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RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#49427: Feb 14th 2013 at 8:33:52 AM

[up][up]We're in a recession, too. What gives?

Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#49428: Feb 14th 2013 at 8:58:14 AM

I find it even funnier given there IS no debacle about benghazi except for in the minds of republicans.

Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#49429: Feb 14th 2013 at 9:19:57 AM

Regarding the USPS as it was mentioned on the last page, although internet usage has hit it pretty hard, its only major fiscal problem that's resulting in its current unsustainability is a specific act of congress that requires it to keep seventy-years worth of advance retiree funding saved up. I doubt most, if any, non-corporate businesses would be able to labor under that kind of limitation and remain in the black.

It puzzles me that the postmaster general doesn't stress this, but perhaps he's a true believer in small government for its own sake and views this as a convenient opportunity to downsize.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#49430: Feb 14th 2013 at 9:21:03 AM

The media have talked about the pension funding requirement to some degree, but as a side story. They'd much rather discuss how the USPS is obsolete or how cutting Saturday delivery is unpopular with consumers. The truth is that the USPS is very unpopular with conservatives, who hate the idea of a profitable government enterprise.

edited 14th Feb '13 9:21:28 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#49431: Feb 14th 2013 at 9:42:02 AM

Exactly. They've very profitable. They just need a stupid amount of advanced funding. I could understand 10 years, but 70?

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#49432: Feb 14th 2013 at 9:54:43 AM

It's a little mind-boggling, isn't it? Remember, the whole fiasco began because the USPS found it had surplus funds.

Unified budget accounting made sure it could never tap into this surplus unless at the same time it assumed new liabilities of an equal magnitude to the surplus, which included the ridiculousness of 70 years worth of retiree payments (something like 10 payments of $5.5 billion a year or somewhere in that amount).

edited 14th Feb '13 10:03:10 AM by DevilTakeMe

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
SecretLink Since: Jul, 2010
#49433: Feb 14th 2013 at 10:36:21 AM

Yes there are still questions about Libya ranging from

1. Was the ambassador sending weapons to Syria?

2.Where was the president during the 7 HOURS the attack was going on?

3.Have we heard anything from the people actually there?

4.Do we even know who perpetrated the attack? Are they still at large?

5. When did the president know it was an act of terrorism and not "some protest against a video" and did he continue to say so after knowing the truth?

A few of these are questions I've had myself, as well as others Conservatives have had. Feel free to discuss your opinion of the ridiculous nature of some of these questions.

edited 14th Feb '13 10:37:05 AM by SecretLink

“ I am not insane… What I am saying is most true and reasonable”
Belian In honor of my 50lb pup from 42 Since: Jan, 2001
In honor of my 50lb pup
#49434: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:19:06 AM

At least those are questions I have not heard neumerous times. The problem is that I associate "questions about Benghazi" with the ones already asked/answered a dozen times. "Why wasn't there better security?" comes to mind.

Also, what does it have to do with stoping Hagle from becoming the Secretary Of Deffence?

Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#49435: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:22:07 AM

It has nothing to do with Hagel. It's a smokescreen because Republicans are furious and outraged he isn't beholden to Israel, even at the cost to peace in the Middle East.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#49436: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:26:29 AM

@49433: Framing Benghazi as some sort of liberal conspiracy is ridiculous. Undoubtedly mistakes were made, but when it comes down to it, Republicans are demanding more scrutiny over the deaths of four people in a minor (yes, I said minor) terrorist attack than they did over the attacks on the World Trade Center.

There is no rational reason to block Obama's executive appointments over Benghazi. It's not about Hagel's suitability for Defense (let us not forget that he was considered a shining example of conservatism right up until Obama appointed him), it's about their panties being in a wad because Obama's administration won't answer the same exact questions asked for the hundredth time in a different way.

And, of course, Israel, the Third Rail of Conservative Politics.

edited 14th Feb '13 11:34:17 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
SecretLink Since: Jul, 2010
#49437: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:47:49 AM

imo, the liberal conspiracy isn't the incident itself, but rather the coverup after the fact.

through varying levels of neglect of various people in the administration the attack was successful. There was a huge scramble by everyone to cover their ass, regardless of if there was anything that needed covering.

Its the insistence that "well its not really anybody's fault so lets move on" that makes conservatives feel like they smell a rat.

I'd never even heard of Hagel before now. Who exactly viewed him as a conservative?

“ I am not insane… What I am saying is most true and reasonable”
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#49438: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:54:54 AM

[up] What coverup? Give me a single shred of evidence that there was any coverup.

Furthermore, what would they be covering up?

edited 14th Feb '13 11:55:52 AM by DrTentacles

Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#49439: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:55:41 AM

Chuck Hagel is a Republican.

According to David Boaz, during the Bush administration, Hagel maintained a "traditionally Republican" voting record, receiving "a lifetime rating of 84 percent from the American Conservative Union and consistent A and B grades from the National Taxpayers Union."

