As I always do, I suspect there are things going on behind the scenes that it's impossible for us to appreciate. If her life was to be made miserable and she would in fact be a source of endless GOP bullshit, then her withdrawal, whether her actual idea or not, is a manipulable item. The GOP will try to push it one way, the Dems another, and we'll see what happens.

Sometimes you have to bloody a few noses before the bullies get the message. It seems like the President is unwilling to do that.

I voted for him twice, as did all my family, and my husband worked countless hours at one of his phonebanks. I'm tired of waiting for him to stand up to the bullies.

there's more going on here than standing up to john fucking mccain.

"Nothing ever happens".. the bullies lost the election that's what happened..and they're are gong to keep losing.

election before. Bullies take confidence when there is a refusal to confront them. The cliff looms larger now.

Last edited Thu Dec 13, 2012, 06:50 PM - Edit history (1)

the inference in your post. Obama should have been able to choose who he wanted. Will this seeming capitulation to the Repubs come back to haunt Obama? I don't know, but, for sure, Obama doesn't need another one.

with President Obama's "mandate". Susan had a choice and she chose to pull her name from nomination. I don't think the Bullies won, either... they have a way of getting Backlash that isn't always apparent at first.

simply disagree. Let's see what happens in the first quarter next year.

if she doesn't want the job? The BOF crowd is really reaching with this one, and it's pathetic.

a large corporation. If I liked someone and had studied their work and productivity, I would hire them. If they declined using "good of the company reasoning" I might question if they think I did not have the good of the company belief for my hiring decision. I quite frankly don't believe that Rice made her bow-out of her own volition. But that's simply my belief based on like-kinds of decisions I have seen over the last four years. I don't know what BOF stands for. My "seeming capitulation" characterization is how I think the media and the Republican Party may view it. I'll know if I was right in a few days.

a teevee, just like the rest of us. She made the rounds on Capitol Hill, and her reception was one of prejudgement and opposition, and it stands to reason that she came to the conclusion that she wouldn't be able to overcome the preconceived notions of that opposition. Why would anyone put themselves through a fight they don't think they can win? And if she feels this way, why would the president put her through such a circus? For your amusement, and to prove what point exactly?

Susan Rice was just another opportunity to display steadfastness, my potential amusement notwithstnanding. To show one is a winner by action and deed. When you plant your flag at the top of the hill, you don't then set it on fire. Like I said, I view things differently than you. I was Ike. You may have been more Clinton. No harm, no foul.


http://www.thenation.com/blog/171728/emerging-fiscal-cliff-deal-spares-corporations-not-safety-net?rel=emailNation#

wouldn't be the best choice ..there would be no reason to keep pushing her just because it would look like he was backing down from john fucking mccain.. like so many are Jumping on.

someone who has bowed out? I'm still scratching my head to come up with a reason the President would put her through that. She said NO. She withdrew her name, and all the speculation to the contrary makes you look foolish as the people who initially attacked her. She's a brilliant woman, who's been around DC for a couple of decades now. I imagine she can read tea leaves as well as any politico. Besides, she was being attacked on the left for having financial ties to the XL pipeline, so there are many reasons why she would choose to drop out, that have absolutely nothing to do with the president.

post, so I'll demur. The tone has now been set for January and possibly the next four years. I'll side with the DUer's who have claimed surrender. Remember, I maintain this position even though I can't stand Rice. She's a neocon who has sided with those favoring among other things slavery. She is arrogant in attitude and tone. It would have been like Spock becoming SOS. So, we have this issued resolved. You maintain your position, same as me maintaining mine. Somewhere a bunch of inverse fascists are smiling.

Susan wouldn't be withdrawing her name.

She withdrew herself; there isn't much the president can do about that.

If I go to my boss tomorrow and say "I quit" he can't make me stay there and continue working. That doesn't mean he "caved".

If Obama wanted her to stay in she would have stayed in. If Obama wanted her out she would be told to write a statement of withdrawal. She wants to stay in the circles of power so she will go along with what the White House wants.

From someone who walks around with their eyes open.

