leaders in a bid to coax a negotiated settlement that would permit leftist Manuel Zelaya, whom the military ousted as president in June, to return to office with limited powers, officials say.

Obama, not routinely approving the coup was a major break with American policy.

[beachmom]

10. Twitter from the AfPak Channel linking to this WP article

"Everybody loves John Kerry now"

http://twitter.com/AfPakChannel

[wisteria]

14. Nice isn't it. I choke up thinking about how much he deserves this and how long it has been in

coming.
Articles with no smears, no right wing spin and written accurately and with respect about the senator.

Did you catch the photo? He is looks so pleased and happy. Isn't it nice?

Oh, and the silence from the net-root sites says a lot.

[MonteLukast]

16. *hugs Kerry*

To make up for the silent netroots... :hug:

[beachmom]

17. It's official. Fox News is more complimentary than the "Netroots"

http://whitehouse.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/10/22/secretary-of/

Their bottom line:

For his part, Kerry appeared to be a successful diplomat ...

[karynnj]

24. lol, or maybe not lol

On the netroorts:
At least I didn't see anyone use the 2004 comments where he spoke of doing what was good for the country to rehash the decision not to set himself and the Democratic party on fire to protest fraud.

One problem with this accomplishment is that it goes 100% against their preferred way to deal with others - strong language, shouting and over the top comments. Kerry's words in Kabul were likely the opposite of Grayson's antics or any of the other angry shouting people. Quiet attempts to see the other person's position and building a case to take a different path are not what they are impressed by.

[karynnj]

23. He does look content and relaxed

Watching the hearing, he also was visibly exhausted and his voice almost gone. Between his real accomplishment and the fact that it is so publicly well regarded in his public life and his daughter's wedding in his private life, he is in a well deserved good place. Even before both of those things, the comment that he was calm and confident in where he is personally and publicly rang true.

I hope he is able to get some well needed rest this weekend!