home

Benghazi Hearing: Republicans Have Bark, No Bite

By Jeralyn, Section Hillary Clinton
Posted on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:15:05 PM EST
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Benghazi (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

I listened to an hour or so of the 9 hour hearing on Benghazi today. Republicans failed to land any punches. And Hillary sounded just like she intended: calm and in control. Bottom line: She got a free 9 hours of air time to tout her knowledge of foreign affairs and show she's the most presidential of all the candidates.

< First U.S. Soldier Killed in Battle With ISIS | Thursday Night Open Thread >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Benghazi Hearing: Republicans Have Bark, No Bite | 78 comments (78 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Yes (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:21:01 PM EST
    definitely not what the GOP planned. It was a 10 hour infomercial for Hillary and why the GOP needs to be voted out of office.

    It was 11 hours (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:43:02 PM EST


    Parent
    The last few minutes (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:48:14 PM EST
    Were great.  Like the end of a great movie.  Hillary calm and composed and CaptGowdy looking frantic desperate and very sweaty grasping and clawing for some tiny justification.

    It was the only time Hillary got heated.  In defense of Admiral Mullen.  She made Gowdy look like a petty fool.

    And he knew it.

    I heard (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:53:22 PM EST
    that and I admired Hillary for that statement. They were trying to smear that admiral. It was so obvious.

    Parent
    My husband didn't get it (none / 0) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:25:18 PM EST
    He didn't get the where's philandering Bill, your marriage has always been a sham, we know you are secretly a lesbian connotation.

    Parent
    Oh, when (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:45:50 PM EST
    the lady from Alabama was asking was Hillary alone all night? I really thought that line of questioning was going to go there but instead she sounded like she thought Hillary was going to sneak a secret lover in later on that night.

    Parent
    That was our representative..Roby (none / 0) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:22:06 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm sorry (none / 0) (#53)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:50:07 PM EST
    though I'm not sure mine is much better. However nobody put him on the committee like they did her.

    Parent
    What a petty moron (none / 0) (#55)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:13:17 AM EST
    Sorry for your loss....

    Parent
    Oops, meant to respond to one of (none / 0) (#42)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:26:18 PM EST
    Your other comments Ga6th

    Parent
    This was my other favorite moment (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:07:26 PM EST
    The Alabama hick with the dirty stringy hair was trying to make some very serious point and it resulted in the one laugh if the day


    Hillary Laughs at GOPer's Benghazi Question, Immediately Scolded: `It's Not Funny'


    Parent
    Oh, my (5.00 / 5) (#9)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:35:45 PM EST
    there's an example of her wicked sense of humor. I have to say Hillary wasn't the only one that found that funny. Did you see all the people behind her were laughing too?

    Parent
    Mourning Joe (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:52:29 AM EST
    Opens with that clip and the pronouncement it was a TKO.

    Parent
    I thought it was funny (5.00 / 3) (#54)
    by BarnBabe on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:25:31 PM EST
    Like questioning if she had a lover come over to the house.  Yep, it was funny.

    I can't believe that I watches almost all of it. What can I say about a train wreck.  Hillary was very good on the Rachel Maddox interview tonight.


    Parent

    The GOP was sure it was (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:14:09 AM EST
    Vince Foster.....

    Parent
    The Maddiw interview was very good (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 07:47:13 AM EST
    Rachel asked real questions that progressives care about.  No nonsense questions.  Hillary was engaged and very good.  Many questions I have heard discussed in these threads, like building down ticket races and state democratic parties.

    I recommend seeing it.  I'm sure it's up at MSNBC Rachel dot com.

    We should all be able to find that so I'm not going to link cause my glasses are in the other room
    :)


    Parent

    Fishcamp (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:55:23 PM EST
    the next time the guys at the gym start shouting nonsense at you, you can just refer them to the 11 hours of hearings today.

