Not Letting Go

For John, BLUF:  Do you think 75 year old John Forbes Kerry still harbors presidential ambitions?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Pompeo, Kerry clash in remarkable stand-off over Iran

From , by Reporters Nahal Toosi, Matthew Choi and Jesus Rodriguez, 14 September 2018.

Here is the lede plus three:

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his predecessor John Kerry clashed Friday over the latter's private meetings with Iranian officials, a remarkable war of words that had both sides accusing the other of dishonesty.

Pompeo alleged that, by holding "beyond inappropriate" meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Kerry was undermining U.S. foreign policy in an "unprecedented" manner.  The secretary's comments came after President Donald Trump asserted in a tweet that Kerry’s meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif were “illegal.”

Kerry and his aides dismissed such allegations as utter bunk, pointing out that Kerry had briefed Pompeo and the State Department about his discussions with Zarif.  Kerry twisted the knife even more on Twitter by raising Trump's legal woes, saying the president should "be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Iran's [foreign minister]."

It was an ugly and astonishing exchange for two men who have held the title of chief U.S. diplomat, a role that traditionally is supposed to stay above partisan fray.  But it was just another indication of the unusually bitter relationship between the members of the Barack Obama administration and the Trump team.  Obama aides are particularly upset with Trump for abandoning the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, a signature accomplishment for Kerry that numerous Obama staffers helped craft.

Since the United States does not have a Parliamentary form of Government, we don't have a tradition of a Shadow Cabinet.  However, it appears former Secretary of State John Forbes Kerry has not only set himself up as the alternative SecState, but is actively negotiating on behalf of some future Democratic Party President.

This is more indication that the collective Democratic Party believes that the Trump Administration is illegitimate.  It also suggests they are prepared to push it over the side, lock, stock and barrel, at the first opportunity.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff