What on Earth Did Schumer Say to Kerry?

[sabra]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2006/11/what_on_earth_d.html

What on Earth Did Schumer Say to Kerry?

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf Reports: For anyone who needed more evidence that Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) is out of favor with Democrats, it appeared that Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) kicked him out of the Democrats' leadership walk on Tuesday.

As the new Senate leaders departed from the Old Senate Chamber on their way to the Ohio Clock Corridor to talk about their agenda, the election of the leaders, and Iraq, John Kerry -- not a member of the new leadership -- walked out of the room behind new Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Caucus Secretary Patty Murray and Caucus Vice-Chair Schumer. It is, after all, a public hallway in the Senate.

This reporter was standing with a scrum of journalists as Democrats left their caucus. It appeared that when Schumer noticed Kerry behind him, he turned around said something to Kerry.

We obviously don't know what Schumer said, but Kerry stopped in his tracks, watched the four Democratic leaders walk on without him, and when then he ducked between two of the marble statues in the hallway, which leads from the old Senate Chamber to the new Senate floor. Someone trying to project might say that Schumer had told Kerry to get the heck out of the leadership shot and Kerry, after digesting the request for a moment, did it.

[dailykoff]

1. He said "John, this walk is for war supporters only. Get lost."

And he did.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Patty Murray voted against the war. Unlike Kerry.

[mdmc]

6. who is patty murray?

surely not a senator, right?

[liberalpragmatist]

12. Senator from Washington

http://murray.senate.gov

[mdmc]

15. thank you for the link

God Bless:patriot:

[raysr]

37. She's a hero for the

vets here in WA.

[Ediacara]

69. Thrice elected senior Senator from Washington State

She's the short blonde one:

[gilpo]

119. Can't see her running shoes in that shot

:;):

[dailykoff]

10. Maybe that's why Schumer got the vice-chairmanship

and Murray didn't.

[politicasista]

42. Still letting Bush off the hook

Blaming Dems when Bush violated the IWR only lets him off the hook and doesn't bring our men and women home any faster.

[blm]

102. At this point does one support a withdrawal plan or not? Or is that too current an issue?

.

[Tinksrival]

30. Just for the record.....

Durbin (D-IL), Nay

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

I love my Senator, Dick Durbin!

[BurtWorm]

47. That blows the "war supporters walk" theory out of the water.

;)

PS: It may actually have been Schumer looking out for Kerry. The media would surely have been all over Kerry "insinuating" himself into a photo where he didn't belong. And I'm not a Schumer fan, but this is a more likely explanation than Kerry's being persona non grata.

[Tinksrival]

53. You could be right......

Perhaps Kerry didn't realize what he was walking into. All one can do is assume which makes an ass out of u & me. Ha Ha!!

[_dynamicdems]

81. I doubt that about Schumer looking out for Kerry.

Reid wouldn't either.

The other two probably didn't even realize that Kerry was there. I really don't think Durbin would never do anything to slight another senator.

We're not privy to what was said, but I wouldn't expect altrusim or compassion on the part of Schumer or Reid to have anything to do with it. Just sayin'.

[BurtWorm]

112. You could be right.

On the other hand, Kerry is not a member of the leadership in the Senate. If the Dems were trying to send a clear message about who was in that team, Kerry's presence would muddy that. It may seem petty, and believe me, I am not a Schumer fan, but this is not a simple case of Kerry being wronged.

[zanne]

114. Really.

The writer was really projecting. They're just dying to find cracks so they can widen them.

[LA lady]

2. I was watching that when it happened.

Kerry looked like a kicked puppy and sort of hid before vanishing to the left. Very awkward moment

[upi402]

79. Are you sure there can't be another explanation?

How could this hero be suffering anything like this.
I am an avid anti-NAFTA Democrat, but this is really messing me up.
Has to be another explanation.

He's got SO much going for him and must be grateful for it. I know he'll be OK, but this could be heartbreaking for anyone else.

[_dynamicdems]

85. That's sad. Senator Kerry's always had such class.

Can you picture Kerry telling another Democrat to get out of the shot because HE wanted a photo op? NEVER in a MILLION YEARS. Whatever the circumstances or what the exact words were, this showed poor manners and a lack of common decency. I like Kerry because he's never been about himself, but for his "mission" in the cause of Democracy. He simply doesn't play these silly, political games. Seriously, we have men and women dying in Iraq and a photo op rather pales in comparison.