    And the line all over (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Towanda on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:30:22 PM EST
    the msm, blogs, etc., is that Trump is a weenie, whiiiiining about any more than two hours of debate.

    There were several GOP candidates (none / 0) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:50:02 PM EST
    that got together to make the 2 hour demand and to add opening and closing statements. They were granted all 3 conditions they asked for.

    Parent
    I listened to as much of it as I (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:35:38 PM EST
    could while out running errands, and some on TV, when I was home, and I have to say that if it wasn't already obvious what a spectacular waste of time and money the Republicans have turned this so-called "investigation" into, it should be after today.  The GOP was only interested in "getting" Clinton - but they seem to have forgotten that after all she's been through over the last 40 years, that collection of bloviating morons was not and did not intimidate her.

    Wherever the Smarm store is, it's out of stock, having delivered its last giant truckload to the GOP members of the panel.  Eddie Haskell would be proud, I'm sure.

    I can't see her numbers doing anything but going up after 11 hours of whatever that was.

    Yeesh.

    Skimming (5.00 / 4) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:50:30 PM EST
    around the web before I hit the sack for the night I'm seeing women massively ticked off even people who were not Hillary's greatest fans. They are saying that the sat there for 11 hours enduring verbal and psychological abuse from these morons.

    The rage and hatred coming from the GOP just came shining through.

    It was a horrific witchhunt (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:14:49 AM EST
    Man oh man she is good.

    No need to limit her interviews, debates.....

    Parent

    She was fantastic and I WAS for Bernie! (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by mogal on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:52:24 PM EST
    She was fantastic and I WAS for Bernie!

    In an odd way (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:43:39 AM EST
    I think this may give some people more for a chance to be "for" Bernie, if not actually for Bernie.

    She is so strong now some will feel more comfortable pushing from the left.

    There were comments to that effect here yesterday.   I can't remember  who.   When I think of yesterday all I remember is CaptGowdy looking like a cornered greased pig.  

    And I smile.

    Parent

    I said something (none / 0) (#28)
    by CST on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:43:38 AM EST
    to that effect, and I meant it.  My state votes on Super Tuesday, I imagine it will be more or less wrapped up by then.  I support Clinton as president but now I'll probably vote for Bernie in the primary.

    Parent
    There will have been only 4 states (none / 0) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:41:32 AM EST
    that hold a caucus or primary prior to Super Tuesday, but it is possible it will be over the day after Super Tuesday if Clinton sweeps all 12 states that day and odds are strong that she will.

    Parent
    you can usually tell (none / 0) (#31)
    by CST on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:50:59 AM EST
    Before then which way it's going, after the first 4 and the polls.  Obama/Clinton was an anomaly in that regard.

    Parent
    True (none / 0) (#33)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:21:46 AM EST
    But we know right now which way it is going. I was just suggesting when the number of delegates and super delegates combined will hit a winning total. All but the shouting by March 1, and official by the end of the day March 15 would be my guess.

    Parent
    Holy sheet (5.00 / 4) (#17)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:29:30 AM EST
    I watched a lot of it.

    She is so crackerjack smart--dealing with small minded, hateful weenies......

    I was very impressed.....Stamina out the gazoo....

    I watched the whole (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:33:23 AM EST
    morning session......Three hours straight without a break.....Good gawd....No one does that.....

    Parent
    I watched the whole thing (5.00 / 3) (#19)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:02:56 AM EST
    Oh. My. God.

    They ended at 9:00 p.m.   The Republicans were snide and vicious.  A lot has been said they were former prosecutors.  You could never get away with they did in a court of law.....Argumentative badgering....

    Let alone the length.....

    And she held serve and beat them at every turn--for 11 hours.

    Parent

    The two words that I kept thinking of, (5.00 / 3) (#25)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:04:52 AM EST
    as I listened and watched, were these:

    True Colors.

