President Obama walks to Blair House to attend a Christmas Party hosted by the National Security Council, Dec 13
On his way back to the White House – did he leave his coat in Blair House? I do that kind of thing all the time. 😕
****
You know that work deadline I boasted about almost meeting the other day? Well, I’m even closer now, I’ll only be a couple of days late. I know, I know: 😎
Whoever torpedoed it it seems like straight-up rascism to me. A black President is hard enough for some to bear but SOS black, too?
No way say the Confederate States of Whatever.
You get it done Chips, deadlines are only a moment in time, tho they seem longer when they are out ahead of us! And don’t worry about PBO’s coat, I’ll drop it back on my way over… 😉
Thomas Mann and Orinstein(sp) were absolutely right. We no longer have a media that holds in power accountable. We have a media that is too scared to do their jobs.
51 yrs is young. However, Our president is a GQ 51 young with salt and pepper hair that makes his distinguish frame…..hmmmmm….Soooo….. Kool…..Cool…..just GQ perfect.
I am tied 1st and 2nd? So does that mean that I get the POTUS, FLOTUS, VPOTUS and Dr. Biden, plus the flying frog-leaping tyke? Pretty please, Ms. Chips?
The assholes (including emoprogs) on Twitter, many of them so called supporters have been on this almost two week Ezra Klein, Ed Schultz, and media carnival barkers induced freak out and making disgusting demands of Pres. Obama. If you voted for Pres. Obama (twice now), you know where he stands, and you know that he has been fighting for everyone since day one yet you choose to continue setting your hair on fire (since 2010, 2011, 2012); I don’t care if you started a blog, if you donated $1M or $5, if you call yourself an Obamabot, you are an asshole.
Enough is enough. Pres. Obama has proven himself over and over again yet so called supporters make disrespectful demands of him – based on gossip from the media – as though he’s a child.
I’ve had it up to here with spineless, foolish, assholey supporters who are only in when the going is good and abandon ship at the slightest gossip induced hint of trouble.
That NASTY, VILE Stinkerwink on Old Orange immediately posted a diary grabbing credit – putting her own spin by saying “It seems that trial balloon that was floated out has been shot down thanks to pushback from progressive organizations and Democratic officials in the House and the Senate.”
That woman is so hateful towards our President, it is disturbing. I wouldn’t be surprised if she donated to Romney or campaigned for him when no one was looking.
They’re the same as Republicans. That convenient “trial balloon” always seems to surface after they’ve accused the President or doing or planning something he hasn’t done or said, and then they’re proven wrong. They’re idiots – they keep falling for the same tricks.
I totally agree with you, UT. I’ve been spending very little time on twitter the last two weeks since Ed and Ezra decided to start this baseless rumour, because the Emoprogs have been having a field day freaking out. And, none of them issue a single directive to the GOP, who actually are trying to destroy the social safety net, but they have plenty of fire and insults for President Obama – who has done nothing but strengthen the safety net since he’s been in office. It’s exhausting and it’s destructive. The Democrats are winning, but there are some who insist on losing, or eroding the margin. And it’s the usual suspects… People should know better – and heed Ed’s hashtag “trust President Obama because he’s earned it”. It just makes me furious.
@utaustinliberal: as an obamabot i agree and stand with you. plz pull my coattail if EVER i make such an error. thx for the courageous checkmate of others in this regard!
I think that you will be great…..no….far greater than the silly DC/NY Pundits on Fox or on the Cycle for you have facts, wisdom and true patriotism. It is indeed a well thought out post. Congratulations LL. I enjoyed it.
Okay. [I should already know this . . . ] Will someone explain to me how it is that Exxon managed to
get the U.S. government [aka our elected representatives] to agree to set up financial structures
that subsidize their oil industry by $10,000,000,000
[is that enough zeroes??] each year??
I know that the Republicans used to persuade the peoples that our very economic lives depended
upon the health of big corporations. Is that when it happened? And what will it take to STOP this extortion?
Please do tell me.
Funny that Sam Stein has tweeted that as breaking news. However, Jay Carney was asked that question less than an hour ago and he said he has nothing to announce, but everyone knows that Chuck Hagel and pres Obama are friends. Well Chuck Hagel’s brother, I believe, the younger brother was and is a big supporter of pres Obama’s. Hagel endorsed then sen Obama in 2008 over McSane.
So, I’m on a lower-fat diet in an effort to combat my high cholesterol. I thought it would be a difficult adjustment, but so far it’s been relatively easy. I make breakfast at home now, rather than going out to McDonald’s or some other fast food joint. And last night we made the most delicious lentil soup. I plan to make more vegetarian dishes which are high in protein. The wifey unit is pissed off at me, because I make dieting look so easy. If it’s easy, it’s because I take it as a challenge to eat healthier, while still satisfying my foodie soul. And when I accept a challenge, I go all in.
Well aren’t you special, with your soups and vegetarian dishes and your non-annoying attitude towards your power over food? I’m glad you can drive by McDonald’s in your Prius with your nose up in the air daydreaming about all the wonderful things you can do with food without gaining an ounce of weight. I’d give my right arm just to be able to not think about food for a second. One of my reasons for coming here is to talk politics amongst friends and to clear my mind. But that all ended today because my friend LL just contributed to my relapse, I need to blame somebody and since I’m not in the mood to take ownership of my problem I might as well blame you, Liberal Librarian.
good hawaii morning lib lib! i switched to vegism a dozen or so years ago, and found the key is building flavors. with meat dishes, the meat creates a rich background flavor that ties together and enhances the others. with veggie dishes, you must coax the more delicate flavors from the ingredients, and build depth with multiple elements. carmelizing carrots and onions, for instance, gives richness and foundation to a dish. also, beans, cooked gently with olive oil and herbs, release their nutty sweetness. before long your palate seeks these elusive elements, and begins appreciating more flavors than you knew! have fun!
Chips – Love that “Did he leave his coat at Blair House?” Whenever I’d go on travel for something they called “work,” when I worked, I’d invariably leave my favorite robe behind the bathroom door in the hotel room. Grrr. And when I called back, it was always gone. You would have thought I would have caught on, but I did it more than once. I’m still thinking about my most favorite robe, later worn by “somebody” in Hilton Head (we had some pretty nice “work trips”), I’m sure. Oh, well, let it go, Jackie. 🙂
Hope you are doing well today, Chips. Thank you again for everything you do for all of us.
It Exists: Details on proposed spending cuts by the President
By Sarah Jones
————————–
It’s not as if Obama has a reputation for fiscal recklessness, like Republicans do. Under Obama, federal spending has grown at 1.4 percent per year, the slowest pace since Eisenhower, and far lower than the 8.7 percent in President Reagan’s first term. This includes the money spent on the stimulus to rescue us from the Bush economy. It was Republican Paul Ryan who refused to do the math on his budget, not President Obama.
Yet, the media buys the Republican line that they don’t have these budget cut proposals. Further, we are all to suspend disbelief and pretend as if Republicans have no access to the Internet, if in fact they never got their hard copy. This is how paid representatives of the people conduct themselves.
We all very busy pretending Republicans are suddenly serious people who actually care about the deficit and even though they only presented a 2 page document with one sentence relating to revenue, the real problem is that they can’t find Obama’s budget proposal because he is hiding it from them. And now we must pretend that Republicans shouldn’t be held responsible for reading things and admitting they exist.
The media needs to admit the Obama budget cut proposal exists and that Republicans have access to it, and stop pretending that there are two sides to reality.
These sane Republicans are vilified not just by their party, but also in the MSM so we hardly know they exist. In 2009-2011, instead of seeing more of Charlie Crist, etc, we were being fed a steady diet of Michelle Bachman, etc. Instead of seeing sane Republicans in congress working and cooperating with our President, we were treated to weekly Teabag rallies on CNN, tweets from Sarah Palin, and GOP congressional “leaders” trying to appease their radical wing with their “hell no you can’t” rants and “one-term President” utterances.
[Sob, sob, “What about our chil’ren!” Oh puhleez! Damn, did I say earlier that I would be kinder soonest? 🙂 ]:
Said Boehner: “I’m not concerned about my job as Speaker. What I’m concerned about is doing the right thing for our kids and grandkids. And if we don’t fix this spending problem, their future is going to be rather bleak.”