And remember how Reid and Schumer pretty much demonized Kerry over the Kerry-Feingold plan to get out of Iraq? Now they are coming to nearly the same conclusion Kerry did, but they are a day late and a dollar short. There was also a good deal of resentment over the Alito filibuster because they had to put up with all those damn faxes. Poor Senators had to get off their asses and do their jobs.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

3. "You can walk with us, but it'll cost you half of the $14 million

you've got tucked away for another Presidential loss in 2008"

[beachmom]

23. Seeing that he gave $14 million to candidates across the country

Your point is what? Name a Democrat who did more than Kerry for 2006.

[LittleClarkie]

74. Not according to opensecrets.com he doesn't

He has about as much as Gore did after his run. I don't trust the person who "whistleblowed" that bit of info in the first place. Donna Brazille doesn't always seem to be on our side.

[Cha]

5. Who the heck is schumer

to say anything to Kerry?

[mdmc]

9. he great strategy

wins us big wins:eyes:

Kerry rocks, although he sure did fuck up that joke.

[tritsofme]

11. The guy who took back the Senate for us?

As opposed to coming out with asinine spinnable comments days before an election.

[txindy]

14. Schumer took back the Senate for us? Huh. I thought it was Dean.

:eyes:

Had Schumer actually put any effort into it, we would've been free of Liebertwit and Lamont would be the Senator from CT.

[Leopolds Ghost]

92. When did Dems like yourself start instinctively worshiping your leaders?

Schumer engineered his present status as alpha-male and you treat his alpha-male status as something to be revered. Just like a bunch of chimpanzees.

Dean and Kerry got cast out of the pack and relegated to walking behind the beta-females in the march to the spring feeding grounds. Pure exercise of brute force to maintain social cohesion and elevate a ruthless politico like Schumer. And you think humans have evolved. :eyes:

[txindy]

117. What are you talking about? I think you answered the wrong post.

:shrug:

[LittleClarkie]

17. I'm confused. That could describe Kerry and Dean too. Schumer helped of course

but I'd say it was an overstatement to say he was THE MAN who took back the Senate.

Dean and his 50 State plan had alot to do with it. And flubbed ststements notwithstanding, Kerry worked his ass off as well. His PAC gave much money, and he was all over the place campaigning for Dems. Rahm said that when no one else was there helping him, John Kerry was there.

Anyway, like the article said, it was a public hallway. If they'd wanted a shot free from other Senators, they should have put out the word to keep it clear.

[WildEyedLiberal]

19. Kerry raised a lot more money and enthusiasm than Schumer.

[tritsofme]

34. That must be why he was persona non grata

in the closing days of the campaign.

[txindy]

51. By the insiders, probably, but they've never been known for their loyalty.

Or their courage. Jealousy, however, yes, unfortunately.

I tell you what, let's have Schumer come on down to Texas to give a talk like Kerry has done. Kerry filled the hall to overflowing post-election '04. I doubt Schumer would fill one row of chairs.

[tritsofme]

54. The "insiders"

being everyone he had planned to campaign with that week?

[txindy]

58. The insiders being all the "look at me" people since the election.

Particularly the ones trying to take credit for something. Like Chuck. But he really does deserve a lot of the credit - for Connecticut. I'm sure Liebertwit is well-pleased.

[tritsofme]

61. Yup, Chuck's vast fundraising edge over the NRSC

and his contribution to finding quality candidates had almost nothing to do with the Democratic Party taking over the Senate.

[txindy]

67. Joementum was a real 'quality' candidate. And so loyal, too.

But the will of the voters in the primary didn't mean a whole lot, apparently.

:eyes:

[tritsofme]

71. Why in the world should Chuck have wasted money

in a state where the winner was guaranteed to caucus with Democrats regardless, as opposed to spending it somewhere it mattered, like let's say Virginia where Senator-elect Webb won by a few thousand votes.

There's a reason Chuck ran the DSCC and is now the Senate's #3 Democrat, and not you.

[txindy]

72. Joe's "guaranteed" to caucus with the Democrats?

:rofl: Did you actually type that with a straight face?

And there's a lot more to support than money. Apparently that's lost on Chuck and others.

[tritsofme]

73. I don't hear the words Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on anybody's

lips?

Do you?

