Susan Rice wouldn't take my advice and stay away from the GOP Congress-critters.

[kelliekat44]

So they bad mouth her even more after her meeting with them. "no good deed shall go unpunished." You can't be decent with the GOP. Period! Why Obama keeps trying is beyond me. The media is the GOP pocket, Wall Street, and practically all of the 1%. Or maybe it's the other way around.

And what is really curious about this entire Susan Rice-Benghazi stuff is that Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, who has direct r responsibility over our embassies and consulate seems to be given a huge pass in all of this. I kinda figure Hillary really doesn't want to see Susan follow her at State. And I am not even certain that Ms. Rice wants to be SO. But the media is having a field day putting word in peoples' mouths and ascribing all sorts of motives to their actions.

[msongs]

1. you are "ascribing all sorts of motives to their actions". does that make you "media" nt

[libdem4life]

2. To "Forward" I would like to humbly suggest that it be updated to: "Forward, now Bring It."

And I don't think Hillary has been given a pass, she's smarter than the average Democrat Bear and did what Republicans routinely and very successfully do ... ignored it as a non-issue.

[kelliekat44]

3. I'm not criticizing Hillary. I am saying the GOP is questioning the wrong person...wonder why?

[DonViejo]

4. The SoS is testifying next month nt

[libdem4life]

9. Nor I. Hillary handled it well...didn't jump in there and defend...Obama and Susan did.

Kind of like ... Proceed, Governor ... if one does not feed the RW reactionaries, they have to recede and implode at some time.

[lalalu]

5. Susan Rice is an intelligent and tough black woman.

She isn't backing down or afraid to meet with anyone. It takes strength and shows a lack of fear to face your enemies.

As to Hillary Clinton this is just another example of why I will never vote for her for president. In 2016 the democrats can run her and the republicans can run Jeb and for the first time ever I will vote for a third party and not a democrat.

[Indykatie]

6. I Think Rice Did the Right Thing by Meeting With Them

Even liars need an exit plan to save face and this is their way to get it. After being made to look like an idiot Mccain has already dropped much of the negative rhetoric about Ms. Rice. It will be interesting to see if she is nominated whether Mccain or Graham vote for her confirmation. A no vote will only reiterate what we already know about their feelings for strong accomplished women and provide further proof of the GOP's anti woman stance.

[bemildred]

8. Yep, the last thing you want to do is back off.

I think Hilary is staying out of it because that's the way Ms Rice wants it. The Pubbies have done her a favor by making this her issue, not Obama's or Clinton's, it enhances her status to have such powerful enemies, and to win.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

7. The only thing that would disqualify her in my eyes is taking the GOP seriously. nt

[libdem4life]

10. Requesting high level meetings with her outspoken critics takes them seriously, IMHO

I must say, this does not impress me as someone who would be tough in what can be a very adversarial global position. I was strongly for her nomination...now, not so much. It is not approaching the issue from the position of power...but from the position of need to gain approval...which automatically reinforces their power position. It is clear by their responses.

[JoePhilly]

11. Every Cabinet nominee has to go talk to individual Senators.

That's how the process works.

And by going to see these idiots, in the long term, helps her because the GOP nuts have nothing.

[libdem4life]

12. Didn't realize that. But which ones particularly, she can't meet with all of them...

just her detractors? Seems that the McCain Trio has so poisoned this process that it's become like a contact sport. I thought that nominees appeared before like a congressional board or something and answered questions.

[JoePhilly]

13. Nominees, and "potential nominees" usually do some one-on-one sessions

with Senators from both sides before they do official sessions before the various congressional committees.

They do sessions with Senators who they know will support them strongly, and also with those who are likely to oppose them. By doing so, the get an idea of the field of battle. Their supporters will help them build a defense. Help them craft responses for the official hearings.

McCain and Graham are a joke. And so it was smart of her to meet with them. Let them scream now, and then build a response for the formal committee hearings. She'll get beat up some now, but then get confirmed later. She wins.

[libdem4life]

14. Aha. Thanks for the info. Learn a lot herein.

[JoePhilly]

15. I should also add that ...

As far as I am aware, a nominee, or a potential nominee is not required to hold such one on one sessions.

But .. . doing so seems to help. Particularly if the sessions are with the relevant committee members, or those who have significant influence over the committee members and their votes.

Usually, if you can get out of committee, you get confirmed. Usually.