Giving In?

Condoleezza Rice will testify publicly and under oath before the 9/11 Commission.

That must have taken some real soul-searching for the president and his staff. As someone who will dig in the heels, especially when right, I know that can’t have been an easy decision to make. To be honest, I wonder if it was a correct one; not because I think that anything damaging to the administration will come up, but because I think that it’s often a mistake to give in to the backbiters of the world. We’ll see.

The ratings oughta be through the roof.

(Thanks to Michele)

Comments

[Phelps]

I hope it was simply a question of timing. "Welcome to my parlor, said the spider to the fly." Clarke has provided the rope, all she has to do is hang him with it.

[RickinVa]

Limbaugh is reporting that it's part of Bush's rope-a-dope strategy...

I hope he's right...

{he doesn't have a bad track record... just ask him}...

:)

[John Weidner]

I'm guessing this was planned. Now the Dems have done the hard work, and have focused the world's attention on Ms. Rice. (And eclipsed Clarke)

If BUSH had asked the world to listen to her, nothing would have happened.

And I at least find her a very impressive person. She's serious, she's beautiful, and she's smarter than 90% of our Senators...

[Noble Eagle]

This is a classic case of "be careful what you wish for". Condi will open up a can of whoop-ass on those buffoons. Old Teddy K. will be watering down his martini with tears when she's through with him. I wish I was home so I could watch it on C-Span.

[Sapper Mike]

Frankly, if anything, she should have testified the first time behind closed doors but on oath. Classified information and all, and be done with it.

[John Weidner]

Another thing. Having howled like a mob that wants to string up a prisoner, and having finally got what they demanded, they will NOT be in a good position to say. "well, actually, we really wanted George Bush."

[Calliope]

Agree with the other comments above. Be careful what you wish for. I know I wouldn't want to be in a contest of wits with Condi Rice. I predict she's going to rip them a new one.

[Helen]

The Dems have got what they wanted and they'll be asking the Republicans to take it back. I think Bush suckered the Dems into this, and they fell for it, just like they went for the return-to-congress-to-get-approval vote. This party just never learns from history.

[StinKerr]

I think they wanted her to appear publicly to use it as a politically motivated opportunity to attempt to embarrass her and the administration. Only half of them showed up for her previous four hours of closed door testimony. They'll all show up for this dog and pony show. I bet she eats their lunch and puts Clarke in his place without breaking a sweat.

John, I think she's smarter than ALL of our senators!

[Zachariah]

Bush and his team have the advantage of moral authority, that is, they have staked a solid position and have performed accordingly. It is the largest advantage they have over their opponents, and this is just the most recent issue to be taken to task in the face of demagoguery. Clarke vs. Rice: which will come out of this maintaining their dignity, integrity and reputation? Rice can be expected to know she is in the right and to be fully prepared to present her evidence of such knowledge flawlessly. In this sense, it is less "giving in to backbiters" than it is setting the record straight.

[ErikZ]

I suppose you can't make yourself immune from questioning because you know a lot of sensitive stuff. Every important figure would become unaccountable then.

[Pat]

It was an example of Bush playing Texas Poker.

It's sort of neat how Bush got the Democrats and the media to scream for Condi to appear before the 9/11 commission. That screaming drowned out some of Clarke's message and gave the administration and its supporters time to pick apart his credibility. Now Bush can play his best card at the right point in the game. Condi testifies in public and under oath. Her testimony won't contradict her prior secret testimony and she knows a lot more than Clarke about the events surrounding 9/11. His testimony is already suspect and he wasn't in the loop.