Clarke on the difference between * and the Clinton

[RamboLiberal]

Page 243-244.

Paraphrased:

* informed by a small group of advisers. Clarke and others told "* not a big reader" in bed by 10. Says * spent little time learning about al Qaeda. Thinks his little circle never explained to him that attacking Iraq made America less secure.

Clinton read memos well after midnight. Would tire out WH staff and depts expertise and then look for info from universities and other sources. Read the latest books and mag articles. One day told Clarke in the hall that he had done a good speech in Philly, that he had watched on CSpan while reading. When Clarke checked CSpan he found out his speech was on at 2am.

Clarke: "Many times since 9-11 I have wondered what difference it made that * was President when we were attacked. What if it had happened with Clinton still in office or what if the Florida voting procedure had been otherwise?"

[MikeG]

1. Osama waited until W was President to attack.

Could he have been waiting until we had a moron running things?

[Mountainman]

2. That was supposed to be a Bush selling point

He doesn't need to know everything because he surrounds himself with such knowledgeable advisers. I thought that was strange. I want a leader that knows more about the world than I do not less!

[Bandit]

6. That is going to be his downfall also.

He is being misled by all his "knowledgeable people". They are in hog heaven because they know Bush* doesn't have the mental capacity to know if he is being given the straight scoop or not. Bush* is a mental midget and surrounded himself with con men and crooks. America suffers.

[prodigal_green]

3. I have a friend who is a BBC journalist

He was assigned to the State Department during Clinton's years. He said press conferences were amazing--Clinton had more facts and figures in his head than anybody he'd ever met (and he has met just about every world leader). Somebody would ask a question about something that was newsy an current and he could answer. Somebody else would ask about (for example) bauxite import quotas from Togo and he'd have an answer for that too.

[remfan]

14. I think Clinton did a portion of a SOTU without a teleprompter

Another thing -- when Clinton was quoted in the newspapers, the quotes were complete sentences, whole paragraphs...bush quotes are generally two or three words mixed into a reporter's interpretation of what he meant to say.

[RamboLiberal]

16. Yeah - Clinton did do a portion of the SOTU from memory/adlib

What happened was one of the staff inserted the previous year's speech. Now imagine that happening to *

"The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

[peacetalksforall]

4. Someone said Clinton could give the voting statistics of voters

in each state practically by counties - from his head.

[peacetalksforall]

5. Ever wonder about the knowledge and interest differences between

Clinton, Hillary, and Chelsea

compared to

Bush, Laura, and the daughters?

Then compare to Al, Tipper, and their daughters.

Stands out without even thinking about it.

Laura is more savvy, articulate, and probably more interested than our Resident Deficit.

I can imagine that mealtime at the Clintons and the Gores was 'somewhat' educational.

Both Bill and Al had vision.

Bush only knows what his Dad's buddies tell him, though he seems to know what he needs to know to take revenge and express punitiveness.

[DinahMoeHum]

7. 9/11 would not have happened if Gore was president.

Period.


:kick:

[devinsgram]

21. I have always said that 9-11 would have never

happened with Gore. I remember Dan Rather saying at some point right after 9-11 that the attack had more to do with what *'s father did than anything else. But that was quickly silenced.

[DinahMoeHum]

8. 9/11 would not have happened if Gore was president.

Period.


:kick:

[BootinUp]

9. thanks for sharing that

Sometimes Clinton doesn't the credit he deserves around here.

[patricia92243]

10. I miss having a very intelligent person in the WH. Somehow it made me...

feel more secure.

[Blue_Roses]

11. I never worried about things

like the security of our country or losing social security benefits under Clinton.

[remfan]

12. * was in bed and asleep by 11 pm on September 11, 2001

THAT should tell everyone ALL they need to know about how "engaged" the asshole is.

[Woodstock]

17. How could anyone have done that, much less the president?

The sheer magnitude of suffering could be felt the world over.

[Catherine Vincent]

13. You can't ignore it......

CLINTON WAS THE BEST PRESIDENT OF MY LIFETIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TacticalPeek]

15. No fight here.

But I hope Clark gives him a run for it someday.

[wabeewoman]

18. Yes, very true

and he makes bush look all the more pathetic. Like following behind a really great boss, makes the mediocre one stand out all the more. No wonder they hate him, he puts them to shame!

[DeepModem Mom]

19. kick

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. TBC to Clarke: In response to your question if Gore had been president:

Gore would not have conceded national security to Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell or Rice. In other words, if Gore had been president, we would not have had 9/11.