It Doesn't Matter Whether Clarke Lied Then or Now

[Cary]

This is an ad hominem--a classic fallaceous argument.

Clarke can be a compulsive liar for all I care. If he lied about anything, the lie doesn't change the issues and the issues could not be more critical.

We're deciding whether we want to continue the strategic errors of the neo-con agenda for the next four years. Do we want to re-elect President Cheney?

What's more interesting about the Pukes' response, of course, is how aggressively they are attacking Clarke, rather than making their case for their neo-con strategy.

[Blue_Roses]

1. It is

true that it is a "fallaceous argument," however, it still doesn't change the fact that it has opened a can of worms that will be hard to put the lid on. Look at how Rice is under pressure to testify now--even though she will probably side-step the truth.

[rucky]

2. Of course it matters

If he lied, our case is weakened & his credibility is shot. Just like all the other liars in Washington. Then all we can do is point out the hypocricy of liars calling liars liars. From the typical voter's perspective, that's no reason to go to the polls & vote Bush out of office.

But I don't think he lied, and it's not helpful to assume he has - even for a hypothetical. Sen. Graham agrees & he was there for the first round of testimony.

[Cary]

5. Why should our credibility depend on Clarke's?

He's one of them! He's a Puke.

And our argument is not weakened by any lies he may have told. If he did lie, it doesn't mean that all of his testimony is a lie.

[rucky]

7. So if he's not a liar, we'll adopt him as our own

but if he is, we'll give him back to the 'pukes?

this is an immature game of double standards our leaders are playing. Kerry's smart to stay out of this one.

If we just scrutinized people in a fair & unbiased manner, we'd be winning the partisan wars without even trying.

[Cary]

8. Not a game, Rucky.

What's the truth? It doesn't depend on Clarke and they shouldn't be able to discredit us that way.

[John BigBootay]

9. He said he voted for Gore

And his political contributions have all gone to Dems.

[Warpy]

3. What matters is the total agreement

....among everyone who has left the Bush appointistration: that they are ideologues who are blinded to reality, that they cherrypick, manipulate, or ignore facts to fit the agenda, that they are incapable of change when failures occur, that they viciously attack anyone who brings unpleasant information to their attention.

It doesn't matter whether or not Clarke was blowing sunshine up their butts when he was part of the team. What matters is the chorus of people who have left, and their unanimity of opinion.

[BillZBubb]

4. But how do we get John Q. Public to realize this?

The Bush* cabal has successfully serially neutralized all the insiders. The public has a short memory which makes matters worse.

[Cary]

6. This is the point I was trying to make.