Just heard on NPR--Frist wants to go after Clarke for Perjury

[Jacobin]

Announcer just said Frist is thinking of "declassifying" a statement Clarke gave to congress in 2002, and then going after him for perjury because he said the two statements contradict each other.


Hold on to your hats. Gonna be a rough ride.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

1. Fine. Keep Clarke in the headlines.

And keep the subject in the public eye, and keep the media talking about it.

The WH will probably tell Frist to knock it off.

[Jacobin]

6. I hope they do it

Clarke will fry them. He is the best witness I have ever seen.

No political agenda. Just a hacked off American who saw how dirty and incompetent it was on the "inside".

I'm sure he's ready for it and expects it. He's my hero. Love the guy.

Frist is about to step into a hornets nest of outrage from americans.

[SemperEadem]

58. this is going to be such a joy to watch

first, bravado and pride have forced Frist into hysterical mode, defending the dis-honor of Bush's cabal, by threatening Clarke with perjury.

second, Clarke doesn't strike me as someone operating without command of himself and the facts. The rethugs do so in spades these days. Yes, he probably did issue that memo, but I'll bet that it doesn't hardly rise to the level of perjury the way the Bush cabal's antics do. This is going to make Frist look like an hysterical fool with no point.

third, Frist is going to end up falling into hole he's trying to dig for Clarke because Frist is blindly digging where he has no business digging. He's going to end up exposing the Busheviks even more so than if he'd just shut his damn mouth and go find a hobby.

Clarke can't be twisted up by them because he knows way too much and they all know that. Frist will fade with a whimper.

[aquart]

2. Do it, Mr. Frist. Do it.

[eyeontheprize]

3. HOORAY!!!!!!!

Who will manage his legal defense fund, my checkbook is out!

Funny how the veil of secrecy can be lifted to prosecute (persecute?) a new enemy but for no other reason.

[skeptic9]

14. Top law firms would line up to defend him for free. Can you imagine ...

... the millions of dollars worth of free media publicity they'd get?

[Jacobin]

28. Just start a web page for donations and he would get

millions over night for his defense.

Can you imagine what the 9/11 victims families are thinking right now????? Will there be any repukes left among their ranks?

[fob]

15. Hooray! or Whore-y!

hoar·y adj. hoar·i·er, hoar·i·est
1 Gray or white with or as if with age.
2 Covered with grayish hair or pubescence: hoary leaves.
3 So old as to inspire veneration; ancient.

Since Frist is the topic, something with whore seems appropriate, but I can see where a celebratory Hooray!! would make sense.

Just bustin some balls, eye.

Fight the power!
Fight the powers that be!

[eyeontheprize]

39. Well since I didn't mean gray or white with age, I've made the

correction. And learned a new word. Thanks.

[hippiegranny]

4. bring. it. on.

clarke's credibility is not in question. i'm sure he is more than ready for these fucks. he knew what he was getting into.

[59millionmorons]

5. Boy, there internal numbers must be really taking a hit

But let them, Clarke will have all those 911 widows by his side 24/7.

[Ivote]

If they are going to declassify

Clarkes statement, will they also include "Cheneys energy task force", and "The Plame Leaker?"

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

7. bring it on!

I think clarke explained why he had to "color" his report for bully bush! Does frish really believe he could speak out against the chimp back in 02?

[RandomKoolzip]

8. I'd like to go after Frist cuz of his hair....

Jesus man, the Hugh Beaumont part went out around 1960!

Frist is a fucking joke. When I lioved in Nashville, there were all sorts of articles in the local press detailng how the cat-killer didn't even know which party he was going to belong to even when he dedcided to run for office! A stunningly ignorant man. He supposedly didn't even read the paper before his run.

Strangely enough, now he's a republican. And being a republican doesn't require that you know anything about politics, just about how to make money.

[FrankBooth]

9. He'll just threaten

this is a tactic only. No way he's going to open up that can of worms - they'll just threaten so it appears they have something on Clarke, but they won't ever follow through.

[RoundRockD]

17. Good!

I hope he does. It will expose all of the lies and manipulations that go on in politics. Frist and everybody else knows that Clarke was spinning for his boss. The media and the politicians are once again faking their shock at what goes on in politics.

