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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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I have to wonder what they (the three stooges) will have to come up with next to be able to bitch about. Could their little end game be any more obvious? They want a GOP shot at Kerry's seat, and are hoping that the president is so dumb that he can't see past their little political game. I am sure they will be out there tomorrow in full support of Sen Kerry's nomination.
"Insane McCain" is laughing, singing, and God knows what else he is doing in a quietroom in their "House Of Hoodlum's." The Teabeggers will continue to use their "Religious Radical Right Wing Terrorist Tactics" that they learned from Bin Laden. At their "Caucus Conspiracy" of 2009. The Teabeggers 'conspired' to use "Terrorist Tactics" like those used by terrorists/extremists around the world. This goes much deeper than just trying to destroy Ms. Rice or the President. The Teabeggers are still out to destroy the US Economy, and the American Workers. The GOP/Teabeggers must be all voted out in 2014, and their "Political Puking,' and the "Super Spewing" msut be ended for good. Get out and vote my fellow citizens! Call your representatives today my fellow citizens to express your feelings. The Teabeggers are going to hold the nation hostage next year. Again!
Is Chris Christie too fat to be president?
Not unlss you like a ton of weight sitting in the oval room!!!!!!!!
I don't know...is Hillary too butch to be President ?
I have seen alot of "White" banging on these posts....So I return the favor: What is the matter blackie? Your illiterate, progressive, liberal democrats have to eat one? Well I hate to tell you (but I will) come January 2013 when these Ovomitcare taxes and the rest of the democrat taxes hit you in the teeth and you can't keep up with your bills (even with the government hand outs and your free mobile phones)...You will sing a different tune. I always said they were to lazy to work...so here you are: The highest numbers in prison (no surprise there....Acorn), The highest on food stamps, the highest out of work (hemmm...refer back to lazy and include the highest drop out rate in education),and families without fathers.Question's?
Jean - the meeting is a 8 PM tonight. Don't forget your white sheet and hood. And bring some matches.
Jean the last black man you had sex with, had but one complaint. "when he went down to kiss you, he learned he was kissing a white sheet.
JimS12345: You may need to spell that out a little clearer for Jean.
First Jean, congrats...we all know that you're the one for the job. Be sure to eat a hardy meal. Then get your horse saddled and ready to ride. Go potty then get your robe and hood on. Make sure you have the other half of that old rag you used last time and the duck tape. A sealed container of flammable fluid, a box of those long, fireplace matches. The rope that has the noose tied and ready. Bring a gun and a knife, just in case.
OK...that should do it. Yawl have fun, now.
One door closes, another opens. She was not meant for the job but,,, now there is a hallway full of possibilities
The GOP Lost The Black Vote And The Women Vote -- So Their Man McCain & Company Lead The Charge To Start
Earning It Back GOP Style -- So They Went After Rice -- See -- Kill Two Birds With One Stone-- A Black Women!
Geeee McCain I Wonder How Many Black , Women And Minority Votes The GOP Earned From Your So Called
Victory -- Deduct How Many More Votes For The GOP In 2014 & 2016?
McCain & Company Victory = Fewer Votes For The GOP And RICE Will Be Back In 2014 For Her SOS Job!
See It Was A GOP Style Victory -- Just More Loses The GOP & More Wins For The DEMS!
"explaining the Obama administration’s assessment of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on a U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya."
Was it all George Bush's fault?
You liberal whackos would seriously want this woman to represent our country after she apologized on national TV when our ambassador and other Americans were killed by terrorist???? You guys really need to slow down on the obama kool-aid and begin to think about what's really important (hiring the right person for a job).
She apologized? What planet are you on?
"A video that is offensive to muslims"......."A film which "we" have judged reprehensible and disgusting" She knew it the whole time......your boy obama chucked her right under a bus to save himself. You didn't answer my question....Would you want her as Sceretary of State??? yes or no.....
Yes. Yes.
Why?? please explain...
You've been choking down too much b.s. from Mitt Romney and Sean Hannity.. what did Susan Rice 'apologize' for.. list the quotes from her which included her 'apologizing.' for something relating to her comments on Benghazi.
I just did....can't you read?? Oh yeah, I forgot your an obamabot.......
You@!$%#republicans, are just that, ! what comes any repos mouths, is what I usualy flush down the toilet after #2. Lets send the a lot of toilet paper to use as napkins, and maybe mouthwash, to cover the stench from their breath. DOWN WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND McCAIN. As a pow no one knows why his plane went down, but, it is obvious, he gave up in a real fight and now is trying to show who brave he really isn't. A cowered he is will never be errased from his record!
truth be known, is NOT a good name for you. Lies IS better! crawl back under your rock and die, YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I didn't know that obamabots can foam at the mouth. You guys are real thoughtful adults.....I can tell. I thought you guys were anti-bullying or something......LWNJS.
I bet not one liberal on this site will report melvin for his inflammatory, hatefilled remarks.......hypocrites....
Republicans successfully, for once, managed to demonize someone who is at least a surrogate for Obama, the black illegal alien who their supporters hate and fear. She can join the U.N., disabled people, and Sesame Street on the Republican hate list.
Do Nothing Republican Congress stooges got something done! If they could just help the country and people as good as they spout NO. WE will VOTE them OUT!!!!! Watch and see!!!!! I hope they sit in DC all Xmas. trying to do nothing but BLOCK!!!! FREEDOM!!!!
Give us more or we will vote you out of office. Nice
Hey Ayotte, you can drop the charade now, mission accomplished. Shutup when you're talking to us.
Republicans Condoleezza Rice (66th secretary of state) and Colin Powell (65th Secretary of state) relied on credible faulty intelligence that got the US into a protracted war with Iraq. But the Republicans did with them as the do with all of their Republican Brethren, they circle the wagons and protect them.
Fast forward to another Rice (a potential Secretary of State). The weak kneed democrat p u s s i e s do what they always do, throw their own under the bus. The the totally full of -s h i t- Republicans do what they always do, control the messages with a barrage of lies and deception to sway public opinion. You know, tell a lie enough and it becomes the truth.
The Republican agenda in this is to make Kerry's seat vacant. This will create an opportunity to put one of their Republican -a s s-holes in that seat.
The Democrat agenda is to continue being covert bigots. They really don't want another black person in charge of anything. Hell, a lot of Democrats sided with 60% of white people to vote Obama out of office. Besides, Rice is too rich and she is black.
Republicans are totally full of -s h i t-
Democrats are d i c k l e s s wonders
Per usual, "Firey Redhead" is 100% correct!
Per quotes in this article, "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."
Well, congratulations you self-serving, dysfunctional Republican yahoos (3 at minimum).
You can't win the presidency, you can't govern, you can't legislate, you can't lead, you can't influence, you can't do anything resembling forward progress for the country.
FORWARD PROGRESS FOR THE COUNTRY. YOU. GUYS (MOSTLY). ARE. CLUELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeah I'm pretty sure the Benghazi attack was in 2012 NOT 2001....
I use to respect McCain, but he has become a cantankerous old man "you kids get off my yard" who cares more for trying to hand on to what little power he has as long as he can. The only consolation is that he is OLD and won't be around forever. As for Lyndsey Graham, that man is a joke. I heard him say he was for "traditional marriage" and not allowing gays to marry. This from a man who is gay himself. He is so two faced it is a wonder he knows which way he is walking.
McCain has become an embarrassment to himself.
There is nothing but a bunch of liberal trolls on this site now.....and they call others haters......
Pot... meet kettle...
Truth. What are you doing here on this blog?
You guys are the pot and the kettle, both covered with slime and cockroaches. You can have it this blog.....it sucks.
C' Ya... Go join your pals Rush and Glenn and get some hugs at Fox News
Fox doesn't have a blog but they have cartoons and shows like 2 1/2 men for the morons who watch. And there is a new hillbilly show on MTV and should be on Fox. I'm sure they will pick it up.
Thanks for proving my point.......
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 Fault!
OK McCain and his cronies, get one, now to get rid of them,the next time they run for office. Their BS blocking everything that this president wants, has gone to far now and as an American, I will hold them responcible for everything they have done to hurt this country To call them stupid is not strong enough. To call for them to leave the Senate, and leave this country should be done by all Americans! they are @#$%^&*((((()(*&^%$#@@#$%^&*()(*&^%$#, to say the least!
"Rice was rated positively by 20 percent of respondents, while 24 percent of said they had a negative perception of her".
So what!? There are 56% out there that did not respond at all. Why? Could it be that we are absolutely sick of what the polls show.
