Asymmetrical Information

Bravo, Jane. Taking the high road.

Now let me ask you: if (1)this does turn out to be true; and (2)Kerry's campaign begins (as the year wears on and things turn nastier) to make remarks about Bush's character or honesty, would that change your mind about the relevance of the alleged dalliance?

Actually, it matters because if true it means yet another adulterer opposes gay marriage while posing as some champion of holy heterosexual marriage.

Actually, it matters because if true it means yet another adulterer opposes gay marriage while posing as some champion of holy heterosexual marriage.

Actually, it matters because if true it means yet another adulterer opposes gay marriage while posing as some champion of holy heterosexual marriage.

Has there been any indication he was married at the time? I have seen reports indicating that this occurred when he was single, and that the intern did not work for him.

Actually, it matters. Because if true, it means that yet another adulterer opposes gay marriage while posing as some champion of holy heterosexual bliss.

This is great. The Kerry story will bring the American sport of fake indignation to an all new level!! Jane is faking her indignation with the _story_, not the actual dalliance.

Really, I think it is more than OK to sit back in wonder over how self-deluded Senator Heinz continues to be to think the press will let this slide.

Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgh!!!!

Smart money in this election is on Hillary. She can step in whenever she likes and say that that boys couldn't keep it together and the Dems need her.

-Brad

Curious: isn't this sort of thing good for a news office? It seems to me that this makes the Democratic nomination less of a foregone conclusion, perhaps. The horserace factor might come back into play. I'd figure newsies would be all gushing at that prospect, since the horserace has become the predominant over the issues in their coverage of elections.

I'm taking the low road. How does one go about getting an intern?

As for the relevance of marital infidelity, I could never trust a person who would lie to their spouse. Making a mistake can be understood, but normally there is a pattern with infidelity. I do hate to see it.

Why politicians? I think for the most part they have huge egos, and these egos seem to need, um, stroking. To go further out on an unsupported limb, I think that liberals have more of a problem with this because starry eyed youth tend to idolize the liberal politican for all that they do "For the People". Adulation seems to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Conservatives tend to look at government more as a necessary evil.

I still don't get why Pols haven't adjusted their habits to the rules of the new era. EVERYTHING GETS OUT. Why make the other guy's failures the issue? No one's an angel. They WILL get something on you.

Brock

I have a hard time imagining Teresa Heinz Kerry being "devastated" about something like this. She's too independent, and plus, I get the feeling this was a marriage of convenience for both of them. She called John Heinz "my husband," not "my late husband," for years after she married Kerry. So devastated? No. Furious? Certainly.

As for the relevance of marital infidelity, I could never trust a person who would lie to their spouse. Making a mistake can be understood, but normally there is a pattern with infidelity. I do hate to see it.

Why politicians? I think for the most part they have huge egos, and these egos seem to need, um, stroking. To go further out on an unsupported limb, I think that liberals have more of a problem with this because starry eyed youth tend to idolize the liberal politican for all that they do "For the People". Adulation seems to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Conservatives tend to look at government more as a necessary evil.

I'd have to see pictures of the intern before I'd leap to any rash judgments like that.

I'm taking the low road. How does one go about getting an intern?

I still don't get why Pols haven't adjusted their habits to the rules of the new era. EVERYTHING GETS OUT. Why make the other guy's failures the issue? No one's an angel. They WILL get something on you.

Brock

PS- Of course the corollary to "EVERYTHING GETS OUT" should be "Have some self-control, damnit."

...Don't you think this story is important,not so much for the fact that Kerry cheated on his wife with an intern (assuming it's true), but showing how foolish and stupid a man he is, running for President with this knowingly in his background,after the Clinton disaster?..is this the type of man folks would vote for, unless they completely despised Bush?..

Why would Clark drop such a bomb to the media about how Kerry is going to "implode" and then come out and support Kerry's candidacy? There's a disconnect somewhere.

I still don't get why Pols haven't adjusted their habits to the rules of the new era. EVERYTHING GETS OUT. Why make the other guy's failures the issue? No one's an angel. They WILL get something on you.

Brock

PS- Of course the corollary to "EVERYTHING GETS OUT" should be "Have some self-control, damnit."

I generally agree with your basic stance, buuut...

Must we always assume the worst of everyone who made the mistake of getting famous?

"We" aren't assuming it's true because he's famous, "we're" assuming it's true because it doesn't seem out of character based on hints and stories in the past. And because we naturally assume the truth of these kinds of allegations for anyone. If you're a nobody in Podunk, Iowa, and there's a rumor that you are nailing Nell behind your wife's back, most everyone who hears the story will believe it's true.

Because if it weren't true, we couldn't get all titillated about it.

are these guys all having affairs with their interns?

I think this is just a tad bit overly cynical. And unnecessary if you just want to put this rumored activity in a certain perspective.

Just a quick thing

This guy saw what happened to Clinton and he does the same thing? Maybe he wanted to try and look cool or maybe he thought he would be the one who wouldn't get caught but more important stuff to talk about like Jane says

1) This story matters for the same reason that Bush's lapdog support of Sharon matters (sale of 53 F16s to Sharon in June 2001--3 months before Sept 11) as does Bush's courting of the Hispanic vote in electoral-vote heavies California, Texas, Florida (immigrant reform bill ).

The Republicans would never have made a big deal out of Clinton-Monica if Clinton had not based his political strategy upon ridiculous pandering to the women vote, NOW,etc.

In all three cases, Bush is trying to fracture the Democratic Party by heavy courting of its cliques.

Just a quick thing

This guy saw what happened to Clinton and he does the same thing? Maybe he wanted to try and look cool or maybe he thought he would be the one who wouldn't get caught but more important stuff to talk about like Jane says

A few observations...

1) Kerry has to be abominably stupid to cheat on a wife worth $300 million bucks.

2) Seems like this is a Chris Lehane hit job (current Clark, former Kerry press guy). Not Rove - he would have saved it for October.

3) I am happy that this might knock Kerry out. I actually think the new, more centrist Dean or Edwards would be better.

4) There is also the possibility of Hillary taking over if the convention becomes a brokered mess, which again seems likely. THAT would be interesting indeed. I know a lot of people who pine for Clintonesque centrism and balanced budgets (ok, me)...but they'd be buying a lemon if they voted for Hillary, who was significantly to the left of Bill (remember socialist medicine in 92?).

