world

Republicans dust off old scandals ahead of mid-term elections

44 Comments

Six months ahead of crunch U.S. mid-term elections, Republicans seeking to capture Congress have rehashed well-worn political scandals that they hope will portray the Obama administration and Democrats as abusers of executive power.

Republican leaders and strategists have steadily rolled out the plan in recent weeks, from House Speaker John Boehner calling a select committee to investigate the 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi to the House voting Wednesday to recommend the attorney general appoint a special counsel to probe IRS targeting of political groups.

Those two scandals consumed Washington for months in 2012 and 2013, and the GOP managed to put the administration, including its high-flying secretary of state Hillary Clinton, on the back foot.

The question is whether re-investigation of the scandals at a time lawmakers struggle to cooperate on jobs initiatives to improve a shaky US economy will rally voters to the GOP side, or prompt a backlash.

"This is a story that's not going to go away," conservative congressman Joe Barton said of Benghazi.

No fewer than eight investigations have been conducted on the tragedy, in which four Americans were killed by extremists.

Republicans insist the White House interfered politically in the attack's aftermath, and that White House "stonewalling" is only making it worse.

"This is all about getting to the truth," Boehner said of the select committee on Benghazi, whose chair will be two-term tea party Republican Trey Gowdy.

"This is not going to be a sideshow, it's not going to be a circus," Boehner said.

But that is exactly how congressman Steve Israel, head of the campaign arm for House Democrats, sees it.

"These are political strategies Republicans have to excite their base in the mid-term election," Israel told AFP, adding that the broader electorate won't bite.

Voters "want us focused on the economy and not these distractions."

Another reason for the refocus could be the improving performance of Obama's controversial health care law, highlighted Wednesday by testimony from insurers who said premiums were not soaring as many Republicans predicted and that the vast majority of enrollees have paid their coverage.

Conservatives who relentlessly sought the repeal of Obamacare and blasted its disastrous rollout last year were now "pivoting" away to past scandals, Israel said.

"When one issue fades, they've got to invent another one."

But Republican National Committee press secretary Kirsten Kukowski said it was "ridiculous" to expect her party to abandon the Obamacare campaign theme.

"There are many issues that the American people are not happy with, whether it's Obamacare, the economy or Benghazi," she told AFP.

Adding to Republican pressure, a House panel voted Thursday to subpoena Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki over accusations that a "waiting list" for sick veterans at an Arizona hospital contributed to deaths there.

The administration has found itself knee-deep in investigations, Kukowski stressed, because "from the very beginning the Democrats have been handling these issues in a non-transparent way."

In private, however, Republican strategists admit the party has revived Benghazi because it serves as a political battering ram against Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential frontrunner in 2016.

"Americans have known Hillary Clinton for a very long time, and this is an opportunity for Republicans to present her back to the people and show them what happened on her watch," a Republican aide said on condition of anonymity.

Brent Budowsky, a former senior staffer for Senate and House Democrats, said that while the Republican strategy had some merits, "now it's overkill."

He said Boehner has been forced to placate the Republican far-right with fresh Benghazi and IRS probes so that they do not revolt over his support for immigration reform.

"They know their base is already upset so they're throwing them some red meat to counteract that," Bukowsky said.

© (c) 2014 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

44 Comments
Login to comment

In private, however, Republican strategists admit the party has revived Benghazi because it serves as a political battering ram against Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential frontrunner in 2016.

In other words, they have absolutely nothing to offer the electorate and are totally bereft of effective policies....

4 ( +10 / -6 )

The whole Obama admin. is a class all in itself that would put Cirque du Soleil to shame. Considering the money that we're paying these guys.

I am no fan of Obama but if the Republicans want to be taken seriously they are going to have to come up with something more than cheap slander and policies that only pander to their right wing predominately white upper class gun toting demographic...

4 ( +8 / -4 )

"5 years on and this tragedy we call a president hasn't delivered one thing."

That's right, not ONE thing, apart from economic recovery, shrinking deficits, booming stock market, peace and millions more Americans signed up for healthcare. But apart from all that, not ONE thing.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

“This is not going to be a sideshow, it’s not going to be a circus,” Boehner said.

Ha ha, too late! And Boehner is the head clown.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

That's right, not ONE thing, apart from economic recovery, shrinking deficits, booming stock market, peace and millions more Americans signed up for healthcare. But apart from all that, not ONE thing.

