http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9732

But just because Howard Dean and the DNC are setting up a legal fund for McCarthy in no way proves that her actions were politically motivated – and I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Death Valley.

As for asking whether European countries would react negatively to the knowledge that they were torturing suspects sent from America: what’s hateful about that? It’s true!

Well, there you go.

“…and would not trust the leadership of FEMA to someone who can’t find his ass with both hands.”

…”don’t you think that the reaction would be far worse for outsourcing torture for the Americans…”

Now, THAT’S visceral hatred!

2) I have no axe to grind for the DNC: I think the Democratic party is flaccid and uninspiring. In any event, whether I’m in agreement with the DNC or not is irrelevant. Are you willing to disavow the drive to impeach Bill Clinton because it is based on RNC talking points?

3) What’s wrong with Richard Clarke?

4) As you know, Clinton’s terms were before 9/11, which did change everything. The justification to place a burden on the chemical industry, for example, to safeguard its facilities wasn’t there before we were hit. There also was not a need for a huge military build-up (and I’m not sure that there is a need now – but that’s another discussion). In any event, you can indulge all you want in your “visceral hatred” (to steal a phrase) for Clinton, but you cannot deny that he was a hands-on and effective policy wonk. He also had a much more effective FEMA Director (James Lee Witt). Had we been attacked during his administration, it is inconceivable that he would not have used all of the levers of government to secure the homeland.

“Since you mention Clinton: I guarantee that he would have done far more in truly protecting us than Bush has ever done.”

Please, pray tell us of the great national security systems that Billy – Boy initiated on his watch. Also please detail the enormous military and intelligence build – up over his two terms, detailing the many new and innovative infrastructure details that were inaugurated on his initiative.

Mark, it’s abundantly clear that Peter has a little problem reading articles that don’t jibe with his elaborate DNC talking points. At any event, he may be too busy planning the upcoming parade down 5th avenue for Ms. McCarthy and Mother Sheehan.

I hear the introductory speaker for the event is Richard Clarke.

Take that permanent smirk off your face, Ambassador (and the look of martyrdom as well, while you are at it). It seems that your contacts in the Niger Ministry of Mines—the ones that your wife told the CIA made you such a good choice for the trip—didn’t rate you highly enough to tell you about the Zahawie visit. It would, interestingly, have been a name you already knew. But you didn’t even get as far as having to explain it away—or not until last week—because you were that far in the dark. It was left to Italian, French, and British intelligence to discover the suggestive fact and transmit it to Washington. And it’s been left to someone else, most probably in the Niger embassy in Rome, to produce a much later fabrication, either for gain or in order to discredit a true story. The forged account has no bearing at all on the authentic one: It bears the same relationship as a fake $100 bill does to a genuine bill. The rip-off remake movie, “Mr. Wilson Goes to Niger,” now playing to packed houses of the credulous everywhere, has precisely the same relationship to its own original.