On the Road with Hillary Clinton in Florida

This afternoon at Broward County Community College in Davie, FL, Hillary spoke on a broad range of issues from college debt to universal pre-K to gun laws and Syria.

Volunteer Gary Hensley of Pompano Beach, Fla., prepares campaign stickers before a campaign event by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

A volunteer sits by a campaign sign stating support of gun control before an event by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Volunteer Patti Lynn of Tamrac, Fla., sorts through campaign signs before an event by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a campaign event at Broward College, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds a 'Grassroots' organizational event at Broward State College in Davie, Florida, October 2, 2015. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton waves as she arrives for a campaign event at Broward College, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is introduced by honors student Darnell Joseph, 18, right, before speaking at a campaign event at Broward College, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton holds up a sign in favor of health care as Clinton speaks during a campaign event at Broward College, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds a 'Grassroots' organizational event at Broward State College in Davie, Florida, October 2, 2015. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Supporters hold a photo of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton hoping to get it autographed following a speech by Clinton at a campaign event at Broward College, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets guests after her 'Grassroots' organizational event at Broward State College in Davie, Florida, October 2, 2015. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Hillary Clinton ‏@HillaryClinton 

"I am well aware that this is a political mountain to climb....I will, as your president, never relent on trying to work on this." -Hillary

Hillary Clinton ‏@HillaryClinton 

"Republicans keep refusing to do anything to protect our communities. They put the NRA ahead of American families. It is wrong." -Hillary

Hillary Clinton ‏@HillaryClinton 

"We don't just need to pray...We need to act...Republicans and the NRA say, now is not the time to talk about guns. Yes, it is." -Hillary

Hillary Clinton ‏@HillaryClinton 

"What is wrong with us that we can't stand up to the NRA and the gun lobby and the gun manufacturers they represent?" -Hillary

#JSYK in other news, there is late word that Jason Chaffetz is throwing his hat into the Speaker's race.

Meeting Hillary Clinton: A Touching Backstory from Buzzfeed

There are tens of thousands of stories like this.  Everyone who has met Hillary has had a personal moment with her.  Those of us who follow her on social media have seen this touching video.  Buzzfeed's Ruby Cramer shares the backstory.

Here is the video.

Published on Sep 21, 2015

While backstage at the New Hampshire Democratic Convention, Hillary met Keith Thompson. Keith told Hillary his incredible story of dedication, and how he is working part time while also being the caregiver for his mother with Alzheimer's.

Here is the story behind it.

Voter Sees The “Real Hillary” Her Campaign Seeks To Reveal

For a supporter, it took meeting Clinton to see the “contrast” between the person and the “caricatures.” How one moment went from an intense, meaningful exchange between candidate and voter, to a story retold on Facebook, to one shared on Twitter, to a campaign video

Originally posted on Oct. 1, 2015 
  Ruby Cramer

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Keith F. Thompson / Facebook

Before this year, he was never much of a Hillary Clinton person. But he’s never disliked her. He’s never found her “cold” or “calculating,” never seen her as “inauthentic” or “unapproachable.” He didn’t buy into all that — the “caricatures,” he said.

Still, for Keith F. Thompson, meeting Clinton for the first time in the flesh — seeing her, talking with her, even starting to tear up with her — came as something of a revelation.

“I knew the caricatures — I knew that was from some angry person in their mom’s basement,” said Thompson, a 52-year-old delegate from New Hampshire.

“I knew that,” he said. “But the contrast is huge.”

Thompson did not plan for the encounter. On the morning of the New Hampshire Democratic convention, as he made the drive to Manchester, he was not expecting that upon arriving, a friend would rush to his side and whisper, “Come with me,” or that soon after, he would find himself deep in the Verizon Wireless Arena, under the dim lights of a makeshift hold-room, waiting with a small group of Democrats to meet Clinton.

Read on >>>>

Hillary for America Strategy Update from Robby Mook

Wow. This week, the campaign team was sprinting hard to hit our end-of-quarter fundraising goals, and because of another amazing team -- one you’re a part of,  we surpassed every last one of them. Thank you so much. You’re the best. 

You all contributed more than $28 million to this campaign this quarter, which brings our total to above $75 million! I’m so grateful that you have Hillary’s back -- and believe me, so is she.

I would love to say thank you in person, but since I can’t do that, I did the next best thing: I made you a video. Take a look to get an inside peek at our strategy for the rest of 2015, then add your name to commit to the next phase of the campaign.

This team is incredibly special, and I’m thrilled you’re a part of it. Together, we’re going to get Hillary all the way to the White House.

Thanks,
Robby
Robby Mook
Campaign Manager
Hillary for America

Published on Oct 1, 2015

Want to hear an honest and open account of how the Hillary for America campaign is feeling at this point in the race? HFA Campaign Manager Robby Mook discusses the campaign's strong third quarter fundraising and more in this installment of State of the Race.

Live from New York ... It's Hillary!

