Dear Senator McCain,
We need to talk. Why the unwarranted attack on Susan Rice, our UN ambassador? You have served in the US Senate long enough to know how the CIA handles matters of national security. I know, too, that you have been involved with investigations about the FBI. You were even a subject of one, if I recall. Yet, by threatening to block the yet-to-be-made appointment of Rice to be Secretary of State, you embody the very dysfunction and lack of statesmanship that has plagued both houses of congress in recent years.
Susan Rice is a fine example of what all public servants and citizens should aspire to be. She is accomplished, professional, intelligent, devoted and capable. She has served our nation in several capacities and always in ways that would make any American proud. Dr. Rice, a Rhodes Scholar, has not sought public recognition, nor the accolades the government has rightly showered upon her. She has simply, quietly and professionally done her job. Then there is you.
What you and Lindsey Graham have done in trying to sully Ambassador Rice's character over the tragic events in Benghazi, is beyond disgusting. Even worse, both of you, given your combined years in the Senate, should know better. You complained in front of any camera you could find that the Obama administration had not provided enough details on Benghazi, while missing expert testimony on that very subject by the people best in a position to know. You are showing the same erratic and irascible temperament that lost you that presidency in 2008. You talked about putting country first (That was your presidential campaign slogan, wasn't it?), and then select Sarah Palin, by any objective measure, a woman,completely unqualified to be vice-president, as your running mate. You were also the guy joking about bombing Iran, weren't you? There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God you are not the president of our country.
That said, you do have moments of grace, like when you stood up to the woman wanting to characterize Barack Obama as an Arab and untrustworthy at a campaign town hall. Your concession speech, too, was honorable and gracious. These honorable moments are fewer and farther between these days, and now you have a well deserved reputation of being a crank. I noticed too that you didn't have much to say after General Patreaus provided anticipated testimony to congress. Where did all that bluster and grandstanding go when you appeared before the microphones after the General's testimony Senator? That shut you up, didn't it?
Senator, you are a hot mess. It's time for you to either clean up your act, or find another line of work where you will embarrass neither your country or yourself. A place where you won't put our allies and our operatives in danger, and where even when you can't seem to recognize greatness in another person, they can be promoted and/or evaluated without constant fear of political denigration. Instead of blocking a future nomination of someone like Dr. Rice, why not begin with something more manageable, like your first impulses. At the very least, trying thinking a bit before you start running your mouth.
Sincerely,
William Windsor












Comments: 15
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" You have served in the US Senate long enough to know how the CIA handles matters of national security."
This is what I've been thinking during this whole episode. Why is Senator McCain undermining our President and the security of our nation?
It all goes back to the sour grape taste in his mouth from loosing the 2008 Presidential election to America's first President of color.
He still holds a grudge. I thought he was bigger than that. I guess I was wrong.

 Featured in Triple Name Club.
Glorious, just glorious.
This man is a piece of it. He's an opportunistic, MLK holiday-opposing, officially dim witted, bimbo-loving, cynical mediocre white man who wouldn't have a chance accomplishing what Ambassador Rice has, and who can only get fame by luck, or using his "power" to ridicule those who have earned legitimate power. Pathetic.
And Ambassador Rice will be the next Secretary of State.
And there's a reason Nancy Reagan can't stand his @ss.
It is shameful that McCain is publicizing the attack for it gives incentive to terrorists to attack Americans and their allies and and makes others see the US as wishing to interfere in the affairs of Libya and other nations.
I think it is likely that Obama, McCain, Rice, Petraeus, Clinton and many others knew the essential facts about the attack at the time it happened. Obama's comments at the time it happened indicated he did and if one knew generally the situation there it was not difficult to realize his account was informed and accurate. The priority was to calm the situation in the region and not give incentive to terrorists to attack Americans and their allies.
Rice was a logical choice to have speak of the attack in Libya because the priority for the government was to calm the situation in the region and not publicize the role of terrorists, which would give incentive to terrorists to attack Americans and their allies in the region and elsewhere. She could affirm the US did not intend to interfere in the affairs of Arab states that were seeking to establish new governments since the Arab Spring. To have Hillary Clinton or CIA's Petraeus do this would have brought more attention to the attack in Libya. Obama's initial report after the attack was nuanced. It was not difficult to interpret from it what had happened if one had some knowledge of the revolution against Ghadafi and the role of CIA working with al-Qaeda assets and sending arms and fighters from Libya to Syria for over a year.