Russert interview w/ Clarke will tell the tale

[aldebaran]

If he tries to beat him up, it will signal business as usual. However, if he is sympathetic, as I suspect he will be, the signal will be that the media has turned. That those pulling the switches are pulling the plug on the administration that they installed.
Just my opinion, of course, but it seems the shift began once they had an acceptable establishment candidate in Kerry.

By the way, I've despised the Bushes ever since poppy ran the CIA. And I still have, and will unfortunately have to use again, an ABB yard sign I made for the 1992 election.

[cal04]

1. NPR's talk with Clarke

Good interview, says they should declassify more documents not only the ones they are asking for.

Richard Clarke, the former Bush adviser who has said the president's emphasis on Iraq undermined U.S. anti-terror efforts, says he welcomes a Republican suggestion to declassify documents from his days on the Bush team. Clarke says he wants to "stimulate the public debate" on how the U.S. government is doing in the war on terrorism. NPR's Libby Lewis reports. March 27, 2004

http://news.npr.org

[frank frankly]

2. I am very hopeful that clarke can handle russert

i think if timmy tries to do his typical horseshit, clarke will crush him. looking very forward to it.

and i agree with you that it will serve as a good indicator of our lousy whore media...

[Kathy in Cambridge]

19. He crushed Charlie Rose and other interviewers

can't wait to see him steamroll over Timmy.

[rumguy]

3. Who else is on?

Will the WH be sending someone to smear him after he's done?

[Renew Deal]

6. Clarke will also be on CNN with Wolf tomorrow

He can slap back at the mid-day spin. Then he will be on Hardball on Monday. More slapping for Clarke.

[kaitykaity]

4. The oligarchs pulling the plug on their little fascist?

Who'da thunk it?

[H2O Man]

5. The bush family connections with intel

go much farther back than bush's short stint as head of CIA. Two things: first, the intel community is strongly opposed to this administration, for reasons including the war on Iraq instead of on "terrorism," the Wilson incident, and this crap involving the attempted distruction of Clarke; and second, the interests behind bush are hardly favoring Kerry. That position is rather easily exposed as inaccurate by Kerry's role in the Iran-Contra scandal.

[aldebaran]

7. This goes beyond loyalty to bushes

Its about loyalty to money, and the true power in this country got into bed with the bushes because they thought their money would benefit. Little did they know what fiscal diaster would be wrought, and they are saying goodbye.

As I said, the way Russert treats Clarke will either validate this theory, or discredit it.

[RedSock]

8. daily show

and on the daily show monday 11pm

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

26. & on Chris Matthews..Monday? I think Condi is on 60 Minutes

....does the Daily Show repeat?

[Narraback]

28. Yes. 6:00 Eastern the next day...

nt

[jean]

9. Clarke has been called a pile driver and a steam roller...

but he sure is measured and effective in what he says and does.

Russert always looks hypertensive and red in the face. Interviewing the pile driver may cause Russert's head to finally implode.

With Richard Clarke, it's all in his eyes.

[Junkdrawer]

10. Clarke handled Larry King masterfully...

When King started by grilling him on the "discrepancies" in his different statements, Clarke said:

"Before I answer your question, and I will, I'd like to point out that these are the very types of questions the Administration uses to prevent my main message - that Iraq was unnecessary and counter productive - from being discussed. Now, as for the discrepancies..."

By the end, even the panel's Republican was behind Clarke.

[stopbush]

11. I expect Potato Boy (Russert) to eat a huge Taco Bell breakfast with a

prune juice chaser right before the Clarke interview. That will insure his trademark "I've got one helluva case of diarrhea, but I've got to hold it in while I interview you" look.

He really is a national treasure, isn't he? Russert, I mean.

OK, Not. :)

[ezee]

21. Icant stop laughing

I can just see him crossing his legs so he wont pee

[sadiesworld]

12. I put my money on Russert going after Clarke like a rabid dog.

To no avail, but he will try. Wes Clark made Russert look like an idiot and so will Richard Clarke. The only concern is how badly other media sources will spin it.

[Leilani]

13. I think Russert will be his usual self

He'll be well prepared & tough on Clarke, & I think Clarke will handle it beautifully.