By Amy Chozick

Live From New York: Hillary Clinton to Appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton with Amy Poehler, who played Mrs. Clinton on the show in 2008.
Credit Dana Edelson/NBC

Live from New York… It’s Hillary Clinton!

Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to appear on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, the latest — and highest stakes — appearance of her current push to show her funny, personable side as the campaign heads into the critical first Democratic debate and she faces headwinds in Iowa and New Hampshire and a potential challenge from Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Read more >>>>

The Republican White Elephant

So Jason Chaffetz wants (and gets!) an apology from the Secret Service for disclosing details related to his rejected application to join the force,  but the newly transparent Republican Party feels no such compunction to apologize to Hillary Clinton for investing $4.5 million and more than a year trying to damage Hillary's reputation.  That, of course, was the purpose of the committee, and when it was articulated by majority leader and Speaker-in-waiting, Kevin McCarthy, the remark was intended as an indication of success in getting stuff done by the majority party.




In the public interest, this is what your $4.5 million tax dollars have gone to finance.

The Select Committee on Benghazi has a website.  These are the members.

Members

Republicans

Trey Gowdy,
Chairman (SC-04)
Susan Brooks (IN-05)
Jim Jordan (OH-04)
Mike Pompeo (KS-04)
Martha Roby (AL-02)
Peter Roskam (IL-06)
Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03)

Democrats

Elijah Cummings,
Ranking Member (MD-07)
Adam Smith (WA-09)
Adam Schiff (CA-28)
Linda Sanchez (CA-38)
Tammy Duckworth (IL-08)

This is the stated scope and mission of the Select Committee.

About the Select Committee

On May 8, 2014, the House of Representatives adopted H. Res. 567, Providing for the Establishment of the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi, Libya. (Roll Call Vote 209)
The Select Committee is authorized and directed to conduct a full and complete investigation and study and issue a final report of its findings to the House regarding--

1. All policies, decisions, and activities that contributed to the attacks on United States facilities in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012, as well as those that affected the ability of the United States to prepare for the attacks;
2. All policies, decisions, and activities to respond to and repel the attacks on United States facilities in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012, including efforts to rescue United States personnel;
3. Internal and public executive branch communications about the attacks on United States facilities in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012;
4. Accountability for policies and decisions related to the security of facilities in Benghazi, Libya, and the response to the attacks, including individuals and entities responsible for those policies and decisions;
5. Executive branch authorities' efforts to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012;
6. Executive branch activities and efforts to comply with Congressional inquiries into the attacks on United States facilities in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012;
7. Recommendations for improving executive branch cooperation and compliance with congressional oversight and investigations;
8. Information related to lessons learned from the attacks and executive branch activities and efforts to protect United States facilities and personnel abroad; and
9. Any other relevant issues relating to the attacks, the response to the attacks, or the investigation by the House of Representatives into the attacks.

Number 9 looks like a catch-all item meant to license anything related in any kind of webby way, and, of course, "relevant" is not defined and obviously is left to the discretion of members.
Here are the hearings.

Hearings

There are no hearings currently scheduled.

Past Hearings

Hearing 3

Tue, 01/27/2015 - 10:30am

HVC-210, The Capitol

Subject Matter: Status Review of Outstanding Requests

Witnesses

Neil Higgins

Director of Congressional Affairs

Central Intelligence Agency

Joel Rubin

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs

Hearing 2

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 10:00am

HVC-210

Topic: Reviewing Efforts to Secure U.S. Diplomatic Facilities and Personnel

Witnesses:

Greg Starr

Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security

Steve Linick

The Inspector General, Department of State

Hearing 1

Wed, 09/17/2014 - 10:00am

HVC-210, Capitol Visitor Center

Topic: Implementation of the Accountability Review Board recommendations

One report has been issued.

Reports

H.Res. 567 authorizes and directs the Select Committee to conduct a full and complete investigation and study of the events surrounding the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi and issue a final report of its findings to the House.
The non classified versions of this final report, as well as any interim reports, will be published on this page.
May 8, 2015- Interim Progress Update

Statements can be accessed here >>>>

Republicans are tripping all over their own feet trying to walk back McCarthy's assertion.  Three hearings, none since January 27, and one interim report from May that is 15 pages long - that is what $4.5 million have bought.  Ten hearings have been canceled according to the July 15 letter from committee Democrats to the chairman.

In contrast, the current status of the Warren Commission Report is about 900 pages with 26 volumes of supporting material.  More will be released in 2017.

Has there been any Congressional endeavor as dysfunctional, wasteful, and disingenuous?  The only real inaccuracy in McCarthy's statement is the damage to Hillary Clinton's image.  We have known all along that the committee had a political mission and that Hillary was the target. The truth is that despite their expensive, extended efforts she is looking very good!



McCarthy's candidness is as refreshing as the toothpaste Republicans are trying to get back into the tube.  We just don't want to buy any more toothpaste right now.