1 Sadly,  nothing will happen to Obama.  He can do no wrong. 

2 I think Hillary's been setting O'bumbles up for quite a while.

3 We know what the Clintons are capable of. If I were Obama, I would avoid any toll roads in Jersey. Just sayin...

4 What on earth could they have given the Hildabeast to take the fall?

5 Sorry, Drew. This perspective requires people to understand the concept of responsibility. It's not going to work in today's media-soaked, Obama-phone culture.

6

Oh, and first!  I have never been first and will probably never be first again. 

 

She may be settting up  Mr.  Obama but I   can't help   but think all of this ugly  Libya   mess won't  really come out til after Nov.  6.  Hope Mitt has the courage to call him on this mess during the debates. 

7 heeheehee, I read:

 "He can't suddenly say, "Oh no, it's me not Hillary who is responsible" because A-he doesn't believe that"

as

 "He can't suddenly say, "Oh no, it's me not Hillary who is responsible" because A-hole doesn't believe that"

8 I concur.

9 Statement by McCain, Ayotte,, and Graham: " If the President was truly not aware of this rising threat level in Benghazi, then we have lost confidence in his national security team, whose responsibility it is to keep the President informed. But if the President was aware of these earlier attacks in Benghazi prior to the events of September 11, 2012, then he bears full responsibility for any security failures that occurred." Full statement here: http://tinyurl.com/blzbnp8

10 I don't trust the Clintoons to do the right thing ever.  They're at least as responsible for the country being in the shitter as the JEF.  Fucking grifters, all of them.

11

I see that infamous perjurer and Hillary's husband, cut a new ad for SCOAMT about which candidate you should believe.  This time he's telling the truth.  Really.  You can tell how he wags his finger.

12 Obama will have no answer to any of that. He'll blame Romney for bringing it up. Or, at least the media will, his 2nd in command of the narrative.

13 When Mitt beats Barry like a pinata over this debacle, will Candy come out?

14

The moment Hillary took the blame, I figured a memo/email/something would be leaked be an "anonymous source" to prove the admin was specifically told early on. It's just too perfect. Hillary takes him down and looks like the one who "took the blame" when it wasn't her fault.

15 Secretary Clinton: "The buck stops with . . . my subordinates"

[snip]

Note she "takes responsibility" but the "specific decisions" on security were made by "security professionals." Translation: If anybody screwed up, hey, it was those professionals, not me. Otherwise, why would we need an investigation to "get to the bottom of it"? The career bureaucrats can hear the war drums, smell the war paint, and will be sharpening their knives. They know that the Secretary has just put a target on them.

http://tinyurl.com/cv4fb66

16

As true as this post is, it won't make any difference during the election.  Everyone who pays attention to stuff like this has already decided who they are voting for--we just have to hope that there are enough people paying attention.

One more bad debate by Obama and Romney clinches.  If Obama has a good debate this evening Romney is in trouble.  If this becomes a repeat of the Ryan/Biden debate (Ryan vs. the Moderator), random_journalist_01 throws the election for Obama.

17 @ #9 -- These three Senators, for whom I generally have little respect, hit it absolutely dead center here. There are (at a minimum) dozens of people who should lose their jobs instantly as a result of this disaster, beginning with Choom Boy and Shrillary.

Drew is being too "inside baseball" and anal-ytical, IMO. This was a simple fuck-up, orchestrated by the pro-Muzzie America-hater in the White House and his lazy, unqualified SecState. Nothing more.

18 Romney needs to hit him with the NOT ATTENDING INTEL BRIEFINGS... And, it sounds like he didn't even put a meeting together after the attack -- they won't answer that question posed to them. Too busy campaigning and schmoozing with the 1%.

19

So Hillary's the one who sent Susan Rice out to the talk shows to lie? Yeah, we're buying that.

 

Don't get distracted--the coverup's the issue.

20 Let's hope the debate prep team are channeling Drew. It would be a grand slam for Mitt tonight if he were to voice the lines we see here.

21 If that darned Mitt never brought it up a month later, it would have never happened!!!!

22 But have we calculated the spin to be applied by Aleister "Candy" Crowley?

23 It really does present a very nice opportunity for the Mittster tonight.

As far as how the Clintons are taking Hillary be made the fall guy, let's see how much campaigning Bubba does for Obama in the next three weeks.  My bet would be we won't see hide nor hair of Billy boy.

What amazes me is that no one from this administration has come forward with any of the really good behind the scenes dirt of all the squabbles and stuff..  Valerie Jarrett must be running a pretty tight ship over there.. it sure as hell isn't the Golfer in Chief.

24 I am highly confident Mitt will do an excellent job at the debate tonight but the mass media meme will be "Obama Comeback!!" assuming Obama's performance is even minimally better than his last one. It's a given and I'm sure RR are prepared for this.

25 you are dreaming !!!

26 Them Clintons is tricky.  The Borgias were amateurs compared to them.

27 I think this is a good analysis. Axelrod was melting down about it on twitter.

28

Here is a parallel take on what Ace said:

 

http://tinyurl.com/9yfu7sr

29

Maybe Hillary didn't do all of this on purpose (but why wait until now to do this?) but intentionally or not, she's teed this up for Mitt. Will he hit it?

 

-----

 

[Crowley,tonight]:   Hmmm, I can't seem to find a Banghazi question. Oh well, let's talk about aboration!

30 Who wants to bet Candy "Fatty" Crowley doesn't even    mention Benghazi in the debate?   When asked why not, I'm sure her answer will be, "Well, none of the questions I read through asked about it."

31 I hope Romney is prepared to nobly and humbly address any screwups that occurred under his watch as head of Bain and Governor of Massachusetts.

32 In case we haven't noticed, all this "taking of responsibility" has merely consisted of mouthing those words. No resignations, no one fired. No cleaning of house. Nothingburger.

33 #9 TD. Not attending the security briefings shields oneself from any culpability. Doing a shitty job of being President just the situation play itself out in favor of those who have a plan and can execute it. This administration is completely out of control. The only things that gets Obama's attention are things that affect him personally.

34 Even with the Osama bin Laden raid, wasn't there a bit of a controversy about who signed papers when.  All the papers were meant to insulate the Boy King had the raid gone bad? 

I suspect that's SOP to one degree or another, but Obama certainly doesn't believe that the buck stops with him.

35 Traitors one and all.

36 Anyone see Obama doing a "I know Hillary said she was responsible, but as POTUS the blame stops here"?

37 @32 George Orwell, you're exactly right.

38 Geez. So now Drew's writing movie reviews too?

39

If the President was truly not aware of this rising threat level in Benghazi, then we have lost confidence in his national security team, whose responsibility it is to keep the President informed.        But if the President was aware of these earlier attacks in Benghazi prior to the events of September 11, 2012, then he bears full responsibility for any security failures that occurred."

 

 

Since    Bammy    prefers receiving his    national security briefings on his iPad rather than face-to-face, and since he's supposed to be one of the most "sophisticated consumers of intelligence" in the    nation --    nay, THE WORLD --    then I'd say this statement lays the blame squarely    and fully    at the feet of the Preezy.      I'm happy to see my Senator is one of the three who submitted it.

40 The funny thing here is that it actually IS mostly Hillary's fault.  Yes, Obama bears final responsibility, but the piss poor security situation is Hillary's doing.  Maybe Obama insisted on leaving our guys unprotected... but unless Hill makes that case... it is on her.
Now, the cover up is another animal altogether.  NO ONE in this administration (big shock) covered themselves in glory here.  This clusterfark is far more serious and damaging than Watergate ever was.
Tell me, if Obama does manage to steal this election... impeachment?

41

I like to think that Bubba is on the phone this morning explaining all the angles to Mitt.

The Obama administration, outsourcing responsibility since 2009.

 

42 At the end of the day, under every scenario now in play for the Libya debacle, Obama looks weak. This is a net negative for him.

43 Someone should ask Susan Rice if she takes responsibility for ignoring the real cause of Islamic riots: Turkish Star Wars.

44

Sorry Drew, but Hillary! (and you) have obviously fallen under the con of Obama's "long game" strategy here.

It is all too complicated to explain to a dummy like you, so just sit back and enjoy the positive Obama media coverage and coming electoral landslide!

45 It doesn't explain the two other attacks on our consulate and why nothing was done by the Immigrant O'bama and his sworn duty to PROTECT ALL AMERICANS...

The ball is in his court and the only thing dribbling is his mouth...

46

Clinton is responsible for the security at State unless she was overridden by her boss.  What she is not responsible for are the lies that immediately followed the attack.  I believe that she wanted to come clean right from the beginning but the White House vetoed that strategy.  They are the one's that came up with the easily disputed Mohammed tape and faux protest scenario and forced Clinton to go along.  Except Clinton really didn't go along with it , so she just stayed silent until now,  after the false stories hubbub settled down and she could pretend that it never happened.  .   

