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If President Barack Obama taps U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to take over for Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, her nomination will be met with stiff resistance by some Republican senators.
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., each pledged to filibuster Rice's prospective nomination as secretary of state due to her public explanations for the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
Amid speculation that Obama might nominate Rice for the top diplomatic post to succeed Clinton, who has said she plans to step aide now that the president has won a second term, McCain said he would "do whatever to block the nomination that is within our power" at a press conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill.
Graham and McCain, joined by New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R), also called Wednesday for Congress to establish a temporary select committee to investigate the attacks in Libya.
But as Obama prepares for his first post-election news conference, at which he will likely be asked to address personnel issues in his administration, Republicans meant to send a strong pre-emptive warning.
"She is so disconnected from reality that I don’t trust her," Graham said.
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When are we going to stop celebrating this fake hero and rat fink Senator, John McCain? He is what he is. A back stabbing, wicked old fool that never could be trusted. He is exactly what he appears to be. Never was the truth telling centrist the media built him up to be. To President Obama's credit, in 2008, he refused to exploit McCain's most serious weakness. And that was the many former VietNam POWs who were incarcerated with him, who claimed he ratted out comrades who subsequently were killed. They wanted to publicly call McCain out, just like the GOP swift boated Senator Kerry in 2004. Remember that one? Where Kerry thought McCain was a trusted friend. But the GOP war weasel, POW coward didn't defend Kerry against those obvious lies and smears about his record? If true, that is not a hero. But a pathetic bum, who should have been tried and convicted of treason. The real heroes were the POWs who died and remained incarcerated without selling out their country or comrades. That's what those Nam vets were agry about with McCain.
We need to get over this dopey old, bitter idiot and his faithful companion Tonto (Gramm). And treat him like the fake he is. He and Lindsey Gramm are as shallow as they seem. President Obama should relish their opposition. Never expect their support. And squash them like the pathetic insects they are. All President Obama needs is for Harry Reid to step up and keep his promise to drastically reform the filibuster rule. And those dopes will be stymied. And I have a suggestion for Senator Reid. Allow a filibuster to proceed. But revise the rule so that a simple majority vote of the 3 leaders of the Senate can end it after a reasonable period, or at their pleasure with a simple Majority vote of the 3 (Majority leader, Minority leader and Senate President-Vice President of the US). That simple rule change would end ridiculous threats by ignorant fools like these GOP obstructionists.
Have they forgotten the (non-)conformation hearing of Elizabeth Warren and the price for throwing her out?
Mr. Graham and Mr. McCain. We do not trust you either but yet we have to deal with you. Get over your anger and vengeance and stop your nonsense. You sound like two lunatics. Do the country a favor and retire.
I'm curious Fedup, how do you determine that These men are acting in anger and vengeance? It seems to me that we should all be concerned about someone who would become our primary foreign affairs representative and hold a position just three steps away from the Presidency!
If, as Obama stated yesterday during his Michael Douglas impression, she would allow herself to be used, as just an uninformed talking head, to address the entire Nation on National TV (Which means InterNational), on the subject of the murder of an Ambassador, and tell outright lies, well... her judgement is clearly in question!
Perhaps it's just that you Progressives expect so very little from your representatives!
Typical democrat response, attack McCain for being vengeful. I guess voting being the best revenge is out? If Rice had nothing to do with Benghazi, then why did the White House ask her, and have her go on all major networks to spread the terrorist attack denials of Obama? To say that she just reflected the intelligence that she had at the time is a cop out, and suspect at best. What this shows to anyone with a brain is her credibility is not very good on this issue. The attack was seen in real time, over at least 5 hours time and nothing effective was done to save the lives of the Ambassador and three other Americans. Given time and an objective inquiry, the facts of this debacle will come out in the wash. That said, the blind voting sheeple will find nothing amiss about the king of the U.S., nor his czars, Executive Orders, inexperience and incompetence at leading a republic.
I'm sure you feel the same way about all those WMDs in Iraq that has caused thousands of Americans lives. Shouldn't there love ones have some answers?
