Here is video of President Obama today at the White House officially nominating Sen. Chuck Hagel to become the next Secretary of Defense, and John Brennan to become Director of the CIA. Both must now be confirmed by vote of the U.S. Senate. Brennan looks virtually sure for confirmation, while Hagel may be more problematic because of his past statements on Israel and Iran.
President Obama Officially Nominates Sen. Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary, John Brennan for CIA Director – Video 1/7/13
Photo: Reuters
CBS News is reporting that President Obama will nominate former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel to serve as the next Secretary of Defense:
CBS NEWS: Democratic sources in the defense community and in Congress tell CBS News that President Obama will nominate former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., to be the next secretary of defense.
The sources tell CBS they were alerted of the nomination by Obama administration officials. Two sources said the announcement could come as early as Monday.
White House officials insist President Obama has not decided on a new defense secretary or offered anyone a job.
Even so, White House officials conceded the ask-and-answer part of that dynamic is formulaic and carries with it zero suspense. . . . Read More
This past Sunday, Republican Sen. Tom Coburn said very bluntly he could not vote for confirmation of Hagel to be Secretary of Defense:
So far, questions about Hagel have centered on comments he made about Gay people many years ago. But little attention has been given to his questionable views on Israel: Chuck Hagel’s Jewish Problem.
CBS News: President Obama to Nominate Sen. Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense – 1/4/13
As many have speculated, it appears Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will be Barack Obama’s nominee to replace Hillary Clinton as U.S. Secretary of State:
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: President Barack Obama has chosen Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts to be the next secretary of state, a source has told Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed.
His replacement as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the Sneed source said. . . . Read More
Report: Sen. John Kerry Likely to be President Obama’s Nominee to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State
ABC News is reporting that President Obama is planning a major shakeup of his Cabinet as he prepares to begin his 2nd Term as President. He will have to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner. Jake Tapper reports that Susan Rice has the inside track for State, even though liberal commentator Kirsten Powers said yesterday such a move would show Obama’s “arrogance,” and could prove to be his “undoing.”
ABC News’ Jake Tapper Reports on coming Obama Cabinet Shakeup; Says Susan Rice has “Inside Track” for Secretary of State – Video Report 11/26/12
Here is video of Sen. John McCain this morning saying “I will do everything in my power to block her (Susan Rice) from being the United States Secretary of State.” McCain was asked about word President Obama intends to nominate her to replace Hillary Clinton in his second term. McCain cited Rice’s inexplicable statements five days after the Benghazi September 11, 2012 Terrorist attack that the attack was just a spontaneous riot over an anti-Islamic video. Rice went on five Sunday News Shows making that claim, even though they clearly knew that was not true. McCain did not say he would oppose Sen. John Kerry to be Secretary of Defense, but he did say Kerry “would be held responsible for his past.”
Sen. John McCain: “I Will do Everything in my Power to Block Her (Susan Rice) from being the U.S. Secretary of State”; Says John Kerry “Would be Held Responsible for His Past” if Nominated for Defense Secretary – Video 11/14/12
Only in a Barack Obama Administration. I wonder if they’ll ask Jane Fonda and William Ayers to testify for Kerry at his confirmation hearing.
WASHINGTON POST: President Obama is considering asking Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to serve as his next defense secretary, part of an extensive rearrangement of his national security team that will include a permanent replacement for former CIA director David H. Petraeus. Although Kerry is thought to covet the job of secretary of state, senior administration officials familiar with the transition planning said that nomination will almost certainly go to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. . . . Read More
John Kerry for defense secretary. Maybe we can get a Treasury Secretary who threw the mint’s plates away in disgust.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) November 13, 2012
John Kerry – “We threw away the symbols our country gave us. And I’m proud of that.” youtu.be/sbTyEPZBUQY via @youtube
— DanRiehl (@DanRiehl) November 13, 2012
Report: Obama Considering Sen. John Kerry for Secretary of Defense in Second Term – 11/12/12
Photo: AP
Reports this morning indicate President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce – John Bryson – has been “cited for felony hit-and-run” while in California, after reportedly hitting two different vehicles in separate locations and being found unconscious at the scene of the second incident:
LOS ANGELES TIMES: U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson was involved in two hit-and-run accidents in the San Gabriel Valley on Satruday before being found unconscious inside his Lexus vehicle by police, authorities said.
Bryson was treated at the scene by Los Angeles County firefighters. Authorities said drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played a role in the crash.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and San Gabriel Police Department said in a joint statement that Bryson was cooperative wad detectives. He was cited for felony hit and run but was not booked into jail because he had been admitted to the hospital. His condition was not known.
Bryson was driving a Lexus in the 400 block of South San Gabriel Boulevard shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday, when he allegedly rear-ended a Buick as it was waiting for a train to pass, according to the statement.
After briefly stopping to talk to the three men inside the Buick, Bryson left the location in the Lexus and then struck the Buick a second time, authorities said. The men followed Bryson’s car and called 911 to ask for police assistance.
Bryson continued to drive his Lexus into Rosemead, which is patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. There, he allegedly crashed into a second vehicle near the intersection of San Gabriel Boulevard and Hellman Avenue.
There authorities found him alone and unconscious behind the wheel of his car. . . . Read More
UPDATE: Multiple media outlets now reporting Bryson suffered some kind of “seizure” that may have been the cause of the accidents.
Report: Obama’s Secretary of Commerce, John Bryson, “Cited for Felony Hit-and-Run” in CA; Found Unconscious in Lexus – 6/11/12 UPDATE: Bryson Suffered “Seizure”
Here is video of GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann campaigning in Marshalltown, Iowa yesterday, where she said a Bachmann Presidency would put an emphasis on getting competent people to do the work of government – unlike President Obama:
“I will have a preference for people in the private sector. My husband and I were products of the private sector, and we’ve created a successful company, and we provide jobs for people in the private sector. I think that Washington would be a lot better off if people in the President’s Cabinet had at least run a lemonade stand.”
Outstanding! Of course with all of Obama’s regulations, it would probably get shut down.
