Gary Hart on CNN :This was an administration that was warned

[cal04]

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0805/18/le.01.html

BLITZER: Because both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, among other Democratic presidential candidates of the time, they criticized Barack Obama for that flat statement that he had made.

Let me ask you about the politics of all of this. It seems the Republicans would very much like to once again project the Democratic presidential candidate as weak on national security, soft on defense. This goes back to basically 1972, when McGovern was running for president. They've had a pretty good track record in making that argument. How worried are you that McCain and his supporters would succeed in making that argument against Barack Obama.

HART: Actually, it goes back earlier than that. This was exactly the case made against John Kennedy, who, as we know, led this country a couple of years after that election through the most critical era of its history.

HART: And that was the Cuban missile crisis. So youth and inexperience was the charge Nixon made against Kennedy and they proved to be false.

BLITZER: But they may have proved to be false, but it's been a successful argument that the Republicans have made. And now they go one step further, the McCain camp, and say, this is his strength, national security, John McCain. The Democrats want to fight on his turf, national security. They're a lot better off doing than, let's say, on the economy.

HART: A lot of us supporting Barack Obama have pretty long history of experience in national security matters. And I for one would yield to no one in this country in terms of my commitment to this country's national security, and new ways to achieve it. We're not living in the Cold War anymore. And to pretend that simply spending a lot more money on the Pentagon is going to make us safer was proved false by 9/11. This was an administration that was warned that terrorists were going to attack this country, and they did nothing. I am not going to listen to anybody in this administration talk about Democrats being weak on national security. They let this country down.

[speedoo]

1. You tell them Gary.

That's exactly the way to attack the rethugs on national security.

It's called the truth.

[Faygo Kid]

2. "They let this country down" - and so did their enablers.

Some of us were PLEADING with our Dem leaders in 2002 not to give Bush carte blanche to go to war.

Pleading and marching.

Many good Dem senators responded by voting against the war resolution.

Others did not.

And there we are.

[Cha]

10. That was me among huge numbers in New York..pleading

with clinton and schumer..but they knew better.

[anonymous171]

3. Exactly! You go Gary Hart!

:kick:

[Hart2008]

53. There was a reason they wouldn't put him on TV for many years.

On the issues of the day, there wasn't anyone better.

So the MSM shut him out of the discussion as much as possible.

There is a reason that his editorial against the IWR was only published in the UK and not the U.S.A.

Hart's ideas were too dangerous to the powers that be.

[Jack Bone]

4. I caught that this a.m.

The transcript doesn't show that Wolfie did his best to shut down the interview right after that exchange. I feel he had nothing to go on about, it's not like Wolfie can think on his feet. Gary let the truth out and God forbid that the truth be told.

[truedelphi]

31. Very true. Blitzer is only good at bullying

When he has to go one on one with someone who can handle him, he's in trouble.

[ErinBerin84]

5. I saw this today.

Wolf Blitzer sounded soooo pissy during the interview. He cut right away after Gary said "They let this country down." I fucking hate how Republicans think that Bush deserves extra credit or something because a terrorist attack on the level of September 11th has not happened since then . I remember Rachel Maddow discussing this on Keith O once, and talking about how the Republicans try and act as if terrorist is something completely unprecedented that the United States did not have an intelligence system on, to try and make up for the fact that September 11th happened on their watch.

[mzmolly]

6. Absolutely and our Candidates need to say the same thing over and over again.

Though I'd change the words "this was an administration" to "Republicans charged with protecting our nation were warned that terrorists were going to attack this country, and they did nothing..."

[tabasco]

7. Damn straight. Idiot Bush had zero counter-terror meetings before 9-11

per Richard Clarke. Idiot Rice was NSA on 9-11 and got a promotion.

The most incompetent, corrupt administration in the history of the country.

WORST PRESIDENT EVER. Not just a slogan, it's the truth.

[Adelante]

8. Gary Hart was a real mensch this morning

:patriot:

[Cha]

9. woofie always full of "buts", isn't he..

"This was an administration that was warned that terrorists were going to attack this country, and they did nothing. I am not going to listen to anybody in this administration talk about Democrats being weak on national security. They let this country down." Gary Hart

The repukes and bushit followers have no legs to stand on and they know it.

[bulloney]

18. More buts than a nudist colony.

[sfaprog]

11. Fuck you, Blitzer

"The Democrats want to fight on his turf, national security. They're a lot better off doing than, let's say, on the economy."

The Democrats shouldn't battle the Republicans on national defense? Obama has the most common sense, real national defense policy of any candidate, and I can't wait to see him take on McCain.

As for you, Blitzer, you Iraqi war cheerleader, it takes a lot of gall for you to say bullshit like that. A lot. Fuck off, you fucking warmongering asshole, straight to hell.