The attack was seen in real time by whom, where? Please give us your sources and where they stated these falsehoods while they were under oath and penalty of perjury. Otherwise, STFU.
You clearly have no understanding of the intelligence and international affairs environments and how they work. Reality is that there are appropriate hearings scheduled and investigations underway...before those conclude, we simply don't have enough of the facts to draw substantive conclusions. Stop just accepting the partisan headline talk, learn something about the reality, and then draw conclusions. That's not partisan...that's thoughtful, responsible, common sense.
Paul I guess you dont care enough about the truth to actually watch the hearings. The assistant ambassador who testified at the first round of hearings (her last name is Lamb I think) TESTIFIED that they watched it in real time.
At what point in the October 10 hearing did Charlene Lamb say that anyone watched the attack in real time. Who is this "they" you are talking about but still failing to identify. I watched what i could of her testimony, and I haven't heard what you claim.
The "angry white man's party" continues its obstructionist nonsense.
Is Obama such a doofus he can't figure out how the political process works as did his 43 predecessors...
Dee Ten, that's a pretty vague accusation.
Which processes do you think he doesn't understand?
Chip -
The list would be too long to list but I'll give you one to start a list -
The process of working with a divided Congress instead of bloviating about obstructionist - the other 43 presidents understood that their job was to work with their obstructionist.
Dee Ten nice cop out...
Hint: I didn't expect a response...
How about the fact that it's idiotic and disingenuous to send somebody who "Has nothing to do with Benghazi" to represent him on National TV about....well AN INCIDENT IN BENGHAZI ! !
tedcrawford, why is that idiotic?
She's a spokesperson for the administration just like Carney who also had nothing to do with the attack or directly with any other acts or decisions. Your logic is pretty vacuous.
I'll bet you feel better now that you've posted the attack.
Chip -
How many other expectations have you had that didn't work out for you?
@ Dee Ten:
51% of Americans said you and your Doofus candidates were the losers on November 6th and in 2008. Indulge us with your "too long" list please, instead of hiding behind your shallow dumbness. Because if that is your example, I don't know how you made it past 7th grade.
I have a long list too. But I'll keep it simple for a challenged intelligence like yours.
I could go on. Because this President had monumental achievements despite often treasonous obstruction by your GOP Doofuses. But I highly doubt you would even be able to read it. Let alone comprehend it. Now go on back into your little shrinking "Idiot Bubble", DOOFUS! And stop humoring us with your stupidity.
Chip -
Well, Benhgazi...ok number two (pun intended) on the list would be the process of keeping Americans safe from terrorists. No matter how that's spun, Obama is CIC and 4 Americans are dead.
Ok well number three on the list would be the process of accurately informing the American people concerning threats to their lives. Al Qaeda is no longer a threat to your security just isn't accurate...
Johnny -
Step back some there...a little farther please...ok now maybe your spittle won't get on me...you know you're foaming at the mouth...some well intentioned doctor is going to have you committed and start you on rabies shots...
"I don't know how you made it past 7th grade."
Now how do you know I even made it to the 7th grade?
Do you think everyone that has an opinion different than your opinion is a member of the GOP?
In fact do you think at all...or just write hate comments?
Dee Ten...
No one including the President has dodged that responsibility. he's stated many times that it is his responsibility. No one is spinning anything and the investigation has not been concluded.
The current administration, in the obligation of transparency and communication, has been and continues to provide the information it can as given by the responsible arms of government (CIA/FBI).
The current adiminstration has done more than the previous in crippling AQ and continues to do so. Countless threats have been uncovered and thwarted both in this country and other countries attributed directly through this adiministration's leadership and direction.
If you're laying awake at night worrying about AQ then good luck to you. You're wasting valuable personal time with potential health consequences.
Chip -
The responsibility was to protect the 4 dead Americans before they were killed...
None of the investigations bring those people back to life. Having to explain why they were killed is an admittance of failure to protect them.