[indie_voter]

20. Clarke needs to get out there and say "BRING IT ON"

It puts the pressure back on Frist to put up or shut up.

[eyeontheprize]

40. Didn't Pearl say he was going to sue someone?

And later say "never mind"?

[Dover]

10. Interesting how they are more than willing to declassify sensitive info

when it serves their own defense, but unwillingly to do the same when others are probing their activities...

[Mattforclark]

11. Sounds good to me!

I would very much like to know the truth, and anything that will help us get down to that is quite welcome, Mr. Frist.

[papau]

12. Peter Gross is pushing the idea - except their really isn't any perjury -

just trying to get a smear in for the weekend.

And will our US Media refuse to be used to spread a no data smear by the GOP of a government worker?

I suggest not betting the rent money on the ethics of the US Media.

[bicentennial_baby]

Here's the link:

WASHINGTON - In a highly unusual move, key Republicans in Congress are seeking to declassify testimony that former White House terrorism adviser Richard Clarke gave in 2002 about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Friday.

Frist said the intent was to determine whether Clarke lied under oath — either in 2002 or this week — when he appeared before a bipartisan Sept. 11 commission and sharply criticized President Bush (news - web sites)'s handling of the war on terror.

"Until you have him under oath both times you don't know," Frist said.

One Republican aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the request had come from House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Rep. Porter Goss, the chairman of the House intelligence committee.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=1&u=/ap/20040326/ap_on_go_co/clarke_congress

[Jacobin]

21. Thanks for the link

Maybe we should start a petition drive to declassify ALL the forking documents, since it is apparent that there is no necessity for keeping them secret....if it's ok to use them to discredit a person who challenges the administration, they must not be too sensitive, now should they.

[tnlefty]

36. Petition drive and a new website: billfristisapunk.com

I'll bet the 9/11 families and the commission would like to get a lot of documents out in the open.

[Jacobin]

43. I liked your idea so much that I just registered the name!!

billfristisapunk.com


Now, if anyone has some web designing time on their hands, and will a little web hosting money, we could do something to help this patriot.

Anyone?

[notadmblnd]

61. I got some money

how much?

[bicentennial_baby]

13. Dupe post sorry

[Beetwasher]

16. Empty Threat

It will never happen...

[supernova]

18. New Pew Research Poll re: Clarke on NPR this am

about 90% of the respondents said they were very aware and at least aware of Clarke, the book, and the allegations against *.

I'm paraphrasing here, the person announcing the poll results said that it was unusual to have the public be so aware so quickly of an issue and the person associated with it.

So the American public is paying attention much more than usual. Cool! I'll see if I can find the link. I was half-awake when I hard the story.

edit: Here's the link:

A separate Pew survey of 1,065 Americans, conducted March 22-24, shows that criticisms lodged by former White House counter-terrorism aide Richard Clarke are drawing significant public interest. About four-in-ten Americans (42%) say they have heard "a lot" about Clarke's claim that the president ignored serious warnings prior to the Sept. 11 attacks and 47% say they have heard "a little" about his claims. Just 10% say they have heard nothing at all about Clarke's criticisms. The story is attracting comparable levels of interest among Republicans and Democrats.

more at http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=207

[indie_voter]

19. I hope he does. Clarke is no idiot, he wouldn't lie under oath. (nt)

[tom_paine]

22. Do it, Frist. Open that can of worms

That Commission would NEVER go further without prodding, so I'd love to see a Bsuhevik Shtiplie be the one who tipped 'em over into the "treason" zone.

[Sparkly]

23. They won't do it.

I think they're just making noises to discredit Clarke, implying perjury. There's no way going after Clarke would do anything but shed more light and attention on what he's saying, so they won't actually do it, imo -- but this gives them some soundbytes about how they *could* have but *didn't* go after him, out of high motives about respecting the process or the families or whatever...

[Beetwasher]

27. Exactly!

n/t

[Cocoa]

24. just like with O'Neill

it's the crime gang thing, you can't let people think they can cross you.

[NewJeffCT]

31. somebody else posted this on O'Neill

It took the White House 74 days to announce an investigation into the outing of a key CIA WMD operative in Valerie Plame by somebody in the White House... but, it took them 1 day to announce an investigation into if O'Neill took classified documents.