Just speculation, but it's out there.

5) It would be beyond priceless if the country this intern fled to turns out to be France.

6) I think a hefty amount of cynicism about politicians is a good thing. The less people trust them, the less they'll trust them with their money (or so the hope goes...)

Just a quick thing

This guy saw what happened to Clinton and he does the same thing? Maybe he wanted to try and look cool or maybe he thought he would be the one who wouldn't get caught but more important stuff to talk about like Jane says

I generally agree with your basic stance, buuut...

Must we always assume the worst of everyone who made the mistake of getting famous?

"We" aren't assuming it's true because he's famous, "we're" assuming it's true because it doesn't seem out of character based on hints and stories in the past. And because we naturally assume the truth of these kinds of allegations for anyone. If you're a nobody in Podunk, Iowa, and there's a rumor that you are nailing Nell behind your wife's back, most everyone who hears the story will believe it's true.

Because if it weren't true, we couldn't get all titillated about it.

are these guys all having affairs with their interns?

I think this is just a tad bit overly cynical. And unnecessary if you just want to put this rumored activity in a certain perspective.

Character matters. Republicans having affairs = Democrats having affairs = people who lie.

Now people who think that all politicians always lie shouldn't worry.

I want to think that they don't all lie.

Come on; for political junkies, this is like free crack. The Democrat primary was starting to get deathly boring, and now things are getting fun again. I can't wait to see the fallout... whatever it may be.

Does anyone have a link to that story about a survey for the 1996 Clinton campaign asserting that attitudes towards infidelity were the strongest determinant of a voter's party orientation? Please provide if you do. Thanks in advance.

Amen Jane. I'm not voting for Kerry because I think he's a flake who prefers to make the country weak. What he does on his own time is his business.

Just a quick thing

This guy saw what happened to Clinton and he does the same thing? Maybe he wanted to try and look cool or maybe he thought he would be the one who wouldn't get caught but more important stuff to talk about like Jane says

Just a quick thing

This guy saw what happened to Clinton and he does the same thing? Maybe he wanted to try and look cool or maybe he thought he would be the one who wouldn't get caught but more important stuff to talk about like Jane says

Just a quick thing

This guy saw what happened to Clinton and he does the same thing? Maybe he wanted to try and look cool or maybe he thought he would be the one who wouldn't get caught but more important stuff to talk about like Jane says

I think most Democrats, especially leaders of women's groups, will be satisfied if Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy declare that see nothing in John Kerry's personal life that would trouble them.

1. It matters if true. 2. I don't give a crap but voters will. 3. If true, then why reveal it now rather than during election weeks when Kerry is the candidate. 4. If true, the Edwards stands good chance to be candidate. 5. When Drudge (tabloid) runs story and Instapundit--a lawyer!--displays a tabloid, then we know the level that has been sunk to...why not wait a few days till there is evidence (as there will be) one way or the other?

Amen Jane. I'm not voting for Kerry because I think he's a flake who prefers to make the country weak. What he does on his own time is his business.

You work in a NEWS office and think we need not always think the worst of people? Good God woman!

I tend to think it's true becuse of all the corroboration, and the fact that (ironically) The Enquirer is running with it tomorrow. The Enquirer (again, ironically) has built itself quite a good reputation for hitting the mark in the last five years.

No, all the guys don't have affairs. Seems to be concentrated on the Left as far as presidential candidates go ... FDR, Johnson, JFK, Clinton, Hart, and now, perhaps, Kerry. Sure, there have been one or two conservatives with these "problems," but by and large it's a left trait, if the facts mean anything.

You work in a NEWS office and think we need not always think the worst of people? Good God woman!

I tend to think it's true becuse of all the corroboration, and the fact that (ironically) The Enquirer is running with it tomorrow. The Enquirer (again, ironically) has built itself quite a good reputation for hitting the mark in the last five years.

No, all the guys don't have affairs. Seems to be concentrated on the Left as far as presidential candidates go ... FDR, Johnson, JFK, Clinton, Hart, and now, perhaps, Kerry. Sure, there have been one or two conservatives with these "problems," but by and large it's a left trait, if the facts mean anything.

If he astonishes us by just saying, "This sort of thing is a private matter between adults and it's none of your goddam business", instead of spinning, dicking, and weaving, he may come out ahead. But would that be consistent with what we're learning about his character?

I care. The degree to which I care depends on the degree of the misconduct. Here's a rough stratification:

1. Long ago or recent conduct when neither he nor his partner were married. Bothers me hardly at all. Not really worth bringing up, even if it's conduct I deem imprudent or immoral.

2. Long ago conduct when either he or his partner was married. Bothers me somewhat. I would want some kind of assurance that he doesn't take his commitments so lightly anymore.

3. Recent conduct when he or his partner was married. Bothers me a lot. Shows he doesn't take marriage vows seriously. What else does he deem himself above?

4. Long ago or recent conduct when he or his partner was married, and he lied to the public about it. Bothers me a great deal more. If he deems it his own personal business, he should refuse to answer questions. If he lies about this, there is no assurance that he just doesn't consider honesty important. Note that we don't know yet if Kerry's conduct (if it exists at all) falls into this category. I would want to know.

5. Long ago or recent conduct about which he lied under oath. Felony.

Note that I'm not fixated on sex here. I would subject other things - like say Bush Jr.'s drug and alchohol use, to the same type of scale.

Would you not care, not care, not care, if this were Bush?

Most Democrats, including leaders of women's groups, will continue to support John Kerry as long as Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy declare that they find nothing in Kerry's personal life that would concern them.

Why does a trained lawyer and teacher post a tabloid (in his glee) on Instapundit? why not wait till reputable sources find out one way or the other? Why the hysteria? Do you folks get hysterical like this at checkout counter when a tabloid announces that so and so is cheating or is an addict? If Kerry out, the Edwards in. If Kerry clean then he can dump all over Bush and military record. If Kerry not innocent why story now rather than waiting for his candidacy so that he loses for the Dems instead of being replaced as candidate? Calm down. Act grown up...all will be well. Or not.

I care. The degree to which I care depends on the degree of the misconduct. Here's a rough stratification:

1. Long ago or recent conduct when neither he nor his partner were married. Bothers me hardly at all. Not really worth bringing up, even if it's conduct I deem imprudent or immoral.

