JK Q & A at Patriot Ledger - another article that won't come up....

[_dynamicdems]

Karynnj, where did you find those newspaper archives? This looks juicy but it won't come up.

Patriot Ledger - Feb 15 7:58 AM
Readers sent questions for Sen. John Kerry to answer at a meeting with Patriot Ledger editors yesterday. The following are questions to which Kerry responded.

[karynnj]

1. Here's the link

Here's the link to the archives search. I noticed that it's only for 14 days - so if you want to keep something (for personal use) you may need to copy it to a file and save it.

http://ledger.southofboston.com/archives/

Here's the Q & A link:

http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/02/14/news/news10.txt

I just read the Q & A and it's excellent - You Massachusetts people don't give him nice soft ball questions!

[_dynamicdems]

2. Thank you. I'll save that link. This was sure worth a read.

The picked some pretty hardball questions for him, but his answers were terrific.

I liked this one:


Tim Phelan of Quincy: ‘‘Why should the Democratic Party nominate you in 2008 after your lackadaisical performance in 2004 virtually re-elected George Bush.’’

Kerry: ‘‘It seems to me that Richard Nixon ran for president after a defeat running for governor of California, and won four years later. Ronald Reagan didn’t even get the nomination and turned around and ran again the next time. John McCain, who is highly touted in the Republican Party, lost to George Bush and is thinking of running again. So what is it about the Democratic Party that says if you come within 60,000 votes, you aren’t as viable to run again ... as if you never got the nomination? I don’t get it. So I’m going to keep the option open.’’

and this one:

Ted Walsh of Quincy asked: ‘‘I would like to know why he pays more attention to President Bush and what he’s doing instead of worrying about the fuel cost in our own state. Why doesn’t he pay attention to us?’’

Kerry: ‘‘We’ve got kids from the National Guard in Quincy and all on the South Shore going over to Iraq. So I go to Iraq because that’s paying attention to those families. Do they have the armor they need, are their Humvees getting fixed the way they’re supposed to be, can they e-mail home, are they getting comfortable food, are they going on crazy missions? This is my job, and I can’t do that

[JI7]

5. he totally kicks ass in that

like he is saying , what the fuck do you mean MY lackadaisical performance when just 60k difference would have meant Pres Kerry, yet McCain who got his ass kicked by GEORGE BUSH.........

i wonder what McCain would feel if he read this.

[karynnj]

6. I hadn't thought of it from that perspective,

but you're right it's clearly there. It's also surprisingly not defensive in tone - but very combative.

[JI7]

7. i like it

it shows he is ready and expects to deal with the questions if he does decide to run again.

i mean, really, how can they say he was a horrible campaigner or candidate when it was so close and just 60k votes in one state would have meant another president.

yet McCain who lost in a landslide is talked up.

this isn't too different from what he did to win the Primary. i remember he took all the things he was being attacked on such as those claiming he was pro war, dlc, etc and turned it around by just strongly and clearly laying out the truth of his record.

[whometense]

3. Here's the other story

http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/02/14/news/news09.txt

Student has fun hanging out with Kerry; Junior Achievement program pairs Quincy youth with senator

Finnegan

By BIANCA STRZELCZYK
The Patriot Ledger

Not many 17-year-olds get to spend a day with a former presidential candidate. However, David Finnegan, a North Quincy High School senior, did just that when he shadowed Sen. John Kerry yesterday.

‘‘It was a great experience,’’ Finnegan said. ‘‘I learned a lot and we had some interesting conversations. He is a great guy.’’

Finnegan joined the Kerry entourage for a 7:30 a.m. breakfast at the South Shore Chamber of Commerce followed by local business meetings and an editorial meeting at The Patriot Ledger.

The day ended at 1 p.m. after lunch at the Quincy fire headquarters.

‘‘We talked a lot about sports and had friendly conversations about his views,’’ Finnegan said. ‘‘We also talked a lot about technology.’’

Finnegan was surprised at how warm the senator was toward him.

‘‘I was really nervous and he made me feel very welcome,’’ he said. ‘‘He has a general concern about what is going on in the community.’’

Finnegan was able to follow Kerry through the Job Shadowing program of Junior Achievement which is designed to help high school students experience life in the real world. A current events buff, Finnegan was eager to shadow someone involved in public affairs.

Kerry’s press office said the senator was excited to be doing things with young people.

‘‘I had a great time today with David,’’ Kerry said. ‘‘With the challenges we face as a nation it is great to see young people getting involved in public service.

‘‘We need to encourage more students to get involved with Junior Achievement and programs like Job Shadowing 2006.’’

Laura Ring, vice president of development at Junior Achievement, said they were thrilled the senator made the time for the group.

‘‘We love opportunities like this because we want to broaden their horizons,’’ she said. ‘‘This will leave an impact for the rest of his life.’’

The senator’s office was very impressed with Finnegan and the job shadowing program and hope to continue in the future with the program, said Susan Green, education director at Junior Achievement.

Finnegan said he is grateful to Junior Achievement for giving him this opportunity.

‘‘It was everything I hoped for and more,’’ he said.

Bianca Strzelczyk may be reached at [e-mail].

Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, February 14, 2006

[TayTay]

4. I loved this question. It's so, so, ahm, Massachusetts

Paying attention to Mass.

Ted Walsh of Quincy asked: I would like to know why he pays more attention to President Bush and what he’s doing instead of worrying about the fuel cost in our own state. Why doesn’t he pay attention to us?

Kerry: ‘‘We’ve got kids from the National Guard in Quincy and all on the South Shore going over to Iraq. So I go to Iraq because that’s paying attention to those families. Do they have the armor they need, are their Humvees getting fixed the way they’re supposed to be, can they e-mail home, are they getting comfortable food, are they going on crazy missions? This is my job, and I can’t do that job properly if I’m not knowledgeable about it. There may be a way to make this work."

Dear Sen. Kerry:

Please come home right away. My heating bills are too high and I want you to figure out a way for me to pay them. Also, why are you hanging out with all those strange people in DC? There are a lot of friggin morons down there and you should just ignore them. They are not normal at all and I can't figure out what you hope to gain by hanging out with them. (I don't think they like us either. Nobody likes us. Then again, they never have.) Please come home before you get all spoiled and pick odd ways from hanging out with people who 'aren't from around here.'

Thank you very much.

I think my friend in Quincy fundamentally doesn't understand the US part of US Senator. And those people in EDC are friggin weird. John, honestly, just come home. We need you here.