Posted on 10/13/2012 1:16:54 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
My guess is no, they wouldn’t dare, but the Daily Caller and Tom Maguire make a fair point. In the span of about 18 hours, we’ve had Biden and Carney each insist that blame for Benghazi’s security failures lies outside the White House. It’s State that’s responsible for protecting U.S. diplomats in the field, which means if the buck doesn’t stop with Obama here, then it must stop with you-know-who. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem, as cabinet members are expected to take the heat for the president when something goes badly wrong. But in this case you-know-who has her eye on running in 2016 — possibly against (heh) Biden himself — and surely doesn’t want Benghazi staining the foreign policy credentials she’s worked hard to build.
Throw Bill Clinton, official Obama campaign surrogate, into the mix and we’ve got the makings of a nuclear clusterfark of ego, ass-covering, presidential ambition, and Clintonian drama. Edward Klein says the chain reaction is already in motion:
In fact, since the convention, Clinton and Obama have had a serious falling-out over two issues: the president’s preparation and lamentable performance in his debate with Mitt Romney, and the question of who should be assigned blame — Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — for the intelligence and security screw-up in Benghazi, Libya…
My sources tell me that Clinton is working on a strategy that will allow Hillary to avoid having Benghazi become a stain on her political fortunes should she decide to run for president in 2016.
Bill Clinton has even gone so far as to seek legal advice about Hillary’s liability in terms of cables and memos that might be subpoenaed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which this week launched an investigation into the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The committee will also examine the apparent Obama administration cover-up that followed the Benghazi attack.
Finally, I’m told that Bill is playing with various doomsday scenarios, up to and including the idea that Hillary should consider resigning over the issue if the Obama team tries to use her as a scapegoat.
Mickey Kaus sees the plot potentially thickening:
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Mickey Kaus
Will Hillary now shiv Obama back + leak that WH knew? Getting interesting! HRC v BHO/HRC v Joe. Will WJC keep stumping? dailycaller.com/2012/10/12/whi…
12 Oct 12
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I’m skeptical that O would hang Hillary out to dry, for four reasons. One: She’s the most popular member of the administration, far more popular than even The One himself. Her husband, who’s out on the trail for Obama as I write this, may be even more popular than she is. Why would O want to alienate the Clintons at a moment when he’s desperate to maximize turnout among Democrats? Doing that would damage his re-election chances more than a perfunctory “the buck stops with me” statement on Benghazi.
Two: She’s leaving soon anyway. She said earlier this year that she’ll serve four years at State and no more. Why pick a fight when they’ll benefit from the perception of new leadership at State in three months anyway? Just play out the string, be nice to her, blame “miscommunications” at the Department for the breakdown in consulate security, and let her ride off into the sunset.
Three: How are Obama and Biden going to scapegoat the most famous woman politician in America for a security breakdown at a moment when they’re counting on a decisive gender gap to deliver them a second term? After nine months of the “war on women” and Sandra Fluke and the three-day salute to abortion that you and I know as the Democratic convention, they’re going to freeze out … Hillary Clinton? C’mon.
Four: Even if O thought he could get away with scapegoating Hillary without fear of reprisal from women voters and the Clinton machine, it’d make him look pathetically weak. He likes to talk about how, as president, he bears responsibility for everything, but when you try to pin him down on specifics, he thinks he bears responsibility for almost nothing — be it the economy (Bush’s fault), Fast & Furious (DOJ underlings’ fault), the Benghazi horror (the Mohammed movie’s fault, now State Department underlings’ fault), etc. In fact, my hunch is that Hillary might secretly relish the chance to take a “buck stops here” line herself on Benghazi notwithstanding the danger it poses to her foreign-policy cred, since the public would respect that someone in the administration was willing to stand up. That’s a dangerous contrast for O: If you thought he looked weak before, imagine how he’d look if he tried to push this off on his Secretary of State — and former rival — and she turned it somehow into a demonstration of political courage and accountability. There are already plenty of people who think they nominated the wrong Democrat in 2008. He doesn’t need any more.
Exit quotation from Maguire: “Will this Obama/Biden message of ‘We killed Osama but they forgot to remind us about the blowback’ really carry them past the election?”
Update: An excellent point from Karl:
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Direct link to eye-opening interview
Col. David Hunt explains how at least 12 command centers got near INSTANTANEOUS info when the Benghazi consulate was attacked, including a manned WH situation room. Hundreds of government personnel listened/watched for 6 hours in real time as the attack ensued. Hunt says it is standard operating procedure when an embassy is attacked. WH gave no military order to intervene.
They knew almost immediately that there was NO protest, NO mob-— just a surgical jihad operation viewed instantaneously in real time by governmental operations centers all over the world, including CIA, Dept of State and WH situation room, for over 6 hours.
In short, everyone knew, almost immediately, what happened in Benghazi was an act of war.
Did you catch Carney’s Freudian slip?-— min 4:30
“What I am saying is that there was no actionable intelligence, and I think that is pretty clear what I am saying, and what I obviously cannot discuss in detail is COVERT, I mean, rather, classified information. There was no actionable intelligence regarding the Benghazi facility....”
LOL
Is there honor among thieves?
Carney is a twit.
