Is Richard Clarke our Ollie North?

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

No, not in the sense that hes a crook or a rightwinger or anything like that.

More in the sense he is becoming somewhat of a hero for Democrats (and independents who are tired of the BS) with his riveting testimony in front of the 9-11 Commission, his book, and his interviews.

The way he is speaking truth to power when few do.

The thing about North was that he was not speaking truth to power..he was power, telling the rest of us to go to hell, and he parlayed this into a political and talkshow career.

I dont see that in Clarke at all. To be honest I am pretty cynical and bitter about politics, but maybe with someone like Clarke we really are seeing the real deal for a change...or maybe a much more straight-shooting approach and alot less BS and spin than we usually see. I hestitate to use the word "hero", maybe the word "champion" is better.....

,,,,but, still, I think you get my drift.

[Rex]

1. I think Clarke is a true Conservative - the kind Edmund Burke

would have approved of. He is an old-school, cold war, Reganite type of guy. He shows some of us, that grew up in the 70s & 80s, just how far the GOP has sailed off course (I believe it truly started with Nixon and Watergate). I don't generally like Repugs, but I will take a Reganite over a neocon any day of the week!

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

2. Hes been disowned by the conservatives....

....I have yet to see anyone on the right defend him in any way, yet.

[Rex]

5. They (GOP) are afraid. Anyone that does will be labeled a traitor

to the Party. Even so, he is still a hold-over from the days when Republicans were considered true conservatives (or sincerely thought they were) and not the Corporate Fascists we see today.

There have been some Reps that have defended him, but it hasn't gotten a lot of media coverage (big surprise there). One of the most recent is Republican Senator Chuck Hagel.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

10. Just think about what you have said....

...The GOP is afraid.

Isnt this something? Its almost like we are in some sort of protofascist environment...critics are silenced or intimidated.

[whistle]

3. If Clarke accepts a position under Kerry....

...let's say Kerry appoints him head of Homeland Security and Clarke accepts, given that he swore under oath to the 9-11 commission and the American people during his testimony that he would take no position, could he be sent to jail for perjury? I don't think so, because it was a statement of something that has not happened yet, so he could not possibly know the truth. But, which 9-11 commissioner asked that bullshit question anyway. It was one of the re-thugs correct?

[WFF]

12. Legal experts say he would not be held to that oath

for the reasons that you stated

[osaMABUSh]

4. Yes. Just remember "Your government failed you"

and it took someone now out of the government to admit it.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

6. From his high school yearbook:

He chose this from Dantes Inferno as his motto:

""The hottest places in hell are reserved for those, who in a time of great crisis, maintain their neutrality."

Says it all, I think. Clarke is no longer neutral.

[metisnation]

7. observation

Ollie north sold Iraq weaponry Clark uses the truth as his weapon

[Cleita]

8. Ollie North considered himself above the law.

I don't think his shoes fits Clarke at all.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

9. Im not really saying that....

...Im not saying Clarke and North are the same, Im saying they maybe are playing similar roles as lightening rods and people who certain parts of the public either defend or loathe.

I am trying to make a positive statement about Clakre here, and it doesnt seem to be coming through.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Olie North was a consummate liar, and did so under oath...

...that's pretty different from Richard Clarke, IMHO.