47 [Crowley,tonight]: Hmmm, I can't seem to find a Banghazi question. Oh well, let's talk about aboration! Posted by: Wisrich at October 16, 2012 09:18 AM (hdpay) Folks keep forgetting this is a town hall format. Questions from "undecided" liberal plants.

48 41 The funny thing here is that it actually IS mostly Hillary's fault. Yes, Obama bears final responsibility, but the piss poor security situation is Hillary's doing. Maybe Obama insisted on leaving our guys unprotected... but unless Hill makes that case... it is on her. Now, the cover up is another animal altogether. NO ONE in this administration (big shock) covered themselves in glory here. This clusterfark is far more serious and damaging than Watergate ever was. Tell me, if Obama does manage to steal this election... impeachment? Posted by: sgr at October 16, 2012 09:24 AM (xa5GW) Listen, you can't have a Green Initiative and buy Volts for all the embassies and Security, which would you have picked?

49 Perhaps Mitt should ask for the debates to be moved to 3AM. He could win by default.

50 Anyone see Obama doing a "I know Hillary said she was responsible, but as POTUS the blame stops here"? == yep

51 48 [Crowley,tonight]: Hmmm, I can't seem to find a Banghazi question. Oh well, let's talk about aboration! Posted by: Wisrich at October 16, 2012 09:18 AM (hdpay) Folks keep forgetting this is a town hall format. Questions from "undecided" liberal plants. Posted by: tuesday at October 16, 2012 09:25 AM (LpQbZ) Since we are picking the audience, it will be as unbiased as our polling...

52 Unfortunately, Obama will say he has taken responsibility all along. Nobody will call him on it.

53 3 We know what the Clintons are capable of. If I were Obama, I would avoid any toll roads in Jersey. Just sayin... and national parks

54 Like O'bama has done all his life he's hiding behind a skirt or in this case - a Pant Suit...

55 Responsibility, never heard of it

56 I like the theory, Drew.

Reading all the pieces about how she saved TFG last night, it seemed to me she was saving herself by preempting the move to throw her under the bus. It reminded me of Janet Reno "taking responsibility"  for Waco when cornered to take a move away from some Congressional critics, then not resigning or doing much of anything that suggested amends on her part. It is a chess move. BJ and Hillary are good at chess moves devoid of content.

57 One the on hand, the Obama Administration says Romney's responsible for what happens at Bain over a decade after he left it... but he's not supposed to have any culpability over something that happened during his presidency? Whether he was directly involved or not, he's still the president and everything that happens under his 'leadership' is his responsibility to address and work towards fixing. He hasn't done that... he's just shifted around a ducked any kind of scrutiny for the past month or so.

58

>>The funny thing here is that it actually IS mostly Hillary's fault. Yes, Obama bears final responsibility, but the piss poor security situation is Hillary's doing. Maybe Obama insisted on leaving our guys unprotected

 

Yeh, I keep thinking about what actually might be TRUE, not spin and purported spin.

 

Why would the pres. know about number of guards at a consulate?

 

I'm not even sure Sec. State would, unless it was a decision to underfund security in a number of places.

59 The Clintoons' political "genius" is the biggest pile of shit that's ever been foisted off on the morons here who believe in it.  Slick never received 50% of the popular vote in either Presidential general election and needed the presence of fucking Perot to beat Poppy Bush and Bob Dole.  Then he proceeded to lose control of Congress through his fatassed drunk wife's brilliance and then got impeached.  Everybody the rapist campaigns for loses except for the Pantsuit in a gimmee seat for her fat ass in New York.  And she hasn't done a fucking thing as SoS except get fatter and drunker.


Where's the fucking evidence of how they're "really on our side and will fuck over the JEF"?

60 Drew good points.  Looks like Obama is a tar baby, he he. 

Everything is going to stick to him.

http://tinyurl.com/8e3mkg2

61 I recall seeing Hillary, the day after the ambassador was killed, looking red-eyed, tired and bedraggled. Obama? not so much.

62 None of this matters.

Miley Cyrus endorsed Obama.

Game over man. Game over!

63 She comes off as the grown up who said, look I'm in charge here and for good or ill that makes me responsible

Not really. All she did was affirm she that she's the head of the State Department, which we kinda already knew, and that some underling made decisions which, now that everything went pear-shaped, she disagrees with.

Call me when she falls on her sword for lying to us that this attack was about a fucking YouTube video.

64 I'm hearing a lot of dog whistles in here... like "responsibility".

65

Feel good story of the day:

 

Axelrod unhappy with how the right is spinning the "Hillary is fairest of them all" story.

http://tinyurl.com/8mzr7md

66 One thing that they keep doing is conflating what happened in Egypt with what happened in Libya. If Mitt can catch Barry in one of those and point out that he can't even keep his Middle Eastern failures straight, that'd be huge.

67

 

J. Rubin hints that the Hillary story represents Obama's war on women.

 

Nice.

68 Agree with 30 - only giving it 15% odds that Libya comes up tonight.

69 Responsibility without consequence is a sham of a mockery of a steaming clusterfuck.

70 "53 Unfortunately, Obama will say he has taken responsibility all along. Nobody will call him on it." Of course. And then blame Mitt for speaking when he "didn't have all the facts." Which is bullcrap because he merely chided the DoS for apologizing for an American's use of free speech. Nothing mistaken or incorrect there. Until "taking responsibility" equals "you're fired" there is no way to prove the buck has stopped. And neither the MFM nor Obastard will ever call for Cankles to resign.

71 I agree. Ha s anyone sent this sage advice to the Romney Campaign?

72 We are wishing and a hoping for some foreign policy discussion.

Anyone think someone is going to axe about gas prices?

I do and Barry will have to shit and lie.  Mitt will clean is clock.

73 Who knows, I don't trust the clintons or the obamas.

I do know that there are 4 dead in Benghazi.

I do know there are 100's if not 1,000's dead in Mexico.

I do know there are 1,000's dead in Iran when we could have helped.

All because of the flustercluck decisions of Barry and Hillary.

74 This isn't Hillary's or Barry's first encounter with SCANDAL.

So no surprise that a Clinton would issue a Teflon statement attributing "responsibility" on those security advisers of hers.

75 Iowahawk has some funny tweets on Hillary's "responsibility": http://twitter.com/iowahawkblog

76 Hey Drew didn't you read the contract of the debates, they can't direct questions at each other. So PE Romney can't ask obama if he will fire hillary

77  You know, I'm not sitting here like some little woman standing by my man, like Tammy Wynette!

78 Hell hath no fury... etc.

79 Well Hillary left me a note and a bottle of aspirin. 

80 What the fuck does "I take responsibility" mean? You're the head of the State Department. Of course it's your fucking responsibility. You don't "take" that. It comes with the job. Thanks for telling me what your duties are, Hillary.

81 "Call me when she falls on her sword for lying to us that this attack was about a fucking YouTube video." We'll be waiting a long time.

82 Moochelle is loading up the busses in Ohio and taking folks to vote. Probably the same folks in all 88 counties (same day registration, same day voting). This will be a major handicap in a potential r/r win.

83 Not so much these days. January 7, 2010: President Obama took ultimate responsibility Thursday for the failure to connect the dots in the Christmas Day terror attempt on Northwest flight 253 and emphasized that the country is at war with Al Qaeda. Weasel Zippers

84

I      find it...   shall we say    intriguing     that Libya just had a massive prison break,    caused in part (it is alleged) by prisoners bribing the guards.   Similarly the same type of guards who were paid to guard our Ambassador and other Americans in Benghazi.   

 

Anyone with even a minimal knowledge of the Middle East knows that bribery is second nature   in     the region.      It's just another form of     marketplace haggling,    but with a higher price tag.      And in a country   like Libya     that's just suffered a massive    internal conflict    and      sustained serious physical and fiscal damage as a result, it's pure pigheaded stupidity to believe that the    locally-hired, minimum wage guards     the Embassy had engaged to protect Ambassador Stevens     and the others       weren't going to take a       bribe from AQ in exchange for ratting out where the Americans were hiding.      Especially if the guards may have been inclined to side more with AQ than America in matters of ideology.    That's why hiring local security was the   SECOND     most boneheaded, asinine, insane,    indefensible thing this    clusterfuck of an    administration could have done.   

 

The MOST indefensible     thing     the SCOAMT and Co. did was, of course, denying the multiple requests made by the    Libyan contingent for increased    security.   Security that would, presumably, have been comprised of Americans; or at the very least Western-friendly contractors.

 

A pox on Hillary and Obama and all their houses.

85

Hey Drew didn't you read the contract of the debates, they can't direct questions at each other.

---

RULES? In a knife fight?

86 Anyone think someone is going to axe about gas prices?
...

That came up and the GOP failed to attack the DEM premise.

Blame High Taxation v. Blame Big Oil Profits

Blame them both novelty.

87 D*mn.  I had the same thoughts as Drew. 

I'm doomed.  But I'll take the opportunity to pimp my own blog (with a post on this very subject).

