Just in case anyone missed this comment by Clarke the other day:

[foxglove1]

I think it was on Larry King ... When asked why he chose this moment to publish his book, he replied that he started to write the book as soon as he was out of the WH, and that he finished it in the fall (I'm assuming late August or September), and that as a former WH staff member, he was required to get approval of his book by the WH before it could be published. He said that it was the WH that took so long to approve the manuscript, and that the book was published as soon as it was approved.

Sue

[BOSSHOG]

1. And the right wing hate machine is questioning the timing of the

book release - a fuck up by bush. White House spokesman rush limbaugh also said today the government did not get the opportunity to check out the contents of the book - a blatant lie. Dumbass conservatives are going to have several opportunities to do what they do best this summer - Hate. Joe Wilson's book will be released soon. Then we'll have the wing nuts justifying bush HIDING A FELON IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IT MUST SUCK BEING A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

[wicket]

4. White House spokesman rush limbaugh

Bwahahahahaha! If only it weren't true, Rush is such a whore for the Whitehouse.

[radwriter0555]

10. oooooo YOU DITINT go THERE!!!!

TOOOO funny!

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

2. Takes care of that question..

Three guesses as to why more media sources aren't bringing this up. Damn that liberal media.

[Hamlette]

3. Bush probably wanted to delay it until after

the 9-11 committee report came out.

Now we know why Bush fought so hard against granting the commission an extension. He didn't want them to see Clarke's book?

Wouldn't put it past 'em.

[BOSSHOG]

6. And cheney wants to ensure scalia will hear his case

don't want the American Taxpayers to know what his energy task force did; like:

TAKE THE IRAQI OIL FIELDS BY FORCE IF NECESSARY AND SECURE NO BID CONTRACTS FOR HALLIBURTON - mission accomplished.

It must be a great matter of pride to do stuff you don't want anyone to know about.

[skypilot]

5. Am I missing something?

As damning as the book has turned out to be, who in the White House would have approved it?

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Because Clarke

worked on national security, by law he had to have his book cleared for sensitive information.

However, I doubt if W read the book, since he doesn't read anything or who knows if he even knew about it, since no one is allowed to bring him bad news. But Clarke followed the proper procedures before the book was released.

[skypilot]

9. Thanks but that still leaves the question...

Who cleared it? I would think that whoever DID read it would have fought tooth and nail to keep it from getting cleared and published.

[Vickers]

12. The vetting process is only to ensure that no classified material...

...is disclosed in the book.

And besides, who knows how much was removed or "tweaked" under the blanket of "national security" ?

[kiahzero]

13. No, because then he could have sued

A Supreme Court case (it'd get there pretty quick) would draw more attention to the book, plus the Admin would probably lose (Executive priviledge doesn't cover simple embarrasment of the government).

[skypilot]

14. So, they were screwed no matter what, it seems.

Good.

[rucky]

7. Let's not forget that

it was the Bush Admin that kept putting off the hearings. They set the timing of all this, not Clarke's publisher.

[Bozita]

11. White House had the manuscript for three months