President Obama talks with National Security Advisor Tom Donilon before a phone call with President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt, aboard Air Force One, Nov. 20, 2012. (Photo by Pete Souza)
****
2:15: The President announces that Tom Donilon is departing as National Security Advisor in early July and is being succeeded by Susan Rice
I’m gonna miss Tom Donilon. He was wonderful. When I watched his appearances on the Sunday shows, he was soft spoken but carried a big stick. He was not to be messed with and he didn’t stand for talking heads spewing lies about Pres. Obama and his foreign policy platform.
I wish him well and I welcome Amb. Susan Rice into the post. She’s going to be great.
Thank you Pickle! Haven’t read the link yet, but a little warning – Irish Central is run by a loathsome creep Niall O’Dowd who was so pro-Hillary in 2008, he could barely utter PBO’s name without spitting. And his brother, a politican in Ireland, ‘endorsed’ McCain – that went well.
Wow, watching the press briefing the jackals are just insufferable. What a pathetic bunch of losers. It’s hard to believe they are getting six figures to ask such stupid questions. Example: Ann Compton wants to know if President Obama considers his appointment of Ambassador Susan Rice to National Security Adviser a promotion. Amazing…..
McCain who picked $arah Palin as a running mate said he disagrees with the Susan Rice appointment. Is anyone listening to Republicans any more about anything?
Mrs. Greenspan is again asking if SOS Kerry is the “odd man out”. Again trying to create controversy.
Oh my GOD! So after creating a kerfuffle over PBO not appointing enough women (understand, this was all about Kerry replacing Hillary – not exactly a controversial choice), now Kerry’s the “odd man out”?
@mitchellreports PBO was anti-woman when choosing Kerry & now that he has appointed women, Kerry's the odd man out. ur bias is ridiculous
what’s laughable is how obvious this ploy is. She got all feministy when ONE cabinet position changed gender, and yet finds a way to put negative spin on two women in important national security positions. She looks ridiculous, and it felt good to tell her so.
I’m in a mood today. I should be getting blocked by a bunch of puffed up jackasses today.
😆 Just saw this, Don. My little orange thingy that signals responses isn’t working anymore. I know it’s because of something I did but I haven’t figured out what.
When the presser is over, can someone tell me what I need to do to MAKE WordPress accept my login so I don’t have to keep repeating it every time I want to comment?
He is still however blaming the CIA, State dept and WH for editing and accepting such edits. Asshole!!!! Sorry about my bad language but I am so furious at this BS!
Yes. My comment was not intended to indicate she could actually become President, just that she has exceptional presence, intelligence, empathy and would be the type of inspirational leader who generates the devotion we’ve witnessed with President Obama.
LOL, Bob that would make too much sense. It’s not like Samantha Power feels like she’s entitled to be President, I think she knows she has to work for it. Dame right I’m referring to Hillary Clinton!
WOW, such a stunning presentation. The farewell to and from Tom Donilon was very moving. I’m so proud of and excited for PBO and his team. Absolutely GREAT people.
This was a beautiful touching ceremony. The president really showed deep appreciation for all Tom Donilon has done. And he was so proud
to introduce Susan and Samantha. Class all around.
If my math is correct President Lincoln first took office 72 years after President Washington first took office, President FDR first took office 72 years after President Lincoln first took office, and President Obama first took office 76 years after President FDR first took office. Four distinct eras with entirely different challenges, but there is an excellent possibility these four presidents will be considered our greatest presidents for years to come.
Bipartisan meetings in the House of Representatives on a comprehensive immigration reform bill have failed, and the congressmen will meet for the last time today without reaching an agreement on a House bill, ABC News has learned.
The stumbling block is GOP insistence that newly legalized workers now working in the shadows have no access to government-sponsored health care during their 15-year pathway to citizenship, according to two sources with access to the secret house “Gang of 8″ meetings.
Democrats say that since these newly legalized immigrants would be paying taxes they should be eligible for benefits.
The stalemate is not expected to be solved and any immigration legislation from the House would likely proceed in piecemeal fashion.
