John Kerry's scathing tweet on Trump's actions today at the NATO summit

[karynnj]

Link to tweet

[Tarc]

1. I appreciate the sentiment and love Kerry, but...

The point of Twitter is condensed bytes, I have never liked these endaround images of text.

[karynnj]

3. However, from someone like President Obama, Kerry etc - twitter remains a way to get their response

out. This is likely a statement that he put out that someone put on his twitter account. He has used a series of smaller tweets before, so he (or some aide) likely thought this a better way to respond to get his many points out.

At this point, he and other prominent Obama administration people don't have the same ability to get messages out. There choices seem to be giving comments to the media - where they can be edited, appearing on cable to answer questions, or putting out statements like this. In fact, I would not be surprised if he and others are quoted by media on the summit and that the quote would come from this. Putting it out himself keeps control over what he is saying in total.

[procon]

26. Thankfully that's not the consensus view.

Its an effective tactic because more people will read it. Twitter is adaptable, and that feature is used and appreciated by many who don't have time to suss out other MSN news sources.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

2. My Gods..

the voice of reason. Hillary needs to fire off something as well. And every person in govt who got bumped for dolt replacements. They need to remind us what we had come to expect in 2008-16.
A "compare and contrast" to bolster the "A Better Deal" choice of slogans.

The govt works and really works under a Dem. They will cripple the Depts/Institutions w ineptitude and make a self-fulfillinfg prophecy out of..'Govt Doesn't work...especially BIG govt' mantra.
I pray we can bring this SC thing to a screeching halt. Remember, that was yesterdays debacle. One crazy bullshit thing a day...and we forget yesterday...and another day goes by.

[Sophia4]

4. The ignorance on display in the responses to his excellent tweet is just unbelievable.

Americans do not know their history. It's pitiful.

[karynnj]

8. Reading responses to any Obama administration person has been horrifying

Consider that Trump IS President - they won. I can't picture many on the left spending considerable energy in 2009/2010 trashing everyone in the Bush administration, although there was some of that.

What is chilling is there complete acceptance of the RW/Fox/Trump fiction on everything that has happened. It is scary that they have accepted the demonization of our real allies - including Canada. This while we heard that Kim Yung un is a "very talented man, who loves his country" and that Putin is "fine" -- countering people saying he was ex KGP.

[Elwood P Dowd]

21. What are they saying?

I don't have a twitter account.

[Sophia4]

22. I don't think I have a Twitter account either.

People are making the usual uninformed, frivolous and very nasty short accusations.

You are not missing anything. I'm beginning to wonder what these Trump supporters were doing in school during history and government classes. It isn't worth repeating their nonsensical remarks.

Sorry.

[Vinca]

5. I miss Kerry. He was an excellent SOS.

[NCTraveler]

7. I felt so confident with him as SOS. nt

[sinkingfeeling]

12. +1000

[NCTraveler]

6. Now we know how to get Kerry to speak to every day Americans.

Piss him off.

Go Kerry!

[karynnj]

18. That has LONG been the observation here on DU

If you think about it, he certainly was angry in 1971 -- and intensely eloquent. On the anniversary of that event in 2006, he gave a speech in Fanieul Hall in Boston called the Right and Responsibility to Dissent -- https://www.c-span.org/video/?192179-1/war-iraq . He spoke again at Take Back America in October 2006 -

Kerry started as an activist on both Vietnam and the enviroment in the 1970s. I think the media worked hard to hide that dynamic activist side of Kerry as well as the guts he had to investigate the Contra drug and gun running and BCCI. However, it may well have been that his IWR vote - even though he DID speak out against going to war before the invasion - separated him from many who would have been his natural base.

Here are some links from last weekend where he spoke in Martha's Vineyard event where the Final Year was shown and he then spoke to people. (https://www.mvtimes.com/2018/07/09/john-kerry-fight/ and https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2018/07/08/john-kerry-strikes-upbeat-note-urges-activism )

[NCTraveler]

19. Marking to watch after work. Thank you.

He is one of my favorites. I really enjoy listening to the depth he brings to the table.

