Senator Kerry on McChrystal: "All of us best served by just backing off, staying cool and calm"

[Better Believe It]

See the youtube video of Senator Kerry's remarks at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiHkfbbJEno&feature=player_embedded#!

[doc03]

1. Senator Kerry as usual straddles the fence n/t

[dgibby]

2. I don't think he's straddling.

I believe he'll come down on the side of keeping McChrystal. That was him just laying the groundwork, a veiled message to the WH that McChrystal is "too big to fail".

[doc03]

3. Or not? n/t

[Inuca]

5. That's BS

I heard the interview. He was being thoughtful, fair and loyal, basically saying that this is no trivial matter that should be treated as a feeding frenzy by the media and that the decision about what to do next should rest with the president and his national security team. And that therefore he is not going to make any pronouncements, which is the right thing to do. He is too important for his statements to be just media fluff, but not directly involved with any pertinent decision. He therefore did the adult and wise thing to do, he tried to stay out of it.

I doubt that what I wrote will change your mind in any way, but it needed to be said.

[dgibby]

8. you have every right to your own opinion,

as well as I do. It was what he said about the war in Afghanistan that made me believe what I posted.

As for changing my mind, perhaps starting off with something like "I disagree" would have worked better that "That's BS".

[Inuca]

11. Agree with your last sentence

I was upset, sorry & apologies for uncalled for rudeness.

[dgibby]

15. It's all cool.

Thanks. BTW, I love Kerry, just thought he was leaning toward keeping him on because of the war.:hi:

[Better Believe It]

10. If Kerry really "tried to stay out of it." why did he comment at all? That wasn't very "wise".

Perhaps Senator Kerry just couldn't resist commenting on the need to not comment.

And why do you think John Kerry found it necessary to state the obvious, that it's up to President Obama to decide what to do with McChrystal?

Perhaps that was just another lesson on government we needed from Senator Kerry. But, I don't think anyone has questioned the Presidents right to pick his Generals, assign them or even fire them.

Obama is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces!

We know that Senator Kerry!

[Inuca]

13. He commented because he was asked

Repeatedly. He was already scheduled for an interview that was meant to be about the climate/energy bill he is so much involved with, but in view of what happened he got one questions about that and the rest was McChrystal over and over again.

As to why he found it necessary to say that it's Obama's choice: yes, indeed, it is obvious, I agree. The point that he was trying to make was simply that given the importance and sensitivity of the issue he will not make any comment of substance before the president has spoken. And he had to keep saying it with slightly different words, because he kept being asked the same thing, again, with slightly different words.

You first sentence is pure snark, purely devoid of content (or logic for that matter). When you are on TV and you are being asked questions you have to answer something. But I am sure you knew that, so no need for me to "state the obvious".

[Better Believe It]

16. Kerry wasn't responding to a question asked at a news conference nor anywhere else.

He made a statement at the start of a Senate committee hearing that he opened as chairman. Kerry was the first one sitting down and he wasn't responding to any question asked by the press, witnesses or other committee members in that hearing.

We're you looking at a different video?

Please post your video if it's different than the one posted here.

Thanks.

[karynnj]

19. Here is a link - she said it was MSNBC

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/22/4544021-kerry-on-mcchrystals-poor-judgment

As to saying this at the beginning of a SFRC on AFGHANISTAN, don't you think it was the elephant in the room? That there was some question about the top general staying? Did you bother to watch the rest of the hearing?

[Better Believe It]

24. This statement is worse than the one Kerry made at the Senate committee meeting.

But, thanks for the link.

McChrystal's statement was merely “a mistake” or just “poor judgment.”????!!!!

I think it is much more serious than that otherwise why even consider firing him or asking for his resignation.

[karynnj]

25. Frankly, I prefer Kerry's inclination to not jump on someone while indicating

that he did something wrong than the "gotcha" fever that the republicans had when any Democrat misspeaks. The fact is that saying the President and the top general must have mutual respect and trust - in view of this - shows he thinks it unlikely to work. That clearly does not exist.

