You know fellow DUers.. French were NOT upset at Kerry's absence.

[mylye2222]

And that even before he announced his yesturday trip.

Here people in majority enjoyed the speech at Paris City Hall. And not only because it was delivered in French. ( except our own RWers who happyly followed GOp/Faux Noise crap scandal-created-on-nothing)

And our foreign minister Laurent Fabius tild reporters Kerry stated while in talks with him at Quai D'Orsay he really wanted to come earlier and even apologized.

The problem is. No one should have apology for this, less John Kerry whose affection for France is known and aknowledged.

I watched the whole thing. And while covering, pundit stated that maybe the WH didnt completly , at least at first, understand the meaning of the attack regarding our whole societys coherence. Dont know the whole story...but it does make sense.

Well going back to the CityHall adress what struck a lot was that Kerry found the right word to honor the ordinary people who saved lives, as well as to denounce the insult toward Muslims that was the attack Particulary one young man, the Malian who hidded Jewish customers during the Vincennes slaughter.

So here people are really thankfull.
And for me , if tje trip was initialy purposed to "fix a US polemic" it was rather a personal move for Kerry , ( and it was percieved alike as well) than an usual " protocolar, diplomatic courtesy stop"

Thanks JK. Thanks American people for tge concern and support you showed to us during those painful days.

[Historic NY]

1. James Taylors song hit the right tone...

"you got a friend"

[karynnj]

2. Thank you for this and other comments that have explained the French view of this

It seems clear that the US/French relationship was never in doubt. Still, in a time of grief, for people it helps to know that others care. Here, it seems to extend to countries. However, it seems lucky that the US had someone who has always risen to say the right words here in America, and who is has a life long relationship with France and fluent French.

What is funny given the US media accounts that blasted Obama and made a hero of Netanyahu - even though he seemed to act with the grace of someone like Chris Christie -is that, in reality, Obama's poll numbers are up --- and Netanyahu's party polled WORSE, not better, in two polls done mid this week.

[Cha]

6. Yeah, how about that?! , "Obama's poll numbers are up --- and Netanyahu's party polled WORSE.."

Excellent point, karyn. That's the US corporate media.. as much as they try to manufacture their own narrative.. President Obama WINS. again.

From all the reports I saw.. Netanyahu acted like a buffoon in Paris.. and it was reported in an Israeli newspaper.

[Fred Sanders]

3. The Pundit Class in America are seeing Obama's soaring job approval numbers and are now

foaming at the mouth angry as to how they could have lost control of the Fear Button.

Secretary of State Kerry has done yeoman's work with France, just because the media does not report it does not mean it did not happen.

And that guy standing beside him, the President of France, he also has clearly stated, on multiple occasions, that the terrorists who kill in the false name of their religion are not Muslims, so stand with them or stand with what the terrorists want, more terror.

[YvonneCa]

4. I agree completely. It was Fox and...

...CNN that started the US 'mistake'...their word...of not going to Paris rally. That allowed them to do what they do: Blame Obama for____(fill in blank).

As to the fear, that is also what they do. But it is DANGEROUS, especially in this case. Using their term 'Islamist Terrorism' turns this into a religious conflict. NOT helpful at all.

[Fred Sanders]

8. Fox and CNN almost appeared to react in concert to create that false meme, then pushed it to

the main stream media who always seem grateful to just regurgitate fucked up logic if it attacks Obama. You would almost think it a conspiracy if one was into that.

If it were not done so obviously and repeatedly maybe they could get away with it. Good thing we have our free speech rights to fight back.

[YvonneCa]

10. It was very obvious. Glad I'm not the...

...only one who noticed it. Question is...what is the motivation? I have my guesses...

[mylye2222]

12. The purpose might be covering up their ignorance

...with using the long sadly succesfull big distraction that is using someone as a scapegoat.

[YvonneCa]

5. ...

...

[Cha]

7. Great to hear, mylye.. thank you.

[Iliyah]

9. The French Gov. asked Bibi

not to come but he came anyway - photo opp.

GOP references to Hitler by way of Prez O, again was sickening

Corporate media sucks. It does not report news anymore. Instead of covering what the GOP congress is doing which is to continue to degrade America, they cover bullshit.

[90-percent]

11. Modern American Main Stream Media?

Nothing more than AGENDA DRIVEN CORPORATE PROPAGANDA.

A free press is key to a healthy Democracy - informed citizens are key to that.

Our news no long informs or even acts in a responsible manner, like the Cronkite, Huntley-Brinkley Murrow days. Our modern news is designed to tell us what to think and propagandize us with false narratives that keep us fearful and divided. And ignorant and easily manipulated.

And especially to make sure we all ruin our own quality of life in sacrifice to the needs of our Oligarch's, who to a man appear to be base selfish crude mean animals that contribute less to the common good than a rabid dog.

Oh, and the Oligarch's are stupid besides. I envy the likes of John Gotti more than the likes of Mitt Romney. At least Gotti was occasionally generous to average people. Mitt and John were in the same line of work, it's just that Mitt didn't have people murdered as much. But as far as wrecking lives goes, Mitt perhaps outperformed John in that score?

-90% jimmy