2. Long ago conduct when either he or his partner was married. Bothers me somewhat. I would want some kind of assurance that he doesn't take his commitments so lightly anymore.

3. Recent conduct when he or his partner was married. Bothers me a lot. Shows he doesn't take marriage vows seriously. What else does he deem himself above?

4. Long ago or recent conduct when he or his partner was married, and he lied to the public about it. Bothers me a great deal more. If he deems it his own personal business, he should refuse to answer questions. If he lies about this, there is no assurance that he just doesn't consider honesty important. Note that we don't know yet if Kerry's conduct (if it exists at all) falls into this category. I would want to know.

5. Long ago or recent conduct about which he lied under oath. Felony.

Note that I'm not fixated on sex here. I would subject other things - like say Bush Jr.'s drug and alchohol use, to the same type of scale.

Right on Jane! It is only interesting in political entertainment terms: what does this do to Kerry, what does it do for Dean, how about Edwards, will the Repubs go crazy over this a la Pres Clinton?

Otherwise, who cares other than Theresa Heinz?

Does anyone have a link to that story about a survey for the 1996 Clinton campaign asserting that attitudes towards infidelity were the strongest determinant of a voter's party orientation? Please provide if you do. Thanks in advance.

I agree with "Jane" (Meg?). Kerry has enough baggage to answer for in terms of his positions (plural form is deliberate) taken on every issue over the last 20 years. We don't need to get into private lives for any reason whatever. This is between Kerry and Theresa Heinz, period.

Newt Gingrich is a brilliant analyst and strategist who has a penchant for self-serving womanizing, as have many other Washington narcissists, refreshingly NOT including GWB. James Boswell and Rabbie Burns couldn't keep their hands off women.

Let's agree to deal in relevant substance. (Which advice, if followed, should require Kevin Drum find something besides Bush's TANG service to dissect).

I'm in with the "Who Gives A Rat's Hairy Butt?" group. Kerry has so many other faults (Love letters to Iran, anti-war at any cost, and that oh-so-important looking hairdo) to nail him on.

If Kerry wants to ride Bush on character, as long as his as clean let him do so. But I'm afraid any dirt on Kerry, true or not, makes for good gossip and hurts his chances at people not voting for him for the right reasons ;-)

It's Guinness time. The wife's out for a hair appointment and the little one doesn't have enough words in her vocabulary to talk politics.

I should be safe....

Are you married? Do you have any kind of "sacred" relationship at all? Many of us think that lying to your closest friend, (wife or husband) shows a serious lack of character. Moreover, cheating on your wife while actually running for President of the most powerful country on earth should be cause to keep your dick in one place. Here's another guiy who might compromise the country.

BTW I don't think Theresa is another Hillary. She won't lay down for this one.

I agree with "Jane" (Meg?). Kerry has enough baggage to answer for in terms of his positions (plural form is deliberate) taken on every issue over the last 20 years. We don't need to get into private lives for any reason whatever. This is between Kerry and Theresa Heinz, period.

Newt Gingrich is a brilliant analyst and strategist who has a penchant for self-serving womanizing, as have many other Washington narcissists, refreshingly NOT including GWB. James Boswell and Rabbie Burns couldn't keep their hands off women.

Let's agree to deal in relevant substance. (Which advice, if followed, should require Kevin Drum find something besides Bush's TANG service to dissect).

To quote the immortal H. Ross explaining why he wanted employees in his company who don't play around, "If his wife can't trust him, how can I?"

To quote the immortal H. Ross explaining why he wanted employees in his company who don't play around, "If his wife can't trust him, how can I?"

Oddly it's important because Democrats don't consider it relevant themselves, but as Michael Kinsley pointed out, they are not considering how they are going to vote themselves. They are considering how their moderate neighbor might vote, so the question becomes, in the mind of Democrats, does this hurt Kerry with moderates and independents?

Time for the senior Senator from Massachusetts to invite all concerned parties to fly up to the Vineyard and pop over to Chappie for an avuncular talk. A limo will be waiting to drive them halfway across.

The interesting thing about this story will be if she really is out of the country and if so, did Kerry have anything to do with sending her there and why.

Oddly it's important because Democrats don't consider it relevant themselves, but as Michael Kinsley pointed out, they are not considering how they are going to vote themselves. They are considering how their moderate neighbor might vote, so the question becomes, in the mind of Democrats, does this hurt Kerry with moderates and independents?

Oddly it's important because Democrats don't consider it relevant themselves, but as Michael Kinsley pointed out, they are not considering how they are going to vote themselves. They are considering how their moderate neighbor might vote, so the question becomes, in the mind of Democrats, does this hurt Kerry with moderates and independents?

What's with all the multiple posts? Are people impatiently pushing "Post" over and over, or is the server stuttering somehow?

Screw taking the high road. If it's not evident already, the gloves are off. Anyone who takes the high road is going to get their ass handed to them. You can't bring a knife to a gunfight.

Screw taking the high road. If it's not evident already, the gloves are off. Anyone who takes the high road is going to get their ass handed to them. You can't bring a knife to a gunfight and expect to win.

Well, let's see. If this story is true:

1: Kerry is running his campaign on the theme that he will support the powerless against the powerful. Yet in his personal life, he uses his power to take advantage of the powerless.

2: Kerry swore an oath to his wife to not f*ck around. If he's not willing to keep that oath, what makes you think that he's willing to back up any other oath or promise he makes? (I haven't seen all the details. This only matters if he was screwing the intern while married.)

3: Look home much damage Clinton did to the US because he couldn't keep his pants zipped (bombing an asprin factory in the Sudan to try to keep Monica off the front pages. Bombing Afghanistan and Iraq to try to get his impeachment off the front pages. Convincing al Qaeda that we weren't serious, and thus that a 9/11 style attack was a good idea). You really want 4 more years of that?

Really,I don't give a damn.But I loooove a good show.This campaign was in the danger of becoming boring fast.

Well, let's see. If this story is true:

1: Kerry is running his campaign on the theme that he will support the powerless against the powerful. Yet in his personal life, he uses his power to take advantage of the powerless.

2: Kerry swore an oath to his wife to not f*ck around. If he's not willing to keep that oath, what makes you think that he's willing to back up any other oath or promise he makes? (I haven't seen all the details. This only matters if he was screwing the intern while married.)

