Boston Globe Editorial 10.22: Kerry: A senior senator unleashed

[TayTay]

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/10/22/kerry_a_senior_senator_unleashed/">Globe Editorial

Kerry: A senior senator unleashed

October 22, 2009

In John Kerry’s first two months as senior senator from Massachusetts, he has stamped his name on a major piece of legislation - the Kerry-Boxer climate change bill - and played a crucial celebrity-diplomacy role in persuading Afghan President Hamid Karzai to agree to a run-off election with his challenger. Both moves were reminiscent of his late colleague, Edward M. Kennedy, who wrote important domestic legislation while also using his fame to help resolve disputes overseas.

Back in August, Kerry mourned Kennedy as his teacher. But friends and colleagues have long maintained that behind the mentor-mentee camaraderie, Kerry was something of a kept man. By the time Kerry reached the Senate, Kennedy had staked out so much turf that the new senator was restricted to his core interests of foreign relations and helping small businesses, with an occasional prosecutorial thrust such as helping reveal the BCCI scandal of the ’80s. When Kerry ran for president, his relatively slender legislative record was noted; within Massachusetts, it was an act of faith that Kennedy’s was the go-to office for local priorities.

Now Massachusetts is fortunate to have a senior senator with national name recognition and the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee, to boot. His determination to be a Kennedy-like leader is apparent. With his clout and ambition, Kerry can help Massachusetts overcome the loss of a senator who was legendary in his ability to deliver.

[beachmom]

1. I don't know. Do you think he might get a swell head from this editorial?

Well, they do insult him about his earlier record. BLM will love this throwaway line:

with an occasional prosecutorial thrust such as helping reveal the BCCI scandal of the ’80s

[TayTay]

3. It is continuity

Losing Teddy Kennedy was a terrible blow to the State.

However, we have one hell of a replacement, in his own right. An All Star in fact. Time to see that and see this person for who he is, his own focus and gifts and what he can offer the Commonwealth and the Nation.

There is an old expression in governance: The king is dead, long live the king. So it is. We in MA are not without leadership after Teddy's loss, it was there all along. Turn and see it.

(Remember, the Boston Globe is passive-aggressive to the max. Just a couple of weeks ago they were piously bashing JK for getting money for the Kennedy Senate library. Bash a bit, praise, bash a bit. It's the Bglobe way.)

[blm]

7. They'll NEVER go into details or that it took MANY YEARS of dogged efforts and

ended up uncovering more of IranContra, the problems with S&Ls, Iraqgate, and CIA drugrunning.

Corporate media knows damn well that there is FAR MORE involved, but, why point it out when they get paid to DISCOURAGE honest lawmakers in DC from important investigations that would hold the most powerful figures in government accountable?

[ProSense]

2. LOL, just posted it

here (with a note)

[wisteria]

4. Extremely nice piece, for as long as it lasts it is just wonderful to see this praise of Sen. Kerry,

we all knew all along how much of a patriot and an extremely capable Senator he is,and what a great president or SOS he might of been, but it is good to see others notice it now too.

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. Exactly. It's about time he got the proper recognition for all he has and continues to acheive! :)

Though it looks like the Freeper types have come out to play in the comments section of the article. So predictable. x(

[TayTay]

6. 13% of MA residents are Republicans

a small number are freepers or just general grumpy folks who dislike everything. They seem to comment a lot because, frankly, they don't have any power to do anything else.

Take the comments in stride. John Kerry was overwhelmingly re-elected last fall. These "boo-birds" resent that, are powerless to do anything about it but snipe.

Any great action or person creates reaction, however small. Anger, jealousy, bitterness, etc all factor into that. Don't let it bother you. It is inevitable in public life.

[ObamaKerryDem]

8. "Any great action or person creates reaction, however small. Anger, jealousy, bitterness, etc .."

^^

So true. And I'm willing to bet that at least a lot of these folks don't even live in MA. They probably just came in from Free Republic. :crazy: lol.

But you're right; these people and their comments are petty and small compared to all that Senator Kerry has ( and continues to) accomplished. Forget them. :)