Comments on: Yes, Jim Fallows, Debates Do Matter (But Not As Much As You May Think)

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:03:51 +0000

Apparently the Romney campaign disagrees, Sheldon, because they clearly decided *not* to make Libya an issue this evening–or anything else. The 2nd debate seems to have proved decisive, at least with the 3rd–Romney’s strategy was apparently not to argue with the President and look pained.

By: Dwight Davis

Dwight Davis — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:23:03 +0000

Sheldon perpetuates the claim that the Obama administration “decided to create a story line” when, the latest available information indicates 1) the administration accurately reported what the intelligence community was telling it at the time and 2) the anti-Islamist video really did play a role in what was probably an opportunistic attack in Benghazi. Indeed, it seems that the “long-planned, timed to the 9/11 anniversary” story line of Romney and his GOP supporters is the one looking a bit shabby at the moment. See:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2012/10/the_benghazi_attack_and_the_anti_muslim_video_how_the_gop_misread_intelligence.html

Perhaps people should just take a deep breath and let the facts come out once this sad event is thoroughly investigated, before jumping to their own politically motivated conclusions.

By: Dick Wollmar '55

Dick Wollmar '55 — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:29:47 +0000

Finally the populus vulgaris is discovering that “the emporer has no clothes”

By: Sheldon Sloan

Sheldon Sloan — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 01:23:46 +0000

Struck out? Surely you jest. I think Libya will be front and center Monday night.

How can one call it “Not Optimal” when four Americans are killed because an administration time and time again denied requests for beefed up security and responded by pulling the small force that was stationed there?

Then, when faced with that error, decided to create a story line that distracted, deflected and avoided the real truth; it was a targeted organized raid. We now know they watched in real time with a Predator.

Al Qaeda is NOT on its heels as Obama has been claiming in every stump speech; it is alive, growing stronger and bolder and attacking our facilities everywhere.

But, how can the administration say that? It doesn’t comport with the campaign rhetoric laid out by Axelrad, Obama and company.

Well, I notice Obama now has dropped the part about Al Qaeda being on its heels and no longer a threat.

The President has made this political; he couldn’t even wait for us to use the intelligence our SEALs gathered to catch and kill some more rats. As soon as he announced “That HE had killed Osama” then all the rats went scurring from their nests. In the Mideast they know better than to announce it when they assasinate someone big; they know revenge will be coming if they take credit.

A great President would have never let anyone know for years, in order to avoid what we saw on September 11, 2012. But, then again…

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:42:26 +0000

Romney really struck out trying to make Benghazi political.

Had any minor event been blown out of proportion as much as this. Our troops die left and right in combat. Under all Presidents. And people don’t care a whole lot.

Iran is now a positive for Obama. I’m sure conservatives here believe that’s another conspiracy. Iran helping a fellow Muslim.