Why would it be OK to you to have it believed that Rice was tapped and then was 'thwarted' by Republicans when Obama has always wanted Kerry there?

Kerry is highly qualified for the job and Rice is still a member of the Cabinet.

while Rice took a much more aggressive role in pushing regime change in Libya and Syria.

Kerry's appointment shows two things: 1) desire to counterweight the regime change advocates; and 2) Obama thought that Kerry would have an easier time getting through Senate confirmation after the Benghazi debacle than Rice who put herself into the center of the contentious issue over mixed-messaging by the Administration about what actually happened in September.

"You seem to overlook that Kerry had the lead role in diplomatic talks with Assad before the uprising while Rice took a much more aggressive role in pushing regime change in Libya and Syria."

...no I didn't. My point is that Kerry, and I believe he was the President's first choice, is highly qualified. The point about Rice is that people appear to believe that she is no longer in the administration.

the Administration's chief spokesperson on MENA issues. Hillary let her take the lead after Benghazi, and one could say Rice fell on the sword for the policy she embraced, if indeed she wasn't actually shafted.

The WH sent Rice to speak on all those morning shows, it wasn't Hillary. They were also the ones who gave her the talking points (based on what the intelligence community had given them).

source talking on the record. Too bad that what she said on the record about no "coordinated attack" proved to be so inaccurate.

The talk shows wanted Hillary and she said no. Someone in the WH decided to send Rice and gave her the talking points. I don't think that anyone was purposely trying to deceive the media, but the info. in the talking points was erroneous. I feel for Rice, but I still think that even if Benghazi hadn't occurred, Obama would have chosen Kerry.

No doubt, Rice volunteered enthusiastically and stepped into the role of spokesperson herself. What she did was rather noble and selfless, and I've acknowledged that before.

I also doubt there was a real intent on her part to actually deceive, but I remember her statements being endorsed by those here who were saying that there was no real evidence of a planned attack by al-Qaeda linked militias, and that everything in post regime change Libya was going swimmingly except for that little unplanned riot that night. Rice, no doubt, was aware of the positive spin she was putting on things.

I'm not sure that until Benghazi "blew back" politically that Kerry was really Obama's first choice. I do detect a shift in regional policy, and I suppose that is a good thing.

In my opinion between Senator Kerry and former Senator Hagel joining the administration we're heading in the right direction. And its about fucking time

we lose.

Hagel is a batshit crazy con, he just isn't an uber-batshit crazy con, so he seems "reasonable" by comparison.

He is:

Anti-gay
Anti-woman
Anti-abortion
Pro-war

Any one of these positions should disqualify him from holding a cabinet level job under a "liberal" administration, which just demonstrates that the Obama admin is center-right if one is being generous, and hard-right if one is being honest.

are you accusing me of being a "fake liberal"?

What part of Hagel being anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-abortion and pro-war is not factual?

on this one.

was resolved. But, interesting to know.

I thought, WTH? After reading the article and thinking about it, I wondered if this wasn't some sort of grand strategy on the part of the President or, John Kerry has a big mouth (and I know that's not true). If it was some sort of strategy, I'm thinking the Prez just wanted to make the Two Amigos + NH's Sen Ayotte look like what they are, raving idiots.

Maybe Kerry was allowed to reveal that so that he didn't look "second-choice" for all of history, in which case it's understandable.

Reeeally, John. Not necessary information. Show us your diplomatic side. I agree with your choice. And I hope you grow into the job!

Why should Kerry have to deal with every news report of his work the next 4 years by being referred to by a rumor-driven press as the second choice tapped behind Rice?

Why should so many DUPED Democrats feel resentment that Obama's first choice as pushed by the corpmedia was passed over when the rumor was NEVER true?

I always forget how no one lets anything go these days.

First, because Kerry has been in the Foreign Relations Committee for decades and knows most of the world players. Second, because Obama owed him for all the years that Kerry supported him politically, starting in 2004.

If he was the second choice, then it meant that the Rs were able to beat back O's first choice. And it was the media who pushed Rice's name, not O. So the reveal does seem strategic after the fact.

for the swipes. Hopefully it will be more known that he defended Rice from "The Club."

I always assumed it would be Kerry until suddenly the MSM declared Rice the front runner. Kerry has a lot more experience and a less hawkish view of the world.