Jack Kelly: Clown commission ("jumped the shark" last week)

Post-gazette ^ | 5/23/04 | Jack Kelly

[Libloather]

Jack Kelly: Clown commission
Events of 9/11 deserve more than this inquiry
Sunday, May 23, 2004

Paul Beston thinks that its hearings in New York May 18 and 19 were the time when the national disgrace known as the 9/11 commission "jumped the shark." This is a Hollywood expression for wretched excess, silliness beyond which a program is no longer viable. It is derived from the final days of the sitcom "Happy Days," in which the character Fonzie, wearing his trademark leather jacket, jumped over a shark on water skis.

"While the 9/11 commission is about as substantive as a sitcom, it is not nearly as funny," Beston wrote in The American Spectator online.

John Lehman, a Republican, was the latest member of the commission to disgrace himself, with his intemperate (and factually challenged) assault on former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and former Fire Department Chief Thomas Van Essen. The fat guys in plush chairs with big mouths can't even get hindsight right.

[Libloather]

The one thing we can be certain of is that within days of its filing on July 26, the report of the 9/11 commission will be filed away unread, its "findings" -- whatever they will be -- ignored by one and all.

And the taxpayers spent what - $76 million - on this mess?

[atomicpossum]

I have noticed that recently, at least in the time span of a year, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has become increasingly pro-conservative and pro-Republican. Does anyone have a clue as to what caused the shift?

Maybe they got mugged.

[TomGuy]

Libs/Dems are hoping a bad report will help them. Considering the types of questions and grandstanding from most of the Commission, I doubt the resulting document will have much actual value. The Commission seems more bent on pointing fingers and covering their own rears.

[Voltage]

The Commission was composed of media whores who believe they benefit from tv face time. Too bad that Rudy didn't lay into them to the degree they deserved.

[GBA]

I can understand, well, sort of understand, the way the Lib/Dims have behaved so far. They'll do or say anything to make Bush look bad so they can win the presidency. But I am dumbfounded by Lehman.

He was in the Reagan Administration. He was the guy responsible for re-building the 600 ship navy. What the heck happened to that guy???

All I can say is, get that man in for a brain scan ASAP! I think he must have a tumor or something. What else would explain such bizarre behavior?

Hmmm...is he married to a liberal? That might do it.

[IncPen]

But I am dumbfounded by Lehman

Two words: FBI Files.

[tertiary01]

Didn't I remember reading on these boards that Lehman's signature is on John Kerry's Naval discharge papers, even though he supposedly was discharged years before Lehman was Sec of the Navy.
Just something else that's suspicious.

[NonValueAdded]

The fat guys in plush chairs with big mouths can't even get hindsight right.

A potential winner of the 2004 Steyn Award.

[Homer1]

IMO, Lehman fell on his sword to help discredit the commission as a whole. Nicely played.

[knuthom]

Kean is such a lightweight that all that keeps his feet on the ground are the rocks in his head.

Best laugh I've had all day. I just wish it wasn't true.

[Cheeeeze]

the national disgrace known as the 9/11 commission

clown commission is right! thanks

[GBA]

Hmmm..."fell on his sword to help discredit the commission"? Yeah, could be.

Other than this commission, I think he's out of the public spotlight and doesn't have a political life anymore.

His comments/attack was widely reported, generated a lot of anger and probably will be remembered more as something relating to the commission than from him specifically.

You may be right.

[rudypoot]

For me, the commission's credibility was wiped out not when I knew Gorelick's conflict of interest, but it was when the head of the commission told the American people to "shuff it" with respect to this.