How do you figure? So then why are minorities not feel in' the love of this great economy? Why are there over 11% unemployed Blacks and Hispanics not that far behind. They should be flourishing and making bank, so what gives? Sorry, I can't say that, that would make me a racist. As for the deficit, how is that we owe 17 trillion and printing money taking care of the deficit? So how much budget do we have again? As for the stock market, Obama HAS been a blessing for the rich and investors, so thank you VERY much Mr. President! Peace??? Apparently, you haven't noticed what's going on in Syria and Russia. If that's peace, I'd hate to see these countries getting mad and wanting to start a war. Lastly, Obamcare is the blessing that Republicans needed, so thank you again. With over 50% saying they don't like it and are NOT happy with the new system is the final nail on the coffin for Dems. And with the upcoming elections, every Dem that has his/her name attached to this law will be out of a job soon, this is why they are running away from it to save their skins. So from a liberal skewed warped perspective, you could call it a success, but a reality and logical POV,bathe last 5 years have been nothing but a disaster a horrible nightmare that we all have to endure for another 3 more years. God, help us all.

I am no fan of Obama but if the Republicans want to be taken seriously they are going to have to come up with something more than cheap slander and policies that only pander to their right wing predominately white upper class gun toting demographic...

Well, I'm a gun toting varmint shooting guy and I will say on that, I do agree with you, but when it comes to slander, both sides do a good job at it. This is not a partisan issue, nor should it be.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Bass, Obama's a loser all right. 

Deficit's going down

No new budget-destroying, GOP-sponsored wars-for-nothing I'll repeat that: NO new mega-costly wars

Employment's rising

Massive spending on green initiatives and alternative energy

Millions more Americans with health insurance (conservatives can't stand people being healthy)

On the GOP side, all we hear all the time is continuous whining about Benghazi and Obamacare, but as usual - ZERO alternatives, ZERO new ideas, ZERO solutions.....nothing, zip, nada. 

2 ( +6 / -4 )

"As for the stock market, Obama HAS been a blessing for the rich and investors, so thank you VERY much Mr. President! Peace???"

That's simply not true. I'm not rich but when George Junior Bush left office, my private pension fund evaporated to nearly half it's value, and I we were really, really stressed out. After 3 years after Obama too over, my savings regained their former value and have since grown continued to rise.

Do you seriously think 401K or mutual fund owners are all rich elite people? I mean, come on, what planet are you on?!"?

"I bet you think the subprime crisis and subsequent fallout was Bush's fault, too."

No, it was directly fault of unregulated private-sector lenders and of Wall St. The Bush administration, however, failed to spot the housing bubble and do anything, so it had an abetting role.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

....... This is the pathetic mind set of people like you. Govt can't give people health insurance at affordable and efficient levels. I remember skimming through the ACA and recall one page where funding this horrendous law is mandated to cost $7 trillion and rising.

I for one agree. The US government could never provide a system which is so big and costly. Just look at how darn poor and unsuccessful the US military has been for example. If the government can't manage to operate the Defense Department and its ineffective and antique-equipped Army, Air Force, Navy/Marines and Coast Guard which has been a complete failure throughout US history, who would be crazy enough to think that these imbeciles could actually sit down, stop all the bipartisan BS and put their twisted little heads together and give the people what most developed countries of the world have already. I'm sorry, you said $7 trillion? How much is the budget of the Defense Department per year? Must be a a fraction of that!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Regrets afterward from most.

MarkG, apparently you didn't get the memo. The entire GOP strategy for 2014 was to run against Obamacare. Problem: Most people are pretty cool with it now, and its support is bound to continue increasing - not to mention that the GOP has zero in terms of an alternative.

Hence: Benghazi! This is kinda neat, though; it's like late night TV with classic reruns. What about" Fast and Furious"? What about the IRS targeting political groups? What about Michelle encouraging kids to eat vegetables? We'll all be able to travel back down memory lane together!

Meanwhile, GOP obstructionism makes Rush Limbaugh's colon look like a waterslide park. Good luck with that.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Kept the financial system from completely going under

That would be Ben Bernanke.

The deregulation of banking, to put it simply, was the cause.

If Gramm-Leach-Bliley were the cause of the financial crisis, why, then, did the commercial banks which took advantage of the bill and diversified (Citigroup, Bank of America, etc.) come out of the financial crisis in relatively good shape compared to the investment banks that did not, and crumbled (Bear Stearns, Lehman)?

