Has * Become Comfortably Numb?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Bush to Let Rice Testify Under Oath
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20040331/ap_on_go_pr_wh/sept_11_commission_1

This morning on MSNBC, Chris Matthews said that when the Bush administration agreed to let Rice testify, "the Democrats took the bait from the rat trap. They kept begging, "let her testify, let her testify," well, be careful of what you ask for, because she's gonna be a star witness." He went on to say that Bush knew what he was doing all along and he is "one of the most politically savvy politicians among his contemporaries." His little pro-Bush, pro-Condi speech after the announcement this morning was one big, wet, sloppy kiss on Dubya's cheek.

To quote the Yahoo article:

" The turnabout reflected administration concern that the president's strongest point with voters — his leadership in the war on terror — could be eroded if the high-publicity dispute over Rice's testimony lingered."

snip

"Bush is staking much of his re-election bid on his performance as president after the 2001 attacks." When the the Clarke story refused to fade away and his "bid" appeared to be in jeopardy, he CAVED...just like he has for every special interest group wielding cash and votes that has crossed his path...so much for Matthews and his rat trap.

Pat Buchanan and Bill Press were interviewed after Matthews and both conceded that there was no doubt that Clarke "made Bush bleed" with his testimony.

[Rick Myers]

1. Comfortably DUMB!!!

Ack, I can't stands to look at 'im!!!

:evilgrin:

[buycitgo]

2. Look at those BAGS! I started a thread on that.....they're almost

instantaneous, aren't they?

he didn't have those just a few days ago, IIRC

they were even more pronounced when shot by TV lighting; I just taped that little monkeyshow from CSPAN

what a MO-ran

make that ALSO-ran

[Dickie Flatt]

3. Perhaps, perhaps

Positive (for Bushco) effects of the controversy:
*Rice's testimony gets more attention than it would have without the controversy
*White House appears to listen to public, bipartisan opinions
*More time to bash Clarke

Was this their plan all along?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

6. Well, here's another "maybe" from MSNBC this morning...

...if Rice is appearing "one time only" and everyone has agreed to this not being an event which will "break precedent" of her "executive privilege," MSNBC said that if Rice testifies, and Clarke refutes her testimony, she "will not be back" to address his charges.

I dunno...I think that when Paul O'Neill said "I'm a rich old man, they can't hurt me" and Rove...or someone...got to him and scared him silly, which made him retract his "blind man in a room full of deaf people" remark, labeling it "regrettable"...maybe Rove got cocky and figured the Clarke thing would be over in a matter of minutes. But Clarke...and the story...only got more air time. So I believe that they had a Plan "A"...which went sideways on them...so we are now witnewssing Plan "B."

I think that all of your effects above were probably heavily discussed during the "what's in it for us" phase of the "should Condi testify" talks. Other than "doing the right thing," Bush and his pals had to get a bigger bang for their buck.

But if they really did plan it all along, they didn't factor in the doubts in the minds of the public...unless, of course, they consider them sheep who will be "turned around" by an emotional, loyal, patriotic testimony from Condi.

Who knows. At this pint, ANYTHING is possible. I sat in a meeting several years ago in which a room full of people gathered to crucify a guy they hated, and he CRIED, so the meeting ended with about two thirds of the people apologizing to him and applauding his bravery, and the other third just stood there slack-jawed and numb.

Maybe THAT'S the plan.

[paranoid floyd]

4. Is this it?

Is this what passes for intelligent political discourse? "OK Condi, it's time to give them the ol' rope-a-dope. We've suckered them in long enough". Holy shit! The idea that it's OK to play games with real people's real lives is off the f***ing map. The Freepers are shooting their collective wad over this, thinking it's great. Sweet mother of pearl, is this alright with everyone? I don't think so. The only winner in the 'Gotcha' game is the scumbag putting a bullet in the backs of the very real and very brave soldiers stationed in Iraq. How must they feel? Pawns comes to mind.

[Must_B_Free]

5. Don't give these dummies that much credit

I doubt this was a conspiracy to make Dubya look incompetent, then save him.

They were tripping over their own lies and spin for a few days there...

They finally just decided to let minitrue do their job, but it isn't working. Rice will get nailed and then a deeper investigation will be required, one with subpeonas.

Look - no matter what Rice says, we all already know they lied to get us in to our current invasion and occupation. Noneof that is going to go away and the dead and wounded are nout going to be made whole again.

This latest round of "polls" is pure fabrication. Even they admitted that %35 of the peole changed their mind. Do you think anyone that already decided against W changed their mind? No, I don't think so.