Sometimes it does get better: Lowell Sun 3/24/07

[TayTay]

Saturday Chat Sen. Kerry has come a long way
The Lowell Sun
03/24/2007

Kendall Wallace is chairman of Lowell Publishing Co. He has more than 45 years of newspaper experience, starting as a reporter at The Sun in 1959.

LOWELL -- I had an interesting time a week ago yesterday with United States Sen. John Kerry.

I had to introduce the senator at the annual meeting of the New England Newspaper Association and it was like stepping back in time.

I pointed out that I had first met Sen. Kerry more than 35 years ago when as a brash, young Vietnam War protester he moved into Lowell to run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. F. Bradford Morse.

I told the audience the senator won the primary but lost the general election after a brutal campaign led by the two daily newspapers in the Fifth District, The Sun of Lowell and the Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence. The defeat was a shock to the young candidate. He thought he had the race won.

The Sun was particularly tough on Kerry, some might even say too rough.

Although I never told Kerry until Friday, I always admired the way he faced the unexpected defeat.
He made some life-changing decisions. He went to law school, became a prosecutor for Middlesex District Attorney John Droney, served as lieutenant governor, became a U.S. senator, and then the Democratic nominee for president.

Talk about bouncing back.

In a side conversation, Kerry and I marveled at history repeating itself with the Fifth District facing another brutal primary to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Marty Meehan.

Kerry did a good job with his remarks and then answered a number of questions from New England media people

http://www.lowellsun.com/fastsearchresults/ci_5512994

Yeah, it's bad sometimes in Massachusetts. Every damned idiot and his brother thinks they can say whatever they want, anytime they want about anyone in public life. But, then again, sometimes the people who actually know what is going on check in and give surprising little updates.

Even the Lowell Sun, which, last week ran an editorial calling any House member who voted for the House bill with the withdrawal from Iraq plan in it "treasonous." Even them, sometimes. (Ah, yes, for Massachusetts, this is indeed very high praise.)