The transformation of Richard Clarke (Novak)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | March 29, 2004 | Robert Novak

[Shermy]

friends say

Novak sure know a lot of sources surrounding Clarke and Beers.

As an anti-Iraq war journalist, and other possible "affiliations", Novak seems to have an "in" here.

Sooooooo,

In Plamegate...was the "senior administration official" who was not a "partisan gunslinger" who had the "long conversation" with Novak at which the name Plame was "casually" mentioned none other than...the reportedly-journalist friendly Richard Clarke himself?

Nothing I've seen in this article moves me away from this speculation...

[Shermy]

Ping.

[cyncooper]

I agree--nothing moves me away from the possibility either. And I think we've established Clarke likes to talk. It's come out he was a favorite source for many journalists over the years.

[anniegetyourgun]

Dealing with disgruntled employees is never an easy task.

[Shermy]

There's a whole series of "leaks" around and about Iraq since 9/11, right after Bush announced that Saddam would be finally finished off as part of the (12 year) program...

And who are those leaker(s)...for example, who concocted/leaked the false Vaclav Havel story about him "quietly" denying the Prague Al Ani/ Atta meeting that NYTimes reported...

Hmmm.....

[Neenah]

The scary thing to me is..here I sit in my little country home and the first time I saw this crud, I knew he was a WEASEL ! The scary part is that he served from Reagan - Bush II, and nobody saw what I did ???? That is scary!

Oh, and by the way...why O why did Bush keep so many Clinton appointees ? I remember at the time getting mad at that!! And why wasn't there an outrage at someone in FBI or CIA for giving wrong information or witholding information ? I just can't figure that out! ( And it is a legit question from someone who loves our President. )

[mrustow]

Apparently, it helps Connecticut politicians to be named "Christopher" (Dodd, Shays ...).

[marron]

In Plamegate...was the "senior administration official"... the reportedly-journalist friendly Richard Clarke himself?

That would be delicious. Let it be so.

He is playing for high stakes. When he started down this road, assuming his book was started quite a while back, the Wilson/Plame issue was not yet out there. Now it is, and if he is the guy, he faces jail. He needs to either unseat Bush or make himself a high-enough-profile, and sympathetic-enough figure, that he can survive prosecution. If prosecution drifts into a future Kerry administration, you can assume charges will be quietly dropped, or he will be found guilty of some bureaucratic error that will carry no jail time.

If it were Rove, the Dems would demand actual jail time. If its Clarke, they will lose interest very quickly. He is out on the high-wire, and praying for a net.

[Vigilanteman]

In Clarke, I sense an uncanny resemblance to this guy.

[anniegetyourgun]

Spooky....

[eddie willers]

Thanks for the link. I don't know why I've never read up on Garfield's assassination, but whadda you know...killed by another crazy commie.

[malia]

"During a briefing to this Subcommittee, Mr. Clarke stated that there is no need for a national strategy,'' Shays wrote to Rice.

That's very interesting.

thanks both for filling me in. Being away and catching up is a bummer. I know I have missed so much. Can't believe how unaware of the complete story people are. CNN is still the big draw. I push Brit Hume and FreeRepublic every opportunity.

[cyncooper]

If you blinked you missed it. The mainstreams did not mention this Shays letter to the commission and the history Shays had with Clarke. Normal thinking would have any decent reporter pointing it out instead of the lauding of Clarke's "credibility" (almost thoroughly shredded at this point--the man canceled Hardball appearance yesterday for last night).

[Just mythoughts]

Novak is at it again. Telling a story by hiding a question.



"So, how did Clarke become President Bush's scourge, taken very seriously at the White House as a threat to the reelection campaign?"

Who takes Clarke "very seriously" as a threat to the reelection campaign? Sure sounds like there are more moles hidden within that White House organization.


"Until the past week, Clarke was best known inside Washington as one of the most skilled manipulators ever of the national security bureaucracy."


How can this be, Clarke was out of government long before last week? One has to wonder about this statement of fact, as obviously Clarke ceased to manipulate the White HOuse long before he was out of government, so who was he manipulating for after that until last week?

"one of the most skilled manipulators ever of the national security bureaucracy" so Clarke was in charge of national security bureaucracy, during the Clinton administration.

"Whereas he had briefed Clinton, Bush was briefed by CIA Director George Tenet. Clarke found himself at ''deputies'' rather than ''principals'' meetings. The final indignity was his rejection by Secretary Tom Ridge for a high-ranking Homeland Security post."

Could it be we are talking about more than a working relationship?????


"While Clarke had worked closely with Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger in bureaucratic maneuvers to further Clarke's anti-terrorist agenda, Condoleezza Rice as Berger's successor was not engaged. Clarke described her to close associates as ''shallow.''"


Ah! Condi was not easy to manipulate which makes her "shallow"!!!


Novak is sending signals, this is not written for the average citizen....

[malia]

"If you blinked you missed it."

True - but, Shay should have seen this was out there, so I hold Shay responsible big time. Not that I'm just alot prejudice regarding Mr. Shay as he is not one of my favorite R's.

[malia]

"While Clarke had worked closely with Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger"

How can anyone take seriously the advise of someone who worked closely with Sandy (looser name for a looser grown man) Berger!! Berger's & Clinton's high level secret security dealings were - Monica and how to shut her up. That's why we were so secure during the 90's.

And the media goes after Condi Rice!!!

[Just mythoughts]

"And the media goes after Condi Rice!!!"


The media did not start this, they were the willing accomplices, and what is apparent is all laid out in that leaked MEMO of Rockeyfeller.