[txindy]

78. ROFL! Talk about a leap.

Thanks to Howard Dean and many hard-working Democrats, McConnell isn't going to be the Majority Leader in '08. Yes, Chuck was one of the many. Just one of the very many. But nothing will make up for lack of support where it was needed. Money is an excuse, not a reason. Joementum (and his "guarantee" :rofl:) is the stain left as a result of that excuse.

It's been a kick chatting with you, Chuck. :eyes: Give my best to Carville.

:rofl:

[tritsofme]

82. You can criticize Schumer and Rahm for some things

But if the DSCC went all out against Lieberman and he still emerged the victor, you can be assured that an angry Joe may not have been too keen to make nice when he held the balance of power, as he does now.

BTW, why does Schumer get credit for Lieberman and not the "many" that are also credited with taking the majority back?

Why didn't Dean do more to oust Lieberman?

[txindy]

113. If they'd gone all out against Joe, he'd've lost and been gone. But he and Chuck are buds.

Chuck owns the Joementum problem. When Joe flexes his self-absorbed muscle in the Senate and gives the VP the deciding vote, it will be his old pal, Chuck, everyone in the country will 'thank' for that. No one will forget. Not ever. Corporate money doesn't always make things go away. Asking why other people didn't do more doesn't, either. That's too much like what we've heard out of the WH for the last six years, unsurprisingly.

Texas. Schumer. One row of seats. Any day. Because he's earned it.

[Leopolds Ghost]

93. Lieberman said he would "not rule out" switching parties next year. EOM.

[stepnw1f]

106. Thank You for Saying That

It's truly sickening what these "middle-of-the-road" Dems are trying to do. Now I know why many DUers for the last 6 years have been trashing these folks. They are as compromised as Republicans.

[txindy]

108. Yes, that's become rather apparent, hasn't it? Unfortunately.

:toast:

[stepnw1f]

109. You are on My Buddy List

I didn't see it at first... but noticed over the years. Especially after this election, I'm now convinced.

Cheers

:toast:

[txindy]

116. Well, thank you! This election certainly was an eye-opener, in many ways.

:hi:

[Cha]

20. No schumer didn't take back

the senate for us.

[wisteria]

29. That's just a rumor. He wants you to think he did it all himself.

Actually, he is stealing Dean's,Kerry's and our thunder. He did not- repeat- did not achieve this on his own.

[Mass]

100. Last time I checked, Tester, Webb, McCaskill, Whitehouse, Brown, and Casey took the Senate for us.

Some of them were not even recruited by Schumer, but elected against Schumer.

So, yes, he participated in this victory, but he did not take back the Senate for us? We did it and so did the candidate. Dead helped as did many other people.

[ourbluenation]

7. well this makes me fucking sad...what a shame. kerry is a good man and a great dem. n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

127. I agree with you- I don't understand why he ends up being the scapegoat for

this twisted 'party'-
We do eat our own, all the time- And I believe we can do better than this-

[FormerDittoHead]

8. A little observation upon what makes DUers better than Freepers...

THEY would *never* bring something like THIS up over THERE...

[liberalpragmatist]

13. delete - nt

[txindy]

18. Good to know. Insiders don't necessarily impress me.

Independent thinkers, now, certainly do. No wonder I liked Kerry - and still do.

I'm torn. Gore or Kerry in '08? Well, I won't get to help choose, anyway. Texas isn't exactly in the mix for the primaries. :banghead:

[liberalpragmatist]

25. Sorry I moved my post

It's down to a normal reply.

Kerry apparently upset a lot of people in the Senate when he arrived in the 1980s. He didn't socialize or mix with them, except for the Vietnam Vets. He also launched into investigations like BCCI and Iran-Contra, which also wound up snagging some high-up Democrats like former Defense Secretary Clark Clifford. Which, in the process, upset several people (including Dems) in Washington.

In response to these complaints, he retorted, "I was elected to do a job, not make friends."

There was this great piece about Kerry's early Senate career in the Boston Globe prior to the election. Really makes you think about what this country missed out on 2 years ago.

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/062003.shtml

[txindy]

31. I think a lot of people realize just what we missed out on two years ago.

And when it came time to vote again, they came back - and brought friends. :patriot:

[karynnj]

55. I agree - and most of these things are why we like Kerry

The corruption implicit in BCCI - that top party people were bought off by a shady group linked to drug laundering and terrorism - needed to be brought to light and eliminated. Kerry put propriety, law, and country over cronyism - even when called by Jackie Onassis.

