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Subscribe to RSSIt’s not just Benghazi anymore.
One of the most controversial energy projects in the nation also has become a flash point in the drama surrounding who may become the next secretary of state – and it’s coming from the left instead of the right.
Back on Nov. 28, “OnEarth,” published by the Natural Resources Defense Council, dug into U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s financial disclosures and found that she and her husband have a stake in TransCanada, the company pushing for the Keystone XL Pipeline to be built.
NRDC officials say it's an important issue that must be discussed during the nomination process. But the timing of the report raises questions, as it is being surfaced by an environmental activist community that has previously given support to another potential secretary of state candidate – Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
NBC News' Mark Murray explains why the partisan divide over the potential nomination of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice is intensifying.
The decision on whether to approve the pipeline goes through the State Department.
“If confirmed by the Senate, one of Rice’s first duties likely would be consideration, and potentially approval, of the controversial mega-project,” Scott Dodd at “OnEarth” wrote. “Rice's financial holdings could raise questions about her status as a neutral decision maker.”
Dodd noted that “Rice owns stock valued between $300,000 and $600,000 in TransCanada, the company seeking a federal permit to transport tar sands crude 1,700 miles to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast, crossing fragile Midwest ecosystems and the largest freshwater aquifer in North America.”
Bill McKibben, an anti-pipeline activist, told the publication: “It’s really amazing that they’re considering someone for Secretary of State who has millions invested in these companies. The State Department has been rife with collusion with the Canadian pipeline builders, and it’s really distressing to have any sense that that might continue to go on.”
Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, the NRDC's director of international programs, sounded a less strident tone a day later: "What's most important is that she rid herself of her holdings in TransCanada and other tar sands-related companies, and we're confident she will do that ... What's most important is that we have a good, thorough review done.”
Danielle Droitsch, a senior attorney for the NRDC and director of the Canada Project, told First Read: “We think Ambassador Rice has the credentials to be secretary of state, but if she were nominated, and then appointed, these holdings would have to be addressed.”
She added that “high-level officials dealing with Keystone should not have any conflicts of interest.”
The likelihood is that, if nominated, Rice will have to divest herself of her TransCanada investment to avoid a conflict of interest.
Will new Obama appointments come this week? Is there a way to get both John Kerry and Susan Rice into the Obama cabinet? NBC News' Chuck Todd and Time's Joe Klein join the discussion.
The environmental group’s effort to shed light on Rice’s financial interest in TransCanada could be just an attempt, if Rice is nominated, to get a “thorough review” and make sure it has a staunch ally in trying to thwart the project, as Casey-Lefkowitz said.
But could it also be a signal that the NRDC prefers another candidate for the job – Kerry, the other of the final two candidates reportedly being considered for the post?
After all, environmental groups have strongly supported Kerry in the past and have a long working relationship with him. Like they would for most Democrats in a presidential election, for example, the NRDC and the League of Conservation Voters, among others, ran ads in the 2004 election boosting Kerry.
LCV even endorsed Kerry before the New Hampshire Democratic primary that year, although it has notably not spoken out about Rice.
Droitsch, however, would not address whom the NRDC prefers for the job.
“We’re trying to signal that the pipeline decision has to be conflict-free,” Droitsch said. “That would pertain to any potential nominee. The president has the prerogative to nominate the person he believes is best for the position.”
The Senate will then raise questions, however, she said. And “now is important to raise the issue ... We want to make sure that anyone who’s being considered would be free of those conflicts. That’s our primary interest right now.”
The NRDC, which has been very involved in efforts to block Keystone, is the environmental interest group most pressing the issue of Rice’s financials.
But others might not be as keen to see Kerry leave Capitol Hill. After all, consider that green groups already spent a lot of money trying to oust Republican Scott Brown from the Senate – and were successful.
But if Kerry becomes secretary of state (or even defense secretary), his seat would become vacant, raising the potential for a costly and competitive special election.
“Who cares if the U.N. ambassador has a TransCanada stock. Who cares if the head of the FDA has TransCanada stock,” said a Democratic strategist and ally of the administration who is a veteran of confirmation battles.