The role played by Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan can't be overlooked either

Correct.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

On the GOP side, all we hear all the time is continuous whining about Benghazi and Obamacare, but as usual - ZERO alternatives, ZERO new ideas, ZERO solutions.....nothing, zip, nada.

Exactly. They've got nothing to offer but obstruction to forward progress. Deregulation and tax cuts have run their course, and the crisis of 2008 was the result. The only thing they can do is snipe and complain.

If Gramm-Leach-Bliley were the cause of the financial crisis, why, then, did the commercial banks which took advantage of the bill and diversified (Citigroup, Bank of America, etc.) come out of the financial crisis in relatively good shape compared to the investment banks that did not, and crumbled (Bear Stearns, Lehman)?

Oh, come on. You can't be serious. "Without the banks providing financing to the mortgage brokers and Wall Street while underwriting their own issues of toxic securities, the entire pyramid scheme would never have got off the ground. It was Glass-Steagall that prevented the banks from using insured depositories to underwrite private securities and dump them on their own customers. This ability along with financing provided to all the other players was what kept the bubble-machine going for so long." -- U.S. News and World Report.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

No fewer than eight investigations have been conducted on the tragedy, in which four Americans were killed by extremists.

Republicans aren't looking for answers. They are looking for answers that they approve of that can help them politically. Until they find those answers they will continue with investigations and if you try to stop them they will tell you it's because you don't care about 4 dead Americans.

He said Boehner has been forced to placate the Republican far-right with fresh Benghazi and IRS probes so that they do not revolt over his support for immigration reform.

Yep. It's such an odd situation with Republicans now. They have to do something utterly stupid in order to take attention away from the issues where they might actually do something productive. Any plans for healthcare? Immigration? The budget? Nope. No leaders, no ideas, no accomplishments. With that in mind, gotta talk about Benghazi.

This will work as long as the Republicans are the minority party. But if they win the Senate as they are expected to do, what will they do? Will winning the Senate make Ted Cruz agree with a Paul Ryan budget? Will it make Republicans rally around Marco Rubio's immigration comments? When you are the minority party you can talk about crackpot ideas like impeaching Obama, but when you get in power that won't fly anymore. The GOP has already banned themselves from talking about major issue until after the election. I'm wondering what they think will change the day after the election when they have the majority?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

So what's the difference in your selective outrage that you constantly criticize Repubs on the war in Iraq and the thousands that were killed, but 4 Americans in Benghazi, Ahhh, forget about it, Yeah, 4 Americans died, but who cares, right?

Bass, on September 12, the day after the Benghazi attack, Obama said:

Our country is only as strong as the character of our people and the service of those both civilian and military who represent us around the globe. No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done.

Also, Bass, some 4,500 Americans died in Iraq, a war justified by false premises. Sure, that's only a difference of 4,496 people, but Obama did not cause the attack in Benghazi while Bush & Co. did cause the war in Iraq.

Speaking of Iraq, in April, 2007, Darrell Issa had this to say about subpoenaing Condoleezza Rice:

This — the inappropriateness of hauling the secretary of state, not the former national security adviser, the secretary of state, out of the performance of her job is what we’re objecting to. A crossing of the line is not who she used to be, but who she is today, particularly considering that she did answer exactly these questions that people say they want to pose to her, she answered those during her confirmation.

But subpoenaing John Kerry - who was not even an executive branch member when the Benghazi attacks occured! - is apparently crucial. After all, all Kerry has to deal with at the moment are crises in Ukraine, Syria, Israel, South Sudan, North Korea and the South China Sea. He can put those on the back burner while we hold the seventh Benghazi hearing. (To put that in perspective, though, that's still 47 less hearings than the number of votes held to repeal Obamacare.)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Yeah, what a shame Mitt Romney wasn't elected in 2012 or McCain back in 2008.

Just think........with Lindsey Graham as Defense Secretary...., We could have stayed in Afghanistan and Iraq, started wars with Iran, North Korea, gotten much deeper involved in Syria and Libya and be knee deep into Crimea and possible war with Russia. Oh and I forgot China because we all know that Romney or McCain wouldn't allow the Chinese to get away with sending ships daily into Japanese territorial waters. I know I'm forgetting something but I'm so caught up in all this excitement dreaming of all the military ventures we have been missing out on. Just think how all of that would have reduced unemployment and especially job opportunities in the military for young men and women needed to fill all the openings lost overseas (do to combat fatalities and casualties).

