Nobody gives a shit about these "scandals"

[Uzair]

I'm sorry, but I just can't seem to get myself worked up about all these so called "scandals" the media is telling me the Obama administration is having to deal with right now.

Some terrorists stormed an embassy and killed a few people and some people in the administration may or may not have tried to put a positive spin on it for the media. YAWN.

The IRS profiled some conservative asshats. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWN.


Have we all forgotten about the 4000+ dead soldiers from an illegal war? The 100,000 civilians dead as a result of it? Torture as an official policy? Fake reporters in the press corps, fake news stories? Outing a CIA agent for political reasons? And on and on and on.

The Obama administration is the cleanest bunch of people I have ever seen compared to the last bunch. These scandals are child's play. They're nothing. Nobody gives a shit, seriously. This media narrative is hilarious, but let's make no mistake: It's a media narrative, nothing more. Stop falling for it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Sorry to say this, but the AP is a real one

Something about the First Amendment, not much really.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. And if Congress demands an investigation (which they did) of leaks, what do you do? How do you.....

find out the identity of the leaker, unless you turn over all the rocks? Didn't you want to know who leaked Valerie Plame's identity?

[MetasticTwine]

13. No, it isn't

The subpoenas are 100% legal.

So if you have a beef with it, work to alter the law.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I just love the talking points

Did we hear similar crap during the Bush years?

[MetasticTwine]

23. The law is the law

and the DOJ is going to use every legal avenue open to them.

Of course, there was an attempt to change the law in 2007. Then Senator Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of the bill. It passed the House by a wide margin, though Issa was one of 21 Republicans who voted against it. It was successfully filibustered in the Senate by the Republicans.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Sure, I love the talking points

I will take a lawyer who works in civil rights, nothing personal. Who also hated this crap when the bush admin did it. (Cohn on the Hayes program) nothing personal.

For the record, I give the WH the benefit of the doubt for the moment. But as a working reporter I have less patience for this crap I guess.

[xtraxritical]

68. "The law is the law"... It changes constantly, it is not carved in stone.

[AnnieK401]

81. Ironic isn't it.

[Bake]

64. From our side, a resounding YES.

But apparently it's OK if our side does it.

Bake

[Skidmore]

73. You know, nadin, these superduper security laws were created during

the Bush administration as a knee-jerk reaction to a crisis and to shore up their planned incursions into Iraq. Yes, there were some out here, most notably on DU in the beginning, who raised their voices in opposition to the whole Patriot Acct/Homeland Security insanity. We did not sit silently in the face of truly egregious affronts to civil liberties then. Those protests fell on deaf ears and went unreported by the media, who were so fearful of Rove and his machine that they barely referred to the free speech zones that were so graciously supplied to dissenters by the Bush regime. I do not have a large fund of sympathy for the AP right now. What goes around comes around and perhaps the law does need to be changed if it creates gray areas.

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. There is that

And my sympathy to the AP as far as high level politics is as broad and extensive as it is for the NYT, Judith Miller and the WaPo.

That said, I can see beyond them, because you know what? This is not just the USPA, which like you raised cackles and I raised my voice, and got active...this goes further than that...this is the beginning of the official undoing of The Church Committee recommendations and the official restart of Op. Mockingbird by another name.

[cali]

61. actually, there's some debate about that.

beyond that, just because something is legal doesn't make it OK.

Jim Crow was 100% legal. Sodomy as a crime was legal and on and on.

[uponit7771]

14. This is false, AP heads should roll

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. So the AP ordered the investigation on itself?

I am slow, how exactly did that happen?

[LuvNewcastle]

17. That's the only one I care anything about.

I haven't learned enough about it yet to determine culpability, but I don't like the fact that it ever happened in the first place. Too bad the MSM only reports about these kinds of things when they are the ones being investigated.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Still in early stages

And for the moment willing to give the WH the benefit of the doubt. But that is for max 48 hours.

Marguerite Cohn from the Jefferson School of Law just went over the pattern though.

[babylonsister]

19. Really?

From Ryan Lizza...

"GOP calls on Holder to investigate leaks. Holder appoints US Attorney. US Att. subpoenas AP records. GOP calls on Holder to resign."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022843582

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. You forgot to point out Holder recused himself

[babylonsister]

24. No, I supplied the link for that, too.

What does that have to do with anything? Why are people choosing to see the absolute worst when it seems pretty clear this is another faux outrage drummed up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I give the WH the benefit of the doubt, for the moment

And trust me, far from worst case...this little scandal does not rise to the I word, which is what the cons are looking for...but heads will have to roll.

