In writer Reginald Rose's and director Sidney Lumet's 1957 classic motion picture - produced by the film's now legendary star, Henry Fonda - and also produced by Rose - 12 Angry Men was the story of a dozen jurors who deliberate the guilt or innocence of a male teenage defendant who is on trial for allegedly stabbing his father to death. The movie focuses on "12 angry men" who find it difficult to reach a unanimous verdict; with Henry Fonda's character convincing the eleven others that there is "reasonable doubt" that the 18-year old boy committed the murder.
In the Thursday, October 22nd, 2015 11-hour marathon hearing of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, former Secretary of State and current Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton faced "7 angry men" - or to be gender specific - "5 angry men and 2 angry women." And although some Republicans seemed to forget it - by the way she was often treated during the hearing - Mrs. Clinton was not on trial. She was a witness. And a willing one. And despite the fact that there were twelve members of the United States House of Representatives seated on a long dais in the Capitol Hill Hearing Room, it was the seven Republicans who viciously badgered Secretary Clinton.
To parody another movie masterpiece, The Magnificent Seven, "the malicious seven" of Republicans were despicable and deplorable as they were unfairly abusive towards Secretary Clinton. But kudos to Mrs. Clinton as she displayed phenomenal poise, impressive eloquence and extraordinarily spectacular endurance throughout a day that was positively pointless. After all, nothing new was learned about the sorrowful events of three years ago in Benghazi. And nothing was accomplished or even discussed to improve security in the future at our diplomatic outposts. But the Republicans did waste time again to drill Secretary Clinton about her e-mails.
Republicans thought it was somehow necessary to have Secretary Clinton testify with their hope to win a so-called "gotcha" moment. That being said, prior to the hearing, Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy of California - in late September - basically admitted to Fox News that the Benghazi Committee was created to derail and destroy Mrs. Clinton's campaign for President. Not too long after that - in early October - former committee investigator, Major Bradley Podliska - a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer - accused the committee of targeting Secretary Clinton, also in order to wreck her Presidential bid. The committee, however, denied any such allegations.
Thankfully, Congressmen Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Adam Schiff of California, Adam Smith of Washington and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez of California - among the five Democrats on the panel - expressed themselves with articulate truth as they not only had Secretary Clinton's back by setting the record straight, but the Democrats were also engaged in remembering the September 11th, 2012 tragedy that sadly claimed the lives of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other brave and courageous Americans - and to honor those lives - who served our country at our embassy in Benghazi, Libya; unlike the Republicans who visibly only desired to poison the Presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton.
Instead, Secretary Clinton's mammoth testimony - without question - elevated her even more-so to the heights that will catapult her to The Oval Office in the 2016 general election.
As for the Republicans...they failed. And failed miserably. And they know it.
Congratulations Madam Secretary. Now let's move forward so that next November I can write...Congratulations Madam President.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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The events in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 were tragic. On that fateful night, four dedicated Americans, who served their country with distinction, were murdered by angry Islamic extremists. Our country should and must rightfully mourn the senseless death of these individuals and pray for the families and loved ones, who were so devastingly impacted. It should sicken every American that Benghazi has for so long been used as a political football, thanks to an investigation whose only purpose is to discredit Hiliary Clinton, the consensus front-runner in the 2016 presidential campaign. As my friend and former school mate, Gary Duglin, has so eloquently expressed, that committee has failed miserably. Rather than discredit and bring down Hiliary Clinton, America was given yet another glimpse of a strong and capable woman, who is worthy of leading this nation and healing its wounds. To any right thinking American, neither Secretary of State Clinton, President Obama, or any other American, who serves this nation, should be villianized because of these tragic events. Let us remember that the criminals, who perpetrated the tragic events on September 11, 2012, were plain and simply terrorists. Let's put the blame where it belongs and work together so America can lead the way in creating a world, where all men and women are free, and where we can lived together in peace on this beautiful planet that was lovingly created to be home to us all.
