[FRgal4u]

Really, if you think outside the conventional media hype, this Clarke thing has two significant "unexpected" benefits, largely due to the very divided electorate this year.

The first is the obvious - Kerry's media oxygen is all but consumed by the fires between the Whitehouse and Clarke..Kerry is the odd man out, his messages, rebuttals not getting through.

Second - this one is about the 9/11 commission. If the commission is seen as fair, balanced and give a hostile "verdict" against the Bush adm. in alte July, it would be very damaging to the Bush reelection campaign. But now, after the Clarke thing, the whole commission is seen as partisan, political, and thus lack real clout in whatever it says in July. In a real sense, it is unfortunate to see the comission descend into the political sewer, but by viewing as partisan and political, any charges come out from the commission will be discounted by the voters. This can't be all bad considering the timing when the final report of the commission will issue.

jmho.

The dims overplayed their cards this time. Net net, surprising, the Clarke firestorm may well turn out to be a positive for the Bush campaign.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I can't say I disagree one bit. Very good observations yet again. Going beyond the media hype is exactly what I've been doing, since I've taken the liberty of actually watching these hearings unfiltered through C-SPAN, avoiding the watered down treatment I would get if I were to rely on evening news sound bites. Everything you say is exactly how I've been seeing play out thus far. It wasn't until this morning that it suddenly dawned on me, through the focus of Clarke, the WH, and these 9/11 commission hearing, Kerry has been missing from the media limelight.