Posted on 07/20/2004 4:43:44 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Is there anyone more annoying than ultimate-establishment guy David Gergen, the man who has worked for four or five presidents, including Bill Clinton?
There he was on Today this morning, defending former Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger who has been accused of taking classified documents from the National Archives. And what was the source of Gergen's knowledge of the subject? He repeatedly made reference to statements made by "close associates" of . . . Berger! In other words, Gergen was nothing more than a shill for the Berger/Dem party line.
In fairness to Today, they led the show with this issue, and reported that the documents illegally taken were "highly critical reviews of Clinton admin handling of the "millenium threat" - Al Qaeda plans to attack the US.
That didn't deter Gergen, who began by claiming that "it's more innocent than it looks. Berger would never do anything to compromise national security. He is one of the heroes of this country in heading off terrorists attacks in 2000."
Amazingly, Katie responded with sarcastic incredulity: "If he was such a hero in stopping the 2000 attacks, why was the document he took so critical of Clinton admin handling of those threats?"
Gergen claimed that he took only copies of the originals and the the originals were there for the 9/11 Commission to review.
Gergen than went way beyond a mere defense of Berger's honesty and patriotism. He decided to perpetrate a smear of Republicans and by extension the Bush administration. Claimed Gergen: "It's rather suspicious to Berger's associates that the story would leak just before the 9/11 Commission report is due out. He's been investigated for months. A man of utter integrity who served this country well. This is a distraction from the findings of 9/11 Commission."
Couric: "So this is political?"
Gergen: "It has those overtones."
Couric: "Berger has been advising the Kerry campaign on foreign policy - how will this story affect that?"
Gergen: "It depends how it bounces in press. The Washington Post played it inside the paper [surprise!]. If it becomes a front page story there will be pressure on him to distance himself or take aleave from campaign." But not to worry, this "doesn't reflect on Sen. Kerry."
Then it was on to interviews regarding Arnold's 'girlie man' line.
Either some top CA Dems are intimidated by Arnold's popularity, or Dem Senate Majority Leader Don Perata actually has some sense.
He declined to get huffy and offended, saying "I didn't take it as an insult. He's had a good run, has been pretty cooperative. I wasn't offended and he doesn't need to apologize to me."
There was footage however from another Dem leader saying he wouldn't take a phone call from Arnold: "what should I say, 'yeah, I'm the guy who you called a scumbag and a girlie man. How are the kids?'"
Hugh Hewitt, a conservative talk show host who was present when Arnold made the remarks had the following to say: "The Dems are humor-challenged. They're upset Arnold has rolled them on every issue. His approval numbers are in 70% range, and will probably be in the 90% range after comments. What has happened is an overreaction by Sacramento insiders." He also made clear that Arnold hadn't, the Dem leader's suggestion notwithstanding, called anyone a 'scumbag.'
Couric: "Isn't Arnold losing credibility by failing to deliver on his promise of an on-time budget?"
Hewitt: "No, he's delivered on many promises - repealing car tax, reforming workers' comp, etc. Now he's telling Dems they must pay attention to spending, can't bankrupt state."
Gergen is damaged goods, has been for a number of years. When you hitch your wagon to the likes of Clinton, you're going to be rolling through a mountain of prarie patties.
I was laying in bed watching FOX news this morning when I first heard of this. That was my immediate thought, "I bet anything they will say this is part of the VRW conspiracy". HA! We know them too well don't we?
LOL. Maybe there was more to the famous MTV "boxers or briefs?" question to Clinton than we realized at the time.
Gergen: "It depends how it bounces in press. The Washington Post played it inside the paper [surprise!]. If it becomes a front page story there will be pressure on him to distance himself or take aleave from campaign." But not to worry, this "doesn't reflect on Sen. Kerry."
Gee Gergen .. what do you think are the chances are that Sandy shared his notes with the Kerry Camp
Something a Former National Security Adviser should also know is ILLEGAL
That's the best laugh I've had today.
"security briefs" - there's got to be a poster for the next Kerry freeping in there somewhere.
Yep the Big Bad VRWC made Sandy steal the documents and illegally take his notes home with him
Man, am I glad those days are over.
Hey, when are WE all going to a taping of Dennis Miller?
So he did take the orginals ?
I don't know any more than what I heard Doocy say. I'll be looking for confirmation in later news coverage.
Not what Berger did, but it can be done.
Yup.
This is what pisses me off about the Clintonistas. His Slickness gets Monica under the desk and basically, nothing happens. If I played grab-ass with the secretary, I would have lost my job, ended up in jail (probably) and lost my clearance.
Similar points can be made about what Deutch and Berger did and got away with vs. what would happen to me if i did it.
I guess rules are just for little people.
I saw Gergen on MSNBC. Another Freeper informed me it was most likely the tape from the Today Show. (I had been listening, not watching, so didn't catch it was Couric--besides--they played just clips).
I was appalled and aghast at Gergen's outright defense of this outrageous revelation of Berger smuggling out classified documents and destroying some. I noted Gergen even mentioned the word "destroyed" but claimed there were copies, so implied we weren't to think this was a big deal.
And then I saw the part about his claim the "timing" was suspicious.
Lord, give me strength.
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Just heard Gergen sound bites on the Laura Ingraham show. Yikes, I didn't realize how much he sounds like Larry Flynt, but it figures.
Bill O'Reily
E-mail: oreilly@foxnews.com
Sean Hannity
hannity@foxnews.com
Let's FREEP Alan Colmes while we're at it!
colmes@foxnews.com
Phylis Schlafly
eagle@eagleforum.org
Oliver North
http://www.northamerican.com/-cybercall/pg-call.htm
Janet Parshall, conservative talk show host
(703) 276-8597
Fax: (703) 516-7212
E-Mail us at: info@jpamerica.com
Brit Hume
Special Report with Brit Hume
Special@foxnews.com
Hugh Hewitt (conservative talk show host/columnist)
http://www.hughhewitt.com/
Michael Medved (conservative talk show host/columnist)
http://www.michaelmedved.com/contact.shtml
Excellent 'pod.
I have updated my FMCDH sign-off with the addition of (BITS).....Blood In The Streets, which I foresee coming soon, due to the enormous increase of the communist progressive movement being shoved down the throat of this failing REPUBLIC through the Judicial tyranny of fiat law, and the passing of unconstitutional laws by the Legislative and Executive branches of our government.
FMCDH(BITS)
Enquiring minds want to know how Gergles knows this for a fact. The only thing I've read to support this is a statement from Berger that he believed there were other copies. What if he took the originals and all that's left are xeroxes? Those are not nearly as valuable as the originals.
"Enquiring minds want to know how Gergles knows this for a fact."
Gergen made his sources very clear: "close associates" of Berger. As to the exact identity of those close associates, this article indicates they are inveterate Clinton apologist Lanny Davis and former Clinton mouthpiece Joe Lockhart.
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39541
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