With Hillary testifying, GOP gets its Benghazi moment

According to U.S. Sen. John McCain, the Obama administration has conducted a coverup of “massive proportions” regarding the assassination of Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi last year. Other Republicans have implied that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was so terrified of having to testify before Congress that she faked a major illness (”Benghazi fever”) to avoid the appearance.

Well, today will be the day to put up or shut up. Clinton will testify, alone, before committees in both the House and Senate. If McCain has evidence for his claims, let’s see it. If there’s something so earth-shaking about the Benghazi tragedy that Clinton was quaking in her boots at the prospect of being asked about it, this would be the time to bring that information forward.

GOP presidential hopefuls Rand Paul and Marco Rubio also sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, giving them the opportunity to do battle with a potential opponent in 2016, should they choose to do so. Clinton enters the hearing with 65 percent of America viewing her favorably, and only 29 percent unfavorably. After all the braying on the right about Benghazi, this is their chance to make the charges stick, in public.

Again, should they try to do so.

An investigatory blue-ribbon board appointed by the State Department has already outlined operational failures and deficiencies that contributed to the deaths of Stevens and three brave members of his team. It also calmly and factually repudiated fanciful claims by the conservative media that the Obama administration could have intervened militarily but chose not to do so.

That report implicated Congress as well, noting that “the solution requires a more serious and sustained commitment from Congress to support State Department needs, which, in total, constitute a small percentage both of the full national budget and that spent for national security.” The metric often bandied about in Washington is that the Pentagon has more authorized personnel in military bands than the State Department has professional diplomats.

Again, there is no question that the Benghazi tragedy revealed important lapses of judgment among State Department personnel, including Stevens himself, as well as institutional problems within the department. Clinton, who will soon be leaving office, has acknowledged those problems and pledged to correct them, a task that her probable successor, John Kerry, will have to continue. As part of its oversight function, Congress has every right to press Clinton on the progress she has made.

But since news of the Benghazi attack first broke, Republicans in Congress and the conservative media, led by Fox News, have tried to portray it as something much more sinister. McCain, for example, suggested that Benghazi was worse than Watergate, the scandal that ended Richard Nixon’s presidency. Such claims have always seemed grossly exaggerated based on the available facts, but again, if he and others have the evidence to back such hyperbole, this is their chance to present it to the American people.

I’m betting they don’t.

– Jay Bookman

485 comments Add your comment

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:08 am

Going well so far……..smooth…..

td

January 23rd, 2013
11:10 am

in Green Bay, Wis., Obama said, “Thanks to sacrifice and service of our brave men and women in uniform, the war in Iraq is over, the war in Afghanistan is winding down, al Qaeda has been decimated, Osama bin Laden is dead.”

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-touts-al-qaeda-s-demise-32-times-benghazi-attack-0

Sounds like to me the President is saying that the war on terror is over.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

January 23rd, 2013
11:11 am

Our ambassador was a “civilian” ………… !

Got to go ……… really ……… everyone be nice !

Erwin's cat

January 23rd, 2013
11:11 am

Because that was an entirely disgusting comment.

You should read up on where he was and what was done to him to make that arm crooked.

like Paul said.

X3

Williebkind

January 23rd, 2013
11:11 am

“I’ll never understand why so many of you con tools believe everything Fox and the NRA tell you.”

And Chris Mathews is one of your sources for news accuracy-right?

Forseti

January 23rd, 2013
11:12 am

One would think this would allow hearings so failings can be corrected in the future but yet Bookman plays it up as the GOP “having their day”. I think the Iran Contra hearings served our country well and it seems the shoe was on the other proverbial political party foot. Let’s just find out what went wrong and correct it from there and not try and gain political advantage one way or another on this sad episode.

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:12 am

td…….Obama did end it……..if the terrorist continue it’s somebody else fault…..