3: Look home much damage Clinton did to the US because he couldn't keep his pants zipped (bombing an asprin factory in the Sudan to try to keep Monica off the front pages. Bombing Afghanistan and Iraq to try to get his impeachment off the front pages. Convincing al Qaeda that we weren't serious, and thus that a 9/11 style attack was a good idea). You really want 4 more years of that?

"1) Kerry has to be abominably stupid to cheat on a wife worth $300 million bucks."

There's the reason it might be relevant--are we ready to have a leader of the Free World whose family jewels are about to be nailed to the wall in Teresa Heinz's trophy room? Of course, I always thought that it was insane for Bobby Brown to beat up on his bad-tempered, extremely wealthy wife too, and it seems to have happened nonetheless. I would suggest that survival skills are a must for a President, and Kerry may well have demonstrated that he lacks them, if this story pans out.

Screw taking the high road. If it's not evident already, the gloves are off. Anyone who takes the high road is going to get their ass handed to them. You can't bring a knife to a gunfight and expect to win.

Sorry, I just can't imagine a sane person doing this. I'm all in favor of hedonism, but you just don't go promise a spouse and some kids that you'll be there for them and then run around living dangerously, and KNOWINGLY threatening everything you've promised them.

Isn't that just basic human decency, or am I old fashioned? We condemn people who break contracts in business, but not in private life? WTF?

Bear in mind, it's not like Kerry has trouble finding rich wives. And have you seen Mrs. Kerry/Heinz? He'd have to spend her entire fortune on viagra...

Still, I have to agree, this makes him look like a hypocrite - how can he oppose gay marriage, when he apparently doesn't think much of marriage as an institution for heterosexuals

Three Points.

One, I agree with the poster(s) who said that even if this is true, it does not matter because Kerry has already demonstrated by his views, votes, and behavior in his capacity as a Senator that he is utterly unfit to serve as Commander in Chief. This may reinforce this for others who are less aware of his record as a Senator but my mind was already made up on the basis of the issues.

Second, I feel no sympathy for John Kerry or the Democrats since they have spent weeks hyping the non-story of Bush’s service in the Air National Guard for which he received an honorable discharge. Had they not persisted in smearing him with charges of “AWOL,” “desertion,” etc. this could have simply been a contest of issues and competing visions for the nation but they wanted to have a mud-throwing contest and it is poetic justice for this sort of thing to come out about their frontrunner.

Third, I will not comment on it further and do not think any one else on my side of the aisle should either. If the story is true, then there are enough tabloid journalists and night-time talk show hosts who bring this story to the American electorate repeatedly and there is no need for any on our side to deal with such tawdriness.

Your comments are really screwed up. To whit: When I hit "POST", my comments get posted, but I get no feedback that they're posted, and the activity icon spins as if it's waiting for something to happen.

Thus you get the same comment posted multiple times. You might want to take a look at that.

Just wait until the next stories break.

(Like putting married girlfriends on the payroll of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.)

The smell of napalm in the morning, anyone?

Actually, it does matter. It gives us a bright window into Kerry's integrity, honesty, and sense of judgement. What's he doing, thickenin' his Jimmy with an intern?

Heinz devastated by this? I don't think so. She seems to be a fully self-centered battle-ax!

Here we go again with the Politics of Personal Destruction. Hopefully this intern keeps up with her dry cleaning so we can "move on" and not have to think about endless Grand Juries with John Ashcroft tsk-tsking in the shadows.

Here we go again with the Politics of Personal Destruction. Hopefully this intern keeps up with her dry cleaning so we can "move on" and not have to think about endless Grand Juries with John Ashcroft tsk-tsking in the shadows.

Actually, it does matter. It gives us a bright window into Kerry's integrity, honesty, and sense of judgement. What's he doing, thickenin' his Jimmy with an intern?

Heinz devastated by this? I don't think so. She seems to be a fully self-centered battle-ax!

Actually, it does matter. It gives us a bright window into Kerry's integrity, honesty, and sense of judgement. What's he doing, thickenin' his Jimmy with an intern?

Heinz devastated by this? I don't think so. She seems to be a fully self-centered battle-ax!

Actually, it does matter. It gives us a bright window into Kerry's integrity, honesty, and sense of judgement.

Heinz devastated by this? I don't think so. She seems to be a fully self-centered battle-ax!

I was wondering when the scandal would erupt. It's a pattern. The media bring out an old absurd accusation (Bush AWOL) that has been already been thoroughly vetted and then as if by magic some Democrat garbage comes gurgling up from the tar pits.

It's far more likely that Hillary is behind this. She must discredit Kerry so he won't win enough primary votes to win the nomination.

His wife might be backing her too. Maybe Teresa can be the secdef. She'll have all the qualifications that she'll need. She speaks fluent French and I think several other languages, none of which are English.

"Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption. He passeth from the stink of the didie to the stench of the shroud. There is always something."

And update it: "And it always comes out."

Ok so all of you who say a National Enquirer story will turn you off of Kerry here is another Enquirer story about Bush and a stripper: http://www.nationalenquirer.com/stories/news.cfm?instanceid=5978
Any bets that the Bush supporters will prattle on that this story is irrelevant?

I was wondering when the scandal would erupt. It's a pattern. The media bring out an old absurd accusation (Bush AWOL) that has been already been thoroughly vetted and then as if by magic some Democrat garbage comes gurgling up from the tar pits.

It's far more likely that Hillary is behind this. She must discredit Kerry so he won't win enough primary votes to win the nomination. She successfully got her friends in the media to destroy Dean and Clark and now Kerry.

His wife might be backing her too. Maybe Teresa can be the secdef. She'll have all the qualifications that she'll need. She speaks fluent French and I think several other languages, none of which are English.

This will be fun to see how fast the GOP and Bush forget backing Arnold Schwarzenegger only weeks ago and clucking their toungues at the unenlightened masses for expressing indignation over his publically promiscuous, gay porno modelling, drug celebrating lifestyle he bragged about for so many years before being coronated leader of the world's fifth largest economy.

I was wondering when the scandal would erupt. It's a pattern. The media bring out an old absurd accusation (Bush AWOL) that has been already been thoroughly vetted and then as if by magic some Democrat garbage comes gurgling up from the tar pits.