[Jacobin]

32. Clarke has struck what could be a mortal blow to the monsters

in the WH.

I don't think they will go down quietly, even if they finish themselves off in the process. They are a criminal gang and normal modes of operation (like self preservation) do not seem to be in their playbook. They are all about threats, violence, intimidation, loyalty and death to anyone who questions them, regardless of the consequences to themselves.

At least, IMHO

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

55. The Dems should call their bluff

and say well if you got the evidence let's do it...

[madrchsod]

25. ya right

it will never happen-to go after him opens a whole new can o` worms for bush. clarke can tell everything he can`t now because of classified info will be opened up in court...plus any court action wouldn`t start untill next year..bush has more to worry about with the plame investigation. if there are indictments bush can`t hide behind anyone or anything. it`s just another talking point for the right wing radio..

[CBHagman]

26. Frist's office phone number is 202-224-3344

Just in case you want to share the LOVE. :evilgrin:

[Jacobin]

30. ooooo, thanks for that!!!

My fingers are punching the buttons now!!

:-)

[ibegurpard]

29. I'm all for that

as long as Condoleeza Rice agrees to testify under oath.

[swinney]

33. Condi GW Cheney Rummy indict them for lying

They were biggies at lying table.

Frist is not stupid. That would be a tempest for certain.

[Brotherjohn]

34. If they prove Clarke commited perjury in 2002, it will likely also prove..

...that any number of Bush administration officials also committed perjury.

As he said, he was sticking to the party line in 2002, b/c he was still on the WH payroll.

Bring it on!

[Zero Gravitas]

35. Bring. It. On!

Clarke has more credibility than the entire Chimp Administration and the GOP congressional "leadership" combined. The more dirty tactics they employ, the more people realize what a bunch of slimeballs these creeps are.

[Beetwasher]

37. YAHOO LINK TO STORY: GET THIS!!!

"Frist disclosed the effort to declassify Clarke's testimony in remarks on the Senate floor, then talked with reporter. He said he personally didn't know whether there were any discrepancies between Clarke's two appearances."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20040326/ap_on_go_co/clarke_congress

Folks, this is nothing but bluster! I can practically guarantee there's no discrepancies between the two appearances. No way in hell their gonna pursue this!

[eyeontheprize]

42. Is there some immunity from slander or libel for the things

said on the floor by a Member of Congress? That could explain the hedge when he had to take responsibility for his words.

[Beetwasher]

46. Can You Clarify?

Whose "hedge" are you talking about?

[eyeontheprize]

48. Frist's hedge.

He was full of bravado on the senate floor but once off he wasn't sure there even was a problem, He said he personally didn't know whether there were any discrepancies between Clarke's two appearances."

[Beetwasher]

49. Yeah, it's pretty pathetic!

I don't think there's any immunity for congressmen if they slander someone.

BTW, welcome to DU!

[Junkdrawer]

45. Yep. It's the old "we got the evidence, but we're too nice to prosecute"..

smear. Let's see them open up hearings to take Clarke down. Never happen.

[SemperEadem]

62. Dag! where do I start ripping Frist to shreds?

"Mr. Clarke has told two entirely different stories under oath," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said in a speech on the Senate floor. "


Mr. Bush told a bold faced lie to the American people and knows he did because just about one year to the day later, he is so comfortable in his own arrogance that he can joke casually in front of a bunch of media complicitors at an annual dinner in Washington, D.C. because HE KNEW no one would have the balls to register offense. That picture, alone, is a sick display of what is wrong with America today. (BTW--is there a picture of that dinner anywhere on the web?) Anyone who laughed at that joke is guilty of treason in my book.


"The Tennessee Republican said he hopes Clarke's testimony in July 2002 before the House and Senate intelligence committees can be declassified. Then, he said, it can be compared with the account the former aide provided in his nationally televised appearance Wednesday before the bipartisan commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Along with Clarke's statements, all statements should be declassified so that ALL accounts can be compared and the American people, who the rethugs have expoited on the 'lie' tip for 6 years running, can once and for all look at the truth with sober, adult reasoning and not the emotionally whipped up lather of immature, ignorant, religious intolerance and fear.

