John Kerry - Senate Race 1996 (Part 2 of 2 )

[angrydemocrat]

The second debate was on June 3. Weld took a low blow at Kerry. Weld jabbed Kerry for his meager charitable giving over the years. "It's perhaps easier for some to spend other people's money than to spend their own, Weld said." A few weeks earlier the Boston Globe and its columnist Jeff Jacoby had reported that that over the prior six years, the Welds had donated a average of 15% of their income to charity. But contrast, Kerry had given away less than one percent.

Kerry was angered at the unwelcome attention, calling the subject "off limits" and "making a mountain out of a molehill." He said that the expense of maintaining homes in Washington and Boston, plus private-school tuition cost for his children , left little money for charity.

In fact, one of the major misunderstandings about Kerry for years was the one were so many have assumed that he was a rich elite. When in fact, had it not been for his great aunt Clara Winthrop, who had no children of her own paid for Kerry's education at St. Paul's and Yale. It was not paid for by his parents who couldn't afford such a education for their son. Kerry's first wife Julia came from wealth but there were still times that were hard and at one time Julia had to go to work. Kerry worked hard to support his family and further his career. At times especially when he was first getting started campaign funds was paid out of his own pocket which also made it harder to make ends meet.

The Kerry's divorce was finalized in 1988, and throughout this period, the senator was strapped for cash, straining to meet child support payments, campaign debts, and tuition costs. "He was broke," said Jack Blum, a former aide. "He was up against the wall financially, politically, and emotionally. He wanted to be in the business, and he took the risk to be in it. But it was tough. What seemed like a simplistic route to political glory....he began to understand there was more to it."

Other friends at the time said they would pick up the tab when they went out for dinner or drinks with Kerry. Some described him as restless and unhappy at the time. Regardless of how hard he worked, how tired he was, or how broke he was Kerry always spent alot of time and energy with his kids. The trips back and forth every weekend from Massachusetts to Washington was tiring and costly but he had to be a father to his daughters as well as a politician.

So Weld's remarks was a hard blow, but one that angered Kerry. Because unfortunately in the world of politics, so many Americans take for granted all they hear on TV, talk radio, and what other politicians say, they take it as if it's gospel and never learn the truth. And in a America as high tech and has so many ways to research and find out the truth it shameful we have so many that either don't care about the truth or they're just to lazy to find out the truth. Americans need to wake up once and for all before it is to late.

There was no doubt the blow that Weld and the Boston Globe dished out to Kerry it had a negative effect. As Kerry limped out of June, the internal Weld polled showed the governor, for the first time edging ahead of Kerry. Kerry had led in the polls by as much as 13 points.

A few days later, Kerry would all but wipe up from the board one of Weld's best game pieces. On Aug. 1, Kerry voted in favor of a sweeping bill to overhaul and place new limits on the country's welfare system. Until Kerry's vote, Weld considered welfare his best weapon, a issue that resonated with voters.

Weld was always worried that Kerry access Teresa's fortune, and pursued Kerry to agree to a spending cap. The two candidate's met on Aug. 7, the campaigns issued a joint statement agreeing to limit spending.

Weld then took advantage of the spending cap. By the end of summer Weld had $1 million more cash on hand than Kerry. And here came the first negative ad of the campaign. Weld's campaign tried to press the advantage, striking hard with a harsh ad strafing Kerry on Weld's issues and charging "Flip-Flops" on welfare.

Then came the attacks on abortion. Weld was in San Diego for the GOP Republican National Convention, but his 3 day CA. itinerary was carefully scripted for consumption in Mass. But each day the governor held one or more events to attack the party plank that called for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.Kerry's campaign air lifted it's deputy press secretary to San Diego for a belated effort to counterspin and accused Weld of grandstanding.

During the fourth debate Kerry a panel of journalists tried to steer the conversation to the candidates personal qualities. Kerry all but acknowledge he was losing the popularity contest to Weld. Kerry said, "I don't sort of wear every part of me on my sleeve as easily as some people do, and I know that. On the other hand what I do know about myself is that when you have a fight, I'm a damn good person to be in the foxhole with."

