WP/Milbank: White House Counters Ex-Aide

[kskiska]

Advisers Call Clarke Disgruntled, Partisan

By Dana Milbank and Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, March 23, 2004; Page A01

President Bush's top aides launched a ferocious assault on the former White House counterterrorism official who accused Bush of failing to act on the al Qaeda threat before Sept. 11, 2001, and strengthening terrorists by pursuing a misguided focus on Iraq.

(snip)

Although some Republican leaders defended the White House and joined in denouncing Clarke, others expressed concern that the former aide's accusations would compound a recent fall in Americans' perception of Bush's honesty that began with the flawed charges about Iraq's weapons and the understatement of the costs of Bush's prescription drug initiative.

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said he believes the White House has to respond directly to Clarke's allegations rather than question his credibility. "This is a serious book written by a serious professional who's made serious charges, and the White House must respond to these charges," he said.

(snip)

The timing of Clarke's accusations is particularly sensitive for Bush because the independent commission investigating the 2001 attacks is taking public testimony this week from Bush and Clinton administration national security officials about their actions before the attacks. The White House, citing constitutional prerogatives, has declined to allow the commission to take testimony from national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, although she has been interviewed by commission members privately.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16200-2004Mar22.html

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Yeah, it was funny...

Whats even funnier is what we aren't talking about...Bush's new ads.

You guys lost your message, gave the guy some press to sell his book and took heat off of Kerry.

Good job you fucking morons.

[alittlelark]

3. I think you meant MORANS.

I think this is choreographed, and while I hate 'politics as usual' I think the DEM's are doin' it up right!!!!

There is a reek of desperation that my dog would be barkin' at........she knows the primal scent for what it is......fear.

[Sagan]

2. Hagel knows something

He's distancing himself from Chimpco for a reason. A possible 2008 run at the White House, certainly, but I think there is some other monster lurking that Hagel knows about that we don't, or only surmise at.

[jburton]

6. Big Time

I think Hagel wants no part of the Bush* disaster. He ain't going down to save his sorry ass.

[kskiska]

4. Hitting him where it hurts

…"About all that's still propping Bush up politically is the very positive impression that most voters have about his performance immediately following the attack," said Democratic operative Jim Jordan. "Anything that contradicts the legend and recasts Bush as weaker and less sure-footed than previously thought is a huge problem for Bush, and Clarke's account certainly does that."

[Nevernose]

5. Repukes are focused on the wrong things, as usual

President Bush's top aides launched a ferocious assault on the former White House counter-terrorism official who accused Bush of failing to act on the al Qaeda threat before Sept. 11, 2001, and strengthening terrorists by pursuing a misguided focus on Iraq.

Why launch an "assault" on the official? Why not actively repudiate the charges?

...others expressed concern that the former aide's accusations would compound a recent fall in Americans' perception of Bush's honesty that began with the flawed charges about Iraq's weapons and the understatement of the costs of Bush's prescription drug initiative.

Note that they're not expressing concern over whether the accusations are true or not, they're concerned with Bush's appearance.

Just like a fucking Republican (as born out by Clarke this week): Three thousand Americans die, and they just don't give a shit. "What are our chances at reelection?" they respond. "How can these dead men, women and children further my own personal agenda?" AND WHY DO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NOT SEE THIS AS PLAIN AS DAY!?!?!

:argh:

[ChompySnack]

9. Right on brother

As usual the media will give it a few days and then not follow up.

[yardwork]

7. This "ferocious assault" lacks teeth.

The only rebuttal is that Clarke is being partisan and is feeling sour grapes? That's weak, very weak.

Some of the "rebuttals" support Clarke's version. Cheney said on Rush that Clarke "was out of the loop on a lot of this." That's exactly Clarke's point.

[aprilgirl]

8. The book had to be released BEFORE his 9/11 testimony

Otherwise, the on-going investigation might have been a reason to keep the book from being released. One thing, the Paul O'Neill book supports many of the allegations that Clarke is making. Then there are all those resignations of Bush administration officials who could not go along with the focus on Iraq. How much more does the American public need to unseat this quack in the WH?

[wellst0nev0ter]

10. Wow, Three Out Of His Four Administrations Were Republican

And all of a sudden he's a "Democratic partisan"



















phuckheads.

[radfringe]

11. it's been clipped out of the transcript

but Clark did say he expected bush* to send the dogs after him...

regardng the timing of the release of the book...

Clark resigned about 18 months ago.. takes some time to write a book, especially one of this nature which requires some research and assembling of materials before you even start to write it -- then there's the editing process, and other things needed to be done before the book even goes to press -- so 18 months to write and publish a book is not unusual

these accusations by GOPer lemmings is just their attempt to "reframe" the issue and spin it as sour grapes by an ex-employee..

but it's funny - O'Neill, Clark, David Kay and others are all saying the same thing -- information was manipulated to justify invading Iraq

Bush* Lied and people died. Bush* is still lying and people are still dying. Bush* will continue to lie and more people will die.

he's not just a war pResident - he's the death pResident

[leftchick]

12. "Lucky me I Hit the Trifecta!"

I think it is time to re-air all of those campaign stops where chimpy* repeated this astoinishingly deplorable line.