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Subscribe to RSSIf President Barack Obama selects United Nations envoy Susan Rice to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he’ll face determined opposition from at least three Republican senators: John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. Ayotte and Graham would each place a “hold” on Rice’s nomination if she were nominated, their aides told NBC News Tuesday. McCain's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte stated that, after meeting with Amb. Susan Rice, they are more "troubled" and still have many questions regarding the administration's handling of Benghazi.
The three GOP senators met with Rice Tuesday and said afterwards they still weren’t satisfied with the administration’s handling of the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi and Rice’s initial role in explaining that attack.
Related: Senators not satisfied with Rice's Benghazi story
If Rice were nominated and her nomination came to the Senate floor for a vote, it seems highly likely that with Democrats holding the majority in the new Congress, she’d be confirmed.
But her Republican opponents could use the Senate rules to try to prevent her nomination from coming to a floor vote.
A “hold” is an informal procedure by which a senator signals to his or her floor leader that he or she doesn’t want a bill or nomination to come to the floor. Holds have been used for years by senators to indicate that a nomination is so unacceptable to them that they’d try to filibuster it -- to stop it through endless debate -- if necessary.
Ambassador Nicholas Burns talks about Ambassador Susan Rice's meeting with Sens. John McCain, Kelly Ayotte and Lindsey Graham. He also talks about the challenges facing the next Secretary of State.
“I would hold her nomination until I had additional answers to questions, and then I will render judgment," Ayotte told reporters after meeting with Rice.
When Graham was asked by Defense News if he would place a hold on Rice’s nomination, he said, “Oh, absolutely. I would place a hold on anybody who wanted to be promoted to any job who had a role in the Benghazi situation.” Graham’s office confirmed that account.
Graham told a press conference Tuesday after he, McCain and Ayotte met with Rice that “before anybody can make an intelligent decision about promoting someone involved in Benghazi, we need to do a lot more (investigating).”
But indicating they’d put a hold on a nomination does not mean that Rice’s opponents could themselves kill her nomination.
If Rice were nominated and if the Foreign Relations Committee reported her nomination to the full Senate, it would be up to Majority Leader Harry Reid to decide when to bring it to the floor for debate.
Susan Walsh / AP
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, center, flanked by fellow committee members, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, following a meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. Rice met with lawmakers to discuss statements she made about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead.
If senators opposed to Rice were able to keep debating the nomination, and if Reid failed to muster 60 votes for cloture, bringing the debate to a close, then the nomination would essentially be dead.
It’s early in this battle, and it’s not clear there would be enough Republicans to sign onto a filibuster, but one Democratic Senate aide said Democrats would welcome the fight and are confident she would be confirmed. “People are happy to fight for her,” the aide said.
There are echoes here of the nomination battles of the Bush era. Democratic filibusters blocked, and ultimately killed, a number of President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees and Bush’s nomination of John Bolton to be U.N. ambassador.
“I remember the John Bolton episode pretty well,” Graham told reporters Tuesday. “Democrats dug in their heels saying we're not gonna vote, we're not gonna consider this nomination until we get basic answers to our concerns.”
There were two cloture votes on Bolton’s nomination in 2005. He got 56 votes on one of them, four shy of the number needed to end debate and confirm him.
In some cases, a senator putting a hold on a nomination is enough to convince the majority leader or the chairman of the committee considering the nomination to not try to move ahead with it.
For example in December 2011 the Washington Post reported that Matthew Bryza, Obama's nominee to be ambassador to Azerbaijan, was "deemed insufficiently hostile to Armenia's enemies by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and two Democratic senators with Armenian American constituencies, Barbara Boxer (Calif.) and Robert Menendez (N.J.)."
Boxer and Menendez put a hold on his nomination, preventing or at least delaying a floor vote. Obama gave Bryza a recess appointment and renominated him.
But Boxer and Menendez continued to oppose him and the Post reported that Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., never scheduled a hearing on his nomination.
Sometimes a hold on a nomination is simply a way of trying to extract some specific policy change or administrative action from the executive branch.