If you think of it Kerry took a outsider position on Iraq and he clearly was more in consort with Dean on building the party. KAP, his Pac to help others was parallel to official organizations.

This will make him more able to run as an outsider with the knowledge and experience of an insider.

Kerry would be less than he is if he were the typical politician like Schumer.

[liberalpragmatist]

16. Harsh, but it was obviously aimed at getting a leadership shot

Kerry isn't in the leadership.

Of course, Kerry has never been known for being exceptionally close to his colleagues. He's close with Ted Kennedy and has in the past been close with a few, mainly veterans. Otherwise, he's always been seen as kind of a maverick within the caucus. That's why the whole image people had during the campaign of Kerry as a "Washington insider" wasn't really accurate.

BTW, here's a pretty sad looking picture:



From Yahoo Photos (http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank)

[LittleClarkie]

21. He dared to include fellow Dems in his investigations into BCCI

that didn't help much.

But he was as much a part of taking back the Senate as anyone and doesn't deserve to be shown the back of the bus.

[David Zephyr]

38. I agree.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

[beachmom]

27. It's metaphorical -- Kerry represents us, the people, shut out as usual. n/t

[_dynamicdems]

87. I agree with you. n/t

[TayTay]

36. Ahm, Kerry has a committee Chairmanship in the 110th Congress

He is not in the other Dem leadership.

Tempest in a teapot here.

Ahm, part of the job the leadership was elected to do was to reach out to, ahm, committee chairs.

This is a big nothing.

And Kerry has a full plate anyway

5th in line in Finance
Kerry will chair the sub-committee on Long-term Growth and Debt Reduction.

3rd in line in Commerce
Kerry will Chair the sub-committee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness. Hello Net Neutrality!

3rd in line on Foreign Relations Comm
Kerry will chair the sub-committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs. (What new nuke treaty with India?)

Chairs Small Business.

What's the problem anyway? Some folks get the leadership positions and others get the committee chairs and they rotate anyway. I think this was a coincidence blown out of proportion.

[beachmom]

39. Good point. Hmmmm . . . what will he do as chairman

of the Small Business committee -- LOTS of possibilities.

[TayTay]

45. Hopefully get the Admin to cough up more money

for innovative programs that acutally foster Small Business. And hold hearings that expose the big corporations that are setting up dummy small businesses in order to get the SBA money. And help Small Business in the Gulf area recover from Katrina. And about a million other things that Rethugs didn't do in a lot of years because they don't give a flying fig about small business.

The more interesting sub-committee is that one on Commerce. This sub-committee is sponsoring some innovative legislation on teaching math and science. That sub-committee has jurisdiction over the internet, btw. Might be nice to have someone in there who knows the internet is not a series of trucks or whatever the hell it was that Sen. Stevens said the internet was not like. Sigh!

[liberalpragmatist]

59. Kerry's on record as favoring the India Nuke Treaty

Same with Biden. This one is not going to break down along partisan lines.

[beachmom]

70. But some interesting things just happened on that.

I read an India press report that Kerry and other Democrats slowed down the process of ratifying the treaty. I'm not sure what's going on there (and you are right that he said he was in favor of it), just wanted to let you know that.

[karynnj]

83. He told Rice when it came up in the committee that there

were important issues to consider - there were things he was not happy with.

[Leopolds Ghost]

94. Was Kerry Chairman or Ranking Minority member of anything in 2001-2006?

Or did he get kicked out because he botched a joke that had nothing to do with troops and Hillary and McCain were too stupid to figure it out?

[TayTay]

110. I put the positions Kerry has held upthread

He was a member of the Banking comittee when he first came into the Congress in 1/85. It was under that committee and the Foreign Relations Committee that allowed Kerry to investigate and help take-down the BCCI. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Credit_and_Commerce_International ) I have actually talked to a Senate investigator who worked on that, very interesting how all that came about, btw.

Sen. Kerry waited 16 years for that appointment to the Finance Committee. He rewrote a lot of banking law in this country and tried to implement new rules on money laundering and tracking drug money and so forth. (Somewhat successful. The Rethugs in the Dark Years of Rethug control argued that the things Kerry wanted to put into the regulations would constitute an unnecessary burden on the banks. You know, the old Rethug dodge that what this economy needs is less oversight. Needless to say, this was before 9/11.) Kerry earned that seat on Finance.