A week later Kerry was off to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. His strategy was the opposite of Weld's gambit. Kerry dove right into the proceedings, enjoying an official but minor speaking role in which he attacked Republican education policies. On his return to Boston Kerry declared "I'm going to be going whole hog, hell-bent for leather, town for town, community for community," he said.

The campaign went into full throttle. Bob Shrum joined the campaign and all hell was about to break loose. Kerry's campaign counter attacked with TV ads of there own. And on Sept.16, Weld and Kerry had yet another debate at grand Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Kerry slammed Weld's television ad's calling the "a disgrace."
"Sleazy," Marttila, the Kerry adviser said the next day of Weld's ad. The ad accused Kerry of supporting welfare payments for drug addicts and alcoholics. Shrum said, "If they want a tough campaign they will get one." Kerry's campaign responded by designing ads that attacked Weld on education and the environment, tying him to Gingrich and Bob Dole, the Republican presidential nominee, who was running behind Clinton in Massachusetts.

On Sept.24 Kerry received local help when the Boston Police Patrolman's Association endorsed him. That took away from Weld's relentless assault on the crime issue. Kerry also got help when Clinton appeared at a major Kerry fund-raiser in Boston on Sept.28, the first of two campaign visits on behalf of Kerry. Vice President Al Gore would also drop into the state late in the campaign.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, nine days before the election, Boston Globe columnist David Warsh suggested the possibility of a darker version of events twenty-seven years earlier when Kerry had earned a Silver Star in Vietnam. Warsh quoted a crewmate on Kerry's swift boat said he had wounded a rocket launcher-carrying enemy soldier before Kerry chase the soldier and killed hin behind the hut. "What's the ugliest possibility?" Warsh wrote. "That behind the hootch Kerry administered a coup de grace to the Vietamese soldier-a practice not uncommon in those days, but a war crime nevertheless."

Kerry reacted with pure outrage that day. Flanked by crewmates and a retired admiral, Kerry ripped the column as "absolutely inappropriate, out of order, conjecture, and malicious." Kerry said it impugned not only his honor but "the honor of those of us who served." With him at the Charleston Navy Yard was retired admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., commander of U.S, Navy forces during the Vietnam War. Zumwalt Jr., said the column "was such a terrible insult, such an absolutely outrageous interpretation of the facts, that I felt it important to be here." Once again, in the last days of the campaign, an insult to Kerry's service in Vietnam became a rallying cry.

The next night, the epic of eight debates, stretching across more than six months, concluded where it began, in Bostons august Faneuill-the " cradle of liberty." Thousands gathered. Many were labor union members, loyal to Kerry. Signs, catcalls, and chants filled the air. It was called the "battle of the titans." Kerry was on top of his game. The zings went a record breaking pace.

Kerry went on to win. Winning big in most of the Democratic cities, he defeated Weld by 7.5 percent of the the 2.56 million votes cast. Election night, on the ballroom stage at the Boston Sheraton Hotel, Kerry vowed to be "a much better senator in the next six years. I think it is fair to say I learned more in this campaign about you, about politics, and about myself than I have learned in any race I have ever made," he said.

The battle was over, the weary gladiators praised each other. Weld said, Kerry deserves a great deal of political and personal credit.....He has prevailed in a fair and equal fight if there ever was one." Two nights later Kerry and Weld met at McGann's Pub near North Station, hoisted beers, and toasted each other. This is exactly how it should finish, Weld said.

[TayTay]

1. This was my favoritest race ever

Oh Gawd, that race was fantastic! It was called 'The Battle of the Bluebloods', Harvard vs. Yale, and 'The Battle of the Titans.' Everybody, but everybody tuned into that one. The ratings for those debates, some of them in the summer when people are not supposed to be watching got 33 shares (1 out of 3 sets tuned to the debates.)

