Tag Archives: Benghazi

You Can’t Make Some People Happy

Especially if you’re President Obama, and “some people” are conservative politicians or Fox News commentators.

Having bashed Obama for not capturing those responsible for the Benghazi attack on 9/11/12 that left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead, the right is now beating up on him because he’s captured the ringleader, Ahmed Abu Khattala.  They don’t like the “timing.”

Special Forces planned and practiced the raid on Khattala’s compound for a year, and now he is heading to the U. S. for trial in a civilian court.

But instead of celebrating the news, the right is dismissing it as an effort to distract from Obama’s other problems and to promote Hillary’s book tour!

The Party Who Cried Wolf

It seems to me that the VA scandal — which is a real scandal — would have a lot more oomph and impact if the GOP hadn’t wasted (and continues to waste) so much energy and outrage on phony scandals like Benghazi and the IRS.

They’ve squandered a lot of credibility and induced scandal fatigue because so many Americans believe that anything the Republicans get worked about stems from their visceral hatred of the Kenyan Muslim socialist.

Hating the Federal Government, Except…

One of the members of the new (but not improved) Benghazi Select Committee is Mike Pompeo of Kansas.  Guess what company is based in his district?  Koch Industries!  And guess what congressman the Koch Brothers have donated more money to than any other?  Mike Pompeo!

Pompeo was first elected in the Tea Party wave of 2010, and, as you’d expect, he spouts lots and lots of anti fedrul guvmint rhetoric.

But Pompeo loves, loves, loves the feds when it comes to GMO’s.  He’s pushing a bill to prohibit states from requiring labeling on or otherwise regulating genetically modified foods.

Pompeo and his Tea Party friends champion states’ rights — except when the states might do something they don’t like.

 

Your Benghazi Committee

Besides the Chairman, Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, the GOP has appointed these other members:  Susan Brooks of Indiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Mike Pompeo of Kansas, Martha Roby of Alabama, Peter Roskam of Illinois, and Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia.

And also note that all seven are either from the Midwest or the South.

No word yet on whether Dems will join.  I hope not.

The Circus Comes to Town

As expected, the House voted, 232-186, to establish a select committee to investigate Benghazi.  The 232 included 7 Dems, no Republicans voted against.

This is the downside to Obamacare working out.  And the Prez failing to ‘splain.  Which you could still do, Barry.

How We Know the GOP Has Given Up on Obamacare

Because they’re back to Benghazi!

And John Boehner appointed one of the major nut jobs in the House, Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, to head the special select committee, because, you know, this is like Watergate or Irancontra.

I wish the President would just give a speech and explain that Benghazi was a CIA op running weapons from Libya to Syria.

Why Didn’t We Hear This from Obama?

The NYT has an in-depth, knock-your-socks-off, must-read story about Benghazi  by David Kirkpatrick:

“Months of investigation by The New York Times, centered on extensive interviews with Libyans in Benghazi who had direct knowledge of the attack there and its context, turned up no evidence that Al Qaeda or other international terrorist groups had any role in the assault.

“The attack was led, instead, by fighters who had benefited directly from NATO’s extensive air power and logistics support during the uprising against Colonel Qaddafi.  And contrary to claims by some members of Congress, it was fueled in large part by anger at an American-made video denigrating Islam.”

I’m sure Darrell Issa and Fox News will be quick to apologize!

Susan Rice Will Run Foreign Policy From WH, Not State

Susan Rice, who withdrew from consideration as secretary of state after criticism over her Sunday talk show appearances right after the Benghazi terror attacks on 9/11/12 that left four Americans, including Amb. Chris Stevens, dead, is President Obama’s new national security adviser.  The job doesn’t require Senate confirmation, so Rice’s GOP enemies can’t do anything about it.  She who laughs last, laughs best.

The losers here — besides those GOP enemies — are John Kerry and the Syrian rebels.  Kerry because foreign policy will be concentrated at the White House now, giving him less power, and the rebels because Rice opposes intervention in the Syrian civil war, where the tide is turning in Assad’s favor.

Speaking of “power,” Obama is nominating Samantha Power to replace Rice at the U. N.

Happy Days Are Here Again…

Consumer confidence is at its highest level since February 2008.

Housing prices in 20 major cities jumped 10.9% in the past year, the biggest annual increase since April 2006.

We know the deficit is looking much, much better than expected, as recovery brings more revenue to the government.

So for 2014, the GOP is left trying to sabotage Obamacare and trying to milk all the mileage they can out of the Benghazi, IRS, and reporter (AP/Fox’s James Rosen) “scandals.”  I remain unconvinced that any of these is really a true scandal.