SecState
Shame on Obama for giving Republicans exactly what they want with Kerry as the new Secretary of State.
Far more shame for “America First” Republicans for engineering Kerry’s placement only so they can get a chance at a Senate seat.
I could forgive Obama if, as is likely, he actually believes that Kerry is the best person for the job—something that seems likely considering that he’ll be giving up something rather significant to get Kerry.
Republicans, however, are a completely different story. They are not trying to get the best person appointed. They are not trying to get someone more conservative nominated. They are doing all of this—to an extent, probably also fiercely opposing Chuck Hagel for Defense as well—for purely strategic and unprincipled political reasons.
Yeah, you’re dead right about the political motives for blocking Rice in favor of Kerry. Something tells me Kerry will slip through the process like butter.
With Kerry gone, Scott Brown (R) will have a good chance at taking back the Senatorial seat next year, but that’s a battle to be fought later. We still have time to find a formidable challenger.
This article shows at this point Brown is in a very strong position to win:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/20/scott-brown-would-win-special-election-today/
Fortunately, when the time comes, and Brown loses to a stronger Democratic Senator, it will be too late for the Republicons to block Kerry’s placement.
I have not lost faith in the Democratic Party….yet!
–kensensei
agreed, and I also suspect the hit on Rice was designed to eliminate a potential political threat down the road, to prevent the Dems from bringing their own, hopefully more competent, Condoleeza Rice-like figure into the national spotlight.
Is it too late to nominate Colin Powell as Secretary of State again?
(‘Anonymous’ above is actually Kensensei)
I just deleted my browser history…