March 29, 2004

Clarke's book

Kevin Drum provides the Cliff Notes for Clarke's book if you don't have the time or wherewithal to read it yourself.

To make it even shorter...

  • Republicans ham stringed Clinton's efforts to fight al Qaeda by hounding him relentlessly.
  • Neither administration was perfect, but Clinton at least tried and was better at executing.
  • By invading Iraq, Bush has just played into bin Laden's hands.

Remember, this is from a guy who was, from most accounts, either a Republican before a few years ago or at least non-partisan.

Posted by John at March 29, 2004 07:56 AM
Comments

You're only reading one side of the story. This is a guy who has only given money to Democratic Candidates and has contradicted himself under oath twice. He's not non-partisan; however September 11 and the war on terror should be. Read his book with an open mind. Richard Clarke thinks he's the smartest man in the Universe, and he's pissed off that W. didn't agree. End of story.

Posted by: Melissa at March 29, 2004 10:28 AM

You're only reading one side of the story. This is a guy who has only given money to Democratic Candidates and has contradicted himself under oath twice. He's not non-partisan; however September 11 and the war on terror should be. Read his book with an open mind. Richard Clarke thinks he's the smartest man in the Universe, and he's pissed off that W. didn't agree. End of story.

Posted by: Melissa at March 29, 2004 10:28 AM

You're only reading one side of the story. This is a guy who has only given money to Democratic Candidates and has contradicted himself under oath twice. He's not non-partisan; however September 11 and the war on terror should be. Read his book with an open mind. Richard Clarke thinks he's the smartest man in the Universe, and he's pissed off that W. didn't agree. End of story.

Posted by: Melissa at March 29, 2004 10:28 AM

And you seem incapable of hitting the post button just once.

"Only given money to Democratic candidates" makes a nice stalking horse. The truth of the matter is, the guy started out working in the Reagan administration, voted in the Republican primary and has refused under oath to take a position in Kerry's administration. Also, his proposals in the book are not exactly Democratic fair.

Perhaps you haven't looked up the meaning of partisan recently. Here's the meat of it: "one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance".

If Richard Clarke is partisan, he's partisan about anti-terrorism.

Also, please point out where he's "contradicted himself twice under oath." If you're going to throw those accusations around you should back them up.

Also, nothing you've said relates in any way to his accusations. Even if he were partisan, which is not the case unless you take the position that anyone who opposes Bush on any issue is partisan, that doesn't address whether he's right or not.

(CORRECTION: Originally in this comment I said that Clarke voted for Bush in 2000 based on some erroneous information I read in a comment on Daily Kos. It seems Clarke voted for McCain in the primary and Gore in the general. I actually thought I had read somewhere that he voted for Reagan or Bush I, but I can't find that now.)

Posted by: John Moltz at March 29, 2004 10:44 AM

John,
Anyone who opposes Bush on any issue is not only partisan, but they are also a piece of Shit, Unamerican Antipatriotic Terrorist! You are either with us or against us! God bless America! God bless Halliburton!

Bush forever!

Posted by: James at March 29, 2004 12:28 PM