Richard Clarke KO's the Bushies - slate

[Mattforclark]

A great recap article for anyone who didn't see the testimony and anyone who did.




"Richard Clarke made his much-anticipated appearance before the 9/11 commission this afternoon and, right out of the box, delivered a stunning blow to the Bush administration—the political equivalent of a first-round knockout.

The blow was so stunning, it took a while to realize that it was a blow. Clarke thanked the members for holding the hearings, saying they finally provided him "a forum where I can apologize" to the victims of 9/11 and their loved ones. He continued, addressing those relatives, many of whom were sitting in the hearing room:

Your government failed you … and I failed you. We tried hard, but that doesn'tmatter because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask … for your understanding and for your forgiveness.

End of statement. Applause. KO."

...

http://slate.msn.com/id/2097750/

[Norbert]

1. Anyone else think Clarke hit a home run today.

Beginning with the apology to the families of the 9/11 victims was as brilliant as it was sincere.

bu$hco will have to wave that exit letter around for months to negate that. He stole the moment.

[Lefty48197]

3. Thinking people all know that Clarke "hit a home run"

Right wingers, on the other hand, are all working full time to discredit him. Don't face the music, just kill the messanger.

[Digit]

2. Calm, collected, and credible n/t

[kerry-is-my-prez]

4. Another article about Clarke "A New Folk Hero"

http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/10149
A New Folk Hero

John F. Lehman, the former secretary of the Navy, probably wishes he didn't ask Richard Clarke about Iraq today. By doing so, he not only helped Clarke emerge as a new folk hero. Lehman also increased the chances that historians will view Clarke's devastating critique of Bush's terrorism and Iraq agenda as the beginning of the end of the Bush administration.

-snip-

Until Lehman's question, Clarke hadn't mentioned Iraq, though he'd quietly and effectively ripped President Bush to shreds for his failure to take terrorism seriously. "The Bush administration considered terrorism an important issue but not an urgent issue," said Clarke. "George Tenet and I tried very hard to create a sense of urgency. I don't think it was ever treated that way."

So Lehman, acting like a hatchet man for the White House, which has launched an all-out assault on Clarke, took him on—but on Iraq. In all your 15 hours of classified testimony to the commission before today, he asked, why didn't you say that you felt the president was so wrong about Iraq and the link to terrorism? Clarke was ready. "No one asked me what I thought about the president's invasion of Iraq," said Clarke, matter-of-factly. "By invading Iraq, the president has greatly undermined the war on terrorism."

Lehman, a right-wing Republican who worked for President Reagan, called Clarke an "active partisan trying to shove out a book," adding, "You've got a real credibility problem." If so, it wasn't evident to the audience, which included many friends and relatives of 9/11 victims, and which repeatedly erupted into spontaneous applause in Clarke's support.

[brook]

6. A bit of trivia.

"Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat".

Attributed to John F. Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy.
source: Google; various sites.

[LibertyorDeath]

5. Richard Clarke integrity in action!

[Robbien]

7. I disagree with his politics, but admire him for doing what is right

Our country was left defenseless and Clarke knew it, knew how to defend us, but Bush&Co were busy off having the hots for Iraq.

[LibertyorDeath]

8. His level of professionalism an honesty is a rare thing in politics imo

[IronLionZion]

11. He's one of the few outstanding Republicans

not just good, outstanding. An example to all that you can be conservative without being an asshole.

[Skittles]

14. he puts his country above his party

very refreshing

[NewJeffCT]

12. not only Iraq

The Bush Crime Family and the gang in the White House also had the hots for Star Wars missile defense (don't forget - "Osama bin Laden doesn't have any missiles" was one quote) and pissing off the Chinese over the spy plane incident.

[Zorra]

9. Totally, thoroughly devastating.

On national TV even. Thank you, Mr. Clarke.

[kentuck]

10. It was a failure....

It was a failure from all angles...To deny that 9/11 was a failure is simply that - denial. They can point the finger at others and refuse to accept any responsibility but that does not change the fact that 9/11 was a failure of our government. Richard Clark is the only person so far in government to recognize that reality.

[BillZBubb]

13. The problem is the corporate media

The talking heads on television didn't cover it as a KO at all. In fact, they gave more time to the Repugs smearing Clarke. CondiLiar Rice, who wouldn't even testify, is given all the air time she wants to attack the guy.

So, the average American thinks this is all just politics and Clarke, unfortunately, will be soon forgotten.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. kick

[Hekate]

16. kick