<snip>

In his testimony, Clarke said that while the Clinton administration had "no higher priority" than combatting terrorists, Bush made it "an important issue but not an urgent issue" in the eight months between the time he took office and the Sept. 11 attacks.

Clarke also testified that the invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) had undermined the war on terror.

Why is it that Frist and his vile pack always seem to forget how they blocked Clinton's efforts to deal with terrorism? Why is it that he forgets that the bombers of the first WTC are in prison and with the second one, the factions have grown like cancer in every corner of the world in a very, very short amount of time. It's the new millenium version of communism and we can thank Bush for throwing fertilizer all over it.

In a sharply worded speech, Frist said that Clarke himself was "the only common denominator" across 10 years of terrorist attacks that began with the first attack on the World Trade Center.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108854.html
oh, no he didn't... I see a lot of people who fall under "common denominator"--they were around in the past 10 years, Frist included--and they fall under the category of not making terrorism more of an important issue--they were more interested in where Clinton put the cigar.

Additionally, he accused Clarke of "an appalling act of profiteering" by publishing a book that relied on access to insider information relating to the worst terrorist attacks in the nation's history.

And Halliburton is....?

He also accused him of making a "theatrical apology" to the families of the terrorist victims at the outset of his appearance on Wednesday, saying it was not "his right, his privilege or his responsibility" to do so.

Damn! At least someone in that Political Babylon they call "Inside the Beltway" has the stones to man-up and apologize for failing to adequately protect them. Their president sure isn't going to cough up an apology. The vp would sooner shoot the victims' families between the eyes and step over their bodies than to take responsibility for his rapacious greed and avarice, which has caused countless more people to be slaughtered.

And privalege? That sounds a bit monarchist to me.


"Mr. Clarke can and will answer for his own conduct — but that is all," he said.

I doubt Mr. Clarke has anything to fear.

One Republican aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the initial request for declassification was made by House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Rep. Porter Goss, the chairman of the House intelligence committee.

Frist, without elaborating, said Clarke's testimony in 2002 was "effusive in his praise for the actions of the Bush administration."

Yeah, and if Frist cared to take notice back then, everyone was being forced into the goosestep by the RW media---if you didn't want an avalanche of phone calls or life-threatening mail or email sent to you by RWnuts with a thread-thin hold on reality, you pretty much towed the line and bided your time. duh... that's what we've been talking about on DU since the election was stolen. What was it we were told? Move on.. we're belaboring a dead point? uh huh..

Frist also noted that Clarke, appearing as an anonymous official, had praised the administration's actions in an appearance before White House reporters in 2002.

yeah, it's called the daily press briefing--Ari Fleischer did it before Scott McClellan, who does it every gottamn day with an attitude like he just farted and everyone has to smell it.

Clarke on Wednesday dismissed that appearance as the fulfillment of the type of request that presidential appointees frequently receive.

But, Frist said, "Loyalty to any administration will be no defense if it is found that he has lied to Congress."

May we quote you on that when your turn comes?

No immediate information was available on how the declassification process works, but one GOP aide said the CIA (news - web sites) and perhaps the White House would play a role in determining whether to make the testimony public.

Well, if that's the case, this isn't going anywhere. Frist is going to be told to shut up and sit down.

Without mentioning the congressional Republicans' effort, White House spokesman Scott McClellan continued the administration's criticism of Clarke on Friday. "With every new assertion he makes, every revision of his past comments, he only further undermines his credibility," McClellan told reporters.

Yeah, Scott, but isn't Condi Rice doing a great impersonation of Clarke on the morning shows she seems to have the time to talk to, but not Congress? A month ago, she was sure of a lot of things that now she's not so sure of.

Asked about Bush's personal reaction to the criticism from a former White House aide, McClellan said, "Any time someone takes a serious issue like this and revises history it's disappointing."

I know, dude, it's a bitch when fundamentalists take the bible and twist it into what it's not and then use that as a weapon to force those of us with the free will God gave us all into a religious submission that has no direction and no purpose except to line the pockets of the Busheviks at the expense, the rights and the lives of the people... and hijacking the constitution in the process.