This latest development represents a huge blow to immigration reform advocates because the House is likely to pass several smaller bills that address immigration reform, but would not include a pathway to citizenship. It creates a much longer and arduous legislative road to a bill President Obama would be willing to sign.
The Back Channel reported May 3rd that Donilon was expected to step down this summer, several months earlier than previous reports had suggested. Among his considerations, associates said, was that he had been doing this for over four long years, and family medical issues. (Sources say that Donilon’s wife Catherine Russell, former chief of staff to the Vice President’s wife Jill Biden, is recovering from a medical issue. Obama earlier this spring nominated her to be his next ambassador at large for global women’s issues.)
White House associates say Rice and Power, like Donilon, are trusted Obama advisors who have been in his inner circle of national security confidants going back to his 2008 presidential campaign. As such, sources anticipated a relatively smooth transition and good deal of continuity on major foreign policy issues.
“I think the interesting thing about this transition is it’s clearly been planned for a long time,” former White House spokesperson Tommy Vietor told the Back Channel Wednesday. “It’s not a shake up. It’s a transition in which Susan and Sam can hit the ground running because they have been doing it for four years.”
Tom Donilon has been an outstanding national security adviser. As an inside manager of the President’s national security policy process, Tom succeeded in leading a collaborative and insightful process in which all players – from top to bottom – worked together rather than against each other,” Ivo Daalder, outgoing US ambassador to NATO and a friend of Donilon, said.
“It’s a feat very few of his predecessors were able to accomplish,” continued Daalder, who is co-author of one of the defintive studies on the role of the national security advisor, In the Shadow of the Oval Office. “He truly managed a ‘no drama’ process – one that produced very effective advice for the President and ensured smooth implementation of the President’s decisions.”
Very moving announcement from President Barack Obama. Plus a very brilliant one indeed. I love it when he keeps moving forward with deep focus and doing the peoples business
These haters do not know who they are messing with.
That dried up Ms. Greenspan and friends will not spoil this day or any other day for us.
What a surprise! Dailykos nor Crooksandliars has the Power&Rice announcements on its website. I guess their feelings were hurt because President Obama didn’t consult with them first.
Typed above post while listening to “Still I Rise” by Yolanda Adams.
Thank you , Mr. President for all you do. Have done. Will do.
We are grateful for you and your beautiful wife for sacrificing your love, your family and your lives for such a time as this.
PEACE
The Obama Diary 
Boom!
Congrats LL!
Bam!
I’m gonna miss Tom Donilon. He was wonderful. When I watched his appearances on the Sunday shows, he was soft spoken but carried a big stick. He was not to be messed with and he didn’t stand for talking heads spewing lies about Pres. Obama and his foreign policy platform.
I wish him well and I welcome Amb. Susan Rice into the post. She’s going to be great.
Tom Donilon is definitely going to be missed but I like Susan Rice too.
from Irish Central: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-woman-Samantha-Power-to-be-named-as-US-Ambassador-to-UN-by-President-Obama–210225621.html
And the Irish Examiner: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/obama-nominates-irish-born-woman-to-be-us-ambassador-for-un-596612.html
Only short news items yet, but this will be interesting to see in the coming days. And PBO is returning to Ireland soon.
Thank you Pickle! Haven’t read the link yet, but a little warning – Irish Central is run by a loathsome creep Niall O’Dowd who was so pro-Hillary in 2008, he could barely utter PBO’s name without spitting. And his brother, a politican in Ireland, ‘endorsed’ McCain – that went well.
That might be why there is a remark from that source about Rice’s remark about Hillary!
Wow, watching the press briefing the jackals are just insufferable. What a pathetic bunch of losers. It’s hard to believe they are getting six figures to ask such stupid questions. Example: Ann Compton wants to know if President Obama considers his appointment of Ambassador Susan Rice to National Security Adviser a promotion. Amazing…..
I bet the Republican’ts are fuming. I love it. Our President is ten steps ahead of these jackals.
