And now a Newsweek article of Kerry possibly being SoS

[beachmom]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/141512

A Bid for an Obama Cabinet

On the Job Market: Sen. Kerry hopes to take his foreign-relations experience to the State Department
By Mark Hosenball | NEWSWEEK
Jun 23, 2008 Issue

They both ran for the White House, though one got closer—much closer—than the other. They both sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with their junior colleague Barack Obama. And if the Illinois senator is elected president in November, they both apparently would like to be his secretary of State. A source close to Massachusetts' John Kerry, who asked for anonymity when discussing the senator's political aspirations, says the Foreign Relations Committee's third-ranking Democrat (and 2004 presidential runner-up) is keen to be the nation's top diplomat. That also could well be the case for Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, the committee's second-ranking Democrat (and 2008 presidential also-ran). The committee's chairman, Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, is also frequently mentioned by Democratic insiders as a potential secretary of State—though, like Dodd, he might have his eyes on a bigger prize: the vice presidency. (Kerry does not appear to harbor veep aspirations.)

...

Of the three senators, Kerry endorsed Obama first. Biden and Dodd both abandoned their presidential bids after poor showings in the Iowa caucuses, but only Dodd has endorsed Obama. During the primaries, Biden said he would support the eventual nominee but remained neutral in the race between Obama and Hillary Clinton. How diplomatic.

First, who the hell is this "anonymous source" who is apparently trying to hurt Kerry in Mass.? Second, there is one scenario that certainly has its benefits:

Biden -- VP
Dodd -- SoS
Kerry -- chairman of the SFRC

OR

Biden -- VP
Kerry -- SoS
Dodd -- Chairman of the SFRC

OR

All of them out of luck, and remain 1st, 2nd, and 3rd: Biden, Dodd, Kerry on the SFRC.

Thing is, because Dodd just got implicated in the Countrywide loan scandal, I am not sure he is the best person to nominate for something.

Oh, and nice pic at the link.

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. I really don't think this kind of article should "hurt him in Mass."

I don't think we or the media should not be allowed to speculate about such things simply because Kerry is running for the Senate this year. Not that I suddenly think the media has altruistic, pro-Kerry intentions, mind you, but I think an article like this, that keeps his name in the national news and reminds America that he is an immensely capable man who would be an asset as a prominent national leader is only a good thing. Besides, Secretary of State is an extremely prestigious position - I would venture to say even more so than Chairman of the SFRC, a theory which predicates the departure of BOTH Biden and Dodd.

Besides, frankly, if talking about Kerry as a national politician bothers people in Mass. so much that they wouldn't vote for him, then he deserves better. Illinois didn't even get ONE full term out of Obama and he enjoys his most overwhelming support here. You don't see us throwing a selfish tantrum about *our* Senator neglecting his constituents, and I'm kind of tired of indulging that particular Masshole tendency.

[karynnj]

2. I can see it both ways

MA has long had two powerful Senators. They were shocked very recently that they could lose Kennedy, who has been there forever. They likely are concerned that they could end up with no power and 2 very junior Senators. I don't think the talk of this will hurt Kerry much though - because voting against him does not accomplish what they want because their alternative is a very creepy first term Democrat or a very creepy first term Republican. Therefore they get neither senority or quality. If they elect Kerry and Obama offers him SoS, which is not a given, and he takes it, there would be a special election and they could get one of MA's many excellent, legally sane Congressmen. This means losing senority, but at least having a good Senator and the good will of the President and an important member of his cabinet.

I think it helps on one level which is that the reason he is mentioned is because he is a very good diplomat, well thought of in the world and the position could include the Bali type conferences in addition to the Iraq summit and other diplomatic efforts that Kerry has pushed for years (that Obama concurs with). Kerry is also clearly well respected by all the top Republicans on the SFRC, which would have to confirm him. (Lugar and Hagel especially) Kerry is right to say that his goal is to get re-elected to his seat. But the controversial comment on taking the VP slot if asked and it was defined in an attractive way - is even truer for SoS.

He would have the potential of being the type of high profile SoS that Kissinger was - only, as we know, not evil! If he headed both the Iraq summit - on an issue where he has been right more often than anyone - and he got to lead the US on international negotiations on global warming (and working with everyone in the Senate to pass it), it would be combining the two issues that he went into government to work on - peace and the environment.

[wisteria]

3. I agree with your POV. n/t

[beachmom]

4. WEL, Ted Kennedy is sick, and Mass. folks want to know that they

have a Senator that they can count on to serve his next full term. I don't think that is particularly "Massholey", but a normal reaction from constituents who want their needs put first.

