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Members believe Kerry preparing for 2008 run
The Hill ^ | November 24, 2004 | Hans Nichols

Posted on 11/23/2004 5:16:28 PM PST by West Coast Conservative

Many Democratic lawmakers are interpreting Sen. John Kerry’s active participation in selecting the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as the strongest signal yet that the defeated presidential candidate is keeping his options open for a bid in 2008.

Last week, Kerry contacted nearly every elected member of the House Democratic leadership, and other powerful lawmakers, on behalf of Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa. On Monday, Vilsack issued a statement that he was no longer pursuing the chairmanship.

But Kerry’s aggressive support of Vilsack has convinced many key House Democrats that Kerry wants to install a chairman who would be in Kerry’s debt and would not attempt to dissuade the Massachusetts senator from seeking the highest office again.

Lawmakers and top House aides say that Kerry’s involvement in the DNC race is the latest of several clear signals that he does not plan to fade into the political horizon. They speculated that Kerry could depend on Vilsack’s loyalty, noting that he was on Kerry’s short list as a potential vice-presidential running mate and that Vilsack’s wife publicly campaigned for Kerry in the Iowa caucuses.

Kerry sang Vilsack’s praises in his first meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the new Senate minority leader, Harry Reid (D-Nev.), two weeks ago, according to Pelosi’s public statements. Kerry has also contacted caucus Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, in addition to several other lawmakers who did not want to be named. It was unclear if he had any conversations with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Word of Kerry’s staunch backing of Vilsack, and Kerry’s intent to stay involved in internal party politics, has spread throughout the caucus.

“Obviously, Senator Kerry, notwithstanding his loss, is still very much in the mix and cares about where the DNC is heading in the future,” said a key member of the caucus who was contacted by Kerry.

“He has contacted me, and he has shared his opinion. He wants to be part of this process,” Cummings said.

Kerry’s attempt to play kingmaker was met with a range of reactions, from polite courtesy to private derision, among lawmakers and aides.

Some lawmakers said they were taken aback by Kerry’s aggressiveness on this issue.

“He not only lost, he lost badly,” said a key member of the Congressional Black Caucus who did not want to be identified. “Is anyone going to listen to him after the way he ran his own campaign?”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: dnc; kerry; kerry2008; kerry2008defeat
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1 posted on 11/23/2004 5:16:29 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

Talk about being in denial. Kerry is damaged goods for the libs. He joins Dukakis, Gore, Carter and Mondale in the pantheon of failed liberal opportunists.


2 posted on 11/23/2004 5:18:00 PM PST by Jose Roberto
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To: West Coast Conservative

Good-bye TeRayZa...Hello Suha...


3 posted on 11/23/2004 5:18:01 PM PST by weenie ("A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants." -- Churchill)
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To: West Coast Conservative

All right!

Another GOP victor wrapped up.


4 posted on 11/23/2004 5:18:09 PM PST by CriticalJ
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To: West Coast Conservative
ROFL ~!

bring that looser on ! hehe

maybe he'll pick Hillary as his vice pres nominee :) ROFL !
5 posted on 11/23/2004 5:18:12 PM PST by Nyboe
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To: West Coast Conservative
Good. Let Kerry run. That'll leave us 4 years to badger him about signing a Form 180 and explaining his obviously-delayed "honorable" discharge.

I'm not above dragging Kerry behind the shed and beating him like the canonical redheaded stepchild.

6 posted on 11/23/2004 5:18:31 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Well, hillary would eat him without ketchup...


7 posted on 11/23/2004 5:19:14 PM PST by GSlob
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To: West Coast Conservative
“He not only lost, he lost badly,” said a key member of the Congressional Black Caucus who did not want to be identified. “Is anyone going to listen to him after the way he ran his own campaign?”

Perhaps this individual doesn't want to go on record because he is afraid some others on the DemonRAT plantation will listen to what John Forbe sKerry has to say. And this individual is apparently unwilling to leave the DemonRAT plantation, so he is trapped, trapped like a DemonRAT.

8 posted on 11/23/2004 5:19:22 PM PST by Lunkhead_01
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To: West Coast Conservative

Doubt if sKerry could take another broadside from the Swiftboaters. Geez, why would he want to?


9 posted on 11/23/2004 5:19:31 PM PST by donozark (UMA PEMMARAJU HAS HER EYE(S) ON ME!)
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To: Prime Choice

This guy is delusional. Period.


10 posted on 11/23/2004 5:19:40 PM PST by SE Mom (God Bless our troops.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Maybe he can get Al Gore to run with him.


11 posted on 11/23/2004 5:19:41 PM PST by Graybeard58
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To: Nyboe

After being married to "Shove It" Theresa, I am sure Kerry is loose. He is also a loser.


12 posted on 11/23/2004 5:19:56 PM PST by An American in Turkiye
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To: weenie

If Edwards runs, and Edwards goes for Kerry's throat in Democratic primary debates and vice/versa, it would be most fun to Freep such events, holding aloft "Kerry-Edwards" posters~!


13 posted on 11/23/2004 5:20:04 PM PST by AmericanInTokyo (I'll take 1 good "LET'S ROLL!" over 1,000 meaningless & vulgar "ALLAH AHKBAR"'s, any day!)
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To: West Coast Conservative
"Last week, Kerry contacted nearly every elected member of the House Democratic leadership, and other powerful lawmakers, on behalf of Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa. On Monday, Vilsack issued a statement that he was no longer pursuing the chairmanship."

Just as tone deaf as ever.

14 posted on 11/23/2004 5:21:12 PM PST by Bahbah
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To: West Coast Conservative
She Who Must Not Be Named will not be pleased. The sun will eclipse and the streets will be filled with dead and dying rats.

I hate it when that happens.

15 posted on 11/23/2004 5:21:14 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Jose Roberto
If Hillary wants it he can forget it. If he does manage to get on the ticket he will be a 2 time loser, and the DIMs will look like bigger idiots than they are for putting him up again.
16 posted on 11/23/2004 5:21:49 PM PST by KoRn
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To: West Coast Conservative
Hanoi Kerry will continue to attack the Bush White House AND the military.
And 99 US Senators will let him, instead of impeaching him.



Hanoi Kerry
Timeline of a traitor.
Click Here


Free online version of
Hanoi Kerry's "The New Soldier"
You can read it online right now.

17 posted on 11/23/2004 5:21:52 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Hanoi Kerry is a traitor!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Good! Urging him to run will keep him away from the Senate for 4 years. One less RAT vote:)


18 posted on 11/23/2004 5:22:11 PM PST by BobS
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To: Jose Roberto

19 posted on 11/23/2004 5:23:02 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: West Coast Conservative
I don't know why Democrats think that losers will do better a second time. I mean, they see Dick Nixon get the election stolen from him in 1960 and think that's a model.

It's not. 1968 was a very unique time.

Even Michael Dukakis had the good sense not to try again.

20 posted on 11/23/2004 5:23:18 PM PST by Dog Gone
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