It's far more likely that Hillary is behind this. She must discredit Kerry so he won't win enough primary votes to win the nomination. She successfully got her friends in the media to destroy Dean and Clark and now Kerry.

His wife might be backing her too. Maybe Teresa can be the secdef. She'll have all the qualifications that she'll need. She speaks fluent French and I think several other languages, none of which are English.

Ok so all of you who say a National Enquirer story will turn you off of Kerry here is another Enquirer story about Bush and a stripper: http://www.nationalenquirer.com/stories/news.cfm?instanceid=5978
Any bets that the Bush supporters will prattle on that this story is irrelevant?

Ok so all of you who say a National Enquirer story will turn you off of Kerry here is another Enquirer story about Bush and a stripper: http://www.nationalenquirer.com/stories/news.cfm?instanceid=5978
Any bets that the Bush supporters will prattle on that this story is irrelevant?

Here is a similar story about Bush from the Enquirer: http://www.nationalenquirer.com/stories/news.cfm?instanceid=5978
Wanna all those saying this story about Kerry matters and is true will find some reason to excuse Bush.

Jane,

When is sexual harassment a big deal? I thought the liberals ranted and raved that a boss having sex with his employees was per se harassment. I thought they said that any powerful man who used his wealth and power to prey on young women was abusing them (even if the women thought they wanted the sex).

I just wish they would get their rules straight. Packwood wasn't fit to serve in the Senate because of what? Thomas wasn't fit to serve on the Supreme Court because of what? Clinton did nothing wrong? Kerry (if he actually was screwing the 20 year old) was just having private sex?

So what are the rules now?

Vila, that Enquirer story is from four years ago. I would imagine if there were anything to it we'd have heard by now.

Personally, I've rated this Kerry story, as it stands now, at a 2.0 on the political Richter scale -- hardly noticeable, certainly no damage done. There could be aftershocks, but nothing new has come out since the original post by Drudge.

I think what's likely to damage Kerry from this is not so much the alleged affair as Kerry's reaction to the story breaking. Assuming there's anything to react to.

I think it's about time we call in Ken Starr and drop about $80,000,000.00 of taxpayer money into a full investigation. No stone unturned, just all the lurid fabricated details please.......oh.....my ticker is pounding again......

The Enquirer story about Bush is irrelevant to the current campaign because 1) the article itself states that the allegations are untrue based on their investigation 2) the article was published in September 2000.

No, Jane not ALL guys. Only Democrats. Hell, this makes him look like Bill Clinton, which might enhance his inevitability.

I'm not so much concerned (taking the story at face-value) about the infidelity as I am about Kerry's Clintonesque beginnings of a coverup.

I guess we'll have to wait to see how this plays out.

BTW, I noticed that in this weeks' National Enquirer, on page 11, that the real reason Bush wants to spend billions on a mission to Mars is so that he can go back home. ASSUMING THAT IT's TRUE.....does not make it true. Some of you ASSUMED the administration wasn't lying to you about WMD in Iraq. And some of you ASSUME the budget deficit will be halved in 5 years. I think you all know the adage about assuming... so knock it off.

Vila,

Did you even read the story?

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/stories/news.cfm?instanceid=5978

The story goes onto to say the allegations were false.

BTW, I noticed that in this weeks' National Enquirer, on page 11, that the real reason Bush wants to spend billions on a mission to Mars is so that he can go back home. ASSUMING THAT IT's TRUE.....does not make it true. Some of you ASSUMED the administration wasn't lying to you about WMD in Iraq. And some of you ASSUME the budget deficit will be halved in 5 years. I think you all know the adage about assuming... so knock it off.

Forget moral standards, Repugs. You cashed in those chips to get Schwarzenegger a few months of power.

Why trifle with half-whispered Drudge rumors of possible Kerry hanky-panky? Wanna see a bona-fide gay mag hardcore frontal nude photo of your party's standard bearer, the Governator?

I'm not so much concerned (taking the story at face-value) about the infidelity as I am about Kerry's Clintonesque beginnings of a coverup.

I guess we'll have to wait to see how this plays out.

Forget moral standards, Repugs. You cashed in those chips to get Schwarzenegger a few months of power.

Why trifle with half-whispered Drudge rumors of possible Kerry hanky-panky? Wanna see a bona-fide gay mag hardcore frontal nude photo of your party's standard bearer, the Governator?

Forget moral standards, Repugs. You cashed in those chips to get Schwarzenegger a few months of power.

Why trifle with half-whispered Drudge rumors of possible Kerry hanky-panky? Wanna see a bona-fide gay mag hardcore frontal nude photo of your party's standard bearer, the Governator?

If it's true, and it happened when he WAS married, it will be very bad for him. If his wife leaves him, he'll be left with half of a house (the half that he mortgaged for his camapign).

His wife will get half his hair (and one war medal).

This is one more reason why we need to nominate someone who could never score if his life depended on it (in other words, either me or Dennis Kucinich)!

For the whole story "Kerry Tosses Intern Over White House Fence," click on my name. You know the drill...

If it's true, and it happened when he WAS married, it will be very bad for him. If his wife leaves him, he'll be left with half of a house (the half that he mortgaged for his camapign).

His wife will get half his hair (and one war medal).

This is one more reason why we need to nominate someone who could never score if his life depended on it (in other words, either me or Dennis Kucinich)!

For the whole story "Kerry Tosses Intern Over White House Fence," click on my name. You know the drill...

OK. You asked for it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Republican Commander In Cheap of California:

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/arnold-schwarzenegger/

It used to be that you'd expect Republicans to get caught in sex scandals and Democrats in money scandals. This was easy to understand (and forgive) because they were basically trying to get a little more of something they otherwise weren't getting enough of. Maybe Dean is right, Kerry really is acting like a Republican.

But when Dems do sex scandals and Repubs do money scandals, I'm for gratuitiously excessive punishment. e.g. The Tyco guy evading a few hundred grand in sales tax on the art he bought, I say throw away the key.

I suppose it is possible that Kerry and his wife have one of those new-fangled open marriages we've all heard about but never actually seen. All things considered you couldn't blame either of them...

Does this sort of thing matter? As a measure of the candidate's character, I think it does, but mostly it's just fun to watch our would-be masters squirm on occasion.

Sorry for the double post. That's uber-socially retarded.

