One of the benefits of

not running for president is that you can do things like this, and not have to consider who you might be pissing off in the process.

Senator John Kerry today announced his support for a legislative initiative designed to assist the freedom of the press. The bill would make the federal Freedom of Information Act more powerful, primarily by making it harder for the Administration to deny or delay the release of information. It does that by requiring that an agency respond to FOIA requests within 20 business days and establishes a publicly available tracking system for requests. In addition, the legislation would help bloggers, because it would prevent agencies from denying them a waiver on fees just because they are independent or not affiliated with any institutional news organization. In the past, the need to pay fees for FOIA requests discouraged many bloggers or independent journalists from pursuing FOIA requests.

"There is no greater or more important watchdog today than our free press and we should all do everything we can to strengthen the ability of dedicated reporters to do their job," Kerry said today. "Recent news reports on Walter Reed, the Big Dig, or even the US Attorney firings have reminded us just how important the press's oversight is to our system of governance. In cases like those, exposure meant the difference between life and death. I am proud to sponsor this bill and look forward to voting on it when it comes before the full Senate."

Senator, you make me proud.

Franken makes the leap

According to the Minneapolis StarTribune, anyway, via Political Wire.

Comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken has begun calling Democratic members of Congress and prominent DFLers to tell them he will definitely challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in 2008, the Star Tribune learned Wednesday.

On Monday, Franken announced that he is quitting his radio show on Feb. 14, and he told his audience that they'd be the first to know of his decision. But Franken has been working the phones, telling his political friends he's ready to declare his candidacy.

Franken made calls to at least two members of the Minnesota congressional delegation in Washington and one member of the Legislature to break the news. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity, not wanting to be identified as pre-empting Franken's announcement.

Let the debates begin! Franken is a wonk at heart, as anyone who listens to his radio show knows, and would probably make an excellent senator. God knows, it would be a sheer joy to watch him grind that spineless idiot Norm Coleman into dust.

Afterthoughts

photo credit: Island Blue

Thanks to everyone who's come by to commiserate and post kind comments. One of the best things about being a John Kerry supporter is that you get to spend time in the company of other John Kerry supporters, who are in my experience largely of exceptional intelligence and insight, thoughtful, and well-informed citizens. And a special thanks to Elias, whose wit and perspective make me laugh every day.

The venom that's poured out of the left and the right towards Kerry in the past few days have convinced me that he made the right decision. It's been staggering, the amount of bile still held in reserve for him. Only imagine if he'd announced he was running. Someday I hope to nail down for myself the source of all the fury this one man evokes.

Over the past few days I've come to think that, although I believe he would have been an excellent president, and though I do believe he won in 2004, he really did have to choose between following his own moral compass and maneuvering his way into position. He made the only choice that makes sense for him right now.

It's been said here before, and I completely believe this is true, that his only real stumbles in the 2004 campaign came when he was in a position where he was forced to triangulate - he's not good at lying; he's not even good at spinning. He's too honest. If he were better at those things, he wouldn't be the man who inspires us. If he has inspired you, please consider dropping by and leaving him a message.

I was never actually able to bring myself to ask him to run for president again, and I do realize that for those of us who are lucky enough to call him our senator, that's an easier call than it is for others. To see what he had to deal with in 2004 was hard enough - to watch him go through it again (and to think of Teresa, his daughters, and his brother and sisters having to watch him go through it again) in an even steeper uphill effort seemed too much to ask.

I have no idea who I'll vote for in the primary - but that's a long way off, and I'm hopeful that by then there will be someone in the race I can truly respect. Until it's time to rev up for the 2008 senate campaign you'll find me immersed in the Harvard Theatre Collection's early 20th century periodicals, and as far away from Hardball as I can get.