She was on the shortlist. The ReThugs saw that list and went after her. She couldn't take the heat and withdrew her name.

you're going to stay home in 2014 when we need you the most

I guess that's the message in politics. What have you done for us lately?

a repeat of 2010 where Republicans gain more control over states where they pass more right to work laws, where they go after unions, go after a woman's right to choose and where they will change how states award delegates. Is that motivation enough for you. It's time for you to get over this minor crap and focus on the long term.

if that is what would motivate anyone to get to the polls that is a joke. What matters are policies, especially those listed above by Loyalkydem.

she was the number one choice. You might notice that almost every rumor or inside story placing Rice as the number one choice started in the Washington Post.

None of this is about me either. I will vote each and every time regardless. This is about the "average person" who does in fact need a reason to go to the polls. It's basic political theory.

It's no longer about the average person, the future of this nation is at stake and instead of reacting to stuff like this we need to start fighting back.

And unfortunately the average person doesn't realize that they've been screwed over until it's done. But, I do agree. We need to start fighting back.

And that's part of the problem. Because they don't know, they don't care.

to do its job to educate people. And I'm seeing everyday that people are doing their part.

I'm a political scientist by trade, and I've heard more average Americans having discussions about the "fiscal cliff," filibusters, and redistricting.

I'm not suggesting that these are widespread discussions, but we must do our part too.

If the wingnuts can get involved, I don't see why we can't.

I agree with you on the voting issue. I vote each and every time I am supposed to, regardless of whether I have a "dog in the fight" or not. I even vote absentee if I will be away from my polling place. Perhaps I care more about what happens than some others do. But to each his own, just remember if you don't vote, don't gripe!

are the Blue Dogs, Third Wayers, and Closet Republicans who thought that the Democratic base would accept whatever they threw at us because we had no place else to go. A large chunk proved they did have a place to go: home. More caving is going to further alienate the base and could cause the collapse of the party altogether.

If there's no progressive choice in your state/district, cross state lines to phonebank for progressives or donate.

Do something!

This is about the average voter. The average voter needs a reason to go to the polls. 2008 was a huge reason... post Bush presidency... first Black (major) candidate... etc. in 2000-4 it was the marriage equality boogie man. Everyone needs a cause to be motivated to the polls. Some of us are lucky enough to find that motivation from within and vote every time, others do not. We need to motivate people to vote.

Have republicans done for us ever?

Except for extreme cases like W.

What about rwanda? Those children and women who were getting raped in rwanda saw no help, which is what Rice advocated and she was right to. But Clinton decided not to step in so I'm not sure what the problem with rwanda is?

And her dealing in Congo/Zaire were not what you want a SOS to have done.

Bullying worked.
I think this episode should stick to John McCain and Miss Lindsey for the remainder of their public lives.
I'm sure this is part of the larger ploy to force John Kerry into the SoS position.

I thought at this point it was just informed rumor that Mrs. Clinton was stepping down--I didn't know she had made any official announcement. And surely her announcement would precede the announcement of an official list of her possible replacement.

My sense is that it was her decision, not a Van Jones type of thing. But what do I know? I'm probably wrong about Van Jones, too.

Sorry this happened, regardless of the reason.

I hate Republicans.

If she was going to wilt in the heat of the press, she was unfit for the job, period. I may dislike Hillary, but one thing even those who do dislike her to admit is that she can take the hard left hooks and low blows. Whoever becomes SoS is going to need to be tough, because the GOP will try every dirty trick in the book to save their Military empire.

I would use this to toss away someone that really was not a good fit anyway (keystone Rice) and nominate someone that the GOP would hate even more, maybe even Bill Clinton, or Dennis K.

I have nothing against John Kerry, but it would be nice if Obama could find someone equally qualified for the job and also someone who would be a complete surprise to everyone and make the GOP firing mad. Picking Kerry would be giving in too easily to them.

was just jumping on PBO for being "weak" etc. etc. Not sure what he has against the President, but he really criticized him big time. I think Obama stood by Rice as much as he could without having this whole thing strung out when there is so much else going on. I think Rather was WAY off base.

On every show he's on, he has nothing good to say about the president at all. Surprised he's not on Faux.

President Obama's statement was very nice.

They have a black woman's scalp now. Go fuck yourselves, boys.