Live Thread - September 11 Commission, Day 2, Wednesday, March 24, 2004

CSPAN 3, CBS webfeed ^ | March 24, 2004

[Jewels1091]

This is even more sickening than the impeachment vote in congress when every democrats screamed at the top of their lungs and said really nasty things.

[Jewels1091]

This is even more sickening than the impeachment vote in congress when every democrats screamed at the top of their lungs and said really nasty things.

[Toespi]

Maybe he "works" for our international enemies. Don't be surprised.

[jackbill]

What you are saying now is that if Stephanopholous gave a background interview on behalf of Clinton, then bashed Clinton, Clinton has the authorization to order it released?

Absolutely. The President is the boss.

[HarryCaul]

Even if Fox stole it from Clarke's briefcase THATS NOT THE STORY.

Good lord, no wonder spinmeisters have it so easy. People are so easily distracted.

[freeperfromnj]

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

It should play out with the dismantling of this commission and these hearings being thrown out.

[GOPrincess]

It's become obvious to me today that this commission is just the usual partisan battling...not a real quest for the "truth."

[texasbluebell]

Kerry's remark about Fox News will be the only thing that the other networks carry about the transcript.

If so, it's more publicity for Fox! Remember the saying, even bad publicity is fine, just spell the name right.

[CyberAnt]

Does anybody think the dems are blackmailing Clarke into doing this hit on Bush for them .. because of something the dems might know about Clarke's personal life. He's very chummy with Beers .. what do we know about Beers?? Hmmmm? This could be a hornet's nest!!

[dogbyte12]

I said I was done, but let me just reply to your one point. McClellan has two levels of briefings. One on the record, one off the record.

On the off the record briefing, the press says "White House Sources say", or the administration thinks... etc.

Basically, it is an anon briefing. If they wanted to be quoted on the record, they would have gone on the record. The concept that a person giving something off the record, can later be payed back by the White House, by giving up his anonymity, without his/her consent, is chilling to me.

Any whistleblower in any administration will stop saying anything meaningful to the press even off the record, if they know that they actually don't have any confidentiality. Their words are entirely the property of the President, to be used against them at a later time. Yes, this damages Clarke, but I think that isn't an important enough issue to go across this murky line.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with giving background information. To sweep Clarke's prior comments under the proverbial rug is exercising journalistic dishonesty. FOX had every right to go right to the source to ask for permission to use the tape.

[OXENinFLA]

Didn't Clinton sign an EXEC-order NOT to kill any foreign leaders, and Bush rescinded it?

[pghkevin]

should have followed up with one question.... So this entire hearing is about politics and not morality (truth)?

[gswilder]

If it damages Fox, so what? They'll still be # 1, and their audience will grow. This was backgrond. It shows Clark is lying then or now. The other media who were there had this too. If it had been something damaging to Bush, they would have release it for the "public interest".

[ReleaseTheHounds]

People don't go "on background" with a pool of reporters!

[MamaLucci]

This is war, and we have some of our own smearing to do.

Agree, totally, and our side had better gird for battle.
If this hearing is any indication, we are in trouble.

[Maigrey]

But it's too early to have any lasting damage.

Polls don't mean crap until September/October. By then, Clarke will be on the discount rack, and someone else will be whining in print form.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, if Steffie, as an employee of the White House, gave a background briefing that directly contradicted his later statements, the Clinton White House could ethically release the briefing.

When you work for the White House, you speak with the voice of the White House. And the White House controls all the information eminating from it, both background and public.

This is similar to corporations reminding you that whatever work you do for them is their property. Same principle.

[WestCoastGal]

This is so disgusting, I have to keep saying it. While they are doing their partisan hack routine and the 9-11 group are laughing and applauding the terrorists are still plotting another attack!! We don't have the time to go over & over the past........we need to go forward and stop making fools of ourselves on worldwide TV!!

[CyberAnt]

I wonder if these are the same 9/11 family members who were paid by the Kerry camp to go on TV and complain about the Bush ads. I don't think a yes answer to this question would surprise me.