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Updated 5:20 p.m. - Senate Republicans managed to achieve their goal of blocking U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice from becoming the next secretary of state after Rice, on Thursday, withdrew her name from consideration by President Barack Obama.
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell and NBC's David Gregory joins The Cycle to report on Ambassador Susan Rice's decision to withdraw her name from consideration for Secretary of State and what this means going forward.
Republicans were more measured in their responses to the withdrawal than they had been in their earlier criticism of Rice, whose prospective nomination had come under fire for her role in publicly explaining the Obama administration’s assessment of the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on a U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
"I respect Ambassador Rice’s decision. President Obama has many talented people to choose from to serve as our next Secretary of State," South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a statement.
Related: Rice drops out of running for secretary of state
Graham, along with Sens. John McCain, Ariz., and Kelly Ayotte, N.H., had led an effort to pre-empt Obama from naming Rice as the successor to outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"I respect Susan Rice's decision and appreciate her commitment to public service," Ayotte said in a statement. "However, my concerns regarding the terrorist attack in Benghazi go beyond any one individual."
Rice told NBC News in an exclusive interview on Thursday that she no longer wished for Obama to consider her for the position. In a letter to the president, Rice said she feared a confirmation fight in the Senate "would be lengthy, disruptive and costly." The full interview with Rice will air tonight on Rock Center with Brian Williams at 10 p.m ET.
McCain’s office said: “Senator McCain thanks Ambassador Rice for her service to the country and wishes her well.”
U.N. envoy Susan Rice is dropping out of the running to be the next secretary of state. Brian Williams will have an exclusive interview with Rice on tonight's "Rock Center With Brian Williams" at 10p/9c.
Each of the Republicans, though, expressed continued concern about the Benghazi incident in their statements, and said they would continue their efforts to probe the matter.
Obama said he has accepted Rice's decision, hailing her as an "extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant." He said Rice would continue to serve as U.N. ambassador, and as a member of his national security team.
The trio of Senate Republicans had vowed to work to block Rice's nomination if Obama settled upon the United Nations ambassador as his nominee, stemming from her explanation for the Benghazi attacks. Rice had appeared on public affairs shows the weekend after the attack to assert that the assault -- which left four Americans dead, including Amb. Christopher Stevens – to assert that it was the outgrowth of a spontaneous rally to protest an American video that was offensive to Islam.
An investigation in subsequent weeks revealed that the attack in Benghazi was actually a coordinated terrorist attack, which prompted pointed questions from Republicans about why the administration had first put Rice forth to assert otherwise. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney tried for a series of weeks to effectively tarnish Obama politically with the mixed public explanation.
McCain, Ayotte and Graham pressed the matter further after the election, winning a meeting with Rice last month amid speculation that Obama wished to name the trusted adviser to fill the top diplomatic job.
"If Sen. McCain and Sen. Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me," Obama said at a press conference following his re-election to rebuff the Republican troika. "And I'm happy to have that discussion with them. But for them to go after the U.N. ambassador who had nothing to do with Benghazi, and was simply making a presentation based on intelligence that she had received, and besmirch her reputation is outrageous."
But there were indications that the critiques had started to wear on the public perceptions of Rice. In the NBC/WSJ poll released Wednesday, Rice was rated positively by 20 percent of respondents, while 24 percent of said they had a negative perception of her.
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McCain’s office said: “Senator McCain thanks Ambassador Rice for her service to the country and wishes her well." Republicans, though, expressed continued concern about the Benghazi incident in their statements, and said they would continue their efforts to probe the matter.
About the only thing the GOP could successfully probe is their own @sses with a Mr Stretcher BUTT PLUG! These tools saw an opportunity to force the President to settle on Kerry, giving them a shot to regain a MA Senate seat by getting Kerry appointed, and opening the door (Once again) for their douchebag poster boy Scott Brown, to slide (more like slither) back in.
Between the Jerrymandering, the voter suppressing, the union busting, and the legislature obstructing, I think it's fairly safe to say that this political party has gone rogue. They are literally attempting to subvert the entire American Democratic process in this country with the sole intent of seizing control of the government and establishing a GOP dictatorial oligarchy. To this end they are engaging in the afore mentioned activities, and just flat out ignoring the overwhelming wave of public outrage, and the backlash of disapproval their policies have produced.
I have stated may times during the general election campaign, that the GOP as a political party has forsaken the will of the people they were elected to serve, in favor of dishonorable and traitorous service to wealth and privilege. Their conduct is more than merely reprehensible, it's TREASON against the people and the constitution of the United States, and as such should be vigorously opposed and prosecuted wherever possible.
