Oh, my. I may faint!

[Luftmensch067]

Another "it's killing me, but I may have to say something positive in spite of myself!" piece from the local press:
http://www.richardhowe.com/2010/07/09/john-kerry-gets-real-by-marjorie-arons-barron/

Edited to add: oops, here is the link to her original post at her blog:
http://marjoriearonsbarron.blogspot.com/

Full disclosure: a lifetime ago, John Kerry was a panelist on Five on Five, a weekly public affairs discussion program I did for WCVB-TV,Channel 5. But, even after three years of working together, the connection, while cordial, has never been close. I often felt his every move was calculated to advance himself politically. Now I get the sense the John Kerry has hit his stride, and the result, (dare I say it?), is likable! You go, John.

Folks who are more plugged in locally than I am may be able to put this into context. Like, I've heard the name Marjorie Arons-Barron, but I don't really know who she is. I do find myself saying her name over and over again out loud though, it's fun to say! LOL!

[Luftmensch067]

1. Ah, link from blog sidebar leads to more info

http://www.barronaw.com/principals.html

[YvonneCa]

2. Speaking only for and ...

...of myself:

I've learned in life that...if the TPB are going to harass you, no matter if you are 'your authentic self' or whether you play their game...you may as well be your authentic self. ;)

Sometimes it takes a while, in life, to realize that...at least it did for me. Maybe the Senator earned that freedom after 2004.


OTOH, maybe he was always his authentic self and the media has just now taken the blinders off. :7

[MBS]

3. probably a bit of both going on

The Good Senator does seem to be genuinely enjoying all aspects of his job these days. . nice to see!!! . . which probably increases his effectiveness. . or being increasingly effective maybe increases the fun. Whatever the chain of events, he is definitely in the groove these days!!!

As for the improved press: the more superficial among us, both the media and the voters, tend to find "likeable" those people who like what they are doing. If this helps them see Sen. Kerry for what he's been all along, well, I guess, good!

[YvonneCa]

4. I agree that he seems to enjoy the job, maybe partly...

...because he finally is able to get done things he fought for in 2004 and before. And I agree with this about superficial press and others:

"If this helps them see Sen. Kerry for what he's been all along, well, I guess, good!"

I just wish they relied on something else besides a 'likeability factor'. It's like choosing American Idol stars for president instead of looking for substance and experience...sad.

:hi:

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. Nice to see more of these people acknowledging what was there all along..

Though I agree that JK seems to be enjoying himself in his role more than ever, I think many of these "likable" qualities were there all along. I know that I've always found him to be "likable", from the time I first really saw him (not in person, but on C-Span, lol) at that Harkin Barbeque at the very beginning of the 2004 primary season. I remember him telling this really funny joke and just finding him really "likable", though the political attraction was first and foremost his stance on the issues, which I wish was more of the media's focus. They (the media) did a really good job of selling a lot of people--even some, unfortunately, in our own base-- on the meme of JK as "aloof" or "wooden" or "boring", but I think if the media had shown more of the rallies and other campaign events and things like the Barbeque (outside of Cspan for those who do not watch it, I mean), had let more people see more of him than the one dimensional characture, then things like the ones said in this blog wouldn't be so belated...and the outcome may have been different. *sigh*

It was an interesting read and vindicating to see this woman having a kind of about face about him, lol, but it would've been nice had people like her paid attention all along..

BTW, I wonder if there's video out there--or if anyone has any--of JK on that "Five on Five" show? Would be so cool to see! :)

[YvonneCa]

6. I agree about the likable factor in 2004. I attended...

...a rally in Las Vegas a couple of days before the GE in 2004. It was a warm, but breezy day. (I think Markey and Reid were there, too.) As JK was introduced, the breeze blew index cards off the podium and those on stage scrambled to gather them up quickly. The Senator walked to the podium, said something like 'I don't need those' (paraphrasing, as if he pretty much knew what he wanted to say without notes) and started in with the crowd.

Everyone loved it...and him. :)