For example, the Hill reported last year that Sen. David Vitter, R-La., announced he was lifting his hold on Obama’s nomination of Dan Ashe to head the Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service.
Vitter wanted speedier action from the Obama administration on approving deep-water drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico.
“I said I would lift it when we got to 15 permits,” Vitter said on June 1, 2011. “We finally reached that mark today, and I’m lifting my hold.”
But the stakes would be far higher if Obama nominated Rice, partly because it would be the first nomination battle since he won re-election last month.
NBC News’s Domenico Montanaro contributed to this story.
Leave a Comment:
“Oh, absolutely. I would place a hold on anybody who wanted to be promoted to any job who had a role in the Benghazi situation.” Lindsey Graham.
Rice had no role in the "Behghazi situation", so what is this ass hat talking about?
This whole thing is a ploy to open up John Kerry's seat in the Senate for a run by Scott Brown.
See people the GOP thinks the people are not smart enough to see their game.
This woman is clearly unfit for any public office - either she lied about Benghazi or she was following Barry's orders to a T and that makes her uncabale of being a Sec of State where she has to decide things on the fly in meetings with foreign officials - she should be charged with murder or treason for her actions - Hillary's bailing so she won;t be asswociated with this admin'sd failed policies bith foreign and economic for her run in 2016 - unfortunately the stain from this admin should permanently be on her hands and will bring defeat - except I'm sure she will blame Bush for everything
Your post is a joke!!! I guess your understanding of U.N. Ambassador is something else. You do understand that the United Nations is all about foreign officials and that is what Ambassador Rice has been doing for the past several years. Ambassador Rice was the messenger only, she did not have anything to do regarding decisions regarding Benghazi. You need to take your anger to where it belongs, the CIA and the intelligence community. Susan Rice did NOT murder or actions having anything to do with treason. Giving classified information to the general public in her talking points, breaching national security measures, then yes, treason could be sought. No classified information was given out. I think that is what has all you guys upset. She followed protocol properly, and can't be held on any charges. Funny how Condaleca Rice gets a pass by all of you for giving out false, misleading intelligence talking points to congress, the U.N., and the general public.
Jackie -
These guys all think this is like a Road Runner cartoon.
They know nothing about foreign service!
Guesswhatiam - you're not too bright!
Thank God Oblahblah has a Nobel Peace Prize....
Otherwise, the Middle East would really be screwed up right about now........
LOL
Rice is a liar, she is incompetent, and she should resign as ambassador. Not only did her lies and incompetence about a YouTube video that was virtually unknown prior to her going on Sunday talk shows after 4 Americans, including Ambassador Stevens were murdered on 9/11/12, disrespect these dead Americans and their families and friends; it also created chaos in countries throughout the world in which many innocent Muslims were murdered after they went out to protest a video that became known to them because of Rice, Obama, and Clinton's persistence in blaming the Benghazi attack on the unknown YouTube video when in fact it was known to these three stooges to be an al-Qaeda terrorist attack. Not only should the 4 Americans families and friends insist on answers, Americans, the military, American Ambassadors, and Muslims around the world should insist on the truth from this incompetent administration.
Sorry, but you are absolute wrong!!! The video was well known, and had been made available in Arabic a week before the Benghazi attacks. There were numerous protest in many countries throughout the middle east. Get the facts!!! You are what many call misinformed, and partisan.
Jackie, you are the one that is wrong, along with being a misinformed lefty kool-aid drinking fool.
Got any "facts" to back your claim up Joe. My post is factual, backed up with verifiable sources. Care to point out what isn't factual in my post??
Wake up ,Rice already admitted that what she said was not the facts, but at the time this is what she was told. Also, state your verifiable sources.
Joe,
Rice only admitted that the CIA and General Petreas gave her the talking points that were cleared for release to the general public by the intelligence community, and that the facts were still being sorted out. I still don't see where that makes her lying.
One of my verifiable source is: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19606155.
