Another revelation was that there were more than 600 requests from the staff at Benghazi to increase security. It was not increased. Mrs. Clinton claims the requests “never reached her desk.” It is plausible – though doubtful – that the security decisions were made at a lower level; but if they were – why did Mrs. Clinton not raise the roof when she did learn the truth? If she really had been unaware of the requests for enhanced security – she should have been outraged that American diplomats died because of neglect or indifference. She was not, and is not. That video may have been dishonest, it may have been inflammatory, it may have been wrong-headed – but it did not inspire the attack at Benghazi; and even if it had, those 600 requests for more security weren’t made because of the video.
Mrs. Clinton endured an eleven-hour hearing with poise; she did not “lose her cool,” she did not appear befuddled or confused; to some, she looked “presidential.” She passed the buck on everything, declaring on one hand that she was “responsible” but on the other hand blaming others for everything that went wrong. Come to think of it, what could be more “presidential” than that?