Geeeez, if Obama hadn't been elected our foreign policy wouldn't be in such disarray and we wouldn't be so negatively viewed around the world. Boy, the world would be so much better off today, if only the Republicans were in the White House.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley act made it possible for banks to act as more than one type of bank, i.e. a bank could now be some combination of investment, commercial and insurance company. Now, tell me, what part of that has anything to do with the excerpt you just posted? That's right, nothing.

Nothing? Wow. One has to wonder if the sheer ignorance of the self-contradiction expressed above is willful or unintended.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley allowed once-conservative and staid commercial banks to operate more like casinos -- to take on higher risks with less capital backing up those bets -- er "investments." And, of course, one of the hottest gambles in town were mortgage-backed securities -- which Glass-Steagall previously prohibited commercial banks from taking on. The commercial bankers sought greater returns that operating as the old solid, boring, conservative institution, with all its restrictions, denied them.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

AIserX: There are only two types of ideas. One have the Govt come in and do everything, the other have the free market and voluntary association sort everything out.

There are two type of ideas, but not the ones you put forth. One is the idea that you should take one ideology to it's extreme because it's always the right thing to do. The other is that you can support one side a vast majority of the time, but still understand that a good system will have at least some elements of both of your ideas.

The free market doesn't create things like the Americans with Disability Act, the Fair Housing Act, the EPA, etc. It can't just sort itself out when a catastrophic financial event drops wages so low that people need government assistance to survive which in turn creates corporate welfare. It also doesn't drive some fields of technology where the government can spur growth and create incentives for business to get involved. And let's not forget that social security is a massive socialist scheme at the end of the day. So is the NFL, and it seems to be doing pretty well.

On the other hand, you don't want things to get so out of whack that too much government involvement harms business more than it helps the overall good. We want environmental protections, but not so much that it grinds business to a halt. We want to promote equality but that needs to be weighed against businesses choosing their own paths.

The key is finding the right balance between the invisible hand and government involvement. I don't believe anyone who tells me that government involvement is always needed or that the free market approach gets it right 100% of the time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Republicans dust off old scandals ahead of mid-term elections

So Japan Today got tired of posting stories to elicit indignation about the Koch brothers buying off Republicans so they've come up with doozy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What else are Republicans going to run and fund raise on? Obstructionism? Repealing Obamacare?

5 years of failed Liberal policies

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In other words, most sane people are sick of the Republican shenanigans. Once again this doesn't help them. Just a thought, but did China and Russia start acting up before or after the republicans threatened a government shut down? I'm not for the democratic party either, but people sure did get sick of the conservative republicans making sure only their ilk were getting benefits on the backs of those who actually have to work very hard for a living.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Deregulation and tax cuts have run their course, and the crisis of 2008 was the result.

The fact that the only thing you can do on this subject is parrot MoveOn.org leads me to believe you're just as economically illiterate as your compatriots. Any attempt to limit the blame for the financial crisis, or even call out a primary cause, demonstrates not only a clear agenda, but a flagrant misunderstanding of the fundamentals surrounding the issue.

Without the banks providing financing to the mortgage brokers and Wall Street while underwriting their own issues of toxic securities the entire pyramid scheme would never have got off the ground

Oh, come on. You can't be serious. This demonstrates not only your misunderstanding of the bill you're demonizing, but the author of the article. Do you even know what it was that law did? You clearly don't, so here it is:

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley act made it possible for banks to act as more than one type of bank, i.e. a bank could now be some combination of investment, commercial and insurance company. Now, tell me, what part of that has anything to do with the excerpt you just posted? That's right, nothing. The law was put into place to enable mergers of banks which had, for all intents and purposes, been going on well before the act's signing into law.

There's about a million things in line for the "If Not for X" trophy. But, those are all those blasted Republicans and their anti-regulation frenzy, I bet.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Bass, why do you want to vote for a party that says 'No' to everything (even proposals the same party once championed) and that has ZERO constructive ideas about anything?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Super

Republicans aren't looking for answers. They are looking for answers that they approve of that can help them politically.

So then what are the Dems doing? Then you can say the exact same thing about the Dems. They are stonewalling because now it was confirmed that the whole video debacle was a lie, if I were telling the truth and it were on my side unequivocally, I'd be the first one to testify to show those damn Republicans I'm completely absolved of ANY wrong doing, but the problem is, they can't and they know it, this time, they know it.

