Sunday chatter: 2016 and an unapologetic Susan Rice
(CNN) – CNN’s State of the Union Host Candy Crowley aptly put it at the top of her show Sunday: Four of the last six presidents were governors.
Governors descended upon Washington this week for the annual National Governors Association meeting. They also filled the hot seats on the Sunday talk shows.
That inevitable question was asked. The one about running for president.
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Guess what. Some actually answered the question.
But Republican Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana was not one them.
“I haven't spent one second thinking about any job other than the one I was hired to do,” he said on “State of the Union.”
Neither was Gov. Jay Nixon, D-Missouri: “We really do have a lot to get done in the next three years in the Show-Me State.” (Boring).
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley was slightly more straightforward. He’s “looking at that.”
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said, “I don’t know.”
Some more candor came from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who in one word said he’s not ruling out a 2016 bid. (He’s headed to Iowa next week.)
And Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy of Connecticut was quite honest: “I am not going to be a candidate for president.”
Scandal, part 1: Noticeably absent from the Sunday circuit was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, this year’s head of the Republican Governors Association and potential 2016 presidential candidate. In case you forgot, he’s been under fire for extreme traffic jams on the busy George Washington Bridge for apparent political retribution.
Scandal, part 2: Another governor under fire, however, did appear on a Sunday program. Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin chose friendly territory but was aggressively questioned on “Fox News Sunday” about newly released documents that reveal illegal activity. When Walker was running for governor in 2010, he ordered his staff as then-Milwaukee County Executive to hold a daily conference call with his political campaign, which is illegal in Wisconsin.
On “Fox News Sunday,” Walker blamed the Democratic party for churning up “old news” for political gain.
Agree to agree when not disagreeing: On “State of the Union” the two Democratic and two Republican governors also talked a little bit about policy, including gun rights, the death penalty and pot – issues on which they mostly disagreed.
But they all agreed that states’ rights are a great thing – a “high” component “of the American experiment,” Pence said.
They also will have a unified message – in part – during their meeting with President Obama Monday, insisting that National Guard strength not be cut.
“There is a common agreement amongst all 50 governors that we shouldn't go back to pre- 9/11 standards,” Walker said.
Benghazi answers: It was a big day for Obama’s National Security Adviser Susan Rice. It was the first time since her ill-fated remarks just days after the attack on the Benghazi that she appeared on a Sunday political talk show.
Multiple networks asked. But NBC’s “Meet the Press” nabbed her.
Rice said she doesn’t regret anything about her September 2012 appearances when she said the attacks that killed four Americans were the result of an unruly “spontaneous” protest.
“That information turned out…not to be 100% correct,” she said, but that neither she nor the Obama administration intentionally mislead Americans two months before the 2012 election.
On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Republican Sen. John McCain didn’t really respond to Rice’s self-defense, but said her original comments are “embarrassing.”
Obama on defense regarding Ukraine: In fact, McCain didn’t have a lot of good things to say about Rice or Obama when it comes to American foreign policy, reaffirming an earlier statement that the President is “naïve.”
As Ukraine is in the middle of an internal struggle with heavy influence from Russia’s Vladimir Putin, McCain said: “The president said that this had nothing to do with the Cold War, the issue, the situation in Ukraine. In the eyes of Vladimir Putin, it does. He wants to restore the Russian empire.”
Rice responded: “He may. But if he does, that is a pretty dated.”
She said President Obama told Putin that the United States and Russia have “a shared interest” that Ukraine remain a unified country and not devolve into violence, and that Putin agreed.
Rice went on to say that the U.S. needs to “very pragmatic” when dealing with Russia.
While ticking off areas of agreement and disagreement, she said “both sides of the ledger” must be looked at when it comes to Putin.
Rice cautioned, however, that it would be “a grave mistake” if Putin inserts his military power into Ukraine.
Even one of Obama’s closest confidantes sounded more skeptical.
On “Fox News Sunday,” Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin said, “Let's remember that each president tries to find a positive track, but let not forget that Vladimir Putin wasn't just a member of the KGB, he was the head of the secret police, the Soviet KGB. This is a man that we should take very seriously.”
Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire said the President needs to “up his game and send a clear unequivocal public message to Putin.”
Ukraine: Agreement: While Obama is criticized for how he deals with Putin, the ideas discussed to help the Ukrainian people are similar to those of his critics.
On Ukraine, Rice said “the U.S. will play a role,” including working with the International Monetary Fund to help Ukraine, which is on the verge of economic collapse, to help the country stave off economic dangling carrots from Russia.
Senators Durbin, McCain and New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte agree.
But Rice insisted the U.S. will not put boots on the ground there.
Syria
As for Syria, another internal conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, Rice said the U.S. is “constantly reviewing our options” and that the U.S. is the “largest supplier” of humanitarian assistance.
“Until there’s a political resolution, this thing is not going to be resolved,” Rice said.
But it all comes back to Putin. Sen. Ayotte said Putin is winning in Syria. “Putin can play a role of putting pressure on Assad. They are not putting enough pressure on Assad,” she said, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Scandal, part 3: While scandal is plaguing two governors, a fictitious scandal surfaced on “State of the Union.” Actor Joe Morton, who plays Rowan Pope on the ABC drama "Scandal,” was interviewed, where he encouraged Hollywood to show more diversity among topics in films depicting African-Americans in Hollywood.
