# 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:** 6
**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, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/101 "2012-09-12T22:24:41Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Pretty much, yeah. But, as I hope we all learned in 2010, that voting base can’t be safely ignored. Now that Goode is on the ballot in Virginia, Romney is going to lose enough of the hardcore Talibornagains to make it pretty much impossible, as opposed to merely very difficult, for him to carry the state. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/102 "2012-09-12T22:37:08Z")
The President weighs in [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8oE_01YOcBY/hqdefault.jpg "Obama On Romney's Libya Response: 'Shoot First And Aim Later'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oE_01YOcBY) ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/103 "2012-09-12T22:44:41Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You mean he didn’t repeatedly criticize Obama by accident? > > …I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say here. I’m saying that the talking points that CNN reported don’t sound like damage control to me, i.e. I don’t sense any panic or defensiveness in them. Rather I am proposing that the statement, its aftermath, and the talking points might all have been part of the plan from the beginning. So it would be a “mistake” in the sense that it was a calculated gamble that appears to have failed, but it was not a “mistake” in the sense of “I didn’t mean to say that.” ---
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/104 "2012-09-12T22:46:47Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > But he’s still weak and ineffectual? > > Be honest, it’s because of the (D) after his name. I didn’t say he’s weak and ineffectual. I said he looks weak and ineffectual. If he sends drones out that kill a bunch of Libyans and claims that those were the perpetrators, he will look less weak and ineffectual (whether those he kills are in any way connected to the killing of the ambassador or not) and will reap political benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/105 "2012-09-12T22:47:59Z")
Here is a diary of a State Department Employee > **[Diary of a Beltway Factotum: Libya and Romney from inside](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/09/12/1130827/-DIARY-OF-A-BELTWAY-FACTOTUM-Libya-and-Romney-from-Inside)** > > I don’t know why the hell I’m writing this. Probably because I’m supposed to be eating my lunch and I don’t feel like putting food in my mouth right now. Today is the unhappiest day of my ... ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/106 "2012-09-12T22:59:21Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I didn’t say he’s weak and ineffectual. I said he looks weak and ineffectual. If he sends drones out that kill a bunch of Libyans and claims that those were the perpetrators, he will look less weak and ineffectual (whether those he kills are in any way connected to the killing of the ambassador or not) and will reap political benefits. Weak and ineffectual is putting up a Mission Accomplished sign when nothing was further from the truth. Say what you want about Obama, but he’ll get those terrorists, he’s a man of his word, unlike a few other leaders. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/107 "2012-09-12T23:13:41Z")
Former Romney aid says “Romney Stepped in it” > **[Former Romney Adviser on Libya: “They Stepped in It”](https://newrepublic.com/article/107173/former-romney-adviser-libya-they-stepped-it)** > > What was Team Romney thinking? I happened to speak to a senior Romney adviser from a previous campaign who offered his own theory. ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/108 "2012-09-12T23:47:04Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Maybe it is the idea, which I have read elsewhere, that Romney needs to “go big, or go home”, i.e. he was losing the race before this, he needed something big to change the dynamic and so he is running with this, its his only chance. Do Mormons say “Hail Mary”? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/109 "2012-09-12T23:50:57Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Now that Goode is on the ballot in Virginia, Romney is going to lose enough of the hardcore Talibornagains to make it pretty much impossible, as opposed to merely very difficult, for him to carry the state. Does Goode actually have a hope of winning that many votes? I mean, it’s not inconceivable that among non-Goode (ha) voters, Romney could stage a comeback and win 51-49. Is Virgil Goode actually going to win two percent of the vote in a state voters know is ultra-tight? Unless he’s polling at 4-5% at LEAST, I’d say no. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/110 "2012-09-12T23:59:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Do Mormons say “Hail Mary”? No, actually, they don’t. Bob Ducca, recovering former Mormon ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/111 "2012-09-13T00:53:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Does Goode actually have a hope of winning that many votes? > > I mean, it’s not inconceivable that among non-Goode (ha) voters, Romney could stage a comeback and win 51-49. Is Virgil Goode actually going to win two percent of the vote in a state voters know is ultra-tight? Unless he’s polling at 4-5% at LEAST, I’d say no. He has polled as high as 9%. That screams outlier to me, as I don’t think anyone’s gotten more thn 4% in a state as a third party candidate since Perot, but the possibility is there. > **[Virginia’s Virgil Goode: Could this Man Cost Mitt Romney the Presidency? |...](https://swampland.time.com/2012/08/01/virginias-virgil-goode-could-this-man-cost-mitt-romney-the-presidency/)** > > Virgil Goode glides through the doors of a McDonald's in Farmville, VA, at 11:52 am and instantly three construction workers in the back booth rise to their feet. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/112 "2012-09-13T01:12:59Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Could you explain in detail what Obama could do that would make him seem competent in your eyes? > > Specifics please. That’s easy - unless he declares war on Labia he is being weak and pandering to the Muslem extemists. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/113 "2012-09-13T01:18:20Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > The President weighs in > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oE\_01YOcBY&feature=player\_embedded](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oE_01YOcBY&feature=player_embedded) It’s for comments like this that Obama gets so much respect in the rest of the world. After Bush’s “shoot first and ask questions later” philosophy, I really like to see someone who espouses such an attitude - AND backs it up. If nothing else, we can be sure that whatever Obama’s response is, it will be well thought through ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/114 "2012-09-13T01:24:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 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/) Walking it back might cause shin splints. ---
**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 13, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/115 "2012-09-13T01:26:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Does Goode actually have a hope of winning that many votes? > > I mean, it’s not inconceivable that among non-Goode (ha) voters, Romney could stage a comeback and win 51-49. Is Virgil Goode actually going to win two percent of the vote in a state voters know is ultra-tight? Unless he’s polling at 4-5% at LEAST, I’d say no. He has the favorite-son factor working for him, and his appeal combines economic populism with conservatism (thus hitting Romney on both of his weak points with the bitter-clinger crowd). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/116 "2012-09-13T02:21:01Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > That’s easy - unless he declares war on Labia he is being weak and pandering to the Muslem extemists. Wait…I thought it was the Republicans that had an ongoing War on Labia? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/117 "2012-09-13T02:23:50Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Wait…I thought it was the Republicans that had an ongoing War on Labia? They’re serious about it–the Dems only pay it lip service. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/118 "2012-09-13T02:25:31Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Walking it back might cause shin splints. You’re going to need a bigger Etch-A-Sketch. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/119 "2012-09-13T02:36:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Wait…I thought it was the Republicans that had an ongoing War on Labia? We all know that Obama secretly loves Labia - unlike the fine moral and upstanding Romney. If war is not declared, it will be proof that Obama loves Labia. Romney would not hesitate to stamp on Labia whenever he gets the chance. ---
**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 13, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/120 "2012-09-13T03:03:30Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Here is a diary of a State Department Employee > > [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/12/1130827/-DIARY-OF-A-BELTWAY-FACTOTUM-Libya-and-Romney-from-Inside](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/12/1130827/-DIARY-OF-A-BELTWAY-FACTOTUM-Libya-and-Romney-from-Inside) This was an interesting bit at the end of the piece: > [@](#): > > In a side note—President Obama paid a personal visit to the staff of the State Department to make off camera remarks and to comfort the employees. He hugged people, shook hands, and did what a good boss does. > > And no one outside the Beltway will ever know, because not every speech has to be political. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511.md?page=7)