# With trepidation, Benghazi **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535 "2014-05-02T20:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/461 "2014-05-20T15:36:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > the Democrat party Srsly? > [@](#): > > the voters can see the Democrat party’s great champion Grayson at his best. The cite says > [@](#): > > He is a master at the task of committee questioning. During his first term as a member of the Financial Services Committee he practically had bankers whimpering on the hot seat and he took on everyone from Ben Bernanke to Timothy Geithner, eliciting important information. Unlike the vaunted prosecutor the GOP has tapped to lead the inquiry, Trey Gowdy (who specializes in browbeating and histrionic questioning), Grayson is never rude and he isn’t dismissive or insulting. He is serious, composed and extremely well prepared. And when he has the floor he is completely in control. > > And yes, choosing him would please the Democratic base and infuriate the Republicans. That should be a feature, not a bug. The Republicans want a show. Grayson will definitely give them one — but it won’t be the kind of show they’re looking for. He’ll elicit the kinds of responses from the Democratic witnesses that are needed to make their case and he’ll skewer the conservative scandal-mongers with the facts. If that’s true, then yes, he’d be a great choice. Did you actually read it? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/462 "2014-05-20T15:37:22Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > No, **Snowboarder Bo** has simply called you out for making a statement of fact for which you have no evidence or cite. He’s not desperately seeking anything, except maybe to live in a world where facts actually matter. Thank you; yes. I was a bit overloaded at work the past few weeks and missed responding to comments in some threads, but you posted exactly what I would have written, **steronz**. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/463 "2014-05-20T15:41:43Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I believe Alan Grayson is the perfect choice/example of the Democrat party. The committee’s daily ramblings will make headlines every couple of hours. Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi… and the voters can see the Democrat party’s great champion Grayson at his best. May I suggest revoking posting privileges of anyone unable to correctly spell the name of one of the two major parties in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/464 "2014-05-20T16:09:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The cite says If that’s true, then yes, he’d be a great choice. > > Did you actually read it? Of course I read it. Grayson has a very colorful history and will be a great choice. You know the name, you know the game. Grayson is a wonderful representative of the Democrat party. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/465 "2014-05-20T16:15:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Of course I read it. Grayson has a very colorful history and will be a great choice. You know the name, you know the game. Grayson is a wonderful representative of the Democrat party. Which party again? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/466 "2014-05-20T16:34:09Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Which party again? Not the Republic Party, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/467 "2014-05-20T18:52:11Z")
doorhinge - and everyone - keep the cheap shots regarding party names and such to a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/468 "2014-05-21T01:09:07Z")
Please enlighten me, **doorbinge** , why you are so delighted at the prospect of Grayson being on this panel, why the snickering? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/469 "2014-05-21T02:05:35Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Please enlighten me, **doorbinge** , why you are so delighted at the prospect of Grayson being on this panel, why the snickering? **doorbinge**??? Meanwhile - didn’t you read the cited Salon article by Heather Digby Parton? \*Perhaps people don’t realize that Alan Grayson isn’t just another lawyer/congressman. He’s an experienced litigator who fought whistle-blower fraud cases aimed at military contractors. The Wall Street Journal characterized him in 2006 as “waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq.” And he was very successful at it. As a politician Grayson is usually seen as a pugnacious fighter always at the ready with a pithy put-down on cable news shows. His floor speeches are often fiery indictments of his political opponents and the power elite. But that’s not why the Democrats should tap him for the job. As notable as all those characteristics are, they are not where Grayson’s true talent lies. He is a master at the task of committee questioning. During his first term as a member of the Financial Services Committee he practically had bankers whimpering on the hot seat and he took on everyone from Ben Bernanke to Timothy Geithner, eliciting important information. Unlike the vaunted prosecutor the GOP has tapped to lead the inquiry, Trey Gowdy (who specializes in browbeating and histrionic questioning), Grayson is never rude and he isn’t dismissive or insulting. He is serious, composed and extremely well prepared. And when he has the floor he is completely in control\*. Lawyer/congressman, experienced litigator, pugnacious fighter, fiery, master at the task of committee questioning, eliciting important information, is never rude, isn’t dismissive or insulting, is serious, composed, extremely well prepared, and he is completely in control. What’s not to like? Democrats should be calling Pelosi, Reid, and Obama and demanding that Alan Grayson be their parties representative on the Benghazi debacle investigative committee. Grayson! Grayson! Grayson! Grayson! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/470 "2014-05-21T02:38:44Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > **doorbinge**??? Let it slide, h and b are adjacent on the leyboard. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/471 "2014-05-21T03:12:48Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > **doorbinge**??? > > Meanwhile - didn’t you read the cited Salon article by Heather Digby Parton? > > \*Perhaps people don’t realize that Alan Grayson isn’t just another lawyer/congressman. He’s an experienced litigator who fought whistle-blower fraud cases aimed at military contractors. The Wall Street Journal characterized him in 2006 as “waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq.” And he was very successful at it. As a politician Grayson is usually seen as a pugnacious fighter always at the ready with a pithy put-down on cable news shows. His floor speeches are often fiery indictments of his political opponents and the power elite. > > But that’s not why the Democrats should tap him for the job. As notable as all those characteristics are, they are not where Grayson’s true talent lies. He is a master at the task of committee questioning. During his first term as a member of the Financial Services Committee he practically had bankers whimpering on the hot seat and he took on everyone from Ben Bernanke to Timothy Geithner, eliciting important information. Unlike the vaunted prosecutor the GOP has tapped to lead the inquiry, Trey Gowdy (who specializes in browbeating and histrionic questioning), Grayson is never rude and he isn’t dismissive or insulting. He is serious, composed and extremely well prepared. And when he has the floor he is completely in control\*. > > Lawyer/congressman, experienced litigator, pugnacious fighter, fiery, master at the task of committee questioning, eliciting important information, is never rude, isn’t dismissive or insulting, is serious, composed, extremely well prepared, and he is completely in control. What’s not to like? > > Democrats should be calling Pelosi, Reid, and Obama and demanding that Alan Grayson be their parties representative on the Benghazi debacle investigative committee. > > Grayson! Grayson! Grayson! Grayson! Apologies for the typo. Yes I read the article, I was the one who posted it. Your explanation of why you are snickering and mocking of this (Grayson) is clear as mud. Is there any chance that you might expound a bit? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/472 "2014-05-21T13:56:38Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Apologies for the typo. > Yes I read the article, I was the one who posted it. > Your explanation of why you are snickering and mocking of this (Grayson) is clear as mud. Is there any chance that you might expound a bit? Did you come here for the 5 minute argument or the full half hour? 😉 YOU want Grayson on the committee. Heather Digby Parton wants Grayson on the committee. Eye want Grayson on the committee. Parton convinced me that Grayson would be a great addition to the investigative committee. You seem to be somewhat confused that we agree on adding Grayson to the committee. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/473 "2014-05-21T13:58:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > **Let it slide** , h and b are adjacent on the leyboard. (bold and underline added) doorbinge/Democrat party - What difference does it make? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/474 "2014-05-21T14:03:42Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (bold and underline added) > > doorbinge/Democrat party - What difference does it make? One is an innocent typo, the other is an historic term of ridicule used by one party to refer to the other. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/475 "2014-05-21T14:07:01Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > May I suggest revoking posting privileges of anyone unable to correctly spell the name of one of the two major parties in the U.S. That action would certainly reduce the number of Democrats, liberals, progressives, etc who prefer to use much more colorful terms to describe Republicans, the GOP, the Republican Party, the Tea Party, Tea Party supporters, and conservatives. Or hadn’t you thought that far ahead? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/476 "2014-05-21T14:13:02Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > an historic term of ridicule used by one party to refer to the other. It’s \*intended \*that way, sure - but it’s \*received \*as meaning “Nothing I say is thoughtful or should be taken as such”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/477 "2014-05-21T15:15:33Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (bold and underline added) > > doorbinge/Democrat party - What difference does it make? Really, dude? It was a typo. Let it go. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/478 "2014-05-21T15:26:00Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Did you come here for the 5 minute argument or the full half hour? 😉 > > YOU want Grayson on the committee. Heather Digby Parton wants Grayson on the committee. Eye want Grayson on the committee. Parton convinced me that Grayson would be a great addition to the investigative committee. > > You seem to be somewhat confused that we agree on adding Grayson to the committee. Why are you being so obtuse? Let me put it in simple terms. I want Grayson on the panel because he is the perfect foil for this nonspiracy. He will not be an inactive participant, and he will ask questions that I would ask were I on the panel. Why do you want him there? It seems to me that you are implying that he’s a terrible choice, that he’ll crash and burn. Why? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/479 "2014-05-21T15:28:32Z")
Grayson would be awesome. Democrats would be wrong to boycott the circus. Having Grayson there would guarantee that there would be plenty of sound bites to debunk the right wing invented scandal talking points. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/480 "2014-05-21T15:35:30Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > That action would certainly reduce the number of Democrats, liberals, progressives, etc who prefer to use much more colorful terms to describe Republicans, the GOP, the Republican Party, the Tea Party, Tea Party supporters, and conservatives. > > Or hadn’t you thought that far ahead? I have no quarrel with “colorful terms.” It’s the stupid ones that don’t belong here. As \*\*Elvis1ves \*\*points out, it’s a code for “Nothing I say is thoughtful or should be taken as such.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535.md?page=25)