Before the election, he immediately diverted talk to 2018. Since then, in all of his comments, he has pointed out things he is NOT doing. Things like going to certain states. At yesterday's Harvard event, he specically spoke of looking at those running - referencing his endorsement of Obama. https://iop.harvard.edu/forum/conversation-john-kerry Note that in his comments, he speaks of "
being ready to pass the tourch."
When he says, "he has not done the things one does if running" AND we are at this point in the cycle, he is absolutely not gearing up for a run. (In fact -- try this - google HillaryClinton.com, JoeBiden.com and JohnKerry.com -- one of these is different than the others. In 2005/2006, Kerry used his website and in 2006 even had a moderated blog. Now ... nothing. Not to mention, he never INITIATES the conversation on running. I assume it is likely flattering to be asked about it.
However, many times the question is phrased something like - "given your activism, your passion to right the country, and your commitment to service, would you consider running. THAT is the type of frame that causes him to say "he hadn't ruled out the idea -- then quickly adding he hadn't ruled it in." What is clear is that there is not yet a candidate that he is ready to get behind. What he speaks of is looking for someone with REAL committments on climate change and a better, more peaceful world. He did say that Biden is good on these issues. (I remember in early 2007, Teresa and John Kerry on their book tour after he was not running making a similar comment on wanting to back a candidate stronger on fighting climate change -- implying that could secide who he supported.)
I think there is at least as much anti HRC AND anti Sanders sentiment here at DU. I see very little anti Kerry hatred - even among people not wanting him to run. (There is a big difference between not favoring someone to run and being against him.) I think the general opinion of Kerry was that he was an outstanding Secretary of State - I would argue the best in over 50 years.
As to what he is doing, he has done a lot on climate change and the environment. Recently, he went to the 5th annual Our Oceans conference in Indonesia. This was something he started as Secretary. The first (2014) and the third (2016) were in the US, the others in Chile, Malta and Indonesia. This international effort has done a lot to set uyp marine reserves and to work to improve the health of the oceans. (In this years, he was able to help Vietnam with sustainable shrimping which Vietnam announced.)
In addition, he is working with students at Yale. The main thing he has been doing is a book tour for his very well written book. In the early US part, he chose to speak of the need to be politically active and to vote ... and spoke of the importance of the midterms.
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