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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) this afternoon tried to smooth over tensions with fellow Republican Sen. John McCain after she was quoted in Politico noting his absence at a Senate Homeland Security and Government and Affairs briefing on Benghazi yesterday.
McCain was holding a press conference in the Senate gallery at the time of the private briefing that included officials from the State Department and the Intelligence Committee.
McCain's office chalked it up to a "scheduling error" and aides say he made his displeasure to Collins known this morning.
She told NBC News that she believes McCain's call for a special Congressional committee to look into the Benghazi matter is not necessary, and he would be a valuable member of the Homeland Security Committee's own investigation. Collins is the top Republican on the committee.
"All I was trying to point out is that he's a very valuable member of our committee, so he would be involved in all the briefings, the hearings and investigation," she said. "And thus, I don't think that it's necessary to create a whole new separate committee. Our committee has a history of doing independent, bipartisan, comprehensive across-the-board investigations. We've done it on Fort Hood, on Hurricane Katrina, on a host of different issues. The only point I was trying to make -- apparently inartfully -- was that he and Lindsey Graham are members of the committee, so they will be fully involved, and I'm sure will play an important role."
McCain was joined by Sens. Graham and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) at the Wednesday news conference announcing their resolution for a Select Committee during the time when the Benghazi briefing occurred.
Critics have chided McCain for demanding more answers on Benghazi while missing an opportunity to learn more from the intelligence community. McCain's office said today that he would have attended.
McCain will attend today's closed-door hearing with senior intelligence officials and tomorrow's with former CIA Director David Petraeus.
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Not even a mention of the "killer" technology that fell apart on Nov. 6 because the
Mitt team did not even test it before election night. not even a mention that Mitt turned on his victory web site anyways.... clear example of their mindset regardless of which race did not vote for Mitt.
Well now we know that Clint Eastwood was simply imitating John McCant at the Republican National Convention.
Too bad that his nursing home will cost him his millions before medicaid cuts in...most people are not aware that you have to first impoverish yourself before becoming eligible for this aid, you do not qualify for medicaid until you have spend your last dollar. I watched this happen to several of my elder relatives and so I can state without doubt that the people who would vote against their own interest have no knowledge how the system works.
McCain is a has been, his senility is showing and he should retire while he has a least a small fragment of his dignity intact. The longer he stands in public and makes a fool of himself, his only accomplishment will be to embarrass himself. His hate speech against Susan Rice should be considered inflammatory and he should be sued for libel. Same applies to Lindsay Graham, he should have a lawsuit files against his speech, should face a recall election in his own state.
I am in favor of allowing states who wish to secede to do so...many are red states that will lose far more than they have ever paid into the nation...let them go, we will gladly put people to work building a border fence and a border crossing...we will treat you like the foreigners you have become...you do not wish to be part of the USA, fine by me. I never had any use for any of those red states anyway, I am very comfortable here in my blue state and would be happy not to have to support those poor red states anyway, that money would be better spent here at home anyway. We will build our bridges and you folks can go build your stills.
Yawn. Really? One Rethuglican bending over for another because she said something kinda sorta unethusiastic about him. Give me a break. No better yet, give her a break. Her knees are probably killing her.
Shame on both sides people lost their lives this is important and not for partisan politics!
Anyone choosing sides other than that of the families of those we lost is a complete @$$ holes (that means you congress and senate!)
aid to the vc
less not forget, john was referred to as the fat POW, ALTHOUGH my heart goes out to him for the pain he endured, the facts are, charlie broke him, and the only true hero are those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the giving of there life. so when i left the Nam, all we talked about was he was Mr. aid to the enemy.
he is not thin skin, he has P.T.S.D.
At least the Republicans are acknowledging Bush left a hell of a mess ! So bad even whites were willing to vote a black in just to slap the Republicans in the face . Well, not doing any better with the selection of Mitt ,all the Republicans done was turn the other cheek ,so they got slapped again ! I am a independent and I couldn,t vote for Mitt.I also couldn,t vote for Obama so I stayed on the porch. Changing the Republican party,s platform "much" won,t suit us "Angry old White Men" But selecting a candidate that doesn,t own a Wallstreet investment company and doesn,t want to remove all the regulation,s off the big Banks that are rotten to the core,would have been good start !! Us angry old white men are still numerous enough to vote in a land slide if we had a good candidate to vote for...We all found it amusing that Gay marriage and Marijuana was legalized in some States at the same time ! But remembering a Bible verse (Leviticis 20:13) It says: A man that lays with another man must be Stoned !!!!!!! I,m going to start a new Political part for the next election.. The Republicans are the Elephants and the Democrats are the D onkeys,,My new parties slogan will be "Power to the Honkeys" !!!!!!!!
