He will head the SFRC, at least for the next two critical years. There is no one whose judgment I trust more on foreign policy and he will be a key voice. Even before the election, I hoped, but was not sure, that Obama was very similar on foreign policy. He RAN pretty much on Kerry's foreign policy, though maybe slightly to the right, but a lot of that sense came from the fact that the strongest Obama team foreign policy comments were Kerry's. He was speaking for Obama, but there was nothing he said that differed from his own long held views.
Either they really are close in their world view - in which case, Obama will consult with Kerry on issues no matter what his position is- possibly being influenced or, he won't - then 2008 might have reflected (whether they knew the source or not) Obama et al sensed that the Democratic base and a majority of the country favored John Kerry's positions. I hope that reality is closer to the former and I think the latter might be too cynically stated. If the latter is true, having Kerry as SoS would have put him on a leash or risked him being out of power. (If the latter is true, it really meant that in 2008 there really was less a choice than we thought.)
He also is needed on the economy and the environment. I don't always agree with Kerry on the economy - but I agree with him more than anyone else. What I most admire is that he is fearless in not even trying to "fit" into any of the cliques. I can't think of anyone as liberal or progressive, who also is a fiscal conservative respecting that honest budgeting is needed and that high deficits compromise the ability to do things in the future.
Even starting with issues where I initially disagreed with some votes, I was surprised to find reading the speeches, explanations or comments in hearings that I agreed with the frame work and detailed perspective he had. On the trade bills, there is no one else on the Finance committee who would have quoted liberation theory Central American or Mexican bishops as to consequences in those countries - or who would have in the Republican dominated 2005 Senate nearly pushed the committee (10 to 10, with the Republican chair not sending it out) on a workers' rights and environmental amendment. In reality, I am more comfortable with his thoughtful balance to knee jerk ideological votes of some other Senators.
There was no one (in government) who made a better attempt to try to explain the fiscal crisis and where we are than Kerry did in the Boston interview shortly before the bailout (and I was surprised that the coverage was respectful and grownup) or the more broad picture economic speech in Lynn. Over the Jewish holidays, an older friend who I greatly admire was asking me and others why Obama did not more overtly speak of the need for FDR type measures. I later did send him some links where Obama came close, but I really wished that he had said some of the more explicit things that Kerry did. (I didn't send the Kerry links because pushing Obama was more important)
Although not speaking of the economy as much as other issues - yesterday made me think of the first paragraph of the Boston Globe endorsement for a fifth term. (
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7543136&mesg_id=7543136 ) With his very clear strong comment on the need to have more direct government spending on infrastructure, Kerry is defining one position in the up coming debate. The fact is that the stimulus package passed last year around this time did almost nothing - we need a real debate. Ineffective tax cuts are not the answer because, in addition to not working, they make spending money on alternatives even less likely.
It may be that other than the Presidency, the Senate is the best place for Kerry to be. I do think it significant that here again he speaks of "independence". He has Kennedy as a role model and if you compare their reputations in 1984 (Kennedy) and now (Kerry)- 4 years after each of their Presidential runs - Kerry is positioned at least as well, though Kennedy had the advantage of being more than a decade younger.
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