Last edited Thu Sep 18, 2014, 02:18 PM - Edit history (1)
trying to err on the side of civility and conciseness in his response. In addition, as he said repeatedly, this wasn't the time to re-litigate everything on Iraq and Syria. This is an important time to look at where we are and devise the best way out. McCain was actually accepting that but was making a case that the US should simultaneously fight ISIS and Assad. However, Mccain was clearly livid and barely making himself coherent.
The point where this was most obvious was when McCain spoke of the danger that ISIS would be first and then nothing - and Kerry composed his face to look almost like an mature version of the choirboy he was and said that if they did not fight ISIS, there would be little of the 2nd prong left. Then after Menendez's rather annoying comment that essentially put them on the same plane, Kerry joked about a debate not entered. (Oddly the right wing was angry about that and reported it without the Menendez comment that led to it.)
What I have seen is that the various other Republicans have used their questions to look like they are talking truth to the administration. Clearly they are playing to the camera and there will be uses that do not include the Secretary's excellent responses. (This is not new or just Republicans - I think some Democrats - Grayson, for instance - did this constantly with Bush)It is also true that whenever Kerry said something could not be answered fully in an open session, it risked what I saw MSNBC (our side!) do, which is to say after playing parts of teh Republican question that Kerry failed to answer it.
As to Kerry, he looked like he was in his element. He was incredibly serious, thoughtful and personable in his responses. He seemed to try very hard to explain the overall strategy as clearly as he could - even though it is clear that details could not be explained and might not even exist.
If you missed it live today it is long but informative. 
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