Backbone (Clarke) and backpedaling (O'Neill, Diulio) from White...

[skeptic9]

... House Whistleblowers

Richard Clarke showed absolutely no fear today at his 9-11 Commission testimony date.

He made legendary Illinois prosecutor and former governor Big Jim Thompson (R-IL) look completely foolish. Thompson's questioning of Clarke was so ineffective that 9-11 Commission Chairman Tom Kean (R-NJ) cut it short. Clarke exploited harsh criticism from former Navy Secretary Lehman to introduce his argument against Dubya's policy on Iraq and bring in the main argument from his book.

On the other hand, one moment former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill is saying Bush was "a blind man in a room full of deaf people" and the next moment he's reiterating his political support for the Commander-in-Thief. The we have former head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives John Diulio. One moment he's denouncing Rove and a "Mayberry Mafia" for deciding every policy issue according to political expediency. The next moment he's recanting completely, essentially telling the world, "Never mind".

What makes Clarke's whistleblowing different from O'Neill's or Dilulio's? Is it a death wish? Careful planning? Thorough research and a book already published before he opened his mouth? The whole world watching the 9-11 Commission hearings? Timing? IQ? Character?

[grytpype]

1. Clarke has witnesses to back him up.

A bunch of them. They'll come out gradually, but eventually the weight on Bush's defenders will be crushing. Lying Leezie will get fired.

[skeptic9]

10. kick

[kaitykaity]

2. Maybe he's channeling our favorite backbone swami,

Doctor Governor Howard Dean???

[slinkerwink]

3. damn, the doctor looks good!

:loveya:

[kaitykaity]

4. Doesn't he, though?

:evilgrin:

[slinkerwink]

5. that he does!

;-)

[Veggie Meathead]

6. Clarke is an experienced bureaucrat well versed in the

infighting that is endemic in all bureaucracies.O'Neill was not merely a straightshooter caught in a nest of vipers ,but because of his longtime friendship with Cheney was being charitable to the snakes that bit him.Diulio was a lowly Professor brought in to lend a credence to the fraudulent faith based initiative program and was
basically mugged by the thug Karl Rove.

[emulatorloo]

7. Good analysis, or put another way

Clarke knew how nasty the admin would get w attacks and is prepared for it

O'Neill and Diulio, poor guys, were too naive and unprepared for the wrath of Rove, Condi, Cheney GWB etc.

[skeptic9]

9. Your three sentences all ring true. Welcome to DU.

[robbedvoter]

8. Not everyone can resist the flying monkeys