'Coop

It was interesting watching the news this afternoon after the initial Drudge report came out lead at the top of the hour with Clark's pending endorsement of Kerry without mentioning the allegations everyone was talking about, or Clark's possible involvement in it. High and noble, and since they presumably couldn't confirm it at the time on their own, correct. But it will be interesting to see how the story is handled with the National Enquirer's report coming out, based on the fact that all of the media outlets ran with the Enquirer's (correct) story of Rush Limbaugh's painkiller abuse back in the fall.

As for the story itself, I can think of half a dozen better reasons why Kerry is troublesome as a potential president, the main one being he has a 30-year habit of shifting his political stance so that he can always be where the polls say the people are. Whether it's Massachusetts' opposition to the Vietnam war in the early 70s, to his votes for the Gulf War (because that's where the polls were in late 2002) and against the rebuilding funds for Iraq and Afghanistan (because that's where the polls of Democratic primary voters were in late 2003), to his playing both sides of the fence on the gay marriage issue, there's a lack of a core there that's distrubing.

In a time after the fall of the Soviet Union and the inital defeat of Saddam in Gulf War I, America at least though it could afford a presidency that was part side-show and part Entertainment Tonight when Clinton was in office. Now, with all we have found out in the past 30 months about al Qaida and their terrorism goals, we need a president who is willing to sacrifice some of his poll numbers to do things that may seem unpopular at first, and we certainly don't need another 13-month farce somewhere down the line involving the Heinz heir's husband slipping his pickle to interns behind his wife's back.

The affair makes Kerry unfit for the Presidency, but not in the way you'd think. John F got everything he got by marrying a wealthy woman, if he risked tossing all that away for some cheap fling with an intern, he's too stupid to run the country.

It was interesting watching the news this afternoon after the initial Drudge report came out lead at the top of the hour with Clark's pending endorsement of Kerry without mentioning the allegations everyone was talking about, or Clark's possible involvement in it. High and noble, and since they presumably couldn't confirm it at the time on their own, correct. But it will be interesting to see how the story is handled with the National Enquirer's report coming out, based on the fact that all of the media outlets ran with the Enquirer's (correct) story of Rush Limbaugh's painkiller abuse back in the fall.

As for the story itself, I can think of half a dozen better reasons why Kerry is troublesome as a potential president, the main one being he has a 30-year habit of shifting his political stance so that he can always be where the polls say the people are. Whether it's Massachusetts' opposition to the Vietnam war in the early 70s, to his votes for the Gulf War (because that's where the polls were in late 2002) and against the rebuilding funds for Iraq and Afghanistan (because that's where the polls of Democratic primary voters were in late 2003), to his playing both sides of the fence on the gay marriage issue, there's a lack of a core there that's distrubing.

In a time after the fall of the Soviet Union and the inital defeat of Saddam in Gulf War I, America at least though it could afford a presidency that was part side-show and part Entertainment Tonight when Clinton was in office. Now, with all we have found out in the past 30 months about al Qaida and their terrorism goals, we need a president who is willing to sacrifice some of his poll numbers to do things that may seem unpopular at first, and we certainly don't need another 13-month farce somewhere down the line involving the Heinz heir's husband slipping his pickle to interns behind his wife's back.

OK. You asked for it.

Um, no, we didn't. Next!

>>>we certainly don't need another 13-month farce somewhere down the line involving the Heinz heir's husband slipping his pickle to interns behind his wife's back.

Rumors of pickleslipping alarm you? When Bush himself gave the GOP seal of approval to Schwarzenegger's years of SELLING his pickle for our kids to see?

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/arnold-schwarzenegger/

AI,

Who is JFK? He is an unaccomplished, opportunistic, shallow, botox, marrying rich women, and special interests senator.

Go Dean => Get JFK. Expose JFK. High Noon JFK.

Ali Karim Bey

Why all this fake wounded shock over Kerry cavorting nekkid with a young woman half his age? Isn't that what French-looking men are known for?

I always said that the best reason for removing Clinton was that he failed to understand two basic truths:

1. Nothing in Washington can be kept secret.

2. It you're involved in a sex scandal, you're going to spend the rest of your term of office dealing with IT instead of what you were elected to do.

I can't believe that this story is news to Kerry's people. If it is, they should abandon him and get to work for Edwards. If it isn't, it will be fun watching him trying to counter it. Maybe we should all have scorecards. Get ready to compare and contrast with Gary Hart's and Bill Clinton's handling of their own troubles.

As European living in the US I really have to ask what is it with this obsession of so many Americans with the sexual life of their politicians? I'd rather be interested in learning about his plans to address the budget deficit or the chaos in medicare to name a couple. If every single joint you ever smoked or every woman you made love to comes back to later haunt you, all we'll see in the future are streamlined blokes with no edge and creativity trying desperately to incompetently steer us out of this overall mess.

It's not their sex lives, Mike, it's the covering up and the lies that always go along with it. I also wonder why anyone who plans to run for higher offices can't keep his dick in his pants. Are they all so stupid as to think they won't get caught? If he's dumb enough to get caught, he's too dumb to be president.

It's not their sex lives, Mike, it's the covering up and the lies that always go along with it. I also wonder why anyone who plans to run for higher offices can't keep his dick in his pants. Are they all so stupid as to think they won't get caught? If he's dumb enough to get caught, he's too dumb to be president.
Considering Kerry dumped his first rich wife while she suffered crippling depression, I'm not surprised at all.

Anyone have a pic of Alexandra Polier?

Jim has an interesting point up toward the top of the comments. He talks about liberal politicians doing what they do "for the people". Could it possibly be the case that the precise reason they work so hard "for the people" is to atone for, provide cover for, assuage their consciences about, and enable them to do what is really their prime motivator and goal : vice, adultery, avarice, etc?

I'm just askin'.

If you remember the preconvention summer of 1992, when Bill and Hillary went on some tv show and confessed to problems with their marriage, people decided it was indeed their private problem and went on to nominate him. What everybody should have noticed was not only that Bill Clinton had sex with Gennifer Flowers (arguably private behavior) but that he gave her a state job to buy her silence. That was the pattern of action that proved him unfit for office.

Jim has an interesting point up toward the top of the comments. He talks about liberal politicians doing what they do "for the people". Could it possibly be the case that the precise reason they work so hard "for the people" is to atone for, provide cover for, assuage their consciences about, and enable them to do what is really their prime motivator and goal : vice, adultery, avarice, etc?