Sen. Schumer got that seat on Finance because Sen. Reid wanted him to take over the DSCC in 2005 and not run for Gov of New York. Sen. Schumer wanted the enormous power of the FinComm and the billions in pork he can send back to New York that comes from being on FinComm. That's how he got the seat. (And you can look it up in the NY papers.)

SENATE DEMS' $$ PITCH TO SCHUMER
The New York Post, (11-11-2004)
By VINCENT MORRIS Post Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats yesterday offered Sen. Charles Schumer their top fund-raising job - but sources say he's afraid to say yes because doing so slams the door on a possible run for governor, The Post has learned.

To sweeten the offer, Democrats promised Schumer a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee - a stunning gesture that would put him in line to direct federal pork to New York.

But Schumer would have to give up a 2006 run for governor if he accepts the Finance Committee gem because he would have to promise to stick around - effectively barring a grueling campaign for the governor's mansion.

Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who is set to become senate minority leader following Tom Daschle's election loss last week, met with Schumer yesterday and pleaded with him to take the post.

[Guaranteed]

95. Wow. Look at those career bureaucrats. Real winners.

They'll be remembered, someday.

[mmonk]

22. Reminds me of my letter to my Congressman

(Price, N.C.) when inquiring what the meaning of is is, whereby I requested he tell others to quit the infighting and power games. It took everybody to win. There's nothing to blame anyone on since we won.

[WildEyedLiberal]

24. Kerry's not bought and paid for, so he can't be in the Kool Kids Klub

The "Senate leadership" doesn't like Kerry because he forced their hand on Iraq, which didn't please the equivocating "I disagree with Bush but also don't think we should withdraw" crowd.

The "Senate leadership" doesn't like Kerry because he's not owned by anybody, so that means he's not accountable to any larger master besides his own conscience. That makes him "dangerous" in their eyes.

The "Senate leadership" doesn't like Kerry because, as his past investigations have proven, he will not cease digging for the truth even if it means stepping on "important" toes. This frightens many of them, who have had their fingers in many unsavory pies throughout the years and do not want anyone peeking too closely into their closets.

Well, I have a message for the "Senate leadership." The Democrats won in 2006 because Americans are sick and tired of corruption and "politics as usual." What the "Senate leadership" is apparently too stupid to understand is that voters will be just as sick of it from Dems as they are from Republicans - if they think their shit won't stink just as bad, they are in for a rude awakening.

That is why anti-corruption, maverick Democrats like John Kerry, who are not bought and paid for and serving their corporate masters, are the only real solution to the plague that ails our government.

[Firespirit]

28. Well said.

I have become thoroughly disillusioned with politics lately. There are a few good apples out there amidst a barrel of rottenness. Kerry is one of them.

[CarbonDate]

80. Forced whose hand on Iraq?

Durbin and Murray both voted against the IWR, unlike Kerry.

I mean, I like and admire Kerry, but let's get our facts straight.

[karynnj]

84. Maybe because WEL is in 2006 and you are still in 2002

[WildEyedLiberal]

91. You do realize Kerry and Feingold were the first senators to call for withdrawal?

Schumer and Reid were NOT pleased about Kerry/Feingold, and that is not a secret. They, more than Durbin or Murray, wield the Senate leadership power, and it is to them I refer. They resent Kerry's refusal to fall in line, and his withdrawal bill forced many like Reid and Schumer who were perfectly content to not have to go on official record as having a position one way or another about Iraq. I don't recall seeing Dick Durbin in that photo.

[stepnw1f]

26. What Useless Divisive Gossip (nt)

[Tinksrival]

32. I agree

It is quite a leap being taken here. It was a photo op of the new leadership. How can you read so much into it. :shrug:

[wisteria]

33. We are talking about the Senate aren't we? It isn't play school.

I doubt any of this happened the way it is being suggested. And, I will continue to believe this until someone produces something other than innuendo and gossip as proof of a snub.
What happened was not the end of the world. It certainly was blown way out of proportion and made worse by Dem's that decided to side with the Republicans rather than one of their own. Being that Kerry had a right to defend himself, and had worked so hard to get other Dem's elected, I would think this is a bunch of bull shit.
BULLSHIT I TELL YOU, SIMPLY BULLSHIT! Trying to continue a nothing story about a flub.

Oh, and this is from ABC News, not exactly friendly territory.

