Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MBS

(9,688 posts)
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 09:00 PM Jan 2012

The Walter Shapiro book

One-Car Caravan (publisher Public Affairs/Perseus) . He had the guts to publish this in 2003, BEFORE the primaries happened, , got a copy on Amazon. (Super cheap, by the way: $4 for the pristine first edition that I got, but way, way cheaper than that for used ones)

Decided to look at the last chapter first, and wanted to share some fun bits with you. Remember, he wrote this in 2003:

pg. 213 (bold highlights are mine : )):

John Kerry is the candidate with whom I would most enjoy going out for a beer. But then I have a weakness for cerebral guys who talk in complex sentences, get caught up in the nuances of policy, remember Vietnam and seem just depressed enough to be interesting.


pp 207-208 (an imagined President Kerry, taping his diary, Feb 16, 2005):

Now for the part that probably shouldn't be transcribed for a long, long time. It's John Edwards. I just wish I felt more comfortable with him. Okay, of course, it was political necessity to put him on the ticket. But often I sense he resents me in some deep social-class, Yale, son-of-a-diplomat way. No way I could make him understand the dynamics in the family or how lonely I felt being packed off to school and camp. John's always smiling, competent, hard-working. I wish I could add loyal, but I'm not sure. I wonder if he's still talking regularly to Clinton. At least, Hillary's on board with the high-speed rail. But with both of them-- actually three of them if you count Clinton as well-- I keep having to watch my back.


As an admired and admirable senator would say, "Stunning".

Thanks, DU for finally getting the formatting tools and smilies back, and easier-to-use , too! .


11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Response to MBS (Original post)

YvonneCa

(10,117 posts)
2. That's so funny! I was thinking of ordering that...
Wed Jan 18, 2012, 10:31 PM
Jan 2012

...book, but never got around to it. Now I will HAVE to! Thanks, MBS, for posting the excerpts.

MBS

(9,688 posts)
4. When you read it, remember that he was following these
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 08:18 AM
Jan 2012

guys right from the beginning, starting in 2002, so some of his descriptions of JK show the Senator when he was still essentially learning the ropes, still finding his way . . and at a time when he was also dealing with the near-simultaneous blows of the loss of both of his parents, his prostate cancer, and more (an unimaginable set of burdens, especially because they came pretty much all at once, and something the Media barely mentioned)
Shapiro didn't nail everything (Some of the passages on Edwards suggest he was initially mesmerized by him). Still, it's amazing what he was able to perceive this early on, and gutsy of him to publish the book before he could reorganize those perceptions to jibe with What Happened Next.

karynnj

(59,942 posts)
5. Well said - and by doing that his book really is of huge value to knowing what
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 11:32 AM
Jan 2012

happened. It is difficult reorganizing and writing after the fact not to tailor the story to make the narrative lead to the results. That he allows people to see he was mesmerized by Edwards, but obviously later has very prescient misgivings, shows an unusual honesty and willingness to be an observer or reporter, not a pundit.

It is amazing to think of all that Kerry was dealing with during that time period. In retrospect, I would think that just the cancer treatment may have made the difference between win and loss. Recently, in one of the Kerry was right themes, Larry O'donnell played a clip of Kerry 2004. He really looked older than than now, gaunt, and less energetic (a relative difference, he still was incredibly so.) I don't think the Kerry of 2000 - 2002 (or the Kerry of 2005 - 2008) would have been as easily cast as stiff and too serious - and though it shouldn't ever be a factor, he looked far better once he regained the weight he lost in 2003.

YvonneCa

(10,117 posts)
6. Senator Kerry is my hero...
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 02:48 PM
Jan 2012

...precisely because of his perseverance under very difficult circumstances such as loss (of loved ones and elections), serious health challenges (like his own and Teresa's cancer), and constant (undeserved) political attacks. That another human being fights on...through those great challenges...has helped me fight on with my own challenges.

It sounds like this book shows him to be a real person...as we here have always known.

Inuca

(8,945 posts)
3. 2003!?!?!?
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 07:48 AM
Jan 2012

Amazing! I should ask Mr. Shapiro for advice if I ever decide to play the lottery.

And I could not agree more about the reappearance of the tools, they were sorely missed. Now if they could also bring back the spell check....

MBS

(9,688 posts)
8. another choice quote
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 04:16 PM
Jan 2012

The book is pretty uneven in quality (he had to have written it quickly to get it out in 2003), but there nevertheless are really choice turns of phrase.
Here's another one (pg 94, discussing Howard Dean's staffing):

Even though the often disheveled Trippi and the buttoned-down Dean are stylistic opposites, they both come from the anger-management wing of the Democratic Party.


YvonneCa

(10,117 posts)
9. That is hilarious! If the GOP...
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 05:21 PM
Jan 2012

...had such a 'wing' it appears Newtie would be the leader there.

MBS

(9,688 posts)
10. That's exactly why I posted the quote!
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 05:35 PM
Jan 2012

What's scary is that that seems to be why/how he won. I read or heard some Repub voter in South Carolina who said that he wanted someone mean . The level of anger and violence (see: Gabby Giffords : ( ) in the far right gives me the willies.
I really, really hope we can somehow move past this horrible chapter in our country's history without more violence. And I hope that the Secret Service is very, very, very, very vigilant these days.

YvonneCa

(10,117 posts)
11. I share your hopes that our country comes through this chapter...
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 07:44 PM
Jan 2012

...peacefully. I DO think we, as a country, needed to face these issues in order to 'perfect' our union, as many say. And I also believe President Obama is the right President to lead us through these times.

Trouble is, that large group in South Carolina (and in many other Southern states) is really angry about changes that they don't and can't control (demographics, for instance). How that will play out is uncertain.

I've always said we need to 'lance the boil' of resentment left from Civil War days. This election...which could get ugly...may help us do that. And as creepy as it is to face Newt, the debate he would bring to the election process could vent some of that anger. And that, IMO, needs to be done.

I just hope it can be done with civility...peacefully...and that the BEST of our democracy will prevail in the end. Those mean folks are pretty loud. But I still believe there are more of us who are good, decent, caring people.

President Obama will represent our case for an inclusive democracy very well.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»John Kerry»The Walter Shapiro book