McCain Skipped A Briefing On Benghazi To Hold A Press Conference (on Benghazi)

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress



Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is demanding a special select committee to investigate the events leading up to the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya and has held around-the-clock television appearances pressing for a complete review of the incident.

But all of the senator’s media interviews and press availabilities may be interfering with his ability to gather information about the event. On Thursday morning, CNN’s Dana Bash reported that McCain chose to hold a joint press conference with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) rather than attend a closed-door briefing about the attacks:



I have to tell you something that just happened on Capitol Hill, and that is our senate producer Ted Barrett just ran into John McCain and asked about something that we’re hearing from Democrats, which is John McCain is calling for more information to Congress, but he had a press conference yesterday instead of going to a closed briefing where administration officials were giving more information. Well, Ted Barrett asked John McCain about that, and it was apparently an intense very angry exchange and McCain simply would not comment on it at all.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/11/15/1196411/mccain-may-have-skipped-a-briefing-on-benghazi-to-hold-a-press-conference/

[The Magistrate]

1. At Which, Ma'am, He Complained Of How Little He Knew About the Matter....

"What a nimrod! What a ultra-maroon!"

[Dubster]

2. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)

[PerceptionManagement]

40. McCain is really giving DeMint a run for title of Senates Biggest Asshole

Meanwhile, in the House, Issa gave out classified information about Libyan contacts friendly to the US and the location of the CIA annex while grand standing about Benghazi.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

3. K&R nt

[Coyotl]

4. What Mitt romney tried to do, politicize a tragedy = all they really have is covert racism!!

If this was about national security, they would be working instead of grand-standing.

[HooptieWagon]

5. Dems need to keep repeating this. nt

[blue_heron]

6. as Rick Perry would say......

OOPS!

I think it's sort of comical. Somebody make sure Jon Stewart picks up on this!

[ncteechur]

7. McCain needs to do all he can to block himself from being an even bigger prickly than he already is.

[Mike Daniels]

8. So much for aiming to end your career on a note of quiet dignity and self-respect.

It's like McCain knows his legacy is going be summed up solely by his pick of Palin for VP and he's just decided "What the hell. I'll go down in flames acting like a total jackass."

[petesan]

9. President Obama

must get so tired of their BS.

I'm going to have to go over to Yahoo News and post this link. There are a lot wing-nuts over there to rile up. They're convinced that there's some great conspiracy--involving an Obama cover up of course. For the past few days, they've been saying that Obama leaked the Patraeus affair to keep him from testifying. Now that he's testifying, he's going to tell lies.

Jeez. FUX news should be sued.

I make it my mission to post factual rebuttals to 5 or 6 of some of the more ridiculous posts each day. You can imagine how well that goes over.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

36. Not to dissuade you, but I used to do that and finally figured it wasn't worth it.

There have got to be a hell of a lot of paid RW posters there. Maybe I'm just telling myself that because I would hate to live in a country where that many hateful, selfish, illogical Teabaggers actually exist.

At first I would try to get into discussions with RW posters and found there was no interest in actual reasoned debate. So then I got into pissing matches that just ended up making me angry and disgusted with myself and them.

Then I figured, that even though I wouldn't persuade any of the diehards, maybe undecideds (not just in the election but on political ideas in general) might be reachable. So, I tried to not engage directly with any particular poster, but just to post logical, calm rebuttals to the lies.

But reading all the horrible RW BS still got to me. So, I stay away from Yahoo and similar comment sections. I wish you better luck.

Carry on, soldier.

[petesan]

41. Thanks

I've been at it for a while and some of the posts are disgusting. How many do you suppose would moderate their responses if anonymity could not be provided?

Your post is right on target and I've felt and concluded much of what you explained. This may sound a little twisted, but sometimes I just like to envision their heads exploding as they read and respond to my posts.

Most of them have no talent for riposte and resort to childlike, abusive responses. Many have bought into the FUX
news dribble hook, line and sinker. It's impossible to convince them that unlike the polls, their thoughts are skewed and have been manipulated.