“If she [Rice] were to be nominated, she would go through a process by which we look for financials conflicts. Maybe this stock would be identified as something that posed a conflict, and she would sell," the strategist said. "But she hasn't gone through that process, because she's not a nominee to anything. If they want to say that if she is the nominee, she should sell the stock, that's fine. But you can't legitimately hit her for having it now. And that is likely why NRDC backed off and no other environmental groups have piled-on.”
What really is going on here likely has less to do with Rice and whether she should ascend to secretary of state, and more with the NRDC leveraging pressure on the president and the administration to make sure the pipeline is rejected again once it comes up for approval. And that could be soon.
The next step in that approval phase, in fact, could come as early as next week, Droitsch said. TransCanada has applied for a shortened pipeline in hopes of having that approved – something the NRDC strongly opposes. A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement could be released by the State Department as early as next week, Droitsch said.
“It is critically important for there to be independent decision-makers, free of conflict of interest, who can take an independent view,” she said.
She then tied the administration’s decision on the pipeline to climate change, an issue that has regained prominence as a result of Hurricane Sandy. In the days following Sandy’s landfall, in fact, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed President Barack Obama for his leadership on climate change.
How Obama decides on the pipeline “signals where the U.S. is headed in terms of importing dirty fuels, inconsistent with an administration that is committed to fighting climate change,” Droitsch said.
“We’re confident President Obama understands the seriousness around the issues surrounding this pipeline. Approving it sends the wrong signal about our country’s commitment to climate change. Yes, he’s under a lot of pressure, but the public is very concerned about this. It’s not a decision I know he’ll view lightly.”
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It's the Democrats sounding board for letting the President know on a public level that Rice may not be approved if nominated and to look elsewhere. There is so much political intrigue here with no upside. The left-wing tree-huggers don't want her, the old hard line left doesn't want her (Kerry and Co.), Repubs don't want her, she got muted support from Hillary which is to say none. The only person that wants Rice is the President along with some young lefties that blindly follow the President like chicks following mother hen. The real question is; "Why does the President want Rice when the overwhelming support from the left is not really there?" There seems to be a hidden agenda on the part of the President with respect to this nominee that frankly may not be in the best interest of the U.S...Something smells funny and I just hope some good research uncovers the source of the smell.
Did the President ever nominate her for the position? I have never heard him say that. I think it is just the rights way of spewing more hate against the left???
Quit mincing words. The President put her name out on display and made it clear he fully supported her. He has not backed down from the media hype on the potential nominees name either. What, you Dems don't even allow serious questioning anymore?
conflict of interest, Canadian Corp obtaining eminent domain, it's all about greed. Saudi Arabia will lead in alternative energy, while the US will stay in the dark ages. One day no one will need oil and we can start by using it less to send a message.
Maybe the post office should lead obama's green energy failures????
well said....how is that wind powered car working for you?
Repeat after me . . . . Insider trading, SEC violation!! Hmmmm! What goes corrupt, stays corrupt!! What a shock-lol!
Now how do you come to that stupidity? How is investing in a company insider trading? Hmmm? Waiting for your answer.
She is not qualified to serve in that position.
That didn't stop Obama
Pickernose, just what did Obama do???
he got a job without a single qualification.....
The left is so completely hypocritical.....wake up and smell the coffee!
Rice is another arrogant and rich minority with a position of power, trying to sell herself as "of the people and against big oil". You folks supporting this new Dem. Party are being played like a cheap fiddle and hurting the rest of us in the process. You don't support energy production and business and you're shooting yourselves in the foot. She shouldn't be nominated because she is a lying, two-faced puppet with no integrity, not because of her stock holdings. Maybe she should give her stocks to the IRS or to charity to show how caring and compassionate they promote themselves as???
Don't Be So Hard on your Comrades!!!
When Republicans support a Democrat, only one word should come out of your mouth....Bull-s h i t-.
The Republicans aren't nice, they're not humanitarians. They are nasty and they don't give a d a m n about anything but their agendas and big business.
