(no subject)

WaPo on Kerry getting back to work. I just realized that this is the first election in a long time when it hasn't been the case that the losing candidate, having no other role to play, drops right out of the political arena, doomed to wander touring-speaker limbo the rest of his days (though Pres. Carter has arguably done rather more with his time). Kerry, OTOH, just resumes his old Senate seat and pulls it back up to the table, and perhaps (as this article suggests) more powerful and influential than ever.

If nothing else, I can say that I learned a lot about the fellow this past year. Really, I didn't know him at all, even though I'm part of his constituency. I think I can now say I'm glad he's working for me.

(OTTH, I would like to hear what Kerry really thinks about the election, and the state of the nation, using words he can't currently use for the sake of his senatorial seat. But maybe I'm spoiled by the quality of Bill Clinton's post-2000 speeches, which have always impressed me with their very un-presidential candor.)