McCain who picked $arah Palin as a running mate said he disagrees with the Susan Rice appointment. Is anyone listening to Republicans any more about anything?
Mrs. Greenspan is again asking if SOS Kerry is the “odd man out”. Again trying to create controversy.
Oh my GOD! So after creating a kerfuffle over PBO not appointing enough women (understand, this was all about Kerry replacing Hillary – not exactly a controversial choice), now Kerry’s the “odd man out”?
Well done.
Just imagine the contortions she had to go through to come up with that piece of garbage. She is so desperate to create controversy. It’s disgusting.
what’s laughable is how obvious this ploy is. She got all feministy when ONE cabinet position changed gender, and yet finds a way to put negative spin on two women in important national security positions. She looks ridiculous, and it felt good to tell her so.
I’m in a mood today. I should be getting blocked by a bunch of puffed up jackasses today.
Perfect.
Ready and waiting. I can already envision PBO’s calm, and his inner joy pulsing through. They thought they had stymied him – poor deluded #GOPs.
Stymied, wasn’t he in the old “Our Gang” series?
😆 Just saw this, Don. My little orange thingy that signals responses isn’t working anymore. I know it’s because of something I did but I haven’t figured out what.
When the presser is over, can someone tell me what I need to do to MAKE WordPress accept my login so I don’t have to keep repeating it every time I want to comment?
Tom Donalon really speaking well of POTUS- so lovely.
He is a class act. His comments are very moving.
agree LH
ha!
Too late punk!
Tell us something we don’t know Karl. Sheesh…..
He is still however blaming the CIA, State dept and WH for editing and accepting such edits. Asshole!!!! Sorry about my bad language but I am so furious at this BS!
Where was Jonathan Karl’s reporting when Dr. Rice was getting a bad rap? He wrote and reported nothing to debunk those lies.
I FEEL LIKE MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE WITH PRIDE WATCHING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
Me too, Ladyhawke, I’m so pround of President Obama and his awesome team.
President Obama reminds me of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather II” today, all family business gets settled.
LOL! Wish those 16+ “businesses” in congress could be cemented today! 😉
Yup, Don. I bet I’m not the only TOD person who was reaching for the tissue box.
https://twitter.com/NJedwina/status/342348835131117569
Frankie Muniz? I had to look this guy up, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
Good for you, Edwina! I didn’t even know who this effer is! LOL!
oh yes Bad Ass women… my President appreciates them 🙂 🙂
What a Love-in Feast that was – completely enjoyable!
Group hug – what a team! Mr. President, you make smart choices every time, it seems. Thank you!
I’m beaming with pride. What an AWESOME Team!!
Expect Mrs. Greenspan to accuse him of condescension to women in 3-2-1…….
Oh my Lord…..pres Obama puts his hands around Women……Wow….another SCANDAL coming……Not work condition behavior…..belittling women……wow 😆 😆 🙄 😆 😆
That would be their next place to go……
Would not be difficult to imagine Samantha Power as a presidential candidate ….
Isn’t she Irish-born?
Yes. My comment was not intended to indicate she could actually become President, just that she has exceptional presence, intelligence, empathy and would be the type of inspirational leader who generates the devotion we’ve witnessed with President Obama.
You are so right!
LOL, Bob that would make too much sense. It’s not like Samantha Power feels like she’s entitled to be President, I think she knows she has to work for it. Dame right I’m referring to Hillary Clinton!
🙂
…….and that ladies and gentlemen is how you checkmate every motherfucking Republican out there.
An oldie …but goodie
🙂
For those who missed it.
Our President is fearless. Tis an in your face GOP, how do you like me now….? with the Susan Rice nomination. You go Sir. We have your back.
Where the fuck are the rest of these sorry-ass democrats.
WOW, such a stunning presentation. The farewell to and from Tom Donilon was very moving. I’m so proud of and excited for PBO and his team. Absolutely GREAT people.
This was a beautiful touching ceremony. The president really showed deep appreciation for all Tom Donilon has done. And he was so proud
to introduce Susan and Samantha. Class all around.