They have an agenda here. They want Kerry to give up his seat so as to attempt to put another Republican a s s-hole in it.
Someday there will be only 2 political parties, Democrat and Independent, that will govern by "We the people" and not by we the Corporations.
Republicans can go straight to h e l l!
Larry... there is NOT ONE IOTA OF DIFFERENCE between a dem or a repub. You, my friend, have been deceived.
Or perhaps you are just a moron like so many others that fall for the politicians crap.
I support Rice for Ambassador to Libya.
Have another Big Glass of Kool-aid!!!
YES
Larry,
Got some anger management problems this morning? Take a Valium. Smoke some Washington weed. Do some meditation exercises.
It's the reason rich people influence politicians, or get into politics themselves - to get richer.
The so-called environmentalists need to get over it.
Another Obama failure. We don't need another affirmative action appointment!!!
Condi Rice or Colin Powell come to mind? So all administrative personal should be white from the right side of the tracks or political agenda, jeez.
John Kerry would make a much better choice for the position of Secretary of State. He has years of experience in the senate and knows what war is all about having served in the military.
Besides, isn't it about time we now try a male candidate in this position??
1111
It is not the job of the Government to PICK winners or losers of technological advancements. Solyndra is the"albatross" hanging off Obamas neck, and no longer the "elephant in the room", the fraud of "green" has been exposed.
Technology happens...............that it, .......................it just happens.
The old "necessity is the mother of invention", is what ADVANCES technology........NOT TAXES.
Rice is alot more intelligent than I gave her credit for and seems to be the only leftist that understands..... that "evil oil" is what NOW,.............. fuels economic growth.
Maybe someday in the future we will have cars that run off........ "garbage and banana peels", .......like in "Back to the Future" ..........
but right now it is gas that fuels our cars...........think Mc Fly think".
Gas/fossil fuel will still be predominant fuel through at least 2050. I'm i the business and keep up with studies.
Bad math: electric cars
what the don't tell you about electric cars is battery replacement in addition to the exorbitant initial cost to own one. Chevy Volt for $43k is no incentive to buy the car. I can buy a lot of gas for that premium.
and the electricity for the electric cars comes from......anybody.....anybody.....?
From your mouth.
I like how the story brings up the "climate change" scam. The leftests cant stand not to mention the empending doom we are facing if we dont ditch our economy and start living in mud huts.
Funny how this JACK A$$ in the White House wants to put usless people in positions that he has control over. She is a complete loser just like the rest of them idiots he got in positions that he is pulling the strings on. If she did what he told her to do about the Lybia murders he caused she will do ANYTHING HE WANTS. Oh yes Liberals get use to it this man has no respect for anyone but himself. He thinks he's GOD.
She's black so it's part of the social justice system. "you aint' getting the job white boy"
??????
Dear A Vet Here. I truly hope you're not a vet, as I am. Your nonsense and hate brings shame to our uniforms. Go away.
Insider Trading:
Another example (on left or right) of what is wrong with our system. In private sector , she would be suspect in being of insider trading by being long stock in XL pipeline companies with the power in here position (state dept) to approve the pipeline.
Public sector, "one of the benefits" of the job.
I would love to go long Apple stock then mandate government buy Apple products throughout the system by 'awarding' them the winning bid. Say $500k shares at $525...maybe see it pop to 850 longer term.
Do any of us get those perks?
Is this what we as nation settle for people in office who take advantage of the system for self gain vs SERVING the country in mere title only?
Add Nanci Pelosi to the above list also....add Dick Cheney also (Haliburton)
I love it when the Libs attack each other for not being Liberal enough or being pro environment enough. Meanwhile they are holding up jobs that could be had for American workers. This is the hope and change you all voted for.
The left will consume themselves with their PC news speak. Only then will they get it.
“We’re trying to signal that the pipeline decision has to be conflict-free,” Droitsch said. “That would pertain to any potential nominee. The president has the prerogative to nominate the person he believes is best for the position.”
While I have a great amount of disdain for Susan Rice and Obama, the statement above is a bunch of bull. They (NRSD) just want to kill it by any means necessary.