    At every turn, no matter how she answered, the Republicans showed time and again that they weren't interested in her answers, they weren't interested in truth - they just wanted to get her.  Each one seemed like he or she had this little fantasy thing going where later that day or the next day, they were going to be besieged by cameras and microphones and hordes of media fawning over them for finally getting Clinton to admit that yes, she was, in fact the anti-Christ, Beelzebub's ambassador, and the history books would name them as the hero or heroine who finally ended the long nightmare that was the Clintons.

    This hearing was going to be what rocketed the GOP to the top of the charts.

    It failed, they failed.  Once more, all they did was show how less than they really are, how ignoble their motives, how craven their desires.

    But Hillary Clinton and the Democrats also put their own true colors on display.  And what a contrast.  Smart and honest, focused on the truth, she and they could not have been more different from what the GOP was offering.  Once again, they were the adults in the room.

    I've got a day of cooking on my agenda today - my younger grandson turned a year old on Wednesday, and his birthday party is Saturday...somehow, I'm doing most of the food for a mostly-family, mostly-adult guest list approaching 40 people!  Ack!

    So, I won't have much time to check in here - but I had to take a moment to post this, and also to say that I hope you can recover from the ick that taking in 11 hours of dishonest, disingenuous, mean-spirited, snide, smarmy, ugly "questioning" from Republicans would have left you with.

    Parent

    I couldn't stop watching (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:58:07 AM EST
    I had recorded the whole thing and at first just had it on in the background, but then Hillary was just dishing out fact after fact in such a poised way in the face of the onslaught.

    What I learned:

    --The Susan Rice talking points are to this day not totally incorrect.  The person taking credit for the attack says he used the video to whip up the troops.

    --The requests for security.  Some of them were granted.   Such requests all went to security specialists, the people who run the Diplomatic Security service, and didn't even make it to her staff.

    --Security requests are handled by the security people because they are the experts.  In a different context, the Republicans are all about listening to the generals, but did not give Hillary that benefit of the doubt.

    --Ambassador Chris Stevens was in frequent email contact with Hillary's immediate staff and could have called them or her, if he wanted to go over the head of the security decisions of the Diplomatic Security people.  He did not.  Not ever directly telling Hillary or her immediate staff that he needed more security.

    The facts discussed at the hearing actually are quite to the benefit of Hillary.

    Parent

    Well said, Anne, well said (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by christinep on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:53:10 AM EST
    "True colors" and "the truth will out."

    It was an exceptional day with a bravura performance from HRC under the most extreme pressure of time and attention.  Apparently, she credits yoga for the incredible poise, patience, calm, and focus she displayed throughout the Repubs' failed attempt at a grueling inquisition.

    Yea, the "ick" factor which you mentioned was pronounced (especially with the likes of Repubs Jordan and Rostam, the collective meanies.) But, as each hour passed, husband & I would jump to cheer her as she demonstrated her masterful fighting ability.  While Trey Gowdy's face glowed with more & more sweat, HRC beamed in success. All that made it very easy to recover from the low-level ick that slithered away as the Repubs looked like they didn't know how the reversal had happened.  I relish the thought that Gowdy & Co. may get recognition as the epitome of the least productive, worst Congressional committee in our history.

    Parent

    The former prosecutors preached (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:08:16 AM EST
    w/o questioning the witness.  Or if an argumentative question followed they tried but failed to prevent the witness from answering.

    Parent
    I read someplace (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:12:18 AM EST
    That most if not all of them are former prosecutors.

    Oops, sorry guys.   Not a courtroom.  You can't really stop her from responding.  Or laughing in your face in some cases.

    Parent

    "Just yes or no" (5.00 / 3) (#34)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:23:24 AM EST
    They weren't asking yes/no questions, yet they tried to pin her to a sound bite.  Do they really not understand that she isn't that stupid???

    My favorite part was when she was defending Admiral Mullen and said, "I really don't care what you think of me."

    Boom.

    Parent

    Oh, man (none / 0) (#36)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:39:30 AM EST
    that was freaking awesome. They were trying to smear this poor Admiral and Hillary stood up for him.

