General Political Thread

[Hixter]

[Guest Don Draper]

Yes, the four people I quoted appear to have issues with my "mini 9/11" description.

My remark was in jest.

[NoJ]

There was a protest at the embassy in Egypt on 9/11/12 about that stupid movie. They stormed the walls and took down the US flag. Just saying.

[caliber66]

I don't have a problem with comparing the Benghazi attack to 9/11. I have a problem with glibly invoking 9/11 to refer to an attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound that resulted in the deaths of 4 Americans in an attempt to score points in a political discussion.

[Hixter]

There was a protest at the embassy in Egypt on 9/11/12 about that stupid movie. They stormed the walls and took down the US flag. Just saying.

And what does that have to do with the attack in Benghazi?

 

I have a problem with glibly invoking 9/11 to refer to an attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound that resulted in the deaths of 4 Americans in an attempt to score points in a political discussion.

I did no such thing.

[caliber66]

It's exactly what you did.

[Hixter]

It's exactly what you did.

No, it's what you think I did.

[John Smith]

Benghazi is not so much a mini 9/11 as it is the new Whitewater. It was a terror attack as has been noted almost everywhere except in inane arguments that are formulated for one purpose only...to discredit the administration.

 

It's the new white water In that it will be hauled out over and over until the republicans find the blue dress they are looking for and will ultimately use to try and bring down PBO. If they were truly looking to right wrongs and in getting to the bottom of things they would be taking long honest looks at 9/11, Iraq, Abu Graib, Black Sites, out of control military spending, the financial melt down etc... But none of those are good targets because they do not have any chance of bringing down Obama. It's pretty much why when anyone utters the word Benghazi I usually smile and walk away.

[Sir Stewart]

It's pretty much why when anyone utters the word Benghazi I usually smile and walk away.

 

From your computer?

[NoJ]

And what does that have to do with the attack in Benghazi?

 

 

 

The initial US response to the Benghazi attack being related to that stupid movie was plausible.

[bleedorange]

So, for future reference:

 

Comparing Benghazi to Whitewater or Monica Lewinsky = good

Comparing Benghazi to 9/11 = offensive

[Guest Don Draper]

If I recall, the supposed cover-up is that the government knew there was a bona fide threat against the Benghazi Embassy and did not act and/or that Embassies and Consulates worldwide were under protected?

 

I'm not rhetorically asking the GOP here, I'm asking you posters who believe there was a cover-up: what is to be gained for seeking punishment or redress or whatever it is you want from the administration? The fact that we can name multiple errors from each prior administration makes me think we should accept that no administration is perfect and implore them to rectify the shortcomings.

[John Smith]

The fact that we can name multiple errors from each prior administration makes me think we should accept that no administration is perfect and implore them to rectify the shortcomings.

Bingo! However common sense has no place in

Politics.

[John Smith]

So, for future reference:

 

Comparing Benghazi to Whitewater or Monica Lewinsky = good

Comparing Benghazi to 9/11 = offensive

I'm not comparing the murders to whitewater I'm comparing the outrage from the right and their approach to the situation . Benghazi to them is simply a chance to smear the president and they will keep dragging it out till they get what they want . However you can take fromy statement whatever you want.

[NoJ]

However you can take fromy statement whatever you want.

 

I'd like to take 50 bucks from your statement.

[bleedorange]

I'm not comparing the murders to whitewater I'm comparing the outrage from the right and their approach to the situation . Benghazi to them is simply a chance to smear the president and they will keep dragging it out till they get what they want . However you can take fromy statement whatever you want.

 

I just found it humorous that calling Benghazi, which was an attack on Americans on September 11 that resulted in the loss of lives a "mini 9/11" produced such moral outrage on this thread and then someone compares it to Whitewater and Lewinsky a few posts later with no response.

 

I find the focus on the alleged cover-up to be maddening. Especially since the TV in my company's break room is always on Fox News and every time I walk through I hear the same things over and over. But the GOP's focus has been in the wrong places a lot these last few years.