Robert Lee - Cogito ergo zoom

January 23rd, 2013
11:12 am

Paul, I’d have to agree. I think McCain is misguided, out of touch, and sometimes jsut a plain old ass, but he deserves respect for his service and what he was put through as a POW.

I’ve always admired an old quote from Voltaire, “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

Doggone/GA

January 23rd, 2013
11:13 am

“And Chris Mathews is one of your sources for news accuracy-right?”

Who’s Chris Mathews?

Dharma Bum

January 23rd, 2013
11:13 am

Regnad Kcin, precisely.

I have repeatedly said that the profligate spending under Bush was wrong and continues to be wrong under Obama. The compromise is quite simple… light tax increases on top wage earners while simultaneously implementing small spending cuts across the board. Everyone gets part of what they want and no hard-line approaches need to be taken.

What happens? I’m accused of lying about my opinions because I wasn’t here 5-6 talking about politics when Bush was in charge!

td

January 23rd, 2013
11:13 am

Rand Paul: I would have fired your butt for not doing your job Hillary.

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:13 am

Rand Paul is stating no one gets fired. There’s a big report. No one got fired. He’d have fired Hillary.

Hillary’s probably not going to ask who in Congress should be censured.

barking frog

January 23rd, 2013
11:13 am

Well, Hillary and McCain both were able to point out that we put our
civilian and military personnel in harm’s way without all the protection
we can muster because we’re too cheap to provide it and this
disgrace is allowed since we can always blame the personnel for
arrogant mistakes.

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:14 am

Mr Paul is evil and mean!

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:14 am

@stands for decibels

January 23rd, 2013
11:07 am
Because that was an entirely disgusting comment.

You should read up on where he was and what was done to him to make that arm crooked.

like Paul said.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Disgusting comment?

Where was your outrage with the “digusting comments” about President

Obama and Michelle Obama.

Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.

I don’t give a rats behind about how MCCAIN got that CROOKED ARM.

You reap what you sow.

Granny Godzilla

January 23rd, 2013
11:15 am

Mr. Digits…

How many precious unborn have you carried?

None?

Oh really?

You know nothing about it and it really is none of your damn business.

Dharma Bum

January 23rd, 2013
11:15 am

Doggone/GA:

Chris Matthews is a Snickers bar in the pool of integrity.

Williebkind

January 23rd, 2013
11:16 am

It seems the liberals have gravitas using the word misogyny as often as they can! They do learn a new word and they all use for such a long time as a group.

Gale

January 23rd, 2013
11:16 am

td, I bet that sound bite gets play time. The R’s are in attack mode.

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:16 am

““Which ones are the “unholy” denominations, Scout?”

1) For starters ……. any that assist in the killing of our precious unborn.

I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

So according to Scout, it’s most protestant churches and rich people.

O-kaaay….

Notice you left before educating us all on where Jay’s wrong on a terror attack vs a military attack.

Shame from a guy who spent so much time in a foxhole.

Doggone/GA

January 23rd, 2013
11:17 am

“Chris Matthews is a Snickers bar in the pool of integrity”

I didn’t ask what he is, I asked WHO he is. And I don’t get your analogy. What does Snickers have to do with anything?

Williebkind

January 23rd, 2013
11:17 am

“You know nothing about it and it really is none of your damn business.”

Yes it is. She did not become pregnant through fiat.

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:17 am

Robert Lee 11:12

Well said.

Erwin's cat

January 23rd, 2013
11:18 am

I don’t give a rats behind about how MCCAIN got that CROOKED ARM.

You reap what you sow.

be careful what you sow there Uh Huh

Towncrier

January 23rd, 2013
11:18 am

Ah, yes – the intolerance of those that insist upon tolerance:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/23/oh-canada-gay-activist-tears-down-new-free-speech-wall-at-canadian-university/

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

Doggone/GA

January 23rd, 2013
11:18 am

“Yes it is. She did not become pregnant through fiat”

You’re the sperm donator for her foetus? Interesting admission.

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:19 am

Uh huh

“Disgusting comment?

