[Wolfstar]

I'm getting the impression that Clarke is a dupe who has joined up with the less than adequate Kerry campaign with perhaps some promise of the future.

Actually, cynic that I am, I believe the book deal was a bribe by another name — a bribe to induce him to damage the Bush admin to coincide both with these hearing and the upcoming election. A disgruntled former employee with a huge ego is a perfect target for a bribe — er, a book deal. Washington is awash in very big money from a variety of sources who want to defeat GWB. Look at the lengths the jihadists went to in Spain to defeat Aznar's party. We need to understand that there's more than one or two ways to make a "campaign contribution."

[Spotsy]

Actually, cynic that I am, I believe the book deal was a bribe by another name — a bribe to induce him to damage the Bush admin to coincide both with these hearing and the upcoming election. A disgruntled former employee with a huge ego is a perfect target for a bribe — er, a book deal.

Someone needs to check out whether Clarke's standard of living has improved significantly - just how much did he get in this book deal?