This is news? Public officials profiting from their positions?
Libya would NOT want her...no way, now how Jose!!!
Wow...“Rice's financial holdings could raise questions about her status as a neutral decision maker.”
That's certainly a consideration- and were Washington even close to clean, it'd be a deal killer.
But just who, in the House or in the Senate, has no conflicts of interest- on either side of the aisle?
Anyone? Anyone at all?
What about all the stock holders on the right and on the left who daily make decisions affecting, say, oil companies here in the States?
What about corporate welfare and pork barrel politics?
What about the subsidies and tax breaks that are so pervasive that some companies get more back from the government than they pay into it?
What about the companies that buy and sell Congressional representatives like kids trading marbles?
Honestly, most members of Congress- the Supreme Court, for that matter- should be required to wear corporate logos so we could discern who they were actually working for- because it sure isn't us!
Washington is so corrupt as to make dirt look like some paragon of cleanliness- so I suspect there's another agenda behind the attacks on Rice.
I don't think it's race, I don't think it's gender discrimination- but I do suspect that at some point she did something to antagonize the wrong people.
It may not matter; the painful lessons of the Elizabeth Warren debacle are still stingingly apparent- prevent someone from attaining an inconvenient position of influence, and they may rise from the wreckage of their dream even more powerful and more popular than ever.
The majority of voters in this country are now awake and angry, and they have a bone to pick with a Congress which has abandoned service of the actual citizens in this country to serve the corporate citizen- to everyone's detriment but that of a very few, very wealthy individuals.
Anyone who becomes a target of power and wealth seems, by definition, to have at least the potential to become a friend of the majority.
Rice may not be confirmed- but she'll be back.
Has Obama thrown her under the Bus?
Many of the posts that I have seen here highlight what I have been saying for quite awhile. The people who supposedly support conservative causes (Tea Party) are far more interested in whining and complaining about what everyone else does than they are about actually furthering the causes they claim to support.
Many supposedly conservative Republicans are clamoring for this pipeline; yet here they are whining about the possible appointment of someone who very likely would support the pipeline - simply because the other side picked her. I have no doubt that the majority here would have no problem with her owning stock in this company if she were a Tea Party candidate. They are not supporting the cause - they are whining about the other side.
A supposed non-negotiable, primary goal of the Tea Party is to bring American jobs back home; yet almost to a man, their elected candidates voted against a bill designed to do that very thing - give tax breaks to companies that brought jobs back from overseas. Only two Tea Party candidates actually voted for the cause they claimed to support - the others voted against their own goals simply because the other side proposed it.
Another supposedly non-negotiable goal of the Tea Party is to stop government intrusion; yet they are actually trying to increase govt. intrusion by supporting such things as the Patriot Act, prohibiting gay marriage and overturning abortion legislation. Increasing the power of govt. requires an increase in the size of the govt. to handle that new power - breaking another non-negotiable goal.
They supposedly want to decrease the country's debt - yet when given the offer of doing so by 4 trillion dollars last year they instead whittled it down to only a 2 trillion dollar savings; after all, the 4 trillion dollar savings plan was proposed by the liberals. They flirted with defaulting on govt. loans which would have cost millions more in higher interest rates - while providing NO additional benefits for the cost increases - this is not a responsible action.
The Tea Party is constantly being made to look the fool by voting against their own goals simply because the other side has offered it. They're being played and they don't even realize it! The GOP needs to cast off the Tea Party (RINO) influence (the sooner the better) - they have done enough damage to the country already. The only option for the Tea Party to retain any real influence is for them to start actually attempting to further the goals they are supposed to support, and stop acting like a flock of turkeys - all gobbling in unison whenever FOXNews gobbles (I think this is a more accurate description than sheeple; but, that too is accurate). FOXNews is NOT interested in promoting conservative values; their only interest is in promoting controversy - after all, that is what made Murdoch rich. Murdoch is famous for promoting controversy and his use of supermarket tabloid style reporting; the tiger has not suddenly changed his stripes with FOXNews.
And before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I am a conservative Republican - A REAL conservative Republican (and former FOX fanatic).
