The Actual Scandal

Here we go again. It's "SCANDAL!!!!" time. And more specifically, it's #Benghazi time.

Right now, House Democratic leaders are deliberating whether to participate in the new House Committee devoted to the G-O-TEA's favorite hashtag. Dare they risk legitimizing this farce? Or dare they miss an opportunity to call the G-O-TEA out on this farce?

It's not an easy decision... Unlike the actual scandal that needs to be not just investigated, but actually fixed.

It's been nearly 5 months since Congress let the federal unemployment insurance (UI) extension lapse. That's meant the loss of over $5 billion in economic activity. And it's meant unnecessary hardship for over 34,000 Nevadans and over 2.3 million Americans. Oh, and it may also soon mean the loss of over 240,000 jobs if Congress doesn't act soon.

Last month, the Senate passed bipartisan UI extension legislation. Yet since that Senate vote, the lower House of Congress has not touched UI. Even as the UI lapse has taken its toll on our economy & on over 2.3 million Americans, House Republican "leaders" have refused to schedule a #RenewUI vote.

In recent weeks, Congressional Republican "leaders" have claimed they want to find "solutions to poverty". One actual solution is right here. Instead of wasting any more of our tax dollars "investigating" a "scandalous" hashtag, they can #RenewUI and end the unnecessary suffering of millions of people who are just trying to get by.

Here we go again. While a haute faux scandal is about to be "investigated" to filth, the actual scandal is ignored. And actual people are suffering because of this. Does anyone else notice what's wrong with this picture?

Hot Scandal

Ready for some hot, hot, hot #Benghazi action? House Speaker John Boehner (R-Benghazi) most certainly is. And he doesn't care whether or not Democrats come along for the ride. He just wants to get his Benghazi on, baby!

Yet while he and the rest of his G-O-TEA acolytes (cough- Joe Heck -cough) prepare to take their Benghazimania to the next level, the rest of the nation keeps wondering why they're losing their s**t over this.



And why are they losing their s**t over this and not the greatest global security threat of our time? Why is it "overreaching" to talk about the very real threats posed by climate change?



While House Republicans are losing their s**t over a hashtag and some half-baked conspiracy theories, the rest of us are being scared s**tless by real life. And by real life, we mean the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. We've known for some time that the ice in Antarctica is melting faster than we're accustomed to. But now, we have confirmation that s**t is about to get awfully real far sooner than we had expected.

And no, we're not talking about "abstract models". We're talking about real life. We're talking about what we're already experiencing now. We're talking about our own future.

While G-O-TEA politicians obsess over their new favorite haute faux scandal, a very real scandal is unfolding before our eyes. This scandal is so real that the US Defense Department is now preparing for future climate relayed national security threats. What else do G-O-TEA politicians need to realize the actual hot scandal emerging just outside their front door?

For us here in Nevada, the Great Western Drought is already taking its toll. And for many other parts of the nation, this scandal has already reached a furious boiling point. So why can't Congress start investigating (and more importantly, acting upon) this very real & very hot scandal?

Benghazipalooza

Well, surprise, f**king surprise. We've known for some time that Congressional Republicans were preparing for the rave of a lifetime on Capitol Hill. Las Vegas may now have Electric Daisy Carnival, but DC Republicans plan to rival that with their own Benghazipalooza.

At Benghazipalooza, all bets will be off. And G-O-TEA politicians will definitely be all in for all the political debauchery. Hell, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Grand Marnier) has even given the green light for the ultimate #Benghazi fundraising extravaganza!

And he's wondering why virtually no one outside the G-O-TEA base is taking his (latest) "Benghazi investigation" seriously?

We're sure Rep. Joe Heck (R-Benghazi) is really craving a ticket to Benghazipalooza. He's been getting into that groove for some time. Perhaps Rep. Mark Amodei (R-??!!) also wants a ticket to the ultimate scandalicious celebration, since he's always aiming to be Mr. #TeaParty Cool.

Never mind that many Nevada workers stand to benefit from a raise in the minimum wage. Never mind that our economy also stands to benefit from an extension of federal unemployment insurance (UI). And never mind that our economy can also benefit from pro-worker policies like comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) and nationwide ENDA.

Nope, House Republicans care more about getting their party on at Benghazipalooza. They may even go directly from Benghazipalooza to their next big rave: Impeachapalooza. We guess it's nice that they can enjoy the luxury of dereliction of duty taking extra time off work to have quality play time at their hot Capitol Hill rave. It's just too bad that all of us who live in the real world can't.

"Rebranding"... A Hashtag?

As we noted yesterday, House Republicans are now too busy investigating a hashtag to accomplish anything that can actually help Americans. Yet while they're once again obsessing over ridiculous #Benghazi conspiracy theories, they're leaving real legislation to die grisly deaths in committee back rooms.

Case in point: ENDA. It easily passed the Senate last November. It's quite popular. And it's absolutely necessary to combat anti-LGBTQ discrimination and ensure that everyone who wants a chance to work can work.