    Parent
    Her voice was hoarse (none / 0) (#39)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:37:50 PM EST
    at that point.   It was just before 9:00 p.m.

    Parent
    Nah (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:57:54 AM EST
    Only Gowdy and Brooks were prosecutors.

    And FTR, Trey Gowdy's real name is Harold Watson Gowdy, III.

    Parent

    Benghazi Hearing (5.00 / 4) (#40)
    by mogal on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:56:50 PM EST
    One of the few times I have posted on this blog, (although I always enjoy reading the comments) especially those from Anne.  (You all seem like a family and I almost feel like an intruder.)

    However, I remember well a post that I wrote several (?) years ago about waking up to Morning Joe and hearing him shout loudly and gleefully "BENGHAZI!  BENGHAZI" He was proclaiming how  BENGHAZI would take Hillary down.

    Did anyone say Good Morning to Joe this morning and ask him how he liked the hearings?  Just wondering?

    A rather dysfunctional family (5.00 / 5) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:58:58 PM EST
    I record Mourning Joe.  This morning the show opened with the excellent clip of Hillary laughing in the face of the rabid Alabama hicks questions about who she spent the night with.

    Followed by his own personal pronouncement that the day was a TKO for Hillary.  They went around the table everyone agreed, they could hardly do otherwise since unlike ppj they are concerned about credibility, and then very quickly moved on to other things.

    Mica was out sick.  Benghazitis no doubt.

    Parent

    "I almost feel like an intruder" (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Nemi on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 07:08:26 AM EST
    Heh, being a mostly occasional commenter, I can relate to that. ;)

    But actually I think it's just a matter of being sort of persistent ... or more visible. I for one, as a 'mostly reader only', would love to hear more from you. The more the merrier, as the saying goes. And in addition to that the more enlightened I become. Which I greatly appreciate. :)

    Parent

    Speaking for Me Personally... (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Oct 26, 2015 at 09:23:01 AM EST
    ...the more commenters the better, I don't think anyone cares if you are new or shy, they just want to read from different perspectives.

    Yeah, and what Capt said.  At work I have a boss who often refers to us as her work family, and I while I can't write what I want to at work, I will say this, my real dysfunctional family doesn't hold a candle to my work or political family, and that is saying something.

    Parent

    Mornin' Yo! comes on at midnight out here. (none / 0) (#46)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:33:16 PM EST
    If I'm up at that hour, then surely I'll be having better things to do.

    Parent
    In case you haven't seen them (5.00 / 6) (#43)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:36:20 PM EST
    Live cartoon sketches that were done during the hearing.

    Those are great. (5.00 / 3) (#49)
    by caseyOR on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:14:11 PM EST
    And so on the mark. Thanks for the link.

    Parent
    Those are great (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:40:32 PM EST
    Definitely chucklelicious.. Not a word recognized by Webster but I thought it fit.

    Parent
    Love them! (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Nemi on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 07:20:13 AM EST
    Ann Telnaes, wow what talented cartoonist. And the last one, heh: The Jon Stewart attitude, when he, head in hands, with mock anticipation would say: "Go ooon." :D

    Parent
    She Did Lie About the Video (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by RickyJim on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 09:20:46 AM EST
    On September 11, Hillary Clinton said: "Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted to the Internet."

    On the 13th, Clinton said: "I also want to take a moment to address the video circulating on the Internet that has led to these protests in a number of countries... To us, to me personally, this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose: to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage."

    Again and again and again, the administration insisted this was an attack in response to a video. And yet we now know that on September 12, Hillary Clinton rang the then Egyptian prime minister, Hisham Kandil, to tell him: "The attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. It was a planned attack -- not a protest."

    Link

    No, she didn't (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 09:43:47 AM EST
    The mistake that Republicans make is assuming the assessment was static.

