tdaxp

Note: This is a selection from Network Politics, a tdaxp series.

"Kerry takes on ... the gays," by kos, Daily Kos, 9 May 2005, http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/5/9/15543/65846.

"John Kerry Needs To Go Away," by John in DC, America Blog, 9 May 2005, http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/05/john-kerry-needs-to-go-away.html.

Another post illustrating Fourth Generation Political theory and the dysfunctional nature of the liberal "netroots"

But first, some definitions

• The Fourth Generation of Modern Politics (4GP): a modern method of politics designed to seize the government and enact laws. When successful it is based on flat-horizontal-strong ideological networks. Resistant to decapitation attacks, these peer-to-peer nets can sustain themselves for fights that last decades. A 4GP struggle evolves in three unique stages, though the network can go back and forth or even be at different stages in different places at the same time.
  
  
• 4GP's First Stage (4GPS1): This first stage of a 4GP net, characterized by a weak 4GP movement and a strong enemy. 4GPS1 attacks are known as "node takedown," "the politics of personal destruction," "agitation-propaganda," or just "horror stories." These are high-profile symbolic attacks designed to recruit followers through "militancy."
  
  
• 4GP's Second Stage (4GPS2): The second stage of a 4GP, characterized by a strong 4GP movement and a peer-strength enemy. The most popular kind of 4GPS2 attack is "network contestment," where the insurgent network tries to steal members away from an existing network in mass, or otherwise inflict mass harm on the victim net.
  
  
• 4GP's Third Stage (4GPS3): The final stage of 4GP, characterized by direct assaults and take-over of the government, the military, and police powers. 4GPS3 attacks are known as "elections," "judicial nominations," "Presidential appointments," or similar names. These are attacks by very strong 4GP networks that attempt to co-opt the government for its own purposes. Successful 4GPS3 is the goal of almost every 4GP network.

Now, the story.

"Kerry's Minnesota visit may have wider purpose," by Rob Hotakainen, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 22 April 2005, http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5362878.html (from Democratic Underground).

Senator Mark Dayton, a man who tired 8-time loser Bob Shrum as a campaign advisor before bailing out of a reelection race, says John Kerry will run again for President in 2008

As Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and his wife prepare to visit Minneapolis on May 3, Sen. Mark Dayton said he has little doubt that Kerry is planning to run for president again in 2008.

When New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the DFL Humphrey Day Dinner in Minneapolis less than two weeks ago, Dayton, D-Minn., told the crowd he hoped he was introducing "the next great president of the United States of America."

Two days later on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Dayton said Kerry approached him "with daggers in his eyes and said, 'What are you doing endorsing my 2008 presidential opponent?'... He was very serious."

Of course, Dayton may not be reliable. The "quote" seems clunky. And as he's also busy attacking Kerry

Asked about his support for Kerry last year, Dayton laughed and replied: "As Winston Churchill once said, I'd rather be right than consistent."

...

Dayton is cosponsoring Kerry's bill, but he appeared to criticize Kerry when he first recounted his interaction with him on the Senate floor during a weekend interview with KTCA-TV's "Almanac." In the interview, Dayton said that "any politician that embraces children clearly has some motive beyond that, because otherwise they would be doing something about it rather than talking about it."

John Kerry in 2008? Let's hope. That'd actually give Gingrich a shot!

"Teresa Heinz drops 'Kerry'," Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/columnists/whispers/s_300508.html, 6 February 2005 (from Fark).

"Wife Will Not Join DNC CHairman Howard Dean in Washington," Drudge Report, http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3hd.htm, 13 February 2005.

Trouble for DNC Chairman Howard Dean

Howard Dean won the chairmanship of the national Democratic Party over the weekend and quickly began looking for a home in Washington.

"This is really goodbye to Vermont, for now. There's lots of work to do," Dean told supporters.

Eyebrows were raised after it was revealed that Dean's wife, Judy, will not be joining her husband in his move.

"She has a career as a doctor, her patients require her attention," said one Dean friend.

The Deans will join the growing ranks of "commuter marriages," with both partners living in different locations.

Trouble for Senator Kerry

A campaign convenience is no more.

According to The Washington Times, Teresa Heinz, the erstwhile Teresa Heinz Kerry, has stopped using the last name of her husband, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, last year's Democrat presidential nominee.

Preceding its Women Who Make a Difference Awards dinner next month, the National Council for Research on Women is featuring "a conversation with Teresa Heinz," according to a release from the organization. The council failed to mention the final half of the Fox Chapel ketchup heiress' formerly elongated last name in several other references.

Update: Riding Sun adds:

You might see Teresa's decision as a real slap in the face to John, but I'll bet he's not taking it too hard. You see, there's plenty of nuance involved here. After all, she did change her name to Kerry, before she changed it back.