...we're gaining an outstanding senator.

For those of you who hadn't yet heard the news, John Kerry officially announced yesterday that he is not going to run for president again in this election cycle.

Not surprisingly, this news was greeted with illiterate and mouth-foaming chortling in some quarters; there was much gnailing and washing of teeth in others; and there were exudations of philosophical sadness but hope for the future from others as well.

For the record -- not that this is much of a surprise to anyone here I'm sure -- yr hmbl otr crspndnt falls into the latter camp.

I like John Kerry. I like his intelligence, his experience, his integrity, his commitment... and besides that, I know from personal experience that he is a warm and witty guy to hang out with on a windy Boston evening.

Did I want Kerry to be president in '04? Hell yeah, of course I did. Shucks, if it came down to a choice between a rotting fence post and the current inhabitants of the White House, I'd've gone out beating on doors in the freezing rain browbeating citizens into signing petitions on behalf of the fence post at the time.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the voting booth. I did remember Kerry from my own "fulminating against the corporate-imperialistic war machine" period during the Vietnam years, of course. But I'd lost track of him in the ensuing decades, until he decided to run for president a couple or three years ago

The more I got to know about the guy back in early '04, the more I came to like him as a politician. And the more I got to know the man in later '06, the more I came to like him as a person.

So that being said, I don't think it's particularly disloyal of me to say that I'm really pretty glad that Kerry chose not to run for president again in this election cycle.

Why? Because we need someone like him at the upper end of the food chain in the Senate a lot more than we need someone like him in the hot seat of the White House right now.

I mean, think about it -- who was more significant in terms of American political history, Henry Clay or Martin Van Buren? Who was more effective in terms of American domestic policy, Tip O'Neill or Gerald Ford? I rest my case.

Kerry is in a powerful position in the Senate now, with a key committee chairmanship and a long-standing commitment to rooting out corruption. He's perfectly set up for his well-deserved role as a senior statesman in the years to come.

And that is, as convicted felon Martha Stewart would say, a Good Thing.

As a candidate, Kerry's time would be tied up for the next couple of years chasing the dragon on the campaign trail. As a senator, he's free to spend his considerable energies chasing warmongers and war profiteers instead.

As a candidate, Kerry's hands would be at least partly tied by the very nature of the role. As a senator, he doesn't have to pull his punches and he's free to smack down corrupt officials and dishonest politicians instead.

As a candidate, Kerry's voice would have to be tempered by the conflicting demands of pandering pundits and political hacks. As a senator, he is free to boldly speak truth to power in public from a position of strength.

As a candidate, Kerry would have to constantly be defending himself and his family from unfair attacks. As a senator, he will be free to take the battle to the bad guys on their own shaky ground instead.

As a candidate, Kerry would have my trust, my respect, and my admiration. As a senator, he has those things from me already... and he will continue to have them as long as he is in public office and standing up for the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

So John, er I mean, Mr. Kerry, sir -- that's why I'm glad you decided not to run for president again. You can really kick ass in the Senate now. And Goddess knows that we really do need people who can kick ass in the Senate now.

So go out there and give 'em hell, Johnny. We'll leave the light in the old North Church steeple on for ya.