April 09, 2004

Partisan Politics?

Some conservatives are viewing Rice's hearing as evidence of how the 9-11 hearings, in general, are a partisan waste of time.

I CAUGHT A FEW MINUTES of Condoleeza Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission this morning while eating breakfast.

Now I understand why the Bush Administration was so resistant to the idea of a 9/11 Commission. I understand why the President was reluctant to have Rice testify publicly. And I understand why he's denying them an extension to finish their report.

This is not, as advertised, a fact-finding commission. It's just another vehicle for insipid, juvenile partisan bickering and Monday-morning quaterbacking. This panel is both an embarassment, and a distraction from the vital task at hand.

Can we get back to the War now?

The difference being, of course, that the panel IS a fact-finding commission, but with people on both sides being able to ask questions, raise points. As opposed to before, when it was pretty much Bush and Co deciding what information was released to whom.

The other thing, which needs to be said, is that this was Rice's second visit with the panel. I'm willing to bet, when the full report is released, we'll see they were more civil the first time around. I got the sense some people on the panel, felt aggravated with the process.

Let me remind you of it:


  • Condi has a private, behind closed doors meeting.
  • The panel asks for public testimony from her, and is rebuffed.
  • Clarke raises contradictions with some of Bush and Co's claims.
  • Bush and Co come back, requesting more time, and managing to get the panel to agree to meet Bush with handler.

So, it doesn't surprise me that they were a little rough with her. If she had been more forthcoming and more informative the first time around, she wouldn't have needed another shot.

Comments:
Posted by Henry at 01:27 AM || Link to me || Category:: Politics, Just Left on