Weld's family goes way back in MA history. Weld himself actually grew in Long Island on family estates. Weld's then wife, Susanne (sp?) was a professor of Chinese history, I think at Harvard. In the 1994 Gov's race, Weld had beat his opponent (and his wife's 2nd cousin) Mark Roosevelt by like 70-30, if not more. Weld is, as we like to say around here, wicked smart. (Okay, it comes out as wicket smaht, when I say it, but you get the drift.)

Of course, John Kerry is also wicked smart. (Not an idle comment. I can't tell you how amny times I heard that. Being wicked smart was an integral part of the race. It actually hyped the debates.) Kerry, of course, also had ties to deep MA history. He had the undergrad diploma from Yale and the JDS from BC. (BC is close to many a Bostonian's heart.) Everyone knew that Weld was bored with the Gov's office, so when he declared his intent to take Kerry's Senate seat from him, it was THE topic and bets were placed. Everyone also knew what the stakes wre in this race, whoever won would have the creds to one day run for President. This was a bloodmatch, fought by two illustrious sons of the old Bay State. What a time!

This was Kerry's 3rd race for the Senate. There had been grumblings in the State that Kerry was 'out-of-touch' and had been paying too much attention to foreign affairs. There were a number of local wise guy Dems who sold out to Weld and openly endorsed him. (Traitors!) Kerry was widely perceived to be vulnerable, which made the whole slugfest even better.

People lined up for hours to get seats at those debates. You would have hundreds of people on each side with banners, pennants and signs. It was like the hype for some kind of boxing prize fight. The crowds would chant at each other and it was incredibly energized. (And funny. Dear Lord, how many political discussions have you had over which candidate was smahta, ah, smarter. The Kerry vs. Shrub debates were not fun in the sense that they were a battle of equals, those were routes.) There were eight debates. Can you imagine eight debates, each one more anticipated than the last. Gawd that was fun. I still have signs and literature as souvenirs from that race. (Geeky TayTay, I know!)

BTW, when Weld called to concede to Kerry, he congratulated him on the win and said, "John, I just made you President of the United States." That's how big that race was and what the stakes were. Weld resigned the Governorship of MA in 1997 in hopes he would be appointed Ambassador to Mexico. (This appointment was opposed by Jesse Helms who thought Weld too liberal.) Weld ended up getting divorced and moving to New York City where he practices law. He popped up on TV this fall with a warning not to underestimate JK in a debate. Guess nobody in the White House was listening. LOL!

[angrydemocrat]

2. LOL

Indeed they wasn't listening! I will never forget that first debate he had with Bush he showed the American people what a illiterate dumbass Bush really is. Of course most of us already knew that. But I have to say that was one night we all laughed so hard that my sides was hurting late the next day. The lady that was on a computer next to me fell out of her chair laughing (for real) when Kerry almost started laughing at Bush himself. That was a great night.

Anyway I'm not from Mass. (although we will be moving there when my daughter graduates) I remember alot about that race myself. It was the Senate race of the year, so it was well covered for everyone to see. Although I wold have gave anything to be in Mass. then. I knew deep down Kerry would win that race I really did. Kerry is truly a one of a kind. He has been my favorite for many years now. I always said you will never get a boring ending to any of his shows, this man will keep you on the edge of your seat and he always goes out with a bang! You always get to see a good fireworks display when this man is involved.

What I thought was truly hilarious was when Teresa showed up when John was getting ready to speak with that plastic fire hydrant. LOL I tell you she is wild. One thing that has always pissed me off is the Boston Globe! Throughout this man's career they have literally tried to destroy him. They are assholes at that paper. The only one there that I like is Oliphant. Why are these people so down on Kerry? And I have often wondered what people living there think about the Globe always doing this crap. I think Barnicle is a total dick! But every since I started keeping up with Kerry these assholes are always pulling their shit. Let's put it this way there has always been more negative and try to destroy bullshit come from there than there ever has been positive and supportive.

And I remember all to well at all the damn traitors that came out with this senate race. They showed themselves for what they really were needless to say their true colors came out.

