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National Security Monday
Author: Raine    Date: 12/01/2008 13:32:58

Today President Elect Obama is set to announce his National Security team. Much has been speculated and pontificated about regarding the choice of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. At around 10:45 this morning he will be holding a press conference:
According to a Democrat familiar with the transition team's work, the former First Lady is part of a national security team that also includes: Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security; Eric Holder, for Attorney General; Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will remain in his current position for at least one year; retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones, for National Security Adviser; retired Adm. Dennis Blair, for Director of National Intelligence; and Susan Rice, for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
The most interesting name on that list is not Hillary Clinton. It's Susan Rice.
Rice was a foreign policy aide to Michael Dukakis during the 1988 presidential election. She was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm, in the early 1990s.

Rice served in the Clinton administration in various capacities: At the National Security Council from 1993 to 1997, as Director for International Organizations and Peacekeeping from 1993 to 1995 and as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs from 1995 to 1997. In 1997, she became Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, serving in that capacity until Clinton left office on January 20, 2001.

Secretary of State Madeline Albright is a longtime mentor and family friend to Rice, who urged Clinton to appoint Rice as Assistant Secretary of State. Rice was not the first choice of Congressional Black Caucus leaders, who considered Rice a member of "Washington's assimilationist black elite." Even at a confirmation hearing chaired by Senator Jesse Helms, Rice—who attended the hearing along with her infant son, whom she was then nursing—made a great impression on Senators from both parties and "sailed through the confirmation process.

As Assistant Secretary of State Rice was considered "young, brilliant, and ambitious," and she worked to "integrate Africa in the global economy while at the same time aiming to increase U.S. national security."
The New York Times reported yesterday that PE-Obama is reinstating the U.N. ambassadorship back to a cabinet position as it was under President Bill Clinton.

As it should be. I believe that it gives America even greater chances to restore our credibility in this world. Why it was taken out of the cabinet I will never fully understand or know, but this signals to the world that we have an incoming administration that is willing to be tough and be able to talk and be diplomatic at the same time. With Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, (let us not forget Samantha Power who is part of the SOS transition team, and possibly another strong voice in the Obama administration) we are seeing clearly that PE Obama is keeping true to his word that many voices will be at the table. He is making choices that are inspiring. It's nice to see so many strong women there too.

So today is National Security Monday, when we finally get to see and debate a few more of the Obama cabinet selections. I am sure we will agree on some and disagree on others, but one thing is for sure, it is exciting to see what the possibilities are for our Nation's future.

:peace: and
Raine

P.S. Today is World Aids Day. Here is a little Bonus Click of hope.
 

115 comments (Latest Comment: 12/02/2008 03:49:34 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by wickedpam on 12/01/2008 13:46:38
Morning! :hug:





For those interested Blogger Joe info is up too :D

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 13:48:22
Good Morning!



The weekend is over??

Comment by TriSec on 12/01/2008 13:48:59
Morning, comrades.



:kickcan:



Gray and rainy...just like my foul mood.



Christmas, BAH! :spits:





Comment by wickedpam on 12/01/2008 14:12:18
scarelicious :spit:

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 14:34:57
Ludacris John Lewis and Jim MArtin at the Capitol building today!!

Comment by livingonli on 12/01/2008 14:42:20
Good morning everyone. At least here the sun is back out.



But I do have a doctor's appointment this morning.

Comment by starling310 on 12/01/2008 14:43:10
Good morning. Wow...that mini Holiday vacation went a-zoomin' by!



Tri? I concur. :: spit ::



Comment by starling310 on 12/01/2008 14:44:02
AND, just in time for Christmas, my Mortgage payment went up $70 because of a town tax increase. Thank you Santa Claus!

Comment by livingonli on 12/01/2008 14:47:09
Is anyone else getting this "host.dreamcast.com" security certificate has expired message?

Comment by velveeta jones on 12/01/2008 14:48:27
Morning.....



Wow, what a bunch of grumps! :lol:



I came up from work to a house decorated to the max..... and she's only just begun!!



Comment by Shane-O on 12/01/2008 14:48:54
Quote by livingonli:

Is anyone else getting this "host.dreamcast.com" security certificate has expired message?


Yup! -- But I trust BobR, Raine and Tri...



Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 14:53:39
I should feel grumpy about the Holidays... but I do not.



What the HELL is wrong with me?

Comment by BobR on 12/01/2008 14:58:50
Quote by livingonli:

Is anyone else getting this "host.dreamcast.com" security certificate has expired message?