Indeed, FiredUp! Nothing out of my mouth at this but Dingbats! Don’t have a Twitter account, but wish I could send a whole bunch of them to Boehner et. al, “Doing 4 our kids/grandkids:…” then using your list & a lot more, one at a time! They need to stop that kids/grandkids nonsense! Phew! OK, I’m dingbat-free! 🙂
reminds me of the nazis tying women and children to the cow-catchers of the munitions trains, to keep the allies from blowing up the tracks. it’s unworthy of american politics and it really has to stop.
Fired up, Boehner hasn’t had a thought about anyone but himself and his own personal gain since he first got elected to Congress. He’s never shown empathy and he’s lousy at faking it. Statements from him about caring for grandkids should be greeted with loud laugh. What a sad joke he is!
GD McCain & his BS. This should never have happened. I am so tired of their lies & manipulation to get their way. I empathize with Ms Rice & her decision, but she should never have been put in such a position by these SOBs
Now on to those vacant judgeship’s, eh. As the media surges forward to MAKE news instead of reporting it. Notice they’re trying to make the selection for the President by suggesting Senator Kerry should be the Secty…..Pisses my off……Chuckie is saying it’s Kerry’s TURN.
Well I despise the media anyway- they will always push the repub agenda. The hope that anything would change with media or repubs after POTUS won a second time, was a slim hope.. but I thought they would have learned at least a small lesson. Apparently it is impossible for them to learn.
Indeed Yardarm – through a complacent lying media and defeated GOP pundits – the President doesn’t even get to choose a cabinet before it is attacked. Never in the past 100 years of US history (I don’t know anything before WWI about US history) has there been a more active GOP/media campaign against a sitting – twice elected – President. They would bring down a great nation because they object to the man over 50% of the population wanted as President.
I would not want to be any of them approaching the pearly gates – and most are on the downhill run to that place
Yardarm, I think hell has already got a special place for him in one of its hottest circles. He’s absolutely contemptible. I wonder if the president can choose to ignore her withdrawal and nominate her anyway.
Too bad. She is a selfless person who undoubtedly did not want to bring any impediment to the confirmation process in the new year. She will remain at her present post I hope, or as an advisor to the President on Foreign policy.
I think we need to be careful before jumping to conclusions. I don’t think John McCain and/or Lindsay graham had anything to do with Rice’s decision to remove her name. The media will present it that way to give the GOP a “win” but I seriously doubt that’s how it went down.
They went after Amb Rice – like there was no tomorrow. They want Sen Kerry to give their handsome hero another chance to be in the Senate & no doubt are all out tonight celebrating – in the usual Washington way.
“If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly – to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities,” Rice wrote in a letter to President Obama, saying she’s saddened by the partisan politics surrounding her prospects.
“That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country…Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time,” she wrote in the letter obtained by NBC News.
Yep, exactly what I figured.. she has her country and POTUS in mind – basically she is falling on her sword. And THAT should not have to be. This is McCain et al’s fault, putting her in this position. I am so tired of them.
I wonder if, when all the other crap is done with (i.e.fiscal cliff) if PBO couldn’t just say that appreciates her thoughts on the matter but he still believes she is the best person for the job.
I would think he could.. but she would have to be willing to go through the process. A woman of Susan Rice’s abilities & substance can probably go anywher & do anything she chooses.. thus she doesn’t need McCain & McFreakouts to waste 6 months of her life ‘approving’ her. I don’t blame her a bit.. and I can’t see President Obama pushing it, can you?
What I hope not to see, even though I like him- is for John Kerry to be SoS- simply because the Repubs want it too much. We all know they want that senate seat, which mean POTUS knows & is no doubt prepared for that.
I just hate, I mean really hate to see a good person, Susan Rice shredded by repubs & media simply to push their disgusting political agenda. They really have zero conscience- no rules for them. I’m furious she was put through this crap.
The GOP are a disgrace. I am so sick of this party. Everything is a fight with them and all because they want to take Sen Kerry open senate seat they trashed her name and ruined her reputation. I also read a lot of SENATE DEMOCRATS said privately that they didn’t want this fight because of this fiscal cliff and possible debt ceiling fight. They are just as bad as these no good republicans. This woman was treated unfairly and she shouldn’t have to withdraw her name because of the bengazi. They figure she isn’t worth the fight that they have bigger fish to fry so bascially she has been thrown under the bus. I hope Obama didn’t force her withdraw her name and if he accepts her decision, I hope to god he BLASTS these GOP and tell them that it will be war for the next 4 years. He niceness is GONE. They want a war with him, then give it to them every single time. They aren’t getting away with any of this crap. Don’t negotiate period with these assholes. GO over the DAMN CLIFF and let them take the responsibility
If Susan Rice has had to cut short her brilliant foreign policy career because of Benghazi, then that should also mean that Hillary will have to abstain from running for President – per the GOP standards – since Benghazi was squarely in the State Department’s camp. Why are these GOP allowed to harm the country like this, repeatedly?!
This witchhunt against Susan Rice is bullshit!!! Not only should Hillary clinton be forever grounded, I also think that John Kerry should not get the job!!!
I am feeling very resentful of John Kerry too. I strongly believe his obsession with being Sec. of State also prevented him from doing the right thing with regard to defending Susan Rice’s honor!!!
Freaking Jonathan Alter is claiming that John Kerry is more qualified than Susan Rice!!! Are you kidding me??!!!!
If John Kerry had Susan Rice’s academic and professional qualifications, he would be crowned king!!!
Hillary Clinton did not have half the academic or professional qualifications suited to the Sec. of State position!!! She largely got off on her husband’s name and position!!!
And it showed!!! No tangible accomplishments to speak of besides logging airmiles and beating the record for most travelled SoS. But where are the list of accomplishments besides photo ops!!!
Susan Rice has a superior resume that very few could ever boast of!!!
Ari Melber grinning from ear to ear because if Kerry gets the job, he gets to be on his staff!!! It’s everyone for themselves it appears!!!
As for Dana Milbank, may he get the great hurt that awaits him courtesy of Karma!!! I hate them all!!!
I actually don’t harbor any ill will towards John Kerry. He served the President well during the START treaty nonsense, and I always thought he’d make a good SOS, even before Rice’s name entered the ring. I think if he was good enough to be a potential Commander in Chief for the Democratic Party (who have their heads about them with regards to this stuff), then he’s good enough to be Secretary of State. I’ve only heard rumours of things he’s supposed to have said during this nonsense, and no evidence of any derogatory statements towards Susan Rice. If he is chosen as the nominee, I would be happy – but sad that it will be perceived to be an afterthought – for someone who has been let down by the Democratic Party on more than one occasion (after serving the country quite honourably over several years).
John Kerry is very good friends with McCain and while McCain was on his very public witchhunt of Susan Rice, John Kerry never once spoke up in her defense. Never!!! And she was Kerry’s foreign policy adviser during his 2004 presidential campaign. He knew and trusted her that much but could not speak up on her behalf as she was falsely being attacked for something that was no fault of hers!!!
Kerry even held press conferences with Mccain during that same period!!! Where is the integity??!!!
At this point I’m just sick and tired of these Democrats who are so caught up in their own personal ambitions they are more willing to plot with republicans than do the right and honorable thing!!!
Additionally, it is not President Obama’s job to keep making ammends for the failed political ambitions of particular Democrats. First Hillary clinton, now John Kerry!!!
This President deserves the chance to fully pursue his foreign policy vision without being interrupted or distracted by the egos and seperate visions of these high profile Democrats who will continue to insist that they know better than the President they work for!!!
Susan Rice would have tirelessly worked undistracted for the President – and that is part of the reason they did everything to sideline her!!!
I hate Dana Milbank but this caught my eye in his hit piece against Susan Rice:
“Clinton got a measure of revenge in 2010 after she worked out a deal with the Russian foreign minister on a package of Iran sanctions to be adopted by the U.N. Security Council. The White House wanted Rice to make the announcement (part of a campaign to increase her profile that included high-visibility foreign trips and TV appearances), but a Clinton aide got Kerry to ask Clinton about the matter during an unrelated Senate hearing.”
President Obama’s statement about Susan Rice’s decision:
“Today, I spoke to Ambassador Susan Rice, and accepted her decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State. For two decades, Susan has proven to be an extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant. As my Ambassador to the United Nations, she plays an indispensable role in advancing America’s interests. Already, she has secured international support for sanctions against Iran and North Korea, worked to protect the people of Libya, helped achieve an independent South Sudan, stood up for Israel’s security and legitimacy, and served as an advocate for UN reform and the human rights of all people. I am grateful that Susan will continue to serve as our Ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team, carrying her work forward on all of these and other issues. I have every confidence that Susan has limitless capability to serve our country now and in the years to come, and know that I will continue to rely on her as an advisor and friend. While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first. The American people can be proud to have a public servant of her caliber and character representing our country.”