88 Hey Drew didn't you read the contract of the debates, they can't direct questions at each other. So PE Romney can't ask obama if he will fire hillary And that's one rule Romney should just blow up. What are they going to do? Will Barry just ignore repeated, embarrassing questions from Mitt? If the moderator tries to stop him, he can just turn to her and say To hell with your rules, this event is for the American people to get answers. Mitt comes off all alpha-dog and go getter.

89 Hillary is pulling a Janet Reno. Reno: I take responsibility for burning children in Waco Other: So you will resign then? Reno: Resign? I just said I took responsibility. Lets move on.

90 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable tyrant.

91 Mitt should bring a chair on stage and talk to it.

92 77 Hey Drew didn't you read the contract of the debates, they can't direct questions at each other. So PE Romney can't ask obama if he will fire hillary

Posted by: Nevergiveup at October 16, 2012 09:34 AM (oSFWF)

I think that contract is worthless.  This will turn in to a slug fest with Candy on top with a hammer lock.

Look for the  "undecided" to boo Romney.  Look for Candy to pick liberal talking points questions.  Look for Mitt to kick their asses.  He is just so much smarter that Affirmative Action Barry.

93

Call me when she falls on her sword for lying to us that this attack was about a fucking YouTube video."

---

Hell, even i couldn't get her to fall on my sword.

iykwimaiktyd

94 Moochelle is loading up the busses in Ohio and taking folks to vote. Probably the same folks in all 88 counties (same day registration, same day voting). This will be a major handicap in a potential r/r win. Posted by: Ohiovoter at October 16, 2012 09:36 AM (AkFx3) Not really. Flat tires happen sometimes ( for the record- only will shot at tires when bus is stopped and empty- no humans or animals are hurt in this senario)

95 RULES? In a knife fight?

1. Bring your gun. -- Obama, the guy who wants to seize your guns for your own safety, but of course.

96

Yes, Romney needs to stress "Leadership" over and over.  I think it will resonate where the poofy idea of hopenchange doesn't.  It works on every subject - Taxes, Jobs, Foreign Policy - we need leadership.

97 I happen to agree and this is the sort of jujitsu you'd expect from Bill. Here's some evidence for that theory: 1.) Hillary's in Peru with her people, Axelrod and the rest are too far away. 2.) She isn't resigning. Obama can't fire her and now she looks like the adult who is standing up. 3.) She could have waited until after the debate, a townhall debate in which foreign policy was likely to receive scant focus until now. 4.) Axelrod had a fit over A tweet from Jennifer Rubin. Methinks he doth protest too much. 5.) On Friday, Bill was in...Indiana. He was stumping for the Senate candidate. If he's working for Obama, he's in Ohio or Pennsylvania or fundraising in New York or California. Bill has seen the internal numbers and the trend and he wants to be clear of the blast radius.

98 I think that contract is worthless. This will turn in to a slug fest with Candy on top with a hammer lock. Look for the "undecided" to boo Romney. Look for Candy to pick liberal talking points questions. Look for Mitt to kick their asses. He is just so much smarter that Affirmative Action Barry. Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at October 16, 2012 09:38 AM (wR+pz) Your probably correct, but I am sure PE Romney will be ready for that

99 lol-that obama---such an amateur--
he will never get the game---

100 What the fuck does "I take responsibility" mean? You're the head of the State Department. Of course it's your fucking responsibility. You don't "take" that. It comes with the job. Thanks for telling me what your duties are, Hillary.

Posted by: Waterhouse at October 16, 2012 09:36 AM (POGCP)

 

This.

 

Anyone who's ever held     a position with even a SMALL degree of power knows that the bigger the clusterfuck, the higher up the ladder those repercussions will fall.   This is a    metric fuckton of clusterfuckery.   Hillary should have accepted her responsibility from    the outset, and Obama SHOULD be looking over his shoulder for the long arm of responsibility to fall on HIM next.

101 ( for the record- 95

STFU and take it back.

102

Pennsylvania coal companies announce layoffs: http://tinyurl.com/8kyy5nr

Some bloody guy with a machine gun who just dumped the metaphoric body of the Obama administration out of the 50th floor window yells out, "Welcome to the party pal!"

103

Remember when taking responsibility meant finding a loaded luger on your desk?

Good times. Good times.

104 "Remember Janet Reno taking the blame for Waco? Clinton looked weak and Reno owned him for the rest of his presidency."

I will never forget Rush playing the clip of her doing so on his TV show, then saying, "Put.  This.  Woman.  In. Charge. Of. The. Bosnia. Operation. Now." and then the crowd going nuts.

105 100 ..."and to think a few years ago, he'd be serving us coffee." b.clinton

106

In case we haven't noticed, all this "taking of responsibility" has merely consisted of mouthing those words. No resignations, no one fired. No cleaning of house. Nothingburger<<<<<

 

They're pacing themselves.

107 TFG has only ever demonstrated one move at ducking responsibility, "voting present" actually or symbolically. The Clinton's are masters of the craft.

108 Hillary says it was the fog of war? Well, shoulda sent out the scouting units... dunderhead.

109 Hillary did the best she could with the shitty cards she holds. Now it's Stalin's move. Does he play the "I wasn't playing attention" card? Does he play the "Squirrel!" card? There are lots of cards to play, in theory, but some of them prompt Hillary to play another card.

110 Citi Group CEO resigns suddenly, a lot of those folks in that occupation are leaving. Hope they leave a forwarding address if someone wants to pin a tail.

111 Nice analysis, but it looks to me like the media palace guard have already declared Benghazi a non-story. Hillary taking the rap didn't matter much except for her own future, which is why she did it. I doubt seriously anyone will ask Obama or Romney about it tonight. I'm also feeling like Obama will bomb somebody in Libya before the foreign policy debate. At this point I think most Americans just want to see the terrorists who attacked our consulate blown to bits.

112 drew i'd love to believe this...and maybe i will one day...but until she says the words.....the president is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure....i can't

113 Yes, iowahawk: "@HRClinton you stood next to Chris Stevens' casket and blamed it on a YouTube video. Video maker is in jail. What shall we do with you now?" No one went under the bus. Cankles keeps her job and perks. As David Burge notes, responsibility means never having to leave Washington. Unless it's to jet off on a five star luxury junket to a foreign capitol.

114 Laura Ingraham is slattering Jennifer Rubin for trying to proved cover for Pantsuit's fat ass.

115

It doesn't explain the two other attacks on our consulate and why nothing was done by the Immigrant O'bama and his sworn duty to PROTECT ALL AMERICANS...

 

They weren't AMERICAN-Americans    at the time.   They were in Libya after all,   and everyone knows the longer you spend away from American shores, the less American you become.

 

...

 

Err, except me.  I'm as American as apple pie and casbahs.   I MEAN    BASEBALL!     Apple pie and baseball!

116 One reason I am pumped for this?  Mitt's people do not stop planning.  Mitt's team is following the master plan.  These guys have done this sort of thing before and made hundreds of  millions of dollars at it.

Barry?  His team runs on union thugs, nerdy college kids, and welfare recipients.  

Barry was a fucking "community organizer".  The longest job he has ever held?

The one he has now. 

117 neither hillary nor the scoamf shed a tear next to the casket.....and both murdered those 4 men......

118

"Maybe he blames you the voters for not paying enough in taxes. This country needs a President who accepts the responsibility that comes with the job and doesn't blame his subordinates."

I AM NOT HIS FREAKIN' SUBORDINATE. Let's get that straight right up front.

119 proved == provide

120 Bubba maybe "borrow" a few spike strips. Most of the statewide FOP would be glad to loan them out. Voter fraud in Ohio was rampant in 2008 and I fear it will be so again. As for Hillary, she does give the appearance of the grown up in the room. Too bad it took her so long to put on her bug girl pants.

121 Tomorrow's NYT headline: Obama Roars Back in Debate Two to Take Lead! Romney Crushed by Assertive Commander-in-Chief!

122 F. Chuck Todd in interviewing Carol Simpson who was teh first town hall moderator said that Benghazzi has been taken off the table for the debate.

123 111 Citi Group CEO resigns suddenly, a lot of those folks in that occupation are leaving. Hope they leave a forwarding address if someone wants to pin a tail. Posted by: Clemenza at October 16, 2012 09:43 AM (afx6B) It will be an overseas address. Some place without an extradition treaty.

124 Right now Hillary is being erased from all photos with Barry

125 And where the fuck is Karl with all his money?  It's time to spend that shit Karl.

21 days?  You waiting for 14?

126

Speaking of cover-ups, the "authorities" are claiming it wasn't SMOD.

 

>>The Webster Parish Sheriff's Office confirms an underground bunker exploded late last night at Camp Minden. There are no reports of any injuries or deaths. The explosion site was discovered right at sun-up.

127 123 Benghazzi has been taken off the table for the debate. Why?

128 Right now Hillary is being erased from all photos with Barry Posted by: TheQuietMan at October 16, 2012 09:46 AM (1Jaio) Well they way she looks. let's not be to fast to jump to the conclusion that it is due to politics and not just good taste?

