VIDEOS: Rachel Maddow and Ambassador Rice on Afghanistan, Pakistan

By GottaLaff

This interview was just excellent. Imagine two people having an intelligent, calm conversation on the Tee Vee Machine! How novel:

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Video- UN Ambassador Rice says John Bolton's criticisms are "ridiculous."

U.S. to join UN Human Rights Council

By GottaLaff

Oh that whacky, nutty, zany ObamAdministration. Those crazy Anti-Bushies are... are... well... the Anti-Bushiest:

The Obama administration has decided to join the United Nations Human Rights Council, reversing the Bush administration’s decision to shun the body because of its refusal to criticize flagrant abuses of human rights.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice announced the decision Tuesday in a statement that said the U.S. goal was to make the council more effective.

“Human rights are an essential part of American foreign policy,” said Clinton, who was criticized for playing down human rights concerns with China during her first trip abroad after taking office.

What? Human rights are a good thing? Who knew?

“The U.S. is seeking election to the Council because we believe that working from within, we can make the council a more effective forum to promote and protect human rights. We hope to work in partnership with many countries to achieve a more effective Council,” said Rice. [...]

The move, which has long been sought by human rights groups, is part of the new administration’s policy of seeking engagement abroad, he said. The U.S. is expected to win a seat.

Now really. What kind of insensitive, self-destructive, power-hungry, unAmerican, odious nutcase wouldn't care about stuff like that?

Susan Rice Headed to United Nations

By GottaLaff

Obama's been a busy president-elect:

ABC News has learned that Dr. Susan Rice has emerged as the leading candidate to be President-elect Obama's nominee as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

"Dr. Rice, a member of President Bill Clinton's National Security Council and a former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, was involved in President-elect Obama's campaign as a senior foreign policy adviser."

Reachiness

By GottaLaff

Barack Obama is the reachiest outiest prez ever. Shameless flirt. Who will he end up asking to prom?

Omg, what if Michelle finds out? It's like all those sit-coms in which the guy makes dates with two girls on the same night, they discover what he did, they face off with him, and wacky, zany fun-trouble ensues.

Oh, but I'm being silly. That won't happen. Besides, from what I hear, Scowcroft looks ridiculous in a formal gown:

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell: Democratic sources say that former Bush 41 National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft is one of the people whom Barack Obama has been consulting about how to craft his national security team. Knowledgeable sources say Obama reached out to Scowcroft two days ago to discuss defense and national security issues.

Scowcroft, who first served as President Ford's national security adviser, was an early and vocal critic of the Iraq war -- starting in August 2002.

Scowcroft's already a better date than a lot of those mean girl types, like, you know, Rumsfeld and Cheney and Wolfowitz, oh my.

Scowcroft is very close to Defense Secretary Bob Gates, who is considered a possible holdover for the cabinet.

Another key adviser to the president-elect on defense matters -- Sen. Jack Reed -- is a leading member of the Armed Services Committee who traveled with Obama to Iraq and Afghanistan. Reed is also very close to Gates.

Sources say that with or without Gates in the mix, a possible national security adviser in the new Administration is Gen Jim Jones, retired Marine Commandant and former NATO Supreme Commander.

Hold the fort! That's three reach-outs. Obama better watch his step. I feel some slapstick coming on.

Another is former Clinton Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, a key Obama adviser during the campaign. Also in the mix: Former Assistant Secretary of State and close Obama adviser Susan Rice, as well as former Clinton National Secretary Council and State Department official Jim Steinberg, most recently head of the LBJ Foreign Policy school at the University of Texas.

My sides are splitting! The laugh track is going bonkers! He's way over the limit at six, count 'em six, reachies! I competely missed the call on this one! What's Scowcroft gonna say? Hoooo boy! What a fix!

But Obama is pulling it off. Everyone seems to be responding well to his overtures. What a guy. No wonder he's the leading man.

Moral of the episode: Reachiness works, but just not in sit-coms.