The GOP may think they’ve won but they’re stupid. They’ve just cleared the path for Pres. Obama to appoint Amb. Rice as National Security Advisor if Donilon moves to the CIA. She is not going anywhere.
The GOP clearly did not learn anything from the 2012 election. They lost the Women, Latino, African-American, Asian, Youth and LGBT vote and the first thing they do is send out two old white men to railroad and bully a very qualified African-American woman. The writing’s on the wall. Pres. Obama is picking them apart and they’re lending a huge hand in their destruction.
If Amb. Rice is in an advisor position to the President, she doesn’t have to undergo the stupidity of confirmation, and will be in an even more powerful role as part of the executive branch of Govt.
Sec of State is a part of the executive branch, and you don’t appoint a NSA adviser you name them.
Otherwise, not going through that heartache of confirmation is to much political Capitol, especially if the president wants to push immigration reform next month.
UT/Bill, I’d heard a while back that she was in the running for NSA, so I was a little surprised when she had those meetings for SoS position. IMO, I think that’s what was going to happen anyway. Would love to know (yes, I’m curious!) about the whole background moves/counter moves. See my comment below re: Laura Rozen. PBO said that she’s staying on as UN Amb., does that mean for the term, or at some point soon move to NSA?
The Emo profs are going crazy today, but please I font want to hear play by play about what they said on Twitter, Daily Kos, smarty pants etc.
Who gives a shit?
Boy, that felt good! LOL!
Just weighing in on the Susan Rice decision. I’m assuming this was a joint decision with President Obama. And I trust his judgment, which I have learned is impeccable. He is always deeply thoughtful with his decisions, considers all consequences and tries to make the right choice for all. I will add that even before Benghazi, I heard Democrats on a couple talk shows mutter that there would be problems with even Democrats getting her confirmed. I had no clue what that was about, she certainly seemed highly qualified, and I think I even asked here if anyone knew what that was all about. And I don’t know if this is the reason, but when her financial conflict of interest with the Keystone pipeline became known, I wondered if that was the cause of those statements. So I’m not sure it’s all about the Repubs causing problems with Benghazi altho they would have caused a huge ruckus.
Thank you dotster for being a voice of reason. I for one believe that Rice’s withdrawal has very little, if anything, to do with McCain or Graham. I strongly feel that there is a lot that the MSM is not reporting in part from laziness, but also to make it seem like PBO just rolled over for McCain and Graham (an absurdity). I think there were many Democrats opposed to Rice for reasons I’m not fully aware of, but I suspect related to petty jealousy. Clinton supporters, Diane Feinstein, John Kerry himself, and other DEMS most likely voiced their objections and did not want to be put in the position of having to voice their opposition later down when it came time to confirm her.
Yup! I suspect there’s a whole back story & it has nothing to do w/ Libya, McC, etc. Lots of rumors flying around here and no one will know any of the cabinet names until announced by PBO. Lazy MSM won’t do their homework, so pay them no mind! Except to pushback at their egregious drivel.
I hope McC doesn’t end up on FR Comm. because he doesn’t have a clue on FP.
It’s highly unlikely that Rice withdrew her name simply because McCain and Graham objected. I’m thinking that a lot of DEMOCRATS – including John Kerry, etc. were behind this. And that’s where her concern about not being confirmed lay. It’s with the Democrats in the house and senate – whose support she felt she did not have. There was a diary on Old Orange recently charging that Rice had too many deep ties with the Keystone pipeline for her to be confirmed.
Of course, PBO needs the Democrats to push his other important agendas, like immigration reform, 98% middle-class tax cuts, 2% tax hikes, debt ceiling, etc., so he has no choice but to accept her resignation at this time.
John Kerry will only continue to kowtow to the same odious characters John Mccain, the Clintons, Diane Feinstein and all those who are looking forward to continuing getting access to the State Department for their own advancement!!!
John Kerry is one of the good old boys and I have deep concerns about his ties to the Clintons, McCain etc and how that will affect his primary role of implementing the President’s specific foreign policy vision!!!
If John Kerry gets it, which I hope he doesn’t, it means that John McCain and Lindsey Graham get to keep traipsing round the world on our dime with clearance from their friend Kerry!!!
This incident with Mrs Rice, reminds me of a similar situation with then Carolyn Kennedy wanting the Senate seat of Hillary, the Republicans were against her getting the Senate seat as well as the emoprogs, eventually Mrs. Kennedy withdrew from that nomination. The far left is the right.
Maybe so, but the same thing that happened to her has happened to Ms Rice, she was villified by both the right and the far left. Mrs. Rice did not get the support of the far left here, as well as Mrs. Kennedy, if we as Democrats continue to use talking points put out by Republicans and agree with them when it comes to destroying one of our own, we will continue to stand still as a nation.
How come there was no freak-out about the fact that the key lobbyists for the Keystone XL project are mostly Clintonites??!!!
And how come nobody raises the fact that the Clintons had a lot of questionable investments which they were given time to sort out when she was brought up for SoS??!!!
There always seems to be a Clinton connection to the withchunt of President Obama’s picks by the purist left and it is no coincedence that Bill Clinton met with many of these bloggers during the 2008 campaign!!!
I agree and it shows that Clinton’s have way too much power when it comes down to it. Often the media outlets like Huffington Post touts out Hillary in a positive light while making articles criticizing president Obama.
They only have “power” with their flunkies spread all around the media and embedded all over the place!!!
Talk to real people, the grassroots and they know better!!!
You also have to remember that at the moment the singular goal is to take President and Mrs Obama down, so even those who normally hate the Clintons are right now more focused on cutting President Obama down to size – and if it means using the Clintons to do it, that works just fine for them all!!!
But wait till President Obama is done serving his second term and is out of the way, the alliance will largely fall apart!!!
“the far left is the right” Yep, been believing that since 2007. Many of them ‘switched’ from repub to dem & then woo-hoo became teevee stars as ‘lefties’.
[….] President Obama praised Rice in a statement Thursday saying he had accepted Rice’s decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State, saying he’s grateful she’s agreed to stay on at the UN. “I am grateful that Susan will continue to serve as our Ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team, carrying her work forward on all of these and other issues,” Obama said in the statement.
[…..] Another possibility: Rice for National Security Advisor, if Donilon moves.
I just got sent this post made at DK by a friend. Anyone else been seeing or hearing anything like it because if so, after Pres Obama’s term, I’m not sure another Dem will have his type of support and enthusiasm.
“Liberals and their short-sightedness (0+ / 0-)
I have said it before and was attacked, and will say it again: I have it on good authority from friend on the Hill that Kerry loyalists orchestrated leaks to liberal writers over the last month. (One of them being a former Newsweek/Daily Beast writer as I said before).
It’s not the right, but the lack of support from the left which is forcing this withdrawal. Because Republicans can now use liberals to bash Rice publicly.
Sure, I am a liberal, and would like immediate end to Gitmo and the Afghan war, deep cuts in our Nuclear arsenal, and so on. But the idea that we trash Susan Rice because she basically executed Obama’s foreign policy is not only silly but filthy. And it actually weakens Obama on foreign policy and closing Gitmo. Sometimes liberals just foam at the mouth and shoot themselves in the foot.
by AlexThorne on Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 01:07:19 PM PST”
I believe this bit of info, we may be surprised who else does not want Mrs. Rice not to take the job as SOS. Mccain was the loudest going all over national tv blocking her advancement for his good friends.
Thought it useful for all of you to have easy access to Ambassador Rice’s full letter to the President ….
December 13,2012
Dear Mr.President,
It has been and remains my highest professional privilege to serve as your United Nations Ambassador. Iam deeply grateful for your steadfast support for all we do at the U.S. Mission to the UN and for my dedicated colleagues. Your vision and leadership have enabled the U.S. to restore our global standing, strengthen our national security, repair our relationship with the United Nations,and advance U.S. interests and values. Iam proud of the many U.S. successes at the United Nations,including the protection of civilians from Libya to Cote D’lvoire, strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and increasing international pressure on Iran and North Korea through the toughest sanctions ever, our unwavering support for Israel,our contribution to the birth of the world’s newest state, South Sudan, accelerating UN reform, and our bold defense of the equal rights of all human beings regardless of their race,religion,economic status or whom they love. I look forward to building on this major progress in your second term.