129 HAHAHAHAHA
One of my lib friends just posted the following:

"Do yourself a favor and only read Nate Silver's writing and analysis. Every media organization that conducts polling hypes their results, but he cuts through the bullshit."

I do agree the with words "Nate Silver" and "bullshit."

130 122 Tomorrow's NYT headline:

Obama Roars Back in Debate Two to Take Lead!

Romney Crushed by Assertive Commander-in-Chief!


We only gave that to MSDNC, how the fuck did you get it? 

131

In case we haven't noticed, all this "taking of responsibility" has merely consisted of mouthing those words. No resignations, no one fired. No cleaning of house. Nothingburger.

 

Of course not.   Because    regressives think words   make everything better.      Just saying things makes problems go away.   That's why the Campaigner-in-Chief thinks all he has to do is schmooze his campaign crowds the way he did in 2008 to secure his re-election.   That's why Holder thinks he can just ignore Congressional subpoenas and a Contempt of Congress citation, because he said he didn't know anything about F and F.   And that's why Hillary    thinks she just has to say, "I take responsibility," and everthing will be hunky-dory.

 

Regressives don't believe in consequences.   Consequences are things that happen to OTHER people.

132 I think this was the negotiated deal between the Clintons and Obama. Obama sees it as a win. You know the Clintons see it as a win, or they wouldn't have agreed. Each camp will have its own spin. And no one spins as well as the Clintons. Clinton worked tirelessly, round the clock. A tired Obama went to sleep and then Vegas. Advantage: Clintons.

133 hi catpiss troll!!! (oZfic) have you recovered from the threatening monty python skit yet?

134 She might as well just resign. Not because she's responsible, but it would be a total cocksucker move on her part that makes the administration look weak and pathetic throughout this entire fiasco. Essentially, she can 'concern troll' the administration by taking responsibility for what happened and demanding the same accountability from the rest of the Gang of Idiots. She's on record saying she'll only serve once term as Sec of State. Might as well take SCOAMF down with her.

135 kawfytawk because catpiss troll said so that's why and it's the soooooper most educated, youngest, most hippest troll on the blog....

136

Well the Team Puma members I know weren't going to vote for Soetero anyways. Having Barry hide behind Hillary's pantsuits is going to upset a lot of women who again see a turd like Barry blame a woman, yet again, instead of manning up and taking full responsibility.

So women will see a weakling, they won't like that, the men will see a weakling, they won't like that either.

And this was a political statement by Hillary, she's not resigning, this was just a political cover statement for her.

137 BTW Obama isn't under the bus either. No one can throw him under the bus. He's the boss. Only the voters can do that. If Cankles explicitly connected the dots, which she has not, things might be different. If she were to actually something like "I can't force the president to take security briefings seriously," we might have something. Won't happen.

138 128 123 Benghazzi has been taken off the table for the debate.

Why?


Me, didn't they tell you Barry is going to announce a strike on Benghazzi at the debate?

Really?  You been cut from the jurno list?

139 122
Tomorrow's NYT headline:



Obama Roars Back in Debate Two to Take Lead!



Romney Crushed by Assertive Commander-in-Chief!




Jaba the Crowley congratulates Barry on winning the debate during the debate

140 My take on it this morning:

Hillary goes under the bus on Libya but blames “fog of war” for shifting explanations of what happened. They can’t openly admit that they are liars. We know that they knew what was going on, they just lied about it.

http://is.gd/sD7F6b

141

Its true that President's don't really keep track of embassy business but this was no ordinary embassy / consulate.  This was a consulate that had previously been attacked in a region that should be on top of the President's security briefings. 

 

A President should verbally accept responsiblity but he should also fire the person on the inside that he had given the responsibility to.  He probably needs to fire himself because he should have known about the situation in Libya and that region.  That's his responsibility.  Keeping up with the embassy in Austria? Not so much.

142 ‘Do The Paul Ryan’ Music Video Hits The Web [Watch] http://www.inquisitr.com/357439/do-the-paul-ryan-music-video-hits-the-web-watch/

143 The question is still out there: Who made the policy that prompted people to deny requests for more security? Answer: President Divot did. Underlings do not deny requests from Ambassadors unless they know they are following policy from above.

144 thequietman i'm so stealing that "jaba the crowley"

145  You gonna shoot,shoot. Don't talk

146 D.M. Hawkins @HawkinsUSA Heh. Kos/PPP has Romney 50, Obama 46 nationally and Romney 50, Obama 47 in swing states. Brutal....

147 They've sent special forces troops
and drones in a wide ring around the region "looking for the killers".
In neighboring countries like Morrocco. Fucking really?

My theory: They've lost a WMD. Motherfucker. And al-Q does have it or
will soon. They do not know where it is.

148 thequietman i'm so stealing that "jaba the crowley" Posted by: phoenixgirl, team dagny, ROMNEY/RYAN 2012 at October 16, 2012 09:53 AM (Ho2rs) I like it too. How about Candy the Hut?

149

Hillary is now officially Janet Reno. 

 

Oh and something was broguht up at HA...I know, I know...but it is an interesting question.  Exactly why was Stevens in Benghazi on 9/11?  What couldn't be done in Tripoli or on another day?  I know I read somewhere that he met with other diplomats including one from Turkey.  Is there more there that we don't know about?  And what about all the intel that was removed?  That's gone down the memory black hole too.

150 Posted by: uterus cannon at October 16, 2012 09:54 AM (3ZtZW)

Oh, that's a comforting thought.

151 Team Obama - Forward! To more leading from behind.

152 like I have said before....you don't have to be an expert on foreign affairs to increase security on the anniversary of 9/11. That should be the default plan of the day. This should be grounds enough....barring all the other BS that has transpired ....to boot this administration out of DC

153 Tonight's scripted event/Obama rally to be hosted by Joanna the Hutt.

154 good grief let's get physical remake: let's get fiscal http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/10/14/introducing-ryan-girl-lets-get-fiscal

155 ring...  ring.... ring.... ring...

156 With my experience in business, I have always told my subordinates to tell me the truth and to provide me with the best and most thorough information available--good news or bad.  That way when there is a problem, we can act fast and figure out a way to fix it, even it it means postponing a trip to Vegas for a few hours.  The worst thing you can do is to to try to hem and haw and not focus on the real problem at hand. 

The first way, the problem is fixed and you can move on to find the real problem and work on that.  The second way, the problem persists as more information becomes available and nothing ever gets resolved.  The very fact that we are still talking about this one month away from a real tragedy tells me there is a problem in the leadership.

Or something like that.

157 Candy Crowley AKA Taffy van Thighchafe

158 156 it's 3AM!!!!

159 92 Mitt should bring a chair on stage and talk to it.

Posted by: torabora at October 16, 2012 09:38 AM (2fJpq)

 

Hell, just bring the chair. Even without talking to it it's silent presence will be a more devastating indictment than anything said in the debate. It will lead all the commentary, and no one will remember what either candidate said. I love it!

160

I'm not sure of HRC's motives,  though Drew's theory makes as much sense as any other I have heard.  In  the end, it won't matter.  What Obama should have done all along was take responsibility.  The worst terrorist attack in history occurred on GWB's watch.  But no one blames him.  Maybe I am misremembering history, but I do not remember him  blaming the previous administration (though certainly surrogates may have),  our Western values, or anyone in his administration.  He simply took charge and said we will get those who did this. 

 

While the magnitude of the attacks are not comparable,  the difference in the response is striking.  What confounds me about Obama is that he seems to always do the wrong thing which hurts him politically.  I'm guessing this is because he has always lived with a compliant media.  The better response would have been to get to Washington, make an immediate statement and condemn the action.  He could have contained the security issue if he had done that, and likely come off as Presidential.  But as  the saying goes, lack of leadership creates a vacumn, and he has allowed HRC and Mitt to fill that space.  America  is  a  very forgiving society.  He misplayed this one badly. 

161 "let's get physical remake: let's get fiscal"

I saw her on Hannity last night.  The singing in the video is atrocious but she said someone else did it.  Somebody was HIRED for that?

162 ring... ring.... ring.... ring... Posted by: Obama Phone at October 16, 2012 09:56 AM (VndSC) Sounds like what happens when I call my wife

163 144 The question is still out there: Who made the policy that prompted people to deny requests for more security?

Answer: President Divot did.

Underlings do not deny requests from Ambassadors unless they know they are following policy from above.

Posted by: eman at October 16, 2012 09:53 AM (+XD7n)

To me, the issue remains the response - the constant claim of it being a spontaneous protest over a movie and talking about how we must venerate mohammad, as well as the lack of any military response - that is the issue rather than whose fault it is that we failed to provide adequate security.  Yes, the latter question is important, but I think the former issues say a lot more about this administration in terms of what they think of America, free speech and the weakness of its foreign policy.  Even if there had been better security personal in Benghazi, the outcome still might have been the same.