[anonymous171]

12. They know Obama is positioned to destroy McCain/Bush on national defense,

So they are trying to frame the issue against him. It won't work. Bush/McCain's foreign/defense policies are just too horribly wrong and ineffective.

[sfaprog]

13. Blitzer's afraid of exposing McCain's lack of knowledge,

like his Islamic mix-up gaffe

[Cosmocat]

40. it makes you want to smash things ...

basically, what Blitzer is saying is ...

We know it is utter BS, but we are going to advance their BS anyway, and you as democrats have to just accept it ...

That is what he is saying ...

[Hart2008]

14. Gary Hart is the best we have on national security and fighting terrorism!

Hart was able to formulate a sane national defense policy without excessive spending.

They had to silence him somehow in the late 80's, but he has remained relevant, especially as the Co-Chair of the Hart-Rudman commission.

It is nice to see him at the front of the fight again.

:applause::yourock: :applause:

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[sallyseven]

22. Didn't Gary Hart and Rudman prepare

a document about the terrorist plans and give it to Condi in July of 2001? I know Rudman was involved and I seem to think that Hart was also. Cheney didn't want to use it and put it aside,. He didn't want anything to do with Clinton in formulating what he wanted to do. He wanted to go after Saddam and get the f king oil. That is why Condi fell down on the job. Don't tell the chimp anything. Cheney is the big man.

[Hart2008]

48. Hart and Rudman co-chaired The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century

The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century

Released on 31 January 2001, USCNS/21 is the most exhaustive review of US national security strategy since the National Security Act of 1947. USCNS/21 was released in three distinct phases. The first phase, New World Coming: American Security in the 21st Century (see further below), anticipates the emerging international security environment within the first quarter of the 21st century and examines how the US fits into that environment. The second phase, Seeking a National Strategy: A Concert for Preserving Security and Promoting Freedom (see further below), proposes a new US national security strategy based on the anticipated threats and conditions outlined in the first phase report. The third phase, Roadmap for National Security: Imperative for Change (see further below), recommends changes to the US government's structure, legislation, and policy to reflect a new national security strategy based on the anticipated 21st century international security environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Commission_on_Terrorism

Gary Hart "We predicted it"
Salon, Sept. 12, 2001

They went to great pains not to sound as though they were telling the president "We told you so."

But on Wednesday, two former senators, the bipartisan co-chairs of a Defense Department-chartered commission on national security, spoke with something between frustration and regret about how White House officials failed to embrace any of the recommendations to prevent acts of domestic terrorism delivered earlier this year.

... Congress seemed interested in enacting many of the commission's recommendations. "We had a very good response from the Hill," Rudman says.

In March, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, introduced the National Homeland Security Agency Act. Other members of Congress -- Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-Md., John Kyl, R-Ariz., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. -- talked about the issue, and these three and others began drafting legislation to enact some of the recommendations into law.

But in May, Bush announced his plan almost as if the Hart-Rudman Commission never existed, as if it hadn't spent millions of dollars, "consulting with experts, visiting 25 countries worldwide, really deliberating long and hard," as Hart describes it. Bush said in a statement that "numerous federal departments and agencies have programs to deal with the consequences of a potential use of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapon in the United States. But to maximize their effectiveness, these efforts need to be seamlessly integrated, harmonious and comprehensive." That, according to the president, should be done through FEMA, headed by Allbaugh, formerly Bush's gubernatorial chief of staff.

Bush also directed Cheney -- a man with a full plate, including supervision of the administration's energy plans and its dealings with Congress -- to supervise the development of a national counter-terrorism plan. Bush announced that Cheney and Allbaugh would review the issues and have recommendations for him by Oct. 1. The commission's report was seemingly put on the shelf.

Just last Thursday, Hart spoke with Rice again. "I told her that I and the others on the commission would do whatever we could to work with the vice president to move on this," Hart said. "She said she would pass on the message."
...
"Could this have been prevented?" Hart asks. "The answer is, 'We'll never know.' Possibly not." It was a struggle to convince President Clinton of the need for such a commission, Hart says. He urged Clinton to address this problem in '94 and '95, but Clinton didn't act until 1998, prompted by politics. "He saw Gingrich was about to do it, so he moved to collaborate," Hart says. "Seven years had gone by since the end of the Cold War. It could have been much sooner."

http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/09/12/bush/

[Starfury]

15. I bet it would Very Interesting if someone thoroughly researched Blitzer's background...

I mean, how many people know Blitzer worked for AIPAC in the '70s?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Blitzer

And can anyone tell what he was doing during the '80s? That part of his biography seems rather sparse. Rumor has it (but I can't confirm it, unfortunately) that Wolf was a reporter for the 700 Club.
http://www.yuricareport.com/Media/OnPatRobertsonWolfeBlitzerAndDavidCorn.html

Seriously, this is worth looking into if someone hasn't done so already.