Iam highly honored to be considered by you for appointment as Secretary of State. Iam fully confident that Icould serve our country ably and effectively in that role. However, if nominated, Iam now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly- to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities. That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country . It is far more important that we devote precious legislative hours and energy to enacting your core goals, including comprehensive immigration reform,balanced deficit reduction, job creation,and maintaining a robust national defense and effective U.S. global leadership. Therefore ,I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time.
The position of Secretary of State should never be politicized. As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S. national security official who has served in two U.S. Administrations, Iam saddened that we have reached this point,even before you have decided whom to nominate. We cannot afford such an irresponsible distraction from the most pressing issues facing the American people.
Iam grateful,as always,for your unwavering confidence in me and, especially, for your extraordinary personal support during these past several weeks. I look forward to continuing to serve you and our great country with enthusiasm and pride as U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of your cabinet and National Security Council.
Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
======================================================
In his first term he was forced to make nice with the Clintons to “unite” the Democratic party and the result was that they and their cronies got so many of the plum posts in his administration!!!
Here we are again in his second term and he is supposed to acquiesce to the loud mouths and make up for all of John Kerry’s failed political ambitions after catering to Hillary’s!!!
Not that it matters, but I am absolutely wild about Susan Rice’s withdrawal. I have wanted to see her in this position for the last year. I prefer her positions to John Kerry’s and am fearful of losing his Senate seat if he is appointed. It is an absolute disgrace that assholes like McCain, Graham and Ayotte disrupted this before she was even nominated. And I truly hope that PBO nominates SOMEONE/ANYONE other than Kerry because he is the one these idiots want to have a run at his seat. If it’s Kerry, it will truly be victory for their vile tactics. I have been trying to stay away from politics somewhat during the holidays but this has totally sent me over the top. I am completely, utterly disgusted with this entire party, and hope they pay a huge price for this.
States and the federal government will be ready to open up new insurance exchanges just a year from now, a top Health and Human Services Department (HHS) official said Thursday.
Gary Cohen, the leader of the federal implementation effort, said exchanges will be operational on Jan. 1, 2014, as called for in President Obama’s signature healthcare reform law.
“I am confident that states and the federal government will be ready in 10 months,” Cohen said.
This is exactly the kind of crap I wrote about earlier. How is Amb. Rice withdrawing her name Pres. Obama’s fault? I’ve held my tongue but BWD has become the classic example of an emoprog. If you’ve been on Twitter these past few weeks as fiscal cliff negotiations have taken place, you have seen how BWD who calls herself a staunch supporter of Pres. Obama has basically been threatening him on Twitter. Calling him weak, berating him for giving in to terrorists, rudely telling him to act like he won an election, rudely telling him to grow up and stop compromising. It’s been on and on and on and a lot of people who are on this blog including myself are very disappointed. She is willing to hand over her trust to people like Ed Schultz who told Democrats not to vote in 2010, who lied about Pres. Obama raising the Medicare eligibility age than a President who has been giving his blood, sweat, and tears since January 20, 2009.
If you can’t grow a spine after everything we’ve faced since 2009, that says a lot about you than Pres. Obama.
I am old enough to remember that in Nixon’s first term his SOS was William Rogers. However, William Rogers was a figurehead on foreign policy matters. He took his marching orders on foreign policy matters from Henry Kissinger, the Nat. Sec. advisor to the President, who had the real power. Advisors to the President are appointed and not confirmed.
I, too, am disappointed that Ambassador Rice has decided to withdraw her name from the SOS position. However, I agree with her about the reasons for her decision. Rice is smart and very accomplished, and I feel that as UN Ambassador or whatever future position she may hold in the administration, America is served well. No worries there. I expect something better to come out of this for Ambassador Rice. As for Senator Kerry, and although I respect and admire his service, etc., I hope he will continue in the senate. He is needed more there for obvious reasons. I am expecting President Obama to have something really smart up his sleeve for this position, and I am looking forward to hear who he selects.
I am not surprised that this happened (sigh) however we CANNOT allow ourselves to lose hope or to feel like we just look the other way on this issue in 2014. I feel it’s time to put forth some contraversal billboards and advertisements of our own. For example have a sign like: Klans Man + McCain = One and the same. Post the billboard for every state to see, especially Arizona. I am through with playing the mr. nice democrat mentality. It’s a waste of time and hasn’t worked, ever.
The Obama Diary 
Good Afternoon all.
The Greatest President Ever!
I see that the media, the Clintons, some Republicans, John Kerry have succeeded in torpedoing Susan Rice’s appointment for Sec. of State!!!
Karma will deal with the culprits behind this witchhunt!!!
Yep !!
They say ‘payback is a b**ch’…I hope so! I am so angry!!
Whoever torpedoed it it seems like straight-up rascism to me. A black President is hard enough for some to bear but SOS black, too?
No way say the Confederate States of Whatever.
They kept talking in dog whispers!!!
They kept insisting that the SOS position was “lead cabinet position” and that Susan Rice “lacked the gravitas” for the position!!!
Translation: We’ll be damned if this black woman gets to be the boss of us!!!
Hey y’all!
You get it done Chips, deadlines are only a moment in time, tho they seem longer when they are out ahead of us! And don’t worry about PBO’s coat, I’ll drop it back on my way over… 😉
Hmmmmm? Drop it over? Hmmmm?
WH Presser on C-Span3 with Jay Carney.
Every question is with Rightwing talking points bat poop.
It’s not just you Nena. Others are noticing the same thing.
Thomas Mann and Orinstein(sp) were absolutely right. We no longer have a media that holds in power accountable. We have a media that is too scared to do their jobs.
That is sad.
Chuck Todd was whining about the “activists” trying to make the media irrelevant – they are making themselves irrelevant.
My President looks young and chipper in these pics. 🙂
51 yrs is young. However, Our president is a GQ 51 young with salt and pepper hair that makes his distinguish frame…..hmmmmm….Soooo….. Kool…..Cool…..just GQ perfect.
I am tied 1st and 2nd? So does that mean that I get the POTUS, FLOTUS, VPOTUS and Dr. Biden, plus the flying frog-leaping tyke? Pretty please, Ms. Chips?
Yes, after the deadline!
Thanks Pamela. I am so looking forward to it;–}.
Will the emprogs believe toy boy Ezra Klein or Senate DEM Durbin?
Leader Pelosi said it also too today.
Of course, the President wouldn’t increase the Medicare age. Not this President!
The assholes (including emoprogs) on Twitter, many of them so called supporters have been on this almost two week Ezra Klein, Ed Schultz, and media carnival barkers induced freak out and making disgusting demands of Pres. Obama. If you voted for Pres. Obama (twice now), you know where he stands, and you know that he has been fighting for everyone since day one yet you choose to continue setting your hair on fire (since 2010, 2011, 2012); I don’t care if you started a blog, if you donated $1M or $5, if you call yourself an Obamabot, you are an asshole.
Enough is enough. Pres. Obama has proven himself over and over again yet so called supporters make disrespectful demands of him – based on gossip from the media – as though he’s a child.
I’ve had it up to here with spineless, foolish, assholey supporters who are only in when the going is good and abandon ship at the slightest gossip induced hint of trouble.
X2 multiply by a Trillion. Thanks for stating very well UT.
That NASTY, VILE Stinkerwink on Old Orange immediately posted a diary grabbing credit – putting her own spin by saying “It seems that trial balloon that was floated out has been shot down thanks to pushback from progressive organizations and Democratic officials in the House and the Senate.”
That woman is so hateful towards our President, it is disturbing. I wouldn’t be surprised if she donated to Romney or campaigned for him when no one was looking.
They’re the same as Republicans. That convenient “trial balloon” always seems to surface after they’ve accused the President or doing or planning something he hasn’t done or said, and then they’re proven wrong. They’re idiots – they keep falling for the same tricks.
She is a firebagger, yuck. Never read her crap, although I do read DK.
A archetypal Hamsherite, Stinkerwink.
I totally agree with you, UT. I’ve been spending very little time on twitter the last two weeks since Ed and Ezra decided to start this baseless rumour, because the Emoprogs have been having a field day freaking out. And, none of them issue a single directive to the GOP, who actually are trying to destroy the social safety net, but they have plenty of fire and insults for President Obama – who has done nothing but strengthen the safety net since he’s been in office. It’s exhausting and it’s destructive. The Democrats are winning, but there are some who insist on losing, or eroding the margin. And it’s the usual suspects… People should know better – and heed Ed’s hashtag “trust President Obama because he’s earned it”. It just makes me furious.