164 What is different between Team Obama and Progresso?

Progresso answers its phone.

165

Will he hit it?

 

Metophorically speaking, I hope.

166 I think Drew has a point here. By publicly taking responsibility, Hillary highlights the fact that Barry has avoided responsibility. I hope that Mitt hits Barry on how he fled to Vegas the morning after the murders, before even convening a national security meeting. And Mitt needs to imply that Barry might have been in the loop if he had bothered to attend the intel briefings. Who does Hillary report to? The absentee POTUS, that's who!

167 >>>142 Its true that President's don't really keep track of embassy business but this was no ordinary embassy / consulate. This was a consulatethat had previously been attacked in a region that should be on top of the President's security briefings. This was also a country that Obama takes personal credit for liberating from a dictatorship. It was the centerpiece of his foreign policy. Also, this is the same asshole that scooted off to a fundraiser in Las Vegas the day after it happened...complete with Jay Z, Beyonce and the One-Percent Champagne Tower.

168 This hurts Obama with women. Not only does he look like he is hiding behind Hillary's skirt but he also looks like he is blaming the Girl.

169 He doesn't need to bring a chair, he will be sitting on one.

He just needs to ignore Barry, stand up and talk to the chair.

How much would THAT piss off the media?

170 The worst terrorist attack in history occurred on GWB's watch. But no one blames him.

The far left blames him and claims he ignored warnings. They also have some kind of fetish about the fact that he was reading to a group of kindergarteners when it happened.  But I get your bigger point - nobody in the mainstream blames him.

171 How can you tell when Candy Crowley had gone from "firm ball" to "hard crack?"

172 Honestly, I think this is a way too layered view of this deal. The general public only see Hilary taking the blame; thats enough for most of them to say "Hmm, Obama must be blameless." We on the right sometimes give way too much credit to the political savvy of the idiots in the general public.

173 Never mess with a Clinton when political self-preservation is on the line. I'd like to know if the President agrees with the Secretary and if he does, why hasn't he asked for her resignation? That was my first thought as well. This is Reno redux. If she's responsible, then she should resign. If she doesn't resign voluntarily, then her resignation should be requested. If it's not, then it's all bullshit and no one is responsible. As an aside, Drew, from now on, when you want to know who to start for your fantasy football team, ask me and then do the opposite of what I say. You'll be golden!

174 165 What is different between Team Obama and Progresso?

Progresso answers its phone.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at October 16, 2012 09:58 AM (vjJM3)

You can eat Progresso stuff without worrying about AIDS?

175 Hit it, Mitt! Hit it!!

176 "How can you tell when Candy Crowley had gone from "firm ball" to "hard crack?"

I lol'ed.

Baking snark + MFM snark= WIN

177 I will never forget Rush playing the clip of her doing so on his TV show, then saying, "Put. This. Woman. In. Charge. Of. The. Bosnia. Operation. Now." and then the crowd going nuts.

...
This. That. When Rush is wrong, he's 100% -- and to his faithful devotees, same applies. Don't push warmongering as a virtue. With the exception of neoconservatives who alone can NOT win the election, people today aren't buying.

Political affiliation aside, "It's the economy, stupid." Our arsenal was overspent in Libya. NATO Members are depleted. US carried the lion's share of NATO's load. Syria is NOT Libya. And we don't need another illegal war. THAT from NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander R. Vershbow's August address in Washington, D.C. (The Airforce Magazine, October 2012)

Don't think that rebuilding our military "that will never be strong enough" in order to nation build abroad on behalf of globalist corporatist profits ALL AT THE EXPENSE WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT TO US TAXPAYERS, is something that American voters are glad to do.

Americans want our military strength to defend the United States of America and the US Constitution. Not to be loaned out without constitutional authority, breaking international law, given away directly against the interests of US citizens and American taxpayers. Promises of "wealth" are as hollow as the premise for nation building, and the indigenous tribal populations in foreign lands aren't buying from "The Ugly American" either.

Being stuck between Mitt's rock and Barry's hard spot is staying stuck on stupid. Don't. Go. There.

178 And Les Aspin is unavailable for comment.

179 It's good to see somebody in this pathetic administration man-up and take responsibility for this foreign policy idiocy that resulted in four murders of U.S. citizens.  Hillary has more f*ckin' balls than Obama will ever have. 

Barry really is a pathetic little man, isn't he?

180 The fog of war. The bawg of moar. The dogged whore. The nog and boar. Sounding like good names for pubs.

181 Nog and Boar might work until someone sloshed reads it as Nag and Bore.

182 Sure she'll take responsibility. As long as it incurs neither accountability nor consequences.

183 Isn't the "fog of war" a stunning admission by the Obama Administration, just in itself? The "W" word?

184
I'd like to know if the President agrees with the Secretary and if he does, why hasn't he asked for her resignation?

How'd that play out against Holder?

Hillary's "apologized" as far as that will ever be. She is not about to hand in her letter of resignation for Obama to refuse to accept. Rather, she's already fingering "intelligence" advisers for her guillotine.

185 The most take away portion of Hillary's Peruvian statement is thusly - I am doing something even if its taking responsibility.  Back to you Barry. 

186 Barry really is a pathetic little man, isn't he? Posted by: Fritz at October 16, 2012 10:03 AM (/ZZCn) Man? Not so much....and to be honest I have a 3 y/o grandson who instinctively owns up to his own misdeeds.

187 128 123 Benghazzi has been taken off the table for the debate.

Why?   ---
I need more room for the roast pig and dessert

188 Romney: "So Mr. President, you leave our embassy personnel unprotected in a "war" zone. How is that working out for ya?"

189 The fog of war?  We're at war?  With whom?  I thought Barry was engaging (from behind) in an overseas contingency operation?

190 @133.  Your analysis makes sense to me.  Obama  and his camp aren't nearly as political savvy as they think they are.  The Clinton's are, and they know it.  I  wouldn't be surprised if Obama thinks this will help him - always with the help from the Palace Guard Media.  But I don't think it will work this time. 

191

Bill Clinton was no better.  He never visited the WTC after the first bombing attempt.  He basically did nothing after the attacks on the Cole and our African embassies.   The only terrorist attack that Clinton really got in front of was the OKC bombing and only because he saw and used that as a political opportunity.

Bill Clinton is smarter than Obama and more evil than Obama.  Obama is just an incompetent communist.

192 "fog of war"

VIETNAM, MCNAMARA
confessions of an old man's 11 lessons
http://tinyurl.com/6drlye

193 This scandal was born of stupidity, ignorance, arrogance, and naivete. Only evil fools would put in place such a stupid policy regarding Libya. Only evil fools would resort to a crude and cruel cover-up to hide their guilt. Only evil fools would help them.

194 The war on fog. The fogged up war. Watch John Fullbright, my new folk-song hero, sing "Gawd Above" on YouTube and then imagine what he could do with fog of war.

195 I was reading on a little blog. The blogger was remembering that BO made appointments in Hillary's state department that reported directly to BO essentially circumventing Hillary. I don't remember this but the little blogger was adamant about remembering this. This little blogger seemed to think this was a huge factor in this mess. But they never really explained how that could be.

196 Diana West has more analysis of this: http://tinyurl.com/West-Hil

197 1) The idea that Obama is somehow personally responsible for knowing the security arrangements at each consulate throughout the Mideast is laughable.  Contracting security to a guy in a storefront in Wales who sent out two locals with dustmops is clearly a State failure, and it was starting to look sillier by the day.   

As I've said all along, Hillary needed to fire a couple underlings quickly to make this one go away.   She waited too long, really, but since it's Hillary she'll probably get away with it.

2) The issue that needs to be pushed is the administration's 'Look, a pony!' number regarding the video.  It's got to be hammered home that the administration fabricated that nonsense out of whole cloth in the face of piles of evidence to the contrary and so far they're hiding behind a bunch of "Intelligence community! Intelligence community!" nonsense.

198 He basically did nothing after the attacks

Black Hawk Down
Clinton demanded action. Then left our men without support.

199 We were supposed to have quit talking about this by now....why won't you people cooperate?

200 The Purple Pantsuit-every night is ladies night!

201 Obama is just an incompetent communist. Posted by: polynikes at October 16, 2012 10:08 AM (m2CN7) Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Good job

202 "I'm in charge here!"

203 Yeah, I knew that came from McNamara. Funny juxtaposition by The Secretary of War, Ms Cankles.

204  Obama is just an incompetent communist.
Posted by: polynikes at October 16, 2012 10:08 AM (m2CN7)

Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Good job

Posted by: Nevergiveup

 

 

Agree. Communism only is competent  when   the death  camps   are running.

205 As I've said all along, Hillary needed to fire a couple underlings quickly to make this one go away. Hillary should have resigned a day or two afterwards. A United States Ambassador was killed by a terrorist attack on US consulate. Even if security had been top notch, that is an utter failure by State and she should have done the honorable thing and resigned. Of course, I doubt the Clintons have even the most passing of acquaintances with honor.

