The Difference Between Democrats and Republicans

Wingnut blogs promptly seize the ball and run with it
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This is a good example of the difference between Democrats and Republicans, because a Republican would never say something like this about one of their own, knowing how it would be used by the opposition: Feinstein: Someone at White House Is Behind Recent Intel Leaks.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Monday that someone at the White House was responsible for the recent leaks of classified information.

“I think the White House has to understand that some of this is coming from their ranks,” Feinstein said in an address at the World Affairs Council, The Associated Press first reported.

Feinstein said she was certain that President Obama had not disclosed any of the classified intelligence, but believed others in the administration were responsible.

“I don’t believe for a moment that he goes out and talks about it,” she said of the president.

Mitt Romney immediately latched onto this as an anti-Obama talking point, of course, and now Feinstein is walking it back.

Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) backtracked from her comments Monday that the White House was responsible for some of the national security leaks, saying she did not know the source of the leaks.

“I stated that I did not believe the president leaked classified information,” Feinstein said in the statement on Tuesday. “I shouldn’t have speculated beyond that, because the fact of the matter is I don’t know the source of the leaks.”

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney seized on Feinstein’s remarks in a speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention Tuesday, accusing President Obama of not trying to find the source of the leaks until after the election.

Feinstein said that she regretted her comments were being used against Obama and said she was “disappointed” in Romney’s remarks.

What did she expect?

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44 comments
1 rabit  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 1:57:48pm

Let this be a lesson to any Democrat to never say anything that will be used against them by Republicans.

In other words, say nothing?

2 mr.fusion  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 1:59:58pm

well, it's definitely A difference....I don't know if I would say it's THE difference

Reason, intellectual curiosity and honesty come to mind as differences as well

3 Charles Johnson  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:01:00pm

re: #1 rabit

Let this be a lesson to any Democrat to never say anything that will be used against them by Republicans.

In other words, say nothing?

Nope, I didn't say that. The point is that it's a big difference. I didn't say Democrats should be like this too.

4 erik_t  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:01:18pm

re: #1 rabit

In other words, say nothing?

And lo, was Romney's campaign methodology revealed.

5 Kragar  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:03:22pm

re: #4 erik_t

And lo, was Romney's campaign methodology revealed.

No, Mitt says everything.

6 Charles Johnson  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:05:11pm

If Feinstein had no real evidence, just a feeling that the White House was leaking, she should have kept her mouth shut about it. This was an own goal, totally unnecessary and stupid.

7 goddamnedfrank  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:05:43pm

To be fair both Santorum and Gingrich flat out called Romney a liar. Of course that's when they were running against him and were filled with delusional thoughts of being the nominee. Now they have to watch their rhetoric for fear of being cut off from the flow of money.

8 erik_t  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:13:04pm

re: #7 goddamnedfrank

To be fair both Santorum and Gingrich flat out called Romney a liar. Of course that's when they were running against him and were filled with delusional thoughts of being the nominee. Now they have to watch their rhetoric for fear of being cut off from the flow of money.

They haven't exactly been offering up ringing endorsements of Romney since then.

Actually, I'm not sure there have been any ringing endorsements.

Remind me how this man won again?

9 Kragar  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:14:11pm

re: #8 erik_t

They haven't exactly been offering up ringing endorsements of Romney since then.

Actually, I'm not sure there have been any ringing endorsements.

Remind me how this man won again?

Attrition

10 Mattand  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:14:12pm

re: #8 erik_t

They haven't exactly been offering up ringing endorsements of Romney since then.

Actually, I'm not sure there have been any ringing endorsements.

Remind me how this man won again?

To quote myself from the other day, Mitt comes off as sane when compared to the rest of the Clown Car Cadre.

11 Ben G. Hazi  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:15:13pm

re: #8 erik_t

They haven't exactly been offering up ringing endorsements of Romney since then.

Actually, I'm not sure there have been any ringing endorsements.

Remind me how this man won again?

Among the GOP establishment, it was Mitt's "turn" this time around.

12 Targetpractice  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:15:31pm

Meanwhile, Sistah Sarah's been out there, telling anybody who will listen that the reason she's not been invited to the ball...er, convention is because she's been saying too many "truths" to folks that the party leadership doesn't want to hear.

13 Kragar  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:15:44pm

GOP at the battle of Stalingrad:

"The first candidate takes the talking point! The second candidate picks up the talking point when the first candidate falls!"