@utaustinliberal: as an obamabot i agree and stand with you. plz pull my coattail if EVER i make such an error. thx for the courageous checkmate of others in this regard!
HF, tomorrow they’ll find some other thing the president MIGHT do that will get them all in a snit. They never learn. Outrage is their life blood.
I think that you will be great…..no….far greater than the silly DC/NY Pundits on Fox or on the Cycle for you have facts, wisdom and true patriotism. It is indeed a well thought out post. Congratulations LL. I enjoyed it.
Nice job LL, this article is worth a read.
Thanks, WiW!
Happy afternoon, Yardarm! (Hands off my Social Security, Repukes!)
Hey you. I see you’ve been up and at ’em early.
Repairman here again today – had no choice! Is it sunny in your neck of the woods? I am so enjoying this weather!
Yes. Damn near 50 degrees too.
Okay. [I should already know this . . . ] Will someone explain to me how it is that Exxon managed to
get the U.S. government [aka our elected representatives] to agree to set up financial structures
that subsidize their oil industry by $10,000,000,000
[is that enough zeroes??] each year??
I know that the Republicans used to persuade the peoples that our very economic lives depended
upon the health of big corporations. Is that when it happened? And what will it take to STOP this extortion?
Please do tell me.
Beats the hell outta me?
Bloomberg News reports:
Former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel likely to be nominated as Secretary of Defense
Be still my beating heart. Love Chuck Hagel. He would be fabulous in this role, and he loves President Obama.
Would who’s this Chuck Hagel fellow and what’s his relationship to PBO? There aren’t many repukes who like him much less love him.
Funny that Sam Stein has tweeted that as breaking news. However, Jay Carney was asked that question less than an hour ago and he said he has nothing to announce, but everyone knows that Chuck Hagel and pres Obama are friends. Well Chuck Hagel’s brother, I believe, the younger brother was and is a big supporter of pres Obama’s. Hagel endorsed then sen Obama in 2008 over McSane.
I think Chuck Hagel’s wife also came out for President Obama, and possibly worked for his first campaign, if I’m remembering correctly.
Yes you are, the fact that Mr. Hagel’s wife came out for President Obama early on is all I have to know.
Good choice!
So, I’m on a lower-fat diet in an effort to combat my high cholesterol. I thought it would be a difficult adjustment, but so far it’s been relatively easy. I make breakfast at home now, rather than going out to McDonald’s or some other fast food joint. And last night we made the most delicious lentil soup. I plan to make more vegetarian dishes which are high in protein. The wifey unit is pissed off at me, because I make dieting look so easy. If it’s easy, it’s because I take it as a challenge to eat healthier, while still satisfying my foodie soul. And when I accept a challenge, I go all in.
I have learned that when you look at it as a lifestyle change rather than dieting, you are more successful.
Well aren’t you special, with your soups and vegetarian dishes and your non-annoying attitude towards your power over food? I’m glad you can drive by McDonald’s in your Prius with your nose up in the air daydreaming about all the wonderful things you can do with food without gaining an ounce of weight. I’d give my right arm just to be able to not think about food for a second. One of my reasons for coming here is to talk politics amongst friends and to clear my mind. But that all ended today because my friend LL just contributed to my relapse, I need to blame somebody and since I’m not in the mood to take ownership of my problem I might as well blame you, Liberal Librarian.
wha?
LOLOL. Sorry, I’m rightfully sheepish now.
Well, he is one of those liberal elites lording it over us peons.
He’s still drinking wine – so we can forgive him a little his willpower and cooking prowess… 😉
good hawaii morning lib lib! i switched to vegism a dozen or so years ago, and found the key is building flavors. with meat dishes, the meat creates a rich background flavor that ties together and enhances the others. with veggie dishes, you must coax the more delicate flavors from the ingredients, and build depth with multiple elements. carmelizing carrots and onions, for instance, gives richness and foundation to a dish. also, beans, cooked gently with olive oil and herbs, release their nutty sweetness. before long your palate seeks these elusive elements, and begins appreciating more flavors than you knew! have fun!
Congrats LL – and good luck with the new diet 🙂
cinnamon, almonds, extra virgin olive oil and good red wine will all help lower bad cholesterol and raise the good – all yummy!
I use only EVOO for my cooking.
I was being sarcastic LL, I respect you highly.
Oh Don, I know. LOL.
Eat oatmeal, too. It scrubs your blood vessels. And squeeze lemons on everything (except the oatmeal, of course…).
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002
Can’t stress this enough …
#TrustBarack
Chips – Love that “Did he leave his coat at Blair House?” Whenever I’d go on travel for something they called “work,” when I worked, I’d invariably leave my favorite robe behind the bathroom door in the hotel room. Grrr. And when I called back, it was always gone. You would have thought I would have caught on, but I did it more than once. I’m still thinking about my most favorite robe, later worn by “somebody” in Hilton Head (we had some pretty nice “work trips”), I’m sure. Oh, well, let it go, Jackie. 🙂
Hope you are doing well today, Chips. Thank you again for everything you do for all of us.
It Exists: Details on proposed spending cuts by the President
By Sarah Jones
————————–
It’s not as if Obama has a reputation for fiscal recklessness, like Republicans do. Under Obama, federal spending has grown at 1.4 percent per year, the slowest pace since Eisenhower, and far lower than the 8.7 percent in President Reagan’s first term. This includes the money spent on the stimulus to rescue us from the Bush economy. It was Republican Paul Ryan who refused to do the math on his budget, not President Obama.
Yet, the media buys the Republican line that they don’t have these budget cut proposals. Further, we are all to suspend disbelief and pretend as if Republicans have no access to the Internet, if in fact they never got their hard copy. This is how paid representatives of the people conduct themselves.
We all very busy pretending Republicans are suddenly serious people who actually care about the deficit and even though they only presented a 2 page document with one sentence relating to revenue, the real problem is that they can’t find Obama’s budget proposal because he is hiding it from them. And now we must pretend that Republicans shouldn’t be held responsible for reading things and admitting they exist.
The media needs to admit the Obama budget cut proposal exists and that Republicans have access to it, and stop pretending that there are two sides to reality.
—————————————
http://www.politicususa.com/exist-details-proposed-spending-cuts-president-pages-17-45.html
So, my piece on TPV was partly about finding sane conservatives. I just had the loveliest Twitter exchange with one! It was quite marvelous.
Actually, most true conservatives I know are sane. What is going around branded as conservatism is really radicalism.
These sane Republicans are vilified not just by their party, but also in the MSM so we hardly know they exist. In 2009-2011, instead of seeing more of Charlie Crist, etc, we were being fed a steady diet of Michelle Bachman, etc. Instead of seeing sane Republicans in congress working and cooperating with our President, we were treated to weekly Teabag rallies on CNN, tweets from Sarah Palin, and GOP congressional “leaders” trying to appease their radical wing with their “hell no you can’t” rants and “one-term President” utterances.
Sorry, Boehner, spending isn’t the problem
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/13/15886718-sorry-boehner-spending-isnt-the-problem?lite
Boehner’s the problem. And the others.
[Sob, sob, “What about our chil’ren!” Oh puhleez! Damn, did I say earlier that I would be kinder soonest? 🙂 ]:
Said Boehner: “I’m not concerned about my job as Speaker. What I’m concerned about is doing the right thing for our kids and grandkids. And if we don’t fix this spending problem, their future is going to be rather bleak.”
.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/12/13/boehner_not_concerned_about_losing_gavel.html
So causing the first downgrade of the nation’s creditworthiness in America’s history, was for our kids and grandkids?
Passing Medicare D so that seniors have to choose between groceries and medication, was for our kids and grandkids?
Starving government services with for nearly a decade with the Bush tax cuts was for our kids and grandkids?
Putting two wars on the nation’s credit card was for our kids and grandkids?
Tell it to another Boehner. Your party is full of merde and has no standing on the issue of debt and deficits.
Indeed, FiredUp! Nothing out of my mouth at this but Dingbats! Don’t have a Twitter account, but wish I could send a whole bunch of them to Boehner et. al, “Doing 4 our kids/grandkids:…” then using your list & a lot more, one at a time! They need to stop that kids/grandkids nonsense! Phew! OK, I’m dingbat-free! 🙂
reminds me of the nazis tying women and children to the cow-catchers of the munitions trains, to keep the allies from blowing up the tracks. it’s unworthy of american politics and it really has to stop.