206 "I'm in charge here!" Posted by: Hilary Haig Clinton at October 16, 2012 10:11 AM (2l/vK) hey don't pull Gen Haig into this. He might have misspoke that day, but he was a True Patriot and loved this Country.

207 Just because Obama scores some debating points tonight (If  he actually shows up mentally), this will all of a sudden sway the election back to him? Nothing changes with the disaster we are in, so people will automatically flip to Obama? We are living this disaster and any BS Obama bilges out doesn't change a damn thing. I think Obama will be mediocre at best because he has to spin his answers and no one really is there to protect him. Crowley may try, but it can only go so far and then it looks like mommy has to help little Barry from the mean bully Mitt..........

208 @194 - for the most part we are not talking about people who regard themselves as evil, but when you have people pursuing policies whose end results are indistinguishable from the intentional infliction of catastrophic harm (like six trillion in debt) it really doesn't matter whether they're evil or not, they cannot be permitted to continue.

209 New CAC poll up

210

Posted by: JEM at October 16, 2012 10:09 AM (o+SC1)

 

You seem to be as clueless as the rest of the progressives.  The President has security briefings everyday.  He was most definitely briefed on the two previous bombings in Benghazi.  That he would not inquire as to the security status of that consulate is not believable.  If by the chance that he did not,  it only proves how incompentent he is.

211 This maneuver should not work.
For it to work requires a compliant press (check)
and a compliant Republican Party (check).
Ok I guess it might work

The only fly in the ointment is Romney. If he wants to win he won't let this go. Four dead Americans can't be washed away by a childish no consequences "I take responsibility" statement.

212 Quick, without Googling it, who's O-bah-muhh's National Security Advisor?

213 197 edj

Diana West is great, amongst the very best war journalists.
Quote:

Wait, I thought she "took responsibility"...!

I understand why people want to ask questions, but I just caution that we need to look at everything, and everything needs to be explained at the same time," Clinton said. ...

Translation: After the election.

Clinton has said the responsibility for diplomatic security ends with the Stat Department.

"I'm not going to get into the blame game," she told Brennan.

Always a preface to getting into the blame game:

"I think intelligence is very hard to do and what we're going to find out as we do this accountability review and we get what will be the best possible chronology, that will be attached to what we knew when, which takes time. I understand the, you know, the anxiety and the desire to try to get answers. Nobody wants to get answers more than I do."

And we thought Hillary went noble on us.

214

i don't buy it.

 

she's been a dormat before, she's being used as one again.

215 Though your theory is plausible. There are a lot of holes. Why did Morsi declare he was going to bring. The blind sheik home? Stevens had enough security until augusr with no explaination as to they were told to leave? Stevens left vulnerable in September 9/11?? Coincidence? Militiants attack consulate. Two navy seals close by come to defend and assist. Did not play into the plan. Scenario a kidnapping attempt turned deadly. Stevens disappears for hours then turns up at the hospital? Suddenly a movie makes it to Egypt which starts an uproar. The same movie that has been on youtube for months with little to no views? If scenario worked blind sheik goes home and Stevens is safe and sound obama is the hero for October surprise surge in polls and reelected. www.freepress.com. WH sends Rice out to send the news hounds off the bad stinch of a botched plan. Its the movie. I believe Hillary had to agree more evidence of her involvement hence falls on the sword? Notice how quickly all was quiet after about a week of protest. Hush.....

216 @206.  Sometimes in life when things happen on your watch - especially really greivous things - even if you truly weren't in the know or responsible, you must accept responsibility.  Immediately after the PSU matter, my belief was whether Paterno, the AD, or the President knew or didn't know - it really didn't matter.  The acts were so heinous and they happened on their  watch.   They all had to go.  This is the same here.  Whether HRC knew or didn't know, whether Obama knew or didn't know.  They happened on their watch.  They  should have both owned it from the get go.

217 "I'm in charge here!" Posted by: Hilary Haig Clinton


!!

218 "I'm not even sure Sec. State would, unless it was a decision to underfund security in a number of places." There is no reason for the President or the SoS to know the number of guards at a consulate. So what? The entire point of having elected representatives is to make sure that someone is held accountable for the actions of the government. If you won't want to be blamed for getting people killed on 9-11, then you'd better make damn sure that you've done everything possible to avoid people getting killed on 9-11. This includes removing irresponsible and incompetent people from positions of authority, appointing responsible and capable people into those positions, and making sure that everyone top to bottom clearly understands what their duties and priorities must be. In the Obama administration, as we've heard via the hearing testimony, the highest priority was political posturing. Security was decreased in dangerous places in order to give the appearance of normality and victory. More security was requested and repeatedly denied by the functionaries and political appointees who work for Clinton and Obama because, they replied, the political price of doing their jobs properly was deemed too high. So Obama and Clinton had created an administration where it was less costly, politically, to let Americans die and embassies and consulates be overrun than to run afoul of the President's and the SoS's political talking points during the campaign season. When any boss allows his employees to operate under those sorts of perverse and twisted priorities, the boss is the person ultimately responsible.

219 213 Quick, without Googling it, who's O-bah-muhh's National Security Advisor? Brennan?

220 Clinton 2008:

"This is one of the most important elections in our country's history.

"I believe we need a president who believed what Harry Truman believed. That buck stopped in the Oval Office.

"I will do what I can to run the government and manage the economy, because I think we need a president who is hands-on, not hands-off.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKGNQg4T3NE&feature=player_embedded

221 she's been a dormat before, she's being used as one again.
.--
spare us the alligator tears for the abused wife who had her own affairs

222 I am a little confused how pursuing policies as SoS that have breathed life into AQ, allowed their supporters to take over sovereign governments that were once allies or neutered threats, exposes her duplicity on this matter and resulted in an American ambassador and 3 of our countrymen being murdered...helps her?

So you really think anyone outside her core supporters will throw a tickertape parade, foist her upon their shoulders and start singing "Hail to the Chief"?

I didn't think so.

If the buck stopped with Clinton, shoe should resign. But she won't because that would be the coup de grace for her political career.

We may even hear Mr. Obama say at some point that Hillary offered her resignation and he refused because the "buck stops with him".

That way we have the political circle-jerk that gets both of them through the election.

Have I said that Bill and Hillary Clinton run a close second to the suck that is President Obama?

223 220 213 Quick, without Googling it, who's O-bah-muhh's National Security Advisor? Brennan? Nope.

224 221 Chris, yes.

Obama is not Unprecedented in that the buck never stops at the Oval Office.

"Because I Could" Willijeff was never prosecuted after being impeached.

225

I thought (before the Bengazi attack) a radio commentator said,"Clinton will step down next year if Obama is re-elected." I presumed that would be to prepare for a 2016 campaign.

What if the recent crisis has her looking like the flawed hero/heroine who made a mistake, took the punishment like a grown-up and has learned from her mistakes?

Comments, anyone?

226 They've sent special forces troopsand drones in a wide ring around the region "looking for the killers". Nobody's going to buy that. Trust me on this.

227 @206 - oh, absolutely. 

In a sane world where responsibility went with authority that'd be true.   But we haven't seen much of that in a long time.

But even Bush 43 was very weak on that.   He may be a better man than Obama but he was far too loyal to failed subordinates.  

How long did Les Aspin hang on as SecDef after Mogadishu? 

The current administration believes that accountability is a sign of weakness.  There was a whiff of this with Bush, but it's a religion with this bunch.  Duck and cover, never admit anything. 

228 Romney: "So Mr. President, you leave our embassy personnel unprotected in a "war" zone. How is that working out for ya?"

Posted by: Roy at October 16, 2012 10:08 AM (VndSC)

RACIST!!!!

229 spare us the alligator tears for the abused wife who had her own affairs Heh. I've always said, looking at Chelsea, I'm not sure I see Bill...

230 @220 - Donilon. 

231

The idea that Obama is somehow personally responsible for knowing the security arrangements at each consulate throughout the Mideast is laughable.

 

To an extent, yes.   But    I don't think that holds water    in regards to this PARTICULAR "consulate" (if it can really be called that, since it    still doesn't appear to have been anything of the sort).       

 

The Libyan embassy is not just any embassy.         Obama's "kinetic military action" in Libya to oust Mummer Gadfly was one of    this administration's petulant attempts to frame Obama as a hawkish Preezy.      He has a clear, vested interest in making it appear that the Libyan uprising    and   his magnanimous outreach to the Libyan rebels were    successful    in instituting a more Western-friendly     climate     in that country.   If not Western-friendly, then at least less openly hostile   to the West and its interests.    He has clearly failed in that mission.

 

I agree that Obama      doesn't     need to     know the specific security arrangements        of every embassy worldwide;   he doesn't even need to know the     specific security arrangements of particular embassies in very     dangerous parts of the world.     But    he SHOULD have required    any and all     conversations     regarding American presence in Libya     after Gadfly's ouster      --   be it military or diplomatic --   go through HIS office.    He got America into Libya's    conflict;     he had   a duty to make sure our people were    protected.     

