So what's up with this media blitz?

[ewagner]

The news has been filled with stories about Cheney and Bush reasserting their claims about the Iraq = Al Queda connection,Condi is out spinning the story, and now we have this incredible story about Putin saying he warned Bush "personally" about Iraq preparing to attack the US and our interests.

What the hell is going down?

My suspicion is that some really, really bad news for the Bush* Administration is about to break and they need to change the subject very quickly or, at least, solidify their base before the bad news breaks.

I wonder: Does this have anything to do with Josh Marshfall's hint that something big is about to break?

Opinions?

[porphyrian]

1. "Forget everything you just heard, and go back to sleep."

- (or something close) Voice on payphone, from the movie "Miracle Mile"

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. No, this is the clean-up effort post-commission statement.

[salin]

7. Ironically - these guys who were on top of their game for so long

are now making HUGE critical mistakes. Perhaps their lies backed them into this corner?

The more stories denying the "incompatibility" of the 9-11 panel findings, and the bush/cheney (and now Rice) statements... the more penetration of the story into the public psyche.

Until recently they have continued to cow a majority of the public into believing their claim of these ties as a big rationalization for the war. Esp since the WMD claims are bogus in most of the publics' eye.

Not sure how closely the general public has been following the hearings. Had they let the statements just fly - and made little deal of it... Which they COULD have done had Cheney NOT just remade the assertion very forcefully a few days before the 9-11 final hearings and report... (which has driven the media frenzy over the incompatibility of the "Stories") - it might not have really penetrated the non cspan watching public.

But each time they have to reassert this - and contradict the 9-11 panel - is another time a few more folks who missed it hear the controversy. And begin to question.

Condi going on NPR to say this - a sign that the story is spinning -and they are forced to respond. Sort of like the AWOL story - that went no where.. until Moore wrote about it - and at a Debate the question was put to Wes Clark to make him look bad (questioned about whether he agreed with Moore - who was a highly visible supporter of Clark)... that started a media frenzy... initially targetting Clark but soon focusing on the bush statements ... and forced bushco to keep responding to the point where he had to go on Russert and do a very bad public appearance. The bushco seems to be repeating this pattern - and in doing so is keeping the story growing in magnitude in the number of times it is repeated. Very bad strategy for them. But I am not sure, again to CHeney's foolish blustering a few days ago, that they (bushco) have much choice but to attempt to go offensive on this... even though such an offensive is bad strategy for them.

[molly]

3. Watching Rummy yesterday, I would say YES

these guys are scurrying around to save their butts.

[LittleApple81]

9. Yeah. Rumsfeld even admitted that Al Zarkawi WAS NOT AlQaida!

The -- I think the way I would put it is that George Tenet -- first of all, I would say that the -- Iraq has been on the terrorist list for decades, as I recall. Second, they were giving -- Saddam Hussein was giving some $25,000 to families of people who would go out and become suicide bombers and kill people. Ansar al-Islam was active in the country. Abu Nabal (sic - Nidal) lived there in Baghdad. Zarqawi was there for long periods. People -- George Tenet testified on this subject before the Senate Intelligence Committee, as I recall, and then -- on a classified basis, and then made public an unclassified version of what his testimony was. And it was what it was. And for me to get into the middle of the debate about how to characterize it I think is not terribly useful.

The other thing I would say is that it appears -- I guess I don't know if I should say this or not, but I -- I suppose I can -- it appears that Zarqawi -- who is, everyone in the intelligence community seems to agree, is engaged as a significant leader of a network in Iraq and has in his past been identified by at least some intelligence as being a leader with respect to terrorist activities in other countries, not just Iraq -- may very well not have sworn allegiance to UBL. But he -- maybe, because he disagrees with him on something, maybe because he wants to be “The Man” himself, and maybe for a reason that's not known to me.

Now, therefore you probably -- someone could legitimately say he's not al Qaeda. On the other hand, as many people have testified to in open hearings, the linkages in the relationships and the similarities, in some cases of financing as well as methods of operation, are such that even though he may not have sworn allegiance, he clearly is someone that is doing work of a very similar nature. And therefore, I don't -- since I am not in the intelligence business, my instinct is to leave the direct answer to your question to what was said by Director Tenet before the Senate Intelligence Committee unless the agency is updating it since.

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040617-secdef0881.html

[vivalarev]

4. i hope so

i cant wait for josh to get back from vacation and i hope with all this build up, he does not disappoint.

[Ripley]

5. Yes, the Dam will open soon!

My guess is that the Grand Jury in the Plame case will show Cheney and maybe Smirkaholic were co-conspirators. Newsheads can't spin that away. That will be BIG. Especially, because by breaking the law and doing that outing, they could have jepordized not only her life, but National Fricking Security!

[Wind Dancer]

6. This is my hope too!

I think it is the one thing that will take down either * or Cheney. We obviously can't count on the spineless Republicans who don't approve of the neocons to do anything. Everybody is so scared of this administration, it makes me sick and ashamed.

[Ivote]

10. Tetonic Shift?

I hope we hear something soon. Stayed up all night to see if that guy filling in for Josh had some more clues. But to no avail. Last post on tpm was 11:59 pm. What time does this guy post? I can't take this any longer. I want MY COUNTRY BACK!
Anybody have any more clues as to what it could be?

[Beetwasher]

8. They're Trying To Seize the Advantage Of Reagan's Death "Bounce"

and pre-empt the damage that F911 is going to do. Other big damaging stuff is coming down the pike As well. This is preemption. Cheny's assertion re: SH/AQ links BEFORE the 9/11 commission report came out was also pre-emption. They need to keep repeating this big lie to offset the damage and pre-empt what's coming.

[LittleApple81]

11. What happened to that very young soldier that was kidnapped during

the Fallujah fiasco??? Never heard any more about him....

[ewagner]

12. Sadly,

I've been trained by experience with this misadministration, that when they say "Hey, Look at this!!!" I start looking over my shoulder to see what else is going on.

Can't see what it is yet. Interestingly, it doesn't appear to have anything to do with the Kerry Campaign directly. The actual contest between Kerry and Bush* is becoming a sideshow.

Something big is going to break. I'm almost sure of it.