I still gotta see one WH that did not have a juicy scandal by term 2 though

[randome]

54. Anyone who says 'trust me' as often as you do is not to be trusted.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[demwing]

76. "I give the WH the benefit of the doubt, for the moment"

well gee, thanks!

No law was broken, so isn't your "concession" (for the moment), a bit thin?

[leveymg]

25. Agreed.

[BeyondGeography]

29. It's real to the Left, which makes it the least threatening issue of all

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. And working reporters.

Oh and I forgot, those if us who care about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

[BeyondGeography]

32. Increasingly an oxymoron

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Maybe we should just get it over with

And shred the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, just leave the Second alone

[AlbertCat]

44. Something about the First Amendment,

Congress made a law prohibiting speech????? WHEN?

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. It went right over your head

Try to stay out of complex stuff truly

[AlbertCat]

48. Try to stay out of complex stuff truly

Obviously, it didn't go over my head.

Try reading the 1st amendment and understand it, Mr. Complexity.










"Congress shall make no law....."
"A well regulated militia...."

What is it about people not being able to start at the beginning of the sentence when it comes to the Bill of Rights?

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. I do, I work with it every day.

Good bye, welcome to the kid's table

[MjolnirTime]

77. no, it isn't. and you'll find that out. just wait.

[tularetom]

2. If you turn off the TV machine it won't bother you

The reason nobody gives a shit about this stuff is that most people have given up on TV "news" as a means of learning WTF is going on in the world.

[BlueCaliDem]

5. And this is a positive step in the right direction!

The American people might not know it consciously, but subconsciously they've already become tired and bored with focus-group-tested propaganda in the quest to make the U.S. a fascist state rather than a democracy - which will, of course, only benefit corporations. It appears that the American people have unwittingly neutered corporate propaganda information broadcasts . . . and that's a good thing.

[pscot]

3. Word

It's all a PR campaign orchestrated by conservative "think" tanks.

[Quixote1818]

6. I have noticed they aren't getting many comments on Huffington Post

For example the lead story on Huff Post today was the Whitehouse response to Associated Press AND IRS thing. Right now it only has 3,500 comments. Compare that to the story about Elisabeth Warren going after the banks which has not been the lead story and has 8,500 comments.

You're right, no one cares about any of this.

[Vietnameravet]

7. Scandals are what the Repubs come up with because they have no policies..

not ones to benefit the middle class, anyway..

[Cha]

8. Shhh, don't tell that to those around

here trying to make a Big Fucking Deal out of it.

[emulatorloo]

9. It is just the same loud excessively high post-count handful

Will pretty much latch on to anything as long it fits their agenda, including the bullshit churned out by Republican Noise Machine

[Andy823]

34. +1000 nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

10. Yeah, but this is what happens when you let crimes go unpunished by "looking forward"

and being utterly servile. There is right and there is wrong and some things are black and white. The Democrats have no one to blame but themselves for all of this.

[Swamp Lover]

11. My concerns of order of real importance is AP .....................................IRS..............

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Benghazi

The AP Scandal is not likely illegal as they seemed to have gone through proper channels in the investigation. If this is not the truth and records were acquired without following the law than this is VERY, someone going to jail, serious.

However, even if laws and policies were followed, if the purpose of the action was to intimidate the press, and heavy handedly tried to force members of the press, or sources to give up information.....that is also very serious and heads should roll. I fear the latter.

The IRS "sandal" should be a bipartisan opportunity to look at the mess that has become of campaign financing post-Citizen's United. The whole web of non-profit, "social welfare" groups that are making a mess on both, actually, more than two sides of issues during campaigns, should be reviewed, the laws tightened up and a consistent process for assigning NonProfit developed.

Benghazzi........nada. Seems mistakes were made, but they were early on realized and addressed.

[Quixote1818]

16. Didn't the press just find out about it yesterday?

How could anyone be intimidated if they didn't know it was going on until now? And they don't sound intimidated the way they are reacting.

[Anansi1171]

33. Stop making sense, you will offend the righteous-NT

[Swamp Lover]

38. The worst intimidation is felt by journalists and bloggers etc, who are operating today

knowing that the White House will collect your private infromation if you get out of line.