The 9/11 panel tried to shake Clarke, & he made them look like fools!

[MSgt213]

14. You know what? I actually liked Bush Sr and Barbra

[Bush_Sucks]

15. Ever notice...

Whenever Richard Clarke speaks, there's always a sense of seriousness in the air...Like you always gotta stop what you're doing when he speaks. I feel none of that when Bush, Rummy, Powell, and the rest of those idiots open their mouths.

[aldebaran]

16. Don't get me started on poppy

And Babs? She who doesn't want to "waste her beautiful mind" on things like dead soldiers coming home in body bags?

Sheesh, its like father like son. Your eyes must've been closed in those days.

[MSgt213]

30. No I had them open that's why I can say what I did. You don't notice the

complete difference between the way the Bush Sr treated the press, congress, our allies and the people of this country and the way Bush Jr treats all of us.

[aldebaran]

38. Only because he can, and poppy couldn't

From "voodoo economics" to the original "October Surprise", he's no better than his progeny, he just couldn't get away with it the way jr can because the press wasn't as compliant. whose goons do you think installed jr in the first place?

And, by the way, can you say "Carlyle Group"?

[MSgt213]

41. I would like to know why the press just laid down for Bush. I must admit

I have never seen anything like the way Bush people came in and just controlled the press like they were a government agency. Not only that they controlled congress in much the same way. I can only hope that people are waking up and understanding that it way to dangerous to let any President get away with what they let Bush get away with.

[aldebaran]

42. Probably an extension of clinton impeachment

which they all had quite a giggle over. And they propped up bush during the election, never dreaming he would be so arrogant.

And by the way, despite your admiration for poppy, its encouraging to see a former bush supporter, even if a different one, that sees through this one.

One more thing, though. When you speak of poppy and decency in the same breath- Do you remember willie Horton?

[cboy4]

17. You know what? I actually can't stand

Bush Sr and "Barbra"

(Since you like "Barbra" so much, and most
likely have her on your Christmas card list, you
might wanna start practicing how to spell her
name correctly).

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cboy4]

35. Jerk? Gosh, I'm just trying to protect you...

Since you adore the selected president's
parents so much, I just thought it would be embarrassing
if you misspelled Barbara's name when you send
her your condolences after Kerry beats her son in
November. Then again, maybe you want Bush to win.

[MSgt213]

37. I like the parents not their bratty kid. I retract the jerk remark at any

rate. I'm sorry for stooping that low in the first place. I like the elder Bushes as people and compared to their son their government service was served with honor. That does not translate in my mind as agreeing with their politics or that of their kids.

[TiredTexan]

43. I'm ashamed to say I voted for Bush, Sr.

in 1988. I actually voted for Nixon, Ford, Reagan & Bush I. However, by 1992, I'd figured it out.

As I got older, I realized what they were up to. Please look into Iran Contra as well as the October surprise before you remain a fan of Bush I. It's really appalling.

All of that aside, I would agree that by comparison, Bush I is an angel compared with his spawn.

[H2O Man]

18. This "theory" depends on two things:

First would be evidence that the very rich are being hurt by the economic policies of the bush administration. Second would be some proof that Russert is a puppet for the ultra-rich folks that have put bush into office. I think you may find that the very rich are doing well by bush. If that is true, the theory folds under its own weight. So let's start with the most obvious economic force behind bush: the oil companies. Are they going broke under this administration? Have the rich been denied tax-cuts by bush?

[aldebaran]

24. This is bigger than bush

And the "ultra-rich" will suffer if the whole economy goes down.

Again, just my opinion. I just don't see any way to fight off the ad blitz from the bushes unless the media turns on them, in whih case it doesn't matter how big their "war chest" is.

[KharmaTrain]

20. Clarke's been very well prepared

I wonder who working with Clarke on these appearances. He surely has several media people working with him as to which shows to go on and how to prepare for each one. He's done magnificent on each program I've seen and I sense Russett will give him the same serious hearing the other shows have.

The key was Clarke's 911 testimony. It killed and the media knows it. I'd love to see a poll asking questions about that...see how big the positives were for Clarke. The fact his book is #1 with a bullet on the NYT list is also a solid indicator (wiping out the "Insanitization Of Monkeyland" tour).

