MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell nailed it last night about McCain et al's agenda

[Texin]

with respect to Ambassador Susan Rice. He said that the real agenda behind the Three Amigos trying to obstruct the appointment is purely an attempt to force President Obama's hand to instead select John Kerry, thereby leaving the Massachusetts senate seat up for grabs, and there's a rethug replacement just waiting in the wings to jump on yet another chance to head back to the senate: none other than Scott Brown, who is attributed to being amenable to just such a scenario taking place. Granted, McLame doesn't need any reason other than his own sour grapes for getting drubbed in '08, but I've been seriously wondering why Ayotte and Graham would have thrown in with him. O'Donnell's explanation for the motivation makes political sense and there must be some kind of commitment that the rethugs have given Ayotte (and to a lesser degree, Graham) in order to get them to carry their water. I'm wondering if they've been promised key leadership positions within the senate in order to pursue this agenda, especially if it's successful.

UPDATED TO ADD: I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MIS-ATTRIBUTION OF THE SOURCE. OF COURSE, IT WAS RACHEL MADDOW. SO SORRY.

[Mass]

1. This makes no sense whatsoever.

Their actions increases the odds of Rice being nominated, not the opposite.

[Texin]

8. The rethugs have been nothing but obvious about their agenda.

McConnell started this with his infamous "our agenda is to make Obama a one-term president." He was proud and boastful about that remark. It was made for attribution and was intended to be a threat that the RWers would be proud to own. They've been blatantly obvious in everything they've done. It's like watching a bunch of Nazis trying to jackboot their way with everything.

This will, as you say, undoubtedly make Obama dig in his heels. And I think Rice was given the thumbs up by Obama to meet with these chowderheads to signal that he'll meet them head-on. (You have to know that she wouldn't have set up those meetings ad hoc without running that by someone at the WH). That Lieberman, who usually is McLame's wingman, wasn't piling on with them is a pretty clear signal that this is a desperate attempt to force an appointment that Obama wouldn't otherwise make at a time when the Dems maintain only a slim hold on the senate. I wouldn't have given much thought to the argument about the senate seat that would be open to appointment had it not been for the fact that Brown has said he would be delighted to take it. I think McLame would have been jacking around with this crap regardless of whether anyone else would jump onboard. He's notorious in his increasingly demented (literally) rants. Graham is one of the usual suspects, so that's not a surprise. Ayotte, on the other hand, is. She's been promised something to take up this mission if it's successful, otherwise she wouldn't be pursuing it.

[dae]

22. I agree, Ayotte has been promised something substantial.

It makes no sense for her to be making noise on Benghazi.

[graham4anything]

2. Nominate McCain and let's vacate his seat

[NewJeffCT]

5. wouldn't the AZ governor appoint his successor?

and, we already know she & Obama don't like each other.

[graham4anything]

6. I don't know their succession rules, I was only being ironic. Mass changed their rules in 2004

[blm]

3. Completely disagree - I think their overly dramatic 'opposition' is to force nomination of Rice

who the hawks would prefer over a Kerry who would do everything possible to avoid war first. Rice is highly competent, but, she is a bit more hawkish in the Hillary Clinton mode than Kerry who thinks diplomacy should be exercised fully before any military action.

[graham4anything]

7. Kerry needs to remain in the senate and lead there with Warren for 18 more years

NO sitting senator should leave til after Hillary wins election in 2016.

it is too close for comfort in the senate, and esp. in Mass it would lead directly to Scotty winning

[blm]

12. You came to the wrong conclusion - I don't want Kerry as SoS. He'd be the best for the job, but,

I prefer he keep EVERYONE in check, including hawks serving the WH, the hawks at State Dept, and the hawks at DoD, as top senator for Foreign Policy.

I highly doubt Clinton wants Kerry as SoS, either. She would want to be replaced by someone who is more in her hawkish mode and who will be more likely to continue her policies.

[robinlynne]

23. +1.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

24. It was said today that the one person

who could defeat Scott Brown is the newly elected Rep. Joseph Kennedy III...wouldn't that be a hoot? !

[graham4anything]

27. Would he run so soon after becoming a congressman? Hope we know that ahead of time

Too bad it was too soon to run when Brown stole the seat in the first place

the only other person would be Deval Patrick, but then who would become Governor?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

29. Good question....

I'm not up on MA politics so I haven't a clue who could run for Governor. It has also been posited that Patrick might seek the senate seat. I suspect Kerry wants to end his career as the SOS. He'll turn 69 on 12/11/12...he'll have to run again in 2014 (if he doesn't become SOS) so that means he would have to commit to another 8 years of service...2 from this term + 6. He's been in DC since 1985....
Perhaps he's getting tired of the old mens' club???

