Posted on 11/05/2006 4:35:39 AM PST by Dark Skies
Newsweek published an article at its website Saturday about last week’s John Kerry foot-in-mouth debacle. One couldn’t immediately tell the motives behind the piece from the title: “Botched; Assessing the damage done to Democrats—and his own chances in ’08—by John Kerry’s epically flubbed joke.” Nor could one glean the significance of the authors involved: Susannah Meadows with Howard Fineman and Eleanor Clift. However, in the end, when taken in its entirety, it appears fairly obvious that this was the beginning of the assassination, and John Kerry’s chances of making a second run for president have been officially kyboshed.
The hit job started innocently: “Chuck Schumer got right to the point. On Thursday afternoon, the New York Senator, who’s leading the Democrats’ efforts to win back the Senate, called John Kerry and let him have it.”
Clift et al gathered steam:
Three Democratic candidates, including Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, cancelled appearances with the senator. Rep. Harold Ford, locked in a key senate race in Tennessee, called on Kerry to apologize. Hillary Clinton chimed in, calling the former Democratic nominee’s comments “inappropriate.”
The wind was at their backs: “Clearly, this was not how Kerry envisioned his comeback. Banished to the political wilderness after losing to Bush, Kerry has been plotting his second run at the White House. Though always well behind Hillary Clinton in national polls, he was at least in the running on paper, consistently neck-and-neck with Al Gore and John Edwards.”
And, they moved in for the kill: “Now, he faces even longer odds. For the moment, at least, Kerry is simply radioactive among Democrats.”
They then bludgeoned the motionless body to make sure it didn’t get back up:
On the ground in New Hampshire, some activists who’d been open to him pre-blunder, were now shutting their doors and turning out the lights. “It’s not that this gaffe was so bad,” says Ann McLane Kuster, a prominent New Hampshire activist, “But it plays into all the traits he has that are out of touch, like using intelligence as a way to distinguish himself rather than compassion. The underlying joke wasn’t funny.”
And, burned the body in effigy:
Not surprisingly, the judgments were a little less diplomatic inside the Beltway. “There is not a Democrat in Washington who thinks John Kerry is a viable presidential candidate after last week,” says a longtime Democratic strategist (who isn’t working for one of Kerry’s potential rivals). The strategist, who spoke freely and at length about Kerry on the condition of anonymity, says the gaffe reminds Democrats that he is politically inept. “This is not something that will linger in pool halls and bars and normal places in America,” he says, “but among the donors and activists who like to win, this memory will last a long time. Remember, his entire candidacy is based on electability. And when that’s the basis of your candidacy, and you’ve already lost once, amateur hour doesn’t begin to describe John Kerry. And that’s without even getting into the personal animus towards the guy.”
Now, for those that are questioning the assessment of this piece, I might agree if Clift and Fineman weren’t involved. However, when a magazine like Newsweek publishes such a scathing article about such a high-ranking Democrat, and advertises that its two top political writers contributed, one should take it seriously.
In the end, the Democrats have never been kind to failed presidential candidates. Al Gore until his recent global warming makeover was practically persona non grata after his loss to George W. Bush in 2000. Most Democrats probably don’t even know who Michael Dukakis is. And, it took Walter Mondale almost two decades to rub off the stench from his atrocious 1984 presidential run.
As such, the Democrat big-wigs must be loving the gift that Kerry gave them this week. Obviously, the timing was lousy coming just eight days before a critical midterm election. As a result, the real execution can’t officially happen until after November 7. However, with Clift and Fineman’s handwriting on this wall, it seems quite clear that win or lose next Tuesday, the Democrats will have no tolerance for a Kerry presidential run in two years. If Time magazine follows this up with a similarly negative piece, you can stick a fork in this man.
The Clinton support team in action.
Kerry being pushed aside for "Queen Hillary", the American Evita.
Newsweek Declares John Kerry Unfit For Command
Duh...
“This is not something that will linger in pool halls and bars and normal places in America,”
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Since it has been decades since I have patronized either, I guess I'm just not "normal" to the Democratic Part.
The condescension of the elite knows no bounds.
I think of her more as a female Stalin.
These three dream to defeat Hillary?
Unfit to breath the same air or enjoy the freedoms our troops fight for .
all being coerced by the piaps election committee!
j f'n is so stupid...they did not have to pull what they usually save for republicans....smear/malign/attack....and if all else fails...arkincide their opponents....
with a dope like j f'n...they sent him a fruit basket!!!
Too bad the people of Massachusetts dont get the message and vote this dork out of office.
Yes, the Dem party actually owes Kerry a "thank you" for shooting himself in the foot. He's one less issue the Democrat convention will have to deal with. Personally, I just want to thank him for making such a hilarious public a$$ of himself.
Kerry the tarbaby. Don't let stupid get stuck on you, dems.
Combat veteran Jon Carry forgot the first law of combat: don't draw fire, it annoys the people around you.
Who is that guy on the right?
You can see where this is going. The East coast liberal media establishment is getting in line to kiss obama's A$$; Kerry's a goner, that leaves Hillary (most liberals in recent polls think she can't win a national election), Albore, and John (breckboy) Edwards.
The VP slot for '08 is already filled (Obama) question is, who do they put at the top?
The way the Dem pimp media is lining up for "Global Warming" my guess is, Albore.
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