If Obama AND Durbin had both run and lost for the presidency, then asked to be re-elected to the Senate while articles came out showing they were eyeing cabinet positions, then I think some pertinent questions from folks in Illinois would seem warranted. Then throw in the senior senator having a brain tumor, and you have now started to capture the situation in Mass.

The reason why this hurts Kerry is it comes from an annonymous source who doles out this gossip at the worst possible time, right after Kerry gave an impassioned speech at the Mass. convention of why he wanted to serve Mass. as Senator for another term.

I can tell you from Virginia, that you don't want to look like you're looking for a better job all the time. Less known in Virginia was that George Allen, prior to "Macaca", was spending time in Iowa, and even said he would rather be a resident of Iowa. This started some rumbling in Virginia, and an opening for Democrats. It was also apparent that Allen had done little for Virginia, while the other Republican, John Warner, was well known and beloved. Then Macaca hit, and all the bigoted stuff. I bet you if people thought Allen was always for Virginia, and that he was well known for helping Virginia, he MAY have squeaked out a victory. Instead, he had no foundation when his gaffe happened. Nothing to fall back on.

Now, true, it appears John Kerry will easily get re-elected. But how painful do you want that to be? How much political capital do you want him to earn or expend? Even if he really does want that SoS job, is he more likely or not to get it, if he doesn't do as well as expected in his Senate race? This is not about whether or not he should be SoS; this is about an article coming out at the worst possible time. I mean, Obama needs to win the presidency first, before we can start talking cabinet positions.

Don't take MY word for it. Just start perusing local Mass. press. When western Mass. folks are grumbling (and they LOVE Kerry in Western Mass.), then I do not think it wise to dismiss it.

[WildEyedLiberal]

5. Oh, I lived in MA for a summer, I know the mindset there as well as anyone who isn't a native

But that doesn't change my opinion. We both know that Kerry is in no way comparable to Allen in terms of the things he has done for his home state; it is clear that Kerry loves Massachusetts and has served the state faithfully for *24* years. If both of us "outsiders" can see that, then MA people can see it too - and if they can't, then it is solely because they choose not to. I also don't think the "both senators running for president" thing is especially a valid comparison - Ted Kennedy ran for president in 1980. That's so long ago as to not really be applicable. Paul Simon, a sitting senator from Illinois, ran in the 1988 primaries. He retired from the Senate in 1996. If Paul Simon had not retired, and were still serving, and now Obama were running for president, I don't think it'd make a damn bit of difference. Ted Kennedy's illness is of course tragic and yes it would be sad for MA residents to lose his voice, but to say that Kerry shouldn't be allowed to consider any possibilities because "we need a senior senator" is, quite frankly, selfish. If something suddenly happened to Durbin, god forbid, I don't think support would shrivel up for Obama here. Quite the contrary; people here view it as an honor to have one of our own representing the entire country. We are quite proud of the last president elected from Illinois.

This kind of fanatical "he belongs to US" mentality is not found in any other state of whose politics I am aware, and I do find it mostly petty and childish. Apparently what Massachusetts wants is some kind of perpetual Tip O'Neill type of Congressional power-broker who can direct endless amounts of pork and prestige to the state.

[beachmom]

7. Well, it is all perception. Didn't you talk to tons of Mass. folk completely

ignorant of all the good Kerry has done for the state? I find that frustrating.

Anyway, good conversation, for which we will just have to wait and see how it plays out. I am fine with whatever Kerry chooses in his future. I just am a bit of a worry wort, and want his re-election campaign to the Senate to go as smoothly as possible.

[WildEyedLiberal]

10. Haha, it's all good

Nice talking with you beachmom :toast:

[Mass]

6. People in Western Mass are not growning because Kerry could get a cabinet position. They grown

because they think the state politicians, which Kerry is part of, but not the only one, ignore them. They think that, while the Boston area gets the dollars for bioengineering, research firms, movie firms, ..., they are only given crumbs. Their factories have closed 10, 20 years ago, moving first towards the Carolinas, then towards Mexico or China, but nothing has replaced them. They think (and I do not have $ numbers to confirm and oppose that) that they get less $ by inhabitants than people around Boston, and, in the Springfield area, they found out a few years ago that, thanks to Guliani, they have become an important node of drug trafficking, with all the crime attached to it.