Where was your outrage with the “digusting comments” about”

That’s called ‘diversion.”

Dharma Bum

January 23rd, 2013
11:19 am

Doggone/GA:

Watch Caddyshack and you will understand.

Thomas

January 23rd, 2013
11:19 am

They initially preferred a third category, describing it as a mass protest that got out of hand.

too funny

It was not a sub prime housing collapse- it was a dwelling participation program meant to stimulate the livelihood of certain folks living in areas that are not generally focused heretofore by banks that simply got out of hand. I swear there was a video as well.

All about the branding!!!

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:20 am

@Robert Lee – Cogito ergo zoom

January 23rd, 2013
11:12 am
Paul, I’d have to agree. I think McCain is misguided, out of touch, and sometimes jsut a plain old ass, but he deserves respect for his service and what he was put through as a POW.

I’ve always admired an old quote from Voltaire, “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You can BEAT that POW dead horse all you like,

His spitefulness and nastiness OUT TRUMPS his service and

what he was put through as a POW.

He should be more HUMBLE and less nasty than he is.

Williebkind

January 23rd, 2013
11:20 am

“You’re the sperm donator for her foetus? Interesting admission.”
I guess you elected yourself as spokesman.huh?

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:21 am

Uh huh

“Where was your outrage with the “digusting comments” about President

Obama and Michelle Obama.”

ASS-uming is bad for your rep.

I’ve also condemned others for their comments about the Pres and his wife.

Now, back to your disgusting comment about a tortured military member…..

Erwin's cat

January 23rd, 2013
11:21 am

She did not become pregnant through fiat

so Tony’s clear?

Jerome Horwitz

January 23rd, 2013
11:22 am

Rand Paul is despicable. Actually, at least two gentlemen in positions of power at State did resign.

Doggone/GA

January 23rd, 2013
11:22 am

“Watch Caddyshack and you will understand.”

Can’t be done. I’ve tried several times and couldn’t stand more than the first 2 minutes.

Mr Right

January 23rd, 2013
11:23 am

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:14 am

Mr Paul is evil and mean!

He is just telling it like it is and not drooling over her like the Dems!

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:23 am

You heard her …..don’t turn it into a political football……

huh?

January 23rd, 2013
11:24 am

Uh HUh….

Less nasty??? Reap what you sow????

Can’t wait to see what you reap from all of your nastiness. Hopefully, it will be much worse than he went through.

Doggone/GA

January 23rd, 2013
11:24 am

“I guess you elected yourself as spokesman.huh?”

You guess wrong

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:24 am

Off topic

Just had an email from a friend who’s no fan of Pres Obama, let alone Obamacare.

He changed insurance companies. Doc told him he needed big biopsies of his prostate. Insurance company told him they wouldn’t pay because he had a pre-existing condition (enlarged prostate). Would cost him thousands out of pocket.

Seems he just got a new insurance policy that covers pre-existing conditions thanks to Obamacare.

I asked him if he had better feelings towards the president and Obamacare.

Ideology vs reality, again.

Towncrier

January 23rd, 2013
11:25 am

“But since news of the Benghazi attack first broke, Republicans in Congress and the conservative media, led by Fox News, have tried to portray it as something much more sinister. McCain, for example, suggested that Benghazi was worse than Watergate, the scandal that ended Richard Nixon’s presidency.”

Two points: 1) Watergate PROVES (if you otherwise don’t believe what history teaches us) that sinister things happen in government and 2) it was ONLY because of some insider (who but corrupt people would use a porn reference as a codename?) leaking essential information that the truth was really known.

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:25 am

Mr Right….. “Mr Paul is evil and mean!”……what I’m expecting from Jay and friends…..

Granny Godzilla

January 23rd, 2013
11:27 am

Williebkind

January 23rd, 2013
11:17 am

“You know nothing about it and it really is none of your damn business.”