Dee Ten and still there is NOTHING that has been discovered or anticipated by every expert questioned that would indicate that this was avoidable.
There is still no evidence that there was a failure to protect them.
And it is the same responsibility that every president has to protect all American lives. Where is your pout-rage over the loss of over 4,000 American soldiers who died in Iraq over FAULTY INTELLIGENCE? Why is Susan Rice's statements over Benghazi any different than Condalezza Rice's statements on Iraq WMD, Iraq nuclear program, Iraq's Revolutionary Guard, etc.? The statements by Sen.'s McCain and Graham are hypocritical in light of how they defended the Bush administration spokesperson who presented the case for America's preemptive attack on Iraq.
The only statement I agree with is that none of the investigations will bring any of those people back to life.
Let me understand you Chip. It seems that you just promoted the Office of Press Secretary to a Cabinet Level position, in the first place! In the second, you seem to imply that ANY Cabinet official should be considered competent to address the issues of any other Cabinet Position! Interesting administration you have just created!
tedcrawford, please try reading for comprehension. I did no such thing and something tells me you know it. I'm guessing you can't rationalize your silly statement so you're invoking the typical right wing tactic of deflection and contortion.
Nobody was "addressing" the issues. They were COMMUNICATING/UPDATING for the purpose of consumption. If this is how you parse things it's answers a lot of questions about how the right arrives at their inane platforms and ideologies...
Chip -
They found 4 dead Americans! I'd say that's proof of the failure to protect...
Dee Ten, you're expecting the impossible. Every diplomat stationed in these dangerous countries know very well that there could be dire consequences. I was just listening to a diplomatic corps member this morning saying that very thing. I believe every administration tries its best to protect it members and citizens.
You position assumes that there was some kind of negligence or reckless behavoir. You're assuming facts not in evidence.
Chip -
You're ignoring facts in evidence.
(1) The US pulled a security team from Benhgazi against the written recommendations of State Department field personnel on the ground in Benhgazi...doesn't even pass the smell test.
(2) The US has had rapid deployment forces in the field since the early 1980s and no one was available when the field personnel in Benghazi called for support in a mortar attack? The president didn't put troops on the ground in Libya when he used American aircraft to participate in the Libyan revolt because it was too dangerous. During the firefight the US managed to get 2 unarmed drones on site but somehow couldn't get supersonic aircraft on site...doesn't even pass the smell test.
curtis, so apparently YOU'RE not waiting for the facts to come out.
You'd rather play the victim and then just lash out blindly?
Okay, I get it. NOT!
"facts come out" ? ? How would that happen? Obama said during the Presidental Debates that he admitted it was a terrorist attack " The following day in the Rose Garden", yet days after that he sends out Rice to claim it was a demonstration about a video. Just days after that he claims the same thing in front of the United Nations! During that same time frame his Sec. of State is doing the same thing!
"Facts come out"! ! That's clearly the last thing he intends should happen!
@ Chip Girouard:
I feel you man! But you're arguing with dumb and dumber here. I know its fun sometimes. But these two are lost puppies. Tedcrawford has already constructed his own alternate reality of truth in his pea brain. He likely constructed it from the lying resude of the decaying Fox Universe. He blithely omitts that his horses Mitt Romney and the GOP in the intelligence committees had access to the same information as Ambassador Rice. Some of them even made identical comments as hers immediately afterward. But that sure didn't stop Mitt from lying and looking like an absolute fool for politicising the deaths of US personnel.
Facts and truth doesn't matter with people like this. They can only deal with stupid opinions which adhere to their paranoia, insanity and lies.
JohnnyB, exactly... And apparently Mitt still thinks he's relevant. I hope the President changes his mind about meeting with him on economic policy.
He should just say sorry Mitt, I'm busy with important things. Things you just don't understand, now go ome and play with your car elevator.
@Dee Ten:
Forgive me. I stand corrected. So what is it? 5th grade. 4th? I was being kind with 7th. Hold on. I have to wipe the foam. Okay now. The full list please. Or can you count past one?