Sounds radical, but these guys ARE radical. At this point I'd be willing to bet that Boner, and B*tch, Eddie Munster, Cantor and all the rest of these tools have bath tissue in their homes with small copies of the constitution printed on each sheet, because that seems to be the prevailing attitude they have towards the right of the people to a representative government.
2014 is coming, and it is going to be really important for all of us to band together and vote every GOP politician out of office that we possibly can. From the state house (and these are the most critical) to the congressional house, these guys have to GO. We have to get them before they get us. If anybody still doesn't believe that they want to take over the government outright, well...at this point you're pretty much just whistling in the graveyard. We have to take action while we still CAN!
Try as they might, the republican party will still search for anything in which to try and tarnish the Obama administration. Seems as if they just can't win at anything.
Gee, what a shock... Just like the rest of the republicans, McCain is nothing more than a bitter, old, white man with no concern for America what-so-ever. What a poster child for the GOP.
Obama needs to remember how much the republicans were willing to compromise on this Susan Rice thing and be every bit as compromising to the republicans on the fiscal cliff negotiations. Don't even meet with Boehner or any other republicans to negotiate. There's no point in it.
Rice slapped McCain down during the '08 election as "reckless". Guess the bitter old man was bent on getting his revenge. McCain should just go home, draw a warm bath....and retire from the Senate.
Go Home... As in back to Panama where he was born... Right?
Hey, Obama... Let Kerry keep his job in the Senate and nominate Bill Clinton!
O I C Y
Great Idea!
McCain & The GOP Company Vs A "Black" & A "Women" Named Rice!
The Fact On Benghazi -- It Is All On The Ambassador -- It Was His Choice, His Decision And His Orders -- Period --
To Go With Limited Security Into A Highly Unstable Areas! He Knew The Potential Of Such Risks & Of Doing So But
Still Decided To Do It -- Period! He Bet -- He Lost -- We All Lost Based On His Decision -- Period!
-- 4 Of Our Folks Lost Is Not Pretty -- But -- The Thousands Over The Years We've Lost From Bad Bets Made By
Those In Charge Isn't Pretty Either Like -- Vietnam -- Iraq -- Afghanistan -- Lebanon --+++++!
His Call -- His Orders -- His Bad Bet Gone South -- Nothing More!
No One Wants To Put It On A Dead Person -- But That Man Was Calling The Shots -- Period!
And Some Folks At The GOP Have Use These Bodies In Vain And Without Respect To Serve themselves Like
Romney And McCain!
Another Win For McCain & GOP --- Right ?? -- More Lost Black Votes -- More Lost Women Votes -- More Lost
Americans On The GOP Side Of Things!
Rice Had Nothing To Do With This Issue -- Romney, McCain & Company Totally Discraced For Using It!
Can't believe all the infighting that goes on in Washington today - why can't people work togehter for peace on earth. She was hated by republicans because of her handling of the Benfazi episode and I am sure because she is a woman in politics. After all, I believe the republicans think women's place is in the kitchen. I am sure Mitt believed that - but, he can afford a cook or probably 90 a month to have one cook every meal so Ann is out of the kitchen. Wonder what she does with her spare time. Anyway, back to my point - Bengazi happened and it is sad that 4 Americans or for that matter any country's people would have to die because of terrorist attacks or student uprisings or gunmen who open fire in a movie theatre or mall or any other evil thing that happens in the world today. What difference does it make who did the killing - a killing is a killing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who are seeking peace in the world.
Thanks to washed up miscreants like Wimpey Graham and John McCain (the one who thought hair-brain Sarah Palin would be a good VP), a qualified and capable Secretary has been been 86ed.
You know Ted415784, I keep hearing about all of these jobs that were supposedly sent overseas by Mitt Romney and what a travesty that is. Why don’t I hear you whining about Obama’s buddy Bill Gates who has outsourced more American jobs than Mitt ever thought of . I guess if an Obama supporter outsource jobs worth billions it is okay with you. You and the rest that have tried to make this an issue are either misinformed dumb bells or hypocrites. More than likely you are both.
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates attended a campaign fundraiser for President Barack Obama on Friday, where the US leader cited his example to push for raising taxes on wealthy Americans.
Read more at: #jCp
Software giant Microsoft will begin outsourcing general legal work to India after signing a deal with legal process outsourcing (LPO) company CPA Global. The news comes as CPA outlined plans to expand its Indian workforce from 600 to 1,000 by the end of 2011, and hinted at opening another outsourcing center.
Computerworld - Microsoft today said it has signed a deal with Indian outsourcer Infosys Technologies Ltd. to manage key parts of worldwide internal IT operations -- and hopefully cut IT costs.