I'm a new user, so not sure if the link will come through. If not, it is the BBC, UK news, world,, middle east. Dated Sept. 30, 2012 and discusses the film, trailer, and the many protest in the middle east, northern Africa, and Asia.
By the way, you have not refuted my post with any facts of your own. How about answering how I am wrong and stating your sources.
CIA director Petraeus reviewed the talking points that clearly indicated it was a terrorist attack by al-Qaeda, and he testified in closed door hearings that the talking points were altered after they left the CIA. The head of DNI, James Clapper appeared before congress a few weeks ago and testified under oath that did not change and did not know who changed the talking points and vowed he would find out. Now before Thanksgiving, he decided he would take the blame and is now saying he changed the talking points from a "terrorist attack by al-Qaeda" to a "spontaneous demonstration caused by a YouTube video." Remember Jackieass--4 Americans and countless Muslims died because of the incompetence and lies from the Obama administration.
Barb,
This has nothing to do with the Obama administration. If by that reasoning, then you had better start blaming Reagan for the Beirut bombings, including the embassy and the marine barracks, and Clinton for the USS Cole. Don't forget the lives lost during the Bush administration for faulty, misleading intelligence. By your account, they must have been incompetent too.
The intelligence community still has to rely on humans and humans are fallible. Why are you not clamoring for what went wrong and how to keep this from happening again. Why not the clamoring for the injustice done over the years to countless other Americans that have died in terrorist attacks through the years. This administration is no less incompetent than previous administrations that similar attacks have occurred. Where was this outcry then? You don't like this president, we get that, but others didn't like previous administrations too, but we didn't hold individuals responsible for simply reading what the intelligence community released for general public knowledge.
Barb,
Any reply on the fact that the video was seen the week before the Benghazi attack in several different middle eastern countries, northern Africa, and Asia. Any reply on my post above. I know it is hard to argue with actual facts and reliable sources. Maybe you should consider that your posts are "just talking points" themselves.
It's 2012 and it is the Obama administration's fault and Rice, Clinton, Petraeus, Clapper, are all appointees of Obama. Ask yourself where Obama was on 9/11/12. Also ask yourself why he felt it was so important to do interviews with 60 minutes and Pimp with a Limp and then jet off to Vegas for a campaign fundraiser on 9/11/12 rather than tell the American people the truth? He claimed at a news conference a few days after the elecctions that "now that the election is over we can get to the truth on Benghazi." The factual information came from his mouth. You need to get better sources than BBC--why the heck would anyone claiming that their factual posts on here about the United States foreign policies came from a foreign media who is in the midst of their own sex scandal? Use sources like the rest of the liberals do on here--Rolling Stones, People Magazine, High Society, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, and Huffington Post. When you start using those sources, I will start believing you....
are more of an idiot than I originally thought.
Barb, where are you FACTS that claim Obama and his admin is at fault. Jackie provided her FACTS. Barb is just ranting on an on with no substance. Sound just like somebody I know from Fox news, what's that guy name or yeah Sean hannity.
Next time barb, provide a source or evidence before excusing the whole Obama admin.
Before the liberals start their stupid little republicans against women and republicans against blacks game...let's remember that the democrats fought tooth and nail against Condeleeza Rice,judge Thomas,and called Colin Powell an "uncle tom". We won't even mention Robert 'KKK' Byrd. Liberals are the biggest hypocrites and there is always a double standard when you deal with them and that's a fact.
GOP is continually being exposed as the sick and incompetent party of big business and the rich. The American People are watching and the GOP ride is over. HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!! GOP=LOSERS!!!
Is that why Oblahblah's cabinet is made up of Goldman Sachs employees???
Beef for Brains -
Yes you have it partly right - a strong smart black woman is definitely a threat to an old out of touch white guy who still thinks he's a hero!
She will make an awesome Sec of State. We know she will lie for us AND we know she will lie to us. Putting her in plain view will ease our state of mind. She will ..........
McCain seems to have become a self serving, bitter naysayer who may no longer be an asset to the United States Senate or the Arizonans he represents or else he is off-kilter. Why is he always advocating the U.S. get involved in yet another war? By my count the U.S. would be involved in five or six wars right now if MCCain were president.
