Associated Press
How Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham spent their afternoon
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) Benghazi tantrums is the extent to which he's confused. It'd be offensive in a general sense if the senator tried to exploit a terrorist attack for petty, partisan gain, but in this case, McCain seems outraged about details he simply doesn't understand.
If there's anyone in Washington who would benefit from a detailed briefing on what actually transpired in Benghazi in September, it's the senator who's throwing fits over what he thinks happened in Benghazi in September.
As luck would have it, the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which McCain is a member of, received a classified, closed-door briefing for nearly two hours yesterday, receiving up-to-date information. What did McCain learn from the briefing? Nothing -- according to the Republican ranking member on the committee, McCain failed to show up.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, backed up her chairman, Lieberman, and dinged McCain, a member of the panel, for missing Wednesday's nearly two-hour briefing in the Capitol.
Both Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, "who was there at briefing, and Sen. McCain, who was not, are members of our committee, and I know they would play very important roles," Collins told POLITICO after the briefing.
In context, Collins was answering questions about McCain's demand for a special congressional committee to investigate the attack that killed four Americans in September. Both she and Joe Lieberman have said they don't see such a step as necessary -- there are already committees in place in the House and Senate to get answers -- and they reiterated that belief after yesterday's briefing.
But what's unclear is why McCain didn't bother to attend the lengthy briefing on a subject he claims to care so deeply about. McCain had time yesterday to appear in front of cameras to talk about Benghazi, but didn't have time to get more information about Benghazi?
Update: According to a CNN report, McCain hosted his press conference demanding more information during the hearing in which he could have received more information.
Second Update: Josh Rogin also reported, "[A]lthough McCain had time to speak on the Senate floor and on television about the lack of information provided to Congress about the attack, he didn't attend the classified briefing."
"If you want answers, a good first step is to show up and ask a question," an administration official told Rogin. "That's what a senator does."
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During the '08 election, McCain announced he would suspend his campaign because of the "historic crisis in our financial system". He said he wanted to get back to Washington to participate in the negotiations. Turned out he had nothing to contribute. He was grandstanding in '08 and he's grandstanding now.
Could someone please help me understand the motives and logic behind trollery like that of Steve-###? It's not as if he'll persuade anyone, and his douchebaggery means he'll be disliked and distrusted by any of us with any sense of reason. Thank heavens we are no longer plagued by shooter et al., but trolls like Steve-### make the blog comment train actually painful to navigate. Hey -- is he here just to drive some of us away?
I've never understood what possesses someone to spend even a second of their life trolling on Internet comment boards. I just don't get it.
What pathetic lives they must lead that they would spend any amount of it pointlessly Internet trolling.
The educating of the unwashed masses such as yourself is somehow enjoyable. and belittling the Intellectually dishonest is just an added enjoyment.
What pathetic lives they must lead that they would spend any amount of it pointlessly Internet trolling.
Thanks for the demonstration of the truth of that, little Scotty. Is it nice and warm down in your basement? Good lighting and all?
And exactly WHAT does that have to do with this scandalous administration?
(Oops! Sorry, Steve, I meant scott-3860658). Lo siento mucho!
I don't believe anyone died from McCain missing a hearing but isn't it great that Steve Benen feels this is where the focus should be. Four Americans where killed in Benghazi and according to the White House we heard four two weeks it was due to a video. Ms Lamb stated to a House investigation she watched the attack in real Time. It has also been reported the CIA Chief of Staff in Libya reported to the Sate Department within 24 hours it was a terrorist attack.
When do the people on this blog begin to care more about the people who were killed in Libya than there love for Obama. How sad that your hate for the other party overrides why the American public was misled by this administration.
I think you are comparing apples and oranges. I believe that everyone cares about the people we lost in Benghazi. I think everyone wants answers. McCain is making a big deal about WANTING to know the truth, but skips his opportunity to do so. Just because McCain's actions didn't cause anyone to die, doesn't mean that someone can't point that out.
When do you get an IQ above room temperature, wingnut moron?
You do realize that it being an attack and it being the result of an out-of-control protest in response to the video's airing on Egyptian television are not mutually exclusive realities, yes?
Again it seems that right wingers are purposely not allowing themselves to comprehend that two simultaneous, but segregate events were going on at the same time thus creating confusion that had to be sorted out by an investigation.