232 231 @220 - Donilon. Nope.

233 220 Clapper?

234 While TFG is playing checkers, Hillary is playing chess and Mitt will be smiling while chain sawing the JEF's foreign policy nuts off.

235 234 220 Clapper? Nope.

236 Hilary is leaving her post at the end of Obama's term anyway, so at MOST she only has a few more months at State. So she's not going to be fired now, that would be silly. If she is to be believed (and I actually DO believe her), she says she isn't running for elective office again after that. So there is really very little fallout for her to take blame/responsibility here, and to the extent that it screws up Obama, that's not her problem.

237 233 231 @220 - Donilon. Nope. My bad...it is Donilon....NSA "chief" is Alexander...never heard of him.

238 What part of "the president sets the policies and his secretary's carry them out" don't your get?

This is a foreign policy set by Mr. Obama and carried out by Mrs. Clinton. The basic principles and posture originate from Mr. Obama. He owns it.

Funny how we heard about the Bush Doctrine, etc. and not the Rice Doctrine last time around.

Now we have Clinton assuming or at least trying to give the appearance of assuming powers she does not possess.

This is about an administration that has allowed AQ to become stronger and gain a foothold in multiple sovereign governments in the Middle East. It's not about a "request" for more security. It is about the policies and posture that would permit such a request to be refused.

239 233 -  Donilon is Obama's national security adviser.

That isn't to say he does the job, I'm sure the political hacks second-guess that one, but that's the office he's got.

240 Key fact I learned from an Althouse commenter: Ambassadors report to the President not to the Sec. of State. Amb. Rice wasn't working from Hillary talking points at the UN.

241 Obama and his camp aren't nearlyas political savvy as they think they are.--SH
...
Savvy, hm. The Union Obama Camp lacks tactful nuance they presumed to advertise, "just" another false advertisement. But no one knows "politics" better than union, mafia, organized crime thug lords. If the Obama-Ayers' camp weren't politically savvy, he'd never have been elected in the first place. And at this point, the MFM would have completely turned against the loser.

Ah, but the Obama dam withholding his gross corruptions in office is faulty, built on corrupted "science" self destructing under its own pressure.

http://tinyurl.com/8neemaq
Illustration: Wm. Mulholland's St. Francis disaster, beware the impending catastrophe and seek high ground sooner than later. When capacity of the reservoir is 32,000 acre-feet, don't sell it with a capacity of 38,000 acre-feet.

Don't over extend. Life and property lost aren't so cheap.

242 I think she knows exactly what she is doing.

I do not like the Clintons but prefer them to The Won. Pick your poison. That said, for a nanosecond I sort of felt sorry for her doing this and acting like an adult. Unfortunately she waited over a month to do this, so it seems, uh, desperate. She probably knows she has a little time coming up with Congressman Issa, and wanted to get a jump start on the hearing. She also knows the WH has already thrown her and the CIA under the bus (note: the silence of Petraeus). So...if there are Hillary fans out there who don't like Obama to begin with, this may have them either staying home or switching to Romney. Or this may be wishful thinking on my part.

I think Mitt should bring up the old "buck stops with me" prior to Obama saying it, or agreeing with him in some floppy way. And it is true.

Questions for the White House:
1) Who told Susan Rice to say it was a video?
2) Why did it take eleven days to say it was not a video by the State Dept?
3) This "fog" of war: does mobs of armed radical islamic terrorists not ring a bell on 9/11?
4) There were 234 attacks in Libya in the past year. Twenty percent were in Benghazi. Were you, Buhrock, not told of any of these attacks?

I think McCain and Graham (not fans of either, but a good move on their part) coming out with their statement shows this is not over. Let the media and Dems scream "politicizing." They can scream this until the American people learn who lied to them after 9/11/12 and why---when the British press (Indenpendent and Telegraph) had this story straight on 9/12/12.

It is the cover-up, not the security breach, which should weigh on voter's minds. The security breaches---heck, the flat-out lack of security---still should come back to Obumbles, as he is, supposedly, the guy in charge and over his appointed staff. The buck does, indeed, stop with him.

243 Heh. I've always said, looking at Chelsea, I'm not sure I see Bill...

Posted by: Brother Cavil presents at October 16, 2012 10:23 AM (GBXon)

Really?  I think she looks like a cross between the two; the poor girl.

244 Amb. Rice wasn't working from Hillary talking points at the UN. Posted by: Sexypig at October 16, 2012 10:38 AM (jGUj1

She answers to Obama. He placed her on his cabinet.

245 Does anyone know who Ambassador Stevens flew into Benghazi on 9/11/12 to meet? Who was escorted out of the consulate one hour prior to the attack? I mean, does that alone not make the attacks seem pre-meditated---that locals were not attacked. That the local Libyan guards were warned. Why was he in Benghazi instead of Tripoli, when he was worried about security. This is another huge question along with the cover-up to the American people. And this may be WHY there is a cover-up.

It is the cover up. It is the cover up. It is the cover up. This is what is important.

246

A couple more topics Romney might ask about:

 

A. You and other Democrats spent the 8 years of President Bush's term demanding he take personal responsibility for every bad thing that happened. Did the rules change when you became President?  Why did you expect GWB to man up to every crisis but not yourself?

 

B. You tried to convince the American people that an amateur video inflamed the Islamic street against America.  What do you have to say about the TV specials made about the Osama Bin Laden strike and the upcoming feature film, all of which have had implicit administration approval if not outright cooperation?  Is there a reason to believe that sloppy videos inflame people against America, but professionally done ones don't?  Didn't you regularly accuse GWB of creating more terrorism and more terrorists by claiming American successes against them?  Haven't you recently claimed in public that you had defeated AQ?

247 Obama who refused calls blamed a "shady character" crappy movie.

Hillary promises to attach responsibility on the appropriate intelligence adviser(s).

Meanwhile, CIA Director Gen. Petraeus remains mute.

Truman said the buck stops here. But Truman was not unique.
"Don't blame anyone else, you just fasten it on me. If there was an error in human judgment, I was the human, and I won't try to fasten it on anyone else." -- Wm Mulholland, St. Francis Dam Inquest
http://tinyurl.com/8v3fhlm

pass the buck revisionist rules usurped integrity long ago

248 "Hillary isn't taking the blame, she's taking the credit." WHO GETS CREDIT WHEN FOUR AMERICANS DIE? This is a stupid argument. She fell on a nerf sword for the rank amateur in office, and the only thing she gets for it is assurances that Chelsea has a future in the party and a donation to the Clinton presidential library. There is nothing admirable about this, because she is covering for her boss.

249 Good analysis, I like it. But I think the play (Obama v Clinton) may be better played by key Romney supporters than Romney himself.

250 To prevent a future failure at State like Clinton has admitted, the US should establish a position in charge of all the Cabinet positions as an executive lead for the Government. To further strengthen this position we should assign that person authority to command all our armed forces. We could call this lead government executive "Chief Commander" or something like that. This may seem like a revolutionary idea but if the right person could be found to fill this position I think it likely that these terrible events can be prevented in the future.

251 "He has a clear, vested interest in making it appear that the Libyan uprising and his magnanimous outreach to the Libyan rebels were successful in instituting a moreWestern-friendly climate in that country. If not Western-friendly, then at least less openly hostile to the West and its interests. He has clearly failed in that mission." Very good point. Just look at that self-congratulatory speech he gave at the UN.

252

This leading from behind crap didn't work out so well for Chris Stevens, Tyrone Woods, Glen Doherty and Sean Smith.

If this idiot is re-elected, the list will grow.

253 "But I think the play (Obama v Clinton) may be better played by key Romney supporters than Romney himself." He should go for the jugular (heh) and ask Obama, "Just who wears the pants in your administration?"

254 I'm willing to bet that BO doesn't even understand what Hil has done.

255 "We may even hear Mr. Obama say at some point that Hillary offered her resignation and he refused because 'the buck stops with him.'" Drag her ass before Congress and put her on the stand. Let's see some accountability.

256

shxt my comment got eaten.

basically:

I love Hillary and still root Team Clinton but Bat for Team Romney for America.

Hillary did what we expected and took responsibility, it exposes SCOAMF for the derilicter of duty he is.

She needs to stay in office as Israels early warning system, I think her stare is what keeps O from going whole hog AntiAmerican foreign policy right now, with Kerry we AND Israel are well and truly screwed.

Good news is that wont happen as SCOAMF can do early retirement and navel gazing with his fans after Jan 20.

257

Well it's a nice analysis--and I'd like to believe that Hillary has in fact teed up the ball for Romney.  The problem is that as far as I know, unlike The Bamster, Romney doesn't play golf.

 

We'll see.

