Angus King (I) Slaps Down McCain For Petty, Premature, And Partisan Attack On Susan Rice

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Maine Sen.-elect Angus King questioned the judgment of two longtime GOP senators on Thursday, arguing that their opposition to promoting U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to secretary of state was “premature.”
“I don’t really like starting out my Senate career — I’m not even sworn in yet — getting crosswise with some of the leaders of the other party,” King said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “But I thought it was a bit premature. There was a statement that she was up to her eyeballs or something in the policy, and I think there needs to be a little more of a factual basis for that. If all she did was provide that briefing based on the intelligence she was given, then it strikes me that taking a hardline position against a pretty distinguished diplomat was a bit premature. I’ll leave it at that.”


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83900.html#ixzz2CIeOKszr

Nobody likes you, pop!

[cali]

1. I think I'm going to like having King in the Senate.

[CincyDem]

4. Oh yeah - gotta love anyone named "Angus" in today's day and age n/t

[Renew Deal]

6. I've seen affection for him by DUers in the past

But I know nothing about the guy.

[eShirl]

18. here you go :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_King

[Lucinda]

34. Thanks for the Wiki link. I hadn't made time to check him out yet. I like what I see so far!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

45. I think he blows with the wind.

[bullwinkle428]

2. Smacking down McLame before he's even sworn in...I LIKE IT!!!

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Not to mention "petulant". And "peevish". n/t

[dchill]

13. And poopyheaded.

[ms liberty]

42. And sometimes pompous as well! n/t

[dchill]

44. And a propinquity for the pusillanimous.

[BeyondGeography]

5. "The other party"

I know he has agreed to caucus with our side as an independent, but I like the wording anyway.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. Yep ...

I listened to him discussing his decision to caucas with the Democratic Party and was mildly optimistic, as he continuously came back to his being an Independent; but this phrasing has me feeling better.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

46. Me too ...

... but I've been told I'm cynical.

[Scuba]

43. Jumped right off the screen, didn't it?

[sheshe2]

7. + 1

[eShirl]

8. Oh yes. Angus is quite popular around here. (Maine)

I predict that soon, everyone will love Angus.


sorry, can't seem to find this on youtube:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/4109

[CTyankee]

29. That was the first time I heard him speak and I thought to myself "He's a good man and nice."

that was a very measured, reasonable thing to say. And I think most people would agree with him. The republicans are just making things worse for themselves with this stuff. Nobody wants to hear it. It isn't material to anything. Voters have already said that they are FED UP with this stuff...

[ReRe]

9. I llliiiiiiikkke it!

K&R

An intelligent man who speaks truth to power. It's going to be like having two Bernie Sanders! Angus King is a straight talker and shooter. It's going to be fun to watch the Senate again!

[ROBROX]

11. PREMATURE IS SOMETHING NORMAL FOR AN OLD TIMER

The GOP is FOOL of old timers who are so premature they should be in DEPENDS

The FOOLS will step on there owe wits because there cognitive powers are dim versus their premature placing of their foot within their collective mouths.

[AlbertCat]

21. I agree!

But if you're posting about dim cognitive powers, you really need to proofread!

[Please proceed]

12. Lose one crappy one and get a pretty good one.

The Senate lost Independent Joe Lieberman and gained Independent Angus King. How happy am I? Lieberman would have provided cover for his old buddy McCain. Joe's gone, McCain can't leave fast enough.

[GoCubsGo]

36. Speaking of Lieberman, where is he?

I find it interesting that he's not there spouting this shit with his two little buddies, like he has been for the past 6 years. He is still in the Senate, and will be until January. Are McCain and Graham too full of shit even for him?

I understand Lieberman actually went to to the "hearings" they've been having, unlike Mr. I-Had-A-Schedule-Conflict, and his little toady, Miss Lindsay.

[Jennicut]

50. Getting ready for retirement.

Jomentum is done. I don't even think he is retiring in Connecticut. Good riddance to him. I put up with him as my Senator since I was in middle school.

[George II]

14. I guess that answers the "who is he going to caucus with"question! "Other party"!!!

[femrap]

15. Would someone explain to me

WHY McLame and Pretty Graham HATE Susan Rice....is it as Obama said, "She is an easy target?" No, I think there's more to it. It couldn't be such a stupid reason as Condoleza Rice doesn't want a Black woman with the same last name taking over SoS?

Do they have someone in mind for SoS?

The parents of Chris Stevens, the Ambassador at Benghazi asked that this situation NOT be politicized. Forget that.

And it was funny to hear both McLame and Pretty Graham give IDENTICAL responses about Susan Rice....and the responses were so very, very vague.

Are they trying to PROTECT THE TRUE reasons behind the Benghazi attack on 9/11????? Was this some sort of Repugnant rogue CIA attack???? These two repugnants have their knickers in such a knot over pointing fingers at someone...and is that to DIVERT attention from The Truth???

Can't these 2 asshats just do their job...like avoiding a drop off the Fiscal Cliff?

Go get 'em Angus!

[eShirl]

16. simple: Democrats are always, automatically wrong.

and the corollary, Republicans are always, automatically right.

[John2]

20. I'm

still curious about the two Democrats SE claimed would give cover to Graham's and McCain's partisan attacks by objecting to approving Susan Rice if she go forward? If there are two, then we would see where their allegiances are? Let's see the snakes that are in the bed of the GOP? The President is not Dumb and they have nothing here. Just a goose chase by sorry losers and the same obstructionist Bullshit!

[femrap]

49. I still

can't figure out who SE is???

[AlbertCat]

22. Would someone explain to me

They want Obama to pick Kerry,...opening up that seat in Mass so Scott Brown can get back in....

