Not Backing Down An Inch

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_02/022366.php

NOT BACKING DOWN AN INCH.... For good or ill, the Obama White House is generally reluctant to throw elbows. But when it comes to the Abdulmutallab case, in the face of breathtakingly dishonest nonsense, the president's team hasn't backed down an inch, and has embraced a tone with a sharp edge. Today, the White House called out one of more ridiculous critics by name.

The White House excoriated Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) on Thursday for politicizing the ongoing investigation into the Flight 253 terror plot.

Bond asserted earlier this week that top counterterrorism chief John Brennan ought to be fired, in part because he and other national security advisers were wrong to read suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights. He later added that Brennan was not "credible" and had thus become the "mouthpiece of the political arm" of the White House.

However, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs aggressively dismissed that line on Thursday, remarking: "I don't know whether Kit Bond was confused or whether he just doesn't want to admit the truth."

Responding to the notion that Bond was notified of Abdulmutallab arrest, but not of Abdulmutallab being Mirandized, Gibbs told reporters, "I'll let you ... just ask Kit Bond if he understands the protocols of how the FBI handles suspects."

And that's basically what it comes down to. After all of Bond's foolish claims were easily debunked, what we're left with is a clownish senator complaining about his own ignorance of FBI protocols. Seriously, that's all Republicans have left.

Why Republicans think this debate has a political upside for them is less clear. They probably assume any discussion about national security necessarily benefits the GOP -- even if Republicans are made to look like incompetent fools in the process -- but the White House pushback has been both aggressive and accurate.

The GOP will probably keep trying -- they can't help themselves -- but they're losing this debate. Badly.

—Steve Benen

[Armstead]

1. I hope he blows his stack and tells them to "Go to Hell"

There is nothing more reprehensible that the nasty opportunistic GOP attacks about national security simply for political gain.

[OHdem10]

2. The GOP have only overall goal--to make this President and his

adm.look weak on Defense and Foreign Policy. They will stretch
the truth if necessary. They are expert at stirring up hornet's
nest, confusing the American People --anything to get their way.

BTW, Bond was just spouting forth on this issue on Senate Floor.
Durbin came in and did a good push back presenting the Adm. Position.

[babylonsister]

3. I think Bond should just keep digging; he's going to become a

laughingstock if he isn't already.

[Hissyspit]

4. Chris Hayes had great stuff to say last night on Rachel's show about the Rethugs' motivations

Couldn't get the video to load in Political Videos forum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Ptt6qHFQ0

"(Republicans) particularly don't care about policy as long as they are allowed to free ride... There is this intense contradiction at the core of the Republican party in that they are constantly bashing government... when they are governing the hypocrisy is so apparent no one can ignore it... When they're in the minority party, they're able to try and play it both ways..."

And I will say the White House shouldn't be so reluctant to throw elbows. This is serious shit they are in charge of, and the Republicans are controlling too much and getting away with too much.