I have known this area for now about 20 years and it is really sad to see it fall apart. That is this feeling of being abandoned by the Boston area that bothers them, and it falls on every single politician that is not local. Honestly, I think most of them understand that Kerry may be interested by a cabinet position, but THEY WANT THIS CAMPAIGN TO BE ABOUT THEM, not about Kerry or Deval Patrick or Kennedy.

[TayTay]

8. All politics is local

Massachusetts Governors who quit before their terms were over:
Bill Weld elected 1990, 1994. Quit in 1997.
Paul Cellucci, elevated to Gov in 1997, elected in 1998, resigned in 2001
Jane Swift, 2001-2002
Mitt Romney, elected Gov in 2002. Widely viewed as absent from 2006 on to prepare for Prez run. Actively ran on an anti-Massachusetts platform and widely viewed as having insulted the state and it's politics on a near daily basis.

Mass pols running for Pres:
1980: Teddy Kennedy
1988: Mike Dukakis (nominee)
1992: Paul Tsongas
2004: John Kerry (nominee)
The Dukakis run was widely viewed as having hurt the image of the State. Sen. Kerry had a much better run that Dukakis and has not had nearly the blowback that Dukakis did on re-entry into MA politics.

Massachusetts would like to know: Anyone actually want to serve the Commonwealth and not use elective office as a springboard to leaving for a better job? Anyone interested in sticking around and helping the good people of the State face their problems and come up with solutions?

It is a very reasonable argument and one that belongs, front and center, in any election. No voter, in any election from School Committee to the Presidency, is looking to hire temps. The citizens of Massachusetts have a right to demand full-time representation.

Yes, it is an honor to have a Congressional delegation that is so good, so smart and so savvy in politics that it is frequently called upon to craft and guide legislation and policies for the nation. The State is quite proud of it's tradition of supplying leadership for the nation. However, there is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with the Commonwealth asking that the people they elect serve in their offices. If circumstances change, then the Commonwealth will deal with it. (Again, there is deep pride in producing people of such high quality that they are tapped to national positions. We are honored by this.) Massachusetts also needs looking after, just as the other 49 States need committed, talented and strong people to look after their interests in Washington.

[karynnj]

9. Well, Kerry has yet to leave, unless you count leaving

the lt Governorship for the Senate and that was over 23 years ago. Kennedy has been there since 1962. Both have put in a huge amount of time compared to the time spent doing something else. Kerry's opponent, on the other hand, left his school committee term mid-term, likely creating a burden for others. He also was not trying to go on to do more for the country.

The other thing is - what is the choice? With Kerry, they likely get a fifth term Senator, who will likely be among the top 10 people in the Senate. (He is 12th and either Obama or McCain is leaving (both higher) and HRC may be higher mostly because she was a candidate.) If not, they will get a special election and will likely promote one of the Congressmen. With the others, they get a freshman, who very likely will not be re-elected.

I agree that the talk makes people nervous and raises issues. But, imagine the absence of talk. That would suggest that even though Kerry gave Obama an early endorsement, there is no area that he is strong enough in to be an obvious candidate. As Beachmom noted there are 3 candidates without leaving the SFRC. Kerry should be as well respected as Dodd and Biden - if you look at Iraq, it is Kerry who has been the best.

[TayTay]

11. Agreed.

The SoS talk is premature. First, people have to be elected.

Sen Kerry is running for full 5th term in the United State Senate. This is a definite. He is committed to this completely.

Anything else is idle speculation. No one knows what will happen after the election. First and foremost, we have to have a more Democratic Congress and a Democrat in the WH. Everything else will resolve in time.

[Democrafty]

13. And we all need to make good choices about how we react to

the idle speculation.

John Kerry is a president. We've all seen this, and need to remember that's not something we can say about most Senate candidates. Can we say that about Ed O'Reilly? John Kerry could be SoS tomorrow. How many other senators have that talent, wisdom, or experience?

This is not to say that JK is perfect - just that these things can all be net positives, and can be used to help JK's re-election.

[ginnyinWI]

12. I'd love to see JK as Sec-State.

Of the three, Obama has said the most nice things about him. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean anything more than that he'd like JK's supporters to get behind him now. He's said even more nice things about HRC.

He'd also be a wonderful chair of the SFRC. Can you just imagine him working together with Obama and whoever is Sec-State to really start getting things done!

I'd pick him for Sec-State if it were me. He's a great speaker, very knowlegeable, great poise and gravitas. I get the feeling people would give him the respect that they don't now give Condi Rice.