ReplyDeleteI can't thank David Hansen enough for his insighful comments to my column above, titled 7 ANGRY MEN. Not just because David articulates his thoughts in a truthful manner and with words that agree with my views, and not just because he has expressed himself in a dignified fashion, but as a reader of The Controversy, Dr. Hansen has participated in a process that I strongly welcome, admire and encourage. Not too long ago I shared a conversation with someone who stated he would not publish a reply to any of my editorials because he felt incapable of writing as eloquently as others who do respond on the blog itself. And he's not the only one - male or female, younger or older - to feel that way. Over the last three years since I launched The Controversy, numerous people have made similar statements. It's not important that a reader of The Controversy writes with eloquence. A person's passion - or the simplest idea or interpretation - no matter how it's communicated - is my hope for The Controversy. So please - to everyone reading this edition of The Controversy or any other from the past or in the future - your command of the language does not need to be artistic or oratorical. My intention and mission for The Controversy is to spark meaningful conversations between the readers and me, and between the readers and readers. So I politely and courteously urge all of you - for whom and for which I am always grateful - to not only peruse or even skim or glance at The Controversy but to acknowledge with your own personal reactions. Please do not worry or be concerned about how well you write. Whether you concur or clash with my mind-set or position on an issue, The Controversy is your outlet to voice your opinions, pro or con. Please post a link of The Controversy - www.TheControversy.net - on your Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts. As for my friend and former school mate, David Hansen - thank you very much again for believing in The Controversy and for conveying your perspective. I truly appreciate it. GBD
DeleteI find it so amazing on how many people; you and your friend David included have drunk the Kool-Aid. All Clinton did last week is show she is able to keep lying with a straight face for 11 hours. She deflected and double talked, never taking full responsibility for her actions or inaction. Hundreds of request for better security went unanswered by her. She can say all she want that those request were handled by the “security professionals” but the 1998 ARB states “ first and foremost, the Secretary of State should take a personal and active role in carrying out the responsibility of ensuring the security of U.S. diplomatic personnel abroad.” She took no personal role. The night of the terrorist attack in Benghazi she told her daughter the truth and the Egyptian Prime Minister that it was a terrorist attack and had nothing to do with the video, she then lied to the American people for days if not weeks, backed the lies of the UN Ambassador (Susan Rice) and the lies of the President about the video. She has lied to Congress and the American people about her emails. It seems that all she is good at is lying. Even Vice-President Biden has basically called her out as a liar about her role in the situation room with the Bin Laden raid. She was possibly the worst Secretary of State in 30 years; she was a less than average Senator from New York. Can someone please explain why so many people want her coronated the Queen of the USA, haven’t we had enough with the President we have now who thinks he is a King?
ReplyDeleteI should say that I am "falling on the floor laughing" and "laughing out loud" by your insignifant remarks and untruths, but instead I will provide you with some substantive comments. First of all, Secretary Clinton has not lied. There has been no proof whatsoever that she lied about anything. Why you and other Republicans continue to hate both Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton is beyond me. And I'm sorry to say, but it is an obvious hatred that has gone on for more than 20 years. Despite what you and some others may think, President Clinton remains beloved by most Americans and most other people around the world. President Clinton kept Americans and America's soil safe for 8 years, unlike President George W. Bush who ignored reports from his own administration that the United States would be attacked - and specifically by airplanes. I in no way support Donald Trump for anything except providing entertainment with television shows that he used to host and/or produce. But "Mr. Trump" did hit the nail on the head on October 16th, 2015 when he said, "Say what you want, the World Trade Center came down during his (President George W. Bush's) time. He was President, okay? Blame him or don't blame him, but he was President. The World Trade Center came down during his reign." And unlike the lies being told about Secretary Clinton, there IS proof that President Bush was warned about a possible attack similar to 9/11 and those warnings came several months before September 11th, 2001. Let us rememeber that President Clinton left office with our nation in a solid economic state, with a balanced budget and surplus. I could go on and on about Bill Clinton's awesome record as President, except to say that Hillary Clinton as President will give the United States as much greatness - by her own doing - as her husband did. And finally, regarding your comment that "President (Obama) thinks he is a King" - well, that's ridiculous. The Republican Congress has roadblocked him on practically everything he has tried to do. Fortunately, the President has been successful when he has had limited or no interference by the GOP or when the Democrats were able to overpower the Republicans. But overall, the Republicans haven't been as cooperative as they should be. And, as for your remark that "many people want her (Hillary Clinton) coronated as Queen of the U.S.A.," NOBODY thinks that. We just want her to be the 45th President of the United States of America. And with the help of Democrats - and hopefully Independents - she will be. But thank you for your comment. Whether we agree or disagree with each other, I welcome all points of view and hope you will share a link to www.TheControversy.net with others in your e-mail directory, on your Facebook page and your Twitter account. Thanks again. GBD
DeleteI find it so funny that you call her consistent lying “insignificant” a commentator called her “Nixon in a pantsuit” Bob Woodward compared her email scandal to Watergate and he is not a right-winger in anyone’s book. Rudy Giuliani says that if he were still a U.S. Attorney he could have former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicted on between 5 and 15 counts of violating federal law and doesn’t understand how attorney general has not charged her yet, except that the White House is protecting her. Not liar: what do you call telling the families of 4 dead American and the American people that they died because of an online video when knowing it was a Qaeda type attack which is what she wrote in an email to her daughter? The day after the attack she told the Egyptian prime minister: "We know the attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. It was a planned attack, not a protest." Who did she lie to? The families and the American people or her daughter and the Prime Minister of Egypt, both stories can’t be the truth! SHE IS A LIAR! I do not hate the Clinton, I don’t trust them and they are both liars. As for your statement that Bill kept us safe for 8 years from attack, what about the following? The February 26, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center, the Khobar Towers attack, the August 7, 1998, bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the October 12, 2000, attack on the USS Cole and there were more. Hundreds of people killed and more injured.