OK! Now I understand I'm attempting to discuss issues with Frick and Frack here! I believe I'll follow Mr .Jeffersons advice here! " It is as useless to argue with those who have renounced the use and authority of reason , as to administer medicine to the dead" , and bit you good luck!
What happened to John McCain who used to be an honerble man? He is still biitter over the election, he lost four years ago. Senator McCain get over it and do the right thing. Don't take it on Sussan Rice who is serving our country. In the time of chrises we should be united not devided. Pointing fingers does not solve the problem.
I think it is time for the GOP to look in to other prospects, like Ronald Regan and the past presidents and senators who really cares for the American public; worked side by side with the Democrts and Librals to get things done.
If I were rich I wouldn't waste my time and money on these falks including the so called Tea Partty!!
Might want to check her record during her time at NSA during the Clinton Administration ( turned down the offer by Sudan to arrest bin Lauden) and Bush 41's administration ( blocked the shareing of intelligence between the State Department and NSA regarding, ones again, bin Lauden)
@tedcrawford:
Gee; that's odd and selective memory. Since on her watch at the UN we got Bin Laden. Oh BTW you and your goofy GOP gang had 8 years after 9/11 to get Bin Laden. Especially after he blew up 2 pretty big buildings in NY and the Pentagon! Rice's efforts or record pales in comparison to the monumental incompetence of the Republican Party over the past decade.
And @ Yalem, New York:
John McCain's honor was always a media created myth. The man never quite fit the pants! Many former POws from the same VietNam prison camp that tortured them all wanted MsCain prosecuted afterwards for selling out the country and many of his comrades. Some allegedly who died. Even McCain himself admitted he was not a hero. But just a POW who cracked under torture and pressure. I can sympathize with that. Who knows how any of us would act under the same circumstances. But he seems to still crack under the pressure of losing. He is just as big a flip flopper as Romney. The John McCain of today is propelled by nothing but bitterness and hatred of the man who beat him in 2008.
Originally I thought you just another in a very long line of Progressive "useful idiots", but now you have proven yourself to be something else entirely! you are a petty, small minded coward to besmirch the reputations of far, far, better men! No such appeals for prosecution ever occurred ! McCain proved his merit when he refused the offered early release, in spite of injuries that still debilitate him! ! I pitty people such as you! What a miserable existance you must have, that causes such a bilious attitude!
@ tedcrawford:
Hmmmmm. a "Progressive useful idiot". To put such an oxymoronic comment in context I have to say this. Better that than a "Regressive worthless genius". Quite an interesting concept there Sparkie. And I can apply the exact same comments about you and your party about the awful comments you routinely make about an accomplished person like President Obama, Senator John Kerry or President Clinton. Where is your equal outrage about the horrible things your political ilk said and continue to say about them. I was completely offended by the awful things said about General Powell, after his President Obama endorsement. Where was your defense of his honor. At least he was a real war hero! Even Senator McCain admitted there was nothing heroic about his service in VietNam. He said it was all about survival.
But I do understand your comment. It fits within the myths the right creates about its heroes to delude themselves. I'm not a John McCain fan. I don't think there is anything heroic about him. I am a fan of President GHW Bush and his heroic service in WW2 and as CIA leader during the Cold War. I don't think he was a great President. But I don't think he was awful either. And I don't begrdge W's military service either. He never claimed heroism or allowed it to be artificially ascribed to him. And in many ways his presidential legacy was sabotaged by an awful, disastrous VP selection (Dick Cheney). Who is another fake chicken hawk hero of the far right. Even though he (Cheney) was nothing but a draft dodging (5 times) coward in reality.
Here we go again....the GOP putting up a wall to stop anything the president(who btw was voted for by a majority of Americans to continue with his policies and his cabinet picks) proposes...vote them out next election...especially McConnell! They don't work for us they are working to push their own political agenda....they are idealogs...we don't need that! we need forward solutions!
McCain is a bitter loser and a liar. Graham is a troll and a liar. These two hypocrites supported the nomination of Condoleeza Rice for Secretary of State when she spewed the lies about Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction. That lie told by Condy resulted in the loss of life of tens of thousands and the cost of trillions.