258 The only fly in the ointment is Romney. If he wants to win he won't let this go. Four dead Americans can't be washed away by a childish no consequences "I take responsibility" statement. Posted by: Harold at October 16, 2012 10:14 AM (JKNLp) When the press cries uncle and says you're politicizing a tragedy, you can bet your sweet ass it's a legitimate issue. Better talk about this than abortion and Sandra Floozie. Control the news cycle and win the presidency.

259 Why did Petraeus brief congress with the Cover Story 3 days after the attack?
Posted by: runninrebel
--
I don't know. I don't even know what Petraeus literally reported, only having heard about it, not having read any transcript.

A source to be taken with his ingrained prejudices in mind, Webster Tarpley, reported that Petraeus promoted the video in Washington with the advise to take it under consideration. Tarpley researched the video SPONSORS to be associates of John Bolton, the sponsors providing the means for the "shady character Coptic" bias video making and distribution via word of mouth "intelligence" reports.

Were that the case, scapegoat.

260 Drag her ass before Congress and put her on the stand. Let's see some accountability. -- Tattoo

Perjury "is" nothing new to Clintons.

261 "Hillary did what we expected and took responsibility, it exposes SCOAMF for the derilicter of duty he is." Nobody is looking for a hero here. Obama is just looking for a way to run out the clock, and Hillary is betting that Americans have short term memories.

262 Is Obama president to the 100% of America that includes the man he presumptuously publicly declared to be a "shady character Coptic Christian"?

263 Perjury "is" nothing new to Clintons. Posted by: panzernashorn at October 16, 2012 11:09 AM (BAnPT) They caught Bubba fair and square. Chelsea is royally screwed if her parents are both exposed as congenital liars. Pass the popcorn.

264 By her action, Hillary sent an invitation for BHO to meet her at Fort Marcy Park.

265

The Lebanon barracks bombing in 1983 killed 220 U.S. Marines - the largest number of Marines killed since Iwo Jima.  In all, 241 American servicemen were killed, the single worst day for servicemen since the Tet Offensive.

 

All under the careful watch and paragon of accountability known as President umm, umm, (heh) -- wait, wait, Mommy, I know this one ... (ahh, lemme see) ... the bananas were nice in my oatmael this morning, Nancy ... not too soft or mushy ... where was I, no, no don't help me - darn it all -- lemme give George Shultz a call, he's my go to guy when things go wrong over in camel land -- AHA - I got it Mommy. Reagan! President Reagan. See, I knew I could remember my own name.  (zzzzz)

266 Posted by: Che Gorilla at October 16, 2012 11:18 AM (icwKQ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sad. The quality of trolls on this site has really gone down under this administration.

267 The neoconservatives aren't happy to expose all about Ambassador Chris Stevens role in Libya as he directed the shipment of arms to the rebels, including those raiding Syria. That according to Webster Tarpley, staunch defender of the FDR New Deal(s) that sold socialist bills of rights.

Tarpley lost a lot of credibility as a scholar having gone completely overboard with anti-Masonic prejudices. "Consider the source" -- he should better select his own. And once you go too far in any single direction, there it is. Too bad, because as a scholar and investigative journalist, he's done much good relaying the world's historical context to the ignorant moronic American cursed with the shortest term memory.

None the less, Tarpley himself visits all of these countries, already knowing all the politics at play considering all historical contexts. So regarding the Middle East on its own grounds, Tarpley is as credible as any if not more.
http://tinyurl.com/9jdqdar
"World needs Turkey-Syria Peace"

268 Sad. The quality of trolls on this site has really gone down under this administration. Posted by: Mr. Feverhead at October 16, 2012 11:24 AM (SzAZ7) This is the worst troll I've ever seen around here.

269 I was certain you were just making things up until you brought up Waco. Even I remember that, and I think I was still in middle school.

270

Hillary  vs  Obama  . . .

CAT FIGHT !!!!!!!!

Whoo Hoo !

271

This is just SAD.

 

C'mon people!  The SecState just admitted that she is responsible for security at embassies.  Isn't the correct response to say, "Hey, that's great that you understand the responsibilities of your job.  Did you poop today, too?"

 

She took a MONTH to "admit" something that is simply factually true - a recitation of part of her job description!

 

What we REALLY need to know is, who refused to provide adequate security at the embassy, why they refused, and what the effective date of their resignation letter is. An ambassador is dead, for cryin' out loud!!

 

If the policy was at the President's insistance, the voters are especially entitled to know that, too.

 

Billy Bob pulled this same scam, "taking responsibility", when he knew damn well there would be NO consequences, whatsoever.  It's a mentality of "if I just admit I was wrong then it's OK that I did wrong."

 

Mitt seems to understand this stuff, having been a successful big-deal executive, and (judging from last time) knows how to call out Obama on this crap.  He knows that this "admission" by Hillary means absolutely NOTHING.

 

 

272 Hey Girl, it's me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOtMvEygvFk

273

"246 ... It is the cover up. It is the cover up. It is the cover up. This is what is important."

 

That's the other thing.  There are two aspects to this Benghazi event, the bad security, and the lying to the American people about what had happened.

 

The media is still agonizing over this, but the facts have been established for a month now.  Congressmen (from both parties) who had been briefed knew within a day or two that it was almost certainly a terrorist attack, and said so publicly, and yet the White House pushed the bizarre story that it was a demonstration that went out of control.  The intelligence was fine, they obviously knew the truth, and they were obviously selling us a phony cover story.

 

Even in her "admission", Hillary continued with this lie, calling it "fog of war".  She said nothing we didn't already know (that ANY SecState is always responsible for everything in the State Dept, including security), and doubled-down on the lie.

And, yeah, just as she is responsible for everything at State, the President is responsible for everything in the entire Executive Branch.  This doesn't get him off the hook.

 

274 Bill: If Obama meets Hillary out by the cannons in that park, it ain't Hillary that is going to end up stretched out under a cannon like King Tut, with a new skull vent and an old scrubbed pistol in hand.

Just sayin'.

The Clintons are not shy about playing that kind of hardball.

275 I bet Obama just calls in sick tonight.

276 Chelsea is royally screwed if her parents are both exposed as congenital liars. Pass the popcorn.

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at October 16, 2012 11:11 AM (i0vBR)

Does anybody take Chelsea seriously?  She's in her thirties and they still treat her like a retarded child, worse than the JEF.  I don't think they'll ever take the training wheels off for the ugly duckling.

277 I put out this same theory on Vodkapundit in response to the news, but the general opinion seemed to be that her political goose was cooked. I disagree: It's hardly damaging to Clinton, specifically, to take responsibility for the situation, and the upshot (showing leadership) is huge--and it's a huge blow to Obama, who surely was planning to hypovehiculate her in a much worse way. She just cut off every one of his options and sent him into debate #2 as the guy who ducks responsibility and scapegoats instead of getting things done.

But I still say she convinced him this was his idea. I think Hillary Clinton understands the value of leadership and what it means to show it. She has a long game; Obama always plays for short-term gain only.

278 Only problem with anyone thinking they own Obama is that the man is a consummate liar and cannot be trusted by anyone. His only allegiance is to keeping himself in power, no matter what it takes to do so.

279

I don't buy the Hillary as genius explanation. I think the fact she blames her underlings tells us that the plan is to accept responsibility and then when the investigation comes she blames the underlings per her own words here. The deal she made with Axelrod is that the WH will help her cover her tracks as she blames the people who were suppose to keep her (supposedly) informed. That someone will act as a ground on a wire. It will get tied up with them sufficiently that no one will care about what happens to this person good or bad and the whole thing goes away and it all happens well after the election. problem is the people are not going to accept Obama just blowing it off for 90 minutes at the foreign policy debate and I am waiting to see the plan to get through that.

280 You missed it and you're wrong. Here is what is right:
(1) Hillary is taking the blame in order to get Obama re-elected.
(2) If Obama is not re-elected and Hillary runs in 2016, she will run against an incumbent: Mitt Romney. She will lose and she knows it.
(3) The only way to get Benghazi off Obama is to provide talking points for the MSM and Democrats so the crisis can be put on a slow shelf until after the election. This is what Hillary is doing.
(4) Hillary has no choice. Benghazi is after all her responsibility. The cover up is Obama's to own. But with Hillary taking responsibility and with a re-election of Obama, Hillary at least has a chance in 2016.
(5) If Obama loses in 2012, Hillary is finished anyway.

281 I believe the vast majority of PUMAS have moved away from the Obama Democratic (not) Party. Hillary's embrace of Obama have absolutely disgusted a lot of us. I'm a PUMA. I would like my Hillary Primary donations back. What a opportunistic, self serving typical pol she turned out to be. So, I'm not so sure how many PUMAS are actually voting democrat this time around anyway. The New Democratic Party turned out to be a very good voters drive for Republicans.

282

138BTW Obama isn't under the bus either. No one can throw him under the bus. He's the boss.

 

Ahem.

283 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

284 Remember when taking responsibility meant findinga loaded luger on your desk? Good times. Good times. Posted by: Barron Bullet Von Skull at October 16, 2012 09:41 AM (SO2Q Boy, do I ever.