[defendandprotect]

28. Here's a story on Wolf and the 700 Club . . ..

http://www.yuricareport.com/Media/OnPatRobertsonWolfeBlitzerAndDavidCorn.html

near bottom of page ---

It’s scary to hear someone carry-on like Pat. But it’s sort of strange to realize that Pat and Wolf Blitzer go way back together. Yep! Wolf used to work for Pat Robertson's CBN way back when Pat was setting up his news bureau and Wolf was the 700 Club’s reporter from the Middle East. He was a lot younger in those days, but in those beginning days Pat exposed Wolf Blitzer to a viewing audience that topped the Nielsen ratings at 28.7 million monthly viewers! That’s a great way to launch one’s career. But Wolf Blitzer likes to keep that part of his career kind of quiet. He doesn’t list the 700 Club’s news bureau in his biography. He doesn’t tell CNN’s audience that Pat was like an angel to him when he was just an independent reporter starting out. But those of us who watched Pat’s show could never forget Wolf Blitzer’s reports. He was presented to us as such an expert—we were just so proud of him! And look how high he’s gone. You’d think he’d give Pat a little credit. No doubt he says “Thanks” by inviting him on CNN!

Evidently, there must be film of Blitzer delivering the 700 "news" ---

????

[mrdmk]

16. This is a Dam Right K & R

:wow:


Kicking Butt and Taking Names :nuke:

[Sunnyshine]

17. Hart nailed the truth to Blitzer's stiff blazer!

Wolfie had his ask-no-relevant-questions-ass handed right back to him. I enjoyed watching ery minute of it.

Get em' Gary!:thumbsup:

[JCMach1]

19. Would love to see Hart as Sec. of State

Love that guy...

[Hart2008]

43. Hart has the credentials to be Secretary of Defense as well.

The thought of Hart dismantling bloated pork barrel defense contracts must scare the sh_t out of the MIC.

[KSinTX]

20. *this is his strength, national security, John McCain*

Blitzer's lips got into a brutal fight with his tongue trying to get the words "strength" and "John McCain" in a cogent sentence. As difficult as it was, I give him props for getting that job done. Once he got past that line of demarcation, he threw himself back into the "democrats are weak on defense" asylum and locked himself in. Hart just stopped by to bring him his meds.

[gristy]

23. wonderful description

Are you a writer?

[KSinTX]

27. Once upon a time military journalist

Spent a lot of years covering blowhards and pretenders! :hi:

[kentuck]

21. Gary Hart should be the head of National Security in the next Administration...

He has all the credibility.

[Hart2008]

54. If not VP Hart could be Secretary of State, Defense, Homeland Security, or National Security.

He is qualified for any of those positions.

Strange that Clinton never offered him any, but that was a personal matter with the Clintons. Hart, McGovern's '72 campaign manager, did introduce Bill Clinton to national politics and had named him regional campaign coordinator for Texas and Arkansas.

The Clintons and Carville sabotaged his '88 campaign after Hart refused to consider him as a VP, which has been well documented. A Hart victory would have meant that Bill Clinton had no chance to run for president for 8-12 years.

[Hart2008]

55. Self delete- duplicate post

[Justice]

24. This is exactly what is wrong with our press:

"But they may have proved to be false, but it's been a successful argument that the Republicans have made"

Wolf's statement - this is a supposed journalist trying to find the truth - why ask the question this way? What not say, the Republicans have lied?

[gristy]

25. play-by-play announcers, cheerleaders, and transcribers

That's what we have now. Blitzer included.

[Hart2008]

46. Since when has the MSM been interested in finding the truth?

The reality is that Dem´s with the credentials to challenge repukes on national security issues and policy get smeared mercilessly by the MSM, e.g. Gary Hart and Joe Biden in ´88 and Edmund Muskie in´72.

[Politicalboi]

26. Not only were the warned

They did 9/11. I am so tired of people not looking at the facts and science of 9/11. The evidence is clear. I just don't understand it. Fire NEVER could have done that damage to the towers. To me it's like saying Oswald did it even though the facts show different. But 9/11 is much easier to prove.

[truedelphi]

33. The reason for that is that human beings tend to

Reflexively back away from a fact that is so monstrous. It took me about half a day - a friend showing me the film footage of WTC Seven's collapse. He showed it again and again.

I knew the first time I saw it go down what it meant - but reflexively I could not believe that any Administration could be that eveil.

It should be a lot easier for people to understand the depths of this Adminsitration's depravity now though. A war we were lied into, elections that were stolen service men and women dying everyday.