Hollywood productions “are either a film about slavery or they're a film about integration. So from a commercial standpoint all we are getting is the same story we've seen over and over and over and over again. I mean it's ‘Roots’ but, you know, ‘Twelve Years A Slave’ is ‘Roots’ but it's a much better ‘Roots.’ ’42 (The Jackie Robinson Story)’ is about integration but it's still about baseball somehow. But it's still about that struggle,” he said.
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T0ra bora was after the fact Tampn t. It was when Hillary war hearing voices in W.H. you need 2 come d0wn out off that tree and stand on the ground an tell the truth 4 once your g0ing 2 get an0ther concussion i think u are starting 2 believe ur own lies man .
Concerning Susan RIce, these people keep getting away with it over and over again. When oh when are the American people going to see how treacherous this Administration and its people are !
Another lying lib who should be in prison.
Why don't some of you right wing leaning (parrots of Limbaugh), either get inspiration that's unique or quit posting. It's old and it's not getting any younger.
i do not believe this: RICE/HILLARY/OBAMA all told by general ham within hours IT WAS A TERRORIST ATTACK. the question-who told rice to go on tv and who told her to lie???? that is it-answer these two questions.
Typical liberal democrat. She has no problem blatantly lying, but the truth is almost impossible for her to utter. No one at any time ever indicated there was a protest. It is just a lie that is not explainable. And the crap about a false scandal just shows the absolute worthless leadership at the top. They know most people in their base are stupid and just echo what they hear.
Obammy followers have impressed the world with their stupidity. They and Obammy have made our country the punch line of most political jokes. Its a sad day when Russian leadership chews up are president.
re Benghazi: Four known terrorists, widely believed to be involved in further terrorist activities at the time, were killed. What is the big deal, outside of the fact few acknowledge who these people really were?
Once again, liberals say it's okay to lie and deceive the American people. Hypocrites.
If the 2nd amendment is a "right", then why can only the very rich have their own F-16's?
I watched her on Meet the Press. Her nose grew 2 inches.
Not surprised that Susan Rice is not sorry at all for misleading the American public. It says a lot about her view of life.
Chris does give credit to 0bama for 0rdering 0ur seals to take The Bin laden Tthat cold blooded child killer lower than subhumanout Devil . thx men
An unapologetic Obama, Hillary, and Rice should never have another day of "public service". They should live out the rest of their days in disgrace. Really they should be living them out in a federal prison. They are compulsive liars and deceivers that cannot be trusted. When is the media going to give Benghazi the scrutiny it deserves? When are the American people going to wake up and demand accountability for this any many other Obama administration scandals? It is shameful and disturbing.
It has taken quite some time for Scott Walker to be exposed. His only response is to blame the Democrats. The fact is that he knowingly participated in an illegal act of campaigning from his office which is illegal in my state – WI. The taxpayers should not allow any sitting elected official to use state time, money and resources to campaign. That is why the law was passed. Walker and his cronies had total disregard for the law. Some went to jail and he wants to whitewash it. He has a legal fund as he is not off the hook. The emails that were published this week show he knew. So now all Americans can see that he believes he is above the law and is the worst kind of politician we could ever have at the national level. I don't care if a Republican is our next President. Please just make sure that people like Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman etc. are not elected to national office or the Presidency. They will look you straight in the eye and lie. Not a fib, an outright made up, try to scare you lie. Just watch their response to questions. They never answer them truthfully. Ted Cruz is especially dangerous as he would borrow a quarter from you and then tell you why you should give him another and not have to repay any of it. He talks in circles pretending to agree.
Is there a single sane person left in the Republican Party? If so, they are eerily quiet.
The typical Democrat response to everything is: "Nothing to see here, just keep moving." They can't even admit that Obama lied about Obamacare. It's pathetic really.
When caught red handed telling lies, Democrats will always double down with more lies. To admit to lying would reveal a major part of our strategy and tactics.
Susan Rice lied for this administration and got a promotion out of it.
Why should anyone be surprised that a liberal would lie to the country and not feel any remorse.
Susan Rice obviously embarrassed herself about Benghazi, lying for political purposes. That is the only reason she is not Secretary of State. This does not upset me because all politicians are fundamentally corrupt at heart. But when you get caught like she did, you pay the price. The only other alternative is that she is horribly stupid, but she is not, though she had a lapse of common sense in the Fall of 2012, which is something all politicians periodically have as well.
Hollywood is one of the most racist institutions in America. When they place a black man on the screen, he has to be humiliated. beaten and killed all within the first half of the film. And every black woman, has to sex white men on the screen while the white woman in the film cannot get too close to the black male because it offends the racist in American Society, even in Cheerios Commercial where the black man was not even in the same room with the white woman, these racist were so offended that the networks very seldom shows it again
Rice will have to polish her lying. It's not good enough yet but she shows promise.
Nothing new with us patriotic Americans funding democractic freedom assistance for other desparate and dying human protestors abroad. Not that I protest that, but come on ALL US diplomats! Your very voters ARE huddled masses yearning to breathe FREE. Suppose we citizens protested, did so as bravely as other nations have ? Will you hasten to assist? Must we too protest? Every min. Wager to strike unionless & brauely? Will you hose shoot etc? Totalitarianize us. What is to be if your own continue our seasoned apathy. Not a serious revolt for decades 'cause citizens were swat teamed. What must we do? Protest for a fema park? God save our US and govt. STOP the bickering.Strife breeds strife. Peace breeds peace and MORE. Love out loud.
Both sides complaining about the other side playing politics while they are playing politics.