[mmonk]

35. I sure can't judge. I wasn't there.

There is infighting going on however. But this might not have part of any of it. I reserve judgement.

[wisteria]

41. You are to be commended. It after all could of been nothing more

than a photo opportunity for the newly elected Democratic leaders. Kerry is not part of that group, he wasn't elected so it would have been questionable for him to be in the picture to begin with.

[_dynamicdems]

88. True, he is not part of the group, but consider this:

assuming something was said to Kerry by Schumer (as it appears it was) regarding the photo, turn it around and imagine if Kerry were in the group and Schumer were not. Could you imagine him turning to Schumer and saying something that would cause Schumer to slink away?

I can't.

[bigtree]

40. muckraking by ABC

dividers

[wisteria]

44. My thought exactly. trying to create something that isn't there.

All the blood letting on the Republican side and all we see on the news stations are the Dem's supposedly fighting and being petty.

[BlueIris]

64. Yeah, and boy is their spiel getting DESPERATE.

Abramoff jitters, fellas?

[WinkyDink]

43. "You had your shot."

He "lost" to Dubya. It doesn't matter how hard Kerry worked this year, or how ethical he is, or ANYthing else.

And these are words I'm putting in Schumer's mouth, as the OP wondered about. I happen to admire JK greatly.

[mmonk]

48. Kerry's a winner with me.

Glad you edited your post.

[bdamomma]

56. that's really unfortunate that these grown men act like children

or you can't be a part of this club due to your beliefs and opinions, I would love to see Feingold and Kerry kick ass.

[wisteria]

49. As charming as your answer is, I think it was nothing more than

Kerry not being part of the newly elected Democrat leaders and it was a photo opportunity for them. Kerry hasn't been elected to a Democrat leadership post.

[underpants]

105. I have ran into this several times over the last few days

Okay maybe I am thinking to much into it but I have heard or read three times this week someone mention how "horrible" a candidate Kerry is/was in 2004.

Funny sounds to me like a cover for how election results can flip on a dime so drastically.

[Perky]

46. I pray to God that we can find somethng better to talk about.

Hey John...sorry... it's a leadership photo pp.... would you mind um err.... Oh sure sorry did not realize that.


Sheesh...earth quaking news Kerry and Schumer exchange niceties.

[wisteria]

50. LOL, I thought the same thing. n/t

[LittleClarkie]

57. Or it could have been

"Shh, not now darling. Later."

Heh. I'm evil.

[Terri S]

52. who knows what that was about

but I tell you, the lack of support Kerry got from the party after his failed joke business had me SEETHING!! They knew damn well what he meant, and they should have immediately backed him up in outrage the next day when he forcefully shot back at the 'swiftboating'. Instead, they allowed the bastards to slime a man who has done more for vets than all of them combined. I hope this isn't more of the same, but even it's not, they've already shamed themselves sufficiently in my book!

*** sorry, I really promised myself I wouldn't bring this subject up here EVER EVER again. :blush:

[mmonk]

66. Aggravating, isn't it. This being so scared of the repukes

they tip toe and allow a fellow dem be smeared without coming to his aid is disgusting (I'm being nice). Anyway, I appreciate those that did stand up for him.

[Leopolds Ghost]

96. The wheel within the wheel is that they were so eager to tear down Kerry BEFORE they had an excuse.

The joke provided the means and opportunity. Why?

[Blue_In_AK]

60. Sorry, but I prefer Kerry to Schumer any day of the week.

[LittleClarkie]

62. And twice on Sunday.

:D

[Mass]

63. A lot about nothing....

[Mass]

65. A moronic comment by an ABC reporter.

What happened is obvious and any 3rd grader would have gotten it and not made a mess about it. Not surprisingly, ABC does not...

Schumer wanted a photo of the leadership to be taken and Kerry happened to be right behind them, or Schumer was in a hurry to go to the leadership press conference (you can see that Reid is rushing). Who knows, but it is clearly nothing. You have to be moronic or to hate Kerry not to get this one.

Here is the photo, btw. (who knows what they were saying each other. Only ABC could make a story about this one, ...)

[elperromagico]

68. I'm sick and tired of speculation masquerading as news.

If these "reporters" don't know the facts, they should keep their damned mouths shut.

[mb7588a]

75. Bummer.

It's a fairly well known fact that Kerry is not particularly liked around the Senate chamber. He's a lightning rod, and will be for a few more years.

