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Cha

(296,780 posts)
Sat May 11, 2013, 10:44 PM May 2013

With a whimper by Steve Benen

"But wait, Issa and his friends said, this hearing will be different. Now we have whistleblowers. This is will be The Day Everything Changes. This was a hearing so significant, so monumental, that Republican staffers on Capitol Hill felt the need to make movie posters to help promote it.

Issa over-promised and under-delivered. The dramatic hearing that Republicans and Fox News hoped to use to bring down the Obama presidency and permanently derail Hillary Clinton's still-unknown ambitions did neither -- there's still no conspiracy; there's still no cover-up; there's still no political scandal.

This is not to say we learned nothing from the hearing. When I read through transcripts and watched the back and forth betweeen lawmakers and witnesses last night, it was clear that Gregory Hicks, the former U.S. diplomat in Libya and Issa's star witness, offered details of the attack itself that were riveting and previously unreported. That said, in terms of the larger story, the details may have been fascinating, but they didn't break new ground. Indeed, conservative allegations that Hicks' perspective had been deliberately suppressed as part of a cover-up is absurd -- he'd already spoken at length to the independent panel that investigated the attack."

More..
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/09/18145168-with-a-whimper

EXCLUSIVE: Embassy Staff Undercut ‘Whistleblower’ Testimony On Benghazi

Staff who served in Libya with Gregory Hicks, the GOP’s primary “whistleblower” in this week’s hearing on the Benghazi terror attacks, undercut his story that State Department officials demoted him as retribution for speaking out, instead telling ThinkProgress about a man who one described as “the worst manager I’ve ever seen in the Foreign Service.”

Throughout his testimony on Wednesday, Hicks seemed certain that any critique of his leadership style while serving as deputy chief of mission in Libya was based solely around anger related to his stance on Benghazi. He also blamed his subsequent assignment after being pulled from Libya in mid-Oct. 2012 on his speaking out against the Obama administration’s response to the attacks.

However, ThinkProgress has talked to staffers based in Libya who counter Hicks’ portrayal of both his own performance and the State Department’s alleged response to him speaking out. A meeting between Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Beth Jones and Hicks took place in Tripoli prior to his removal from Libya, but not under the same circumstances Hicks sought to portray. Counter to Hicks’ story of an unwarranted reassignment, the staff was upset with Hicks’ performance since he was first assigned to Tripoli on July 31, and told Jones as much prior to her meeting with Hicks.

More> http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/05/10/1986251/benghazi-whistleblower-hicks/

Yet Another Benghazi Nothingburger Today by Kevin Drum

Was Benghazi mishandled? Maybe. Are there lessons to be learned? Probably. Is there a scandal or a coverup? There's never been any evidence of it, and there still isn't. This is a show that goes on and on without end, but it never delivers a payoff. Issa and his colleagues need to start paying more attention to stuff that actually matters, and give up on the Fox-friendly conspiracy theories that never pan out. Enough's enough.

More> http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/05/yet-another-benghazi-nothingburger-today

Benghazi!
16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Cha

(296,780 posts)
3. Just been reading all these threads on "coverups!".. I
Sat May 11, 2013, 11:26 PM
May 2013

decided to do a little investigating of my own.

Excellent graphic, freshwest..



http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022824480

Tarheel_Dem

(31,220 posts)
5. Someone should send Issa the story of the boy who cried wolf. The desparation reeks...
Sat May 11, 2013, 11:56 PM
May 2013

of a political vendetta & opportunism.

Cha

(296,780 posts)
7. Great idea, Tarheel! I keep thinking Issa is the one who needs Investigating
Sun May 12, 2013, 12:09 AM
May 2013

and he scrambles these Inquitions to get eyes off him.

The Dems need to take over the House so Issa is taken out as chairman of the Witch Hunts.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
11. may the benevolent heart of the Blessed Mother hear your prayers...
Sun May 12, 2013, 01:01 AM
May 2013

And then get off her ass and INTERCEDE, fa'chrissakes!!!!!!!

sheshe2

(83,637 posts)
6. Excellent OP, Cha!
Sun May 12, 2013, 12:03 AM
May 2013


The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite!
Tennessee Williams
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/liar.html#buJDYpEUK5AWDzE3.99

The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide.
Hannah Arendt
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/liar.html#UZ8xdKHYkEGAxxt1.99

Above all, I would teach him to tell the truth Truth-telling, I have found, is the key to responsible citizenship. The thousands of criminals I have seen in 40 years of law enforcement have had one thing in common: Every single one was a liar.
J. Edgar Hoover
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/liar.html#SUoJQZxHZUGKRewX.99

Well done, Cha!

Cha

(296,780 posts)
8. Great Find, she! I've been looking for something that denotes
Sun May 12, 2013, 12:20 AM
May 2013

the republican refusal to fund the Security for the Embassys. And, you've posted it all in that Graphic. I didn't know it was that much, though.. the amount that wasn't approved. Poor people who were killed in that attack. Ambassador Stevens, and Security Guards, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods. RIP

Speaking of "Excellent".. those Quotes are.. and brilliantly tie into the only thing republicons have going for themselves. They Lie and the US media doesn't call them on it.. Ad Nauseum.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
12. and this is one of the best *posts* I've seen!
Sun May 12, 2013, 01:07 AM
May 2013

Perrrrrrr. Fect. !! I'm really looking forward to checking those links. Telling the truth is so fundamental; explains why our reaction to these pukes is SO visceral!


Hypocrites AND Liars.

Cha

(296,780 posts)
15. You've nailed it, Blanche..
Sun May 12, 2013, 06:24 PM
May 2013
Telling the truth is so fundamental; explains why our reaction to these pukes is SO visceral!

sheshe2

(83,637 posts)
16. Hi Blanche,
Mon May 13, 2013, 09:08 AM
May 2013

The hypocrites and liars sure have a way of getting under your skin, don't they!

Thanks, good to see you again.

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