Until they find those answers they will continue with investigations and if you try to stop them they will tell you it's because you don't care about 4 dead Americans.

Will Libs stop in trying to file charges against Bush, Cheney?

Yep. It's such an odd situation with Republicans now. They have to do something utterly stupid in order to take attention away from the issues where they might actually do something productive.

Like what? You guys are doing a bang up of a job on that front. When you guys are asked about Benghazi, you talk about the so called war on women, whatever that is? When you are asked about Obamacare and how bad the numbers are, you want to accuse every White of being a racist. You guys are in the front seat and if anyone wants to distract from anything, it's the Dems, the Repubs are very quiet, calculated and careful, they are just standing by and watch as you guys squirm on the hook that you laid out for yourselves.

Any plans for healthcare? Immigration? The budget? Nope. No leaders, no ideas, no accomplishments. With that in mind, gotta talk about Benghazi.

You guys gave us Obamacare, how's it working, what are the actual numbers, oh, I forgot, they were asked to show the numbers and the WH conveniently said, NO? Why? If they are as good as they claim, why not show the stats to us? LOL We already know why. Immigration, you mean, give amnesty to everyone, have an open door policy to just any person that wants to come in legal or illegal. Budget? You are kidding. You guys don't even have a surplus. And this gets me, we have a leader and he is the biggest joke to have EVER occupy the White House, enough said. Liberal ideas, the last 4 years accomplished nothing, sorry, more debt, house hold incomes went down, great work. Oh, and there is Benghazi....

@Jeff

Sorry to hear that. I did very well, for that, I DO thank Obama!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

bass: When you are asked about Obamacare and how bad the numbers are, you want to accuse every White of being a racist.

I'm guessing that when you say "you" you aren't talking about me specifically since I've obviously never said anything of the sort. And if you're not talking about me personally or things that I've said, what's the point in talking to you?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@nostromo (11:22a JST) - Exactly !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hope and (little pocket) change! Woo hoo! Riots when the EBTs hiccup.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

They do in the other developed countries. Healthcare costs in Canada, where insurance is run by the govt, are nearly half than what they are in the US, and Canadians are healthier: they live longer with a lower mortality rate.

Canada has 23 million compared to the U.S., 360 million there are a lot variables and I lived for a year in Canada and there are thousands of Canadians that complain about their healthcare system, they pay a lot more in taxes and I do not envy the Canadians when it comes to their healthcare. Good for them. If I wanted to be Canadian, I would have moved there a long time ago and if Canada were that great, why are so many coming to the U.S.? I heard it time and time again. It's by far, NOT a perfect system. If you are on a donors list for a kidney, the waiting time can be extremely long up to a few years. I think the U.S. system is one of the best. I have a good plan. I never thought the Obama care was the way to go, but I do think there needs to be serious changes brought to the industry.

A very small number do. The vast majority don't. Public opinion polls show that a vast majority of Canadians strongly prefer their system to America's.

A small number? I don't think so. 57% of all Canadians that live overseas live in the U.S. and the Canadians that I have met in the past told me horror stories about their system. Now being from Liberal California Where a lot of Canadians live many are from Toronto, the liberal equivalent of CA and Vermont rolled into one wrap. But when these libs start complaining about their healthcare, my ears do perk up, then you know it's serious.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What else are Republicans going to run and fund raise on?

Worst recovery since the Great Depression. Highest national debt the world has ever seen. Largest number of working age citizens unemployed since the 1970's. Largest number of citizens receiving government assistance in America history.

And yes Obamacare too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

5 years on and this tragedy we call a president hasn't delivered one thing...

Saved the auto companies, which delivered many thousands of jobs. Kept the financial system from completely going under, and turned the ship around. Ended U.S. involvement in the Iraq debacle. If President Obama was all that bad for the general economy, Wall Street and the DJIA would reflect it.

Elected and re-elected by the largest majorities of any two-term president since Dwight Eisenhower.

I bet you think the subprime crisis and subsequent fallout was Bush's fault, too.

The deregulation of banking, to put it simply, was the cause. Bankers could depend on members of both parties to enact the legislation required to pave the way for the crisis. People should never forget that the key legislation, signed by Clinton, to overturn Glass-Steagal (aka the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999) was authored by Gramm, Leach, and Bliley. That's Phil Gramm -- Republican from Texas -- Jim Leach -- Republican from Iowa -- and Thomas Bliley -- Republican from Virginia.

