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Jason Reed / Reuters
Sen. John Kerry waves at the end of his speech during the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on September 6.
Updated at 7:01 a.m. ET: When he ran for president, many in the GOP slammed Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., pilloried for his late opposition to the Vietnam War and his famed flip on the conflict in Iraq. But, as criticism mounted against U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice as the apparent frontrunner to become the next secretary of State, Kerry was publicly embraced by Republican colleagues in the Senate as a comparatively slam-dunk candidate to replace Hillary Clinton.
Now that Rice has withdrawn her nomination to the post, as NBC News reported exclusively on Thursday, all eyes turn to the onetime Democratic nominee. An official close to the process told NBC's Andrea Mitchell late Thursday that Kerry is now almost certain to get the job. "There were two people on the list," the person said. "Two minus one is one."
In her withdrawal letter to the president, Rice said she was convinced her nomination would prove "lengthy, disruptive and costly" as Republicans have raised questions about her role in the public response to the 9/11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The exclusive NBC News interview with Rice aired Thursday on Rock Center with Brian Williams.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Brian Williams, Ambassador Susan Rice described the moment she called President Barack Obama and told him to withdraw her name from those he is considering nominating as secretary of state. Rice defends her comments made about the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and describes what it's been to like to be in the center of a political firestorm.
In a statement, Kerry praised Rice as an "extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant" and alluded to his own past political battles.
"As someone who has weathered my share of political attacks and understands on a personal level just how difficult politics can be, I've felt for her throughout these last difficult weeks, but I also know that she will continue to serve with great passion and distinction," he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Rice drops out of running for secretary of state
Elected to the Senate in 1984, Kerry rose to national prominence as a foreign policy expert when he returned to the Senate after his failed 2004 presidential bid. The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee since 2009, he has made high-profile visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan and helped negotiate the new arms treaty with Russia that was signed in 2010.
Respected in the upper chamber and nationally as a shaper of the nation's foreign policy, Republicans have indicated that Kerry would face little opposition to be confirmed to the secretary of State post. "I think John Kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues," said Republican Susan Collins, R-Maine, late last month. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a close ally of former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, declared that Kerry would have "an easy time" being confirmed in the Senate.
Kerry's confirmation would likely not come without some minor re-litigation of past controversies. One of Congress's richest members, he was painted as an out-of-touch patrician by his presidential foes. The onetime Navy lieutenant was criticized by opponents during his campaign for his high-profile protests of the Vietnam War, including his nationally-covered challenge to a congressional panel in 1971 to defend the deaths of men "for a mistake."
Kerry worked closely with the president in the just-finished election, playing Romney in debate preparations and had been seen as a potential choice to head either the State Department or the Department of Defense. Earlier today a top Pentagon official told NBC News that former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel appeared to be the likely choice for secretary of Defense.
NBC's Chuck Todd details the events that led up to Susan Rice removing her name from consideration for the role of U.S. secretary of state.
But the main headache for Democrats if Kerry is appointed will be the triggering of a special election in Massachusetts next year to replace him. Democrats recently celebrated the ousting of Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a January 2010 special election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Elizabeth Warren bested Brown in the heavily blue state by a margin of 54 percent to Brown's 46 percent.
If Kerry is picked, Brown will be viewed as a formidable Republican candidate to replace him. A wider bench of Democrats, including former Senate candidate Martha Coakley, may vie for the nomination.
But whoever wins the potential replacement race would have a grueling path, as would voters weary of statewide contests. Another special election would be the state's second in three years, and Kerry's successor would be up for re-election again in 2014.
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His opposition to the Vietnam War was smart. Vietnam was a fiasco. Hopefully he and the American people have learned from Iraq and Afghanistan that military adventurism is a piss poor way to pursue foreign policy.
Republicans are drooling over this senate seat already. Obama needs to nominate Bill Clinton.
Now Republicans will have to concoct another phony issue.
That's the only thing they seem to be good at these days.
FOX News will help the republicans get out their new lies.
Keep our eyes in U.S.A., which it helps to re-invest our nation, from transportation to health care, education, re-training unemployed, and fixing infrastructure. Senator Kerry is a decent choice.