Anyway, that's Lawrence O'Donnell's take.

[bluedigger]

23. They want John Kerry for SoS.

Then Brown can take his seat in the Senate. They are discrediting any rivals to Kerry for the position. It's just partisan politics.

[femrap]

39. John Kerry would be

better as head of DoD. Either one is OK. But I do hate opening that up to Scottie Brown. Is there anyone else in MA that could take over Kerry's seat??

I don't know...something stinks. And then both of these Senators miss the meeting about Benghazi and McLame throws anyone of his temper tantrums.

[Mass]

26. Putting Obama in a bind

He names somebody else than Rice and people, including here, will say mcCain won and he caved.
He names Rice and has a hard fight when there are more urgent things to deal with.

Both would be great SoS, but as you can see, some have already starting to play McCain's game.

This said, it is possible that other GOP Senators will not play the game. http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/11/15/1194891/gop-mccain-rice/

[area51]

47. Susan & Condoleezza are relatives. I believe this was mentioned on a PBS Now episode.

Though that may have nothing to do with the attacks against her. Noticeably CR is not defending her cousin.

[femrap]

48. I had no idea

they were related. That explains A LOT! It appears that Condoleza has it out for her cousin..."No way is there going to be 2 SoS from this family."

It's a damn shame Susan was scheduled to be that Sunday morning show. I believe anything she said would have been used against her.

[MgtPA]

53. According to Wikipedia and BBC, they are not related.

"Despite having a doctorate, and being an African American, she is no relation of the current Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7758989.stm

[joeybee12]

17. I like Angus already...nt

[cyclezealot]

19. McCain is thin skinned and does not take criticism well.

Does Angus King realize that.. Sen. Snowe had enough of the gobbers. King as an independent thinks he can reason with these people.Good luck with that.. If he does not adjust senate Gridlock, he'll just be a one term senator.

[bluedigger]

24. How do you figure?

He won his seat with a good majority and Mainers tend to show loyalty to incumbents. I think he'll be there as long as he wants, barring malfeasance.

[cyclezealot]

30. A goal of King was to

be an arbitrator between the parties , facilitate exchange , and work to end the gridlock. As senator, King might not be defeated. But, when he sees being an arbitrator with the make up of the Republicans in the senate- he just might not run for a second term. Olympia Snowe could not stomach much of the Senate GOP make up. You think Argus King will.?

[bluedigger]

35. Okay, I see your point now.

I thought you meant the electorate would not support him for a second term, but you meant he would be discouraged and not seek reelection. I wouldn't be that surprised if he chose to be a one-term Senator myself, and I suppose his effectiveness would factor into his decision. But it's too much conjecture at this point - he hasn't even been seated yet and we are wondering about his plans for 2018?

[cyclezealot]

40. If Snowe can't tame them as an insider to the party.

King certainly can't as an outsider.

[Hutzpa]

25. Ba-dang-bish

first shot.

Bunch of premature grand poopy heads.

[DallasNE]

27. Didn't The "Eyeballs" Statement Come From Lindsey Graham?

It doesn't change the effectiveness of King's statement, which is spot on. The "taking a hardline position against a pretty distinguished diplomat was a bit premature" applies equally to McCain and Graham though.

[usaf-vet]

28. Has the McCain family noticed that the Senator is showing signs...

.... of dementia?

As a veteran I'm tired of McCain getting a pass for what he says and does 40+ years later. Yes I know he was a prisoner of war. I respect that. But that doesn't give him a license to do stupid things today. Stupid like pushing Palin ("I can see Russia from here&quot onto a national ticket. That move alone showed me a clear lack of sound judgement.

Couple that with his buddy Sen Graham (R) S.C. and that is a whole bunch of stupid. They should both take a moment to listen and take some good advise from Gov. Bobby Jindal. They (GOP) need to stop being Stupid!

McCain IMO has more than used up his punch card he has carried as a POW. It has no more value. It has expired. He needs to add additional point to the card by being a statesmen who serves the American people. Not an angry old looser who appears to have some hatred for Obama and Rice. I might even ask myself is there a racial undertone to his contempt.

[kurt_cagle]

54. Senility

I've wondered that about McCain for a while now. He struck me during his run in 2008 as not being as sharp or focused as I remember him in the past, and he has become increasingly extremist after having been at least a pragmatic conservative for most of his career. Lately most reports show him as being irritable and occasionally confused, and I have to wonder if the presser he did during the briefing may have been a memory slip of fairly epic proportions. He is 76 years old, and seems older to me. I don't watch him that closely, but would be curious about whether other people have seen evidence of senile dementia.

[kentuck]

31. I'm impressed with Angus King already!

We need more people to speak the truth like this.

[bluestate10]

33. King is going to give us a burr every so often. But he fights based on principle. I live in the

state across from his, but respect what I know about him. King is highly respected in his state of Maine.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. What a refreshing change from Ms. Snow.

[Cha]

37. Wonderful for a Senator from Maine giving a shot of reality

to the immature Senator from Arizona.



http://theobamadiary.com/

[mainer]

38. Years ago, I remember telling Angus that I wished he could run for President

And his wife sighed and said they were so, so tired of politics. Now look where they ended up!

I really do think he'd make a splendid President. Too bad it's an impossibility.

[RBInMaine]

41. King won't be pure, but he'll be good. He's SMART, has integrity, & very popular up here in Maine.

[LynneSin]

51. Day-um!! I'm liking this guy more and more!!

So glad we didn't fuck this up like we did the Maine Governor election

[hrmjustin]

52. Good for King!

[jpak]

55. Angus took Olympia Snowe's safe Senate seat away from the GOP

Hahahahahahaha....