John Kerry as a candidate

[SHRED]

I like him. I voted for him.

Two issues that stand out were the lack of an immediate strong rebuttal to the Swift Boating (Corsi) and the questionable Ohio vote count. He conceded too quickly in my view.

[Vinca]

1. I have lots of respect for him, but no. For the reasons you cited and others.

[myohmy2]

39. +1

...

[montanacowboy]

2. You are correct

My answer is No.

[Garrett78]

3. He turns 75 in 2 weeks. Just 3 of the 45 presidents have been over 65 when taking office.

The vast majority have been under 60.

[Shell_Seas]

6. Really? I didn't realize he was so old. Not a diss, I just thought he was younger.

[Garrett78]

8. Kerry, Biden and Sanders are all quite a bit older than Trump, who broke Reagan's record.

[smirkymonkey]

37. He's in excellent shape, especially compared to Trump.

Trump is a very unhealthy, old-looking 72 year old. My Dad is 79 and could run circles around him.

[bearsfootball516]

4. I like him, but I don't want him to run.

[WeekiWater]

5. I like him a lot.

He isn't good at dumbing it down.

I think he would make a great President and he was an excellent SOS, among other things.

[helpisontheway]

7. No for exactly the reasons you stated

I worked my @ss off for him and he could not fight back. The only thing I’m grateful for is that he introduced Barack Obama to the world stage after selecting him for that speech.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Ditto. Not only did I work my @ss off for him,

but I hid my opposition to the marriage discrimination amendment - because I knew that there were people on the edge who might vote for Kerry, but who would spit on my marriage in a minute, so I didn't risk tainting the work I was doing for Kerry by tying it to my marriage. (That work I did into the wee hours of the morning, creating literature and a website (which didn't yet exist)

Then he conceded in a heartbeat, before the votes were even counted.

Then I woke up to the delight that over 60% of Ohio had taken time out of their busy day to go spit on my marriage on election day.

Then I wander in here and get blamed because whining for my special pony (my marriage) was theoretically what lost the election for Kerry.

No. Just no.

[irisblue]

15. Imaging living in Ohio

"Then I woke up to the delight that over 60% of Ohio had taken time out of their busy day to go spit on my marriage on election day."

[Ms. Toad]

34. I knew it would happen -

I didn't anticipate the emotional impact it would have on me.

Although my spouse has been "laid off," twice, I have not personally ever encountered discrimination. So I feel pretty well personally supported - even by people I know who voted for the marriage discrimination amendment. (We tutored the kids of neighbors I know voted for it, the feed our cats when we're away, for example). I'm completely out at work (and have beeen since the early 80s, across 4 significant jobs (one high school and one university teaching job) - and several minor jobs)

But even though I have intellectually reconciled the distinction between personal support and disapproving of my marriage, the day after the election was a gut blow I didn't anticipate. Followed very quickly by Kerry folding (so all my sacrifices were not even worth waiting for the votes to be counted before folding), then logging in here to be blamed for losing the elections (so not only were my sacrifices not worth it, a large portion of DU was denying that significant portions of my community made enormous personal sacrifices that year).

Pretty much sucked.

The precise total was 61.7% of Ohio voters.

[yardwork]

26. THIS.

[Mosby]

10. kerry does not have the Jewish vote locked up

He has a lot of explaining to do and I'm not sure that would even help.

[karynnj]

24. Any democrat will get the same high percent of Democrats

I say this knowing congregations in both nj and vt that I have belonged to.

[AlexSFCA]

11. no, not a fighter enough

[mvd]

12. I like him and think he would have made a very good President

I just don't think he is the right person to run in 2020. Even Biden makes more sense.

[Small-Axe]

14. "Even Biden?" You mean our most electable Democratic leader by far???

[mvd]

17. I personally like Sanders, Warren, Kamala Harris and others more

I worry about Biden's past in such an important election.