Kerry was a war traitor. He would fit right in! Maybe he could find a job for Jane Fonda, Too
Not like your hero, Mitt Romney who was a draft dodger and still managed to protest in favor of sending everyone but him off to fight. Now there's a real hero to any republican.
With his record, his actions with Viet Nam, anti-war rallys, supporter of Obama, etc, etc. he is a shoe-in for the job.
Spare your breath, Bill K, Obama will not nominate John Kerry for Secretary of State. John McCain and his rat pack are just making a fool of themselves.
And, Republicans really believe Obama will nominate John Kerry because that is what they expect? No, Obama will not nominate Kerry, as he was not going to nominate Susan Rice. It is foolish Republicans have guess Obama wrong. McCain hasn't learned his lesson that Obama is smarter than he is. Maybe, he should ponder how Obama humiliated him in the 2008. Look for the "curve ball" coming from the president.
Bill Clinton!
Clinton has nothing to do with anything.
He should be Obama's nomination for Secretary of State.
There is one other thing they are good at.... denial.
Their platform, agenda and small minded old white male hatred was booted to the curb in November.
All they can do cry now... and cry they will. Pissy little bitches on the playground with a bloody nose always cry.
Right on!
John Kerry?
This Obama legacy just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?
Why not throw Hanoi Jane in for good measure?
You're right. Obama needs to make sure that Senate Seat stays in Democrat control. Obama should nominate Bill Clinton.
You may be right.
With Hillary returning to state side..
Old Bill may be looking for a way to exit the country before she does.
Hillary can start her 2016 election campaign. And then after eight years of President Hillary... You can start getting used to saying President Michelle Obama for another eight years.
Hillary just announced she wouldn't run. Gotta stay up on those current events OINKY.
Hey... Phaggot...,. Still hanging out at those kinky strip clubs where the men take off their clothes? I bet you are.
OICY and OneOfTheInSane get the Jim Jones award. Drink up...... Your Benevolent Leader will TAKE CARE of you.
Obama has done a great job taking care of America so far. Turned around the George Bush depression. Gave Health Care to millions of uninsured Children. Destroyed the insane republicans in the last election. And won the wars that Bush had lost.
Maybe Obama is the greatest president ever.
StateRunMedia... Waaaa. Waaaa. Waaaaa.
Cry me a river. Your ass was handed to you this election. Deal with it. lol
Drink up.... Drink up.... Drink up.... Drink up... Now lay down good followers.....
I'm loving it....
Obama wastes NO time in taking a 4 MILLION dollar taxpayer funded vacation.
What a way to say FU, my fellow Americans.
Tell me... How many vacation days had Bush taken by this time in his first term? Obama will need to take the next for years off if he wants to catch up with George Bush.
There's that good old B word again.
Look it up....GWB took vacations at either Camp David OR mainly, his Crawford Texas ranch.
Then rack up the actual COST of who's vacation cost US TAXPAYERS THE MOST.
I'll give you this much, Obama takes 1st place in which president has flown Air Force One more than ANY OTHER president before him.
You might brush that off too but not when you consider it cost US over 800 grand AN HOUR when Barry wants to go for a spin.
You're one of those insane FOX News watchers who thinks Obama's trip to India cost $200 million each day and he took 34 warships, 5000 warplanes, and an entire brigade of Special Forces for protection.
Lest we forget.... Don't waste your time with the JJs, they don't have the mental capacity to get off the utopian elixir.
Gotta love you Dems, and other far left hypocrites! You go from BAD to WORSE! Vietnam vet; registered Independent, here. In our ranks...he is an a##! All of you should have had to go war. Then, maybe your distorted political views would be changed...drastically. Bring back the draft; or at least mandatory military service; which is required in other countries. Grow the hell up... and hurry please!
My father died in that f*cked up war so your hero and true god Mitt Romney could become a draft dodger and protest for the war from overseas.
'
FU!
My Father died in the place of the draft dodger that you voted for this last election. Start explaining yourself scumbag!
Well your fathers good deeds certainly aren't genetic. Your just a hypocritical, bigoted, self-serving, FU, piece of liberal sh*t.
Post your address scumbucket. I would love to look you in the eyes!
dr821... OICY is a coward, don't worry about this person's threats. Someone with their blind allegiances is just a lonely follower. I don't think this person has learned the real lesson of his fathers heroics.
