Any discerning voter will realize the widespread political manipulation by Republicans of our democracy.

John Kerry, 27-year-old former navy lieutenant who heads the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), receives support from a gallery of peace demonstrators and tourists as he testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C., April 22, 1971.  (AP Photo/Henry Griffin)

Republicans do what is best for their party and not our nation. The manipulation of the Secretary of State appointment was for a chance Brown would be returned to the Senate for Massachusetts and in place of a distinguished Senator with longevity. Brown after all is the Wall Street darling defeated by a brilliant economist in Elizabeth Warren. Republicans love retribution to give the glow of being undaunting and victorious. 

This is not to say the new Secretary of State isn't a welcome member of the Obama Executive Branch. He and his gracious wife will be welcome partners to our international relationships. But, the tirade the Republicans carry out can't be ignored with the nomination of a man perfectly qualified and probably better qualified than anyone on the committee to the Executive Branch.

I find it absolutely astounding to realize Republicans threw over the petroleum industry interests for those of the banks.

By MICHAEL R. GORDON

Published: January 29, 2013

...The nomination (click here) was approved by a vote of 94 to 3. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Republicans of Texas, and Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, opposed the nomination. Mr. Kerry voted “present.”...

For real? The Republicans cast aside a potential Secretary of State that could have signed off on the pipeline? Wow. The petroleum industry is nothing compared to revenge. Okay then.

Susan Rice has six figure investment in controversial Canadian oil pipeline
8:10 AM 11/29/2012
...According to her May 2012 (click here) financial disclosure, Rice has an investment in TransCanada Corporation worth between $300,000 and $600,000. TransCanada is angling for the State Department’s permission to build the final portion of the Keystone XL pipeline — a 1,700-mile conduit for crude oil between Canadian deposits and Texas refineries....