Thursday Open Thread [5.16.13]

Filed in Open Thread by on May 16, 2013

A Dubai Timelapse, just because it’s cool:

Dubai Timelapse from dimid on Vimeo.

Steve Benen:

Rachel [Maddow] noted on the show last night that the controversy surrounding Benghazi effectively “went away” yesterday, and given the latest information, it’s hard to imagine how any serious person could disagree.

The White House yesterday afternoon released the inter-agency communications that went into crafting the “talking points” requested by Congress last September. Lawmakers already saw these materials months ago — they found nothing controversial at the time — but Republicans and the media decided it was time to see them again.

So, the administration, eager to put the matter to rest, released the documents. In turn, we learned what we already knew: there was no cover-up; State and the CIA engaged in a predictable bureaucratic “tug of war”; and this:

The internal debate did not include political interference from the White House, according to the e-mails, which were provided to congressional intelligence committees several months ago.

And with that, everything Republican conspiracy theorists desperately wanted Americans to believe — there’s a scandal; there’s a cover-up; there’s evidence the White House manipulated and lied about a crisis for political ends — suddenly evaporated before our very eyes.

And anyone still saying there is or was a cover up today is simply a liar. I am looking at you Rusty. If you want to get a synopsis of what the emails revealed yesterday, you can go here. In the meantime, Republicans can use this open thread to offer their heartfelt and sincere apologies to the American people.

Meanwhile, check out International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield’s top 5 moments in Space.

Check out Kavips’ poem on Senate Bill 51, which he entitles “The Bad Dream.”

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  1. Delaware Dem says:

    Since we are firing people…

    Jonathan Karl of ABC News should be fired.

    Jon Karl lied about obtaining emails, got conned by the person who paraphrased the emails, prevaricated and rationalized when he got caught, and issued a non-apology apology after unjustifiably smearing the Obama administration.

    As for ABC News, they sent out a spokesman to argue that the real emails were consistent with Jon Karl’s horseshit paraphrased version of them, as if we are as empty in the head as Michele Bachmann.

  2. John Young says:

    Kavips poem, is in a word, brilliant.

  3. bamboozer says:

    But…. But….. BENGHAZI!!! Notice the original Benghazi Bunch mostly stayed away from the stupidity in the house, tweet for brains Lindsey Graham excepted. But don’t expect them to give it up, these are the people who continue to chant “Obama is a Muslim, Socialist, Kenyan”, and believe it.

  4. liberalgeek says:

    This story in FL is interesting.

    http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/316418/8/10-News-Investigators-discover-short-yellow-lights

    I have a friend that has been critical of DelDOT yellow light timing in the past, but this is a shitty and dangerous way to close a budget deficit. I hope they don’t end up killing their constituents.

  5. Jason330 says:

    When is “Campaign Obama” coming back?

  6. Delaware Dem says:

    I prefer to see Bullworth Obama

  7. Jason330 says:

    Bullworth Obama would be awesome.

  8. Rustydils says:

    Delaware dem, the pes should hire you. You are good at trying to explain away corruption

  9. SussexAnon says:

    No, Rusty, Pres Obama should hire Cheney.

    He doesn’t explain away anything. He embraces it and seeks to make you feel unAmerican for questioning his methods. Warrentless wiretapping, extrodinary rendition, Guantanimo, starting a war, “freedom zones”, etc.