OICY... dr821 hasn't got the balls to to post his addy. All blow and no go.... typical RepubliKKKan.
State Run Media... I get real protective of My Father. Because of people like you all I have to remember him by are a few Black and White Pictures and the guns he brought back from Korea. He was in the military from 1950 - 1967. Don't you dare talk about my father to my face. I will take it real personal! My father was a real man and you're just a f*cked up spineless runt who hates America!
Don't dump your personal baggage on me son. I lost a number of friends in that war. And don't threaten me. You're nothing but a punk with a chip on his shoulder. Show a little respect instead of using your father for your self-serving hypocrisy. I don't care what party affiliation you belong to on this matter. Your the scumbag. I'm not going to waste anymore of my time with you on this but you're not the only individual that has been traumatically affected by war. So watch your mouth and show a little respect son.
After what you posted about me you are now demanding I show you respect? Not a f*cking chance! You're a scum sucking piece of cat sh*t and you know it!
It's probably a good thing your father died in that war if his offspring was people like you OICY. Maybe you should sign up yourself and do us all a favor. Vietnam was a Democrat war anyway, as was Korea, WW II, and WW I.
WW II ? Oh yes, Roosevelt sent nearly every B-29 we had to the Philippines as they were within bombing range of Japan in 1940 and shiploads of bombs too, the same year as he organized the Flying Tigers to attack Japan as well as instituted 100% sanctions against them. Then people wonder why Japan attacked us.
I've had family in every US war since the American Revolution including both sides in the Civil War including a general, and had family present on D-Day Omaha Beach, The Iraq Wars, and in Afghanistan. Blow me OICY !
OneoftheInsane:
Since you want to get in the middle of something that is really none of your businness. Why don't you leave your address on here. I would love to see you and teach you some manners and a little respect. You bring absolutely nothing to the table. So STFU. I rarely write like this but you're way out of line son.
OICY.... My father fought in WWII starting in North Africa and through D-day (from beginning to end). He taught me many things from his ordeals that you seem to not glean from your situation. You are basically harboring animosities towards others to express different opionions or views that your father fought and died to protect.
DR821 What did your coward daddy give you for your 7th birthday? A new bike? I got to find out my father was dead... And then I got to listen to my mother and little sister cry. F*cking worthless piece of pig sh*t!
dr821:
I have your f*cking son dangling between my legs. I am a Vet who would make my you my bitch in about two seconds. FuhQ @!$%#.
Right... Leftovers... It's a real good thing my father died. I wouldn't expect any of your f*cking republicans to say anything else!
OICY... Another thing my father taught me is to not be a spineless runt. You might not like what you will find, so I would stop now. I still think you are a coward and you are doing your father an injustice by your blind following.
You don't scare me in the slightest, phaggot! Some kids grow up gay with out a daddy... Kind of like how you grew up gay even with a daddy. I grew up mean. So go whack of to your Rush Limbaugh picture collection again. It's the only skill you will ever have!
dr821... OneOfTheInSane is a coward too, a real Vet would understand his position and walk away. I don't think there is anything dangling on this individual. Military service did not teach this person anything but to talk tough.
Right... Anyone who's father died in a war, or anyone who served in the military would be a brain dead, idiot f*cking republican just like you and dr821. That is what you religion of republicanism taught you, right? Only brain dead republicans can serve America.
StateRunMedia... I live in Arizona. Bring your @!$%# ass on down here. I have balls you haven't even found yet. Email me... we'll talk, bitch.
I live in AZ too. You can meet both of us at the same time. Bring dr821 with you!
dr821 and StateRunMedia are both sniveling @!$%#s. I guess they think they can just talk @!$%# and not get called out.
My invitation to a personal ass kicking stands if they have even miniscule balls.
If they decide to face you... Let me know. I'll watch your back. And keep things fair.
Neither one has the balls to back up their mouth. Neither one is a vet. Neither one knows that a fight with me would be a death sentence. Punks are a dime a dozen.
Don't sing it... bring it.
I thank Susan Rice for doing the right thing...for herself and for our country.