14 erik_t  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:16:41pm

re: #13 Kragar

GOP at the battle of Stalingrad:

"The first candidate takes the talking point! The second candidate picks up the talking point when the first candidate falls!"

Now the office is staring at the giggler. Thanks for that.

15 Kragar  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:17:02pm

re: #14 erik_t

Now the office is staring at the giggler. Thanks for that.

You're welcome.

16 Benghazzy Ben Ross  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:17:39pm

re: #14 erik_t

Now the office is staring at the giggler. Thanks for that.

Mission accomplished for Kragar.

17 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:17:43pm

re: #8 erik_t

They haven't exactly been offering up ringing endorsements of Romney since then.

Actually, I'm not sure there have been any ringing endorsements.

Remind me how this man won again?

The only competition he had who wasn't either a delusional lunatic or a blithering idiot was John Huntsman, and he was never going to be the nominee specifically because he was neither a delusional lunatic nor a blithering idiot.

18 Benghazzy Ben Ross  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:18:09pm

re: #17 Temporarily Embarrassed Millionaire

The only competition he had who wasn't either a delusional lunatic or a blithering idiot was John Huntsman, and he was never going to be the nominee specifically because he was neither a delusional lunatic nor a blithering idiot.

And he had Obama cooties.

19 Killgore Trout  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:19:23pm

I guess it depends on the definition of "leak" is. It was widely assumed at the time that the Whitehouse authorized people to talk to the press. The executive has broad authority to declassify information. The "leaks" were advantageous to Obama politically by showing him as tough on the war on terror. I haven't seen any evidence the leaks compromised security or operations. I think public disclosure of Obama's "kill list" may have made a few terrorists think of retiring. No harm, no foul.

20 The Ghost of a Benghazi Flea  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:21:01pm

But Feinstein's speculation wasn't enough, was it? Romney's team have been selling that Obama himself is responsible for the leaks, and that the leaks are dangerous to national security.

Romney: White House Leaks Endangered Lives

“Exactly who in the White House betrayed these secrets? Did a superior authorize it?” Romney plans to say, according to the remarks. “These are things that Americans are entitled to know — and they are entitled to know right now. If the president believes — as he said last week — that the buck stops with him, then he owes all Americans a full and prompt accounting of the facts.”

21 Killgore Trout  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:21:11pm

It's best not to fuck with somebody who has a kill list.

22 erik_t  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:23:39pm

re: #20 The Ghost of a Flea

If the president believes — as he said last week — that the buck stops with him

Yes, Mitt, Obama generally does believe that. It's part of the office. Maybe you hadn't heard?

23 Kragar  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:24:15pm

re: #21 Killgore Trout

It's best not to fuck with somebody who has a kill list.

24 Charles Johnson  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:30:37pm

re: #20 The Ghost of a Flea

But Feinstein's speculation wasn't enough, was it? Romney's team have been selling that Obama himself is responsible for the leaks, and that the leaks are dangerous to national security.

Romney: White House Leaks Endangered Lives

It will now become a right wing article of faith that Obama himself leaked the info, despite any facts to the contrary.

In Romney's speech today he was pushing the "Obama is weak on national security" line hard. Every time he says this I get an image of Osama bin Laden with a bullet in his head, and the entire upper echelon of Al Qaeda wiped out by drone attacks.

Obama has been far more ruthless in going after Al Qaeda than Bush ever was.

25 Randall Gross  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:34:08pm

This has me thinking back to the big tent GOP of a few years back. When the hard conservatives were on the fringe in the GOP they regularly voiced heterodox criticism of President Bush (the first "Bow Gate!" was really his,) and I'm mentally contrasting that to the orthodoxy of today's GOP where the fringe now controls all and dissent is a banish-able offense.

26 researchok  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:38:52pm
“I’m on record as being disturbed by these leaks, and I regret my remarks are being used to impugn President Obama or his commitment to protecting national security secrets,” Feinstein said. “I know for a fact the president is extremely troubled by these leaks. His administration has moved aggressively to appoint two independent U.S. attorneys. There is an investigation under way, and it is moving forward quickly."

From the article.

No way anyone can give Obama anything less than an 'A' on National security.

And if it turns out there was a leak from the WH, heads will roll.

You can take that to the bank.

I admit I roll my eyes when I hear how candidates will misrepresent each other on the stump. That's just business as usual. However, on matters of national security this kind of misrepresentation is unacceptable. Period.

Decisions on national security are made with information we don't have - and should not have. Mitt Romney knows that.

To date, Obama has proved himself to be a stellar leader in that regard. He has never once ever been accused of using his position as CIC to further his political ambitions.

Mitt needs to back off.

27 erik_t  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:39:27pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

In Romney's speech today he was pushing the "Obama is weak on national security" line hard. Every time he says this I get an image of Osama bin Laden with a bullet in his head, and the entire upper echelon of Al Qaeda wiped out by drone attacks.

On the plus side, I'm slowly becoming convinced that Romney is fundamentally unable to sell a message or argument of any sort. The apparent incompetence of his campaign remains breathtaking. Frankly, Romney spending time on national security talk rather than the economy is probably a win for Obama.

OMG ELEVEN DIMENSIONAL CHESS!!!1

28 Amory Blaine  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:41:36pm

Um. You'd think she just got fucking elected. Smooth move.

29 dragonfire1981  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:41:46pm

re: #26 researchok

From the article.

No way anyone can give Obama anything less than an 'A' on National security.

And if it turns out there was a leak from the WH, heads will roll.

You can take that to the bank.

I admit I roll my eyes when I hear how candidates will misrepresent each other on the stump. That's just business as usual. However, on matters of national security this kind of misrepresentation is unacceptable. Period.

Decisions on national security are made with information we don't have - and should not have. Mitt Romney knows that.

To date, Obama has proved himself to be a stellar leader in that regard. He has never once ever been accused of using his position as CIC to further his political ambitions.

Mitt needs to back off.

I don't think that's entirely accurate...

30 researchok  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:42:33pm

re: #29 dragonfire1981

OK, he has never once been legitimately accused....

31 dragonfire1981  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:42:52pm

re: #30 researchok

OK, he has never once been legitimately accused...

Better. :P

32 b_snark  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:43:26pm

This, or something similar, actually should have been expected from a group more diverse and less authoritarian and tribal than the right.

33 BongGhazi  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:44:19pm

We're Democrats, baby! We're the "Jersey Shore" of political parties.

34 dragonfire1981  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:45:19pm

*catchy intro music with Romney clips*

He has a flair for putting insomniacs to sleep...
Many of his followers aren't even real...
He takes "shades of grey" to a whole new level...

He is the most UNinteresting man in the world.

"I don't always edit videos, but when I do I prefer to do it deceptively. Stay ignorant, my friends."

35 dragonfire1981  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:45:34pm

re: #33 BongCrodny

We're Democrats, baby! We're the "Jersey Shore" of political parties.

So who's Snooki and who's the "Situation"?

36 Stanghazi  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:49:39pm

RIP Sherman Hemsley :(

37 BongGhazi  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:49:53pm

I can't imagine there's anybody at LGF unfamiliar with this quote, but it *still* fits:

Democrats never agree on anything, that's why they're Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans. -- Will Rogers

38 BongGhazi  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 2:54:36pm

re: #35 dragonfire1981

So who's Snooki and who's the "Situation"?

Anthony Weiner as the Situation?
I'm afraid I'm drawing a Snooki blank, however.

39 steve_davis  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 3:02:13pm

My immediate sense when Feinstein said this was, "Diane, STFU." Because I absolutely knew this would be the result.

40 rabit  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 3:03:19pm

re: #3 Charles Johnson

Maybe I just have this sense that the GOP is a dying party and that they know it. Republicans have a cultish tendency to distort and outright fabricate lies to prop up their party, and treat self-criticism as treason, because they understand they have no factual record of success to fall back on. Maybe it's naive but I think people eventually tire of bullshit.

I'd rather not see the Dems behave this way - and what better to keep your own party honest than fear of public criticism from your own ranks.

41 moderatelyradicalliberal  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 3:50:10pm

re: #36 Stanley Sea

RIP Sherman Hemsley :(

Oh no! :(

42 moderatelyradicalliberal  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 3:59:41pm

Chik-Fil-A has decided that rather than admit that the Muppets won't work with them anymore because of their bigoted stance on gays it would be better to slander the Muppets and say that their toys are dangerous. I hope the Muppets sue the pants of of them.

[Link: www.balloon-juice.com...]

I guess lying is a Christian value now.

43 MikeTheModerateDemocrat  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 4:33:36pm

And this is why we democrats have lost more elections than we've won the last 30 years.

44 sagehen  Tue, Jul 24, 2012 5:08:26pm

re: #38 BongCrodny

Anthony Weiner as the Situation?
I'm afraid I'm drawing a Snooki blank, however.

Loretta Sanchez.

For evidence, I present her 2006 Christmas card:

[Link: wonkette.com...]


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