An adjacent thought to the current John Kerry flap, and psuedo-outrage, is a simple question. It is not meant as either a slight or a praise of John Kerry himself, but when does an ex-presidential and losing candidate cease to be referred to as a “leader of the party”? I suppose Al Gore wound through for most of the four years past 2000 due to the idea that most people assumed he was going to set up for the 2004 election. But Walter Mondale and Bob Dole were pretty well summarily rejected.

Perhaps that was due to them pretty well being at the end of their career with their presidential run. A more pointed example might be Michael Dukakis — who was painted away as quickly as possible– but then again, he came to an inglorious conclusion in his career on his own accord. Kerry will still be kicking as long as he decides to remain Senator.
One thought may be that due to the Democrats’ current role as minority party, there is a vacuum of leadership and who you call upon to represent the party. Kerry is still in office.

As for the flap, I can and will defend it however you want it defended — as both and either the claimed (and supposedly verifiable if you read the transcript) joke on the president and more politically troublesome variety the Republicans are playing it up as, with a more sympathetic twist to the plight of the poor and academically struggling… in short: troubled socio-economics. (From The Onion’s 100 Years Book, for 1991: “Last Year’s Bottom 10% Graduating Class Ready to Take on Saddam”). Who and what situations of our youth do the army recruiters target? 

Never mind.

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