Yes it is. She did not become pregnant through fiat.
.
.
.
.Nor by Ford or GMC

Fact is…HE didn’t become pregnant.

stands for decibels

January 23rd, 2013
11:27 am

Let the record show that Scout @ 11.07 still won’t name names.

Regnad Kcin

January 23rd, 2013
11:28 am

“in Green Bay, Wis., Obama said, “Thanks to sacrifice and service of our brave men and women in uniform, the war in Iraq is over, the war in Afghanistan is winding down, al Qaeda has been decimated, Osama bin Laden is dead.”

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-touts-al-qaeda-s-demise-32-times-benghazi-attack-0

Sounds like to me the President is saying that the war on terror is over.”

Really? Which specific one of those sentences/phrases sounds like that to you? To me, it sounds like he’s listing accomplishments of “our brave men and women in uniform,” but please share how you interpret that to mean, “Obama thinks we don’t have to worry about terrorism any more,” as you asserted earlier.

I’m sure we’re all anxious to hear.

Dharma Bum

January 23rd, 2013
11:28 am

Best/funniest quote from Mr. Bookman thus far into 2013:

“…and a stirring version of the Star Spangled Banner by the lovely and talented Beyonce…”

St Simons - aboriginal Bootakook 2014

January 23rd, 2013
11:29 am

Hillary, Slapper of Cons – “Give me a break, Senator Johnson. This whole
(line of questioning) is the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.”

i think the funniest thing other than the con slapdown, was the way
she said ‘Senatorrr Johnsonnn’

senator johnson, heheh

Erwin's cat

January 23rd, 2013
11:29 am

Tc – Two points: 1) Watergate PROVES (if you otherwise don’t believe what history teaches us) that sinister things happen in government and 2) it was ONLY because of some insider (who but corrupt people would use a porn reference as a codename?) leaking essential information that the truth was really known.

and…the cover-up is often much worse than the offense

getalife

January 23rd, 2013
11:30 am

She is schooling the gop on diplomacy and State business.

Towncrier

January 23rd, 2013
11:30 am

Well, well…maybe the 2nd Amendment is not the only right under assault – maybe speech that isn’t “politically correct” is in view at some point:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/23/in-graduate-thesis-john-brennan-argued-for-government-censorship-too-much-freedom-is-possible/

Robert Lee - Cogito ergo zoom

January 23rd, 2013
11:31 am

Uh Huh 11:20 He should be more HUMBLE and less nasty than he is.

I could apply this to so many people I know but I exist here in reality and I don;t waste time thinking about what people “SHOULD” be doing.

stands for decibels

January 23rd, 2013
11:31 am

Actually, at least two gentlemen in positions of power at State did resign.

refresh my memory–how many of Team Bush resigned over the failure to prevent 9/11?

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:32 am

Someone needs to ask the committee members: how’re they gonna spend all this money of embassy security without raising the debt ceiling?

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:32 am

@Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:19 am
Uh huh

“Disgusting comment?

Where was your outrage with the “digusting comments” about”

That’s called ‘diversion.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That’s called if a particular type of behaviour is acceptable for one person,

it should also be acceptable for another person.

If Obama can be called “Lazy” and “dumb” …..McCain can be called

“a crooked arm POW”.

DownInAlbany

January 23rd, 2013
11:33 am

Typical day at the Bookman blog. Anyone with a dissenting view is a “Foxbot.”

Of all the Hillary said or didn’t say, this about sums it up for all of you gushing libs:

“With all due respect, the fact is we have four dead Americans. Whether it was because of a protest or because guys outside for a walk one night decided to go kill some Americans. What difference at this point does it make?”

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:33 am

stands

“Let the record show that Scout @ 11.07 still won’t name names.”

Well… he IS consistent…..

Regnad Kcin

January 23rd, 2013
11:33 am

“Watch Caddyshack and you will understand.’

I think it was a Baby Ruth… :)

DownInAlbany

January 23rd, 2013
11:34 am

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:32 am

Someone needs to ask the committee members: how’re they gonna spend all this money of embassy security without raising the debt ceiling?

