Is another "big story" about to break this weekend ?

[kentuck]

Do you hear a loud distant rumbling? Could it be an avalanche headed straight for the White House? They have hid so much stuff from the public that they can't find any more hiding places. Could it be that Clarke is just the tip of the iceberg? There's a reason that Bush doesn't like to fire anybody. It's not about loyalty. It's about keeping them on the payroll so they can keep their mouths shut. That's the way they play the game.

Now, we have more than a few people sitting up there in this Administration with duct tape over their mouths. There must be a battle of consciences going on with some of these people? How long will Bush and Cheney be able to control the flood of information that is rumbling down Pennsylvania Avenue?

[sweettater]

1. I am going to ask this question straight out and serious

How do you think the American people would react if they new the TRUTH?

[Justice]

6. Serious Answer

In my view, things would not be much different than they are now.

Bush has about 46-48% support, of that group

(a) Approx. 30% will support him no matter what b/c of religious views. period.

(b) Approx. 13% support him on financial issues alone, and frankly don't care much about any other issues. Some of this group can be moved to change their support, depending on the the other choice (Kerry). This group is very much the self absorbed amd relatively uninformed - except when it comes to $$$.

(c) The balance, 3% to 5% - I put in this group -- they say "yeah I hear what you are saying, and I am the last person to want soldiers to die, but don't you have to agree that Bush is at least doing something - and I'd rather have a president that is doing something - kicking some butt and letting people know they can't mess with us - sort of stuff. Perhaps can be shown enough factual evidence to conclude that if the "doing something" is horribly the wrong thing to do, then perhaps it is worse than "doing nothing"

[sweettater]

12. Let me rephrase that question

Emotionally, how would the American people react it they knew the TRUTH?

[hippiechick]

18. I think the answer you're looking for is ...

... a sea of pitchforks and torches marching up Pennsylvania Avenue ....

I'd be right there with 'em.

:hippie:

[Kimber Scott]

25. I read Chomsky for the first time last year

and was emotionally sickened - to the point of bedridden depression. Sometimes, honestly, I wish I didn't know some of the things I know now and I know I dont' know the tenth of it.

[burythehatchet]

42. been there Kimber. Been there

[Kimber Scott]

43. I love your signature line. Joseph Campbell is one of my

greatest heroes. I used to have a plaque that said:

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him.
He who knows not and knows he knows not is a child, teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep, wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows is wise, follow him.

It's an Asian proverb, I think. I can't remember, but I remember the saying.

Anyway, your Joseph Campbell sig line reminded me of that plaque.

[immoderate]

44. If Chomsky does that to you...

...don't read any Chalmers Johnson.

--IMM

[Kimber Scott]

45. Never heard of him.

If he's worse than Chomsky, I'm not prepared to read anything like that right now. Honestly, what good does it do? I felt truly violated after reading Chomsky, if only because everything I thought was, wasn't. But, you know, I can't live my life inside that stuff. It's too hard and it doesn't change anything - except my psychological well being.

[belle]

41. Which truth are we referring to here?

But ultimately, I do think if people *accepted* just how badly they'd been screwed...yeah, they'd be howling for his blood. Especially the people who were directly affected by the Iraq war and/or 9/11. Some already are (howling).

[FreakinDJ]

14. Serious Question

Don't you think the group of 13% would be concerned if the knew the White house was manipulating the economic information the same way they have been manipulating the Iraq Intel

I do think the swing 3 - 5% can be re-educated by the events about to unfold

[cornfedyank]

22. we don't need them all now

you will never win the "i got mine, screw everybody else set". their minds have to walk the road to damascus. BUT if we can get some of the people, who are distracted by the millstone, to look up long enough to see the cold hearted ignorance and greed of their elected representatives that include jokes from the president as our troops suffer, some will decide enough BU_ _ SH_ _. Don't forget to add that the people in charge want to put this fiasco on the kids credit card. I hope that wins enough over, because 2008 may be too late.

[Warren Stuart]

23. Your numbers may be off

They may reflect past voting trends, but there appears to be a growing willingness in the public and media to question Bush in ways he hasn't had to face. This is not good for a phoney like Bush. People who have not participated in the political process in the past are getting involved, especially those who are most adversely effected by Bush's policies.

Remember too, the tax cuts mostly benefitted the top 1%, though I'm sure there is another 12% that would love to be part of the top 1. But by and large, Bush's policies have been a disaster for the middle class.

Remember also, the Repbulicans have not had a majority nor for that matter a plurality in the General Election since the Eighties.

[PATRICK]

26. There is a breaking point

Where they will abandon Bush entirely. Yet his core will distract the whole truth and ultimately blame Democrats, evade the truth, excommunicate Bush like they did Nixon, and be ready for a better charade next time.

How many sitting Presidents lost in a landslide due to crumbling of their core? Well, this worst of President's with transparently phony veneers everywhere over massive un-American crimes will be quite a test- IF you can strip them away.

