Romney/Ryan Lose 2012 Election Thread

[SkinsHokieFan]

Very hollow indeed

“It has been suggested that budget cuts are responsible for a lack of security in Benghazi, and I’d like to ask Miss Lamb,” said Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R., California). “You made this decision personally. Was there any budget consideration and lack of budget which lead you not to increase the number of people in the security force there?”

“No, sir,” said [Charlene] Lamb.

Well there you have it. Its more so hollow to me because my former company had about 300M in revenue per year from "security services" at embassies, forward operating bases, air bases in general, and other places around the world for DoS and DoD.

If you are using US nationals (which we probably do for a place like Libya) we aren't talking hundreds of millions of dollars to fund that

[SkinsHokieFan]

Again, unless you understand how resource breakdown works at the government level - it's hard to really effectively argue about why such and such department spent money on one thing and not the other.

The talking point is this

"Republicans voted against funding embassy security, therefore when Benghazi asked for extra security the resources were not there to make this happen"

This talking point is being proven to be completely false.

I understand your point TEG, but thats not what is being argued

[twa]

Well there you have it. Its more so hollow to me because my former company had about 300M in revenue per year from "security services" at embassies, forward operating bases, air bases in general, and other places around the world for DoS and DoD.

If you are using US nationals (which we probably do for a place like Libya) we aren't talking hundreds of millions of dollars to fund that

They used locals after the security team was withdrawn....some making $4

The State dept spends more on hors d'oeuvres

[SkinsHokieFan]

They used locals after the security team was withdrawn....some making $4

The State dept spends more on hors d'oeuvres

I honestly haven't followed the Benghazi attack closely until this talking point re-emerged, but even 4 dollars a day for local nationals seems low.

For Iraqi local national guards we generally priced that at 10-12 dollars a day. And generally LN's were unarmed, only USN's or NATO Country Nationals would be allowed to have weapons.

I am not going to try and speculate further because I am quite honestly fairly ignorant of the specifics of the Benghazi security issues.

But, considering what I do know about the revenue our security business area was bringing in on a yearly basis, there was PLENTY of cash for a decent amount of USN armed guards in Benghazi

[NLC1054]

The talking point is this

"Republicans voted against funding embassy security, therefore when Benghazi asked for extra security the resources were not there to make this happen"

This talking point is being proven to be completely false.

I understand your point TEG, but thats not what is being argued

As a complete and utter liberal and progressive, I'll say this---the fact that it's false will not stop the adminstration and other Democrats from arguing that exact point if the Republicans choose to go that direction. They'll "stretch the truth" (or lie through their teeth) and try to pin it back on the Republicans.

It does indeed ring hollow, but half the **** these people say rings hollow. The left has done a good job of painting the Republicans as the obstructionist party who will do and say anything to screw over Obama. In much the same way, it may become a case of "they doth protest too much" in the minds of Americans, even in the face of the evidence that says no, that actually would not have mattered.

Like I said before the, the whole ****ed up mess is being drowned out by the more "compelling" story of the debates. In a more honest political system this would be a big deal. In a news cycle that's been dominated by debate coverage and polling numbers and everyone treating this debate like a playoff game (seriously, everything is in pre-game show mode right now), stuff like this doesn't get nearly as much play as it should, and I doubt either party will be in a rush to bring it up. It's balls, but thems the breaks.

In no way am I absolving the Obama administration in this. That's what sucks about a 24-hour news cycle more focused on getting eyeballs than informing people.

[SkinsHokieFan]

As a complete and utter liberal and progressive, I'll say this---the fact that it's false will not stop the adminstration and other Democrats from arguing that exact point if the Republicans choose to go that direction. They'll "stretch the truth" (or lie through their teeth) and try to pin it back on the Republicans.

My point more so is this talking point is stupid and totally false, and I have no idea where it came from, then suddenly I am seeing it everywhere. It makes absolutely no sense to me having been inside the industry (and getting out and back into more IT related stuff because the security services stuff is very grimey)

We are spending 26M over the next 3 years on 99 guards at Camp Bondsteel Kosovo. I know this because I helped win that contract.

I know we could have found 15-20 USN armed guards for Benghazi with no trouble at all.

[twa]

The talking point came from Representative Elijah Cummings (D., Maryland) prepared statement for the hearing

About the level you would expect from him

[SkinsHokieFan]

The talking point came from Representative Elijah Cummings (D., Maryland) prepared statement for the hearing

About the level you would expect from him

Thank you

Hopefully today people can put this talking point to bed. Its a distraction and completely false and does nothing to help fix whatever mistakes were made in Benghazi.

I had a big face when I saw it because I know how quickly DoS and DoD get security contracts out the door.

[NLC1054]

Thank you

Hopefully today people can put this talking point to bed. Its a distraction and completely false and does nothing to help fix whatever mistakes were made in Benghazi.

I had a big face when I saw it because I know how quickly DoS and DoD get security contracts out the door.

I don't think the talking point will go away unless the story goes away. Depending on how this debate goes tonight it may not get bought up for another two weeks in the foreign policy debate.

I think you're right on this one, though, SHF. I don't get it.

[USS Redskins]

Well, that's why you have Issa and your other surrogates do it.

---------- Post added October-11th-2012 at 12:14 PM ----------



Romney may win, but the assumption that the polls are biased is getting really old.

I am just having some fun with you guys.

[MattFancy]

FTW!

[skinsmarydu]

But, considering what I do know about the revenue our security business area was bringing in on a yearly basis, there was PLENTY of cash for a decent amount of USN armed guards in Benghazi

I know we could have found 15-20 USN armed guards for Benghazi with no trouble at all.

We could've if Republicans had not voted to decrease our security funding for our embassies. Sorry, I posted with no link, but it can probably be found on the Googles.

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/20...assy-security/

Yep, the Googles.

[Larry]

Actually, the problem with the "we could have found the money somewhere" sound bite isn't that it's untrue.

It's the fact that the "if we had known in advance which embassy was going to get attacked" isn't being said out loud.

We could have prevented 9/11, too. If we'd known which airlines they were going to hijack, in advance.

[twa]

We could've if Republicans had not voted to decrease our security funding for our embassies. Sorry, I posted with no link, but it can probably be found on the Googles.

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/20...assy-security/

Yep, the Googles.

“It has been suggested that budget cuts are responsible for a lack of security in Benghazi, and I’d like to ask Miss Lamb,” said Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R., California). “You made this decision personally. Was there any budget consideration and lack of budget which lead you not to increase the number of people in the security force there?”

“No, sir,” said [Charlene] Lamb.

[visionary]

Actually, the problem with the "we could have found the money somewhere" sound bite isn't that it's untrue.

It's the fact that the "if we had known in advance which embassy was going to get attacked" isn't being said out loud.

We could have prevented 9/11, too. If we'd known which airlines they were going to hijack, in advance.

So you're comparing the likelihood of an attack in New York City, to an attack in a city where there had been numerous incidents the months leading up to it. (not to mention the awful security situation and the crazy **** the government and security services let some of the militias get away with)


I'm not one to blame what happened to the ambassador on Obama or his administration, but that's a pretty lame excuse.