[Raastan]

9. K + R

[McKim]

10. We Need More Adults to Speak Out

We end to hear more from the adult leaders of the Democratic Party. I guess it is hard to capture media attention when you are a rational adult who is not a drama king baron and carnival barker.
Thanks to The Great Dumbing Down we have reality TV instead of The Enlightenment.

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. The orange shit-stain will frame this and hang it on his wall with honor....

well, he wont...he will have one of the kidnapped children do it or threaten to not feed them supper.

[gratuitous]

13. Gee, there's a contrarian viewpoint

I wonder if Kerry will be asked to comment on any of the cable shows? They supposedly love them some controversy, and Kerry's remarks certainly seem like the stuff that would attract viewers and eyeballs.

Should I hold my breath in anticipation of Kerry showing up with any of the chucktodds?

[karynnj]

17. Well. he did an interview with Andrea Mitchell a few weeks ago

https://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/john-kerry-weighs-in-on-immigration-midterms-1266120259864

He was on at various other times when Trump was destroying the Iran deal and pulling out of the Paris Accord. He was excellent in all these appearances - on various Sunday shows. As always, well spoken and well informed on the topics.

He also was at a Matha's Vineyard event where the Final Year was shown and he then spoke to people. (https://www.mvtimes.com/2018/07/09/john-kerry-fight/ and https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2018/07/08/john-kerry-strikes-upbeat-note-urges-activism )

[H2O Man]

14. Recommended.

Very good! He is an outstanding man.

[panader0]

30. Kerry and Mueller--both Vietnam vets, both decorated.

Each was a volunteer I believe. Trump's "personal Vietnam" was avoiding being
wounded by STDs while bar-hopping the NYC clubs.
Are you healed up yet H2O?
ETA: I mean from your recent fall.

[JI7]

33. Kerry and Mueller went to same high school

And played on sports teams together.

[H2O Man]

37. Thanks.

I am feeling pretty good. Saw a doctor yesterday, and no new problems. Still some issues with balance and memory that are likely to be on-going, but I can deal with that.

[AwakeAtLast]

15. Trump is still looking up "harangue"

Oh, what a great President he would have been!

[MoonchildCA]

27. I doubt he has the intellectual curiosity to even care.

He probably lost focus after the second sentence anyway...

[spanone]

16. K&R...

[KY_EnviroGuy]

20. Was this published as an op-ed anywhere?

Nice piece from Sec. Kerry and very accurate. Would like to see it published somewhere other than Twitter......

As usual, twitterbots are out with their lies after that Tweet......

Thanks for the post, Karynnj........

[karynnj]

23. I don't see it anywhere as an op-ed, but there are articles quoting it as a "statement"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kerry-slams-trumps-strange-disgraceful-nato-performance-183804567.html

and

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/07/11/strange-and-counterproductive-kerry-slams-trump-remarks-nato-summit/GqFJF0dsN9SoxB8ykrHCVO/story.html

and
https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2018/07/11/donald-trump-nato-summit-john-kerry

These articles reported on the statement itself as news and they did cover the points well. The articles IMO do convey his point that how Trump did what he did was extremely bad for the US. I only scanned the articles and was glad that they pointed out that Obama and Kerry had raised the issue of funding, got the pledges and made progress diplomatically.

I like that he posted the entire comment intact. Though the journalists were respectful, I thing it is stronger read in its entirity. I especially liked his reference to the Senate statement and in the last sentence seems to call on the Republican Senators to speak out. (Yet I am hearing many supporting Trump - other than Ryan, Corker, and Hatch who backed NATO etc AND are all not running for re-election.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

24. Thanks, it's good to see the exposure!

Here's another I just ran across from the UK (a running live update page):

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2018/jul/11/brexit-pmqs-nato-summit-trump-may-eu-countries-reimburse-us-for-defence-costs-trump-intensifies-criticism-of-nato-politics-live

(Warning: photo of TMDO - The Most Deplorable One)........

......

[maryellen99]

25. I fear for Baltics,Ukraine,and Eastern Europe nt

[NBachers]

28. Another person America elected for president and were sabotaged out of.

I lived in Michigan during Kerry's Winter Soldier Investigation. I remember him in Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and speaking out in Senate hearings.