The network ulcer-givers are seeing these numbers and want to mine Clarke while he's still gold. Clarke's people know this as well and I'll bet they're very surprised at the shelf-life this story has.

America loves underdogs and Clarke is the current Underdog of the Month...with some huevos to go with them. The Bushbots haven't run up against this type. He's outspinning them with their own words. I love it.

[jpgray]

22. I'm more excited about his Daily Show appearance, frankly

:D

[buycitgo]

23. ;you can be CERTAIN they'll do this:

aholes will pose outrageous questions/statements like Lehman's "you've got a credibility problem"

they will NOT play the responses

then, they'll broadcast them all over the place, all the time, in an attempt to smear him

can't believe that NBC thread that says people aren't believing Clarke, saying he's politically motivated.

did you see that?

[aldebaran]

25. If you're right, we're toast

If I am, then we've got a chance, and a good one at that. I guess we'll see tomorrow.

[kentuck]

27. No doubt Russert will hit him with all barrels....

I hope he is ready to counter.

[mouse7]

31. Russert will be nothing short of brutal

He's going to be assigned tearing Clarke apart, because the WH has failed so miserable in it's attempts to do so.

The first question will be something like this...

Russert: "Mr Clarke, did you molest any children today?

[kentuck]

32. Russert will do exactly what a good reporter should not do...

He will crucify the messenger and let those in authority escape scrutiny for any wrongdoing. And the sad part is, he thinks he is doing a good job.

[LeahMira]

36. Clarke will be ready for Russert

He's going to be assigned tearing Clarke apart, because the WH has failed so miserable in it's attempts to do so.

And you don't think Clarke will be ready for that? He's been around long enough to know what to expect. He's also been around long enough to know how to handle pretty much of anything.

With all the appearances he's been making, I hope Clarke is getting enough rest though. So he can be on his toes.

[LeahMira]

33. Who was that guy...

... who asked Joe McCarthy something like "Have you no decency?" He was the one that finally pulled the plug on all the madness, from what I understand. Clarke reminds me of him, or at least the legend of him (I was a mere child at the time!). IMO, his apology to the families of 9/11 victims ranks right up there with the "Have you no decency?" statement. One day perhaps my grandchild (who is even more of a mere child than I was in the 50s) will hear about "Your country failed you." If he does, I hope it will give him hope for his grandma's homeland.

[JPZenger]

39. Joseph Welch/Edward R. Murrow vs McCarthy

The attorney you mentioned who stood up to Joseph McCarthy was Joseph Welch. You are correct that there are parallels with Richard Clarke.

McCarthy had unfairly attacked and intimidated hundreds of people, but when took on the U.S. Army, he went too far. Pres. Eisenhower proved to be a coward and would not stand up to McCarthy, even when McCarthy attacked George Marshall, one of the greatest generals and diplomats in world history.

Joseph Welch went up to bat against McCarthy and his sleazy staff attorney, Roy Cohn. Welch ripped him a new asshole.

But that was only part of the story. It was Edward R. Murrow who publicized Welch's response and many McCarthy tactics on a nationwide CBS TV broadcast. That is still considered one of the all-time high-points of American journalism - a network and journalists exposing lies and fraud of a very powerful politician, at great risks to their careers.

The public finally understood what had been going on. As a result of this public pressure, McCarthy was censured by the Senate and then died from alcoholism.

http://www.history.ilstu.edu/nhp/civilization/Site/cold_war_welch.html

[judgegina]

34. Clarke will do just fine

with Russert. Clarke is significantly more intelligent. However, NBC definitely is attempting to discredit him. Their lead story tonight was that the Clarke story had not changed the mind of 65% of the voters. Well, goddam, if it has changed the mind of 35% of the voters, then that's huge!

[UTUSN]

40. Even When They Throw Us a Crumb, the Media Doesn't "Turn"

Whether it's G.E.RUSSERT or Tweety------they are NOT our pals, even when they VERY infrequently throw us a crumb. And when and if JK wins, look for the media to be TOUGH on the Dem Admin and all congressional Dems----which they will say is their (newfound) journalistic integrity. You know what that is---what they haven't exercised for the past six years (starting before the FAKE impeachment and deep into Campaign 2000).