Maybe they can use some of the money being spent on Chevy Volts and the associated charging stations for starters?

Joe Hussein Mama

January 23rd, 2013
11:34 am

td — “Sounds like to me the President is saying that the war on terror is over.”

Except that he didn’t. Nowhere in the matter you quoted did he say such a thing.

If you want to say that it’s your *opinion* that he said that, that’s all well and good, but it’s certainly not a fact that he said any such thing.

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:35 am

Senate ended.

Didn’t hear one senator offer any substantiation for their earlier statements. Just Johnson repeating the same stuff. That guy do like his mantras.

St Simons - aboriginal Bootakook 2014

January 23rd, 2013
11:35 am

I’m gonna make Hillary an honorary native.

She’s walkin out of that room with at least two scalps in her hand.

td

January 23rd, 2013
11:35 am

Jerome Horwitz

January 23rd, 2013
11:22 am

“Actually, at least two gentlemen in positions of power at State did resign.”

They resigned from their political appointments but still got to keep their civil service jobs.

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:35 am

As expected………nothing to see here…..move along

Recon 0311 2533

January 23rd, 2013
11:36 am

Barrasso’s question about whether Hillary agreed with Obama that AQ has been decimated and her reply was interesting as it points out the flaw in Obama’s dependence on Drones. She did a good job of dancing by saying that she believed the AQ core has been decimated but that affiliated groups now represent the new threat. I think this underscores the danger that this administrations creates by its attempt to sanitize the war against terror by depending on drones, while losing touch with the importance of intelligence gathering. Our intelligence community should have known a lot more about what was going on in North Africa and other parts of the world with the growth of additional jihadists groups and the destabelization of Middle Eastern and African governments. Obama’s “peace in our time” comment during his inaugural address appears to be as inappropriate as his comments about AQ being decimated.

Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.

January 23rd, 2013
11:37 am

Well…seems to me Hillary won day one. What a gal!

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:37 am

Uh huh

You’ve already shown yourself to be the kind of person whose behavior is determined by the slights he feels from others, not by any higher principles.

I don’t care to engage further with you.

Common Sense isn't very Common

January 23rd, 2013
11:38 am

St Simons

She’s walkin out of that room with at least two scalps in her hand
——————————————————————————————

But which tribe did she emulate when she was holding their balls in her other hand :-)

Keep Up the Good Fight!

January 23rd, 2013
11:38 am

Wonder if our whiny old man thought “Mission Accomplished” was inappropriate. Probably not. Buffoonish ODS failure.

getalife

January 23rd, 2013
11:39 am

The gop thought they could take on Hillary Clinton and lost big.

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:39 am

@Robert Lee – Cogito ergo zoom

January 23rd, 2013
11:31 am
Uh Huh 11:20 He should be more HUMBLE and less nasty than he is.

I could apply this to so many people I know but I exist here in reality and I don;t waste time thinking about what people “SHOULD” be doing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I know the CONCEPT of SHOULDA, COULDA, WOULDA.

IT is of no use to dwell on what should have (shoulda), could have ( coulda) or would have (woulda) happened/been done.

But the reality is we all have FREE WILL and should use it for

the betterment of society.

Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.

January 23rd, 2013
11:39 am

Del,
And I think you are clutching at straws.

Robert Lee - Cogito ergo zoom

January 23rd, 2013
11:39 am

If Obama can be called “Lazy” and “dumb” …..McCain can be called “a crooked arm POW”.

Be my guest, I refuse to stoop to your level of immaturity.

Regnad Kcin

January 23rd, 2013
11:42 am

“Barrasso’s question about whether Hillary agreed with Obama that AQ has been decimated”

You mean we’ve killed one AQ member in ten?

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:42 am

DownInAlbany

It’s still spending past the debt limit.

appleseed

January 23rd, 2013
11:42 am

See old faithful on metamucil erupting again.

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:43 am

Uh Huh…….Obama said to stop the name calling!

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:43 am

@Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:37 am
Uh huh

You’ve already shown yourself to be the kind of person whose behavior is determined by the slights he feels from others, not by any higher principles.

I don’t care to engage further with you.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Then don’t.

MY SOMBODINESS is NOT dependent on nor affected by anyone’s

SLIGHT against me.

I am somebody.

I will always be somebody.

Towncrier

January 23rd, 2013
11:43 am

“Typical day at the Bookman blog. Anyone with a dissenting view is a “Foxbot.”

Or, if you’re black, an “Uncle Tom” (even is someone of Mamet’s stature considers you one of America’s best minds):

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/338261/do-gun-control-laws-control-guns-thomas-sowell

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:45 am

@Robert Lee – Cogito ergo zoom

January 23rd, 2013
11:39 am
If Obama can be called “Lazy” and “dumb” …..McCain can be called “a crooked arm POW”.

Be my guest, I refuse to stoop to your level of immaturity.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

the TRUTH hurts does it not?

getalife

January 23rd, 2013
11:45 am

If you look at the drone strikes in Africa, they are very low compared to Pakistan.

Most of aq in Africa are pirates and kidnappers.

stands for decibels

January 23rd, 2013
11:45 am

I’m going to re-state my position on the “YouTube blamin’ liars” business.

Had it been as the early reports had apparently indicated, part of a massive, world-wide violent uprising in response to an offensive video, that to me would indicate that something far nastier was afoot, and that the Administration had failed to establish a better level of trust between the secular West and devout Islamist republics with whom we were seeking rapprochement. It would be a forgivable lapse–this is a mighty chasm to bridge, after all–but still a major one.

That it was instead a specific, planned/plotted terrorist attack against a specific diplomat is horrific, but part and parcel of the dangerous work some in the State dept. do.

The manner in which the opposition party in America has flipped and flopped and tried to make something out of nothing–the “nothing” being imagined chicanery and conspiracy to advance a phony explanation for the violence–is nothing short of baffling. It is hard to imagine, at this point, just what crazy theory the GOP faithful won’t accept.

Erwin's cat

January 23rd, 2013
11:46 am

Scooter

January 23rd, 2013
11:47 am

So Hillary Clinton said the Arab Spring revolts sweeping the Middle East and North Africa were not predicted. I call BIG B.S. on that one! That is exactly what Bush 43 predicted would happen after Operation Iraqi Freedom and he predicted it would be a generational evolution. Hillary goes on “This is a great opportunity, as well as a serious threat to our country,” she said of the upheaval that persists across the region. “I hope we seize the opportunity.” So, it would seem that Hillary thinks Bush 43’s foreign policy gave America a great opportunity.

stands for decibels

January 23rd, 2013
11:47 am

goofing on McCain’s mangled arm? not funny.

old faithful on metamucil erupting again.

now, that’s funny.

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:49 am

Recon

“Obama’s “peace in our time” comment during his inaugural address appears to be as inappropriate as his comments about AQ being decimated.”

Really?

I’d have thought that as a military guy you’d be real familiar with what ‘decimated’ means – it’s origins and all.

Doesn’t it have something do do with the Roman practice of executing one in ten of their own soldiers if the unit broke during battle?

One in ten. That’s… let’s see…. ten percent!

You think AQ hasn’t seen their ranks, particularly leadership, reduced by one in ten?

Or are you using some modern revisionist definition? So you don’t think even a ‘large’ percentage has been eliminated?

DownInAlbany

January 23rd, 2013
11:49 am

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:42 am

My point is, you can’t spend all of your money on filet mignon and lobster tails and then complain when you don’t have money to buy toilet paper.

getalife

January 23rd, 2013
11:50 am

Scooter,

Nobody listened to w but you cons.

The man that lit himself on fire in Tunisia was not predicted by any human on this planet. Period.

Liberal Lemming

January 23rd, 2013
11:50 am

“Maybe they can use some of the money being spent on Chevy Volts and the associated charging stations for starters?”

Come on, now. Who better than gubmint to determine what is a good business venture? Just consider the Post Office or Amtrak, for goodness sakes. Or, if you like more contemporary, immediate examples – Solyndra and some of the other stellar green companies? You must be ignorant or dumb.

Uh Huh....GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi "MOMENT"

January 23rd, 2013
11:51 am

@Erwin’s cat

January 23rd, 2013
11:46 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“It is not what you call me, but what I answer to, that matters most.”

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:51 am

DownInAlbany

If you’re referring to just the State Dept budget, people need to keep in mind agencies are not free to shift funds to whatever they want. Congress issues the funds in various appropriations for specific purposes. Spending outside those specified purposes is a violation of law. Congress needs to give reprogramming approval.

Looney Bin

January 23rd, 2013
11:52 am

Whoa, hold on there, Scooter. Are you saying that we are allowed to invoke the name of the POTUS immediately prior to President Obama? I thought that those years were completely off limits when discussing world events. You know, since he’s not the President anymore…..

Towncrier

January 23rd, 2013
11:52 am

“My point is, you can’t spend all of your money on filet mignon and lobster tails and then complain when you don’t have money to buy toilet paper.”

Yes…food stamps only go so far.

Recon 0311 2533

January 23rd, 2013
11:53 am

Corbin, She got dinged pretty bad on her ineffective reply to Johnson’s question and Rand rattled her cage by making the comment that she should have known about the requests for additional security. McCain was effective with his comment about meeting with Stevens in July and was told of his concerns, implying that because both he and Clinton shared a friendship with Stevens she should have been aware as well. Hillary Clinton is cool under fire but she didn’t walk out with a win by any measurement.

Redcoat

January 23rd, 2013
11:53 am

DownInAlbany…….yes we can!……complain…

td

January 23rd, 2013
11:53 am

Uh Huh….GOP grab a cigarette now that you have had your Benghazi “MOMENT”

January 23rd, 2013
11:43 am

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Then don’t.

MY SOMBODINESS is NOT dependent on nor affected by anyone’s

SLIGHT against me.

I am somebody.

I will always be somebody.

Somebody is probably correct since a convicted murderer on death row is also “somebody”. A respected “somebody” I seriously doubt it.

Joe Hussein Mama

January 23rd, 2013
11:55 am

DIA — “My point is, you can’t spend all of your money on filet mignon and lobster tails and then complain when you don’t have money to buy toilet paper.”

FWIW, I agree with you on this, but only insofar as it can be conclusively established that State was wasting money on frivolities that could have been better spent on security and the like.

And, of course, bearing in mind that sometimes ambassadors like to throw fancy parties for the leadership and/or royalty of whatever nation they happen to be representing us in — so filets and tails aren’t *always* prima facie evidence of waste and bad judgment.

Can you perhaps establish that money was being wasted by the State Department and the Diplomatic Service?

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:55 am

getalife

“The gop thought they could take on Hillary Clinton and lost big.”

Thought bubble over Rubio’s head “Maybe I’ll wait 8 years….”

getalife

January 23rd, 2013
11:56 am

I am pretty sure Intel failed too but will get a free pass.

I think w’s reform to intel failed badly.

I don’t think we have much intel in Africa and would like to see a hearing on why.

DownInAlbany

January 23rd, 2013
11:56 am

Paul

January 23rd, 2013
11:51 am

Then I stand corrected.

Hillary said this morning that she was not aware of any request(s) for additional security by Stevens.
So, was she not aware of the need (or willfully ignored the request) or is it because the pubs cut funding for the security that no one knew needed to be enhanced?

getalife

January 23rd, 2013
11:58 am

Paul,

I did not see one Senator that compete with the intellect of Hillary Clinton.

I think after serving in State, it made her a better President if she does not retire.