[NewJeffCT]

4. Democrats have huge majorities in the Mass legislature

they could just change the law back to gubanatorial appointment, like it was before Romney was governor. Then, Governor Patrick appoints somebody to fill out the remainder of Kerry's term. Barney Frank anybody? Or, maybe a younger Congressional rep, or another member of Patrick's administration?

[Sunlei]

9. That IS the way todays republicans do their politics..it's never what is best for America with them.

Best to keep Kerry in the position he ran for, he will be excellent. That seat is taken you cons

[EC]

10. I still think that is too transparent and simple.

But then they are repubs.

[Texin]

11. Deval Patrick would obviously appoint a Dem to replace Kerry,

whose term expires in 2014. But that would leave the seat open in just two years.

There are currently 20 Dems whose terms will expire in 2014 (only 13 rethugs will be up for reelection or expiration then). That's a lot of seats to hold onto. I could see Brown making another bid for that office then, but if Kerry stays in the seat and goes up for reelection then, it would be pretty difficult for Brown to unseat him. But some other Dem could be groomed or positioned to make a successful bid (Rachel Maddow anyone?).

I think Kerry is more crucial in his role as a senator, and I think this whole tempest in a teapot is what this cray cray play is all about.

[blm]

13. I think you don't know how to read Republican drama queens.

; )

[Gore1FL]

18. He would, but the soon-following MA Special election would replace that appointment. n/t

[moobu2]

14. Susan Collins just came out and said

John Kerry would make a better nominee.

This is clearly an attempt by Republicans to open up John Kerry's seat. Anyone who say otherwise just doesn't get it. BTW, Rachael Maddow mentioned the theory first last night.

[blm]

16. Of COURSE she did - because the GOP know damn well that Obama is now forced to nominate Rice

or be seen as backing down to them. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't get it the way they think they do.

GOP gets the SoS most likely to follow the Hillary Clinton model of interventionism AND they get to whine about it at the same time.

[Robbins]

15. Um

People are completly forgetting the reports that Obama wants Kerry for defense secretary and Rice for Secretary of state.

[Texin]

17. There is no gubernatorial appointment in MA to fill open US senate seats.

And the rule, which to my knowledge, hasn't been changed, is that a special election is called 145 days after the seat is vacated. Scott Brown has stated that he'd be up for another go at it. MA changed the rule as someone upthread stated in 1994 at the urging of Kennedy when a Dem became governor of the state following Romney. I think the rethugs see a possible opportunity to get another rethug elected in the wake of any Kerry appointment. I don't see Obama letting that outcome keep him from appointing Kerry if that's what he wants, but it's got to weigh heavily on the decision-making process. It certainly would to me if I were in his shoes. I'd be considering how much more valuable Kerry would be as a cabinet member as opposed to his value is to keeping the Senate in the Dems' hands. I think Kerry would like a cabinet post, but I think he would understand the reasons for the President not disrupting the status quo.

[Gore1FL]

19. There would be a temp appointment before the election

the temp appointment would be replaced by the winner of the election.

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

20. Everybody knows that is McInSane's plan...

[barbtries]

21. Rachel Maddow had the same perspective

l watched her show this morning.

[Jennicut]

25. The thing is, Kerry may leave for Sec of Defense.

So the crap being throw at Rice is ridiculous. They are trying to ruin her reputation.

[Texin]

31. I think Kerry would get the same pushback - but from the Pentagon folks

who still have a problem with his stance on the Vietnam war. They're not all totally fossilized, even though their viewpoints are.

I think Obama smells the skunks in the room here and and won't be bamboozeled by this group of amateurs. The word tonight, according to Ed Schultz is that Chuck Hagel is being vetted for a cabinet post. I could easily see Obama appointing Hagel for that spot, along with Wes Clark for SecDef and maybe even CIA. I don't see him moving Kerry out of the Senate now (sorry, John - you deserve better but timing's everything now) and leaving an open road for rethug takeover because of their tactics. There are others talented and qualified enough for these roles - some of 'em (true) Republicans, those in the Lincoln-lite category, but decent guys who'd serve well.

[grasswire]

26. what if Deval Patrick ran for that seat?

Wouldn't he beat Walker?

What's Walker got, anyhow, in a Democratic state? Why is everyone skeered of him?

[Cha]

28. You mean "Brown" .. ya got your Scotts

mixed.

[Mr.Bill]

30. So have Susan Rice establish residency in Massachusetts right now.

That should make their heads spin.

[GeorgeGist]

32. he/she been reading DU?

This was posited here at least a week ago.

[GreenTea]

33. Lawerence O'Donnell is great always right in the republicans faces with no bullshit but

to spit in the republicans slimy eyes!