ReplyDeleteAs the late United States Senator from New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts." As such...you sir...or ma'am...are entitled to your own opinions on both President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but you are NOT entitled to your own facts. I have nothing further to say on the subject. GBD
DeleteAs for your accusation the George W Bush should have done something to stop 911 you are the one who doesn’t know the facts. As for Richard Clarke who is a bitter disgruntled former employee his and other intelligence was acted on: July 5, 2001 - The FAA issues another warning, specifically the threat of "using explosives in an airport terminal." July 5, 2001 - President George W. Bush requests more information about the recent upswing in terrorist threats and "chatter" from National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. July 2001 - The CIA warns the White House of possible attacks against President George W. Bush during the July G8 Summit in Genoa, Italy. July 18, 2001 - The FAA issues another warning to airlines concerning possible terrorist attacks. July 31, 2001 - The FAA issues another warning to airlines advising that "terror groups are known to be planning and training for hijackings." August 6, 2001 - President George W. Bush receives a CIA report about al Qaeda and the possibility of airline hijackings. The warning is passed on to embassies and other overseas facilities. August 16, 2001 - The FAA issues an alert about "disguised weapons." Airlines are alerted the terrorists might use common objects such as cell phones or clothespins as weapons. August 23, 2001 - CIA director George Tenet, concerned that an al Qaeda attack is imminent, orders the CIA to search their files for leads. An urgent cable is sent to the FBI, State Department, Customs and INS, alerting them to the CIA's concerns about Nawaf Alhazmi and Khalid Almihdhar. After the INS reports that Almihdhar re-entered the country on July 4, the FBI begins searching for them. September 4, 2001 - The national security advisers to President George W. Bush approve a draft version of a plan to combat al Qaeda. It includes provisions for $200 million to arm the enemies of the Taliban. The advisers plan to present the draft to President Bush on September 10, however the president is traveling and does not see it. September 10, 2001 - The National Security Agency intercepts two communications from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia. One says, "Tomorrow is zero hour," and the other says "The match begins tomorrow." The messages are not translated until September 12. What more should he have done!! Only a Bush haters like yourself would think the way you do!! Even if you believe he should have done more, Jeb Bush has said is how his brother’s actions kept the homeland safe over the next seven years!!!!!! As for President Obama, you said " the Republican Congress has road blocked him on practically everything he has tried to do” isn’t that their job he they believe that what he is trying to do is wrong and bad for America or un-constitutional? I say he believes himself to be King because he doesn’t believe in our Constitution or the checks and balances set up in it. He uses unlawful executive orders to by-pass Congress and does whatever he wants. That is not the way a President acts more like a king or a dictator. Please get your facts right next time.
ReplyDeleteYou are so wrong about Richard Clarke. I love it when right-wingers accuse a devoted American who has served his country as being "a bitter, disgruntled former employee" when you don't agree with his memo which has been proven to be FACT. My comments above are truthful and accurate; and I stick by them. As for me being - as you call - a "Bush hater" - I don't HATE anybody. I would certainly not HATE any President of the United States, whether it be George W. Bush or any other President.. I didn't agree with President Bush's policies nor do I think he performed well as our President and Commander-In-Chief. He left our country in shambles and in many ways; not to mention an economic disaster and in a war that should never have been started in Iraq. As for his brother, Jeb Bush, your quote is wrong. On the CBS News broadcast FACE THE NATION, Governor Bush said, "“Well, the successes clearly are protecting the homeland. We were under attack, and he brought – he unified the country and he showed dogged determination. And he kept us safe." He never said - as you wrote above - that "His brother's actions kept the homeland safe over the next seven years." And you have got to be joking - either that or you don't know anything about the United States Constitution and the American way of government, but you are so mistaken when you say it's Congress' "job" to roadblock the President on practically everything he has tried to do. Congress is there to work WITH the President and to compromise with him (or hopefully her come January 20th 2017). President Obama has in many instances been willing to compromise with the Republicans in Congress, but the House of Representatives in particular has not been willing to do so. Hopefully, Speaker Paul Ryan will realize that Congress should and must compromise with President Obama and maybe over the next 15 and a half months, something promising will get done that will help the U.S.A. But it's too soon to tell whether Speaker Ryan will do what he's suppose to do and what he says he will try to do when he says he wants to "clean the slate." A previous writer - or perhaps it may be you who wrote both - calls Hillary Clinton "a liar." Either you are lying or you just don't know the facts on what the President of the United States is allowed by law to do, but President Obama's executive orders have not been "unlawful." President Obama has issued fewer executive orders than most Presidents in the last 50 years. And that IS A FACT. So don't tell me to "get (my) facts right the next time" because I have the facts...and they are right. But thank you for your comments. And if you know others who feel the way you do, please share a www.TheControversy.net link with those in your e-mail directory, on your Facebook page and your Twitter account. I'd be happy to reply to them as well. Perhaps you know people who agree with me - not you - and they too would be interested in commenting. I welcome all views on The Controversy. GBD
DeleteFirst of all I was quoting Dan Bartlett, Counselor to the President ( I just agreed with him) who said he dismissed Clarke as a disgruntled former employee who left the government after he was passed over for the No. 2 job in the Department of Homeland Security. He also noted that Clarke has taught a college course with Rand Beers, another former counter-terrorism official now advising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. As for my statement , Jeb Bush’s statement and many, many other peoples about President Bush keeping us safe, everyone knows that it means after 911! If you want to start counting every word people say, watch what you wish for, remember President Obama said he saw dead people in the audience on May 27, 2008, Obama began his speech stating: “On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes – and I see many of them in the audience here today – our sense of patriotism is particularly strong.” Fallen heroes on Memorial Day is those who died in battle! I guess he has powers to see beyond the grave. How about this one from President Obama: July 7, 2015, Obama's EPIC slip of the tongue admitting the US is training ISIS. I could go on and on about Hillary’s miss-statements and don’t get me stated on Joe Biden. So let’s understand that everyone means after 911. As for your comment about me not knowing the US Constitution, I know more about the US Constitution then most if not all liberals, most liberals don’t believe in the Constitution. Our government is setup with 3 co-equal branches of government, with what is called a system of checks and balances which is used to keep the government from getting too powerful in one branch. It therefore is the job of the Congress, the House and or Senate if they believe what the President wants to do is bad for the country or un-Constitutional or illegal to block it. The Obama administration has NEVER been willing to negotiate or compromise on almost any issue. As for his use of executive orders there have been 13 executive orders that Federal Judges have ruled unconstitutional, that most notable the US Supreme Court ruled that the President “had exceeded his constitutional authority” in NLRB v. Noel Canning. As for Hilary Clinton lying, you did not answer my question: ”What do you call telling the families of 4 dead American and the American people that they died because of an online video when knowing it was a Qaeda type attack which is what she wrote in an email to her daughter? The day after the attack she told the Egyptian prime minister: "We know the attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. It was a planned attack, not a protest." Who did she lie to? The families and the American people or her daughter and the Prime Minister of Egypt, both stories can’t be the truth! You quote Moynihan and you are correct nobody is entitled to their own facts, you should start with yourself and use the real facts instead of those you and the liberal media have made up.
DeleteSince you remain anonymous when writing your comments, I can't address you by name, but it amazes me that any one person could be so wrong when they think they are so right. Quite frankly, I don't have the time or the desire to argue the specific points you have so incorrectly presented. But I never understand when right-wing, conservative Republicans, such as yourself and others, resort to falsehoods. You and other conservatives seem to believe them yourselves, which is such a shame. For you to attack the "liberal media" - to use your words - of not using "the real facts" and for you to make accusations that "the liberal media have made up" facts...astounds me. But then I shouldn't really be surprised since most conservative pundits on radio and television spew the same venom and untruths with misrepresentation and distortion. And that's what your remarks above are...untruths. I refuse to debate with you further on the matters discussed in my column or to your responses because no matter what I write is not something you are ever going to agree with...so I'm not going to try. GBD
DeleteAs usual when a liberal can’t justify their statements or answer a legitimate question they do as you did, accuse the questioner of being wrong and it not worth your time to answer. You do that because you can’t answer it and you know that your so called facts are not true. You accused me in your last post of “conservative Republicans, such as yourself and others, resort to falsehoods” there was not a single false statement in my last post and I defy you to prove otherwise. Once again it proves that liberals like yourself and others will make anything up that suits your liberal cause and then try and demonize anyone who won’t accept your falsehoods. As for my statement about the liberal media, there is no question in any honest person eyes that the mainstream media is liberal and in the pocket of the democrat party. CNBC should have had to put a disclaimer on the screen for the last GOP debate saying that CNBC is bought and paid for by the Democratic National Committee. I do not expect you to respond because you know you don’t have the facts to back up your position.
ReplyDeleteYou can write what you want about the Democrats, about Hillary Clinton or about others like myself who believe in the Democratic, liberal and progressive ways, but since your remarks are twaddle and drivel, I cannot, therefore, spend anymore time focusing on a response to your viewpoints, which are completely nonsensical. Perhaps my next commentary - on another subject - may find that you have entered the 21st century with your thoughts. But then again...I tend to doubt it. GBD
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