This disgusting behavior from our Senators is so completely out of control. I expect this type of bottom feeding extremist partisan talk from Sen Graham (he doesn't know much else) but Sen McCain has truly reached a new low. To think I was thrilled to have him as a candidate for President, I now feel that it was for the best that he did not win. The McCain that has emerged from that campaign is a far cry from the dignified patriot and Senator that put the American people first. Instead of the fair minded Senator that would wait to get the facts before jumping to conclusions, it seems we now have a man so bitter about his loss of that election that he chooses to join chorus with the extremists, zealots, and thinly veiled racists that have co-opted the leadership of the once great Republican Party and hurl anything possible hoping that something will stick and be labelled SCANDAL...regardless of people's careers and reputations they damage in a desperate attempt to delegitimize the President. Where were these guys when Bush and his cabinet lied to Congress and the American people and the thousands of lives those lies cost us....NO WHERE since Bush was their guy! The series of Bush lies and cover-ups went well beyond the magnitude of Watergate yet both parties did little to NOTHING to hold that administration accountable. So now these partisan Senators misrepresent the scant facts publicly released about the Libya situation saying we need Watergate type hearings to get to the bottom of things...oh, please. Don't these guys get it???? The American people are tired of this type of partisan behavior. There are appropriate hearings scheduled that have not even taken place yet....get the facts following the proper procudure, try to put personal animosities aside and THEN, and only then, fairly assess the situation IN THE INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE; not your political party. There is some serious business for the American people that needs their attention...the economy, jobs, forclosures, etc. Put this bull***t aside and get to work!!!
Well Said!
It is pathetic these snivelling GOP bullies, they jump at the opportunity to attack a woman, onl false pretenses.
Graham and McCain need to go away. McCain still is crying about his loss in 2008, he was a pilot shot down in Vietnam and spend 5 years in a prison camp. How does that make him an authority on Foreign policy?
In 2 years we need to clean the House of the reaining GOP trash and it will be easy!!!
rushless, to be fair McCain has been involved on many of the committees involved with foreign affairs.
That being said, it appeasr that he's lost his ability to reason anything out anymore and present a stable appearance. Both McCain and Graham make an excellent pair of bookends. It's nearly impossible to tell them apart if you're not looking at ehm.
Dear Mr. McCain,
The 2008 election is over, you LOST, get over it.
You are simply embarrassing yourself and turning what was a good career into a joke.
You and others politicians like you are the PERFECT REASON we need Term Limits!
GOP/TEA = SOUR GRAPES (with our money)
You Libs are spouting all the familiar talking points on this site. Have any of you actually checked out her "accomplishments" as Ambassador to the UN'? She sucks! Benghazi is just the tip of the iceberg for this woman. She has missed several key votes (Isreal/Gaza) Arab Spring, Libiya,, etc. etc. She may have sterling acedemic credentials but her effectiveness and lack of command during key UN proposals is horrible!
Before you start spouting anti Republican talking points, CHCK OUT HER CRAPPY UN record!
Since you seem to have done so in forming your opinion of her, why didn't you provide a link to your sources of information?
Are they independent sources, or Fox News sources? There is a difference in the level of credibility between the two.
As to the votes Ms. Rice may have taken, missed, or voted against just how many of them were in the best interest of America, whom she represents. Just like bills submitted by the House and Senate, the title of the bill does not necessarily represent the entire contents of the bill. Were there poison pill riders attached to any of those UN votes? Did the State Department or Executive Office direct Ms. Rice to vote as she did? I recommend you check out the substance of the entire situation before you make a claim that her UN record is crappy. Such generalizations based upon a cursory look at the situation tends to lead the superficial reader to a conclusion that is opposite of the facts which determined the vote.
One day you REPUKES will turn off FOX, News all the things going on around the world fox news seem to be consumed with this story along with Graham and Mc cain and the rest of u repukes. Trying to score political points and keep the country divided.
