The Clarke Flap continues -- Sacrifice Rice?

Richard Clarke you have set some amazing things in motion here, kid. For those of you who haven't been following the fallout from Richard Clarke's new book and the accompanying 9/11 Commission testimony, you have missed an interesting melange of Politics, Intelligence, Subterfuge, and Honesty. Certainly the questions of Clarke's book coming out the same week as his testimony is quite suspicious. But as Clarke mentioned on Meet the Press, that was the Publisher's choice. I find it disheartening that we must fall to personal attacks on a man with 30 years of exemplary service for 4 presidents (3 of them Repbublican).

I will fault Clarke for not raising his issues earlier than when he could finish his book. But what is amazing, is how unprepared the White House has been in regards to this testimony. They received the book in December 2003 for review. They could have held up publication of the book OR they could have refuted the statements earlier in the process. OR they could have had leaked the info themselves and had Condoleeza Rice address the book BEFORE Clarke ever took the stand. But they did not. Is this Arrogance or Incompetence? I'm not sure. But they sure are in a fix right now. And the only solution could be to sacrifice Condi Rice.

I'm not saying Bush should drop Rice. In fact, I think the opposite. I think she's a very smart woman with HUGE potential for the future. I'm talking Presidential material. (Although, I suppose she would need to be elected first as a VP candidate.) But she's being hung out to dry, by Bush. And why? Because of the separation of powers? While it may have precedent, it is certainly not really something that is challengeable. And moreso, if Rice wants to rebut SWORN testimony. It is only fair that she be under the same constraints as Clarke. A compromise should be meeted out, if only to save Rice's job. Because if she doesn't testify she will have to "resign" to save face. And that's not good for anybody.

Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror

• Refusal to Testify has Precedent
• W.House Looks for Rice Compromise with 9/11 Panel
• Meet The Press Transcript: Richard Clarke
• Clarke's Book NUMBER ONE on Amazon.com Sales List -- Number one on B&N.com as well!
• EasterBlogg: Does Rice's rebuttal make sense?
• EasterBlogg: Hey Both of you are wrong!
• INTERPRETING THE POST-DICK CLARKE POLL NUMBERS

Phillies to win NL East?

Okay, we are only 5 days until the Phillies open Citizen Bank Park. So I'm getting VERY excited. Read a couple of these articles and the excitement should rise to new levels! This weekend will be great... and I'll have 2 great vantage points. One from Centerfield... and one from behind home plate...

Thome and Bell have both returned to the lineup, so we should be getting a good look at the 2004 Phillies this weekend!!!

• Printable Phillies Schedule
• Donnellon Picks Phillies to win NL East
• MSNBC Baseball Preview 2004:Predicted finish: 92-70, 1st place

HammLinks: Around the Web Today

• AIDS on the Rise in the South
• MSNBC's Celzic on Opening Day in Japan
• Wiring the Vote
• The New Nato -- Think Russia is upset?
• Real World PHilly: What the hell? Carpenter Union pickets again?
• New Guy can't find WMD's EITHER!