Located in Bangalore, India, Infosys already collaborates with Microsoft in certain areas, but today’s new three year IT deal will further extend that relationship. Microsoft’s IT department currently employs about 5,000 people around the world and it is not yet clear how it will affect their employment. Financial terms were also not disclosed.
Would you like me to keep going, this is too easy. You should probably get a different story line unless you enjoy looking stupid, what a dumb ass!!
http://bainport.com/
Read for yourself and expand your mind Mudbone.
By the way, have you seen the Mitster lately? I hear he's plowed, raising and lowering his car elevator all day long.
This is all very relevant and perturbing I'm sure but, there is a greater threat looming. Global warming is what our decedents are going to be judging our handling of. Not some political crap. Look outward. See the big picture for the planet and homo sapiens. This internal fighting we are doing will ultimately doom us. Wake up!!!
Again, another qualified person that President Obama picked decided the battle just isn't worth it! America lost again!
Very sad. The dems back down again. The 98% can't get it's act together. Well, maybe then the 2% does deserve everything. Darn, half of everything has been denied them! They need the other half.
Bye, bye stupid Americans.
Once again the GOP can jerk off in celebration because they managed to make sure government was incapacitated again.
As far as I'm concerned this is yet another nail in the so called republican parties coffin. Nothing but a bunch of corporate/theocratic pigs.
Were you this upset when comrade obama threw comrade van jones under the bus???
Not upset at all. Just in awe at witnessing the end of a fascist insurgence in our government.
Seems to be the general opinion of most atheist and sodomist???
Maybe in your world view. I prefer to think it the opinion of patriots.
I thought you were confused, comrade???
Not confused at all. Perhaps it's you that is. And you snarky remarks shows where your allegiance is. And it isn't to America.
You post #169 just peaked my curiosity???
Snarky???
One more curiosity do you actually know who comrade van jones is???
You haven't been able to look him up yet????
mikie, your amerikka is not My America and you are flying the wrong flag!!!
Gary - you are making it about religion
Mike - we must think of the world's view and the advancement of mankind. We need to think about 100 years from now as well as today's unemployment problems. McCain has had his opportunity to change things for the better, now its someone else's turn, someone younger with a collective broader vision
There was report of a million year old cocoon that held some strange creature, I immediately thought of John McCain
And I bet you anything you want that John McCain doesn't give a damn what you thought.
Of course he doesn't - I am still optimistic that John Boehner doesn't cow-tow to old artifacts and archaic perceptions
And the Republican "approval" rating clicks 3 notchs lower due to their ignorance
At present they are in single digits, Pretty doubtful if it will look any better in two
years continuing the path they have set for themselves.
The word "pathetic" comes to mind every time I see the House Republicans, The
party cannot take much more incompetence and ignorance within it's ranks
if obama pick Kerry he is a foul republican win big time that is why all the republican senators pushing for Kerry because they know brown will win the seat back for their party, that is why Mc Cain went out of his way try to jump in to another committee just to stop her i never heard anything like that before, in 2014 republicans will have a good shot taking the senate back.
In 2014 the public shift toward the combined minorities becoming the majority will only
be bigger and Republicans will have an even tougher time holding onto their seats. The
GOP is between a rock and a hard place, They either completely change basically every
party policy they hold sacred or lose seats in Congress and possibly control of the House
The future isn't looking very bright for the Republican party
Isnt there something constructive for McCain to do? What about focusing on his "own" state for a change? Power struggle is 20th century and passe'
as is racism
What a message the Republicans has sent out to students, and this nation as a huge problem we have with Bullying.
The message McCain and company has sent out is If you Bully long enough you do get what you want.
I wouldn't underestimate the way this has unfolded. I am certain the attack was anticipated akin to the 1st presidential debate this cycle
The media resources that McCain has needs to be taken away. If he knows he is not getting any spotlight, maybe he will just go home and hibernate.
My mother's father was a kind compassionate caring Republican. Father's father was a kind compassionate caring Democrat. They disagreed in a friendly way. Reactionary rightwing "Republicans" have dragged their party down to new lows. there's old time Republicans out there today but won't be heard through the whiny conservative din. The actual reason for this traitorous stalemate should be obvious. "Fiscal Cliff" indeed! The G.O.P. seems to be longing for the good old days of the Hoover administration.
After the debacle with the unfounded attacks on Susan Rice by this trio of senators, I have now lost ALL RESPECT for John McCain. At this point, in my view, he has also damaged his image as a national hero. He has become a mean-spirited old man who no longer puts the best interests of his country first!
Translation: Rice is in possession of damning evidence that would implicate the President and his administration in the biggest cover-up of a security breach that caused the death of four Americans.