The John Kerry Post of the Day

John Kerry is the perfect manifestation of what people in the Tea Party oppose.  No wonder he's lashing out...

Focusing on the energy proposal, which broke down in negotiations with the GOP over an emissions-trading program, the senator told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce that "it's absurd. We've lost our minds. We're in a period of know-nothingism in the country, where truth and science and facts don't weigh in. It's all short-order, lowest common denominator, cheap-seat politics.

Anyone who's ever read this blog more than once (that would be about five people, maybe six if you count me) has a pretty good idea of my opinion regarding the Ketchup King. He's such a tool that he stands out among the tools that dominate the U.S. Senate. The mere fact that the only thing that stood between him and the U.S. Presidency was a hundred thousand or so votes in Ohio should make people reevaluate Karl Rove's strategic brilliance.

If people want to understand what drives the Tea Party, look at Kerry. He is the consummate elitist insider, a politico who lies at the drop of a hat, loves the perks of public office, seemingly never worked a productive day in the private sector, married into money (twice) yet denigrates others who have the nerve to dislike the death tax, and loves to extoll the virtues of soaking the rich for taxes while parking his yacht in another state to avoid taxes. Personality-wise, he's pretty much the stiff egotistical rich guy everyone at the party tries to avoid, and that's view of him on the occasions when he makes a good impression.

Is he smart? Probably, although I question the judgment of anyone who thought John Edwards was ready to be Vice President (if you're asking me if I'm questioning the intelligence of the Democratic Party, I do that every day). But it's not about whether he's smart of not -- it's about whether he can explain and sell his preffered policies. He's been unable to do so, so he's fallng back on noting but more platitues. He's so used to people acceding to his opinion because of who he is that he's not capable of fighting back against criticism of his positions with reasoned arguments.

The good news? More than ever, be grateful we did not elect this jackass.