[Puglover]

38. Wow...I heard the Humane Society wants

to go after Billy Boy for killing cats. :) They really are desperate aren't they?
The repugs I mean, not the humane society.

[bobbyboucher]

41. These guys must be gluttons for punishment.

Are they masochists? I think I'll call Fristy and implore them to "go after this guy", maybe, just maybe, they are that fucking stupid.

[Thew]

44. When Frist backs down...

...it might be a good idea for Dem leadership to continue to push this; to call the bluff. Republicans shouldn't be able to insinuate that Clarke committed perjury then let the story quietly die.

[Vickers]

47. They don't want to declassify this to see if he perjured himself

They can do that without declassifying and releasing the statement. Remember? They have secret, closed-door *cough Condi Rice cough cough* elements of this Commission. No need to declassify stuff.

No, these scumbags just want to embarrass and hound him. It will backfire.

Mr. Clarke is a tough cookie. He has been in the bureaucratic trenches for THREE DECADES and I'm sure he is well-prepared for this.

[gasperc]

53. we should leverage this to get EVERYTHING declassified

let's get to work!!!

email senators, congresspeople!!!!11

:kick:

[BigBigBear]

50. Great stuff !!!

Declassify the whole drawer and subpoena Rice.

Gloves off, let's rumble.

[gasperc]

51. we want to go after Rumsfeld, Rice, Armitage, Cheney, Bush, Delay

Hey, Frist our list is bigger so FUCK OFF

[gasperc]

52. Frist"here you said the Taliban but here you some Taliban..Perjury!!!"

oh...they...are...really...starting...to...intimidate...us
oh...no...I'm...scared

[buycitgo]

54. MSNBC is running the story right now

talking about Frist making speech, showing it

did frist borrow Lott's hair hat, btw?

mentioned how they want to declassify the documents to compare statements, in order to go after him for perjury

also talking about condi not testifying under oath

MSNBC question of the day:

"should Rice, once and for all, testify PUBLICLY under oath?"

they want email....didn't catch it

[jobycom]

56. Doubt it. He just wants to APPEAR to feel that Clarke is lying

The last thing these guys want is an investigation into who is telling the truth. But if enough Repubs can scream and act outraged while claiming Clarke is lying, perhaps it will stop some bleeding until Bush can orchestrate his next cover-up story and people will forget. The opinion as it forms now is everything. They want the opinion to form that Clarke is untrustworthy.

Funny thing, though. If they prove Clarke perjured himself in 2002, they prove his statements now are true... No way they take that chance. It's a smear, like they did to O'neal on the classified docs.

[emulatorloo]

57. This is a big mistake for Frist - Does he really want to go there?

So Clarke in 2002 is a big liar, loyal to the admin huh? This is not going to work out well for them. . .see Frist quotes below. . .GOP is in for trouble w this one

<snip>

Clarke on Wednesday told a commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks that the Bush administration in its first eight months in office regarded terrorism as "not an urgent issue" -- a charge the White House has hotly denied.

Said Frist, "It is one thing for Mr. Clarke to dissemble in front of the media ... but if he lied under oath to the United States Congress it is a far, far more serious matter."

"The (House of Representatives) intelligence committee is seeking to have Mr. Clarke's testimony declassified, to actually permit an examination of Mr. Clarke's two differing accounts. Loyalty to any administration will be no defense if it is found he lied," Frist said.

<snip>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040326/pl_nm/security_congress_dc&e=1

[Unknown Known]

59. While you're at it, Bill, let's declassify all the 911 & Iraq documents

Clarke said at the hearing that he knew what he was in for when he decided to come forward. He worked for Reagan & Bush I - he certainly knows to what lengths they will go to smear their enemies.

Bring it on, Bill:nuke:

[JCMach1]

60. Let's see that would give lawyers (DEM ones) the power to subpoena

everyone... including Bush...

I think Clarke would be saying... BRING IT ON!!!

[Woodstock]

63. Let's take Lying Loyal Frist at his word

Frist said, ``Loyalty to any administration will be no defense if it is found that he has lied to Congress.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3907093,00.html

Then he's next on the chopping block. Condi, Rummy, Powell... Let the procession begin.

[ElementaryPenguin]

64. This clinched the election for Kerry!!!!

:bounce:
:toast: