U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice is set to go straight from misleading the country about a matter of national security to a promotion.
A top candidate to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Rice famously purveyed erroneous information about the Benghazi terror attack on five Sunday shows a few days after the deadly incident.
But, hey, these things happen. The conventional wisdom says Republicans should get over it and concentrate their energies on more useful pursuits like caving to President Barack Obama on taxes. We are supposed to believe that Rice's performance was one of a series of innocent mistakes that coincidentally minimized a terror attack in the weeks before a close-fought presidential election.
Rice assured everyone that Benghazi was a "spontaneous reaction" to an anti-Muhammad video. It was then exploited by "opportunistic extremist elements." And they happened to have "heavy weapons, which unfortunately are readily available in post-revolutionary Libya."
It didn't take a degree in international relations, or even in a stint at the Model U.N. as a teenager, to recognize this as transparent nonsense. On "Face the Nation" that very morning, the president of Libya directly contradicted Rice in saying that the attack was an al-Qaida-linked preplanned act of terror. But Mohamed Magariaf didn't have the benefit of the best work of the U.S. intelligence community.
Rice hewed to talking points provided to her that were grievously wrong. How they got so wrong is now one of the great mysteries of the Benghazi controversy. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers said on "Meet the Press" over the weekend that "the intelligence community had it right, and they had it right early."
Susan Rice's allies make two defenses of her. One is her hackish susceptibility to inherently implausible talking points. This is a version of the defense the president made of her at his press conference last week, chivalrously insisting that she "had nothing to do with Benghazi."
The other is that attacks on her are racist and sexist because she's an African-American woman. Richard Wolffe of MSNBC explained all on "Hardball" the other night. According to Wolffe, Susan Rice is a hard-nosed foreign-policy hawk just like John McCain is on Iran and Libya, so he concludes there can only be one reason the Arizona senator is gunning for her.
You can probably guess what it is.
"You're saying that McCain's being driven by racial prejudice here?" host Chris Matthews asked.
Wolffe replied, "There is no other way to look at this."
No other way.
Yes, because we all know that the Republican Party could never abide a black woman as secretary of state. Across the last 20 years of our national life, only one party has had lily white secretaries of state. If she were nominated and confirmed, Susan Rice would make history - as the Democrats' first black secretary of state. The Republicans have already had a black secretary of state.
As it happens, the mouthpiece defense probably has a lot to it. Rice was aiming to please the White House in a high-profile audition. If she's nominated, Republicans shouldn't let the ritualistic cries of racism scare them off of holding her accountable. On the other hand, they shouldn't get distracted from more important questions involving the president himself.
Was he apprised of prior attacks on the consulate, and what did he do with that information? When did he get the accurate account of the attack from the intelligence agencies? What did he do when he learned of the hours-long attack, and what orders did he give to help the besieged Americans?
We know in great detail the president's involvement in the Osama bin Laden raid. But Benghazi has been a closed book. If the White House had a good story to tell, presumably The New York Times already would have reported the details in a 5,000-word front-page article built on leaks by anonymous administration officials.
Say this for Susan Rice: She would be a secretary of state worthy of this administration.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
Photos: Aftermath of massive tornado in Moore
Storm victims were pulled from the rubble and residents began surveying the damage late Monday and early Tuesday in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, where a powerful tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods and left dozens dead.
Photos: Aftermath of massive tornado in Moore
Storm victims were pulled from the rubble and residents began surveying the damage late Monday and early Tuesday in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, where a powerful tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods and left dozens dead.
Photos: Aftermath of massive tornado in Moore
Storm victims were pulled from the rubble and residents began surveying the damage late Monday and early Tuesday in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, where a powerful tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods and left dozens dead.
Commentary
Discussion
The agony of Susan Rice
By Rich Lowry CNHI
U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice is set to go straight from misleading the country about a matter of national security to a promotion.