All I can say is when this race started I remember all the talk about how Weld would be the end of Kerry. But I did then what I do now when people talk of destroying my hero, I LMAO and think yeah Right, we will see, you damn people are fooling yourselves, you have met a true maverick when you meet this man! To many have under estimated this man for years. But not me I know what my hero is capable of. Call me crazy, call me what you will, but I would stand and fight for this man anyday of the year. He has inspired me over the years and what I'm proud to say is he has truly inspired my daughter so much so that she is planning to on public service as career. And you can believe that is right up this mom's ally.

Had I lived there during this race, when all the betting was going on I must say I would have been right in the middle of it all and this woman would have made herself some money. LOL. I can only imagine for now living in Mass. where people are as addicted to politics as I am and there are so many that have not lost their minds (Democrats) but soon I wont have to imagine when my daughter graduates and we finally move there. But for now I am stuck in a shitty ass redneck KKK populated bunch of assholes who are illiterate dumbasses just like the one most around her praise and voted for. Tennessee is truly a sorry ass state I would never recommend to anyone!

[TayTay]

3. Hey, Merry Christmas and thanks for your post

The '96 race really was my favorite race ever. Weld, for all of his oddball shortcomings was a really bright guy. I always got the feeling that he underestimated Kerry's appeal in MA and thought he could finese him out of office. At first glance, he kind of had a case, but, sigh, it's complicated. (There is a book to be written some day on Kerry, The Glob(e) and Kerry's tenure as Senator. It would be an interesting read.)

Did you read the intro to the Biography the Glob(e) did? Page X quotes Jim Jordan, former campaign manager on how frustrated the campaign was waiting for the Glob(e)'s 7 part bio to run. Jordan's complaint about the series and Kerry's coverage is summed up nicely, "Small bore, snarky, cynical. Nothing taken at face value, no benefit of any doubt, no explanation accepted without challenge. A preoccupation with finding scandal where none exits. Everything interpreted through an entirely political lens..."

In other words, the Glob(e) wrote the script on Kerry years ago, they find him insincere, manipulative and secretive. Okay, some of this is a healthy thing. Newspapers are supposed to be suspicious of pols. But the Glob(e) does not have this relationship with any one else in my memory. Several of the Glob(e) reporters came over from the Boston Herald, which was a Rupert Murdoch owned paper for awhile. (They hate Teddy K because he blocked them from multiple ownership of media in Boston. The Herald has hated him ever since, even though Murdoch sold the tabloid long ago. So they hate Kerry too, and this transferred when the reporters went upmarket to the Glob(e).

I have always thought that if I ever had a chance to sit down and have a cup of coffee with JK I would ask him what the hell he did to piss off the Glob(e). (And again, in fairness, Kerry can be a prickly pear and has a temper. Think back to that first Congressional race in Lowell and how deeply and personally he was screwed over by the Lowell Sun. That would breed deep distrust in anyone. I mean, that was f*cking nasty character assasination.) All I can figure in the Glob(e) thing is Kerry either took someone's girlfriend away, accidentally ran over someone's dog or showed up drunk at a funeral. My money is on the girlfriend.

That's my best attempt at the eternal "What's up with Kerry and the Glob" question. And yes, the nickname of the Globe is The Glob. Strange, strange history. You should have read their extra super special "Welcome to Boston Delegates" section for the convention last summer. You would think they would have done a puff piece because we never had a convention before and Kerry was a native son accepting the nomination. But oh no, they dug up all kinds of useless crap. Highly entertaining stuff, but you read it and scratched your head going, "WTF?" Anybody but Kerry and they would have been throwing rose petals out. I'm telling ya, he stole someone's girlfriend long ago, that's all I can figure.

[angrydemocrat]

4. I Like Being Able To Talk To Some From Mass.

I always wanted to ask so many quesions. During the campaign I didn't have time to do all this. Now I'm making up for it. Trying not to piss people off in the process LOL. I pissed one off today here in the Kerry forum which I didn't think I would ever do but I did. Over Kusinich to beat it all. Oh well I say what I got to say.

Anyway how do other people feel about how the Glob does Kerry up there is there more people agree or disagree?
And now that this election is over or the way it is what are they all saying? Are they pissed at Kerry or supporting him? (Supporting him I would hope) Do they think fraud was involved or how do they feel about this issue? Do they think Kerry will run for president again in 2008 or for the Senate again? Another words what is the talk about Kerry there now, what do they think is going to happen, what do they want to happen, and I want to know how do people there feel about Teresa I have wanted to know that for a long time now, what is the big talk in Mass. politics?

[TayTay]

5. Happy to answer any questions

Asking questions is an absolute good. I enjoy attempting to answer them because I get to think about some issues I haven't thought about before and try to figure out what is on my own mind. I am clarifying my own thinking and surprising myself (I didn't know I thought that, and so forth.) Fire away, though I won't know the answer to all of them.

Kerry is one of the most interesting guys to ever run here. I think that's because he just didn't have a career like anybody else. (As I've posted before, there aren't anymore like him at home.) He is an odd package for a politican, particularly for one in MA. On the one hand, he's very shy or aloof or reserved or whatever other word you want to use for someone who is not by nature a backslapper and gladhander. Legendarily, backslapping and gladhanding were trademarks of the eastern MA pol. ("Last Hurrah", anyone. Showing up at wakes to recruit voters, willing to go outside the law a little bit to help a constituent, knowing everyone in your district like Tip O'Neill, etc.)

Kerry is of Massachusetts, more so now than at any other time I can think of, but he is not from Massachusetts. This must sound so confusing to people not from around here. But it mattered and actually speaks to his achievement in getting elected statewide. He never had a natural base, a neighborhood with a bunch of people who could say that they knew him from childhood and could vouch for him in bad times and good. When Joe Moakley, beloved Congressman from South Boston got sick and everyone knew it was terminal, there was a farewell dinner for him. Kerry attended. He actually caused some people to tear up because he noted all the tributes to Moakley from people in his district who had known Joe all his life. Kerry wistfully remarked that he wished he had that, that connection to a place through it's people, the sense of belonging to a place through and through. ("Home is the place where, when you go there, they got to take you in.") Kerry's family had moved around a lot when he was a kid, so he never put down roots. He doesn't have any neighborhood working class people who would 'have to take him in.' I honestly think this appreciation of the nice aspect of having roots (and there are bad aspects, believe me) showed in how his raised his daughters. They had solid roots. They are of and from Massachusetts. (I saw Vanessa Kerry with 'Go Red Sox' painted on her hands at the rallies at the end of the campaign. She is from MA, no question.)

How do people feel now? Good question. There was no anger that I can detect aimed at Kerry that would say he personally torpedoed his own race. (Very significant. First finger of blame is always pointed at the candidate.) Kerry has always been viewed here as a very, very intelligent man (wicked smart is a good thing.) But there was the whiff of someone not living up to their potential. It's like getting a report card on a kid that said, Johnnie is extremely bright and knows the answers to all the questions before I ask them. But he does not always play well with others, can be a bit lazy and has a high opinion of himself. Since the potential is so amazingly high, we can't give up. But there have been disappointments. (I imagine this is on both sides. MA people can be a bastardly bunch, snide, snarly, critical of others to a fault, insecure and grumpy. Hard bunch to impress.)

I think he lived up to his potential in this race. This does not mean that mistakes were not made, of course there were mistakes. But as this unbelievably long race slogged through last year, he got better. Much, much better. The guy who finished this race was a different guy than the one who started it. (Campaigns change people.) He was more attentive to people's raw needs than before. (Listening to all the heart breaking stories on the road about bad health care and job losses and so forth. And having to respond and give something of yourself, show your heart, show in a meaningful way that you actually felt something and knew that the race was about the people, not you.) I saw this, and I think other people in MA saw this. And I truly think that we Massholes appreciated the change and respected our Senator for it a little bit more. We saw his good and bad sides, we were filled with pride after the debates because Kerry wiped the floor with Bush (wicked smart wins!) and we were impressed to see how easily he interacted with large crowds at the end of the debate. (80,000 people came out to wee John Kerry in Wisconsin? Really. And it was a lovefest? Really! Geez, I'm impressed.) I am fascinated to see what happens next.