Yes, like WHY the evacuation route was known to this ALLEGED lynch mob. What a terrible,miserable ,pathetic attempt at a joke.
LES, Why is it that 4 lives are put on Centerstage, But it seem's that all lives lost on 9/11 and in Iraq and Afghanistan seem to get no mention? Why is that? So, tell me there was nothing scandalous about Bush and 9/11 info? Iraq? all the Embassy bombing's during Bush's time in office? All the missing Billion's in $$$ that vanished in Iraq? What about that? WE as Democrat's don't throw 47% of our Nation under the Bus, WE except all of OUR Citizen's, What is wrong with that?
John McCain has possesed a deep hatred for the President ever since he and Sarah Palin lost their bid to be first couple. He chastises everything Obama does and drags Lindsey Graham around like a mindless puppet. He said that people are responsible for their words and actions while speaking out against Hilarys possible replacement when he chose the biggest brain dead person to step into the presidency if he were to die. Even his own daughter Meagan has more realistic and progressive views than this old war monger. He is the poster child for why politicians should retire after 65 years of age.
Pres. Obama wanted everyone to believe he called the Benghazi attack an act of terror from the start. During the second debate, he even had Candy Crowley "repeat that a little louder" to substantiate a vague statement as a definitive declaration. He was referring to his Rose Garden speech the day after the incident -- which mentioned religious intolerance as well as a general statement about America's resolve following incidents such as the original 9/11 in 2001. In any event, he pointed to the Rose Garden speech as proof he called the attack an act of terrorism from the beginning.
But later, the White House sent out Susan Rice to the Sunday talk shows to peddle the story about the YouTube video, although, as the President admits, she had nothing to do with Benghazi. Why would the White House send out someone with nothing to do with Benghazi to tell the story of Benghazi -- a story given to her by Obama's admission? Precisely because she had nothing to do with Benghazi -- or in other words, wouldn't be in a position to answer any probing questions.
As we see the timeline of information as provided during the Congressional testimony, I wonder when it was that the YouTube video became the "BEST AVAILABLE EVIDENCE"? And what intelligence can they point to that substantiates this claim? Where along the chain of command did the intelligence modify to the YouTube video story.
There is clear obfuscation in the President's response to Benghazi.
Dear trolls,
Why are we playing semantics with the Presidents words?
Why is Rice disqualified to speak about Benghai because she wasn't in Benghazi during the event, since when does that disqualify people from reporting (or posting comments) on an issue?
If there is the absence of a cover-up, how is that supposed to be proven? By the obvious absence of evidence to the contrary? A lack you seem not to notice.
Why is it that to you conservatives President Obama is guilty until proven innocent in a nation that prides itself on innocent before proven guilty?
Yes, these questions are rhetorical because you will not answer me.
So now the government has a time machine? Ambassador Rice was, I understand, on various morning shows the week-end after the attack in Benghazi. The Presidential debates occurred after her appearances.
Now we know why so many troll seem to be factually challenged - they're illiterate!
Now if someone would only shut the electricity of on those basements...
It was the President himself that was playing semantics with his own words, issuing a vague statement in the Rose Garden speech. The vagueness is confirmed by the fact that 60 minutes sought to clarify the President's position in an interview the following day, in which they asked specifically if this was indeed a terrorist attack in the President's view.
In the interview, the President clearly did NOT confirm the attacks were the result of a terrorist attack -- and soon after Jay Carney and Susan Rice were pushing the YouTube video story.
Ambassador Rice did not have to be in Benghazi to comment on Benghazi, of course, but it was President Obama who declared Rice had "nothing to do with Benghazi." What we might expect is that someone in the chain of command or someone with firsthand knowledge of the incident might explain the particulars -- instead we got someone who had no knowledge except for the story with which she was briefed.
I think your moniker UFO Pilot says it all. How's the tin hat?
The Maverick has become a Bohemian, what a joke,,,,
It would be a real service to the American viewing audience to stop having Mr. McCain in front of a microphone and camera. FOX can keep him but he should not take up space on any roundtable discussions, etc. He is angry old white man....the very essence of the right wing Republican. He and Rush should do a show together. Just keep the old geezer off the news. You only encourage him.
Too bad McCain cannot end his political career (and it is ending) as a senior statesman. He is becoming an angry old man.
Sadly, he has become an angry old man.
They knew there where no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. They lied to the American people. Just make you wonder about the Republican party.