And of course Katrina - genocide here at home.

But the other side of it is that a lot of people do understand. They may not spend time on "Loose Change" site or go to events, but they know. Like the airlines' staff told one of the Nine Eleven Truthers - if it wasn't an inside job, then the "security" protocols set up at airports would actually be protocols that involved with upping security.

The Powers that be told us to "shop" as a response to this calamity - and they spent their time devising a color coded chart showing the level of terror. If there was a real threat, the Homeland Security professionals would get real and put in place real strategies, not bogus ones.

[dajoki]

34. Don't forget the duct tape!! n/t

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

37. and school was a popular place to be on 9/11

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2001/September/458ag.htm


FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY-NOT FOR RELEASE

AG

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2001

[phone]

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD [phone]



ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT TO VISIT

ANNA F. DOERFLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL



MILWAUKEE, WI Attorney General John Ashcroft will tour Anna F. Doerfler Elementary School, read to students and speak at a school assembly with students and parents TOMORROW, Tuesday, September 11, 9:15am (CT).


What: Attorney General visit to Anna F. Doerfler

Elementary School


When: TOMORROW, Tuesday, September 11, 9:15am

Where: Anna F. Doerfler Elementary School

3014 West Scott

Milwaukee, WI 53215


Media planning to cover the event should arrive for setup no earlier than 8:30am and may enter through the main entrance. All media inquiries should be directed to Lani Miller at 202-305-5100.

###


01-458

[Damian the LHP]

52. Oh, grow up.

Nobody believes the twoofer line but the ignorant. Get back in your hole and put on your tinfoil hat.

Everything you idiots believe has been debunked, agin and again, and yet you insist on continuing the lie. Intelligent design, anyone?

[montanto]

29. Smackdown!!

[DirtyDawg]

30. I've often wondered...

...just what it is that Blitzer has on the people that run Time/Warner/AOL/CNN, et. al. I guess it probably comes down to just what's been said about his ties to AIPAC. Every point of view he takes, every tone, every question, is influenced by what AIPAC continues to tell him about supporting Israel - no matter how destructive it will be to them in the long run. By the way, has anybody ever noticed, without the beard, how much Blitzer looks like Lierberman?

Don't know how many will recall a line from a CNN documentary on their network's handling of the First Gulf War - the coverage of which made CNN - when a studio director who was trying to keep the live video of the bombing of Baghdad up, along with the connection with their correspondents in the hotel and talking over cell-phones about what was happening...and Blitzer in, I assume, studio somewhere trying to 'horn in' on the coverage. The director simply shouted 'SHUT-UP BLITZER!', and continued with what was important. I wish I knew the name of that director and whatever happened to him...and I wish even more that Blizter would have indeed 'shut-the-'F' up - for all time.

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. people need to hear that!

[uponit7771]

35. BAMB!! This is the EXACT argument Obama needs to make against the GOP and Bush!!! Go Gary!

[YvonneCa]

36. Read Gary Hart's book...

..."The Fourth Power" about a 'grand strategy' for the US going into the 21st century. It's GREAT.

[Hart2008]

47. A lot of beef there for sure! n/t.

[YvonneCa]

56. Hey, I remember that...

...:)

[MindPilot]

38. "Nine-eleven happened on Bush's watch"

Why are so many politicians afraid to utter those six simple words?

If John Kerry could've brought himself to say that, he would be campaigning for his second term right now.

[Hart2008]

45. This is my criticism of Kerry´s ´04 campaign as well. n/t

[rniel]

39. Former German Uboat Commander Blitzer

:P

[opihimoimoi]

41. When BushCo made decisions, he wasn't using Reason, Logic, Common Sense/Good, he was using Fantasy

An we all know what happens if ya don't listen to REASON?

Bad Shit Happens....

[wowimthere]

42. If I knew better than some of the senators... especially the republicans then why cede national

security to the people who brought us this war. Also it is why I did not vote for Clinton or any of the other candidates who backed this war after understanding what they knew when they signed off on the resolution. Obama is the only candidate who should be commander in chief.

And all of those people who are voting for Clinton in KY like VT are as thick headed as republicans who have failed this country. You can not be trusted to take this country in a direction beyond the 90s. Your ideas are old and outdated. And you don't yet understand that change is an inevitability.

[mmonk]

44. They let this country down should be a theme this fall IMO.

[Hart2008]

49. Right! n/t

[Seabiscuit]

50. The MSM always portrays such basic common sense as "radical" and "leftist".

And Wolfie is just one of countless offenders.

[Hart2008]

51. And the person speaking common sense must get smeared by the MSM...

with any kind of smear possible.

They just keep throwing allegations hoping something will stick, and if nothing else, preventing people from hearing any common sense solutions to problems in all of the noise.