It is well known by now Benghazi was a CIA operation and McCain must know this. McCain should also know Ambassador Susan Rice's early description of the Benghazi attack was from information supplied to her by the CIA "talking points." I have read at least four news reports detailing this fact and they can be found online.
"CIA Documents Supported Susan Rice's Description Of Benghazi Attacks" from the Washington Post
"CIA Talking Points For Susan Rice Called Benghazi Attack 'Spontaneously Inspired' By Protests" from CBS News
"Official: Changes To Benghazi Talking Points Made By Intel Community" at CNN
"Office Of The DNI Cut 'Al Qaeda' reference from Benghazi talking Points, And CIA, FBI Signed Off" at CBS News
McCain missed a classified briefing on the Benghazi attack while he was ranting about the lack of information about the Benghazi attack, HOW ABSURD IS THAT? McCain should consider retirement or cease making a possible fool out of himself, lest his legacy change from POW to bitter and spiteful loser.
Please! Don't let them shove Rice down our throat! That stunt her and Obama did, Lying about what happened in Libya makes me sick to my stomach if she replaces Hillary Clinton job as secretary of state.
You simply don't know what you are talking about, where do you get your information? From the Republican propaganda machine?
and where do you get yours from??Hopefully not from the tards on MSNBC
Suzq...have you looked at the idiot you elected as vice president? Old white guy. Liberals like yourself can't argue the facts so you go after people...a true sign of a loser. You turn the civil rights battles of the 60s upside down by falsely accusing people of racism. You take away the seriousness of racism by false attacks...I know because...I'm black.....sorry if I don't have the hate for conservatives that you have.
John McCain's waste-of-time hijinks are argument enough to change the Senate filibuster rule. Who wants a bunch of old sore losers like McCain holding up the important work of the Senate for the foreseeable future?
Yeah....that would free up the Senate's time to vote on the 36 jobs bills the House turned over to them but they refuse to vote on.
THOSE BILLS SUCK EVERYONE OF THEM are nothing but tax breaks for corporations
I believe she was part of an effort to control the public perception for political advantage. Obama should select another person who can take this position that is without this cloud of distrust. John Kerry would be such a person.
Rice, Clinton and Obama lied. They are all a disgrace to this country. All three need to pack their bags and leave. If we keep electing morons like them their is no hope for this country.
Amen to that one.
Susan Rice was either lying or she was incompetent when she went on 5 network TV shows saying the Benghazi attack was the result of a protest for a movie.And recently when she said she was merely stating what was told to her from various intelligence agencies,is also BS...Susan Rice has the security clearance to verify any high security incident. It was known almost immediately,by intelligence that the Benghazi attack was an act of terrorism,and because Obama had been partly running his campaign on saying they now have a handle on terrorism,it would have been counter productive for this administration to have "told the truth" For Susan Rice to be even considered for secretary of State,who is a proven liar or incompetent is a slap on the face to every American by this arrogant president. And any Attack on McCain who is an American hero and a patriot,is mindless and despicable.
The GOP attitude sucks on everything. If they cannot block, obstruct, and insult they have nothing to offer any American
Hey, we're just taking after the DNC.
If things are so great in Libya, we should make Rice the new ambassador there.
I disagree with my President and I am a RACIST? It's a good thing I had the chance to talk to my granddaughter's 6th grade class and explain how the President is a RACIST and how they must tell their parents how to stop him. A grandfather has much to do!
What the hell kind of school lets some aged tea billy hack come in and spew nonsense like that to children???!!! You are probably lying, if you did this.... something should be done about you.
Please
Liberals are a cancer to this once great country. Other countries that brave men fought and died for would have fallen in enemy hands if all there were was liberals around. This country would not even exist if it wasn't for the REAL men that built it. Liberals are under achievers who no nothing about competition or winning. They are such a pathetic bunch of losers and that is why they despise success.
Apparently, John McCain wants his career in congress to end with his petty, bad attitude... the way him and Lindsey "light in the loafers" Graham went after was beyond sick and wrong... when Petreous gave testimony... the freaks took it down a notch...