I'm just askin'.

I really don't understand how these guys keep getting in this mess.

Well, to be honest, if I had available and willing 20-year-olds I my disposal. . . well, I guess I can understand.

Maybe straight male politicians should only hire male interns. Probably some law against that.

I really don't understand how these guys keep getting in this mess.

Well, to be honest, if I had available and willing 20-year-olds I my disposal. . . well, I guess I can understand.

Maybe straight male politicians should only hire male interns. Probably some law against that.

Jim has an interesting point up toward the top of the comments. He talks about liberal politicians doing what they do "for the people". Could it possibly be the case that the precise reason they work so hard "for the people" is to atone for, provide cover for, assuage their consciences about, and enable them to do what is really their prime motivator and goal : vice, adultery, avarice, etc?

Matteo, "work so hard for the people?" Puh-leeze.

Try this on for size:"…position themselves as tribunes of the populace because a) for the extremely wealthy it plays better in Peoria to appear to run against self-interest, b) you will get invited to a lot more cool Hollywood parties, c) you will get lots more tail from political groupies, and d) if you get caught doing c), a lot of morons will reflexively jump to your defense."

A really wealthy guy purporting to look out for the "little guy" is a hero; the same guy looking out for business and other really wealthy guys is a putz. Imagine Kerry running as a Republican – he'd be a Steve Forbes knockoff (read "putz").

For a), compare Kennedy (hero) with Steve Forbes (putz).
For b) and c), compare Kennedy/Clinton with Nixon/Bush.
For d), compare Clinton with Thomas (who didn't even get any).

Who cares? He may be a heel(we shall see), but it seems to me that it is a matter between Kerry and his wife. Everyone has something to hide-some are pillheads, some have a problem with alcohol/drugs/, and some(apparently quite a few) are adulterers. I may think that an adulterer is a heel, but it won't affect my vote.

Wow. This thread has turned into a giant right-wing circle jerk. The hypocrisy being blown about is breathtaking. You guys deserve each other.

RufusLeeKing --

Get back to me on that Arnold thing (or on Arnold's thing, if you prefer the innuendo) when he's elected president and is in charge of our national defense. If California wants to create a sideshow about the governor's peccadillos, they can have at it. My point was after the Clinton-Lewinsky crap, I have no desire to go through that circus again given the times we're living in.

Def,

Perhaps I was misunderstood. I don't particularly care if he was bopping an intern. (It irritates me a bit, I must confess, if the guy nailing a subordinate poses as a champion of sexual harassment legislation. Now there's some big league hypocrisy.)

I was taking issue with the characterization of liberal politicians as working so hard for "the people." With few exceptions, "the people" virtually all politicians are working hard for is their mothers' favorite son. I assume anything else is a pose adopted for marketing purposes.

As for the right-wing circle jerk, well, we don't get the groupies...

Well, this VRWC Deathbeast couldn't care less about Kerry's alleged dalliances. I'd actually pay good money to have this topic ignored. There's plenty substantial to pick him apart on; this is just gratuitous.

Call me old fashioned, but I think this speaks to the man's character. And to be even more old fashioned, I believe the Greeks were right when they said "character is fate."

Okay, so if I understand the post correctly, we're NOT talking about Kerry's sexual history even though it is mildly interesting from a sociological perspective.

So let's talk about something else sociologically itneresting, like the mentality that causes people to click "Post" eight times in response to a slow server. Any chance we can make THAT behavior scandalous?

John Adams asserted in one of the Federalist Papers that leaders should possess unusually strong character and integrity, because that is needed to resist the temptations that come with power. He was right then and now. We had this same argument over Clinton, with his detractors saying that his compusive womanizing was an indication of a badly flawed character, while his defenders said that it doesn't matter what somebody does off the job if they're performing well from 9 to 5. (Yes, I know that Clinton misbehaved on the job in many different ways, but I'm talking about the battle of ideas here.) We've now had a few years and 3,000 NYC deaths to help us evaluate the Clinton legacy. The evidence appears to support the importance of character.

yeah jane and mindles need to execute people who click "post" repeatedly

sweet leaping jebus

Oh my...what have we here?!

Sly innuendos about POTUS TANG AWOL service 30 years ago are issues deserving of serious reporting by the press, yet recent marital infidelity in a Dem are "unfounded" and "no one's business but him and his wife."

This all goes back to the issues of "character." Remember that in the 92 campaign, raised by the Repubs? They were saying character matters, and it sure looks like it turned out that way, in that the POTUS had to deal with the results of his character issues when he messed around WHILE IN OFFICE! I really don't think we need any more distractions from the WH, not when my dear son is in harm's way. Character DOES matter, and we need to determine what type of "character" we elect into the highest office in the land.

Also, why can't we have a POTUS who doesn't honor his vows? There are people out there with this characteristic you know. If someone "messed up" in their youth, I don't care as long as they learned from it and it has strengthened their own character. If any man can't honor his marriage vows, then how can we the people expect him to honor his political vows? "On my honor.....etc"

We can have both...we deserve both....and this is one voter who has always voted "character" issues. And I started voting for POTUS in 1972. Who do you think I've voted for every 4 years since then?!

Why are none of our take-the-high-road pundits interested in that part of the story that has the woman on the lam in Africa [Africa!] at Kerry's request? Whatever happened to the old saw that goes: "It's not the crime. It's the cover-up that matters." Pretending to be bored by an inconvenient sexual escapade is one thing. But to overlook the lengths a supposedly honorable man will to cover his flank is quite another thing.

Ho hum, news flash from the real world. It's the groupie syndrome stupid. My husband as a winning amateur sports car driver used to have bikini clad bimbos who hung around the track throwing themselves at him in droves. I myself have experienced something of a reverse phenomenon having taught business courses to high flying executive types who heave presents at you, offer to put their limos at your disposal etc. etc. in an upscale version of apple polishing. The high achieving guys seem to think they can buy anything. The groupie gals seem to believe that if they display their wares and availability, they'll get lucky and some of the star power will rub off on them.

"are these guys all having affairs with their interns?" Maybe, but if so most Republicans have the brains to pick ones that won't talk. ;-)

How to avoid multiple postings:

Short version: Click Post exactly one time. Go on to something else.