Why would Rice withdraw? Why would Obama accept her withdrawal? She has done nothing but serve with an impeccable record. Take her nomination to the last stand...and then let the Grand Old Party make the fatal blow. They continue over and over again to poop in their undies.There should never have been speculation about what happened in Libya. The facts would be revealed when it was appropriate during a wartime attack on or by Americans. BUT...it was an election year, and the battle was already heated. The GOP sensed fear in the Dems and went for the jugular. The Dems DID NOT want to lose the White House to men the likes of Romney and Ryan, so...the game was on. The GOP smelled blood and went on the offense. The Dems could see that the American people, pushed along by the GOP with a prod of doubt, wanted answers when it wasn't even clear what the questions were. The first thing out of the White House should have been we are not sure at this point what or how this attack happened. We're not even sure "who" is at the bottom of this. When we know the complete undisputed facts we will discuss the how and /or the why with the American people. It is not only pointless to speculate, but in some cases it can be dangerous. Ms. Rice would not be talking to the media about it, no one would until the truth is ready to be revealed.
How hard is that? Now with this withdrawal the GOP can continue on this path to discredit our President for whatever they can come up with around the Libya attack. One down...Ms. Rice, and one to go...a Dem in 2016. Every move President Obama tries to make will be challenged by the Republicans, as it was for the past 4 yrs. The goal?...make President Obama look so bad that there isn't a snowball's chance in Hell that the people will follow with another Democrat. Once they are done spinning their web of lies and rattle President Obama's second term, you can pretty much hand over 2016 to the GOP.
Paul Ryan?? I think so...OMG. It makes me nauseated to think of it.
I'm sure the Republicans are all excited about Scott Brown running again.
Susan Rice looks very large right now and McCain, Lindsey, Ayotte and Collins look very small. And they are.
I hope the Republicans who crucified Susan Rice understands there will be payback someday.
The Larry Kudlow show on CNBC just reported an untruth.. The Reporter Danielle (what's her name) --saying Susan Rice said the attacks were the result of the video 'and not terrorist attack by Al Qaeda' --- one reason Susan Rice didn't say it was an attack by 'Al Qaeda' was that it was NOT an attack by Al Qaeda.
Our security services say it was an attack by Ansar al-Sharia (Libya) (in English: Partisans of Islamic Law) is an Islamic Militant group advocating the implementation of strict - Sharia Law across Libya.
John McCain and his sad band of lowlifes aka Graham and Ayotte .. keep throwing around the word 'Al Qaeda' in order to try and terrorize the American people.. when the attack was by a local rag-tag band of militants in an unstable part of the world.
The Republicans are the real terrorists -- constantly trying to keep the American people fearful and living in TERROR.
That should score some points for Republicans during negotiations with Democrats in the near future. Way to go!
2002 US Embassy in Karachi Pakistan Attack killed 10
2004 US Embassy Bombed in Uzbekistan 2 killed 9 injured
2004 Gunman Stormed US Consulate in Saudi Arabia 8 killed
2006 Armed men attacked US Embassy in Syria 1 killed
2008 rioters set fire to US Embassy in Serbia
2008 Bombings at US Embassy in Yemen killed 10
Were is the outrage in this? OH BUT THOSE DON’T COUNT BECAUSE A REPUBLICAN WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE! What a bunch of whining crap from the right!
Mister Mean,
Don't forget the hundreds of GOP LIES that led us into the uber expensive Iraq War that Bush kept off the books, leading us to the dismal deficit we're looking at now...
Evidence below, if you dare, Pubbies!
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_8049600
Those like you who continue to drudge up the past to demonize the opposite party are doing nothing to help the future and are clearly, not future-focused people which is why you voted this administration into power again. Let's progress and deal with the here and now. Crushing America with outrageous spending (and throwing the tab at the "rich" because more people than not are now depending on the gov to survive), leaving it without defense (bowing to dictators and perpetuating LIES to our citizens) and having a government that creates laws to rule over society and hamper our civil liberties (not it's job) is not how we are going to move ahead. We are living in the present... let's have some standards for our future and stop with the nonsense.
Rice was badgered and bullied by the corrupt criminal thugs of the right-wing republicon gang, a known hate and crime organization.
There is nothing American left in the gop gang. They have become the very thing they claim to hate and fear.
Time for the gop to disband. Then we can begin the de-programming of millions of brainwashed minions.