The money he has coerced out of the rich is still there. The votes may not be. Support for his right wing corporate giveaways might be there. The votes may not be. Triumph over the successes for radical rightism and fundamentalist occupation might be there, but clouds of blinding truth might keep them at home.

There is a dramatic breaking point(or points) so long as the Dems are not determined to ease us into the stilted "parity" where one party pretends falsely to represent the nation and the other soft pedals its values.

[rucky]

34. Depends on who's in office

but either way there will be civil unrest, riots, looting, violence. If Bush is in office there will be outright facism then a period of anarchy. If Kerry is in office, there will be a period of martial law, then back to the usual tension.

My crystal ball is in the shop, so I'm cracking fortune cookies this morning.

[livetohike]

2. Definitely agree with you

on this. I imagine Colin Powell has plenty to say. I don't understand why he is sticking it out with this administration and doesn't quit. Then he can write a book, too.

Honestly, he was one of the few Repubs that I thought had a soul. Now I am not sure.

[kentuck]

3. Powell did refuse the opportunity to criticize Richard Clarke....

yesterday. I heard the story on the boob tube...as background noise.

[Stephanie]

30. If you listened to Powell carefully yesterday (on the Newshour)

he threw Wolfowitz over the side. I wonder if there's a transcript? His language is diplomatic but he admits that Wolfowitz was agitating to hit Iraq on 9/12. I think Powell's ready to take revenge on the neo-cons.

[Alpharetta]

4. after Powell's lies to the U.N., I am sure he is hopeless

he deserves prison time.

[xchrom]

9. powell has been running lies

for republican/conservative agendas since my lai.
he lost his soul eons ago.

[displacedtexan]

11. You're absolutely correct, xchrom!

Most people either don't know that little tidbit or don't want to know it.
Powell has been 'rewarded' for his cover up for decades.

[JohnyCanuck]

16. Then give them this link

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/colin3.html

It explains how Powell handled the assignment to investigate war crimes charges against various US troops by a US GI Tom Glen. Glen's letter did not specifically mention the My Lai incident, although Glen said later that he had heard a second-hand story about My Lai at the time he wrote his letter. His letter concentrated on raising issues about widespread and unnecessary brutality against Viet Namese POWs and civilians, including the shooting of civilians by US troops, that he claimed he had personally witnessed.

The letter's troubling allegations were not well received at Americal headquarters. Maj. Powell undertook the assignment to review Glen's letter, but did so without questioning Glen or assigning anyone else to talk with him. Powell simply accepted a claim from Glen's superior officer that Glen was not close enough to the front lines to know what he was writing about, an assertion Glen denies.

After that cursory investigation, Powell drafted a response on Dec. 13, 1968. He admitted to no pattern of wrongdoing. Powell claimed that U.S. soldiers in Vietnam were taught to treat Vietnamese courteously and respectfully. The Americal troops also had gone through an hour-long course on how to treat prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions, Powell noted.

"There may be isolated cases of mistreatment of civilians and POWs," Powell wrote in 1968. But "this by no means reflects the general attitude throughout the Division." Indeed, Powell's memo faulted Glen for not complaining earlier and for failing to be more specific in his letter.

Powell reported back exactly what his superiors wanted to hear. "In direct refutation of this portrayal," Powell concluded, "is the fact that relations between Americal soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent."

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/colin3.html

Seems Colin learned early and well what it took to succeed. Tell the man what the man wanted to hear.

[PATRICK]

27. the Powell illusion

is ludicrously strong in the Beltway still. Everyone prefaces their remarks with admiration and trust for his legend.

What has he done for us lately- or ever- to warrant this? Just that phony media meme since when he was a media celebrity for the presidency. Everyone is afraid to expose a legend. Worse, seasoned politicians who should know better swallow it hook line and sinker.
The treatment of General Clark exposes the two-sided nonsense of Powell's public legend and laughably ignores his kneecapping by the GOP kingmakers.

[Jackpine Radical]

38. Powell came to public awareness in GW I.

He got famous for the "Powell Doctrine," which consists of 2 elements:
1) If you're gonna fight, hit 'em with overwhelming force, and
2) Don't let the press in to see & report on the nasty aspects of what you're doing.

[molly]

5. Yep - it will keep coming - this is much bigger

than Watergate.

[livetohike]

7. True, and I remember being glued to the

TV set during the Watergate hearings :-). This is better,imo. I wonder what the viewership would be if Bush/Cheney would testify in public (which they should do).

[kentuck]

10. This is "better" ???

This is the worst thing that has happened to our country at least since the British ransacked the White House...

[livetohike]

17. Oh no, by better

I meant that I believe Bush will be made to pay for his crimes - not just lose the election. The loss of so many lives as a result of his and his administration's lies to wage war on Iraq are not a good thing.

No way did I mean to convey that.

[kentuck]

19. Thanks for clarifying that for those "lurkers" ....

that might misunderstand your sentiments. :)

[kskiska]

36. What's needed is a Martha Mitchell

A scorned spouse of someone involved who will blow the whole thing wide open.

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

8. Powell has lost his credibility

he's become a mop up boy for the administration

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. True, but...

the fact he wasn't going along with the Administration attacks on Clarke shows one of two things: Powell has had enough, or Clarke has something on Powell.

[patricia92243]

15. Why is there not a special prosecutor like we had with Clinton?

[prodigal_green]

20. republican controlled legislature

Clinton got investigated because the repugs were in charge. Who in the House or Senate is going to call for a special prosecutor?

[unblock]

21. why, didn't that law conveniently expire?

we're back to nixonian times when anyone who investigates would be under direct control of ashcroft. i.e., ashcroft could fire any such prosecutor on a moment's notice.

[Katha]

29. God, can you imagine if Clinton's administration

even had half of this intrigue about them?

The Repugs would be swarming.

[teryang]

24. Consciences?

I was with you up to that point. With the potential for rigged elections very likely who would have the courage to come forward with real dirt? So far it's all incompetence and bad intentions.

When someone leaks the actual unedited and unaltered video of the UAV slamming into the pentagon, then we'll be looking at some changes. When someone decides to testify against the covert anthrax bio-warfare defense crowd that killed Stevens and provided Atta with a safe house. What's the connection between Don Wiley and the dead bird on the white house lawn? Why doesn't Clark talk about who invested in AMR and UA put options in the three days before 911?

Clarke is the limited hangout. This will go no further. They've gotten away with treason and massive theft before, Iran-contra and the S&L crisis. That set a precedent. Nobody will talk.

[Slit Skirt]

28. under the radar cover up

DOJ Asked FBI Translator To Change Pre 9-11 Intercepts
this is an article from Tom Flocco...see tomflocco.com
He broke the story last week.......no one is reporting it
FBI hired woman to change the translations on the 911 intercepts...in december 2001!
spoke with this journalist last night...this is for real,he interviewed her personally and is nothing less than proof of
the cover up

[bvar22]

31. Maybe John O'Neil will be ...

... re-discovered by the media. His story will hit like a MOAB. This story was overlooked by the Media in the pre9-11 era.

[JohnyCanuck]

33. Actually Begala mentioned Edmonds' whistle blowing on Crossfire.

This was on yesterday's show (Fri Mar 26). Of courses the bow tied horse's ass Tucker Carlson wrote it off as just another wild conspiracy theroy. However, Begala did use Edmonds' claims to back up his on air accusation that Condi was a liar. That in itself is a small breakthrough seeing as how shamefully he treated Cynthia McKinney in the day's after 9/11.

Salon has also covered it in story on Friday Mar 26.

www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/03/26/translator/index_np.html

Referring to the Homeland Security Department's color-coded warnings instituted in the wake of 9/11, the former translator, Sibel Edmonds, told Salon, "We should have had orange or red-type of alert in June or July of 2001. There was that much information available." Edmonds is offended by the Bush White House claim that it lacked foreknowledge of the kind of attacks made by al-Qaida on 9/11. "Especially after reading National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice where she said, we had no specific information whatsoever of domestic threat or that they might use airplanes. That's an outrageous lie. And documents can prove it's a lie."

<snip>

Edmonds testified before 9/11 commission staffers in February for more than three hours, providing detailed information about FBI investigations, documents and dates. This week Edmonds attended the commission hearings and plans to return in April when FBI Director Robert Mueller is scheduled to testify. "I'm hoping the commission asks him real questions -- like, in April 2001, did an FBI field office receive legitimate information indicating the use of airplanes for an attack on major cities? And is it true that through an FBI informant, who'd been used for 10 years, did you get information about specific terrorist plans and specific cells in this country? He couldn't say no," she insists.

[newyawker99]

37. Hi 7480132!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Slit Skirt]

39. thanks for the welcome.....

......we got to get America moving...against Bush....for the truth...and not let anything get in our way...
..who's ready to fight?

[shoopnyc123]

32. I honestly believe that...

Clarke is too smart not to be prepared for this. He's probably got something in his back pocket that is even more devasting than his book or testimony.

[LandOLincoln]

35. Yep. He's been at this for 30+ years. There's nothing they can

spring on him that he won't be ready for. He knows them better than they know themselves.

[SmokeyBlues]

40. Powell's popularity

In my honest opinion, the only reason why Powell continues to be given a pass is because he's a high-profile Black man working for the GOP, which happens to be the party currently in power. Yet, he still runs into trouble with the Republican core over such issues as Affirmative Action, as was the case when he spoke before the party faithful back in 1996 at the GOP convention and was immediately given a healthy serving of STFU.

If folks really want to see just how popular Powell is, let him leave the GOP or speak honestly like Shannon Reeves in California (or even David Brock or Richard Clarke for that matter), and the smear hounds will be on him like a run-away slave in the antebellum South.

[Disturbed]

46. Powell and Condi

They are only useful as Blacks to prop up Bushco. The irony is that most Blacks disdain them both. If either one decided to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth they would be character assasinated even worse than what Clarke is experiencing. Anyone that speaks out the truth about Bushco is branded as a traitor and no mercy is shown in the attack upon them.