    The assessment swung back and forth between video v non video over the first few days.  There was no insiders always knew it was a video while it represented as something different.

    This line of argument has been debunked.  Prior reports have written detailed timelines on this showing how the assessment was evolving and changing.....

    And, as Hillary stated at the hearing, many to this day still believe that the video played a a part.

    But arguments about the video are purely efforts at political payback.  How the attack was characterized for a few days after the event is irrelevant to what caused it.  You guys want to prove she lied after the fact....That is a political objective.

    Moreover, the narrative it was a terrorist attack was agreed upon with about a week.  So what is the fuss about? Any so called "lies" were quickly corrected--weeks before the election.  

    This is political point scoring that Republicans attempted, and the got burned and shown for the craven political would-be bullies that they are.  Hillary showed that she was at least twice as smart, informed and tough as the Republicans.....Very impressive....Very Presidential.

    Parent

    The HRC quote of the 13th is deliberately (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 10:13:13 AM EST
    taken out of context. SOS Clinton specifically mentioned Yemen at the beginning of her speech. That speech was given on the 13th. What happened on the 12th?

    Anger over a film that denigrates the Prophet Mohammed spread to Yemen, where four protesters died Thursday during clashes with security forces outside the U.S. Embassy, according to Yemeni security officials.

    Was Yeman the only other country where protesters were outside U.S. Embassy walls? No protesters were at various U.S. embassies.

    In Egypt, riot police fired warning shots and tear gas early Thursday outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to keep hundreds of protesters back from the compound walls, with minor injuries reported. Protesters also gathered in Tunisia, Morocco, Iran and elsewhere.

    The speech on the 13th was an attempt to disfuse the situation.

    Parent

    Breaking News! Yes, September 12 (4.67 / 3) (#64)
    by Towanda on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 10:54:21 AM EST
    was the day after the attack, a full day and night when more information was discovered.  Doh.

    Parent
    The Facts Remain (3.50 / 2) (#66)
    by RickyJim on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 04:50:27 PM EST
    Sept 12 - HRC says "The attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. It was a planned attack -- not a protest."

    Sept 13 - HRC doesn't confirm what she said on the 12 but says, "I also want to take a moment to address the video circulating on the Internet that has led to these protests in a number of countries... To us, to me personally, this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose: to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage."

    Sept 14 - Jay Carney, White House press spokesman, said: "This [attack] is in response to a video that is offensive to Muslims."

    Sept 16 - Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, said on five different TV networks: "This is a spontaneous reaction to a video, and it's not dissimilar but, perhaps, on a slightly larger scale than what we have seen in the past with The Satanic Verses with the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad."  Why Susan Rice and not HRC?

    Sept 18 - Barack Obama says "Here's what happened. ... You had a video that was released by somebody who lives here, sort of a shadowy character who made an extremely offensive video [that] caused great offense in much of the Muslim world. But what also happened, extremists and terrorists used this as an excuse to attack a variety of our embassies, including the one, the consulate in Libya."

    I cannot reconcile her statements on the 12 with the subsequent statements made by her and other administration officials. But yes, I would still vote for her over Donald Trump or Ben Carson.  Although I fear her foreign policy philosophy is closer to that of McCain, Graham and other neocons than Obama's.

    Parent

    You leave out of your timeline (5.00 / 2) (#74)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:42:11 PM EST
    other key facts, such as:

    --that the leader of the al Qaeda wannabes who took credit for the attack said the video was motivation for many.

    --the CIA said it was the video.

    The complete timeline shows a very fluid assessment that went back and forth between video v. non video.

    Moreover, how the attack was characterized for a week after the event is a political issue, having no relevance to the cause of the attack or how to prevent another one.

    Hillary kicked your side's arse....Deal with it.

    Parent

    The real facts are that (4.40 / 5) (#67)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 05:13:29 PM EST
    you took HRC comment out of context. She specifically mentioned Yeman in her speech of the 13th. Her comment in no way proves that she lied about the video.