You can do whatever is necessary for your browser to ignore that message. It is for the script that allows us to embed flash videos.

Comment by BobR on 12/01/2008 15:10:44
Quote by BobR:



You can do whatever is necessary for your browser to ignore that message. It is for the script that allows us to embed flash videos.


Actually, for some reason I was using a "https" link to the file instead of just a "http". There was no reason for the secure link, and using it was leading to the error message.



I've changed the code, so that should no longer be an issue.

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 15:12:52
Ok, That is just WAY to much information.

Comment by Shane-O on 12/01/2008 15:14:19
Quote by BobR:

Quote by BobR:



You can do whatever is necessary for your browser to ignore that message. It is for the script that allows us to embed flash videos.


Actually, for some reason I was using a "https" link to the file instead of just a "http". There was no reason for the secure link, and using it was leading to the error message.



I've changed the code, so that should no longer be an issue.




Comment by m-hadley on 12/01/2008 15:20:04
Mornin' Everybodee :coffee:

Hope you all survived the onslaught of turkey and all the trimmings? I had a great time with my familia (my sister, her husband and all three of their kids - Kate 16, Lily 14, and Joe 12). We had a good time and now my house feels empty and entirely too quiet (the kids stayed with me and I got a hotel room for my sis and her hubby :P). My new grrrlfriend successfully avoided meeting my family, but has agreed to go to DC with me in January We are getting tickets to the American Indian Inaugural Ball ($140.00 includes the ball Tuesday night and a brunch the next morning). If anybody else is interested in attending this event, please just let me know and I will gladly forward info to you. We are staying with a friend who has an apartment in DuPont Circle. Can't wait :D

Cheers,

mfaye



:gobama:

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 15:20:17
Palin cast the race Monday as the first step for Republicans to rebuild their party. “It takes rebuilding, and I say, let that begin here in Georgia tomorrow,” Palin said.
Palin In Georgia, this morning...



:rofl:

Comment by Scoopster on 12/01/2008 15:24:53
Morning everyone! Ugh this morning's sucked so far - server crashes, website's in serious need of maintenance, graphic ad holes everywhere..



And the idiots at the Dunk put sugar in my coffee again. :spew:



Quote by Raine:

Ludacris John Lewis and Jim MArtin at the Capitol building today!!


http://www.bluegartrls.com/forum/images/smilies/ludacris9.png
Martin & Lewis?! (btw this is an actual smiley on another website.. heh)

Comment by Scoopster on 12/01/2008 15:30:01
Comment by livingonli on 12/01/2008 15:31:24
Time for me to head off to the doctor. Wish me luck.

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 15:32:43
Scoop! man, you are making me SO want to go to that event this afternoon! Can you see it? Luda, Lewis and Martin? What a funny looking crew!!!





But -- a totally AWESOME thing. Totally awesome.

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 15:34:30
Quote by m-hadley:

Mornin' Everybodee :coffee:

Hope you all survived the onslaught of turkey and all the trimmings? I had a great time with my familia (my sister, her husband and all three of their kids - Kate 16, Lily 14, and Joe 12). We had a good time and noe my house feels empty and entirely too quiet (the kids stayed with me and I got a hotel room for my sis and her hubby :P). My new grrrlfriend successfully avoided meeting my family, but has agreed to go to DC with me in January We are getting tickets to the American Indian Inaugural Ball ($140.00 includes the ball Tuesday night and a brunch the next morning). If anybody else is interested in attending this event, please just let me know and I will gladly forward info to you. We are staying with a friend who has an apartment in DuPont Circle. Can't wait :D

Cheers,

mfaye



:gobama:
Oh that sounds awesome, faye.



We survived T-day. I have had better, but I have had worse.



In the end I have a lot to be thankful for, and that is what it is all about. Today I begin cooking the Turkey Soup.



Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 15:41:44
Any minute now, the presser is to begin!

Comment by starling310 on 12/01/2008 15:48:26
It's definitely Clinton.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/01/2008 15:49:08
I swear I feel so much more informed as to what's going on in less then a month then I did in 8 freaking years.

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 15:53:57
So there it is... a pretty strong Natioanl Security team. I am sad that HRC will be leaving the Senate.



Altho, you know in hindsite, HRC did say she was ready for that 3 am call... guess she got her wish!!

Comment by BobR on 12/01/2008 15:54:17
Quote by wickedpam:

I swear I feel so much more informed as to what's going on in less then a month then I did in 8 freaking years.