It could be that someone in the DOJ was flexing a muscle to send a message to the press, but this is either stupid or dangerous or a mix of both.

[MetasticTwine]

20. The AP was not the target

The target was the person who leaked highly classified information about an ongoing anti-terrorism operation in Yemen.

The reason Holder had to recuse himself from the investigation is because he had been briefed on the operation, would have to be questioned in the investigation, and could very well become a target of the investigation.

One need only look to the AP articles in the time period for which the records were subpoenaed and the Republican reactions to the leak to understand this.

[emulatorloo]

37. Appreciate the fact-based post n/t

[Quixote1818]

42. Well put! nt

[Skittles]

12. I think it is hysteria over Benghazi not taking hold

it's pushing them over the edge

[Arugula Latte]

31. A cartoonist should do this panel:

An elephant with three pots, one labeled "Benghazi," one labeled "IRS" and one labeled "AP." The Benghazi mud didn't stick to the wall, so the elephant has moved on to the next pot.

You're welcome, cartoonists.

[Skittles]

39. YEE HAW!!

[liberalmuse]

26. I prefer Old Hollywood scandals. Not this sh*t.

It's getting REAL. OLD. The batsh*t rightwing crazies need to give it a farking rest already. Maybe get on some good meds.

[spanone]

36. the speculation noooze sure duz

[Rozlee]

40. Americans aren't paying attention to any of this.

They want jobs, they want security and they don't give a damn about Benghazi, the AP or the IRS, unless they're the ones being audited. However, if they hear the words "b.j.", they'll break their legs stampeding to their teevees to become instant news junkies.

[SunSeeker]

71. That's it in a nutshell. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

41. they don't give a shit about these sandals?

They should.

They're stylin'.

[Quixote1818]

43. Here is the real scandal!!!!

These sandals are a fashion scandal! God help us!

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Talk about torturing your kids.

"No, please don't wear those out!!!!!!!"

[randome]

56. What did Obama know about this and when did he know it?

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[kairos12]

52. Thanks for the hilarity

[SidDithers]

57. Nevermind...

Sid

[treestar]

45. The desperation in using these as scandals

Just shows how badly off the Rs are - they want to find some and this is the best they can do. Pathetic. Do they have anything constructive to do? They are all about hate and putting other people down. Bankrupt of ideas themselves and desperate for attention.

[AlbertCat]

47. I am outraged by other important scandals!

Like...

I wanna know why the WH fired all those employees in the travel office!!!

And just how did the WH office of Personal Security get permission from the FBI to look at all those files!

And what about those two state troopers and their allegations???? Huh? HUH????

[Spitfire of ATJ]

50. EVERYBODY knew the Republicans were going to go into impeachment mode when they lost.

[Half-Century Man]

51. These are not scandals.

Benghazi: covered enough, I don't think anyone here disputes that.
IRS: IRS agents checking the legitimacy of tax free status of certain 501(c) (4)'s, due to their affiliation to anti-taxation group (s). I ask, if there was (to steal an old G. Carlin joke) corporation named "United Consumer Fuckers". Based on the name alone, the Consumer Protection Agency would have no reason to take a look at them? If this is a big deal, level the playing field. Order examinations of all 501 (c) (4)s formed since 2008.
The AP : the DOJ examined the records of times and numbers of phone calls during a set period. the contents of said phone calls was not available. The NIS listens to millions of phone calls searching for red flag words to find sleeper cells. So, it's okay to listen to us babble, but a tragedy to find out when a phone call might have been made?

I might be missing something here. After reading all the news articles, I still don't see anything out of the ordinary for Washington DC level politics.
I said it before. The Republicans want these to be the Flash-Bangs grenades the incite the people. It is kind of sad that these turned out to be Sparkle-Farts.

[ieoeja]

67. I don't think it has anything to do with their being anti-tax.

If I started a non-profit named "Democratic Party of America" or "American Democratic Party" or "Democratic Party Outreach" or "Democratic Party Insert-the-Blank" and then claimed it was "not political" ... wouldn't you assume I'm lying? These idiots started organizations called "Tea Party Insert-the-Blank" and claimed they were non-political.

That would certainly be grounds for reasonable suspicion.

