Hello. My name is PoliticalMalcontent and I'm addicted to Politics.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

My first taste of politics came before I could vote back in the year 2000. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention, but Florida and hanging chads were dominating the news. If Gore has been elected perhaps my story would have ended there.

2004: My first election. I was enthralled by the political process. Having read daily about the horrors of war for the past several years and realizing the epic cost both in dollars and life it seemed like change was inevitable. Watching the 2004 campaigns unfold it became clear to me just how sick politics can be. Swiftboat Veterans for Truth? Karl Rove's ugly politics fooled the people that weren't really paying attention and that sickened me (much like the Benghazi scandal sickens me today). An all-out smear campaign (Swiftboating, flip-flopping) left Kerry in trouble. Incumbency is hard to overtake, no matter how objectively bad the incumbent is apparently.

The 2004 election was heartbreaking. Rehab came in the form of The Daily Show. If I couldn't celebrate politics the least I could do was laugh, right? Jon Stewart was amazing and will be missed.

2008 rolled around, and by this time my political opinions had grown by leaps and bounds. I did some campaigning for Barack Obama, whom I felt was the best person for the job and I was beyond the moon when he eventually won the presidency. While he hasn't been a perfect president (none are) I view him favorably overall.

In general, I consider myself a liberal Democrat and will gladly discuss politics with anybody. Most all of my family and friends are either hardcore conservatives (ugh!) or not interested in politics. I'm for civility and facts. Opinions are nice, but if baseless, leave themselves open for scrutiny. That being said, I'm not here to be an asshole. I'm just here to have a voice.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Welcome to DU, PolitcalMalcontent!

You're here for all the right reasons! I think you will enjoy the exchanges you see and participate in, especially when the primary wars are over.

Once the Democratic Party settles on a nominee, then we stop fighting here, and that will be a great improvement.

In the meantime, look around. If you click on the tab at the top of any page, Forums & Groups, you will see ALL that we offer. Something for everyone!

Welcome, and enjoy!

[Lochloosa]

2. Welcome to DU

[JimDandy]

3. Welcome. Since you're addicted you should know that the AA group

on DU means African American.

Enjoy your wanderings...

[Kingofalldems]

4. Welcome.

By the way what 'Benghazi scandal' are you referring to?

[PoliticalMalcontent]

5. Thank you for the Welcome.

There's multiple sides to a potential "scandal" involving Benghazi. First, did Republicans overplay their hand for political gain. Hell yes. That's a scandal. Do I think there's some fishy stuff about Benghazi outside of all the Republican-created drama? Yes, I do.

Before I begin, I'd like to say that Benghazi has was an absolute non-starter to me. I didn't care much about it because shit happens; especially abroad. I'd get reports from my conservative friends and I'd blow them off because of course Republicans were just dramatizing this to hurt Hillary in the polls. It was not surprising to me when recent reports came out that Republicans were running the Benghazi committee as a smear campaign of sorts.

That being said, I don't think that we know the whole story nor do I think we ever will. Benghazi went from being caused by protests due to a movie/youtube video to being an act of terror. I do wonder where the cover story came from and if that in it's own right was politically motivated being just months before midterm elections. That talking point alone prevented Susan Rice from replacing Hillary Clinton as Sec. of State.

Lastly, in my post I was comparing Benghazi to swiftboating. It seems apt because no matter what the truth, Republicans seemed intent on pushing this explicitly for political gain. To say it's as bad as Republicans made it out to be would be laughable. To say there's nothing to be concerned over though? I can't go quite that far.

If you'd like to read more on the subject factcheck.org seems to have thorough account of things. (link)

[Kingofalldems]

6. "Fishy" eh.

I get it now.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

7. I'm not following your thought process.

Clue me in?

[Kingofalldems]

8. This is not the forum for that.

But I will say that there have been 8 investigations so far and you still claim something 'fishy'.

Good day.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

9. And a good day to you as well. :)

[mgmaggiemg]

10. nice post..;)

[PoliticalMalcontent]

11. Thanks. Welcome to DU. :)