Sit down Plunk, AK Kings and Grandpa. I listened to almost all of her testimony. I think she is a solid person and that she was able to show that there is no smoking gun. Sure, with hindsight it's easy to say woulda, coulda, shoulda, but it looks like she did about all that could be expected of her. It also looks like the Clinton team did as well. Yes there was intelligence available to give us a heads up on the possibility of attacks, but we need to remember that both administrations had tons of issues to consider. It does look like the commission will come up with some solid recommendations to help in the future. Slade Gorton said he believes the commission will have some surprising conclusions and that the commission should be made permanent. I think he's right.

There is probably blame enough for both administrations, but the most important goal should be to find the best possible ways to avert future attacks. No I'm not smoking dope. I still think Bush should go, but also think politicize 9/11, which both parties seem to want to do, is not in our national interest.

Thanks Dave!

It's about time someone took a more positive less partisan attitude towards the 911 investigation.

It will never sell papers but I think the constructive aspect of the report to come is what the hearings are all about.

For those interested a link to a transcript of the Rice testimony follows:

Rice\'s Testimony before the Sept. 11 Commission

Geez Dave,

Your statements demonstrate the kind of objectivity that many of us are lacking. It increases your credibility. Many people are so narrow-minded and blinded by prejudice that they are incapable or unwilling of looking at the big picture and have lost credibility.

Speaking of credibility, as I watched Ms. Rice (who BTW is a genius), I couldn't help thinking of when Clarke said that when he spoke to her of the Al-Qida, she looked like she didn't know what he was talking about.

So, she's a genius because she supports Bush, yet Clarke is a liar because he gave some damning testimony.

Interesting objectivity.

I thought that Ms. Rice did well and that Dave's conclusions are probably the voice of reason. My guess is that both she and Clarke are geniuses. Her best line (and one for us all to live by I think) - "I go to bed each night feeling safer, but not safe". Good job under difficult circumstances. Now if her boss could just marshal some of those skills....

The notion that Bush himself was fixated on Iraq from Day 1 should probably not even be in question. Been confirmed by at least 3 sources - one of them absolutely unimpeachable - Paul O'Neill, life long Republican and Secretary of the Treasury under GW.

But, good job Condi, methinks we may have the first woman and first black candidate from a major party all wrapped up in her.

commissions tend to be an opportunity for the political whores from both parties to get some face time on TV. The Rice testimony was peppered by embarassing shows of party unity instead of simple fact finding. Condi held up well and seems to be a very intelligent person with a command of the facts.

GP

GoH,

No, I say that she is a genius because it's true. Her resume is very long and impressive. For starters, she received her masters degree from Notre Dame at age 19, etc, ect.

Maybe you should do a little research before do your knee-jerk thing.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave Vedder:
[QB] Sit down Plunk, AK Kings and Grandpa.


Dave, I am sitting down but I'm not sure why I'm included in that opening statement, can you fill me in?

I think he meant TheKing, AK. He posts here often and usually represents the "other" side!

She is one smart woman. Smart enough to stay single:-)

Dave,

I met Bill Clinton in the 90's . A more commanding presence in a room I have yet to see or meet. Schwarzkopf was close in a speech right after the gulf war. Clinton is one smart man and I enjoy litening to him speak. I even voted for him over Viagra boy. I think he married the Devil (Hillary)however

There was no "other" side on this thread until GH stepped in.

I think Condi did an excellent job of providing the Commission with the salient realities while avoiding attempts to steer her from objective assessment of the facts towards evaluations of Clarkes obviously biased, grandstanding self promotion.

AK Kings: Sorry. I meant The King.

Plunk: Don't think that I have come over to your side. While I saw a very smart and articulate woman in Condi, I saw no evidence that she or anyone else had shown Clark to be untruthful. In fact she said that her recollection of events very closely paralled his.

I believe both were relatively truthful, and both put the best spin they could on their side. I do not think Clark lied. I just think that it really doesn't matter too much who did or didn’t do what. What matters is learning from the past and doing a batter job in the future.

I see no way for us do anything in Iraq much different than we are now. But I fear that every Iraq woman and child we kill will create another terrorist down the road. I think we are in a no win situation that w a wiser president might have avoided. I know GB senior was very clear on all the reason we should not invade Iraq. I fear he was right.

Dave,

In choosing to refrain from attacking everything conservative you have indeed come around to my way of thinking. The taking of sides is superfluous for me because I don't subscribe to one. My position is to balance extremism with enough counterweight to extinguish the likelyhood of an unchallenged mob mentality.

Maybe you should read before you become critical.

Nowhere did I contradict your claim that she was an intelligent person.

"...Doctor Clarke..."

GH,

I thought you said I called her a genius because she supported Bush.

Here...let me check....

That is what you said.

So I stand by my statement. You have a funny way of looking at things in retrospect.

Okay, I see where you could surmise that. However, if you read the entire sentence, you'll see that I inferred that you stigmatize Clarke as a liar simply because his testimony was damaging to Bush.

BTW - From the White House Bio page:

1975 - 1954 = 21, not 19. I know, it's Bush's fuzzy math.

OK GH,

I can see that you're never wrong. I'm sure that you're a legend in your own mind.

I never said Clarke was a liar. I said that he lacked credibility because of his statement about Rice. The meanings are clear for anybody that cares to re-read our posts (assuming you don't edit yours to fit your fantasy).

I think DV has the right idea about taking a sabbatical from this forum....