    Other indisputable facts are:  Jay Carney is not Hillary Clinton. Susan Rice is not Hillary Clinton. President Obsma is not Hillary Clinton. Quoting what Carney said, what Rice said or what Obama said is not relevant since those statements were not made by her.

    That you want to call HRC a liar based on statements made by other people is a reflection on you and not on her.

    Parent

    Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by RickyJim on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 05:30:01 PM EST
    In the days following the attack on the Benghazi consulate, Hillary Rodham Clinton joined in a conspiracy with other administration officials to obfuscate the fact that it was a planned terrorist attack and instead to pass it off as a mob reaction to a Youtube video.  

    Parent
    Your conspiracy theories are not fact (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:36:33 PM EST
    nor are they reasonable. Basically you are just regurgitating Republican talking points which the Republicans failed to substantiate in any of the 8 investigations on Benghazi.

    Parent
    It was a short lived conspiracy then, (5.00 / 3) (#71)
    by ding7777 on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:12:11 PM EST
    because in a matter of days various administration officials began describing it as a terrorist attack

    Parent
    and (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by FlJoe on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 09:24:35 PM EST
    as I pointed out here any grand conspiracy of the little big lie must start with Petraeus.

    If Hillary was in on it she forgot to tell this guy

    State Department Under Secretary Patrick Kennedy said Wednesday[Sept 12] that the attack appeared planned because it was so extensive and because of the "proliferation" of small and medium weapons at the scene. He was briefing congressional staffers when he offered that theory.

    For all intents the cat was already out of the bag before the "conspiracy" really gathered steam on the 14th when the CIA narrative was sold to the congress and adopted by the White House. Pretty crappy conspiracy if you ask me.

     

    Parent

    This right here (4.40 / 5) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 05:56:46 PM EST
    It's why we are going to win.  There may have been reasonable people on the fence.   This finger-in-the-ears-lalala stuff is just what we want.   It's laughable.   It's transparent.  It's great.

    Keep it it up.   The louder and loonier the better.

    Parent

    Freddie Mercury & Queen sums the GOP up best: (none / 0) (#73)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 10:00:30 PM EST
    "When the outside temperature rises,
    And the meaning is oh so clear,
    One thousand and one yellow daffodils
    Begin to dance in front of you - oh dear!
    Are they trying to tell you something?
    You're missing that one final screw.
    You're simply not in the pink, my dear.
    To be honest, you haven't got a clue."
    - Queen, "I'm Going Slightly Mad" (1991)

    Parent
    You obviously didn't watch the hearing. (none / 0) (#65)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 03:58:52 PM EST
    Don't come barging in here armed with nothing but the fact-free wingbat hearsay you picked up elsewhere, unless you enjoy being whacked around like a cheap piñata.

    Parent
    Now if We Could Just Get Republicans... (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Oct 26, 2015 at 09:26:57 AM EST
    ...to care a about 3000 who died on their watch from a terrorist attack as much as they care about 4 on democrats watch... well nothing I guess.

    It's obvious they are incapable of investigating 'who took the soda from the work fridge', much less anything actually important.

    I heard about one minute... (none / 0) (#2)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:37:22 PM EST
    "That is only a political statement which you well understand, and I don't understand why that has anything to do with what we are talking about today," she said.

    And she hit it out of the park.

    Where are the Benghazi trolls ya think? (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:57:39 PM EST
    Waiting for guidance and talking points from Wingnut central?

    Well, if Hugh Hewitt and (none / 0) (#13)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:38:59 PM EST
    Donald Trump can be believed, it was one smoking gun after another...

    Digby has the transcript.

    Not sure what hearing they were watching, but it's not the one I heard.

    Parent

    It's not what they were watching; (none / 0) (#16)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:56:25 PM EST
    it's what the gun was smoking.

    Parent
    Perhaps ours (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:51:08 AM EST
    Are not shameless enough to try to push that here.

