[Coop]

Honestly, I can't even get worked up over this one. The Chairman excused them (Kerrey for certain, anyway), so any criticism should be leveled at Kean, not Kerrey or Hamilton. But it sounds as if it was handled appropriately.

[Miss Marple]

Well, I am not exactly incensed. However, it does show that this is not necessarily their number one priority.

[r9etb]

But it sounds as if it was handled appropriately.

You're probably correct. What's interesting to me is Tom Kean -- they asked to leave and he let them go, probably in full knowledge that this sort of publicity is what would happen.

Kerrey's been a real pain in the butt, showboating and preening. He needed to be slapped down -- how better than to allow him do something that's obviously stupid, and thereby slap himself down?

[bondjamesbond]

Honestly, I can't even get worked up over this one. The Chairman excused them (Kerrey for certain, anyway), so any criticism should be leveled at Kean, not Kerrey or Hamilton. But it sounds as if it was handled appropriately.

This walkout was a gift. It discredited two of the most partisan Democrats on the Commission and guaranteed that the story over the next couple of days would be their silly walk-out, not any potential "gotcha" from the meeting. I am sure the President was only too happy to see them leave early.

Stategery...