I limit the amount of time spent enlightening the baggers because in the end, there is no fix for stupid. Do you think Rs can begin to comprehend the harm they do by encouraging the vitriolic responses elicited by Obama's every move? Oh to be able to see how history will judge their actions.

One other thought. When did liberal become synonymous with slackard? It is one of the most consistent memes throughout these pitiful comments. RW responders are absolutely convinced that liberals--any and all liberals don't work and are on government dole.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

44. I may just be a pessimist, but I doubt the possibility of enlightening baggers. Our only hope is to

prevent more of them being made.

With the mainstream media in the hands of Republican corporatists, I don't fancy our chances at that either. The demonization of all people and things liberal was part of the well-funded propaganda campaign carried out by the right over the past few decades. Until there is an equally well-funded, dedicated effort to undo that damage and move public opinion firmly in the in the opposite direction, the baggers will continue to increase in number.

I'm encouraged that the right didn't manage to outright buy this recent election, but until we have public opinion overwhelmingly against the nonsense the baggers are selling, the right will continue to impede the implementation of progressive policy.

Someone recently quoted Lincoln who supposedly said, "Public sentiment is everything."

[Berlum]

10. Whiney Republicans disregarding the facts

As usual...

[Window]

11. K/R

[John2]

12. Darn!

I thought Susan Collins wanted to tag along but she looks confused? Why the sud den retreat?

[valerief]

13. Facts, schmacts. Facts, like deficits, don't matter. nt

[elleng]

14. Would LOVE to see cartoons depicting this!!!

McC's ass somewhere, with head in the sand???


"an intense very angry exchange and McCain simply would not comment on it at all."

[sendero]

15. Hey girlie Lindsey and geezer McCain...

.... if we could not get one iota of accountability for 9/11, just exactly why would you think there would be any accountability for Benghazi?

You guys re-wrote the rules now LIVE WITH THEM.

[RedStateLib]

16. This is why

John McCain is irrelevant.

[hrmjustin]

17. Welcome to DU!

[Shuhered]

18. Totally Disgusting!!!!

What a Political Hack this McCain man is. Graham is just a pussy any way you size him up. This lady is an insignificant addition as she just spews out semi-meaningful but still irrelevant poopyhead matter, heehee. Obama can afford to get mad now, so let's keep seeing more of him, love it!!!

[ashling]

19. Kellly Ayotte is beginning to piss me off

[bluesbassman]

20. McCain probably figures this is his best and last shot at revenge for his 2008 asskicking.

Talk about laying in wait. I had regained a measure of respect for McCain over the past couple years, but it's all gone now. He will go down in history as the fool who picked Palin as a VP candidate and now a tinfoil hat loon.

[petesan]

46. IMO it wasn't the 2008 ass kicking

but the 2012 reelection of Obama that sent him over the edge.

McCain accepted Obama's 2008 win. By the time election day came, he'd know for a while that he would loose. While not magnanimous, the conceded with relative grace. McCain had a few redeeming moments over the past 4 years. We saw occasional glimpses of the reasonable, honorable senator that used to be John McCain.

He's dealt with Obama's presidency moderately well and was able to be civil because he believed Obama would be a one term president. Until 2 weeks ago, he hoped that come January, Romney would be president. With a Romney victory, McCain's vision for foreign policy, which aligned much closer with Romney's than Obama's, could be actualized. No more of Obama's mamby pamby, limp-wristed dealings with Putin and Ahmadinejad.

With Romney's unexpected (in the alternate universe inhabited by republicans) defeat, McCain's ambitions would be circumvented. There would be no pressing forward with the bellicose foreign policy he believed would renew American exceptionalism. A foreign policy that would allow him to showcase his expertise while providing a stark contrast with the past four years under Obama's spineless leadership.

With this realization, McCain began silently seething. This was the last straw. He wouldn't be able to nudge the chameleonic Romney into pursuing a foreign policy that he, John McCain would have instated as president. His disdain for Obama's foreign policy ,coupled with renewed envy fed his rage and he simply snapped. Gloves came off and fangs were unsheathed.