    Or not.  It's early.

    This is one time as far as I can tell the entire media agrees Hillary kicked righteous boo-teau and walked out untouched.

    Well, except FOX I guess.   A comment above suggests they are trying to act like nothing happened.

    Hearing?  What hearing?

    Parent

    Heheh ... (none / 0) (#24)
    by Nemi on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:57:06 AM EST
    That transcript is hilarious.

    Coming from The Onion, right. Right ...!?

    Parent

    This quote fits the Republican (none / 0) (#29)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:22:51 AM EST
    members of the House to a T.

    http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a39099/benghazi-kangaroo-court-conservative-madne ss/

    The majority of the members of the Irish parliament are professional politicians, in the sense that otherwise they would not be given jobs minding mice at crossroads.

    - Myles na Gopaleen (Brian O'Nolan, also d/b/a Flann O'Brien)​​

    Gotta love the wat Pierce's mind works.

    Jeralyn (none / 0) (#32)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:05:27 AM EST
    Not sure how that link got so messed up.

    Delete it if need be.

    Parent

    The Adventures of Li'l Luke Russert: (none / 0) (#47)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:47:41 PM EST
    In this week's episode, "Nepotism Is Relative," the wheel still turns furiously, even though the hamster is obviously dead.

    Chuck Turd better watch his back (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:18:51 PM EST
    Luke is after his job.  It's inevitable.  We know it is.

    Btw
    Luke is awfully young for that pathetic comb over.

    Parent

    Big Win for Clinton ... (none / 0) (#48)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:08:08 PM EST
    politically.

    But after McCarthy's comments that seemed all but a certainty.

    The truth about Benghazi?

    That we'll never know.  But the Republicans didn't want the truth either.  

    So ...

    The truth about Benghazi (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 09:46:55 AM EST
    seems pretty simple.   The ambassador was in a dangerous place that could not be protected given the situation.....

    Too much risk taking in this instance.....How to change that going forward is an interesting question.  How much risk should be allowed?

    Parent

    It may "seem" ... (none / 0) (#77)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Oct 26, 2015 at 05:54:48 PM EST
    pretty simple. But it isn't. In fact, when you look closely almost none of it makes any sense.

    Clearly, the administration's stated objections in Libya were a lie. So you have to determine their real objectives. And work from there.

    But no one cares. Even the Republicans don't.

    So the secondary cover story stands. Shakily. But it stands.

    Parent

    Calling all (none / 0) (#78)
    by FlJoe on Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 07:25:28 PM EST
    little BIG lie truthers.  Illuminate me,

    Press Statement
    Hillary Rodham Clinton
    Secretary of State
    Washington, DC
    September 11, 2012

    I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in Benghazi today. As we work to secure our personnel and facilities, we have confirmed that one of our State Department officers was killed. We are heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who have suffered in this attack.

    This evening, I called Libyan President Magariaf to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya. President Magariaf expressed his condemnation and condolences and pledged his government's full cooperation.

    Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.

    In light of the events of today, the United States government is working with partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide.

    Show me the lies please.

    The next day, in statements much more directed at the American people

    Yesterday, our U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya was attacked. Heavily armed militants assaulted the compound and set fire to our buildings. American and Libyan security personnel battled the attackers together
    .

    Please point out where any kind of spontaneous demonstration is mentioned.

    and later on she actually corrects the record

    Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior, along with the protest that took place at our Embassy in Cairo yesterday
    Vicious behavior as opposed to protests get it? Sharp cookie there.

    Soon after the whole shebang was taken over by the "intelligence community", the White House and the FBI and all evidence shows that is really when the "spontaneous demonstrations" narrative was born.

    If you guys really want to keep chasing the little BIG lie, I would expect you would have plenty of questions for Petraeus, or does the truth not matter to you?

    Benghazi Hearing: Republicans Have Bark, No Bite | 78 comments (78 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment