Condi Rice steps up to the plate

Condi did an excellent job today, standing up to the test of the 9/11 Commission. Unfortunately, she said NOTHING, nothing that was contrary to what Richard Clarke had mentioned, in fact she really confirmed a lot of it. She still claims that the August 6 memo was basically a historical memo, when others including Clarke believed that it was a warning. She repeated that had they knew for sure they would have stopped the attacks. But that is NOT the question. We don't think they just sat by when they knew something for sure. What we're questioning is, that after all the intelligence that they had and all the warnings and the chatter, why they didn't up the threat levels, go to battle stations. If they were so concerned about the intelligence that came out of the Clinton Administration, why did they go to War in Iraq on that same intelligence.

• Transcript of Rice's Testimony
• No Silver Bullet
• 9/11 families angry at Rice

Clear Channel officially drops Howard Stern

Clear Channel, after suspending Howard Stern from 6 of their radio stations, has permanently pulled Stern in anticipation of a prosed $455,000 fine by the FCC. Stern claims the actions of the FCC is clearly retaliation because of his recent anti-Bush stance. Stern who supported the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, had been very outspoken about his support of Bush's efforts on the War on Terror. In fact, he had felt that they haven't gone far enough, in some respects. But his opinion of Bush changed in the wake of the Janet Jackson Super Bowl controversy. Stern, always a target of people like Brent Bozell and the Family Television Council, has received greater heat since Nipplegate.

The transcripts of the offending show, seems as far as I'm concerned fairly tame. The greater question is, Howard who is extremely funny when pushing the limits, when he's reined in, what happens? Many people believe he was funnier long ago, but is that because there are tighter reins? I don't know.

• Clear Channel officially drops Howard Stern
• HowardStern.com: See how Howard Responds.
• FCC Proposes HUGE Fine on Stern
• What was so offensive?
• HammRadio.com: How decent are Clear Channel's web sites?

HammLinks: Around The Web

Michael Moore posts on his web-site a mosaic of the President with the faces of the fallen victims of the Iraq war. It is certainly a disturbing image, but it clearly shows the direct link between the decision of ONE man and the men and women who serve.

• Voters in CA say no to Wal-Mart
• Illinois Tells Mormons It Regrets Expulsion
• College Student sues Prince over Airport Incident
• Scalia Orders Reporters tape erased

Upcoming Concerts

Braid
Trocadero
Philadelphia, PA
Tue, 06/08/04
On Sale Wed, 04/07/04