Today Show: DC Insider Gergen Shills for Berger; Hewitt Calls Calif Dems "Humor-Challenged"

The Today Show

[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."

[RonDog]

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[ravingnutter]

Samuel Berger 9/11 prepared testimony

[freekitty]

Gergen is being paid off.

[Darnright]

>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.<

Oh, come now, 'Pod. After all, Martha Stewart was just sentenced to 5 months in prison. Our system is working perfectly.

</ sarcasm>

[Dems_R_Losers]

This is key:

Gergen pointed to the placement of the Berger story inside the Washington Post as evidence that it isn't that significant. Huh? It is on page 2, hardly a burial ground for minor flare-ups. The story hit too late for most of the papers to get more than the AP report into print, but it should be boiling by tomorrow, and the blogosphere is already on full storm watch, and no doubt details will develop throughout the day.

The story did hit late, and the Post already had is front-page stories in the can. They did run it on Page 2, with Susan Schmidt - the scourge of the Left - writing it. If Schmidt is on this story it WILL be followed. The liberals all hate her. The Post also ran a front-page blurb on the story. So I do not think they are burying it. Shame on David Gergen for implying that they did. What a scumbag he is.

[Grampa Dave]

Couric: "Isn't Arnold losing credibility by failing to deliver on his promise of an on-time budget?"

As you know out in Kalifornia, in the past two weeks, we had dozens of articles from the lunatic left mediots screaming, "Budget, not approved, Arnold lied to us and failed us!"

Now with a few well chose words, he has turned the table on them.

As Hugh noted to the pouty Couric, Arnold's, approval rating is very high.

Also, the last thing the Kerrorist Kamp Komrades want is Arnold battling the leftwingers in California and taking this to the elections in November. That could end up as a massive victory for GW. If California goes to GW, the Kerrorists will have lost it all.

I'm sure that the new KKKers chartered a 747 and flew into Sacramento with files on each and every Girly critter. They will be meeting with the girly critters in some dingy motel room and convincing them to vote for the budget.

Arnold's budget will probably be approved by end of the July or the first week in August.

Personally, I hope the rainbow pink laced panty power group battles Arnold up to the election on this.

[CaliforniaOkie]

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.

You can't make copies of classified documents. That in itself is a crime.

[RottiBiz]

During his interview with the 9/11 Commission, Clinton was accompanied by longtime aide and former White House counsel Bruce Lindsey, along with former national security advisor Sandy Berger, who insisted in sworn testimony before Congress in Sept. 2002 that there was never any offer from Sudanese officials to turn over bin Laden to the U.S.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/4/20/112336.shtml

[tubebender]

Where has this photo been all these years? It really defines the Clinton years...

[alabama_heart]

Wow!!! Can you imagine someone going to an art exhibit, taking a Monet painting off the wall, going to the bathroom, rolling it up and sticking it down his pants and taking it home? OOOPS! I inadvertently took the painting but I did bring it back. Man you can't even go to a public library now trying to lift a book without alarms going off. As a matter of fact...I wonder if there is a way in situations such as these, that they can "tag" documents so they can't be lifted out of the place without alarms going off. Taking copies of that material would be bad enough...but taking the originals???? Well there ya go again. Thanks for the input Gov.
that

[jonno]

Bump!

[Inspectorette]

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

Exactly. People who handle classified material are given regular security briefings on that very subject - security is paramount. There's NO WAY IN HELL this fool could have "accidentally" taken this stuff by mistake. Stuffed it in his PANTS for gosh sakes!!!

Then "accidentally" threw some of it in the trash!! This is mind-boggling, but the LSM is so good at spinning and shilling for the left, that they'll find a way to make it look like a minor infraction.

Let's face it, a lot of people who are not in the business don't have a clue about handling of classified material. They'll believe the LSM when they say it was just an accidental slip. That's downright scary.

[iceskater]

Thank you for that recap of Hewitt. He makes many excellent points.

[jimbo123]

Did Gergen explaing why Sandy Bergler was stuffing documents into his socks, too?

[alabama_heart]

This does give a whole new meaning to "security briefs". I wonder if this was a publicity stunt on Berger's part to introduce his own line of underwear. Fruit of the Loom move over...lol

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I disagree with one point. Berger is shut down as a Kerry spokesman, at least he won't face reporters, and risk them asking about it when he's supposed to be out there, touting Kerry.

Agreed. We've seen the last of Berger as a Kerry surrogate. And for that matter, if, perish the thought, Kerry should win, there's no way Berger could get a major appointment.

[Alamo-Girl]

Jeepers... Thanks for the ping!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

No doubt. If he were convinced W was going to win, would he have made this appearance?

[jimbo123]

David Gergen
Fax: 617-496-7301
email: david_gergen@ksg.harvard.edu