I told ya Pete Jennings did us all a favor!

[trumad]

I posted after the debate in which Jennings asked Clark about Dubya's desertion that Pete has done us all a favor by even mentioning it. This story has grown more legs than a double visioned Octopus!

I still wonder to this day if Jennings knew what he was doing?

[MidwestTransplant]

1. I said the same thing

By doing what he did, he brought it out into the open. Of course, pundits spun it to Clark's detriment.

[codegreen]

2. i think it was a very clever ploy on his part

after the election, maybe he'll come clean?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. yes you did...and you were correct!

[proud patriot]

4. Indeed , you were right .

:D

[TacticalPeek]

5. "if Jennings knew what he was doing?"

Somehow I doubt it. He likely thought it could be a 'reckless charge', unsupported, etc. and was mainly trying to jab Clark.

Michael Moore, Wesley Clark particularly, and Peter Jennings provided the tap to tip this snowball over the edge to a downhill roll.

Now we'll see who wants to stand in the path and defray the momentum. This could continue into the greatest damage-control challenge in a long time. I doubt that a gang with such arrogance and hubris will be up to the challenge.

[Donkeyboy75]

9. Perhaps he offered up Clark as a sacrificial lamb

I think this scenario is more than possible: Jennings wants this issue brought up, but he needs to protect his reputation. He decides that having this issue in the spotlight is worth the derailment of a third- or fourth-placed candidate's campaign.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a dirty way to do it, but one doesn't have to look too far in advance to see how it could play out. If Jennings was interviewing * and brought this up, he'd be blacklisted...or worse. So he has to call this "reckless." Unfortunately, nobody can know his true intentions right now.

[dennis4868]

6. Jennings...

had no idea what he was doing. And at the time I was so mad at him when he said there are no facts to back up the position that Bush was a Deserter...but the fact is, you were right! Jennings (not knowing), and more specifically General Clark, opened the door for this story!

[Leilani]

7. I disagree that he was aiding us

He & Brit Hume are very close friends..worked together for years...
that debate was an effort to discredit Clark.

Whether this all helps hurt Bush? I don't know, but that was not the intention.

[Warren Stuart]

8. I remember, I didn't believe it

I took exception to it, because I thought it was unfair to Clark. Clark was and is in a bind regarding this. No general level officer really wants to call the CIC a deserter, but if it is theoretically true, then no officer wants to condone it either.

[9215]

10. This is a typical tactic

If you want to raise an issue mention it in the negative or with a healthy dose of skepticism so you don't appear "rash".

You have to remember that the American public doesn't know didly about any of this. So springing it on them is a dicey prospect for the network rating concious media.

Remember just recently the reporter at the press conference who asked Bush about Dean's claim that he may of knew about 9/11 etc. The reporter characterized Dean's claim as hate speech, which, IMO is OK. What was accomplished is that the question "got out there".

Plus it makes it difficult for the "target" to flip into kill the messenger mode because the messenger appears to be on your side.

The Right has not been able to deal with it, hee, hee.

[CatWoman]

11. a la Homer Simpson

"I am so smart"
"I am so smart"
"S-m-r-t"
"I am so smart"

:D

Your'e right -- I remember.

Now will all the people who called you a loon apologize?

[sistersofmercy]

12. I remember reading your post and yep, you were correct!

Good call!

[Moderator]

13. Locking

Primary candidates cannot be named in the subject or opening post of a GD thread. Perhaps the Politics & Campaigns forum?

Thank you for your cooperation.