Yet it's now languishing in some back room of the House side of the US Capitol. But why? Oh, Rush Limbaugh doesn't want "teh gay cootiez". Mike Huckabee wants us to be on "the right side of the Bible". And Cresent Hardy wants us to take his advice on "segregation laws".

A number of prominent Republicans want us to believe in "Republican rebranding". How are we supposed to believe it when hardly anything has really changed? House Republicans still refuse to give ENDA a floor vote. Instead, they're feigning concern over phantom "frivolous law suits".

And of course, they're pursuing their own sort of "frivolous suits"... Like #Benghazi. Because wasting their time and our money on already debunked #Benghazi conspiracy theories is more important than ensuring that Americans who want & need to work can work.

G-O-TEA politicians can spew out as many hashtags as they want. That won't change the fact that "Republican rebranding" has failed to bring that party into the 21st century. And really, no amount of cosmetic "rebranding" can supplant the need for real, substantive policy.

Full Circle

We're approaching that time again. A number of important bills are sitting somewhere in the dark corners of various House Committees. Yet instead of actually working on those or other meaningful bills, House Republican "leaders" are instead...

Wait for it...



Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi!

Oh, yes. That's right. They're going there... Yet again.

In September 2012, an American consulate in Libya was attacked. Four people lost their lives. Numerous investigations have already been made since then, along with recommendations on how to improve embassy security. Yet despite their blustering accusations and numerous investigations, Congressional Republicans have never found any truth to their accusations.

In late 2012, Mitt Romney reduced it to a cheap political attack. And in 2014, House Republicans want to reduce it even further, down to a mere farcical hashtag. It's become quite clear what many Republican politicians on Capitol Hill plan to do with #Benghazi.

However, there is an interesting twist to this story. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) selected Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-South Carolina) (sorry, Joe Heck) to lead his #Benghazi fishing expedition witch hunt media circus "Select Committee". And while Speaker Boehner probably didn't intend to do this, he actually gave us a chance to talk about the real scandal on Capitol Hill with his choice for this committee investigating a sad tragedy that he's politicized into a haute faux scandal.

So why are we talking about some House Member from South Carolina? Before Rep. Gowdy became famous for this #Benghazi committee, he was best known for his successful "TEA" fueled primary challenge to then Rep. Bob Inglis. He and his "TEA" powered allies hit Inglis on several issues, but they probably hit hardest on Inglis' support for some sort of action on climate change.

So now, we're coming around full circle... Or at least Trey Gowdy is. He attacked Bob Inglis for daring to admit that we must do something about climate change. And now, he's attacking President Obama and Hillary Clinton in hopes of damaging them politically... And distracting us from real problems such as climate change.



The National Climate Assessment was released by The White House earlier today. It details the dangers we face if we don't take further action. And it points out how Nevada and the rest of the nation are already feeling the effects of climate change now.

So we've come around full circle. G-O-TEA media spinners are attacking President Obama for taking action on climate change instead of succumbing to their latest partisan witch hunt. And they're jumping into a full circle jerk over Trey Gowdy's new "Shade-ful Committee". And they're excited about a committee devoted to waste taxpayer dollars on a partisan witch hunt. Oh, and the guy who's in charge of this committee won a seat in Congress in the first place because he bashed an incumbent Republican for daring to admit the truth about climate change.

So just what was Speaker Boehner thinking when he named Trey Gowdy to chair this committee?

"Doing Something" v. (Actually) Doing Something

Remember this guy? He's still in Congress. And apparently, he now wants to be known for doing something there.

Last year, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) caught plenty of flack for failing to deliver on a number of important matters to Southern Nevada. Of course, one of those important matters has been comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Despite repeated requests by his constituents to act on CIR, and despite Heck's occasional suggestions that he will, nothing has happened (other than his June 2013 vote for an anti-CIR amendment to deport DREAMers).

But now, Rep. Heck is finally in position to do something. So what does he want to do?

.@RepJoeHeck named chair of HouseArmedServices investigations panel, takes over one of the GOP probes of Benghazi. #lvrj

Oh, yes. That's right. We're back to Benghazi. And we're back to the usual G-O-TEA conspiracy theories.

At a Summerlin area town hall last August, Rep. Joe Heck promised swift action on investigating Benghazi...



Even though G-O-TEA anti-Obama/Clinton conspiracy theories swirling around that 2012 US Consulate attack continue to be debunked, G-O-TEA politicians just can't stop in their quest to find a new #ObamaScandal to use against The White House and Congressional Democrats in the coming midterms. Their appetite for haute faux scandals still looks to be as strong as their appetite for manufactured crises. And once again, Rep. Heck seems to be going along (with G-O-TEA Scandal-mania) to get along (with the G-O-TEA base who decides primaries).

At least he will be able to keep his promise to the G-O-TEA to investigate Benghazi (to death). Perhaps this will be enough for him to fend off any late-surging, TEA fueled primary challenges.

But what about the rest of us? What about the American families worrying about their family members being deported? What about the businesses looking for more certainty in America's immigration system? And what about all the workers who are already here and just want a chance to work legally for a decent wage?

And since we're talking about work, what about all those #4jobs promises? Remember when Rep. Heck and other House Republicans promised action to put Americans back to work? Yep, we know. It seems like an eternity ago.

Perhaps now, Rep. Heck can finally feel like a "playa" on Capitol Hill. However, he should keep in mind that voters here and across the nation are not looking forward to more time wasted on nonsensical conspiracy theories. If he wants to be credited with "doing something", then he needs to spend time doing something productive.

Fishing for a Diversion?

For some time, many here in Southern Nevada have been looking for answers from Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) on HR 1565 and gun safety overall. At a town hall meeting in the Southwest Vegas Valley last night, some started to surface. At Victoria Fertitta Middle School's gymnasium, Rep. Heck took several questions on a variety of issues.





A few of them involved gun violence. Janice C specifically asked about HR 1565. Rep. Heck took the opportunity to reiterate general support for expanded background checks, but he wouldn't endorse HR 1565.



Rep. Heck said there were parts of the bill he couldn't support. He also said he's talked to the sponsors of HR 1565 about possible amendments.

That wasn't enough for the brother of Michael Boldon, the cab driver killed in February's Las Vegas Strip Shooting. While he complimented Rep. Heck, he also asked when he will finally lead the way on gun safety. Here's how Rep. Heck responded to him.



This week, gun violence is again making headline news. And again, the nation is facing serious questions about this matter. Yet even with over 180 cosponsors, a simple, bipartisan background checks bill can't make it to the House floor. And it seems like Rep. Joe Heck is trying to avoid taking a specific stand on this specific issue.

But ironically enough, Rep. Heck had no trouble taking a specific stand on the long ago debunked conspiracy theories surrounding last fall's attack on a US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. And not only that, but he wants Congress to waste even more time on G-O-TEA fishing expeditions scandal-mania! Oh, yes. That's right. He went there.



There are many issues facing Nevada and the nation that need Congressional action. Gun violence is one of them. G-O-TEA conspiracy theories are not.

I guess Rep. Heck doesn't want to see why Congressional approval has fallen so low this year.

Joe Heck's "Media Malfunction"

Fresh off winning reelection (with 50% of the vote), Joe Heck is busy getting back to...

Wait, what did he say?

[Soledad] O'Brien asked Heck what he would like to learn from Gen. David Petraeus when he testifies before a congressional hearing on the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. She then asked him if he would prevent Ambassador Susan Rice's confirmation if the president attempted to nominate her for secretary of state.

"The fact is you can't put somebody out as the face of the issue on all the Sunday morning talk shows, and then turn around weeks later and say she knew nothing about the incident and had nothing to do with it. That's just plainly wrong," he said.

O'Brien likened the situation with Rice to Condoleezza Rice when she said that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. "If you use that measurement...and then later you determine that the information was wrong, isn't that exactly analogous to what happened with Condoleezza Rice?"

"I don't believe so, because here we had a situation where the information was wrong, not coming back and saying the person had nothing to do with the situation. I mean Condy Rice was in a position to be able to be the face, and the information was wrong. But here we had wrong information, and then weeks later,we have the administration coming back and saying, 'Well this person had nothing to do with the situation,'" Heck said.

O'Brien said she would like to go through his response more slowly. When Heck tried to clarify, O'Brien cut him off and said, "You've lost me completely. Let's back up again. I'm sorry, forgive me. But you've lost me."

The problem here is that John McCain and a few other Republican Senators have been relentlessly attacking UN Ambassador Susan Rice over the Benghazi (Libya) attack. Yet while they're attacking her and threatening to prevent her from becoming the next Secretary of State should President Obama nominate her, they don't actually have facts to back up their claims. Perhaps this is why Heck was so tongue tied on CNN this morning.

Yesterday, McCain cited interviews in which Rice relayed information given to her by intelligence officials after the Benghazi attack and said that the ambassador “should have known better” and is “not qualified.” McCain also said that he will “do everything in my power to block her.” Yesterday, McCain and Graham held a press conference, along with Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), to make similar points.

In reality, McCain and Graham’s comments are inaccurate. David Ignatius of the Washington Post wrote that the CIA report from the day Susan Rice appeared on morning talk shows on Sept. 16 said, “The currently available information suggests that the demonstrations in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo… There are indications that extremists participated in the violent demonstrations.” The day after her first round of interviews, Rice said that she would wait until an investigation was complete and that “we don’t want to jump to conclusions before then.”

Perhaps this was what Joe Heck had in mind as he was going on CNN this morning. He tried so hard to "Go the Full McCain" in attacking Susan Rice and President Obama, but he just couldn't go the full distance once Soledad O'Brien started asking for more details. It's funny how facts can get in the way of spewing out talking points.

I wonder if this is the only issue that Joe Heck will have to reexamine in the coming weeks.