# Libyan Killing of Ambassador And Staff: How Will This Play Out In Election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511 "2012-09-12T15:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/61 "2012-09-12T18:31:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What exactly do you mean by “do anything”? **There really is nothing useful to be done about this** save what Obama is already doing about it. Correct. Doesn’t make Obama look less weak and ineffectual. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/62 "2012-09-12T18:31:07Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Embassies are statements of trust. Ambassadors know this, it is part of the deal. Security of some degree is permitted, of course, but no embassy has an armored division in its courtyard. Well, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad once did, more or less . . . that’s rather a special case. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/63 "2012-09-12T18:33:17Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Correct. Doesn’t make Obama look less weak and ineffectual. Doesn’t make him look weak or ineffectual at all, to be making exactly the right responses, as he is doing. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/64 "2012-09-12T18:36:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Doesn’t make him look weak or ineffectual at all, to be making exactly the right responses, as he is doing. Good. You keep thinking that… ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/65 "2012-09-12T18:40:48Z")
So you are asserting that Americans expect and approve of aggressive responses to these kinds of situations, no matter how impractical? If not, what sort of response do you think they expect that does not look ‘weak and ineffectual’? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/66 "2012-09-12T18:41:11Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Good. You keep thinking that… What would you be doing in his place, then? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/67 "2012-09-12T18:45:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What would you be doing in his place, then? Nothing different. And I would look as weak and ineffectual as he is looking right now. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/68 "2012-09-12T18:45:51Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Good. You keep thinking that… Maybe you think we should go balls out and attack Iraq once we close that “barn door?” Would that be something you would consider “presidential?” We get hit by terrorists and then attack Iraq, mission accomplished. There is precedence for this line of thinking amongst conservatives, after all… But I’m probably not alone in really, honestly wondering what you think Obama could do in this specific situation right now, today, that would be better than what he’s doing? What, in your eyes, in this situation, in response to this terrorist attack, should the president be doing to make himself look less “weak and ineffectual?” You just saying something over and over doesn’t make it so. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/69 "2012-09-12T18:45:54Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What would you be doing in his place, then? **Terr** has already said that there’s nothing Obama can do BUT look “weak and ineffectual.” That’s why I asked about expectations of what the voters would think, in **Terr’s** view. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/70 "2012-09-12T18:46:43Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So you are asserting that Americans expect and approve of aggressive responses to these kinds of situations, no matter how impractical? Surprised? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/71 "2012-09-12T18:53:16Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Nothing different. And I would look as weak and ineffectual as he is looking right now. So, if there’s no non-embarrassing way for a POTUS to handle this situation, it should be a perfect gimme to his challenger. And, yet, Romney already managed to use it to make himself look **worse.** ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/72 "2012-09-12T18:54:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > So, if there’s no non-embarrassing way for a POTUS to handle this situation, it should be a perfect gimme to his challenger. It is. > [@](#): > > And, yet, Romney already managed to use it to make himself look **worse.** Don’t believe your own propaganda. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/73 "2012-09-12T18:55:17Z")
> [@JQPublic](#): > > Bush’s fault, all of it. Missing around 60% of intelligence meetings - Bush’s fault. Under funding embassy security - Bush’s fault. Those pesky Letterman appearances - Bush’s fault. Campaigning and fund raising taking up too much time to visit other world leaders - Bush’s fault. Congratulations, you’re the first person to mention Bush in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/74 "2012-09-12T18:55:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Leaper** > So you are asserting that Americans expect and approve of aggressive responses to these kinds of situations, no matter how impractical? > [@Terr](#): > > Surprised? I would be surprised if this was any more than a small percentage of Americans, subsisting primarily of mouth-breathing morons with a little too much testosterone, and a tendency to drink beer until they fall down into their own vomit. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/75 "2012-09-12T19:01:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > So, if there’s no non-embarrassing way for a POTUS to handle this situation, it should be a perfect gimme to his challenger. What he can do is send a few drones, kill a few Libyans, claim that those were the ones responsible. It would be stupid and counterproductive in terms of foreign policy, but it would be politically savvy for home consumption and make him look less weak and ineffectual. I actually expect him to do just that. Just wait a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/76 "2012-09-12T19:06:34Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > What he can do is send a few drones, kill a few Libyans, claim that those were the ones responsible. It would be stupid and counterproductive in terms of foreign policy Actually, taking out a few terrorist camps would be rather prudent and productive in preventing them from effectively exploiting the situation. Since I’m not privy to the full intel on the situation, I can’t predict whether or not the administration will identify targets confidently enough to proceed. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/77 "2012-09-12T19:10:36Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Don’t believe your own propaganda. The Romney campaign apparently does; [they’re already desperately flailing for damage-control.](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/romney-camp-tries-to-manage-fallout-from-libya-response/) ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/78 "2012-09-12T19:12:30Z")
“Chamber” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/79 "2012-09-12T19:13:15Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Don’t believe your own propaganda. Of course people have already posted links and cites indicating that some Republicans think Romney is blowing it here and that others are not stepping out on this particular ledge with him. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/80 "2012-09-12T19:17:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Of course people have already posted links and cites indicating that some Republicans think Romney is blowing it here and that others are not stepping out on this particular ledge with him. My only thought on this is that those links and cites are to mainstream media and left-wing media outlets, so they’re just propaganda, actual quotes be damned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511.md?page=5)