secrets and all of the US Patent Office pending patent applications to the Chinese Communists,
and their allies in the Axis of Evil, for s$$$$$$ "contributed" to the DNC.
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, you miserable excuse for an American, how the heck can you shill for these people?!
Well, they'll certainly never have to worry about being afflicted with testosterone poisoning.
Good point. Happens all the time. I was getting dressed this morning, looked down, and whaddya know? - the president's daily intelligence briefing from yesterday!
This is insane
Where would the Post/NY Times have played it if a Republican had been accused of stealing classified documents? </end rhetorical question>
Nice work, governs. Didn't know Gergen would be on and I would learn that, if it's not on the front page of the WaPo, I don't have to worry about it.
Not only would it be front page, but they'd give free delivery to make sure everyone got a copy.
(btw, I didn't mean to imply that it was in any way surprising. Insanity seems to rule the day(s))
One doesn't just forget about, misplace, or throw away classified documents. Whenever one has a class document out for study, the document is always on the top of your mind. It must be kept in plain view with an appropriate cover on it. You are responsible for it and for its safekeeping. Upon completion, you return it to the safe or vault that is its home. That's the way it works where i work.
This "I threw it out with the trash" is so much male bovine fecal effluvia.
Berger is going to get the John Deutch treatment. Maybe, just maybe a slap on the wrist, but no more than that. The rules for Clintonistas are different than the rules for everybody else. What would put you in jail puts Sandy Berger on TV with Gergen defending him.
Barf!
NYT had the Berger story on page A-17. No news, you know.
Was that pic of the see no evil monkeys photoshopped?
This is important:
Contrary to what Gergen claimed, Steve Doocy on Fox just stated that Berger took some ORIGINAL documents, not just copies. This is key because it means the documents he took would NOT have been available to the commission.
How did Gergen explain why Sandy was stuffing these documents down his pants?
I'm sure he didn't mean any harm - he just did it cuz it 'felt good'.
Secretary of Defense Cohen, President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Albright, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger,
holding room of the Ronald Reagan Building, April 25, 1999
"We were all making comments we shouldn't have about how the meeting was getting very boring.
So finally we decided we had to make like the monkey. Cohen
started this 'hear no evil,' and then I was next so I spoke no evil,
then Madeleine saw no evil, so Sandy Berger said, 'I'm evil.'" - Bill Clinton
I saw that this morning.
If I recall correctly, Gergen's defense was that it was "a heck of a lot cheaper than Enzyte."
"I was actually shocked by the lengths to which Gergen went to carry water for Berger and the Clinton admin and to smear the Republicans...."
I just listened to this, and I cannot believe the spin. Does anyone know if Berger in fact took originals of any of the documents which have now gone missing? Gergen says no.
I just turned that into a Powerpoint poster. Thanks!
See my post above: according to Steve Doocy at Fox, Berger took originals, and even went back to the archives on a number of occasions to make sure he retrieved all copies of some documents, suggesting an intent to hide them from the commission.
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