I understand why Kerry is not showing up in the 108th. He is running for President.
What I never heard were the voices of those who forced Senator Bob Dole to resign while he was running for President, saying that it was his duty to his State to do so.
In late spring of 1996, Dole decided that he needed to focus all of his energies on capturing the White House, and his colleagues in the Senate needed a full-time leader. So on June 11, 1996, he said a tearful good-bye to his longtime colleagues and resigned from the U.S. Senate to devote all of his time and energy to his campaign for President of the United States. Senator Dole was willing to give up his career in Congress, which he considered it to be of great value for the American people.
Good point.
So what. If he can't handle the campaign AND his paying job, then he either needs to quit or be fired. Simple as pie. 91.5% missed votes and untold missed duties behind the scenes. Unacceptable by ANY standard - even a liberals.