Woo-hoo, Bob! HUGS!
Fired up, Boehner hasn’t had a thought about anyone but himself and his own personal gain since he first got elected to Congress. He’s never shown empathy and he’s lousy at faking it. Statements from him about caring for grandkids should be greeted with loud laugh. What a sad joke he is!
Old Orange is now agitating about Chuck Hagel’s impending appointment. Another issue of poutrage for them.
Hf, they’re actually funny. You can time the intervals between outrages. They’re so predictable.
see the concert last night? which band do you think did it best?
http://www.vulture.com/2012/12/12.12.12-concert-rolling-stones-who-springsteen-classic-rock.html
What a shame!
Someone please tell me McC didn’t blunder his way to the Foreign Relations Committee!
BREAKING NEWS
GD McCain & his BS. This should never have happened. I am so tired of their lies & manipulation to get their way. I empathize with Ms Rice & her decision, but she should never have been put in such a position by these SOBs
agree completely.
Tis a sad day indeed. Only in Amerikkka! Van Jones and now this. See a pattern here? Save a place in hell for McCain and his two cohorts.
Definitely yardarm.
Now on to those vacant judgeship’s, eh. As the media surges forward to MAKE news instead of reporting it. Notice they’re trying to make the selection for the President by suggesting Senator Kerry should be the Secty…..Pisses my off……Chuckie is saying it’s Kerry’s TURN.
Well I despise the media anyway- they will always push the repub agenda. The hope that anything would change with media or repubs after POTUS won a second time, was a slim hope.. but I thought they would have learned at least a small lesson. Apparently it is impossible for them to learn.
A pox on all their houses!
Indeed Yardarm – through a complacent lying media and defeated GOP pundits – the President doesn’t even get to choose a cabinet before it is attacked. Never in the past 100 years of US history (I don’t know anything before WWI about US history) has there been a more active GOP/media campaign against a sitting – twice elected – President. They would bring down a great nation because they object to the man over 50% of the population wanted as President.
I would not want to be any of them approaching the pearly gates – and most are on the downhill run to that place
They will never see those gates. They will see the boat that will transport them across the river Styx!
🙂 !
Yardarm, I think hell has already got a special place for him in one of its hottest circles. He’s absolutely contemptible. I wonder if the president can choose to ignore her withdrawal and nominate her anyway.
“contemptible” is the perfect word to describe McCain.
He won’t. It was her choice. She wanted to get out of the way ’cause PBO has bigger fish to fry.
And she’ll land on her feet, and go on to serve our country in a classy, admirable, distinguished, tough-as-nails way.
THIS!
As I said upstream straight-up racism.
THIS!
Exactly. Don’t forget Eric Holder.
Too bad. She is a selfless person who undoubtedly did not want to bring any impediment to the confirmation process in the new year. She will remain at her present post I hope, or as an advisor to the President on Foreign policy.
I think we need to be careful before jumping to conclusions. I don’t think John McCain and/or Lindsay graham had anything to do with Rice’s decision to remove her name. The media will present it that way to give the GOP a “win” but I seriously doubt that’s how it went down.
What other reason could it be? David Gregory is reporting it would have been a “political battle” but would have been costly for PBO.
Why would it be costly for PBO?
That was not my opinion, but Gregory was saying the political battle would not be worth it.
I think they mean a long, knock down, drag out battle——when lots of other battles loom, usurping all the oxygen.
Susan Rice seemed to be saying the same thing in her letter.
The media seem quite pleased with themselves with this outcome!!! I am so mad!!!
Susan Rice is destroyed for Benghazi while Hillary Clinton cruises on!!! This is insane!!!
It is sickening.
I am more than livid!!!
Even Martin Bashir sees through all the mess!!! He called out Hillary Clinton!!!
Eleroy, I have been screaming this to the top of my lungs…HILLARY CLINTON IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE! I am so angry…I will never forget this, never!!!
Two words: I disagree!
That’s okay Yardarm. I have my reasons for believing what I do.
I’m sure you do and I’m cool with that. How’s it going?
🙂 Everything is cool – other than my Twitter TL blowing up with hysteria. LOL! This too shall pass.
Mine too. 😀
They went after Amb Rice – like there was no tomorrow. They want Sen Kerry to give their handsome hero another chance to be in the Senate & no doubt are all out tonight celebrating – in the usual Washington way.
“If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly – to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities,” Rice wrote in a letter to President Obama, saying she’s saddened by the partisan politics surrounding her prospects.
“That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country…Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time,” she wrote in the letter obtained by NBC News.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/report-susan-rice-withdraws-from-sec-of-state
Yep, exactly what I figured.. she has her country and POTUS in mind – basically she is falling on her sword. And THAT should not have to be. This is McCain et al’s fault, putting her in this position. I am so tired of them.
I wonder if, when all the other crap is done with (i.e.fiscal cliff) if PBO couldn’t just say that appreciates her thoughts on the matter but he still believes she is the best person for the job.
That’s my hope too, Japa. We’ll have to see.
I would think he could.. but she would have to be willing to go through the process. A woman of Susan Rice’s abilities & substance can probably go anywher & do anything she chooses.. thus she doesn’t need McCain & McFreakouts to waste 6 months of her life ‘approving’ her. I don’t blame her a bit.. and I can’t see President Obama pushing it, can you?
What I hope not to see, even though I like him- is for John Kerry to be SoS- simply because the Repubs want it too much. We all know they want that senate seat, which mean POTUS knows & is no doubt prepared for that.
I just hate, I mean really hate to see a good person, Susan Rice shredded by repubs & media simply to push their disgusting political agenda. They really have zero conscience- no rules for them. I’m furious she was put through this crap.
You have got to be kidding me! This is some bullshit on top of bullshit.
Ambassador Rice is much smarter than I, but I’m sick and tired of the bullshit that the public servants in the Obama administration have to endure.
Okay, when freaking TPM is saying that Emperor Boehner has no clothes, you know he’s in a world of hurt.
Good, it could not have happened to a better guy.
The GOP are a disgrace. I am so sick of this party. Everything is a fight with them and all because they want to take Sen Kerry open senate seat they trashed her name and ruined her reputation. I also read a lot of SENATE DEMOCRATS said privately that they didn’t want this fight because of this fiscal cliff and possible debt ceiling fight. They are just as bad as these no good republicans. This woman was treated unfairly and she shouldn’t have to withdraw her name because of the bengazi. They figure she isn’t worth the fight that they have bigger fish to fry so bascially she has been thrown under the bus. I hope Obama didn’t force her withdraw her name and if he accepts her decision, I hope to god he BLASTS these GOP and tell them that it will be war for the next 4 years. He niceness is GONE. They want a war with him, then give it to them every single time. They aren’t getting away with any of this crap. Don’t negotiate period with these assholes. GO over the DAMN CLIFF and let them take the responsibility
If Susan Rice has had to cut short her brilliant foreign policy career because of Benghazi, then that should also mean that Hillary will have to abstain from running for President – per the GOP standards – since Benghazi was squarely in the State Department’s camp. Why are these GOP allowed to harm the country like this, repeatedly?!
Exactly!!!
This witchhunt against Susan Rice is bullshit!!! Not only should Hillary clinton be forever grounded, I also think that John Kerry should not get the job!!!
I am feeling very resentful of John Kerry too. I strongly believe his obsession with being Sec. of State also prevented him from doing the right thing with regard to defending Susan Rice’s honor!!!
Freaking Jonathan Alter is claiming that John Kerry is more qualified than Susan Rice!!! Are you kidding me??!!!!
If John Kerry had Susan Rice’s academic and professional qualifications, he would be crowned king!!!
Hillary Clinton did not have half the academic or professional qualifications suited to the Sec. of State position!!! She largely got off on her husband’s name and position!!!
And it showed!!! No tangible accomplishments to speak of besides logging airmiles and beating the record for most travelled SoS. But where are the list of accomplishments besides photo ops!!!
Susan Rice has a superior resume that very few could ever boast of!!!
Ari Melber grinning from ear to ear because if Kerry gets the job, he gets to be on his staff!!! It’s everyone for themselves it appears!!!
As for Dana Milbank, may he get the great hurt that awaits him courtesy of Karma!!! I hate them all!!!