McCain WOULD have attended ?????
Yeah....I WOULD have won an Oscar last year, had I made film.
Blacks have ALWAYS had to deal with white people being in charge. Getting promotions over us, always having a white President etc. In this one instance with the United States first black President white people are freaking out. McCain lost and went mad and he is obviously still in that time warp. Mittens lost to the same black man and now he has gone over into the deep end as well. Just wondering white people what exactly is the problem that is making all of you crazy. If it makes you feel better you didn't lose to just a black man you lost to a man who is more intelligent, insightful, caring and thoughtful who happens to be a black man.
Playing the race card dosen't help your argument and olny negates all you have said.
No, Senator Collins, McCain is NOT a valuable member of your committee. He is a bitter and unhinged old man who should retire or be retired and allowed to shuffle off to one of his homes if he can manage to find it.
Indeed McCain should retire and enjoy what little life is left him...if he doesn't he will likely keel over with a stroke while in the middle of some raging rant. Maybe he should think of spending some time with his family and living in a peaceful environment, his grandkids might want to meet their grampa. As a POW he did not distinguish himself with honor, on the ship he cause the loss of life of his fellow shipmates. He has received far more honor and distinction than he ever earned. You would hope he would quit while he was ahead instead of allowing himself to be embroiled in some bitter revenge scenario because he lost his presidential bid...maybe if he had chosen someone besides Palin, she was scary enough to make many republicans vote for then candidate Obama.
FeistyRedhead - agree wholeheartedly. McCain is merely an old man who doesn't like sour grapes. He should've been at the intelligence briefing instead of mouthing off with his venom. He needs to go home also!
The Benghazi attack hearing is an opportunity for Republicans to cry over the election they have just lost. It is good therapy. So, allow these losers to cry us a river.
PATRIOT azzho
Scheduling error my butt. Ms. McCain, please tell your husband to call it a career before he loses more dignity.
American 'Patroit'...uggh, this post shows that apes were democrats daddies. See head chimp. Can't even spell patriot.
I admired John McCain, once upon a time. No more. I think something has affected his brain.
I have nothing but respect for John McCain. In the Viet Nam war he refused to leave prison because the other men were not offered an opportunity to leave. I think that speaks to his character and few men if any others have it. Certainly none of his colleagues in the senate. Having said that I do not understand the purpose of all this unless he somehow believes that there was some intent to allow the people in the embassy to die. I don't believe that.
McCain, are you still mad you lost? You lost and you lost so badly because you thought you can pretend that Sarah "journalism degree from 5 different mediocre schools" Palin will be seen as an intellectual equivalent of a Hillary Clinton or an Elizabeth Dole. All you went was for a pretty face and a tight body in a skirt with a racist rabble rousing mentality. YOU LOST. You have been made since then. Get over it or see a shrink. I did't see you excoriating Bush or Condi Rice when she lied and made those statements about WMDs that cost us 3.7TRILLION in war costs and 4,500 plus soldiers lives? Why this sudden crusade?
The big question is How many Sunday Morning shows will Grampy McCain be on this week. I'm betting 3 - 3.5. He lives for that attention.
his value as a member of the senate has diminished. cmon Arizona, do a recall on this bozo
John maccain after we talk about susan rice lets talk about you in 1967 when 132 sailors died and many more injured when you, you runt caused a fire on the USS FORRESTAL because you got angry, and while the ship was burning and sailors were dying you, you punk got on a chopper and left? Was that because you father was a admiral or was it because if those sailors got their hand on you they would have put you on the bottom of the ocean.according to sailors who were on board and saw everything you panicked.So you runt go on fox with all those other brave scumbags like yourself and preach your BS, but people with just a ounce of brains no you are nothing. john retire because you are an airbag. I think you lost your mind GO HOME SICKO?
Obama is your president now, so all you Repugnants and Tampon Baggers can quit your whining and belly aching, we don't need any crybabies in our country, so pull up your diapers, put that pacifier in your mouth and wipe those tears away on your blankie, if you don't like it self deport yourself, because that secede notion not going to work......
I believe it'll be a long time before I vote for any Republican again. Just look at the up & coming Reps in the state legislatures with their vaginal probes, or the federal Reps trying to redefine rape & re-legislate reproductive rights. I'm sure they'll have a token Hispanic on the 2016 ticket, but I don't think they have a clue as to the damage they did to themselves not only among women, but also with men who support women's equality & the right to control their own bodies!