John Kerry was a man of great conviction during his early days when he protested Vietnam, but he also was inspirational when he was an activist Senator in his first term during the 1980s. Something changed in Kerry during the 90s when he became a "have it both ways, talk in nuance" establishment kind of guy.
I have speculated that something happened to him around 1990 or so, perhaps during the time of the BCCI investigation. BCCI was a bank that was shut down becuase it was being used by drug traffikers and people like that. Kerry was involved in some of the investigation, and he was in hot pursuit of some other very dodgy stuff involving the CIA pushing drugs into the Black Ghettos in LA and using the proceeds to fund the Contras in NIcarugua. I'm sure you heard 'bout some of those allegations. I've had some very "in the know" conservative types tell me that the CIA was in fact doing stuff like that during the 1980s at the Reagan Admin's behest.
My speculation for a long time is this: I think Kerry was getting close to exposing some REALLY powerfull establishment people involved in some pretty big crime activity. I speculate that he got some serious death threats, perhaps even threats to his daugheters, etc. I know even many Democrats didn't back him too strongly on the investigation, thus confirming his isolation, and making him even more jaded. What followed in the 1990s was a John Kerry that didn't want to take too many risks, and a realization that societal change will usually come slowly.
Well CHECK THIS OUT!
This is from US News and World report, posted in a diary earlier, and it partially confirms what i've been speculating! Apparently, a Kerry staffer was saying that Kerry DID get death threats from drug cartels! And there were something pretty powerfull people upset by his invetigation, including some establishment Democrats as well!
The bottom line is that deep down inside, there may be a side to Kerry that is still the guy that stood up the Richard Nixon. It's a guy that comes out from time to time, but he needs to be pressured to come out. Therefore, with enough activist pressure, i think he could be a really good president. I think you've already seen the HUGE change in him this past week.
an ealier diary
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/24/13258/9996