Screw all those tea billy hacks... nominate and appoint her... let the toxic right show just how rotten most of already know, they are.
Happy to have the house back in 2014!
It didn't hurt Ted Kennedy or Arlen Spector.
Funny how you left wingnuts are only going after the two male senators when Ayotte asked most of the questions. It shows what freaking cowards you really are!
Todays GOP... a bunch of whining, sniveling, triffeling, bunch of baby ass sour grapers. Keep up the toxicity... happy to have the house back...
After the massive layoffs headed our way, corporations dropping health insurance to force you on to the state exchange, the increase in unemployment, the negative GDP, the second credit rating drop and the tax increases on the average America taxpayer......
If the DNC takes the House then, we are truly doomed to a country of retards.
The only retards I see... are teatards... just keep spinning the fear and smear... learn nothing from the last election... and thanks ahead of time for the house in 2014!
Dear Santa,
Please, oh please. There are only two things I want for Christmas that I can hold on to until 2014. One I want the Republicans in Congress to keep being the same crew we'ver seen for the last two years. And for the Republican controlled states to keep trying to pass abortion, antigay, anti voting measures, etc. as they have been continuing to do for the past few weeks.
Second, I want everyone to watch and wait. And in 2014, I want the Democratic party for once to mobilize for a non presidential election year and boot the sorry asses to kingdom come.
Thanks, Santa. There are some lovely cookies for you by the tree along with some true Southern Bourbon.
P.S. If you could do something about the filibuster rule, I would be overjoyed.
In two years, the economy will be trashed from liberal tax and spend policies.
So just keep the DNC doing what it does.
America will finally wake up to the nightmare known as Oblahblah.
Santa should have lots of time to work on your requests... about 40-45 percent of the country will get what they deserve in their stockings... NOTHING!!!
Jody, most Liberal idiots like yourself truely do believe in Santa Clause.
Learn how to spell joe... you are in no position to call people idiots.
Oh, now your going to spell check me.
Oh Joe, you are = you're
It's not an issue of spell check, it's about education and critical thinking skills -- The public group sitting on the education committee for Texas decided in their interesting way that critical thinking skills are not needed for our students. Therefore, they wanted to make sure that the text books would not include such useless ideas. A Republican in another state agreed with this position stating that they wanted their children to listen to their parents and to think the way of their elders -- it would keep the youth in line and voting against their best interest.
Rice is a clueless muppet with Obamas hand up her a$$. She has 1/10th the class of Condi Rice and even less intelligence than Hillary. She will not govern foreign policy and willing to just read any script in front of her. This administration is just sad, very sad.
This is Stupid....
Let's stop the bickering and just give the F*ckin position to John Kerry!! Then there would be no arguing...Kerry is more qualified for the position anyways. Rice is pathetic.
Yeah, Mr. "I want my four purple hearts for four bandaids, Kerry!"
Where every one of his VN peers claimed he was incompetent.
Righties want Kerry... because they think they can snatch his vacated seat in congress... please
Yeah the GOP really sucks huh....they were elected to congress and told to stop the spending...WE CAN'T KEEP SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE...why can't you liberals figure that out. Obama will not stop the spending..he doesn't get it economically...that's why he is being blocked but that goes right through one side of the liberals head and right out the other side...there must not be anything between their ears to absorb facts or truth...they have to learn the hard way...
They went full retard.
Never go full retard.
I am sure all family's with mentally handicapped children appreciate your comments... just another fine example of how the tea billy mindset rots the soul of this country... you are late for your haters meeting!
No. I just don't care about appeasing your political correctness.
leftward, you are the typical liberal hypocrite
Go find a crevass where the sun don't shine... you are polluting cyber space, obo.
Joe... you cannot even spell Santa Claus... your opinion means nothing to me.
Leftward, "your opinion means nothing to me" boy, now I'm going to cry
I only have one thing to ask John Kerry...John...why the long face..ha,ha,ha get it?
McStupid