These are the 'honorable' people dems and the MSM have put in charge of our country. Thanks guys - we owe ya...
If this is true, it is probably the biggest and most disgraceful scandal involving any President.
I always found it hard to believe that a US Ambassador was attacked and no one really knew what was going on.
That never seemed believable. With all the technology we have for communication; no way.
“Carney is a twit.”
Yea-— a Freudian-slipping twit... in over his twittish head.
Right. They both stick together and with the help of the traitorous media and the stupid public at large, they will skate through. OR they all go down together.
Oops! Good catch.
I’ve been looking at events prior to 9/11/12.
http://www.northafricaunited.com/Libya-Dead-intelligence-officer-named_a2178.html
Libya: Dead intelligence officer named
NAU - Agencies
Sunday, September 2nd 2012
A car bomb on Sunday in the eastern Libya city of Benghazi killed a former security official who served under slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, a top official said.
Libya: Dead intelligence officer named
The member of the intelligence services killed in a car bomb explosion in Benghazi’s Gamel Abdul Nasser Street this afternoon has been named as Colonel Juma Al-Kadiki. He died instantly when what is being reported as a “Gelatina” bomb went off. His colleague, Captain Basit Agfiza Mabrouk, was rushed to hospital. His condition is unknown, according to the Libya Herald.
(snip)
It is reported that the two had just left a meeting at the General Intelligence Services. They went to buy cigarettes. Eyewitnesses say that, when he got out, Mabrouk slammed the door of the car hard and this was followed by an immediate explosion.
Fourteen other current and former military officials have been assassinated in Benghazi so far this year and there have been other attempted assassinations. It has led local residents to claim there is a hit list, drawn up by an alleged undercover Islamist organisation.
Earlier last month, Brigadier-General Mohammed Al-Fitouri who had served under the Qaddafi regime but was in charge of weapons-storage in the city, was gunned down as he left midday prayers in the city.
(snip)
On Friday, a bomb was found that the Sidi Hussein blood bank centre with the message o “Al-Fatah –a gift from martyr, Issam Fitouri, 30 August 2012”. The reference to “Al Fatah” (the Opening) which was Qaddafi’s description for his 1969 “revolution” was seen as confirmation of pro-Qaddafi activity.
On Wednesday, security forces in the city reportedly uncovered large quantities of weapons and ammunition in one of the city’s public markets
On Monday, an armed group attacked the Criminal Investigation Department’s premises in the city. There were no casualties and two of the attackers were detained.
(snip)
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120912135875
Air defense colonel killed in Benghazi
Last Updated : Wednesday, September 12, 2012 1:26 AM
TRIPOLI – Another senior military official who served in the Gaddafi regime has been murdered in Benghazi. Colonel Badr Khamis Al-Obedi was assassinated by unknown gunmen Monday as he left the city’s Saida Aisha mosque after prayers.
(snip)
It is the 15th if the death of Colonel Juma Al-Kadiki earlier this month is included. He died instantly when explosives went off in his car. However, it is thought that it may have been an accident. (Huh?)
(snip)
So is General Petreaus honorable enough to step up and throw the whole damn administration under the bus and save the country?
Please listen to that interview at the link. 25 min, but if you only listen to 10 min, you will see the picture Hunt lays out, based on his own experience. He makes a point of saying that he offers no opinion, but lays out basic facts and procedure when an embassy is attacked.
His epiphany was Lamb’s testimony when she disclosed that she was in communication with DoS employee on the ground for 6 hours in real time. He realized if she had that real time communication, so did at least 12 other command centers, including CIA and the WH situation room.
He said few realize the extraordinary communications structure the US has developed since 911.
It's also Romney's fault for bringing it up. The MSM is predictable - the only thing they know is NOTHING is the fault of their spoiled brat favorites....
We have by no means until now heard the full story. Hiring locals, even soliciting preferentially for a same-sex couple, probably is related to that "security" giving up their top-secret information to their "friends" in AQ. This seems to have included info about the safe house 1.2 miles away.
The "same-sex" ad for $18K/yr body guards may well have contributed to the horrific abuse we may have heard being exacted on Amb. Stevens' body.
Too bad about somebody having actually to be responsible for all those failures, eh, Madam Secretary?
HF
That is THE funniest thing that I've read in a while!
No.
Can Hillary tap dance until January? Yep, and she won’t even break a sweat.
When I clicked the link it said that I had to download it to my PC. I didn't.
The good general has sworn oaths to secrecy and loyalty to the Constitution and the chain of command that he surely will not normally feel free to break in testifying before Congress and the public.
What should be done, however, is to bring pressure onto BHO to let the general--and all those Congress would desire to testify before them--to answer fully under oath in closed hearings only where necessary. The relevant Congressional committee would then release edited testimony, as much as would not compromise national security.
Of course, without something like impeachment, frauds or ineligibility to hold over BHO, that isn't likely to happen, is it?
HF
She doesn't need to last until January. Anytime after November 6 -- presuming Obama is defeated -- she will be free to announce her resignation (effective in January, if she prefers) and dump the mess right back in Obama's lap.
There will no longer be any need to be a "team player" and protect The Won. After November 6, only one thing couunts: her own political viability.
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