Nothing like clear communication, eh?

Comment by starling310 on 12/01/2008 16:04:18
Susan Rice is teeny tiny.

Comment by TriSec on 12/01/2008 16:05:09
Well, I got my good turn in for the day.



Ellington is working his magic....it's the time of year for the Concerts of Sacred Music, so I've dusted them off today.



(Eric Jackson of WGBH radio has played these concerts during Christmas Week for the past 25 years or so...)





Comment by wickedpam on 12/01/2008 16:08:27
Quote by BobR:

Quote by wickedpam:

I swear I feel so much more informed as to what's going on in less then a month then I did in 8 freaking years.


Nothing like clear communication, eh?




I know - it's amazing! :D



Comment by Shane-O on 12/01/2008 16:14:37
Quote by starling310:

Susan Rice is teeny tiny.


Maybe physically - but she's got a great big brain!!! (what a great CHANGE!)



Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:15:30
Bill Clinton will NOT become a senator. Sorry.



I am thinking we have another Kennedy in the office soon... Robert? Caroline?

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:17:32
Quote by starling310:

Susan Rice is teeny tiny.




Note to self, send letter to Barack asking him to give boxes for Ms. Rice and Ms. Clinton to strand on...



Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:24:38
I mentioned Samantha Power in the blog today!

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:26:58
Quote by Shane-O:

Quote by starling310:

Susan Rice is teeny tiny.


Maybe physically - but she's got a great big brain!!! (what a great CHANGE!)

I love the choice of having her in the cabinet.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 12/01/2008 16:27:06
Good morning, bloggers!!!



I think that Obama's team will indeed follow his lead. So, I think that we will have the pleasure of hearing intelligent and intelligible statements from our national leaders and representatives.



The Devil went down to Georgia? Odd, I thought Darth Cheney was still in an undisclosed location.



In some good news, I have an interview this afternoon and will hopefully hear about my interview from last week soon.



For those who want to look, here is a link to the Daily Headlines.

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:28:22
SCREEW you Mitt... 1500 of each car is for HEALTHCARE!



Bastard Union busting pig.

Comment by MMB on 12/01/2008 16:36:19
Good morning I wanted to let anyone know that MAC cosmetics as they say every day is World Aids Day. They have a section of lipsticks and glosses in their stores or my favorite online with F/S all the money from these sales goes to help men,women and children that fight daily the battle with Aids. Just a thought.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/01/2008 16:42:52
Quote by Raine:

SCREEW you Mitt... 1500 of each car is for HEALTHCARE!



Bastard Union busting pig.






What did the Twit say. I done missed it.

Comment by velveeta jones on 12/01/2008 16:42:54
I noticed this during the news conference with our new PRESIDENT! When he'd call on the reporters, they would thank him but practically whisper the word "elect".



It would go like this:

Obama: Yes, Jake

Jake: Thank you Mr. President(elect).........



Its almost as if they can't wait any longer. :lol:

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:44:59
Market Watch is reporting January crude oil futures have fallen $4.54 (8.4%) to a record low of $49.90 a barrel.



That sounds like good news for the winter heating season!

Comment by TriSec on 12/01/2008 16:45:57
*grunt*



F*ckers.



Why don't they just fire me?



(passed over again)





Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:47:29
Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Raine:

SCREEW you Mitt... 1500 of each car is for HEALTHCARE!



Bastard Union busting pig.






What did the Twit say. I done missed it.
HE is blaming unions for the demise of the auto industry.



Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:48:03
Jim MArtin ALSO is a vietnam Vet.

Comment by velveeta jones on 12/01/2008 16:48:11
Quote by TriSec:

*grunt*



F*ckers.



Why don't they just fire me?



(passed over again)





Sorry dude. :hug:



Comment by wickedpam on 12/01/2008 16:53:10
Quote by TriSec:

*grunt*



F*ckers.



Why don't they just fire me?



(passed over again)













Comment by Mondobubba on 12/01/2008 16:53:12
Quote by TriSec:

Morning, comrades.



:kickcan:



Gray and rainy...just like my foul mood.



Christmas, BAH! :spits:







Psst Tri, its not Christmas time, its

Advent. Christmas doesn't start until December 25th. Didn't we have this discussion just last week?:)

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:53:48
OMG... these people need to be taken away from society.

Comment by Raine on 12/01/2008 16:54:34
Martini: for Tri.



:hug: