Politically Inept, Politically Dead
Newsweek declares John "Broken Hat" Kerry politically dead. Following close on the heels of the Associated Press and its story that pretty well discounted Kerry's non-apology, this indicates the media will not help him at all if he tries another run.
Now, he faces even longer odds. For the moment, at least, Kerry is simply radioactive among Democrats. Publicly, some activists were still sticking by him. Mark Gorenberg, his former finance chair for California, told NEWSWEEK he would definitely be with Kerry if he ran in ‘08. The influential Daily Kos blog tried to make the best of the gaffe with a post saying, “I haven’t been shy to pile on Kerry when warranted, but what a load of bulls— this is. And showing that he has learned from his Swiftboating days, Kerry hit back hard.” But not everyone was feeling so generous. 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.”
If the Democrats do not win on Tuesday, Kerry will be blamed. Bet on it. This article telegraphs that very clearly.
UPDATE: The Anchoress has linked the last word from Austin Bay.
By loi, Sunday, 5 November , 2006 @ 12:45 pm
Na, they won’t blame Kerry. He quit when he married the Ketchup queen after her Senator hubby died in a wind related crash like the baseball player and wouldn’t run for President-bye. So, Kerry ran because he didn’t want to die either, but he’s had a good job for a long time. So, the real reason he couldn’t be President is his why is really a South African Operations Officer who wants the White House really bad, really. The Senator just didn’t make it; so Kerry knew he’d lose when he ran and he knows the joke thing is another good way out, although he sudenly appears smarter in his joke than he thought so he really is in kind of trouble, but should be able to bungle himself just before the election.
By mokus, Sunday, 5 November , 2006 @ 3:07 pm
May I suggest a headline for Newsweek’s Kerry obit: Not too Swift!