Long version:

1. Type your post
2. Highlight all of it and hit Ctrl-C. Now you can paste it back in, if necessary.
3. Hit post exactly one time.
4. Wait 15 seconds or so, until you get a little bit of blue showing in the progress bar.
5. Close the comments window
6. Click on the Comments thing in Jane's blog again, and see your comment there. Just once.

The importance of the story is only in terms of providing the Republican voting base a reason to show up and vote in the general election.

The Kerry womanizing stories allow the Repulican party leaders to hit the "another womanizing democratic President" button, hard.

The Democrats have their accelerated primary candidate with Kerry. Now they have to live with the results.

Trent, if this story is true, then Kerry is French toast. He hasn't even come close to getting enough delegates to clinch the nomination. I think that the Dems would start viewing Edwards as the "electable" candidate.

We seem to be afflicted with the multiple-post bugaboo again.

I think the Kerry campaign was ready for this, and have a well-thought out strategy for dealing with it.

The people who would have voted for Bush will have their attitudes reinforced by the "revelation".

Kerry supporters will be unmoved.

The undecided? Depends on how it plays out...there is a genuine possibility that the Kerry camp will spin this positive, as Clinton did in New Hampshire in 1992...

cheers,

DD

Low road...

Please, God, let this intern be hot so at least her Playboy issue would be worth buying...

Low road...

Please, God, let this intern be hot so at least her Playboy issue would be worth buying...

I'm from MA... if you're looking for "outright honesty" and "great character", I don't think Kerry's your man (on the other hand, you'd be a damned fool to suggest the majority of his compatriots on both sides of the aisle aren't just as skilled when it comes to poli-tricking). He's a good politician though... and he's ABB material.

personally I'm waiting to see what happens with all of this. I'm not saying he won't take election heat for it, but I'm not sure whether it'll do him in. It all depends on how it's handled... and what happened exactly.

he was already a hypocrite over the gay marriage thing. we abolished slavery early too... doesn't seem like something to be ashamed of.

BCK,

You may want to check out this British tabloid if this sort of thing trips your trigger. It gives names, dates, and places where Kerry was pursuing one of his interns.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004071162,00.html

The problem I am seeing here is the pattern is *IF* this story pans out as true.

Male politicos who chase interns as a rule just don't stop at one. There wil be others if this one story has any truth and now the media is looking here hard.

That blanket Kerry denial on Imus could really come back to haunt Kerry.

"It's not the crime...it's the cover up."

he was already a hypocrite over the gay marriage thing. we abolished slavery early too... doesn't seem like something to be ashamed of.

Yes, being denied a state-sanctioned union for a non-traditional use of such union is ENTIRELY THE SAME as being taken from your homeland and held against your will, so that your physical labor (and in some cases, sexuality) may be exploited at the whims of others, and then still being regarded as a second-class citizen for years after the practice was outlawed.

I enjoy a good wine as much as anyone else, but I don't think I could possibly drink enough to validate that line of reasoning.

The only reason Jane pretends not to care is jealousy. She secretly pines for John F. Kerry's hot, steamy embrace. I see it all the time... young, attractive woman... tall, crinkly-faced war-hero... CREAMY LOVE-MAKING!

Obvious.

Mike,

If every single joint you ever smoked or every woman you made love to comes back to later haunt you, all we'll see in the future are streamlined blokes with no edge and creativity trying desperately to incompetently steer us out of this overall mess.

Right. You ain't got "edge" or "creativity" unless you smoke joints and have lots of babes and split every damn infinitive you can find, and that's what we mean by AUTHENTICITY, damnit.

Can we find another political community, please?

This just in, Uncle Mort will be shot at dawn. Even were that petty portion of putrid prose to be proven punctilious, none of us at the Institute really wanted to hear it.

As a Church leader of a Church, which accepts homosexual marriages I'm disappointed in Kerry's cynical and distasteful behaviour. He has made liberals seem sleazy, untrustworthy and unelectable. First he says he is a war hero, then I see footage of him at Hanoi Jane's anti-war demonstration in the 70's denouncing soldiers fighting in Vietnam as murderers and warcriminals. Kerry can't even keep a vow to his wife, so how are we supposed to believe him when he vows to uphold the constitution? The girl was only 20 years old. Creepy Kerry is 60 for goodness sake. So the rumors about Kerry using Botox are true after all. Though looking at the age difference he probably wasn't using Botox to stiffen his forehead.

As a Church leader of a Church, which accepts homosexual marriages I'm disappointed in Kerry's cynical and distasteful behaviour. He has made liberals seem sleazy, untrustworthy and unelectable. First he says he is a war hero, then I see footage of him at Hanoi Jane's anti-war demonstration in the 70's denouncing soldiers fighting in Vietnam as murderers and warcriminals. Kerry can't even keep a vow to his wife, so how are we supposed to believe him when he vows to uphold the constitution? The girl was only 20 years old. Creepy Kerry is 60 for goodness sake. So the rumors about Kerry using Botox are true after all. Though looking at the age difference he probably wasn't using Botox to stiffen his forehead.

Question: why does everybody keep referring to an AP reporter as an intern?

Are you kidding me. You link to the NATIONAL ENQUIRER?? Any credibility you may have had has now vanished. What's next, a links to The Star, World News Weekly or The Globe. Anything to feed your right-wing scandal starved audience.

Are you kidding me. You link to the NATIONAL ENQUIRER?? Any credibility you may have had has now vanished. What's next, links to The Star, World News Weekly or The Globe? Anything to feed your right-wing scandal starved audience I guess. All of you on the right are nothing but sewer rats.

Are you kidding me. You link to the NATIONAL ENQUIRER?? Any credibility you may have had has now vanished. What's next, links to The Star, World News Weekly or The Globe? Anything to feed your right-wing scandal starved audience I guess.

I care! I want to know if my president is poking his penis into interns. I don't want a First Lady Terresa, a Second Lady Ho1, a Third Lady Ho2, a Fourth Lady Ho3, etc. It's a cultural thingy with me.

So, now that Alex Polier, the 27-not-24-year-old, never-worked-for-Kerry non-intern, has vociferously denied an affair, as have her (voting-for-Kerry) parents, can we shamefacedly get the hell off this? So deplorable.

I THINK MICHAEL KAZMAC IS AN JACKASS

I THINK MICHAEL KAZMAC IS A JACKASS

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