Now we can Nominate Kerry and MOVE ON!!! Hearing about Susan Rice.....just made me sick. At least Kerry's Nomination will be quick and nearly painless (except for people in Massachusetts that is)
PS: I live in New Hampshire, and I HATE Kelly Ayotte. She's a Tea Party Quack. A b who thinks she knows it all. In fact, I'm disgusted with pretty much everyone in this state with political power.
Well, once again I will go to bed laughing at the haters with no argument other than Obama is a Kenyan, muslim, socialist, communist, marxist that is hell bent on the destruction on America because FOX told them so.
For the record, I am a 56 YO white male. I fit every RepublKKKan demographic except one.... intelligence.
You haters seriously need to pull your head out of your asses. The color of a man's skin does not limit his abilities nor assign his affiliations.
Please... wake up and live with the rest of us in the 21st Century.
OneOftheInSane... You are not showing much intelligence by your inflammatory statements. You are just trying to goat and demean others that might have a different political view or opinion. Remember, people that need to let others know they are intelligence are generally not. I am sure in your one sided world you are very content with yourself. I would hope you would wake up from that world and find reality.
The fact that you find the need to distort my nickname tells me all I need or wish to know about you.
Funny how you can say anything you want you want but when I represent my view, you attack.
Losers attack quickly. That is all they have left.
Nitety night, loser. lol
Now you pull out the race card. And don't think you have a corner on that market. Some of my closest friends are Black or Hispanic. You may be a Vet but you didn't serve in any conflict. You got off easy. Nam was over by the time you were 18. Your just full of hypocrisy and you hide behind others sacrifices. You didn't learn a damn thing in the military did you.
Nor have you have posted any views on your post. Everyone of your posts has been a counter-attack with no substance other than to be confrontational. What are you, just a fraud? Doesn't surprise me. You're certainly not very current or progressive with your communication skills.
By the way, since your so intelligent try using spell check.
dr821... you are nothing more than a punk ass bitch. You know nothing about me.
I used no race card. I stated facts. I have posted many views and with certainty. Read back, fool.
Truth is... racists usually start their argument with "Some of my closest friends are....."
Bull@!$%# is easily recognized but you, my friend, may have the patent on it.
well.... you can't be very intelligent if you think the republicans formed the KKK ---- that accomplishment belongs to southern democrats.
Anything this lying weasel Kerry grts is an insult to the United States. 0bama seems good at that doesn't he?
So the rich Republicans think they can waited out?
I blame the American people for this mess. They had a chance to give President Obama a cooperative Congress, a good partner to get things down. Instead, they voted back the status quo, same old stalemate that is keeping the expectations down and the economy with it. Who would want to invest into this mess?
Ambassador Rice would have made an excellent Sec of State. but I guess her color wasn't right for the Republicans. The people will remember, hopefully.
Sen Kerry has too much military baggage for this job and some foreign leaders will not doubt use it for their benefit.
With the next immediate crisis being the Palestinian-Israeli deal, again, I don't think there is any one better that fits the Sec of State positions than the 80 year old, young, Sen. George J. Mitchell. Yes, he may be 80 but 80 good sound years of invaluable experience, especially in foreign affair. Point in question, Northern Ireland, what an exceptional performance by this well educated and decent leader. He brought the same determination and class to the world scene as he exemplified in Congress.
Sec. of State George J. Mitchell. ... or a very close facsimile.
Ad,
And just what color is that?
Anyway, putz, I guess Alan West's color wasn't right for the democrats in Florida, was it?
Ad,
Oh yea.....And Mia Love's color in Utah.
You're one mixed up s(hmuck!
Investors are afraid of uncertainty and deregulation of rich bankers to get richer. Investors are afraid of throwing away good money into the New Mexico desert. Investors are afraid people who spend trillions of dollars to fight other nations wars. Investors are afraid of fascists and ignorance. Investor are afraid of brain dead people like George W Bush, "the decider".
President Obama promised to build on President Clinton's agenda, I don't know how the fat cats Republicans could top that.
What rich Republicans. The 4 wealthiest Americans are Democrats, 7 of 10 of the top wealthiest members of congress are Democrats, most celebrities, bankers, pro athletes, and top Hollywood actors are mainly Democrats. Most Republicans I know go to work every day to support the 49% that eat up their taxes in federal aid. The irony, prisons are full of Democrat leaning criminals who rape, sell drugs, kill and steal. Nice.
