What Chris Christie bridge scandal? Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi

[mota bhai 2,675]

What Chris Christie bridge scandal? Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi

Somehow, the right’s response to Chris Christie’s still-breaking Bridgegate scandal has devolved into this: Why are you writing about New Jersey traffic jams, because Benghazi!

In letters to newspapers and online comments, in phone calls to their favorite conservative radio and TV pundits, conservatives are in a state of collective denial: They refuse to acknowledge there’s anything to Gov. Chris Christie and the George Washington Bridge scandal until President Obama and the consular attack in Benghazi get equal time.

The Republicans’ nothing-to-see-here talking points come from on high: Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee (and, like Christie, a Morris County guy) praised Christie’s 111-minute apology news conference last week, suggesting others should follow the governor’s lead: “Now, only if Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would give us 111 seconds of that, would we find out some things we want to find out about Obamacare, Benghazi, the IRS.”

On "Fox News Sunday," Karl Rove responded to Bob Woodward’s comment that the Bridgegate scandal was significant because it originated in Christie’s office: “So did Benghazi, and so did IRS … come out of appointees of President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton!”

What’s clear is that, scandal or not, most of the Republican Party won’t abandon Christie – the only GOP candidate assumed to have the juice to compete for the White House in 2016. Just the opposite: They’re circling the wagons and shoveling Benghazi and other old news at the public to divert attention from headlines coming out of New Jersey.

What’s the difference? Here are three reasons the unrelated Bridgegate and Benghazi stories aren’t getting equal time – and shouldn’t.

Intent: America’s press corps has looked at Benghazi, the IRS scandal and the other Obama-related scandals tossed around last weekend. In each case, the facts dampened the early cries of conspiracy and cover-up. In Benghazi, neither congressional investigators nor the New York Times found evidence to support the idea of a concerted executive branch failure or cover-up. In the IRS fiasco, an investigation found both conservative and liberal political groups were subject to review – and everyone got what they wanted, anyway.

The Bridgegate story blew up last week precisely when documented evidence surfaced that Christie’s top aides ordered the George Washington Bridge closures, presumably for political revenge against Fort Lee’s mayor, and that the dangerous traffic jams that resulted were premeditated.

Coverage: It’s hard to argue that Benghazi, the IRS scandal or Obamacare’s glitchy website weren’t covered in full. Each story was subject to intense coverage when it broke – just as Bridgegate is breaking now. To expect coverage of old stories to increase because of an uncomfortable new story is silly.

Just as silly are suggestions that New Jersey media, including The Star-Ledger, are spending too much time covering a breaking story of corruption in the governor’s office. Because Benghazi?

Cover-ups: Each scandal resuscitated by the right last week began with cover-up allegations that have faded under the bright lights of media coverage and federal investigation.

Meanwhile, new evidence that Christie’s aides tried to cover their tracks is surfacing as thousands of newly released documents and e-mails are made public. None of the evidence suggests the governor was involved at that level, but there are a lot of questions about the GWB lane closures that still haven’t been answered.

Bridgegate isn’t Watergate yet, but the comparison has been made. But it’s not Benghazi, either – no matter how desperately the right wing would like everyone to believe it is.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Benghazi? Is that really flying with anyone?

Certain Republicans–the neo-conservative war hawk faction–have spent the past year or so trying to blow the tragic deaths at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, into a scandal of some sort.

These have been ludicrous in the extreme. John McCain compared the episode to Watergate. But a recent extensive report in the NY Times found no organized attempt by Al Qaeda to attack the consulate. And now we have this, from the latest budget deal:

Despite the concern over security after the 2012 attack on the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya, the spending bill earmarks less to embassy security, construction and maintenance than it allotted for fiscal 2013 — $2.67 billion, down by $224 million.

I mean, if the neoconservatives are so concerned about the safety of U.S. diplomats, why don’t they put their money where their mouths are? The Benghazi tragedy should have led to a serious conversation about embassy security, and how much risk U.S. diplomats should be allowed to take in order to be part of the communities where they’re serving. But, as usual, we’ve had the Big Bellow from Fox and friends…which adds up to precisely nothing, except a smokescreen.

Read more: The Last Word on Benghazi | TIME.com http://swampland.time.com/2014/01/14/the-last-word-on-benghazi/#ixzz2qOcNJBmd

[mota bhai 2,675]

It's flying with the right wing nuts.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's flying with the right wing nuts.

Yeah, well, publications like the World Nut Daily fly with them. I'm writing those fellas off, to be honest.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Potential President Killary says, “What possible difference does it make?” She has the same “leadership” ability – that the kenyan has,,,,,,,0

[mota bhai 2,675]

Because nothing says serious like using red font.

(and tons of ellipses)

[GandD 5,966]

I stopped to read

[Peikko 1,575]

Killary? Perhaps blue has a soft spot for the letter k?

The new moderating philosophy seems to be there are some people who are too ingrained in their intolerance to change so we will concentrate on making everyone else be extra polite to them instead.

In that vein, way to go blue, really humerous use of the letter K.

Edited January 14, 2014 by The Truth™

[JohnR! 5,495]

Potential President Killary says, “What possible difference does it make?” She has the same “leadership” ability – that the kenyan has,,,,,,,0

English only, please...

[mota bhai 2,675]

Killary? Perhaps blue has a soft spot for the letter k?

Google Arkancide. They're just dusting off the old 1990's playbook, is all.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

English only, please...

Lib doesn't speak English.

[mota bhai 2,675]

He... speaks Murkin!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

He... speaks Murkin!

Exactly - English is for elitists. Real Murkins speak Murkin.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog

[mota bhai 2,675]

Those socialists in merry ol' English speak English. In America, we speak .... Murkin!

[JohnR! 5,495]

He... speaks Murkin!

Exactly - English is for elitists. Real Murkins speak Murkin.

Maybe, but Real Patriotic® Americans speak English... We win!