[Small-Axe]

18. Your concern is noted.

[mvd]

19. Huh?

Well this conversation is going nowhere.

[Small-Axe]

20. Clearly. You are using the thread to bash a major Democratic figure and the one...

who is far most likely to be our nominee.

I see whose past you are not concerned about. So we will definitely not have a meeting of the minds.

[Garrett78]

22. I didn't see any bashing. Anyway, I'd wager that Biden won't be our nominee.

[Small-Axe]

23. OK. What do you want to bet?

[Garrett78]

25. Bragging rights. :)

If I had to guess, Biden won't even run.

[Small-Axe]

27. We're on!

I must warn you, I have a nearly perfect track record.

[Renew Deal]

13. I don't take the possibility seriously

He's from a different era and would run against a stronger field in 2020.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Time to look forward.

[MarvinGardens]

21. It would violate a tradition that seems to have developed, post-Nixon.

Lose the primary for president, try again next time if you want.

Lose the general election for president, and you're done running for president. You can still be a senator or member of cabinet, if you like.

I can see why this tradition has arisen.

[BlueStater]

28. No.

I like the man. I respect him. He was the first candidate I ever voted for. He should have been president, but immoral assholes slandered his character and enough gullible idiots bought the lies. I'm glad that at least one of those assholes, Jerome Corsi, appears to finally be getting his comeuppance over a decade later.

That being said, his time has come and gone. I will not be supporting anyone over 70 for president and nothing can change my mind about that.

[Nanjeanne]

29. I wish we would stop rehashing same politicians. I remember the excitement and energy Barack Obama

brought in his campaign for President. I want to feel that again.

No Clintons. No Bushes. No Kerry. No Biden. And as much as I love Michelle - no Obamas. And as a huge Sanders supporter - no Sanders.

Surprise me. Excite me. Encourage me to get out to work for you. Obama did that in 2008. Sanders did that in the primary for 2016. I can't wait to see who emerges for 2020.

[janterry]

31. +1000

n/t

[BeyondGeography]

32. Well said

If there’s one thing that baffles me about Democrats it’s their attachment to icons, no matter how long they’ve been around.

[SoCalDem]

40. Pizzazz is a winner

Kerry is smart...but as exciting a 2-day old oatmeal..

[Hoyt]

30. The swiftboating was not handled well, but I still believe Kerry would have won had not Bin Laden

released another video the Friday before the elections. That scared those who -- MISTAKENLY -- believe GOPers are better at protecting American against evil empires.

[karynnj]

33. I doubt he is running

Listen closely to his answers. Before November, it was 2018 2018, 2018. Since while saying he has not ruled out anything other than running ( a get fast time) race, he then speaks of not doing the stuff one would do such as spending a lot of time in certain states. Not to mention, unlike HRC and Biden, his web site, taken down when he became SoS, is still down. This is the point where decisions are being made and setting up that stuff would happen.

What he has done is spoken about the need for an all out effort on climate change, putting him in line with the youngest progressives. On most issues, he was far more progressive and visionary than the Clintons or Biden. However my impression is that he is as activist as he ever was, but clearly more passionate speaking about issues and things that need to be done, than when OTHERS turn the conversation to running. He has said he might endorse, but has not found anyone taking on issues strongly enough.

[SKKY]

35. For the record, John Kerry wanted to rebut the Swift Boating garbage...

...but was talked out of it by his campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill.

[former9thward]

36. Why do people think a concession stops everything?

It stops nothing. Votes continue to be counted until they are all done. The Election Board does not pay attention or care about someone conceding.

[crazycatlady]

38. He couldn't beat Bush in 2004

My grandmother says it was because of the lack of charisma (Hillary also lacks the charisma).

We need a charismatic candidate to put against Trump.

[smirkymonkey]

41. I really liked him and thought he would have been a great president.

I was heartbroken when he lost. However I think his time has passed. I don't think he should run again.