Nightline's guest: Richard Clarke.

[hedda_foil]

From my inbox:

Nightline Daily E-Mail
April 8, 2004

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: At long last, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice testified this morning before the 9/11 Commission about what the White House knew and when they knew it. Time and time again the questions and answers returned to the testimony and public statements of former counterterrorism chief, Richard Clarke. Tonight we'll let you hear the highlights of Rice's testimony - and Ted Koppel's guest will be the man in question: Richard Clarke.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For weeks the White House insisted that what happened today before the 9/11 Commission could not, would not happen. Condoleeza Rice, the sitting National Security Advisor, could not possibly testify under oath about what the Administration knew and did about the terrorist threat leading up to 9/11. But with mounting criticism about her refusal to testify, especially in light of some of the criticisms raised by her former counterterrorism advisor Richard Clarke, Dr. Rice agreed to testify. This morning, for three often contentious hours, she did just that.

The 9/11 Commission is meant to be bi-partisan, even non-partisan if that is at all possible. It is a group of distinguished men and women from both parties, none currently serving in Congress or the Administration, in search of answers to problems that would seem to cut across politics. But in this city, especially in a presidential election year, partisan politics are simply unavoidable. Certainly today's questions and answers played out in an often partisan manner.

Tonight's program is fairly simple. We will play long excerpts of today's testimony: the questions and the answers. Ted Koppel will then turn to the man so often discussed in that testimony: former counterterrorism advisor, Richard Clarke.

We hope you'll join us

Sara Just and the Nightline Staff
Senior Producer
ABCNEWS Washington D.C. bureau

[RhodaGrits]

1. What time is this scheduled for tonite? n/t

[buycitgo]

2. depends on where you live, and when your ABC outlet schedules

nightline. usually right after 11 oclock news, EST

[Wonk]

25. mp3 here for those who missed it

5 M

[Sparkle]

3. Oh goody!

Can't wait to hear what Clarkey has to say!

[Hemprus]

4. Awesome,

the last time I saw him on Meet the Press or some other show like that he was great. Each question he had documents to back him up and he speaks very eloquently.

[TacticalPeek]

5. The way it's trending now is bad for Rice and worse for Shrub.

I'd expect Clarke to leave more questions opened on aWol.

Also, at least one of the Rice clips will probably be on Iraq and terrorism, which will be like handing Clarke a sword.

Poor cabal.

:evilgrin:

[flpoljunkie]

6. Thanks for the heads up, hedda.

[comsymp]

7. Yeah, thanks Hedda!

This is definitely a must-see and I've set my VCR now.

[revcarol]

8. Nightline program content very erratic.

Last time I tuned in, could have sworn I had Carl Rove's talking points.I will give them another shot, but have been mostly disappointed.thanks, Hedda.

[G_j]

9. kick

[buycitgo]

10. mostly HORRIBLE bushill cranks

they eviscerated Clarke the day he testified

won't watch, ever again, cept for headsups like these

I BET they have some egregious assmunch on like Dan Bartlett, though, to fair and balance the truth

[revcarol]

15. Yes, a leper would have fared better.

I have really despaired that this program would ever come back to what it was.

[Bozita]

11. on now

[Wonk]

12. kick

[Vadem]

13. Thanks, Hedda! Have my VCR going.....n/t

[Stephanie]

14. Thanks!

Would have missed it. Starting now EST.

[Vadem]

16. Can't wait for Clarke's refutation that Condi never briefed Bush..n/t

[napi21]

17. EVERY SHOW has the Ben-Veniste clip!

He's good! Bet his billing rate goes up after today!

[scarletwoman]

18. Wooaaah -- Clarke is now a paid ABC consultant! I did not know this!

When did this happen? Anybody know?

I'm not faulting Clarke for it, I DO find it veeeeerrrrrry interesting...

Is this another sign that the media rats are jumping the buship?

sw

[napi21]

21. Just looking for the guy who brings them $$

I didn't know Clarke was a consultant either until just now. That's GREAT! I think ABC probably offered him the best deal. All these news shows are just looking for $$ and ratings. But Dick is a Great addition!

[0007]

19. All the networks except for maybe FAUX is zinging Condi

and her testimony. Richard A. Clarke is one smooth professional. I have a lot of respect for him.

Chris Mathews is doing a number on Condi over at MSNBC a station I seldom view.

I think folks in this country is starting to catch on this crime cabal that is leading us into bankruptcy.

[Catherine Vincent]

20. Not everyone in this country.

You still hear desperate republicans defending chimpy to the end. I heard some of the callers on CSPAN before and after Rice's testimony and they were bitter people looking to blame Clinton for everything and jumping down the NY Times reporter's throat (he was the guest this a.m.), calling Clarke a liar liar. It's really pathetic how they are reacting to all this....it's like they defended Bush* on everything thusfar and can't change the way they defend him so their frustrations are coming out. That part is hilarious!

[0007]

28. I agree cat_girl25, it 'tis hilarious, but in a sickening sort of way

Very hard to understand why some of these supporters of junior haven't any common sense.

[scarletwoman]

22. AHA! Another bogus claim from Condi debunked!

How many times did she trot out this claim: "By law, the FBI and the CIA weren't allowed to share information"?

It's pure spin (of course). The law states that the FBI can't turn over information about CRIMINAL investigations to the CIA, according to Clarke.

He said, "The FBI and CIA shared INTELLIGENCE information all the time -- they were doing it EVERY DAY."

sw

[coda]

23. "We didn't want to embolden them by attacking them" re: USS Cole

Clarke "Wasn't that the criticism of the Clinton admin, that they wouldn't respond to attacks?"

[Bozita]

24. Condi couldn't carry Clarke's shoelaces

All in all, it seems that the White House position is weaker after the airing of this Nightline.

Leftcoasters, take note.

[Regulator27]

26. Clarke's great.

He's made the Bush Cartel look like fools each time he's made an apperarance on the cable and network news shows.

His performance on Russert was the best of the bunch IMO when after being asked if he'd declassify his previous testimony in 02, he challenged the White House to declassify every single email/memo he sent out to the hierarchy and challenged Rice to the same offer.

Guess they're not gonna take him up on his offer....lol

[Bozita]

27. I agree totally ... Now, let me welcome you to DU