WTF, Cleland off of 9/11 commission??

[dansolo]

This is from Bob Novak's column dated 8/11/2003:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak10.html

Republican members of the special 9/11 investigating commission were delighted to lose former Sen. Max Cleland as a colleague when he accepted President Bush's appointment as a Democratic director of the Export-Import Bank, a full-time job.
----

I find this very disturbing. I don't know what the significance of the Export-Import Bank job is, but I am suprised that Cleland would fall for an obvious ploy to get him off of the commission. I am suspicious of any job that Bush would give to a Democrat in favor of one of his buddies.

[goobergunch]

1. The commission website still lists Cleland as a member

http://www.9-11commission.gov/about/bios.htm

[Bushfire]

2. Daschle to pick successor

"Bipartisanship at the commission is unlikely to improve, however. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle will select Cleland's successor, and he will not pick anyone who is soft on President Bush."

We'll have to keep a close eye on this.

[goobergunch]

3. Daschle ought to name a DUer

:evilgrin:

[screembloodymurder]

10. That makes me suspicious of

Daschle.

[berry]

4. Since Daschle gets to choose his replacement on the 9-11 investigation,

maybe now is the time to send suggestions to Daschle--someone who is up to speed, who knows a lot already. If we could get together on this, and then all write to Daschle, maybe it won't be so bad to lose Cleland.

I suppose he may need the job at Ex-Im? And maybe he only left after being assured that Daschle would choose someone tough? We don't know the whole story--but I'm glad Novak let this out. We can keep an eye on what will happen next, and maybe even get a word in....

[grasswire]

5. argghhh!!

The post at the bank is a sop to keep Cleland quiet. So obvious!!

Karl Rove, take a bow!

[w4rma]

7. Yup (n/t)

[elfin]

9. Yep - they bought him off

He just went down many points in my book.

[KC]

6. My suggestion

Paul Thompson. :)
I can't think of anyone who has researched and put more time
in, investigating what happened on 9-11

KC

[Abe Linkman]

8. Too much of a LIHOPper, at best.

From everything I've read, he doesn't question some of the basic premises such as whether or not any Arabs were conscious participants in 9/11 actions. He's too much of a "mainstream" "investigator" in my opinion.

[CBHagman]

11. Actually, that's not the impression I had.

There was a fair amount of coverage of Cleland's comments as a member of the 9/11 commission. I also heard some of his questions at the public hearing. He was pretty tough.