There are some folks who have good reason to dislike him (McKaskill), and others who don't (Reid, Schumer, etc).

[Mass]

77. Any reason for McCaskill to dislike him that you know?

Not speculations, please, just reasons, or are you here to spread rumors?

[LittleClarkie]

86. Why does McKaskill have good reason

and do you mean McCaskill the new Senator?

[RayOfHope]

104. McCaskill was running for MO Gov in 2004. She had a great chance, but

lost (by not very much) to Roy Blunt's punk son.

Kerry/Edwards pulled out of Missouri about a week before the election, and there is some speculation that this ultimately hurt McCaskill's campaign (Kerry/Edwards was a big part of the MO Coordinated Campaign).

[Darkhawk32]

111. She did a lot on her own to lose that election. Sorry, can't blame Kerry for that one. n/t

[RayOfHope]

115. I didn't say I agreed with her assessment, just that it was a possible reason n/t

[Darkhawk32]

120. Duly noted. ;) n/t

[wisteria]

123. Gee, it had absolutely nothing to do with her not being a good campaigner?

It is all Kerry's fault- yeah right.

[Leopolds Ghost]

97. "and will be for a few more years." ??? n/t

[wisteria]

122. Oh and why is that. He gave generously to McKaskill and he help out

many others who were running. The last time I heard the suggestion that he was not liked making the rounds it was by some Republicans and by some others who had an interest in making him appear unlikeable. Personally, I have seen the man in person, and I have seen how well his actually liked.
This is nonsense.
Remember, it was the Republicans that came out and lied to try and attack him. He was defending himself. Anyone would of done that with any sense of honor or courage.

[upi402]

76. I'll not assume on this one

tick tock tick tock
waiting a while is OK to do

[Vektor]

89. "John, you're making the rest of us look short and dickless."

Only for Patty Murray is that not a problem...

Who knows what the hell happened? This article pretty much only contains conjecture and speculation. Not really newsworthy.

[DeepModem Mom]

90. I'm assuming this was a planned photo-op for the Dem leadership...

in the Senate. I feel bad for Kerry, but the photo worked. This, IMO, is what we should be doing.

[Mass]

98. Why do you feel bad? It is obviously reporters having nothing to do.

and making a moronic statement. I would feel bad for the reporter, personally. When they have so little to say, they should feel sorry.

[fedupinBushcountry]

101. Photo Ops ?

That's what you want ? Sorry, but I'm tired of photo ops, they need to quit the pandering and show us that they will be doing the job we sent them there to do.

As for the reporter, he needs to report facts not speculation. IMO, it's just another sign of tabloid journalism, that's what sad.

[DeepModem Mom]

121. I obviously want more than photo ops, but without hitting people over the head...

through the press, what we do will go unnoticed.

[Mass]

99. Only question here is to know whether Schumer is intelligent or not.

He spent the last week of the campaign answering questions about Kerry of his own making by not holding his caucus together.

Does he want to have to spend 2 more years answering questions about Kerry because he is not able to make clear to the reporters that there is no there there? Does he really think it is useful to show a divided caucus? It would not have taken a lot to make these stories disappear: just do what Dean did in his FOX interview? Well, he is the one who is going to have to answer stupid questions by reporters, but it is NOT good for us. Not solving the question is going to muddle the message.

[wisteria]

107. Your right, Dean handled it well. Schumer handled it badly.

He has made it into something it was not- a big deal. I bet he was more concerned about how this all could have affected him,and panicked rather than considering Kerry or even other options.

[Little Wing]

103. "John, don't forget your appointment with (insert medical/legal profession)

Silly thread.

[oasis]

118. Much ado about nothing. A Drudgetype media seedling.(eom)

[otohara]

124. Standing Ovations for Lieberman

Kerry sent to woodshed, Carville dissing Dean, swift-boating Murtha. I'm feeling the message is "thanks for getting us back into power" but "we don't care what you think" so move along.

[paulk]

125. Looks like Kerry didn't realize it was a photo shoot

for the new leadership and Schumer told him to get out of the picture.

No big deal, although I'm sure that ABC would like to make it one.

[zulchzulu]

126. I could care less what Schumer said to Kerry...

Schumer will have to pitch for John when he's running for President in 2008. I've seen Schumer on talk shows and he always leaves a lot of ammo off the table. Kerry kicks ass.