I really think you lose it Junior!!! George Mitchell?? You have got tot be kidding!! George is as old as dirt. Obama didn't nominate Susan Rice nor did he with John Kerry. You to get off this fast track stuff, your emperor hasn't nominated any one. When he does you can bet your life it will not be the best person for the job. Obama need to put Donald Duck in there tom run things he would fit in this living cartoon we will have for the next 4 years. The whole is laughing at us.
Leftisfascist: you are most certainly correct. The capitalist are so afraid of socialists and communists that they hire most of their workers from two of the only four declared communists countries left on the planet.
Wouldn't it be a hoot if John Bolton became SecState. /sarc
Susan: You're a big girl. You knew what you were doing when you jumped in front of the cameras. You took one for the team.
roybokhade===That wouldn't that be something to see. LMAO with that one.
We all can hope Kerry will move like to China or some place overseas. We had him in Mass and the country sure does not need him as Secy of Anything!!. Got so many skeletons in his closet will sink him and keep him out of any office with a little luck...He is a Jerk and a phony.
OBVIOUSLY the Republicans want John Kerry for the post, because he'd have to vacate his Senate seat, which is far more valuable to their obstructionist agenda than a Secretary of State post.
Not to betray the Democrats or my president but wouldn't
Condoleezza Rice be a good choice as well? We're all Americancs after all...
You obviously do not understand even one damn thing about politics. lol
The republicans all about lack of security on four peoples being murdered. At least it wasn't a big deal of lack of security by Bush Jr. and Cheney plus our intel for 9-11-01 on our own soil. Only a few less then 3000 murdered. Enjoy your retirement Bush Jr. and Cheney. Haven't figured why you attacked a country that didn't attack us. But hey, what the heck. Mission Accomplished huh, okey dokey. Your the man, right. Pretty good deal on Iraq. Wipe them out. Get Halliburton in without allowing bids from any other company. Put the right man in at Iraq and sell him billions and billions of dollars of Jet planes,radar,missiles and other arms. Quite an operation you had as President.
Funny, the most hated man by the Republican politicians is President Obama. The one that gave the order to our brave seals on taking out Bin-Laden. It's all strange to me, but hey, who am I.
These are MS/NBC posters who still believe Billy "Sell-out to China" Clinton was impeached because of a Blue dress.
PT Barnum would have a field day with most here.
If the dems fall for this one and offer up Kerry, I'll know with certainty that they are not worthy of my support.
Incompetence out. Band-aids for bangles in. Check.
Kerry for Treasury Secretary! Put him in Boston, Mister President. So we'll know he's close to Walden Pond.
What a shame that such a distinguished and honourable woman would have to step aside because of the vitriolic attitude of the republicans, who, it seems, are willing to do ANYTHING to get what they want. Comparing this to watergate as Senator McCain did is completely moronic and shows the detachnment from reality, the party faces right now.
They're still living in that bubble that the last presidential race should have popped, living in a world that is almost completely made up and, which has no relevance or bearing in this, the real world.
And their supporters are just as delusional, thinking that the real issues that will save the US are hindering gays from getting married, and further increasing the stranglehold that corporations have on the US markets (helping job creators). Supporters who are able to be brainwashed, because of their own bigroty and idiocy, their willingness to believe a lie because said lie confroms to their view of the world and the inner workings of it.
Mr. McCain, is still an embittered old man, living in the past; a past I might add that never existed, because he too is delisional, jealous of a man who beat him 4 years ago, and willing to do whatever it takes - including besmirching his own reputation as a war hero and honourable man - to harm Obama.
How can you have half a nation, and their representatives in congress and the senate, living in a fairy tale world of their own making, and at the same time function as a society?
You cant!
BlowbamaSucks.... well now, isn't your nickname alone cause for many good laughs by those with a brain.
Luckily for you, you averted being laughed at as a complete idiot by posting an insightful and deep thinking comment.
LMAO
What can Blowbamasucks' answer be other than one that is perfectly in line with how most republicans respond to any challenges offered, opposing their point of view?
It does make me giggle, if not laugh, because of the utter predictability of his statement.
When you dont have facts to back up an argument then you resort to namecalling and banal statements.