If my math is correct President Lincoln first took office 72 years after President Washington first took office, President FDR first took office 72 years after President Lincoln first took office, and President Obama first took office 76 years after President FDR first took office. Four distinct eras with entirely different challenges, but there is an excellent possibility these four presidents will be considered our greatest presidents for years to come.
Bipartisan meetings in the House of Representatives on a comprehensive immigration reform bill have failed, and the congressmen will meet for the last time today without reaching an agreement on a House bill, ABC News has learned.
The stumbling block is GOP insistence that newly legalized workers now working in the shadows have no access to government-sponsored health care during their 15-year pathway to citizenship, according to two sources with access to the secret house “Gang of 8″ meetings.
Democrats say that since these newly legalized immigrants would be paying taxes they should be eligible for benefits.
The stalemate is not expected to be solved and any immigration legislation from the House would likely proceed in piecemeal fashion.
This latest development represents a huge blow to immigration reform advocates because the House is likely to pass several smaller bills that address immigration reform, but would not include a pathway to citizenship. It creates a much longer and arduous legislative road to a bill President Obama would be willing to sign.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/06/house-talks-on-immigration-reform-near-collapse/
[From Laura Rozen @ Back Channel]:
The Back Channel reported May 3rd that Donilon was expected to step down this summer, several months earlier than previous reports had suggested. Among his considerations, associates said, was that he had been doing this for over four long years, and family medical issues. (Sources say that Donilon’s wife Catherine Russell, former chief of staff to the Vice President’s wife Jill Biden, is recovering from a medical issue. Obama earlier this spring nominated her to be his next ambassador at large for global women’s issues.)
White House associates say Rice and Power, like Donilon, are trusted Obama advisors who have been in his inner circle of national security confidants going back to his 2008 presidential campaign. As such, sources anticipated a relatively smooth transition and good deal of continuity on major foreign policy issues.
“I think the interesting thing about this transition is it’s clearly been planned for a long time,” former White House spokesperson Tommy Vietor told the Back Channel Wednesday. “It’s not a shake up. It’s a transition in which Susan and Sam can hit the ground running because they have been doing it for four years.”
.
Lots more good stuff here: http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2013/06/5419/tom-donilon-to-step-down-susan-rice-to-succeed-as-nsa/
I like this bit in above article — no drama:
Tom Donilon has been an outstanding national security adviser. As an inside manager of the President’s national security policy process, Tom succeeded in leading a collaborative and insightful process in which all players – from top to bottom – worked together rather than against each other,” Ivo Daalder, outgoing US ambassador to NATO and a friend of Donilon, said.
“It’s a feat very few of his predecessors were able to accomplish,” continued Daalder, who is co-author of one of the defintive studies on the role of the national security advisor, In the Shadow of the Oval Office. “He truly managed a ‘no drama’ process – one that produced very effective advice for the President and ensured smooth implementation of the President’s decisions.”
Very moving announcement from President Barack Obama. Plus a very brilliant one indeed. I love it when he keeps moving forward with deep focus and doing the peoples business
These haters do not know who they are messing with.
That dried up Ms. Greenspan and friends will not spoil this day or any other day for us.
THIS!!!!!
What a surprise! Dailykos nor Crooksandliars has the Power&Rice announcements on its website. I guess their feelings were hurt because President Obama didn’t consult with them first.
Those two sites are and will remain insignificant. Remember we won last November in spite of them.
Daily kos is a joke, irrelevant!
Orange Satan had the announcements earlier. Haven’t looked at crooks and liars in years.
Today is great!
Checkmate……
What a lovely moving presentation in the rose Garden. Clearly, these folks all love and trust each other. Keeps the team strong behind the president.
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/05/introducing-susan-rice-and-samantha-power/
Typed above post while listening to “Still I Rise” by Yolanda Adams.
Thank you , Mr. President for all you do. Have done. Will do.
We are grateful for you and your beautiful wife for sacrificing your love, your family and your lives for such a time as this.
PEACE
Great. Mike V is a fair reporter.