I think I speak for many when I say that we can only hope the 9/11 Commission hearings today were this productive.
Personally, after watching the shameless behavior of the commission members (Yes, you- Ms. Gorelick and Mr. Ben Veniste), I don’t give two hoots in hell what they have to say, what their final report concludes, and what happens from their now absurd proceedings.
The goal of this commission should have been to find ways to help secure us for the future, and instead it seems like it is nothing more than partisan finger-pointing.
Bill Clinton is not to blame for 9/11, and I reject any statement to that effect.
George Bush, similarly, is not to blame for 9/11.
The people who planned and executed this attack are to blame, and this commission should be focussed on the prevention of future attacks. Unfortunately, this is an election year, and the Democrats are out of power. Not that I am wholly convinced Republicans would act any different were the roles reversed- I did live through the 90’s, after all.
Thomas J. Jackson
The Democrats on the commission gave the appearance of setting up a show tris. We were disappointed and see that partisan politics trumps national security in Democrat circles every time. Who cares what the commission says since the commissions’ Democrats were using this investigation for partisan purposes. It reminded me of North’s testimony and how it backfired on the Dems. I believe the public realizes who they can trust in matters of defense and security. Will the Democrats ever learn or are they going to play to the Democrat Underground crowd forever?
Gary Farber
John, have you been reading the interim staff statements and reports?
If not, I strongly urge you to go here and here and do so, and see how much invaluable information has been learned.
JKC
John-
To be fair, remember that Gorelick’s memo on “the wall” was essentially a summary of previous court decisions on information sharing.
bg
I wholeheartedly agree with you John, and it took me a long time to come to that.
I used to get very angry when I remembered that right after 9/11 the right tried to blame Clinton for it (cutting the military, etc.), but I’ve let that go now. It’s one of the most cleansing things I’ve done.
Kimmitt
Nah, I’m not gonna let that one go. It was pretty much the defining moment for the American Right, as far as I am concerned. A total disregard for dealing with the security situation, combined with an immediate urge to use the deaths of 3,000 Americans for political gain. That’s what the Right is and does.
Ken Hahn
The sad thing about the commission is that it will probably make some sensible recomendations. Those will be ignored because of the partisan grandstanding by commission Democrats.There might be partisanship on the the other side if there were any Republicans on the commission.
Kimmitt
You mean, like its head, former longtime Republican Governor Jim Thompson?