How embarrassing for GOP to have McCain and Graham being such idiots for all to see. McCain needs to just fade away quietly before someone commits him, he is acting like a fool. He has the ordacity to criticize Obama yet McCain selected Palin as a running mate, now that was scary. He needs to take a good hard look at himself and maybe he will get it that he is a has been and needs to go enjoy the rest of his life peacefully somewhere and stop making a fool of himself. And Graham, what a joke; it's like get over it, the election is over and you're certainly not helping the GOP image, which is in dire straights of a makeover.
Oh brother! Enough with the childish behavior, the election is over. Forward!
The 2012 election may be over but the Republicans are already gearing up for 2014 and 2016. Too bad they're going to run the same type of platform as they did in this cycle.
I hope Democrats don't go to sleep for the next 2-years like they did during the 2010 mid-terms which saw the wave of Republican obstructionist get elected to State and Federal offices.
Oh please....does John McCain have a 50 year stint in congress or what? The obstructionist party needs to go and McCain should have gone out with palin... Will you people whoever you are PLEASE stop electing this good ole' boy and let all of them retire. Ok McCain you were a war hero, thank you, but my god stop trying to be a GOP hero too. It isn't working, surely you got the election results by now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorist_attacks_on_U.S._diplomatic_facilities#Terrorist_attacks_on_US_diplomatic_facilities
Perhaps Ambassador Rice would have performed her task of describing what she knew from the intelligence reports at the time....if she had had more experience with such situations. There were twelve (12!!!) such attacks during Bush's eight years in office. If she had been the ambassador during that period she would have become more rehearsed at making such reports! Perhaps that is what Senators McCain and Graham are concerned about here...more experience at such things! If she was a REPUBLICAN she maybe could have benefitted from the Bush years!
When will the US Congress come together for the good of the Country?
Dwight:::The Republicants haven't seen Susan Rice's "binder" yet. They'll catch up....I hope.....
GOP, better know as Grumpy Old Party, just can't handle defeat. I have a feeling we will have another 4 years of wiping their noses, changing their diapers and putting them in the corner for time out. When will they learn that the WHOLE Grumpy Old Party is totally out of touch with the rest of America????
John McCain and his conspirator (Lindsey Graham) are absolutely wrong. They should be ashamed in the tactics they are playing in trying to bring Scott Brown back to the senate. They know very well that Susan Rice account of Benghazi was based on the information received from the intelligence. The President stated that “She made an appearance at the request of the White House in which she gave her best understanding of the intelligence that had been provided to her." In addition, Susan Rice account was verified by intelligence officials. Therefore, for John McCain and Lindsey Graham to travel down that road is looking for a scapegoat for the betterment of their agenda. In addition, McCain and Lindsey are hiding behind the deaths of four Americans in pursuit of their agenda. This is disgusting and it is wrong because they know Susan Rice had no involvement with Benghazi. These two men are doing their best to tarnish this young woman distinguished career for the expense of their agenda. These two men are doing their best to stop any upper mobility of this woman because of their agenda. The hearing for Benghazi is to find out the truth of what happened and correct the mistakes. It is very apparent that McCain and Graham see otherwise. McCain and Graham have other intentions and this is to find a way to tarnish Susan Rice to keep the President for nominating her to Secretary of State, as well as, looking to see if the President did anything wrong in effort to bring him down. The actions of McCain and Lindsey are atrocious, nasty, and vile. This is not the intentions of our government and they should apologize.
Yea we get it Republicans!!!!! “You will do everything in your power to block” everything that the President of the United States does. We need to get this Country back on it’s feet!!!!! How about working with the President for once!?!?!? Could we please try that!!!!!!!! The Republican party is imploding. By 2016 it will either be gone or finally meet and greet the 21st century.
Wow, Graham said she was far removed from reality! That's really funny considering he and most of his party still believes that George W. Bush was an excellent president and actually helped our economy during his reign. They believe that if raped, a woman's body will automatically shut down its reproductive system. Who the hell is far removed from reality?