The role played by Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan can't be overlooked either. Not since Nero's fiddle serenaded Rome has a leader been so blithely dismissing of a disaster in progress.

So while many Democrats foolishly and often cravenly joined the Republicans in their deregulation craze, it should not be forgotten that the ONLY voices in opposition to deregulation, and the only voices to raise the red flag of alarm, came from the liberal/progressive side.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Gramm-Leach-Bliley allowed once-conservative and staid commercial banks to operate more like casinos

If you want to frame it that way, ok. But the banks were already allowed to behave like casinos in practice before GLB. The Citibank and Traveler's group merger was essentially finalized a year before the bill was signed into law.

The commercial bankers sought greater returns that operating as the old solid, boring, conservative institution with all its restrictions, denied them.

So, once again, explain why the commercial banks which took advantage of the bill and diversified (Citigroup, Bank of America, etc.) came out of the financial crisis in relatively good shape compared to the investment banks that did not, and crumbled (Bear Stearns, Lehman).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

On the contrary, this administration has been very successful: National Debt reduced to its lowest level in decades, Largest growth in private enterprises since WWII, Biggest increase in per capita expendable income in decades, Largest increase in personal freedoms since 1787, Highest Employment Participation since recording began, Most peaceful global relations, Finally Peace in the Middle East, Complete rehabilitation of former guerrilla terrorists, End of territorial disputes in Asia, AND successful colonization of Earth's moon AND Mars!

What could the Republicans(those hateful race-baiters) possibly have to complain about?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Deficit down---Not so hard to do when you create a limit. National debt skyrocketed!!! Those green jobs didn't happen. Shovel ready was spatula ready. Lowest labor participation rate since 1978. High EBT card participation rate. which is un-sustainable.

Still in Afghanistan last I checked. Iraq exit was not very successful as we read weekly.

Fed to the rescue for GM. Do you think that strengthened GM? Do you believe the mis-management is all fixed now? The UAW is firmly in place bleeding dry the corporation.

Al Qaida stronger than ever unlike what campaigning Obama said.

ACA- lets wait until next year to see when it is imposed on employers/employees. Oh, and what was the Fed cost for all this? Does the ratio of paying participation and burdening participation equate?

And back to the article above-- Obama promised to get to the bottom of the IRS scandal and said heads will roll. Nothing happened! Nothing!! Obama promised those involved in Libya would be brought to justice. Are they even investigating? Bottom line; abuse of power and false promises. This is not "Dusting off old scandals". These are major oversights and misuse of an agency which either by design helping Obama's reelection or a strange coincidence.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I'm guessing that when you say "you" you aren't talking about me specifically since I've obviously never said anything of the sort. And if you're not talking about me personally or things that I've said, what's the point in talking to you?

Basically meaning as in "you" liberals. No one has used the word or invoked "race or racism" as much as this admin. It's a damn shame, but it's the one card liberals have that they more than frequently pull out.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Benghazi used to attack Obama.

They are going to nitpick the difference between an act of terror and an act of terrorism again. Obama said one, but not the other. That bastard!

And why didn't he send reinforcements? I mean I am sure he had some in his pockets he could have tossed over at any time. I mean its just Benghazi, Libya. Just an ocean away. Didn't we have boots all over Libya? Oh wait. Reinforcements acting on their own did head to Benghazi from about the only place we had any, Tripoli, 800 km away.

Did the Obama administration try to claim the attack was an out of control protest? Even though it was a well coordinated attack complete with heavy weapons? Yes, it does appear they did. But I wonder why they would do that? Could it have something to do with Republicans and their cartoonish view of military affairs and tendency to distort any possible event to turn it into a weapon?

There were many Embassy and Consulate attacks under Bush. And you know who fought off the attackers? The security forces of each individual country did. And the Bush admin thanked them. What if they hadn't? What prevented several Benghazis from happening under Bush were courageous locals, and nothing Bush and pals did.