This is obstructionism for obstructionism's sake.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
SecretLink Since: Jul, 2010
#49440: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:57:16 AM

its in that list of questions I posted further up.

“ I am not insane… What I am saying is most true and reasonable”
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#49441: Feb 14th 2013 at 11:59:32 AM

Secret Link, how long did you wait before calling 911 after you finished beating your wife?

Why won't you admit your abject incompetence at your job?

Have you always been fat or is it a new thing?

These are the quality of questions involved.

edited 14th Feb '13 12:00:48 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#49443: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:02:00 PM

1. Was the ambassador sending weapons to Syria?

How is this relevant to the attack, or need-to-know information?

2.Where was the president during the 7 HOURS the attack was going on?

Probably doing presidential things. What was Bush doing 9/11 again? Would it have mattered if he was doing anything else? He's not god.

3.Have we heard anything from the people actually there?

Pretty sure the administration has. It's likely classified. Why does it matter?

4.Do we even know who perpetrated the attack? Are they still at large?

Pretty sure what we've heard is "No, and yes" and the administration has given statements to that effect.

5. When did the president know it was an act of terrorism and not "some protest against a video" and did he continue to say so after knowing the truth?

Did you even watch the (in)famous "Read the transcript" bit from the presidential debates?

This nothing more than a petty, manufactured scandal. It's irrelevent, stupid, pointless, and just another bit of shit the republicans are throwing at Obama, just like they've been doing for his entire presidency, hoping something will stick.

There's nothing here but wild, irrelevant accusations over a relatively minor attack, that wasn't even in Obama's personal responsibility zone.

edited 14th Feb '13 12:04:02 PM by DrTentacles

Belian In honor of my 50lb pup from 42 Since: Jan, 2001
In honor of my 50lb pup
#49444: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:07:10 PM

And what about when Obama tried to take the blame himself for the miscomunications and yet the Republicans still asked for more? I can understand wanting to hear from the people who were actually there, but it seems like there will never be enough evidence to appease the current Republican representitives.

Also Chuck Hagle is a Vietnam War veteran, organized support for Ronald Reagan, resigned from his post in the VA in protest of fundding cuts, "pressured by some to run for Governor of Virginia", and was a Republican Senator from Nebraska from 1997 to 2009. He has "'a lifetime rating of 84 percent from the American Conservative Union and consistent A and B grades from the National Taxpayers Union.' On the Issues describes Hagel as a 'libertarian-leaning conservative.'"

Sounds like a Republican to me.

Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#49445: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:09:11 PM

[up] Ugggh...why is Obama nominating him again? I mean, if the republicans are going to block a republican candidate, can't Obama at least let them block a democrat?

Only good bit about him is he seems to care about VA stuff.

RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#49446: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:13:49 PM

If they block Hagel I would love to see Obama nominate Noam Chomsky purely for shits and giggles. "What, you said Hagel wasn't pro-Israel enough, I nominated a Jew. Doesn't that work out?" *trollface*

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#49447: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:17:43 PM

[up] Although I think he'd be terrible for the job. (You need a combination of iron and velvet), that would be awesomely funny.

SecretLink Since: Jul, 2010
#49448: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:18:29 PM

How is this relevant to the attack, or need-to-know information?

Well was it something that was being done under the table and they didn't want to draw attention to it, hence the low security? I have no idea but it is important to know everything that was going on. That's the only way to tell if something is connected.

Probably doing presidential things. What was Bush doing 9/11 again? Would it have mattered if he was doing anything else? He's not god.

just what were those "presidential things?" And we do know what Bush was doing on 9/11. Didn't the media crucify him for the whole reading to elementary children?

Pretty sure the administration has. It's likely classified. Why does it matter?

Well jeez I don't know if someone who was a witness to something might just possibly have information vital to it.

Did you even watch the (in)famous "Read the transcript" bit from the presidential debates?

To what are you referring exactly?

“ I am not insane… What I am saying is most true and reasonable”
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#49449: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:18:55 PM

And this is ignoring the facts A) The Secretary of Defense isn't responsible for diplomatic missions (that's State) and B) that the hearing completely overfocused on Israel/the attack while ignoring real foreign policy issues like North Korea, Iran and Afghanistan. This has nothing to do with Hagel's qualifications and everything to do with the GOP looking to score points anyway they can.

Also, Hegel is a realist rather than a neo-con so some Republicans aren't too big on him.

edited 14th Feb '13 12:21:04 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#49450: Feb 14th 2013 at 12:23:27 PM

Well was it something that was being done under the table and they didn't want to draw attention to it, hence the low security? I have no idea but it is important to know everything that was going on. That's the only way to tell if something is connected.

Who's job is it to figure out the details of the attack, and to respond appropriately?

Once again, how is what Obama doing during the attack relevant. What should he have been doing?

So, should we give all our witnesses up to congress? We've been real good about in the past. I could hear the republicans screaming for us to let them interview the people in Gitmo.

Can someone find a link of the whole "Read the Transcript" part of that debate?

edited 14th Feb '13 12:26:02 PM by DrTentacles


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