A top candidate to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Rice famously purveyed erroneous information about the Benghazi terror attack on five Sunday shows a few days after the deadly incident.
But, hey, these things happen. The conventional wisdom says Republicans should get over it and concentrate their energies on more useful pursuits like caving to President Barack Obama on taxes. We are supposed to believe that Rice's performance was one of a series of innocent mistakes that coincidentally minimized a terror attack in the weeks before a close-fought presidential election.
Rice assured everyone that Benghazi was a "spontaneous reaction" to an anti-Muhammad video. It was then exploited by "opportunistic extremist elements." And they happened to have "heavy weapons, which unfortunately are readily available in post-revolutionary Libya."
It didn't take a degree in international relations, or even in a stint at the Model U.N. as a teenager, to recognize this as transparent nonsense. On "Face the Nation" that very morning, the president of Libya directly contradicted Rice in saying that the attack was an al-Qaida-linked preplanned act of terror. But Mohamed Magariaf didn't have the benefit of the best work of the U.S. intelligence community.
Rice hewed to talking points provided to her that were grievously wrong. How they got so wrong is now one of the great mysteries of the Benghazi controversy. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers said on "Meet the Press" over the weekend that "the intelligence community had it right, and they had it right early."
Susan Rice's allies make two defenses of her. One is her hackish susceptibility to inherently implausible talking points. This is a version of the defense the president made of her at his press conference last week, chivalrously insisting that she "had nothing to do with Benghazi."
The other is that attacks on her are racist and sexist because she's an African-American woman. Richard Wolffe of MSNBC explained all on "Hardball" the other night. According to Wolffe, Susan Rice is a hard-nosed foreign-policy hawk just like John McCain is on Iran and Libya, so he concludes there can only be one reason the Arizona senator is gunning for her.
You can probably guess what it is.
"You're saying that McCain's being driven by racial prejudice here?" host Chris Matthews asked.
Wolffe replied, "There is no other way to look at this."
No other way.
Yes, because we all know that the Republican Party could never abide a black woman as secretary of state. Across the last 20 years of our national life, only one party has had lily white secretaries of state. If she were nominated and confirmed, Susan Rice would make history - as the Democrats' first black secretary of state. The Republicans have already had a black secretary of state.
As it happens, the mouthpiece defense probably has a lot to it. Rice was aiming to please the White House in a high-profile audition. If she's nominated, Republicans shouldn't let the ritualistic cries of racism scare them off of holding her accountable. On the other hand, they shouldn't get distracted from more important questions involving the president himself.
Was he apprised of prior attacks on the consulate, and what did he do with that information? When did he get the accurate account of the attack from the intelligence agencies? What did he do when he learned of the hours-long attack, and what orders did he give to help the besieged Americans?
We know in great detail the president's involvement in the Osama bin Laden raid. But Benghazi has been a closed book. If the White House had a good story to tell, presumably The New York Times already would have reported the details in a 5,000-word front-page article built on leaks by anonymous administration officials.
Say this for Susan Rice: She would be a secretary of state worthy of this administration.
(c) 2012 by King Features Syndicate
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
May 21, 2013
Mr. President, the buck stops with you.
President Truman set that standard, with these very words posted on a sign on his Oval Office desk.
But now, with over a thousand days left in this second Obama administration, we find a Nixonian stench emerging from the “W. House.”
May 21, 2013
Rarely has the White House briefing room so resembled the main ballroom at a meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference.
May 21, 2013
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
May 17, 2013
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
May 17, 2013
The federal government recently announced new regulations for buying fast food.
May 17, 2013
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
May 17, 2013
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
For my neighbor.
That’s what it’s like at his feeder.
May 14, 2013
On April 27, Dr. Jeff Butts demonstrated a rare form of servant leadership as he participated in the Go Love Indy westside service project.
May 13, 2013
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
May 13, 2013
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May 21, 2013
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
May 21, 2013
May 21, 2013
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
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