[Half-Century Man]

72. I did label incorrectly

They are not exclusively anti-taxation. I can't even say they are primarily anti-tax. But definitely political. I called them anti-tax from Taxed enough already.

[demwing]

79. Sparkle-Farts

and thus shall these teapot tempests always be known

[Half-Century Man]

80. Disturbing visual image though....

....my eyes, my eyes.

[yellowwoodII]

53. Fox Whipped Up This Fury

My friend, who believes in Fox Media the way some people believe in religion, told me some time ago that Benghazi was a "tragedy." Sad as it is, it pales in comparison with the sadness of the thousands of our military casualties who have died in the futile exercise in Iraq. I think that their lives were important, too. And the Iraq War was a tragedy. Fox Media doesn't mention that.

[Herlong]

58. I Care About The Honest Assessment Of All The Facts

No party is above the law. Partisanship aside, I give room for the truth. If someone (Holder) in Washington was a dumb ass......

[Kablooie]

59. But they do prove that Obama is worse than Hitler ever was.

Sar Chasm.

Of course.

[JEB]

60. GITMO is the scandal

that besmirches the reputation of the USA. I'm not assigning blame (plenty to go around). Also scandalous that citizens suffer while banks that caused our economic crisis prosper. The proliferation of drone killings. The casual accepting of the death of Habeas corpus. These are the real scandals of our time. These were not drummed up to make sound bites for the TV, but are real problems.

[Bake]

63. If it were the GOP, we'd give more than a sh*t about them.

YAWN all you want to. This has legs. Our so-called "most transparent administration ever" isn't so transparent.

Does that surprise anybody?

Is it OK if it's OUR SIDE that does it? I don't think so. The WH had best get its ducks in a row.

Bake

[Bake]

65. "Compared to the last bunch" isn't saying much.

And that isn't the standard anyway.

Bake

[Donald Ian Rankin]

66. I think you may mean "I don't care what the people who care about them think"?

Your position as stated is clearly false.

[Canuckistanian]

69. Perspective

You haz it.

[JDPriestly]

74. Thanks. Jimmy Carter was as clean as they come, and they even found scandals with

him -- which weren't really his fault at all. Jimmy Carter's brother? Come on, now.

And Franklin S&L. That was the fault of the Vatican bankers, not the Carter administration.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

75. Take heart. Conspiracy theorists are flummoxed in the face of actual scandals.

http://www.salon.com/2013/05/15/conspiracy_theorists_flummoxed_in_face_of_actual_scandals/

"If you spend every hour of your working life inventing new ways to attack Barack Obama or the government (or both), this is a very good week for you — or at least it should be. After trudging through the deserts of Benghazi and Fast and Furious for four years, trying to extract any tiny drop of scandal from stone, now suddenly comes manna from heaven, courtesy of the IRS and its misguided attempt to prevent political groups from taking advantage of the nonprofit tax code. Then, even before you could digest the first course, the Department of Justice snoops on reporters. Glory be to Ronald Reagan’s ghost! The Promised Land of Impeachment can’t be far off.

Three scandals, one week? It’s almost too good to be true. What if it is?

For some of Obama’s biggest and most imaginative critics, the abundance of scandal stinks to high heaven and suggests the White House is intentionally drowning itself in controversy — for some reason. Jon Stewart predicted the IRS scandal would confirm every anti-Obama conspiracy theory out there, but instead, Michele Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh and Alex Jones smell a rat about the scandals, themselves (call it a meta-conspiracy).

They seem to have gotten so good at scandal alchemy that they don’t know what to do when someone hands them solid gold. When handed a real conspiracy, they instead are building a new conspiracy on top of it that dismisses the old one."

[marshall]

78. I do think the average person doesn't care a lick about anything that goes on

They don't care about the First Amendment, they don't follow the national news, they barely follow local news. Many many people are only concerned with what they see happening to them now. If it's right there in front of them, or biting them on the rear end, then they care about it.

[jg15]

83. agreed...

Average person doesn't know who their rep is... Governor is... and etc... Let alone care about policy or the scandal De jure... Takes someone knocking on there door...

[FrenchieCat]

84. They only need to fool enough people for long enough.....

And the Bought Press is good for that!

That's why I dont care about this "Free" press that everyone is so protective of....
because it hasn't existed in quite some time.

That's why I've been staying away from politics....
Because the Media will do what they want, and they only need to fool enough of the people
long enough....and they are good at that, if nothing else.