November 18, 2012
On today’s Sunday shows: Lawmakers debated how the talking points given to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice before her television appearances on the terrorist attack in Benghazi may have been changed; Sen. Saxby Chambliss, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Israel might have to invade Gaza to protect itself; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she was optimistic about talks over the fiscal cliff—but not without tax increases for the wealthiest Americans.Republicans: Who Changed Rice’s Benghazi Talking Points?Republicans say they want to find out who removed language in the talking points given to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice that suggested al-Qaida may have been behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Libya that killed four Americans.Chambliss: Israelis May Need to Invade GazaSen. Saxby Chambliss, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Israel might have to invade Gaza to protect itself from further rocket attacks.Pelosi Optimistic on Deal to Avert Fiscal CliffHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she was optimistic that talks between the president and congressional leaders could produce a deal to avert the fiscal cliff, but said she would not accept a deal that does not include tax increases for the wealthiest Americans.Levin: Obama Deserves Credit for Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Obama administration deserves some credit for Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system, which has protected Israelis during recent rocket assaults.Lieberman: Select Committee on Benghazi Not NeededSen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., separated from his Senate allies John McCain and Lindsey Graham on Sunday, saying he did not think a special committee was needed to investigate the terrorist attack in Libya.McCain: Benghazi Didn’t Fit Obama NarrativeSen. John McCain continued his criticism of the Obama administration on the terrorist attack in Benghazi, suggesting the president mislead the public to support his narrative that al-Qaida’s influence is diminishing.Blunt Says Administration Misled on BenghaziSen. Roy Blunt said the Obama administration mislead the public on the terrorist attack in Libya in order to improve President Obama’s chances during the election.Former Treasury Secretaries Clash Over CliffTwo former Treasury secretaries from Democratic and Republican administrations on Sunday disagreed over the path Congress should take in negotiating the so-called fiscal cliff. Robert Rubin, who served under President Bill Clinton, agreed with President Obama, while Paul O’Neill, who served under President George W. Bush, took a different approach.Durbin Hears ‘A Perceptible Change in Rhetoric’If you pay attention, you can hear the sounds of negotiation on the fiscal cliff, says Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin. “You've got to listen closely,” he said. “What I hear is a perceptible change in rhetoric from the other side.”Lieberman: FBI Should Have Notified Congress About Petraeus InvestigationSen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said he is not satisfied with the FBI withholding information about the investigation into former CIA Director David Petraeus.Jindal: GOP Should Stop Saying ‘Stupid Things’In the wake of Mitt Romney’s failed presidential bid, and subsequent comments about President Obama’s “gifts” to minorities and students, Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal said the GOP needs to stop saying “stupid things.”Podcast: Drones and Data MiningOn this week’s Political Landscape, National Journal’s weekly podcast, how U.S. drone strike policy will move forward with leadership changing in the CIA and the Department of Defense. And, for all the talk of data mining during the campaign, did knowing that a potential voter shopped at Burlington Coat Factory actually help on Election Day? We'll discuss with Atlantic writer Conor Friedersdorf and New York Times writer Charles Duhigg.See all NJ’s Sunday show coverage | Get more NJ newsletters