Obama was not so lucky. That bastard!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The way the current admin. Is set up and with a weak economy, higher taxes on the middle class and less people working. There are less resources to pull from. So the people at the bottom don't have to worry now, they're taken care of by the top 1% who couldn't care less if their premiums rise! But for the middle class it's a struggle and it's not getting better. Europe is not the U.S. And we have different problems. What works in Europe doesn't mean it world in the U.S. And there is no such thing as free healthcare. So if the Republicans take control back from the Dems, they have to think of a more affordable way the will benifits everyone and bankrupt the country further. The Dems need to meet with the Repubs in the middle and work out the best solution for American people and this outright lie and constant rhetoric that Conservatives and Republicans don't care is downright low, not to mention a huge lie. They just don't want to use the ideas of the current admin. Because they haven't worked.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Yes run on repealing Obamacare - it worked out pretty well four years ago and it is just as unpopular now as it was then.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

bass4f! He got bin laden. silly!

Hmmm, what else....................Can't think of anything else, positive that is.

The ACA (aka Obama care) did go though but as Pelosi said, "you have to pass it to see whats in it". Regrets afterward from most.

Oh, wait! Was there a red line drawn somewhere? And grand vacations for the family.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@Sushi

Obama's a loser all right.

For once we agree on something!

Deficit's going down

And unemployment, taxes are gone up, spending is down, oh, yeah in my once beloved home state of California businesses can't get out of there fast enough. California, the largest state, breadbasket of the West coast, broke in debt and you rave about the deficit? You are way too deep in it.

No new budget-destroying, GOP-sponsored wars-for-nothing I'll repeat that: NO new mega-costly wars

And a president with Zero credibility when it comes to foreign policy. Taliban, back in action. Al Qaeda, stronger then ever. Russia, laughing at Obama. (so do I, but that's for a different topic...) Iran, will have the bomb soon. Assad, red line, what? The guy is a joke, good thing is, we only have 3 years left with this guy.

Employment's rising

Skewed numbers. You mean realistically how many people gave up on finding employment and took themselves out of the job market? So now you are saying because of that, the employment rate is rising? I know you can't be that naive to actually believe that, but then again... As with most liberals when it comes to reality....

Blacks 12.6% Whites 6.6%

Great economy, the Blacks are doing especially well it seems. Massive spending on green initiatives and alternative energy

Millions more Americans with health insurance (conservatives can't stand people being healthy)

Ok, now splash some cold ice water on to wake up to reality. But personally, I sure hope, Dems think like you and run on Obamacare, I am praying for that.

http://www.people-press.org/2014/05/05/midterm-election-indicators-daunting-for-democrats/

On the GOP side, all we hear all the time is continuous whining about Benghazi and Obamacare, but as usual - ZERO alternatives, ZERO new ideas, ZERO solutions.....nothing, zip, nada.

I know liberals don't care about 4 Americans that were murdered because it possibly could implicate Obama and Hilary, but libs will excoriate Republicans when it comes to Iraq. So what's the difference in your selective outrage that you constantly criticize Repubs on the war in Iraq and the thousands that were killed, but 4 Americans in Benghazi, Ahhh, forget about it, Yeah, 4 Americans died, but who cares, right? One word comes to mind: Hypocrisy. Oh, by the way, as far as ideas are concerned, we tried Obama's and all his radical ideas didn't work....nothing, nada, zip, zilch! But there is one solution 3 more years and we shall be free once again.

why do you want to vote for a party that says 'No' to everything (even proposals the same party once championed) and that has ZERO constructive ideas about anything?

You crack me up, it boils down to two simple basic things. You are either for Big government or you want less government. One party opposes the other. If the Republicans were in power, the sides would change and the Dems would be the party of NO, of course they would, that is why they are in the parties that they chose on the first place. Why would the GOP agree to policies they don't believe in and the same goes vice versa, now I do believe both sides should come to the middle and talk, but Obama killed that once peaceful co-existence. The Dems are out of ideas, but not lies and the people have had enough. Every poll is showing this and the Dems are in the same position that the Rpubs were on 2008. But go ahead dream big and hard, but in 6 months, don't say you weren't warned.

@yabits

Exactly. They've got nothing to offer but obstruction to forward progress. Deregulation and tax cuts have run their course, and the crisis of 2008 was the result. The only thing they can do is snipe and complain.