My B.S. meter just pegged out! ha ha The Tea Party needs to start OUR own party and leave the RINO/dimocrap-lite folks behind!
Dog in the manger is a very old game- but many dogs get stomped into broken ruin while attempting to obstruct the needs of others.
That lesson was recently driven home in a rather memorable manner at the voting booth.
That was a direct consequence of idiocy- a destructive obsession with making Obama a one term president- instead of service to Americans.
The Republican Party has a narrow opportunity remaining: it can reinvent itself as a party of genuine conservatism which represents its constituents- or it can fade away into obscurity over the next few elections.
I really wish you would !!!!! I have been hoping for that very thing for years - that way you wouldn't drag down the whole GOP with you. You would simply fade away into insignifigance!
Rust - I agree ! The Tea Party does not represent genuine conservatism nor does it accurately represent it's constituents when it's candidates vote against their own platform.
If you are a true conservitive talking like that then I KNOW we need to part company!
As I said - please do ! I am fed up with Tea Party supporters paying lip service to conservative values while they undermine those same values right and left. We need people who actually DO support those values and work toward achieving our goals, and not simply dance to the tune de jour of their puppeteer. I actually agree with much of the Tea Party platform; but, the Tea Party representatives in Congress are not working to promote that platform. My biggest complaint is that the Tea Party supporters and their elected representatives are actually hindering the advancement of conservative ideas, through active obstructionism and other tactics and attitudes that actually make it harder to reach our goals.
So go ahead and make the Tea Party a party separate from the GOP - you can count on my vote for that !!!!
We shouldn't even need to have this discussion. We simply cannot continue to rely on non-renewable energies that are rife with problems and not environmentally sound. These companies claim how safe they do things, and then look at what happens. I suggest every one look at the history of the Alaska pipeline. How about the Gulf spill which will harm the Gulf for generations. I love BP's commercials that they made a commitment to clean that mess up. They didn't make a commitment, the government forced them to pay for it. What BS.
Yes, we should all stop using our cars and trucks, tear down our houses and build mud huts. Then we could go back to hunter gatherers like before the last global warming period, I'm not sure how that one was caused but I'm sure it was because of some human activity.
You seem to have it dead backwards...we now have better technologies- so we can abandon barbarism and live without burning dead stuff to power our "modern" lifestyle.
That's what coal, oil, and even wood are, when you get down to brass tacks: dead stuff in a form we can burn. It's not an automobile, it's a necromobile. If it comes from fossil fuel, it's not electricity, it's the essence of entropy.
Mark Twain would laugh himself sick on that one- he once alluded to Egyptian trains powered by mummies in the era of steam as an example of how barbaric and outrageous human behavior was- and we surpassed that allegory going so fast that we blew its doors off.
It was a joke, but some believe it to this day- see: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2341/do-egyptians-burn-mummies-as-fuel .
Now we have solar, wind, and tidal power. So..we don't have to go back to mud huts- we can go forwards, and graduate from environmental necrophilia to something far less nasty.
Just another shady selection by the Black Bush. This administration is as corrupt as the previous and many preceding it. No change, just a different face, unfortunately the majority of the other people were fooled twice (not as many as this time if one actually looked at the popular vote count). Hopefully in 2016 we will have someone worth voting for instead of choosing between the lesser of two evils (the lesser failed to win since 2000).
Rice will have some excuse for her stock holdings in a Canadian Company just the same as her lame excuse for her stupid Benghazi comments. For someone who has a Phd and was a Rhodes Scholar she is NOT very impressive and has made some outlandish and stupid comments. I would say her devotion to Obama has blinded her from the truth and will do anything or say anything if she thinks it will help Obama
Do you know who her husband is? Do you know where he is from?
Obama needs to "Let Her Go!". There are other candidates better suited, which share the President's Ideals (skin color is not a factor, or tanorexic Boehner would be head of the queue).
The other Rice stayed (under Bush), she did lot worst (shopping during a natural disaster). The GOP doesn't want Boehner. Keep the flake in the GOP with the other flakes.