Sen. Kerry planning farewell tour of Massachusetts

[Mass]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Sen-Kerry-planning-farewell-tour-of-Massachusetts-4235737.php

Sen. Kerry planning farewell tour of Massachusetts
Updated 9:13 am, Wednesday, January 30, 2013


BOSTON (AP) — Outgoing U.S. Sen. John Kerry is planning a farewell tour of Massachusetts before formally stepping down from the seat he's held for nearly three decades.

Kerry will make stops in Springfield and Worcester on Thursday before giving a farewell address at Boston's Faneuil Hall to thank voters who have elected him to the Senate since his first win in 1984

Trying to steal Lynch's thunder? Same day, same towns than where Lynch is supposed to speak. (just joking, those are the three biggest cities in MA, so not surprising that both would go there).

[MBS]

2. how I wish I could be there! : ( n/t

[YvonneCa]

3. Me, too. n/t

[Mass]

4. Reports of the various events,

From the reporting, it was fairly well attended.

http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/20913315/senator-john-kerry-begins-thank-you-tour-in-springfield
Sen. John Kerry starts off his 'Thank You' tour in Springfield

Newly appointed Secretary of State John Kerry began his Thank You tour across the state Thursday morning at YouthBuild USA in Springfield.

"I just say to all of you, you have given me the privilege of a lifetime to represent this extraordinary Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a United States senator," said Kerry. "I can't think of any better work, better job, better opportunity and I just wanted to come out here and say thank you."

Kerry thanked his supporters for allowing him to serve nearly three decades in the Senate.

"This is not an ending," said Kerry. "I am privileged now to start four years of a journey with the president of the United States and the administration to try and help bring peace."

Around 100 packed into the event. And many say it's an experience they'll always remember.

http://www.worcestermag.com/blogs/dailyworcesteria/Kerry-enjoys-hearty-send-off-in-Worcester-189261361.html

Kerry enjoys hearty send-off in Worcester
At the end of a reflective speech to a crowd of more than 300 at the College of the Holy Cross Thursday afternoon, Secretary of State-elect and US Sen. John Kerry graciously thanked everyone for supporting and called his 21-plus year run representing the state the “ride of my life.

The best reward of all, Kerry said, is helping people. "We cannot afford to be a country that doesn’t work together 24/7 for the greater good," he said. "Special interest groups can’t out-voice the opinion of average Americans. We are losing democracy when that happens."

As he closed his speech, Kerry, who enjoyed several rounds of applause as he spoke, said he prides the country on “being exceptional because we do exceptional things.”

http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/01/31/john-kerry-farewell-tour-visits-where-middlesex-office/053Lm9AJ7P8kZhZukjl2BI/story.html

John F. Kerry, on farewell tour, visits Middlesex DA’s office

WOBURN — On a farewell tour of the state he represented as US senator for 28 years, John F. Kerry returned this afternoon to the place where he cut his teeth as a criminal prosecutor, waxing nostalgic about his early days in the Middlesex district attorney’s office.

Things have changed since he last worked there, said Kerry, who was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday as the new US secretary of state.

...
Standing before a room full of people, Kerry talked about going after the Winter Hill gang when everyone thought it was impossible. When Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone reminded him that the former leader of the gang, Howie Winter, now an octogenarian, was indicted last year on new charges, Kerry quipped, “Get him in jail soon. Don’t tell him I’m here.”

[Mass]

5. And a video of the Worcester event

http://www.necn.com/01/31/13/Kerry-calls-being-Mass-Senator-the-ride-/landing.html?blockID=828413&feedID=11106

[MBS]

6. Can anyone share what happened at these events?

especially at Faneuil Hall. .for those of us who couldn't be there. / /

[karynnj]

7. I went to the Faneuil Hall one

Noisy Democrat, Democrafty, ObamaKerrygirl, and Leuftmensh were as well. (Noisy Democrat taped both the Worcester and Faneuil Hall events and will put them on JKmediasource.com after she processes them.)

Before Kerry arrived, the event had a feel of a political rally with lots of MA politicians all talking and laughing with each other. You could see many people who worked for Kerry years ago finding long ago coworkers. Ed Markey came in and was shaking hands and greeting everyone. He looked very engaged and happy.

The event started about a half an hour late - and Menino, Warren, and Patrick all warmly introduced Kerry. Menino joked about Kerry keeping his tradition of being late and hoping that he and Teresa would stay in Boston - so the city would get the taxes and because of all Teresa does in the city. (Menino was actually easy to understand - no mumbling.) Warren was very effusive speaking of the great respect that she saw in the Senate - on both sides of the aisle for Kerry and how influential his word was there. She said that she had expected to work with Kerry for years, but it will be just weeks. Patrick spoke of how Kerry was always immediately there for the state.

Kerry spoke of Faneuil Hall and the great debates through the years that were held there and of Massachusetts heritage. He spoke of how politicians are only as good as their staff and thanked everyone there who had worked for him - giving the numbers (which I forget, but I think was over 600 staffers and over 1000 interns - he joked that lest taxpayers ask why he needs that big a staff - they were not all at the same time.)

He assured Menino that he would stay in Boston and he introduced and thanked all the MA Congressmen there (Tsongus, Markery, Lynch, Tierney - and possibly more.) He also thanked "Billy" Delahunt, speaking of how they knew each other since Delahunt was DA and Kerry First Assistant DA. He spoke about how MA had the strongest delegation which helped the state. (It may have been where we were seated, but I had not seen Lynch interact with regular people as Markey did.)

Vicky Kennedy, Cam's wife (Cam was in DC), his two sisters (Diana and Peggy), Vanessa and Teresa were there. He said Alexandra was in NYC and couldn't come but was going to DC (today) for the swearing in. When he introduced his sisters, he spoke of how Peggy will now work for him, but that as he did not hire her that was ok -- and in fact, she was protected - so even if he wanted he could not fire her. He spoke of Diana teaching in many countries - including Iran - where she was on the last plane out leaving everything behind -- something he joked he would talk to them about!

At the end of his words, he reached out to those in the front - with Teresa at one point grabbing on to his jacket to keep him on stage. He was energized and smiling.

After the event, as we were standing outside, Kerry came out and people moved to the other side of the police barricade and he quickly shook hands with everyone who joined the line - I would guess over 100 people still remained then. I was standing near a guy, who Kerry noticed as he approached where we were - asking him how he was - he responded that he was doing fine and he noted that you (Kerry) were obviously doing well. As Kerry passed, the guy told us he knew Kerry from years ago - before he was a Senator and that they had sometimes gone drinking together. (It was interesting hearing some of the people speaking of how long they knew/supported him - including a guy who said that he was involved in politics since high school in 1984 when he supported Shannon in the primary and Kerry in the general election. )

Noisy Democrat told us that the Worcester event - on the beautiful Holy Cross campus was very different but also very good. It was mostly students and hard to film as he walked around as he spoke to the kids. Congressman McGovern introduced him there - and charged him with the task of finding world peace. She said that before it started, she could here Kerry laughing and joking with the college's leadership behind closed doors.

I will try to remember more, but the important thing is that Noisy Democrat taped it and people will be able to see it. She and Leuflmensh say that they intend to keep their site up - which is really good news as what they have done is incredible.

[Mass]

8. Boston Globe article by Matt Viser

Note: Glen Johnson is no more working for the Globe, but Boston Globe still has the same snark when it comes to him.

http://bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/02/01/john-kerry-now-known-secretary-reflects-his-political-journey/Q73YnFOiYAW4qrBl9cAIyO/story.html

Here was his old desk at the Middlesex district attorney’s office. Here were his old friends in Springfield. Here was a gathering of 200 Democratic luminaries and supporters at Faneuil Hall. And here he was in his Boston Senate office, reclining in an armchair for one last interview with the Globe as a senator, reflecting on his political journey, his determined comeback from the depths of his 2004 presidential defeat, and what he considers the sorry state of modern American politics.

A lawmaker who was never particularly known for his skills as a retail politician was suddenly waxing about all the average Joes he has met across Massachusetts. The newly confirmed secretary of state, whose sights were frequently focused overseas during his Senate career, talked fondly of walking the streets of Worcester.
...
In the interview, Kerry struggled to name any singular accomplishment he wanted to be remembered for, or any legacy issue. Instead, he rattled off a series of issues and achievements, from electronic health records to helping commuter rail in Worcester to supplying Internet service to the Berkshires. But he acknowledged his Senate career wouldn’t fit neatly into an ideological box.

(200? A previous report had the crowd at 800).

[karynnj]

10. What garbage - there is no way the attendance was 200

Not to mention losing the presidency after winning the party nomination is hardly "depths" - you can argue that Ted Kennedy 1980 was far far worse - he lost the nomination and gained the animosity of the right wing of the party.

As to his skills as a retail politician, it was with no help of the Boston Globe that he beat their preferred candidates for the lt Governor and first Senate race --- not to mention they favored Weld over Kerry in coverage. He also had little media or party support to win the Presidential nomination. I think it boils down to his lack of skill in pandering to the Boston Globe.

I saw Viser on one of the FOMA pay for view round tables with Kerry and other reporters. He seemed young, nervous and his questions were not the best.

In addition, he was one of the lead Scott Brown adoring fans. Imagine if the Boston media had accorded Kerry the flattering coverage that they gave the useless Scott Brown. (One example was they used almost nothing of a very vapid Brown interview that they posted the transcript of in a very positive article on his early efforts in the Senate. Then there were little things like an article when he was appointed to Small Business on how that would help the state. (Not mentioning the former chair and still member.)

[Mass]

9. Here is a slideshow of the event, postde on BMG

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnashe/8434831370/in/set-72157632658645297/lightbox/

[beachmom]

11. Oh, this is nice (& was re-tweeted by Jake Tapper)

https://twitter.com/eliselabottcnn/status/297466102194249728

Elise Labott
?@eliselabottcnn

As a parting gift, John Kerry’s staff purchased and presented him with his chair from floor of senate that he used for 28 yrs