Hey, if you see your friend heading towards a cliff, would you intervene? Of course, the Repubs should that is what their constituents put them in office for, that is why they won local elections. Why do you libs think you have all the answers when the people are telling you, NO you really don't. Maybe once you guys lose big that will slap the Dems back into much seriously needed reality. Oh, and who is sniping and complaining now? It will only get worse with you guys. You know it, everyone else knows it.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Millions more Americans with health insurance (conservatives can't stand people being healthy)

....... This is the pathetic mind set of people like you. Govt can't give people health insurance at affordable and efficient levels. I remember skimming through the ACA and recall one page where funding this horrendous law is mandated to cost $7 trillion and rising. Where is this money going to come from?

The problem with people like you is that your obtuse enough to believe that if your views are not supported by the opposition then they want the exact opposite results. "cons don't like healthy people","cons don't like the environment","cons don't like poor people" ect. When are you going to leave this ridiculous mindset?

On the GOP side, all we hear all the time is continuous whining about Benghazi and Obamacare, but as usual - ZERO alternatives, ZERO new ideas, ZERO solutions.....nothing, zip, nada.

There are only two types of ideas. One have the Govt come in and do everything, the other have the free market and voluntary association sort everything out. There are no such things as new ideas. The free-market has proven time after time again that it is the only viable, efficient, least costly and overall optimal approach to solving issues.

So tell me, what's a new idea you have in mind that has never been put forward?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Republicans dust off old scandals ahead of mid-term elections

What else are Republicans going to run and fund raise on? Obstructionism? Repealing Obamacare?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

In other words, they have absolutely nothing to offer the electorate and are totally bereft of effective policies....

5 years on and this tragedy we call a president hasn't delivered one thing....oh, yeah, more spending and out of control debt, debt and more debt.

Ha ha, too late! And Boehner is the head clown.

The whole Obama admin. is a class all in itself that would put Cirque du Soleil to shame. Considering the money that we're paying these guys.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Lets see what had happened....Benghazi. One US Ambassador and three others were murdered in an attack on the US Embassy. Details one of which surfaced last week implicate the White House in full knowledge of what was going on. Weeks before re-election. It helped Obama to be re-elected. It was blamed on a film. Pres. says "We Will Get Those Responsible"! Nothing yet! If it was your brother defending the Embassy for over 12 hours PLEADING for reinforcements that were never ordered to defend and he left to die. Should it go away? "WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE" right Hillary!

IRS....Clearly politically driven. Certainly an abuse of power. And "Heads will roll". Mr. Obama, they did't roll yet. What happened? Should this also be swept under the rug? Certainly not!

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

apart from economic recovery, shrinking deficits, booming stock market,

I bet you think the subprime crisis and subsequent fallout was Bush's fault, too.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

@laguna

on September 12, the day after the Benghazi attack, Obama said:

We all know, I mean the non-partisan people know that everything the WH said on that day was a complete lie, if they want to refute it and can REALLY prove it and they have nothing to hide, not a Smidgen of it, then go on the record, under oath, go in front of the committy and answer all of their questions, it's just that simple, but we all know they won't, so NOT answering is the same as an answer....

Also, Bass, some 4,500 Americans died in Iraq, a war justified by false premises. Sure, that's only a difference of 4,496 people, but Obama did not cause the attack in Benghazi while Bush & Co. did cause the war in Iraq.

Bush didn't cause ANY attacks either, I never said Obama killed those men in Benghazi, I said, he was too busy with his re-election campaign to have been bothered, that is now on record. He is responsible, because instead of answering a direct call for help, their requests were all ignored. Now as far as Iraq is concerned, be fair, if you care so much for these soldiers, then why don't you criticize Obama for Benghazi or even Afghanistan since that was he war or the right war as he called it. And you guys never, ever factor in the sectarian violence which was 95% of the entire uprising in Iraq, but let's just quickly gloss over that most important fact.More soldiers died in Afghanistan under Obama than Bush. So where is your outrage? Or do you want to make this a partisan issue like the rest of the libs do?

But subpoenaing John Kerry - who was not even an executive branch member when the Benghazi attacks occured! - is apparently crucial. After all, all Kerry has to deal with at the moment are crises in Ukraine, Syria, Israel, South Sudan, North Korea and the South China Sea. He can put those on the back burner while we hold the seventh Benghazi hearing. (To put that in perspective, though, that's still 47 less hearings than the number of votes held to repeal Obamacare.)

I'll say this, Kerry is THE biggest joke if there ever was one, not only is he an embarrassment, at least Hilary knew how to do the job and was good at it, but Kerry and Hagel..... It just doesn't get any worse! That's the ONLY thing I'll say about that guy.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites