MSNBC: The Republicans goofed. The hearing helped Hillary.

[pnwmom]

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-accidentally-does-clinton-favor-james-comey-hearing?cid=sm_fb_maddow

Before the hearing Republicans had a series of fairly specific talking points: Clinton lied to the FBI; she created a national security threat; she plays by a different set of rules than everyone else. But instead of simply repeating those talking points, GOP lawmakers invited the FBI director – a lifelong Republican, whom GOP officials have repeatedly praised for his honesty – to testify about how wrong the party’s arguments are.

“We have no basis to believe she lied to the FBI,” Comey said. Asked about Clinton benefiting from a different set of rules, he responded, “It’s not true.” Asked about classified emails, Comey said there were only three messages – each of which were not properly marked classified when she received them.

In other words, congressional Republicans had the bright idea of holding a hearing with a credible witness who was perfectly happy to explain to them how wrong they are.

Making matters worse, GOP lawmakers forgot who the villains and heroes were supposed to be in their story. Republicans were supposed to make Clinton the scoundrel of this narrative, but today, they decided instead to go after the director of the FBI – because he had the audacity to say a Democrat didn’t commit a crime.

[morningfog]

1. They are idiots. what did they expect Comey to say?

[pnwmom]

2. I think they just wanted a chance to spew their venom with cameras rolling.

But they forgot that Comey would have a chance to talk, too.

[Hortensis]

4. Yes, that was a mistake! He merely stated his

points even more clearly.

These guys are not the best the right has to offer, for sure, just the ones who've been assisted to the top after other, better functioning but less useful conservatives were purged.

[Bozvotros]

3. They expected him to say that Hillary was a dirty sneaky crook who should be in jail

As you said... they are idiots, wondering why they are drowning like turkeys in a storm of cognitive dissonance.

[jcgoldie]

5. I don't think there was a lot of party strategy involved...

Seemed to be mostly a case of wingnuts each getting their 5 minutes on camera spouting off about how frustrated and outraged they are about HRC to play for their tea party base back home.

[UCmeNdc]

6. That is the typical GOP's way of doing business

these days.

[UCmeNdc]

7. Donald Trump

is the perfect example.

[jcgoldie]

8. You can almost see the political ad writing itself...

Run reel of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama laughing together maniacally followed by footage of the patriotic republican candidate looking outraged at the hearings.
Voiceover: "Jason Chafetz stood up to Hillary Clinton and the corrupt Obama justice department..."

Followed by more bullshit and then of course end the ad with with dreamy violin music and footage of the candidate shooting a gun out in nature. Wash rinse repeat.

[Cosmocat]

9. Been that way for this entire decade now

wake up, turn on the TV, see what the worst thing on the tube is, insert Obama (or now Hillary) into it somehow and start screaming about it.