I actually don’t harbor any ill will towards John Kerry. He served the President well during the START treaty nonsense, and I always thought he’d make a good SOS, even before Rice’s name entered the ring. I think if he was good enough to be a potential Commander in Chief for the Democratic Party (who have their heads about them with regards to this stuff), then he’s good enough to be Secretary of State. I’ve only heard rumours of things he’s supposed to have said during this nonsense, and no evidence of any derogatory statements towards Susan Rice. If he is chosen as the nominee, I would be happy – but sad that it will be perceived to be an afterthought – for someone who has been let down by the Democratic Party on more than one occasion (after serving the country quite honourably over several years).
John Kerry is very good friends with McCain and while McCain was on his very public witchhunt of Susan Rice, John Kerry never once spoke up in her defense. Never!!! And she was Kerry’s foreign policy adviser during his 2004 presidential campaign. He knew and trusted her that much but could not speak up on her behalf as she was falsely being attacked for something that was no fault of hers!!!
Kerry even held press conferences with Mccain during that same period!!! Where is the integity??!!!
At this point I’m just sick and tired of these Democrats who are so caught up in their own personal ambitions they are more willing to plot with republicans than do the right and honorable thing!!!
Additionally, it is not President Obama’s job to keep making ammends for the failed political ambitions of particular Democrats. First Hillary clinton, now John Kerry!!!
This President deserves the chance to fully pursue his foreign policy vision without being interrupted or distracted by the egos and seperate visions of these high profile Democrats who will continue to insist that they know better than the President they work for!!!
Susan Rice would have tirelessly worked undistracted for the President – and that is part of the reason they did everything to sideline her!!!
I hate Dana Milbank but this caught my eye in his hit piece against Susan Rice:
“Clinton got a measure of revenge in 2010 after she worked out a deal with the Russian foreign minister on a package of Iran sanctions to be adopted by the U.N. Security Council. The White House wanted Rice to make the announcement (part of a campaign to increase her profile that included high-visibility foreign trips and TV appearances), but a Clinton aide got Kerry to ask Clinton about the matter during an unrelated Senate hearing.”
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-11-16/opinions/35503596_1_mccain-and-lindsey-graham-hillary-clinton-clinton-aide
President Obama’s statement about Susan Rice’s decision:
“Today, I spoke to Ambassador Susan Rice, and accepted her decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State. For two decades, Susan has proven to be an extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant. As my Ambassador to the United Nations, she plays an indispensable role in advancing America’s interests. Already, she has secured international support for sanctions against Iran and North Korea, worked to protect the people of Libya, helped achieve an independent South Sudan, stood up for Israel’s security and legitimacy, and served as an advocate for UN reform and the human rights of all people. I am grateful that Susan will continue to serve as our Ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team, carrying her work forward on all of these and other issues. I have every confidence that Susan has limitless capability to serve our country now and in the years to come, and know that I will continue to rely on her as an advisor and friend. While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first. The American people can be proud to have a public servant of her caliber and character representing our country.”
http://www.businessinsider.com/susan-rice-withdraws-secretary-of-state-2012-12
And ashamed to have the so called public servants who are Republican representing our country. And believe me, that is a subtext of his remarks.
Damn, I was hoping he would reject her withdrawal. Too bad.
The GOP may think they’ve won but they’re stupid. They’ve just cleared the path for Pres. Obama to appoint Amb. Rice as National Security Advisor if Donilon moves to the CIA. She is not going anywhere.
The GOP clearly did not learn anything from the 2012 election. They lost the Women, Latino, African-American, Asian, Youth and LGBT vote and the first thing they do is send out two old white men to railroad and bully a very qualified African-American woman. The writing’s on the wall. Pres. Obama is picking them apart and they’re lending a huge hand in their destruction.
If Amb. Rice is in an advisor position to the President, she doesn’t have to undergo the stupidity of confirmation, and will be in an even more powerful role as part of the executive branch of Govt.
Sec of State is a part of the executive branch, and you don’t appoint a NSA adviser you name them.
Otherwise, not going through that heartache of confirmation is to much political Capitol, especially if the president wants to push immigration reform next month.
UT/Bill, I’d heard a while back that she was in the running for NSA, so I was a little surprised when she had those meetings for SoS position. IMO, I think that’s what was going to happen anyway. Would love to know (yes, I’m curious!) about the whole background moves/counter moves. See my comment below re: Laura Rozen. PBO said that she’s staying on as UN Amb., does that mean for the term, or at some point soon move to NSA?
Yes, I do think PBO has something else in mind.
This is Amb. Rice’s letter to Pres. Obama.
http://live.reuters.com/Event/Politics
For those of us who will not make it to the White House this Christmas, here is the WH Holiday Booklet.
Click to access 2012whitehouseholiday.pdf
The Emo profs are going crazy today, but please I font want to hear play by play about what they said on Twitter, Daily Kos, smarty pants etc.
Who gives a shit?
Boy, that felt good! LOL!
Emoprogs!
Just weighing in on the Susan Rice decision. I’m assuming this was a joint decision with President Obama. And I trust his judgment, which I have learned is impeccable. He is always deeply thoughtful with his decisions, considers all consequences and tries to make the right choice for all. I will add that even before Benghazi, I heard Democrats on a couple talk shows mutter that there would be problems with even Democrats getting her confirmed. I had no clue what that was about, she certainly seemed highly qualified, and I think I even asked here if anyone knew what that was all about. And I don’t know if this is the reason, but when her financial conflict of interest with the Keystone pipeline became known, I wondered if that was the cause of those statements. So I’m not sure it’s all about the Repubs causing problems with Benghazi altho they would have caused a huge ruckus.
Thank you dotster for being a voice of reason. I for one believe that Rice’s withdrawal has very little, if anything, to do with McCain or Graham. I strongly feel that there is a lot that the MSM is not reporting in part from laziness, but also to make it seem like PBO just rolled over for McCain and Graham (an absurdity). I think there were many Democrats opposed to Rice for reasons I’m not fully aware of, but I suspect related to petty jealousy. Clinton supporters, Diane Feinstein, John Kerry himself, and other DEMS most likely voiced their objections and did not want to be put in the position of having to voice their opposition later down when it came time to confirm her.
Yup! I suspect there’s a whole back story & it has nothing to do w/ Libya, McC, etc. Lots of rumors flying around here and no one will know any of the cabinet names until announced by PBO. Lazy MSM won’t do their homework, so pay them no mind! Except to pushback at their egregious drivel.
I hope McC doesn’t end up on FR Comm. because he doesn’t have a clue on FP.
He will not be on FR committee.
It’s highly unlikely that Rice withdrew her name simply because McCain and Graham objected. I’m thinking that a lot of DEMOCRATS – including John Kerry, etc. were behind this. And that’s where her concern about not being confirmed lay. It’s with the Democrats in the house and senate – whose support she felt she did not have. There was a diary on Old Orange recently charging that Rice had too many deep ties with the Keystone pipeline for her to be confirmed.
Of course, PBO needs the Democrats to push his other important agendas, like immigration reform, 98% middle-class tax cuts, 2% tax hikes, debt ceiling, etc., so he has no choice but to accept her resignation at this time.
Senator Kerry will be a loyal servant, as for Daily kos conspiracy theories- meh!
John Kerry will only continue to kowtow to the same odious characters John Mccain, the Clintons, Diane Feinstein and all those who are looking forward to continuing getting access to the State Department for their own advancement!!!
John Kerry is one of the good old boys and I have deep concerns about his ties to the Clintons, McCain etc and how that will affect his primary role of implementing the President’s specific foreign policy vision!!!
If John Kerry gets it, which I hope he doesn’t, it means that John McCain and Lindsey Graham get to keep traipsing round the world on our dime with clearance from their friend Kerry!!!
I am beyond pissed!!!
Senator Kerry was a liberal against the Vietnam war(hero) and ultimately against the Iraq war. He has been a close friend of the president.
Trust Barack he has earned it!
This incident with Mrs Rice, reminds me of a similar situation with then Carolyn Kennedy wanting the Senate seat of Hillary, the Republicans were against her getting the Senate seat as well as the emoprogs, eventually Mrs. Kennedy withdrew from that nomination. The far left is the right.
Susan Rice is much more qualified to be SOS than Carolyn Kennedy was to be a Senator.
Maybe so, but the same thing that happened to her has happened to Ms Rice, she was villified by both the right and the far left. Mrs. Rice did not get the support of the far left here, as well as Mrs. Kennedy, if we as Democrats continue to use talking points put out by Republicans and agree with them when it comes to destroying one of our own, we will continue to stand still as a nation.
It was leaked by the Republicans that she had stock in keystone and Daily Kos freaked out!
Daily Kos is the biggest Ratfuckers on the interwebs.
How come there was no freak-out about the fact that the key lobbyists for the Keystone XL project are mostly Clintonites??!!!
And how come nobody raises the fact that the Clintons had a lot of questionable investments which they were given time to sort out when she was brought up for SoS??!!!
There always seems to be a Clinton connection to the withchunt of President Obama’s picks by the purist left and it is no coincedence that Bill Clinton met with many of these bloggers during the 2008 campaign!!!
YES, YES, AND YES…
I agree and it shows that Clinton’s have way too much power when it comes down to it. Often the media outlets like Huffington Post touts out Hillary in a positive light while making articles criticizing president Obama.
They only have “power” with their flunkies spread all around the media and embedded all over the place!!!
Talk to real people, the grassroots and they know better!!!
You also have to remember that at the moment the singular goal is to take President and Mrs Obama down, so even those who normally hate the Clintons are right now more focused on cutting President Obama down to size – and if it means using the Clintons to do it, that works just fine for them all!!!
But wait till President Obama is done serving his second term and is out of the way, the alliance will largely fall apart!!!
“the far left is the right” Yep, been believing that since 2007. Many of them ‘switched’ from repub to dem & then woo-hoo became teevee stars as ‘lefties’.
[Here’s a bit from Laura Rozen]:
[….] President Obama praised Rice in a statement Thursday saying he had accepted Rice’s decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State, saying he’s grateful she’s agreed to stay on at the UN. “I am grateful that Susan will continue to serve as our Ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team, carrying her work forward on all of these and other issues,” Obama said in the statement.
[…..] Another possibility: Rice for National Security Advisor, if Donilon moves.
Lots more here: http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2012/12/3504/rice-withdraws-from-secstate-bid-and-other-appointment-rumint/#more-3504
I just got sent this post made at DK by a friend. Anyone else been seeing or hearing anything like it because if so, after Pres Obama’s term, I’m not sure another Dem will have his type of support and enthusiasm.
“Liberals and their short-sightedness (0+ / 0-)
I have said it before and was attacked, and will say it again: I have it on good authority from friend on the Hill that Kerry loyalists orchestrated leaks to liberal writers over the last month. (One of them being a former Newsweek/Daily Beast writer as I said before).
It’s not the right, but the lack of support from the left which is forcing this withdrawal. Because Republicans can now use liberals to bash Rice publicly.
Sure, I am a liberal, and would like immediate end to Gitmo and the Afghan war, deep cuts in our Nuclear arsenal, and so on. But the idea that we trash Susan Rice because she basically executed Obama’s foreign policy is not only silly but filthy. And it actually weakens Obama on foreign policy and closing Gitmo. Sometimes liberals just foam at the mouth and shoot themselves in the foot.
by AlexThorne on Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 01:07:19 PM PST”
[ Parent ]
I believe this bit of info, we may be surprised who else does not want Mrs. Rice not to take the job as SOS. Mccain was the loudest going all over national tv blocking her advancement for his good friends.
Thought it useful for all of you to have easy access to Ambassador Rice’s full letter to the President ….
December 13,2012
Dear Mr.President,
It has been and remains my highest professional privilege to serve as your United Nations Ambassador. Iam deeply grateful for your steadfast support for all we do at the U.S. Mission to the UN and for my dedicated colleagues. Your vision and leadership have enabled the U.S. to restore our global standing, strengthen our national security, repair our relationship with the United Nations,and advance U.S. interests and values. Iam proud of the many U.S. successes at the United Nations,including the protection of civilians from Libya to Cote D’lvoire, strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and increasing international pressure on Iran and North Korea through the toughest sanctions ever, our unwavering support for Israel,our contribution to the birth of the world’s newest state, South Sudan, accelerating UN reform, and our bold defense of the equal rights of all human beings regardless of their race,religion,economic status or whom they love. I look forward to building on this major progress in your second term.
Iam highly honored to be considered by you for appointment as Secretary of State. Iam fully confident that Icould serve our country ably and effectively in that role. However, if nominated, Iam now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly- to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities. That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country . It is far more important that we devote precious legislative hours and energy to enacting your core goals, including comprehensive immigration reform,balanced deficit reduction, job creation,and maintaining a robust national defense and effective U.S. global leadership. Therefore ,I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time.
The position of Secretary of State should never be politicized. As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S. national security official who has served in two U.S. Administrations, Iam saddened that we have reached this point,even before you have decided whom to nominate. We cannot afford such an irresponsible distraction from the most pressing issues facing the American people.
Iam grateful,as always,for your unwavering confidence in me and, especially, for your extraordinary personal support during these past several weeks. I look forward to continuing to serve you and our great country with enthusiasm and pride as U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of your cabinet and National Security Council.
Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
======================================================
#TrustBarack He’s Earned It
At the end of the day it is simply sad that the President doesn’t get to choose the people he thinks will serve our country best.
It is very sad!!!
In his first term he was forced to make nice with the Clintons to “unite” the Democratic party and the result was that they and their cronies got so many of the plum posts in his administration!!!
Here we are again in his second term and he is supposed to acquiesce to the loud mouths and make up for all of John Kerry’s failed political ambitions after catering to Hillary’s!!!
I am so sick of it!!!
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/13/susan-rice/
Not that it matters, but I am absolutely wild about Susan Rice’s withdrawal. I have wanted to see her in this position for the last year. I prefer her positions to John Kerry’s and am fearful of losing his Senate seat if he is appointed. It is an absolute disgrace that assholes like McCain, Graham and Ayotte disrupted this before she was even nominated. And I truly hope that PBO nominates SOMEONE/ANYONE other than Kerry because he is the one these idiots want to have a run at his seat. If it’s Kerry, it will truly be victory for their vile tactics. I have been trying to stay away from politics somewhat during the holidays but this has totally sent me over the top. I am completely, utterly disgusted with this entire party, and hope they pay a huge price for this.
States and the federal government will be ready to open up new insurance exchanges just a year from now, a top Health and Human Services Department (HHS) official said Thursday.
Gary Cohen, the leader of the federal implementation effort, said exchanges will be operational on Jan. 1, 2014, as called for in President Obama’s signature healthcare reform law.
“I am confident that states and the federal government will be ready in 10 months,” Cohen said.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/272805-hhs-exchanges-will-be-ready
This is exactly the kind of crap I wrote about earlier. How is Amb. Rice withdrawing her name Pres. Obama’s fault? I’ve held my tongue but BWD has become the classic example of an emoprog. If you’ve been on Twitter these past few weeks as fiscal cliff negotiations have taken place, you have seen how BWD who calls herself a staunch supporter of Pres. Obama has basically been threatening him on Twitter. Calling him weak, berating him for giving in to terrorists, rudely telling him to act like he won an election, rudely telling him to grow up and stop compromising. It’s been on and on and on and a lot of people who are on this blog including myself are very disappointed. She is willing to hand over her trust to people like Ed Schultz who told Democrats not to vote in 2010, who lied about Pres. Obama raising the Medicare eligibility age than a President who has been giving his blood, sweat, and tears since January 20, 2009.
If you can’t grow a spine after everything we’ve faced since 2009, that says a lot about you than Pres. Obama.
I am old enough to remember that in Nixon’s first term his SOS was William Rogers. However, William Rogers was a figurehead on foreign policy matters. He took his marching orders on foreign policy matters from Henry Kissinger, the Nat. Sec. advisor to the President, who had the real power. Advisors to the President are appointed and not confirmed.
I, too, am disappointed that Ambassador Rice has decided to withdraw her name from the SOS position. However, I agree with her about the reasons for her decision. Rice is smart and very accomplished, and I feel that as UN Ambassador or whatever future position she may hold in the administration, America is served well. No worries there. I expect something better to come out of this for Ambassador Rice. As for Senator Kerry, and although I respect and admire his service, etc., I hope he will continue in the senate. He is needed more there for obvious reasons. I am expecting President Obama to have something really smart up his sleeve for this position, and I am looking forward to hear who he selects.
I too hope the President pulls the rug from under their feet and goes with a surprise nominee that blows them smug selves away!!!
I am not surprised that this happened (sigh) however we CANNOT allow ourselves to lose hope or to feel like we just look the other way on this issue in 2014. I feel it’s time to put forth some contraversal billboards and advertisements of our own. For example have a sign like: Klans Man + McCain = One and the same. Post the billboard for every state to see, especially Arizona. I am through with playing the mr. nice democrat mentality. It’s a waste of time and hasn’t worked, ever.