[angrydemocrat]

6. Kerry has always been one of my favorite politicians.

I am addicted to politics in the worse kind of way. I always watch the Senate. Even when I'm not going to be home I always record it. I have got my daughter addicted to politics as well. Anyway I have watched Kerry over the years and I have always felt he would make a great president. My daughter loves to watch him and listen to him. He has been her favorite for years now also. Both of us being the way we are about Kerry and politics has made us long before he ever ran for president study up on the man and learn all we could about him. So when he decided to run for president well that was great news for me and my daughter we were both excited and ready to do all we could to help him.

What is always interesting to us is when we talk to people who actually live in MA. Because we like to hear what all the local gossip is about him. What the people who live in MA. are feeling about how he is doing his job in the senate. (We think he is great and wish we had senators like him but we are not that lucky) We like to know how the the people of MA. feel after he has won a senate race. Now we are both trying to understand what the feeling of all the people that live there now are. Me and my daughter are like that so when we get a chance to talk to people from MA. we generally learn something about the atmosphere at the time around there. We have both always found it interesting. Because we know we are big fans and supporters of Kerry and always will be, but at the same time we like to keep up with people who live there.

Both of after seeing all the back stabbing going on in Washington and on the internet after this election have just talk to each other and said surly the people of MA. have better since than this. Surly they know what great leader this man is and wouldn't turn their backs on him now. Most people I have talked to have said that Kerry is still well supported there and come 2008 if for any reason he decides not to run for president again at that time and instead runs for the senate again he would most likely win hands down. But I personally think he is looking to run for president again and will.

Regardless of what he decides to do in 2008 me and my daughter have already made plans that we will be hitting the campaign trail alot more next time. We are already making plans of traveling where ever we may be needed. And if he runs for senate again instead of for president we will be saying "Hello Massachusetts!" It doesn't matter to us. Whatever he decides and where ever he is or we are needed we will be there and are both looking forward to it. We both feel this man is just to great a leader to let go without a fight. I must say he is the first politician I have ever felt this strongly about and I have said for many many years now that the people of MA. are very lucky to have this man for their senator. Because if they had some of the lousy ones we have seen they would appreciate even more. (Frist being one of them. The last good senator Tennessee had was Al Gore we haven't had one since.)

[TayTay]

7. Hmmm, maybe I've given the wrong impression

I have always been completely captivated by the human beings who run for public office. Perhaps because, in a small way, I'm married to a 'small-time' pol. My husband has run for school committee in two different MA communities and won. He was Chairman in our old town and got a lot of things done. He got on School Committee in our new town, but it was not as pleasing. He ran for a seat in a special election that didn't have enough candidates, so it was unoppossed. I hate unopposed elections, the issues don't get aired out. Anyway, you haven't lived until you've been with a guy on election night who was running for an unopposed seat and wouldn't leave City Hall until he found out his vote totals and what the precinct votes were. (He told me he wanted to see where he was running well and where he wasn't. Ahm, he had no competition. Go figure!) Pols, even local small-time pols are odd people. Odd people, historicially, are the ones who make the world interesting, provoke change and inspire others. Odd people take chances, try new things and risk rejection and failure when other people wouldn't dare. I love oddballs, they make the world a better and more interesting place to live in.

Massachusetts folks can be a very cynical bunch. (State Motto should be: Hope for the best, expect the worst.) It's part of that hard scab that forms around people who are a little bit insecure and a little bit worried about thier place in the nation and how others feel about them. I can tell you that MA folks cared deeply about this race and there was deep sorrow that Kerry lost. He is viewed as an odd guy (in a region that is very fond of odd guys. We actually love nonconformists. It's part of the NE heritage.)

My absolute favorite political cartoon of the campaign ran in The Globe in early September. Kerry's campaign was in the pre-debate doldrums and tanking in the polls and it was becoming apparent that the Red Sox were not going to win the American League Eastern division title outright. The Globe cartoon showed two Sox fans talking about politics and the Sox. You see a picture of a dream bubble above one fan's head and it shows long-jawed John Kerry in a Sox uniform winding up to throw a pitch. The text bubble in this dream has the Park announcer saying, "Now pitching for the Boston Red Sox, John Kerry." This fan says to the other, "My political cynicism is merging with my sports fatalism." Yeah, it's like that. But that implies that people cared. It had entered their dreams. It was part of what you thought about in your unguarded moments. It was something you worried about. It had become a sort of family matter. I think this means that we cared. A lot.

In answer to part of your question, that Senate seat is occupied until Senator Kerry decides to leave it. Period. There is no one in the State that has the leverage to take it from it. If Weld couldn't do it, then I doubt it can be done. Period. Take that to the Bank.

[angrydemocrat]

8. No Wrong Impression

I have enjoyed talking to you, as I do others that live there. Maybe I was the one that give the wrong impression when I was mentioning what others there have told me and my daughter. But in speaking to the one's I have and from the ones my daughter has we both feel there are alot more pro Kerry than anti Kerry around there. But after this presidential race me and my daughter have both been trying to find out what the atmosphere is there. We have seen so much back stabbing in Washington and on the internet towards Kerry because he didn't win all we are trying to do now is find out how people in MA. are looking at the whole thing. We were hoping they hadn't turned on him as the ones in Washington and the internet have.

But it was like me and my daughter were both saying from the ones we have talked to already it appears to us that people there are more like me and her about the issue. They are pissed but not at Kerry instead we are pissed at all the backstabbers running their mouths, wether it be in Washington or on the internet. But we and others really get pissed over the other back stabbing democratic senators and congressmen over this more than we do anyone. It is as if they wish Kerry would shut up and say nothing or just dissapear or resign so they can be fron and center. Those are the ones that tick people off the most. Some have tryed to shut him up already and there have even been remarks made that it is time for Kerry to step off the stage, and how many would not support him if he ran in 2008.

I laughed when I was reading about the cartoon in the Boston Globe. I didn't see it myself but just picturing it and reading what was wrote was funny. I liked it and I'm going to get my daughter to read it later she will laugh to. And speaking of underdogs I guess you could say me and my daughter like and are attracted to underdogs in a lot of ways. I wasn't always a big baseball person but my daughter loves it and football. She got me started watching it several years ago with her and I to have become a big fan of baseball. The team my daughter has always pulled for is the Boston Red Sox LOL. And I watching with her also became a fan. So we were always pulling for the underdog so to speak. But not anymore, not after 2004. People can no longer call them underdogs.

Many around here have made fun of me and my daughter for our choice of baseball team but we never cared. My daughter always told them not to worry about who her team was they better worry about their crappy braves. We have met a couple of other Red Sox fans here but let me tell you they are few and far between. Most around here are Alanta Braves fans about the only we have in common with them when it comes to baseball is we all hate the Yankee's LOL. Thats the only thing we can agree on when it comes to baseball. It actually gets comical at times listening to my daughter argue with others over baseball. She just tells them like it is. So you can see why I think she would enjoy the cartoon. I wish there was a way to get a copy of it for her.

Another thing my daughter is made fun of a lot for is how she is so into politics. Her friends tell her all the time that it is boring. But she never let's it bother her and continues on. She is all the time asking me, mom are you sure I come from around here because it doesn't seem as if I do because I have nothing in common with these people and neither do you. I always laugh when she says it and tell her we are just different from all these crazy rednecks aound here and we don't have to be like them. She just always you are right we are different and we will never be like these people and thank god for that! It is time we get out of here once and for all. She is comical about the whole situation.

As far as Kerry and the Senate I happen to agree with you on the part that if Weld couldn't do, then it is doubtful it can be done. Because anyone who is in to politics would have kept up with that race wether you were from MA. or not. Wether you were a supporter of either of the men or not. (That only made it a lot better and a lot more fun to watch) But that was truly a race to see and a good one it was. There are certain things in politics you never forget and this was one of them. And I must say for me and my daugher that this presidential race of 2004 is also one of most exciting and unforgetable races of all time.