I remember a newscast at the time, comparing him to a young John F. Kennedy.

I've followed his career, and knew he'd make an outstanding President of the United States of America.

I remember holding on for the relief of Kerry rescuing us from the nightmare of George W. Bush.

I remember the pain and betrayal when our election was stolen and our victory was crushed.

What could have been . . .

United States of America - Sabotaged by republican traitors

[scarletwoman]

29. Amen. nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

32. yes, I remember too, how it felt. Gut-wrenching. n/t

[byronius]

38. +1

[BlancheSplanchnik]

31. . n/t

[blue-wave]

34. Your last sentence

rings loudly Mr. Kerry. With all due respect, I would add that the "people across the aisle" do not only "need to say it", they need to vote like it until our country is steered onto a much more sane path.

[JI7]

35. his first title is "Teresa's Husband"

[maxrandb]

36. My advice to Kerry in reaching Retrumplican voters

Never use more than 2 words to say; "FUCK TRUMP".

Using a word like cohesion with these numbnuts is like trying to teach a goat to sing. All it does is waste your time... and it pisses off the goat.

You're better off just telling them to go fuck themselves

[karynnj]

39. You may be mistaking who he is speaking to

In addition to strongly criticizing the way Trump is treating our allies ... and how he is fawning over Putin, he is defending the Obama administration. The Obama administration worked hard to get NATO countries to step up -- not just in spending on defense, but actually contributing to the ISIS fight and the long Afghanistan war. Trump thanks his peers for nothing and is seemingly ignorant on how important NATO has been in serving the joint interests of the US and our allies.

On energy, Trump misstates how much Germany depends on Russia. He conflates the percent of nature gas from Russia with the percent of energy. The Obama administartion was similarly not happy that Germany got nature gas from Russia. However, they understood that every country acts on its own national interest. The difference is that neither Obama or Kerry would have embarrassed Germany or any other NATO ally calling them out in public. Instead, they praised Germany for doing a lot to keep sanctions in place (which hurt Europe more than the US) against Russia.

This statement and Brennan's, counter the two almost contradictory RW responses on this. Those responses are that Obama did the same thing (ie he asked for more military spending and he was against the Russian pipeine) AND that Trump had the guts that the Obama administration didn't and is getting things done. (The latter is why Trump claimed that he has gotten the countries to spend more than committed to before --- even though Macron disputes this.) In fact, the Obama administration worked well with NATO and got the commitments in the first place AND - more importantly - led the effort in creating the ISIS coalition that NATO was the heart of.

So, who is Kerry speaking to. Look at the last sentence. He is calling on his former peers (among others) in the Senate, noting their resolution in support of NATO. That resolution shows they value NATO - as has been the norm before Trump. There are very few people extreme enough to reject all international structures in the House and Senate. I assume that the very diplomatic Kerry, who did work across the aisle while in the Senate knows exactly how to reach these people. A few Republicans have come out decrying Trump's rudeness and speaking of the value of NATO.

[maxrandb]

40. Oh, I know who he's talking to

and the Retrumplicans in the House and Senate most definitely need to be told to GO FUCK THEMSELVES

[karynnj]

41. I would suggest that a man who spent 28 years in the Senate is more likely to know

what could work ... or he knows it won't and is simply defending the Obama administration and correcting Trump's lies. His comments were widely distributed and one comment where he corrected Trump was actually facted checked (as true).

Other than diminishing a very honorable statesman, nothing would be helped if he took your advice.

[politicasista]

42. Nice statement...though

Last edited Fri Jul 13, 2018, 11:27 PM - Edit history (1)

we all know the Orange Grimace is an evil, racist, sexist, xenophobic who pathologically lies daily.

However, citizen Kerry doesn't say all of the above, this and other statements are perceived as sugarcoating, waste of time, etc.

Case in point, in addition to this thread, Charlottesville, VA attack. He never said "domestic terrorism" and the social media resistance liberal progressive crowd let him have it.

That said, hope everyone is well. He and other sense-making people are missed.






edit for clarity