You might notice that later in the day - Gibbs, Obama's spokesperson used the same two words. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4437877

[karynnj]

18. Kerry was out on that talk show speaking on climate change

He was, of course, asked about this - and answered.

[Better Believe It]

23. Kerry answered a talk show question in a Senate committee hearing????

That sounds pretty bizarre.

Well, back to the talk show.

And when he was asked by (the host, an audience member, the TV cameraperson, the soundperson, a news reporter?) someone on that talk show about McChrystal how did Kerry respond on that talk show?

Do you know the name of the radio or TV talk show and can you provide a link to that talk show?

[blm]

26. Kerry is on the same page as Obama on this...why should that be a mystery to people here?

Obama's statement echoed Kerry's earlier statement. Those who pretend to not 'get' the wisdom can go pick zits.

[karynnj]

17. You are seeing things that are not there

Last fall, Kerry was one of the strongest voices against McChrystal's huge expansion. Kerry's concern was that there were not enough Afghans prepared to provide adequate governance and security in areas the larger forces would clear. What Kerry is rightly saying is that this is Obama's decision and a more important decision is what our Afghanistan policy should be.

Consider what he said - did anyone ask about the Afghanistan policy? Was their any suggestion it was not fixed? Kerry has had recent hearing that were very disturbing on the situation in Afghanistan and he spoke of having another one today (that I haven't seen.) If anything Kerry is suggesting a bigger reason for a change than inappropriate words being said.

[Rageneau]

4. Kerry reminds us what a bold, principled, decisive Presidential candidates he was.

[Inuca]

6. BS as well; see above n/t

[hayu_lol]

7. An enlisted man, for making such comments, would have...

been courts-martialed. At the very least, several hours of being grilled by a couple of field grade officers.

Reduce the bugger one grade and retire him immediately.

[dgibby]

9. I was a senior officer in the Navy,

and believe me, I'd have been courts-martialed in a skinny minute if I'd have done this.

[Seneca]

14. Until he passively let Ohio go

[karynnj]

29. No one yet has found the rock solid proof needed to question it

They mostly stole it with things like an inadequate number of voting machines - and you can't count votes not cast. The fact is that Edwards never ever suggested what he would have used to "fight" it - something he spoke of only to blogosphere and only after 2006.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Remind us what that "mission" thing is, senator.

[spanone]

20. i hope Obama is careful to fire his entire staff too.

[SoCalDem]

21. When Moaning Joe asked him to comment, he should have said "No Comment"..n/t

[karynnj]

27. Why should he have done that?

His answer did not hurt Obama in any way and it emphasized that the policy was the most important issue. The fact that he was one of those named - and he had a great response to their criticism. He is the chair of the SRFC. Which other people do you think should not respond?

[Unvanguard]

22. He's quite right. There are a number of competing considerations here. n/t

[Forkboy]

28. I really like Kerry a lot, a truly good man.

He means well here, but I don't agree with him.

[blm]

30. why? we should all rush to declare what Obama should do instead of staying cool while Obama decides

for himself?

Man...the reading INTO these simple remarks is so predictable.

[Forkboy]

31. "Man...the reading INTO these simple remarks is so predictable."

Yes, it is.

[blm]

32. not really directed at you Fb....I just used your post to vent.

.

[Forkboy]

34. We're always good.

You're the best of the best to me. :hug:

[blm]

35. well...in that case...drinks?

; )

[Forkboy]

36. I started at 1 this afternoon.

Drinks are probably the last thing I need.

Not that that's going to stop me from finishing the rest, mind you...

:)

[TayTay]

33. I agree with the Senator

McCrystal is the commander of the forces in Afghanistan. We have to maintain continuity of service for our troops over there and for the Commander in Chief's program.

I think McCrystal has some 'splaining to do. I see no reason why everyone else has to sweat out what he did. There are too many feeding frenzies right now. Calm and cool is better.

[Nikki Stone1]

37. .

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