The Benghazi debacle (in McCain's eyes) provided the perfect opportunity to enlighten any who'd listen of Obama's gross ineptitude and dishonesty. To his own disservice, he may spend the next four years attempting to erode Obama's legitimacy and jeopardize his legacy.

I'm probably reading way too much into McCain's behavior when the true explanation may be that he's just a jealous dickhead.

[bluesbassman]

47. That's a well thought out and aticulated analysis petesan!

Of course the last line is not off the mark either!

Thanks for sharing your take on the McCain issue and welcome to DU!

[blueclown]

21. And keep in mind, these are the GOP "moderates".

These are supposed to be the reasonable people that President Obama needs to work with to pass legislation in a second term.

This is why the filibuster rules need to be reformed.

[calico1]

22. They are making asses of themselves. n/t

[dwilso40641]

23. Maybe it's time

To unseal songbirds military records. Maybe that would shut his mouth.

[FreeBC]

24. It's tough to sell a new image of the party when the true colors keep showing through.

racist.
racist.
racist.

[Uncle Joe]

25. Kicked and recommended to highlight McCain's enthrallment with politics versus learning the facts.

So much for all that "straight shooter" shit.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[hrmjustin]

28. Wow, just wow!

[myrna minx]

29. LOL. You poor thing. So much FOX so little facts.

[struggle4progress]

27. And his head he'd be scratchin whilst his thoughts wuz busy hatchin -- if he only had a brain

[beac]

30. This can never be said enough: John McCain is, and always has been, scum. n/t

[tanyev]

31. Craven.

[LaPera]

32. McCain just want a "witch-hunt" they will try anything anything to try to get a special prosecutor

McCain (or Graham) don't care one bit about getting more information or he would of made it to today's two hour classified meeting & hearings. - He knew what time it started.

McCain has already made up his mind without any of the facts....He & Graham just want a "witch-hunt" they will try anything, anything to try to get a special prosecutor to harass & weaken the Obama administration for the next four years (ala Ken Starr).

McCain & Graham certainly don't care about the facts or finding the truth - They've already made up their mind that they are going to speak the same untruths over & over again to try and make it fact.

McCain & Graham believe they have finally found their vehicle for the republicans to harass & dictate policy moves on this administration via their completely bogus accusations, which don't hold any water what so ever. - There is zero none, nil, zilch no substance to what McCain & Graham are saying - and the thing is....And is why they are screaming so loudly - because they know it too.....

Republicans have made it perfectly clear that are trying to get a special prosecutor appointed on the flimsiest of evidence & untruths so they can dig into anything & everything in this administration for the next four years .

They aren't going to get away with it this time as they did with the bogus “Whitewater” scam they made up.

[benld74]

33. ATTENTION Cindy McCain!! Please come,,, aahhhh You know the drill honey!

[sellitman]

34. The straight BS express

Yet another GOP fail.

[NCGardenGirl]

35. Once upon a time, I actually respected John McCain

[MisterScruffles]

37. Why?

You didn't check into his history, I take it?

[NCGardenGirl]

39. I'm not the only one wondering ...

Never thought of him as liberal, but he seemed to be a conservative with some common sense.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2010/02/what-happened-to-john-mccain/25634/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/15/1161919/-Whatever-Happened-To-John-McCain#
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/chris-matthews-asks-what-happened-to-john-mccain/

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. Kick (nt)

[Supersedeas]

42. who will Kelly Ayotte hitch her wagon to next?

[olddad56]

43. I doubt seriously if this guy knows what day of the week it is most of the time.

[Rex]

45. Why do Repukes continue to listen to this non-starter?

Oh right, they are all fucking morans to boot.

A ball of lent has more statesmenship quality then John 'I Am Vain' McCain.

[Scootaloo]

48. He's ten gallons of puke in a five-gallon white trash bag

[Odin2005]

49. It's all about setting Obama up for impeachment.

Bastards!