David Gergen just said on Hardball...

[slor]

That he does not believe Richard Clarke is being partisan or trying to sell books, and he said, "Listen, when the plane was headed towards the White House, and everybody else ran, he stayed, he put his life on the line" It was great!

[grytpype]

1. Gergen is an old-line conservative...

... like Broder. Not one of the thieves/nitwits running the country now.

[BootinUp]

2. Yes it was

The Hardball show wasn't too bad, but I am getting sick of all the slamming of Clinton, when the record shows he was agressive on al Qaeda. The only thing he didn't do was go to full blown war in Afghanistan for crisakes. And there was no way the country was ready for that.

[chelaque liberal]

23. The logic of 9/11 being Clinton's fault

Arguing that 9/11 was Clinton's fault because he didn't go to war against Afghanistan and take out bin Laden assumes that action would have ended all hostility toward American policies. There is not reason to believe that would have "ended terrorism" any more than capturing Saddam did.

It also assumes that Clinton could have gotten support for such aggressive action without having had "another Pearl Harbor" (PNAC's words),in the "bring down Clinton at any cost" atmosphere that existed at the time.

[salinen]

3. I have alway liked Gergen

don't tell anybody.

[sendero]

5. Snicker :)

I agree. Well, maybe "like" is too strong. But I respect him. More than I can say for 90% of so-called conservatives in politics and punditry now.

[Piperay]

22. Well...

he did work for Clinton, so no need to be embarassed about liking him. :-)

[kskiska]

4. Saw that.

Unfortunately, no one got the chance to respond to Gergen. Rational remarks are always left hanging.

[calimary]

13. GOOD! That is GOOD! Is that the last comment they left off with before

the break? WAS it left hanging there - unanswered and more importantly, UNCHALLENGED? It is ALWAYS strategically wise to get the last word. To be the last one heard. THAT'S what everybody goes away with. What they heard LAST.

[kskiska]

17. Yeah, you're right

I'd just like to see them with their mouths hanging open, sputtering an ineffectual answer. Doesn't happen often enough, though.

[BabsSong]

6. HELLO--there's the soundbite we need "they ran and he put his life

on the line". That would shut all the fuckers up. Come on Dem talking heads, use that line over and over and over.

[RoundRockD]

12. I've always thought that Gergen was fair.

At least he tries to be fair which is more than I can say for most of the pundits on cable.

[ezee]

14. Not only did they run

but he took over when little prince Georgie was hiding in some air force hanger and then under a mountain, peeing his pants!

[RapidCreek]

20. You'll never hear it again.

RC

[calimary]

7. No shit. AMAZING. David Gergen gonna write a book?

He's certainly got the same range of observational/participational experience as Clarke - working for republi-CON presidents and ONE Democrat - Clinton. So he's seen both sides and both ends.

He said that? Well, well, well.

[calimary]

9. And yes, it's a HELLUVA buzz phrase!

Should be on bumper stickers and posters all over the country, from coast to coast.

[kskiska]

18. He's has.

Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton

[Catherine Vincent]

8. I saw a portion when Gergen was on too.

I couldn't believe he was saying the things he said. Even though he worked for Clinton half the time, he was still a conservative republican to me. I believe Gergen trusts Clarke and believes him.

[k in IA]

15. He always seems fair and measured to both sides. He is credible.

You don't have to agree with him all the time but you know he is not trying to just score cheap partisan shots for either side.

[aquart]

10. Good way to put it.

Clarke's a Republican. I may rarely agree with how he sees things. But he didn't hesitate to do his best at the worst moment.

As opposed to Chicken George.

[aquart]

11. Good way to put it.

Clarke's a Republican. I may rarely agree with how he sees things. But he didn't hesitate to do his best at the worst moment.

As opposed to Chicken George.

[Minstrel Boy]

16. Gergen's a decent man.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I think you can just tell that about some people.

Yes, he's a conservative and a Republican, but old school. Serious disagreement was possible without demonization.

[DeepModem Mom]

19. kick

[RapidCreek]

21. Aside from that I thought he was pretty lame

Why do all these folks avoid the nitty gritty. Dates, Times, Places...who whas there and what was said. All they chatter about is perception...and perception is vapor in the wind.

RC