[John Smith]

But see I'm not comparing the Benghazi attack to white water you are saying I am. I'm comparing the rights outrage and political opportunism surrounding Benghazi to their outrage and political opportunism regarding whitewater. I can't put it any simpler than that so if your take is that I am comparing murdet and mayhem to a failed real estate transaction then good bless you and happy to supply you with some new nonexistent outrage.

[caliber66]

No, it's what you think I did.

Just own it, buddy.

 

You compared the two to evoke an emotional response. Otherwise, why else do it?

[Hixter]

 It was a terror attack as has been noted almost everywhere

No, the administration's original story was that it was a spontaneous reaction to a YouTube video, although they knew at the time that it was a lie.

 

out of control military spending

Spending on social programs dwarfs military spending.

 

The initial US response to the Benghazi attack being related to that stupid movie was plausible.

The administration knew otherwise. There was no spontaneous protest in Benghazi, just an attack that the administration knew was al Qaeda from the start.

 

what is to be gained for seeking punishment or redress or whatever it is you want from the administration?

An admission that they lied, for starters.

 

Just own it, buddy.

I'm not going to own up to something I didn't do.

 

You compared the two to evoke an emotional response. Otherwise, why else do it?

Because it was an attack by terrorists on September 11th. I had no intention of evoking an emotional response or "scoring points."

[Guest Don Draper]

What's the difference between a spontaneous attack and a pre-planned attack? I've never been to Benghazi but to folks just walk around with rocket launchers?

 

Just because they did not come out and say "this is terrorism" what the heck does that matter? It was an attack. They recognized that. They just chose not to use the magic word.

[Guest Don Draper]

And in my opinion, comparing an attack resulting in the deaths of 4 Americans with the largest attack on U.S. soil seems to be either grossly simplistic or an attempt at inflating te emotional response.

[caliber66]

I'm not going to own up to something I didn't do.

 

Because it was an attack by terrorists on September 11th. I had no intention of evoking an emotional response or "scoring points."

OK. Heartbreaking, I know, but I'm done taking you seriously on the subject.

[John Smith]

No, the administration's original story was that it was a spontaneous reaction to a YouTube video, although they knew at the time that it was a lie.

 

Spending on social programs dwarfs military spending.

 

The administration knew otherwise. There was no spontaneous protest in Benghazi, just an attack that the administration knew was al Qaeda from the start.

 

An admission that they lied, for starters.

 

I'm not going to own up to something I didn't do.

 

Because it was an attack by terrorists on September 11th. I had no intention of evoking an emotional response or "scoring points."

Do you really believe that military spending is dwarfed by social? Try this take social security and Medicare out of the equation, revenues and expense since those revenues are supposed to be earmarked for those programs then step bac and look at the budget. Sheesh it's not even close. By the way I am a veteran who left the army as an E-6, so it's not like I'm a guy who's never been there tossing in my .02 from the sidelines.

 

Re Benghazi, so that initial statement about the video still has your panties in a bunch? The intervening 13 months oh it being called a terror attack carries no currency then? Got it, that makes total sense. BTW are you going to start a convo on Iraq and WMD? There are still former admin officials who will not admit they were wrong and we lost how many people and spent how much chasing that lie? Your outrage over Benghazi is a charade, nothing more.

[Guest Don Draper]

I have no idea what an E-6 is because as I believe I've said before, I'm a total pussy, but thank you for your service.

[Hixter]

OK. Heartbreaking, I know, but I'm done taking you seriously on the subject.

It would be better if you'd just stop trying to tell other people what they are thinking. If I'd wanted to "evoke an emotional response" I would have written something much frothier. As for scoring points in a discussion, I'm not sure it's even possible. This isn't a sporting match or contest and I'm not trying to "win" or change anyone's mind; I'm just voicing my opinion. It's understandable if you misunderstood the intent of my post, but you'll have to take my word for it when I tell you that you misunderstood. I'm not a liar.